As of 12/8/97
Lawful Good Paladin
Created by
Adam Musson
Xavier was troubled that morning. He was unusually quiet and he had the
face of a worried man.
"What is it, son?" he heard a gentle voice ask. His mind and body
were so full of thoughts that he hadn't noticed his mother's comforting hand
holding his. "You seem troubled this morning."
He looked down at her and smiled. She was passed her prime but
she hadn't lost her beauty. She looked back up at him and returned his
smile. The truth of the matter was that Xavier's sleep had been haunted by
unsettling dreams for several weeks prior to this morning's ceremony. Every
night Nivina would come to him, take his title, and burn it in his
hands. She would not let him succeed his father as governor of
Scarhaven. Instead, she would send him on some endless quest; alone and
frightened. He would pray to her and ask her what the dreams meant but
every night it would be the same. Xavier knew what she was trying to tell
him, but he couldn't give up his birthright. It was all he wanted. It was
what he had prepared for his entire life. It was a terrible situation for
Xavier. Should he disappoint his family or ignore his
goddess? He knew the answer . . .
Xavier was indeed troubled, but he couldn't worry his mother with his own
worries. "It is nothing, mother," he assured her, "I am just tired."
She smiled at him again. "We will be in Gideon soon," she said as
their coach bounded down the road. "Soon you will become the new governor
of Scarhaven. Your father and I are very proud of you."
That afternoon they arrived in Gideon and the ceremony began. In
front of the entire capitol city and King de Angelosis himself and his
cabinet, Xavier's father announced his retirement and presented his son as
his processor. Xavier stood up to accept the title, a small scroll
claiming the VanRoy family's right as government of Scarhaven, but the
small parchment burst into flames, as it did so many times in his dreams,
and instantly smoldered away into nothing. A hush fell over the shocked
crowd as they tried to make sense of what just happened. Only Xavier
understood the spontaneous combustion. His grew angered and he
rushed off the stage. He bolted passed the still stunned crowd and down
the street toward the temple of Nivina. He would confront his goddess and
demand an explanation.
Xavier reached the temple and threw open the large double doors. He
rushed passed the priests with a look of disgust on his face and ran to
the sanctuary. There, he threw himself in front of the alter and looked
up at a statue of Nivina. He cried out, almost in blasphemy, "Why have
you cheated me of my birthright!? I have been faithful to your teachings
my entire life. What gives you the right-" His words were
cut short by a crackle and a flash of blue light. The idol suddenly
animated and Nivina was standing there before him in the flesh.
"What gives me the right?" She said demandingly, as Xavier's eyes
widened in shock. He fell to his knees speechless. "What gives me the right?" Nivina demanded again. "I am
your goddess. I will do as I please. Because of your faith you speak of,
I have chosen you to be my paladin, to carry my name on your shoulders and
on your sword. I have chosen for you a holy quest. But perhaps I have chosen
wrong. Perhaps you are not the one."
Xavier couldn't fight the tears anymore. His eyes burst like a
cracked dam. He wept and shut his eyes to hide from his goddess. All he
could see was the cold blackness of shame surrounding him. "Please
forgive me, my liege," he sobbed through short weeping breaths. He tried
to speak but he could not think of words that would resolve his actions.
"I . . . I didn't know," was all he could muster. "I have failed you, but I
will not fail you again."
He opened his eyes to confront his goddess once again, but she was
gone, replaced by the same statue that was there once before. He looked
around in confusion to see several baffled priests gazing at the statue.
He knew then that he must accept his fate and follow Nivina where
ever she led him. He looked to the idol once more to see a bastard sword
and a suite of chain mail lying at her feet. As he reached for the weapon
and armor, he cold feel magic radiating from them. Along the blade of
the sword read the word Faith. He clutched the sword triumphantly and
wiped the tears from his cheeks. He took the armor and weapon and walked
passed the confused clergymen, who were too astounded to move, let alone
question the young man.
Xavier returned to the town square and publicly apologized for his
behavior. He declined to tell about the event he just witnessed, but he
announced his recognition as governor.
It was a long ride home in silence with his family. Xavier
couldn't tell if his parents were disappointed or not, but they were
understanding none-the-less, and condoned their son's decision. Xavier
passed the title on to his younger brother, Alexander.
That night, Xavier slept well for the first time in weeks. He
dreamt of Nivina, standing taller than the mountains, covering the morning
sky and pointing west. Xavier woke up and faithfully smiled . . .
Xavier was born into the VanRoy family as the oldest son of Wren VanRoy.
He has two younger brothers and two older sisters. The first generation
VanRoy was a war hero in the March of the Dark. He led one of the armies against
the Dark Witch-Queen and was rewarded as governor of the infant city
Scarhaven. Ever since his retirement the title of governor was passed
on from father to first born son.
Xavier was schooled in etiquette and politics as well as fencing. He has
been preparing to take his father's place as governor his entire life. He
got the chance on his 21st birthday when his father decided to take an
early retirement at age 42. Xavier was to be one of the youngest
governors recorded in Western Glashia history. Nivina, the Goddess of Justice, however, had other plans.
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