Guests of the Glacier #2: The Beacon

            Born with a compassionate heart the Beacon grew up trying to make the world a better place; a place free of judgment, persecution, and intolerance. That’s why it was especially odd when she joined the church. However, it was easy to see why they had a recruiting interest in her. She was influential, inspiring, and persuasive. Her voice carried weight and brought people together like few could. There was no person better at bringing hope back into the hearts of the hopeless than her. It was her gift and greatest pleasure in life. Being able to make a difference in people’s lives is why she joined the church in the first place.

           Spreading the word of God was secondary at best to her messages of peace and love and self empowerment. And that’s why the clergy had mixed feelings with her sermons. She was all you could ask for as a beacon to the people, but her faith and conviction did not flow through God. It was as if she was saying the rights things but not for the right reasons and leaving out all the condemnation in the process. Some wanted her to go and others wanted her to stay, but the decision was made even harder because of her popularity. Dismissing her outright would undoubtedly backlash the church’s reputation and negatively affect public opinion. Luckily the progressions in the north came to light before any drastic measures had to be taken. Hearing of the new town being developed in the Frozen Abyss gave the Beacon an idea. She asked the clergy if she could take a leave of absence to head north and start a church in the new town, claiming that if anywhere needed a beacon of hope it was the Frozen Abyss. Pleased by this unforeseen opportunity to push her from the limelight they humbly accepted her request. And with the choice being hers alone the people did not blame the church and everybody won. Everybody being the church.

            Soon after her arrival in Kaltbury she booked a room at Jazmin’s Tavern while the church was under construction. Of all the people staying at the inn she was the most excited to be there. Her enthusiasm was contagious, but not everybody soaked it in. The Beacon spent most of her time trying to communicate with and enliven the two guests she considered to be the most desperate: the Pestilence and the Drifter. She had moderate success with the Pestilence, but the Drifter was as cold as the ice outside. Soon she would learn a truth unaccustomed to her role as Beacon. Not everyone was looking for hope…