Tanara tickled her son's feet, and smiled as he giggled and cooed. My son, you will never know how much I have sacrificed for your wellbeing...but know that I do not regret a single thing. You are the most important thing in my life, and I will do anything for you, whatever the consequences. As if there is anything else I could do with worse consequences than Dar's and Emel's murders, which lead to my arrival in this hellhole.
Nearly a year had passed since Tanara had been forced to leave the Clan, and her son was now almost three months old. In that time, Tanara had accepted the full consequences of her actions, consequences that had lead her to the Temple of Bhaal, in the southern city of Athkatla; a place she hated with a passion, but had been shackled to, first by her pregnancy, then by her small son's continued illness. You still look a little small for one of your age, my son, but I believe that you have finally shaken off the worst of your illnesses. It is no wonder that you are so often sick though, living in a place with as fetid an atmosphere as this. The air in the Temple was always thick with the pungent scent of incense, and great clouds of the heavy smoke crept into every crevice and corner of the stuffy, airless building. For one used to the fresh, natural smells of the Plains, the heavy, overwhelming air of the city and Temple was a large shock, and something Tanara had never got used to.
Tanara was cut from her train of thought by a sharp knock on the dark wooden door of her small, bare cell. She rose hurriedly to her feet and straightened her robes as the door swung open, to reveal one of Tanara's least favourite people, her fellow novice T'savrak. T'savrak hailed from distant Thay, and made his dislike of all Clan, and her in particular abundantly clear.
"The High Priest wants to see you, Clanner, so you'd best skip along like the monkey that you are," said the tall young man in an arrogant, condescending voice. He had a strange, strong accent that had taken Tanara some time to get used to.
Fear gripped Tanara with harsh cold fingers, as she wondered why the High Priest would want to send for her, a lowly novice. What would he want with me? Does he know how much I despise the Temple life, and that my prayers are naught but empty words? Some of Tanara's fear and apprehension must have showed on her face, prompting T'savrak's next comment. "What's the matter, Clanner? Scared are you? I would expect nothing less from one such as you," he sneered at her.
"A daughter of the Clans is never scared," she stated forthrightly. "I am merely curious as to why I have been summoned. I do not suppose a dog like you would have been gifted with such knowledge, so I shall present myself immediately." And with that, she swept past the speechless T'savrak, and made her way towards the inner sanctum of the Temple, where the High Priest's rooms lay.
As she walked the long, narrow corridors towards the High Priest's rooms, Tanara was once again struck by the disquieting temple architecture. It seems designed to inspire fear and awe in all who tread it's corridor's, and reminds me of being trapped in deep, dark caves. It is no place for a daughter of the open Plains, that is for sure, but I will escape one day, make no mistake about it.
Almost before she knew it, Tanara had reached the large, skull engraved portal that lead to the office of the High Priest. She hesitated a moment before knocking, remembering the last time she had been summoned to this room. Her son had been only a few days old, and the High Priest had called her to suggest an 'appropriate' name for him. 'For we wouldn't want the lad saddled with one of your peculiar Clan names, now would we my dear?' the old buzzard had said, shortly before telling her to name her son after one of the first priests of Bhaal. Somonas Tritorvel, how I wish you had never lived, for then my son would not have been lumbered with your name; a name more fitting for a sick dog than a boy descended with the lines of two great Clans. But when I have escaped, and found my brother, we shall choose you a proper, Clan name; one that is worthy of you. Pulling herself back to the present, Tanara dared to knock on the imposing door. Almost immediately, a deep booming voice bid her enter. The voice sent rivers of fear racing through her, but she reminded herself that a daughter of the Roaring Boar Clan does not fear entrance to a room, and swung the door open.
As Tanara entered the large rooms she was once again struck by their opulent extravagance. Not even the richest of the Clan chiefs could have afforded a room like this, even if his Clan would have let him waste his money so. The room was carpeted in a rich deep crimson rug, transported all the way from southern Calisham. It was covered in intricate designs of birds and flowers, but was overshadowed by the velvet and silken drapes and tapestries that covered the walls. Small niches were filled with exquisite works of art, many very old, all by famous artists. The focal point of the room was a large, mahogany desk inlaid with opalescent nacre, bleached coral, shining gold and glinting gems, arranged in the symbol of Bhaal.
