After the battle...

Pavel strode forward purposefully to stand beside Haelimbrar and looked out over the spent, bloody crowd of townsfolk. Each was tired, wounded and tattered, but each seemed to look out over the battlefield with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Some good was done this day.

"People of Kurth!" heads began to turn as his voice bellowed across the large room, "this city will never be more yours than it is at this moment. You have wrest it from the grip of evil and it belongs to you and those who died beside you. You have driven the malevolence from this place- may peace and goodness fill the spaces vacated by the banites!"

The crowd managed a tired cheer, waving their gifted weapons in the air.

His voice quieted- "may peace and goodness follow the fallen..."

Heads lowered as the crowd thought about those lost in the battle.

"Rest assured that Ilmater sends his servants to gather the souls of the fallen at the fugue plane- none shall spend eternity at the Wall of the Faithless, but rather shall be shown the way to Celestia! The Broken One teaches us that only from pain and suffering can greatness be borne, and you have humbled me with your greatness tonight!"

Pavel bowed respectfully to the crowd and a slow, tired and painful pair of hands clapping slowly turned into a tired, painful round of applause.

Pavel turned to Haelimbrar and tapped the shoulder of the taller man's armor with his staff.

"Do you know what it is you feel tapping on your shoulder, young man?" he said softly, smiling, "when last we spoke, you felt it was something I did not possess..."

Haelimbrar looked at Pavel puzzled, and shrugged.

"I am Pavel, Monk of the Yellow Rose and humble servant of the Broken One." he stated, staring into the Paladin's hardened face, " and this..." he smiled, holding the staff before him.

"...is my backbone."