The Night Below - The Dawn of Inspiration - January 18, 2020

These last few days were quite eventful.
 
It all started when I was traveling along the trail on the outskirts of the Lyrchwood in western Haranshire to find the next temple of Lathander (because, as you know, I want to visit as many as I can!). I find myself in a camp of a multitude of people, each with a different background. Oh how much I could learn from them!
 
The first thing to catch my eye in this camp is the symbol of Lathander on a totem near the rear of the camp. I immediately make my way over to it to make an offering and pray for safe travels for the day. It always makes me feel great when I get to wake up to such a beautiful morning like this one! And as is customary, I dutifully evenly split the offerings between all the gods represented at the camp (Lathander, Waukeen, and Fharlanghn). I take Lathander's share of the gold (six gold) and put it away for safekeeping so that I can give it to the next temple of Lathander I come across.
 
One guy (whose name I would later learn to be Thrawn) comes near while I am knelt down praying. I look up as he is trying to fetch some water from the nearby well. I greet myself, but he doesn't seem very happy today.
 
Earlier I saw a couple people making some hand gestures I don't recognize. Maybe this is their culture's way of greeting each other? Perhaps. I make the same gesture at them, to which the lady responds with a slight smile and a greeting. I think I made a new friend!
 
Then there was this very affluent looking man who came up to Thrawn, still standing at the well. He introduces himself as Linruat (OMG we almost have the same name - awesome!), and expresses his interest in his having asked for a job. Linruat says the nervous and upset wizard near the horse and cart was looking for someone to make a delivery of a package. At this point, I walk up and happily introduce myself with that same hand gesture I saw earlier. Linruat seems happy to meet me, which is cool because I've never met anyone else who shares almost the same name as me. I tell them if they'd like me to tag along I will help keep them safe, healing their wounds should they come across anything evil, and that I could teach them all about Lathander!
 
Just then, the two I saw who made the hand gesture walked up and greeted themselves as Nash and Zeleair. Not long after, this mysterious looking individual, Dhimiri, also walked over. We're all interested in helping this poor upset gnome get his package delivered to his wizard friend Tauster in Thurmaster to the east along the river. He says if we deliver it, we'd be paid 150 gold! I can't contain my excitement as I realize that I could help the gnome, help the group get their delivery done, and perhaps even make some money in the process, some of which I could give to Lathander! It's a win-win-win! I'm in.
 
Everyone around me is SO TALL and BIG. It doesn't phase me though. I'm pretty tough. And besides, I've got Lathander on my side. Even if anything bad happens, I can count on him to help me help them!
 
As we make our way out of the camp, I notice a that Zeleair the Drow is wearing a cape with Torm's symbol on it. TORM AND LATHANDER ARE BASICALLY BEST FRIENDS! I think Zeleair and me will make great friends too! I cast Guidance on Zeleair to let her know that I also have good intentions on our travels.
 
Soon after leaving camp, we come across what looks like a grain cart and some farmers heading the opposite direction on the trail. We make way for them when suddenly, two arrows fly out of nowhere from the north side of the trail. One narrowly misses Thrawn, but one critically injures him. OH NO! IT'S AN AMBUSH! I help my new friend by healing him as best I can and joining the fight. I don't have much combat experience. I carry my mace just in case something happens, but I've never had to use it for real. At one point, I find myself in a position to help in the combat, but before swinging my mace, I ask Lathander for forgiveness. I really hope he understands I didn't want to have to hurt anyone! After our encounter with the farmers, I pray over each of the bodies. At this point, I realize that each of the farmers (except the guy with the club) smell like fish. That's weird.
 
We find manacles on the horse-drawn cart, which leads us to believe this was an attempted kidnapping. Who - or what - were they after? Since nobody is seriously hurt, we end up taking the horse-drawn cart with us on our way to Thurmaster.
 
It's getting late now, so we decide to stop and make camp. I agree to take third watch with Dhimiri, and begin to pray to Lathander to protect us all from any further evil throughout the night. I swiftly fall asleep on the cart.
 
It's time for third watch, so I wake up and am SO excited as I can just about see the sun starting to light up the distant night sky. During our watch, I pray once again for safe travels throughout our day. Just before it's time to wake up the others, Dhimiri hands me a gold piece and tells me to put it towards the collection for Lathander. I thank him profusely and tell him how much I and the temple will appreciate his offering. How sweet!
 
