>>5332774>>5332691>>5332688>>5332587>>5332577>>5332512>>5332374>>5332367>>5332351>>5332335>>5332334>>5332305>>5332264As you advance through the marching order of your scouts, approaching the Thief, you sense the Silkscale’s tension grow. He doesn’t even look back at you, not that you notice—he recognizes your approach by breathing, footfalls. It’s a testament to his skill… Though you suppose you ARE the only one in your retinue wearing metal boots, which probably makes it a little easier.
“Thief.”
The Thief flinches, and turns his face toward you—a face branded and marred by the symbol for dishonour, meted out by officiants of The Judge of the unworthy, he who is called Persecutor of the Weak. It denotes betrayal of one’s own kind, moral weakness, and a lack of discipline. The Thief was named such not for his admittedly-impressive aptitude for stealth and subterfuge against your foes, but for sealing from the Master Race. It is a lowly status to hold, and in addition to this old wound, he bares several lingering bruises and scrapes from his recent encounter with the dwarves.
“…Dragonborn,” he says, bowing his head low and slowing. “How may I serve?”
You extend your arm, holding the Cloak of Protection out to him. He stares, confounded, but when you shake it at him with some impatience, he takes it and quickly sheds his existing cloak to don it. All the while, he is confused.
“…Why?” he eventually asks.
“You are our forward scout against these hirstute mole-apes,” you explain. “You’ve done well in the past.”
He hesitates, as if uncertain how to reply—or whether he should. Eventually, perhaps thinking this a test, he speaks up:
“We were spotted. A kobold was lost. We were nearly all slain, or captured.”
“You made it away,” you reply, “and with this, your next attempt should fare better, yes?”
“…I am unworthy,” he mumbles.
It’s a bit of a surprise—not his suspicion in the face of benevolence, which you’ve come to recognize as natural to the full-bloods of the Master Race, but his self-loathing. You see it in his body language, feel it like a pit in his tone. He has taken his name, his judgement, his status among your people deeply to heart.
What do you do?
>Agree—he is unworthy, but you encourage him to CLAIM his worth, through redemptive deeds in service of you and the Priesthood>Disagree—you have seen his efforts, and would see them rewarded and acknowledged>Ask what he did to earn his brand of shame>Request that he join you in prayerful meditation when next your forces rest>Leave the matter be—he has the cloak, he remains loyal, and his angst is his own concern>Write-in 