A Vow to the Laughing Lady

Lady Tymora, known as “Lady Luck,” was a popular choice of deity amongst many professions, most notably those in the military. For every soldier knew that survival was a combination of training, fitness, alertness, and good fortune. You never knew when a stray arrow would strike you during the random chaos of battle. Sikander Steelestone's spiritual journey started casually enough when a traveling bard visited The Dancing Dragon and sang about “The Lucky Lady”. The songs were often followed uncharacteristically by earnest conversations about the merits of following her path and listening for her will.
Knowing that he would need as much luck as he could get to survive the dangers of military service, he initially made a simple commitment to speak no ill of her. Originally, he didn't feel particularly lucky although he did start to notice a strange occurrence that repeated itself several times. On the nights that he would gamble (which was almost every night), no matter how poorly the dice rolled for him, he always seemed to leave with a full pouch of coin.
This mysterious pattern of good fortune followed him into battle where he seemed to have a knack for knowing when to duck, parry, feint, and swing. Was it a matter of training and practice, or was it divine fortune?
 
Sikander decided that he would formalize his commitment to Tymora by speaking vows to her in “The Great House of the Gods” temple complex in Neverwinter. He had witnessed many ceremonies where people had sworn sacred oaths to their gods. These always included a commitment to uphold law, order, and mercy for the sake of the powerless. Noble vows but not aligned with the nature of Tymora who valued a form of kindness that was exemplified by boldness, risk, courage, and flair. He consulted the few clerics that he could find to determine what sort of vow would please “The Lady.”
When the day came, he walked intently to the Great House to perform his ritual. The temple was empty. Not a priest, cleric, or devotee in sight.
 
Sikander saw a young boy with a large grey rabbit in his arms, lingering around the temple doors. He asked for him to come inside and witness what Sikander was about to do.
The young boy, Henric not fully comprehending, joined Sikander only after the dwarf offered him gold in return.
 
Sikander Steelestone stood before the smiling marble statue of Tymora and lay his weapons at her feet.
 
Taking a calming, deep breath, he spoke his vow:
 
Blessed Tymora, grant me your fortune and favor.
I dwell in the shadow of Your goodwill and kindness.
Your laughter and goodwill greet me daily.
 
I am a soldier of fortune.
I am a herald of good health.
I am a guardian of hope.

For those bound by caution, I will bring daring.
For those bound by boredom, I will bring adventure.
For those bound by blandness, I will bring curiosity.
For those bound by apathy, I will bring purpose.
 
Where there are corrupt schemes, I will bring purity of force.
Where the scales of chance are uneven, I will bring balance.
In preparation and prayer, luck is my closest friend.
In conviction and action, I will move with boldness and certainty.
 
If I should fall, I commit to rise again, a better man.
Blessed Tymora, grant me your fortune and your favor.
I pledge myself to your will.
 
After speaking the words, he reclaimed his weapons, tossed some coins to Henric, and entered the bustling streets of Neverwinter. And it was at that moment that he heard a familiar voice from behind him along with an amused giggle,
 
“Tee hee hee. Silly dwarf. This is going to be soo much fun. Tee hee hee.”
 
He didn’t turn around for he had heard that same voice on a previous occasion long ago before and knew, that trying to identify the source would be fruitless. He walked the streets, now with a beaming smile across his dwarven face. For at that moment, Sikander Steelestone was reassured that, Blessed Tymora had accepted his vows and that he was now officially in sacred service to her.
 
This was going to be fun!