Behind it sat one of the most imposing men Tanara had ever met. If someone had once told me I would be intimidated by a man dressed in rich silks and velvets, and wearing soft slippers, I would have laughed in their face and told them what a fine joke they had told. And if they had told me that such a man was a priest, then I would have thought them mad. The shamans of my homeland could not have been more different to this man, dressed in animal skins and leather to his velvet and silks, living in rude huts, as one of the Clan. But that was before I had met a man like the High Priest. Everyone in the temple, even the arrogant T'savrak, referred to him with no other title, such was the fear and awe he was held in.
"Sit down my child," the frail looking High Priest said, making a sweeping gesture towards a high-backed wooden chair in front of his desk. As Tanara sat down, he continued. "Do you know why I have summoned you, child of the Temple?"
"No, O High Priest, I do not," Tanara replied meekly, careful to keep her eyes down in the pose of a submissive and proper novice.
The High Priest nodded his approval of her meek and respectful demeanour before continuing. "Well then, I shall waste no time in telling you the reason for my summons. Our God, the most powerful and evil Lord of Murder, has had a prophetic vision of the future, while scouring the depths of the Outer Planes. This vision foretold of a time of great suffering and bloodshed soon to be visited upon the world of Faerûn. In the normal course of events, such a vision would please our God no end, seeing in it a furtherment of His own power; for as your lessons have no doubt taught you, each violent and bloody death strengthens our God. But this vision revealed a most terrible event that would come to pass in the near future. Our God has foreseen His own death at the hand of a mortal challenger!"
Tanara could not control the gasp that escaped her, and a river of thoughts rushed through her mind in barely a second. How can a God die? Is such a thing possible? But how can a God die, and why is he telling me this? Does this mean I will finally be free, for without their clerical powers, the priests here will have little control over me. I can escape, once and for all! Oh, the Clan Gods cannot have abandoned me in my hour of need, despite the wrongs I have committed! It took all the experience of years of marriage to Dar for Tanara to keep the burgeoning joy in her heart from showing her face. With an effort, she pulled her face into a mask of shock and sorrow. "But how...," she began.
"Our God did not see the method of His death, my child, merely that it will come to pass and in the near future. But our God is not so easily thwarted. He did not fight so hard to secure His ascension to Godhood to have a mere thief steal it away!" He lowered his voice to a conspiratorial tone, "He has devised a most cunning plan to ensure His eventual rebirth," he said smugly, before pausing momentarily.
Rebirth? No, no, not when I had thought myself finally free of this tangled web of fate I have spun! But what does this have to do with me? Why is he telling me this? Surely he does not expect me to be of any use. I am just a lowly novice, and there are far more devout novices than I. "O High Priest, I do not...I do not understand what you mean, or what this has to do with me," she all but wailed.
"Do not speak out of turn! If you would cease your foolish interruptions, then my reasoning in telling you would become clear"' he shouted at her, starting out of his chair, his face red with fury. Cringing at his well-known temper, for everyone in the Temple had heard terrible stories of the punishments that the High Priest inflicted upon those who displeased him. And I have no desire to feature in the next one, Tanara thought as she fell to her knees in front of him.
Bowing down in front of his fury, she somehow managed to stammer out an apology. "I apologise most heartily for my insolence and disobedience, O High Priest, and swear not to repeat my mistakes. Please forgive me."
Apparently mollified by her show of submissiveness, the High Priest sat back down, before continuing. "This once I will forgive you, but know that I expect no repetition of your unacceptable behaviour." Waving at her to return to her seat, he continued on, as if her interruption had not occurred. "Our Lord of Murder shall walk the surface of the world and spawn a score of mortal progeny who shall sow chaos in their footsteps and be as a catalyst for His rebirth."
