The Loss and the Restoration

ABUTHOS! No! It could not be that I was falling into eternal damnation with my worthy companions... Mercy to your servant, Mother Maya! But I did not see the Mother of Mercy. Saint Stephanos, instead, came and laid a grievous accusation upon me. I had been severed from the Pantheon because I had participated in a sacrifice to a demon, Akhen-At-Im. Bewildered, I proclaimed my innocence to the Saint. But he said my condemnation sprang from throwing one of the mushroom creatures that pursued us in the Tomb into the pit below....where the demon lurked. My only path to redemption lay in the Monastery at Azda Oasis, where I was to seek out the Grandmaster of the Paladins of Aelos.
 
We set out after some business, to which I hardly paid attention, in the souk. Not far into the night, I was caught unaware and poisoned by a great scorpion of the desert. Only by remembering the Calming Words of Mother Maya, did I manage to not become an unwitting victim of the scorpion slaying avenger, Asbjørn. My connection with Maya and Lamos sundered, all I could do was try to employ my own miserable, secular healing skills. Brave Asbjørn knew of an herb that would help draw the venom forth, but it remained unfound by my companions.
 
Then the very winds turned upon us next...what more vexations could come down upon us? Was this all my doing?! We managed to survive the winds, but our faithful camel, Mercy, was gone. It appeared that thirst and hunger would now be our guides across the sands to Adza. But soon others wanted to forcibly join our band...the fierce Dogmen! My valiant companions managed to slay or drive off the terrible foes.
 
Our band managed to locate Mercy, with a band of Tarqite nomads. They wisely parleyed and offered hospitality, and we were reunited with our Mercy. After a rough night, we followed our Scout to Azda at last. It appeared a great battle had taken place, between the Paladins and the Dogmen. Were there no end of terrible doings in our path. I could only hope my way back to Maya would not be so perilous. I confessed my error and my dream, and was taken to see Grandmaster Prodromus. I had come to the right man! The Grandmaster had his own vision of a penitent brother who would restore the Monastery's fortunes by retrieving the Founder's relics and making a proper pilgrimage destination of Azda.
 
My penance was assigned - I was to be scourged by flame and by Aelos. To face this mortification of the flesh, I was fully healed of my wounds and the scorpion's venom. After being washed and stripped bare, I was set before the desert heat...and the burning rays of Aelos. My sin was cleansed in fire, and the voice of the Mother of Mercy was mine to hear again! And though my skin was burnt and blistered, I was back in the embrace of Mother Maya, the stern guidance of Ator and all others of the Company of the Heavens.
 
I knew my fortunes had turned, and insisted we set out for the tomb of the Founder. Good Fortune was with me, I knew!