Dashir Sinkahn, Forgotten Prince

[aerokleftis]

"Dashir looked over the dunes, taking every second of his life into view. He did not enjoy it here. He may be the son of a lord, but all the riches in the world could not satisfy his hunger for a sense of belonging. He looked over the dunes, concetrating closely, trying to make out every single grain. Every single grain that was simply another day in his life. His life was the desert, a long monotony, drawn out by the wind, sun beating down on it. The life of a lord's son was not for him.

'Dashir, what is the matter?' his mother asks.

'Tomorrow I am leaving for Cormyr.' he responds.

A saddened look crawls into the wrinkles of his mother's withered face. Her expression then hardens. 'Yes. I knew the day would come where you would seek out your own destiny.'

He says with little emotion, unable to face his mother, 'Will you be alright, mother? Will you be able to support yourself.'

'Look into my eyes, child. I am old, and I am frail. I am lucky that I live through every night. I will go, as with every grain of sand in this desert. But you have greater things ahead of you, my child. I understand why you must do this, and I understand that this is the way it was meant to be.'

'Yes, mother. Do not tell father I left, as I doubt he cares much, anyway, and hearing it from...hearing it from you would only anger him.'

'Child, I know these things. You must not concern yourself with me. Here, it is not much, but it will help you when you reach the mainland.'

The elderly woman reveals a small purse of money, places it in his hand, and holds his hand with her hands.

'Dashir, you know I love you, and I always will.' She pauses for a moment. 'Do not let others slow you down. You may be different, but you are still you.'

After hesitating for a moment, the half-orc nods, and slowly begins walking back to the city. The elderly woman watches him for a bit as he leave, and then turns back to watch the desert. Every grain of a sand a day in his life. A day in her life. She watches the desert wind blow over the dunes. She has many grains of sand already, she knows. And there she slowly falls to her knees, and eventually collapses. Her son will not know of her fate until he returns to Zakhara."

[aerokleftis]

"After several weeks, Dashir recieved a letter from his half-brother regarding his mother. Dashir hesitantly open the letter, as he feared what he might read. As he slowly reads the note, his face pales, and he knows he must return to Zakhara. He knows he has dishonored his father, and his people. But he must return to say good-bye for good. And as he leaves, he catches sight a man laden in dark robes, and for a second, he feels cold. But it is not the piercing kind of cold, as when you learn your mother's death. It is the kind of cold that is relaxing, and welcomes a soul. And for a second, Dashir feels flawless, and impeccable, and he continues on his way."

[aerokleftis]

"The last several months had been eventful for the forgotten prince. His mother's death had struck him, indeed, but had been a gateway to much more. He sought out a temple in the desert, far from his home city. It was a temple that offered knowledge, and offered power.

Dashir walked along the dunes of the desert, oblivious to the wind, oblivious to the heat. He had a goal, and he would reach it.

He had little heard of this god, as it was often shunned among his people. This god was only referred to as the Vaunted, and was rarely spoken of.

He made his way through the sand, every step heavier as he grew more and more weary, and yet he continued.

Eventually he did reach the temple, but unlike rumor, there was no one there. Or, to be more precise, no one living. As he approached the temple, he saw two skeletons roaming about in front of it. As he got closer, he saw an imprint in the ribcage of each skeleton. It was a black hexagon, and immediately he knew he had reached what he had come so far to see."

[aerokleftis]

"After he finally reached Cormyr once more, he immediately settled in. His place was here, and he knew it. He knew of the other of the Vaunted that resided here, and sought them out. He had been instructed to find a woman named Lillith.

He was earnest in his search. He would find these followers, and he would find his place.

There was one day, he spied out a particular woman.

She had about her a breastplate of bone, and a veil over her face. Her bony, gnarled hands grabbing her staff that supported her as she hunched over.

Dashir approached this woman, and told her that he had been instructed to find a woman named Lillith.

Her reply was a wry smile."