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'''Title: MY JOURNEY'''

'''Author: by Shartmannah'''
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On my journey to find 
the Serpent Fountain I 
was troubled many times 
with doubt about my 
quest. Was I doing the 
right thing? Was I taking 
the correct path? How 
much longer could I resist 
the urge to accept 
failure? I hunted through 
the master's chambers, 
stared into the coffins 
of those who once cared 
for the temple, and 
searched the library for 
the keys and implements 
necessary to complete the 
quest. The Master would 
only tell me two things; 
that I would have no 
reason to leave the 
temple, and that 
somewhere on the path 
my discipline would be 
tested. I speak only in 
generalities, lest my 
words be seen by the 
wild eyes of one 
undisciplined. I doubt not 
that such a person would 
die on the way to the 
water, but there are 
wards against death in all 
its incarnations.

My discipline was indeed 
tested, and tested 
harshly. The key to 
completing my quest was 
perseverance. I had to 
search the same place 
many times and not admit 
defeat; I had to discipline 
my mind to keep it from 
wandering. The hardest 
part of the path to the 
fountain lay just before 
it, and I bear the scars 
on my feet, but, as is 
taught here, if one can 
only discipline the mind, 
the body can then be 
trained. I pushed the pain 
from my mind, so that I 
did not feel the acid 
searing my flesh, eating 
away at my skin.

When finally I did reach 
the fountain, the test 
was not over -- to 
return to the temple 
proper, I had to brave 
the acid again. The test 
made me strong, obedient, 
disciplined. Had I failed, I 
would be as one of those 
whose hearts I seek to 
skewer; chaotic and 
undisciplined. Due to the 
lessons of discipline I had 
learned, I was able to not 
only force the pain from 
my mind as the acid 
tried to eat my legs 
away, but steel my flesh 
against it so that now 
only the soles of my 
feet bear mild scars...


[[Category:Classic Histories]]