The night goes by uneventfully, and we all wake up to a brand new day, with brand new opportunities awaiting us! Morning is always the best part of the day.
 
We eventually find ourselves outside the town of Milborne along the river we've been following. Everyone is able to get across the very shallow river crossing except me. Dhimiri offers to put me on his shoulders and carry me across. He is such a caring person. Ever since we met in the camp, he seems to have taken a liking to me, always watching my back. What a great person he is.
 
I immediately see that there is a temple of Lathander in town, into which I go. Dhimiri follows me. This is a surprisingly nice temple for such a small town! But then again, it isn't the appearance of a temple that makes it good. It is those within it, and the fact they teach the lessons of Lathander! I make my way to the collections bowl and happily offer all of the seven gold's worth of coin from the collected tithes. A young clergyman sees me filling the bowl. He expresses his infinite thanks and asks if I am also of the clergy. I explain that I am not, and that I am just a highly devout follower of Lathander. He thanks me once again, and offers me a normally clergy-only room for the night, but I decline, explaining that I'd prefer to stay with my party as I want to make sure they're safe. He understands, and then tells me he is headed out of town to meet someone and would be back in a couple days.
 
While at the temple, I show Dhimiri all the various artwork and symbology found inside, explaining to him what they symbolize, and telling him of some of the stories she has learned. Dhimiri seems genuinely interested and intrigued by all the intricate details and things he is learning. I don't know if he follows any such deity, but believe me when I say I think I've got him hooked! I'm sure Lathander is so proud of me!
 
We all find our way to an inn. Dhimiri offers to have me bunk with him in his double bed room, to which I oblige. I pay my half of the room, and we go down into the tavern for food and drink. Well, I don't drink, but I'm happy to be alongside my new friends as they enjoy themselves. It feels great meeting new people.
 
When Zeleair comes down into the tavern, an immediate silence falls over the crowd. The townsfolk obviously don't trust Drow, but they don't know her like I do. She is a Drow of Torm.
 
Just then, one of the most innocent, heartwarming, and inspiring exchanges I've ever witnessed takes place. A young little girl, who is no taller than me, grabs a chair and pulls it up next to Zeleair. Her parents and the rest of the patrons gasp as they watch. Keenly observing Zeleair, the girl says she's heard lots of stories about Zeleair's type of people. Zeleair responds by explaining that while it's unfortunate that some of the stories she is sure to have heard are true, there are those like herself who despise to be like the evil side of their people. She says she wants nothing more than to help and protect those around her from the nefarious Drow who wish harm upon those that aren't like themselves. The little girl gently reaches up and starts touching Zeleair's arm, noticing the scarred skin, then reaches up, cupping Zeleair's cheek and exclaims, "I think I like you!"
 
This melted my little halfling heart. In a world of such tumultuous wars and prejudices, this one little girl shattered all the learned expectations and assumed boundaries in front of everyone in the tavern. At her young age of no more than ten, she has the wisdom and morals that so many in our world need. She recognizes that people are not to be judged by their outward appearance, not by their skin, not by their learned prejudices, but instead by their inward beauty, their actions, and their words. These are some of the foundations of Lathander's teachings. If only more people could learn a thing or two from this little girl, our world would be a better place.
 
Perhaps shaken by what has occurred, her parents nervously pull the little girl away from Zeleair as the girl climbs out of the chair on which she once stood. After a few minutes pass, I attempt to talk to the girl myself, wishing to express my gratitude to her for having hopefully taught every person around her an extremely valuable life lesson. Her parents had no interest in letting me talk with her. It's unfortunate that I didn't get that chance, but sadly it's understandable. I just wanted to ask her if she was familiar with Lathander, telling her how inspirational her interaction with Zeleair was, and how she set a good example for those around her. I would have explained that he is the god of the dawn, renewal, and rebirth, how those things symbolize her actions, how she had made an immediate and lasting impression on me. How she could show the world that there are those who deserve to have their individual stories heard, how each person deserves respect regardless of the past actions of a select few people. And how such stereotypes can be broken.
 
I was going to give her one of my wooden holy symbols of Lathander to remind her that she could change the world by remembering her actions this night in a small tavern, and teaching those around her to be like her. That she could convince those around her to give every individual at least a fighting chance to tell their story and not be feared, regardless of any preconceptions.
 
Lathander be with her. She is a much-needed light unto this world. I see you in her as I see you in the dawn sky.