As the High Priest paused to take a breath, Tanara once again wondered what this had to do with her. How will creating a 'score of mortal progeny', as he puts it, lead to Bhaal's rebirth? Even if such children do sow chaos in their footsteps, exactly how will this lead to His rebirth? I don't understand. And what does this have to do with me? This time though, Tanara was careful to keep her thoughts to herself, fearful of the High Priest's reaction if she spoke out of turn again. Her unspoken question was soon answered, but the answer was beyond her wildest imaginings.
"You, my child, have been chosen, out of all the novices and priestesses in this temple, to have the honour of laying with our God, and bearing him a Bhaalspawn! Your child shall be one of the most powerful Bhaalspawn, and shall be instrumental in returning our Lord and God to life!" he proclaimed, looking as though he had just given Tanara the best news of her life.
It was all Tanara could do not to faint at this news. No, no, say it is not so! What have I done to deserve such a foul fate! And one that I have no option but to accept, for the High Priest would not hesitate for a second before killing my son to ensure my obedience, came the shockingly clear thought. What can I do? After all the sacrifices I have made, I have to make this one? I must share my bed with one of the most evil beings in the Planes, and bear Him a child. A child who will grow to become a great tyrant and force for evil. How can this happen?
Ignoring her stunned silence the High Priest continued on about the honour and glory this would bring to her for several minutes, but Tanara did not hear a word of it. "...I can understand how shocked you must be at this news, child," the High Priest said.
How exactly? How can you begin to imagine what this means to me? came her angry thoughts.
"...and I am sure that it will take you some while to adjust to it..."
I could live as long as an elf, and I would never 'adjust' to this, you fool!
"...In addition, you have been raised to priestesshood, as a mark of the honour bestowed upon you."
Oh wonderful. I won't just be Bhaal's lover, I'll be His priestess as well. Still, I must continue my act of the dutiful Temple daughter. "O High Priest, mere words cannot express the joy that your pronouncements bring to me," she gushed, "and I shall be sure to include many prayers of thanks to Bhaal tonight, and meditate most fully on my rise in station." I wonder if the old buzzard's foolish enough to swallow that line.
Evidently, the old buzzard was, for his next words were spoken in warm tones, similar to that one might use towards a favourite pet dog that had just mastered a new trick. "It is good to see that you appreciate this honour, child, and reinforces my view that you are worthy to become one of the women chosen to bear the children of our Lord of Murder." The old man cleared his throat before continuing on, "You have been assigned new quarters, in the southern part of the Temple, to await the coming of our God. He shall arrive in three days time, for you are not the only young woman judged worthy of His divine favour," he finished with a lecherous smile.
I don't know if favour is the word I would use to describe it, Tanara thought as she rose, made her obeisance and left the large room. In fact, favour is the one word I would not use. As she was lead towards her new quarters by the sullen T'savrak, Tanara's thoughts kept on returning to the memories of nights spent in Dar's bed. As horrible as those nights had been, and the beatings inflicted upon her, she had the feeling that would be as the caress of a tender lover compared to the attentions of the Lord of Murder. At least I know He will not kill me, for a dead woman can bear no child, came her sardonic thought, but to think I thought Dar a poor mate... hah, he will seem like the best of men in three days time I am sure. Tanara did not know at the time that she had never had a truer thought in her life.
The next three days were the worst of Tanara's short life. She was forced to spend all her time meditating, listening to lectures by the older priestesses, many of whom were jealous of her sudden rise in status. Their dry talks about the proper deference she should show to her God, and the many lengthy and laborious purification rituals ate up the days. Between the meditations, lectures and rituals Tanara was not left alone for more than a few minutes a day, and her son was not allowed near her, lest he pollute her, removing any hopes of escape she had cherished. At the same time, she was consumed with fear; fear for what awaited her that night, and what her child would become.
The eve of the third night seemed to come in no time, and before she knew it, she was standing next to an ornate bed, clothed in expensive silken robes, awaiting the coming of her God.
