Jamarkis's page

About Jamarkis

Jamarkis had never known his father. At least, he hadn't when growing up. On his fifteenth birthday he had a dream; a dream telling him of his heritage, or that is what it was interpreted as. A calling from Iuz. A calling telling him that his father had served Iuz before him, and he should now. Jamarkis had never had reason to doubt this dream. It never crossed his mind that Iuz might have reasons for lying. Or in fact, that the person who interpreted his dream for him might have their own reason for tricking him into joining Iuz' service. His first task as one of Iuz' faithful followers? Sacrifice his mother. He never hesitated. The power that was promised to him if he should follow through on it was almost unimaginable. He took her whilst she slept, and assumed the adolescent was also sleeping, cut out her heart, and offered it up to Iuz. In the two years since then, he has systematically gone about sacrificing his entire family. Thus he joined the church of Iuz, not merely as a follower, but as one of his Priests. What Jamarkis did not know though, was that his father was no priest of Iuz. Oh, he was no truly noble being or anything, but in fact? It was a mere scoundrel. Just a simple man who had a love 'em and leave 'em attitude. He had been an adventurer, and his mother had known full well the chance that she'd ever see him again.
But one day - he discovered the truth. He discovered what had really happened. That the man who had interpreted his dream, had hired a wizard to send him the dream in the first place. But by the time he'd discovered this truth, he had been one of Iuz' extremely devout servants for years. A Priest of Cuthbert who he'd fought against on more than one occasion, saw the moment when he betrayed his old God. He was not -entirely- surprised. They had been friends together, years before, before they chose their respective deities. And he knew the story of why Jamarkis chose Iuz. Jamarkis went to his once-friend, once-enemy and asked for advice. Remar did not know what to tell him. He could tell him to betray Iuz - but that might mean Jamarkis' death. But, in the end, that was what Remar told him to do. To turn and seek support from Remar's God, Cuthbert.
But there was one thing Jamarkis had to do first. He visited the shrine to Iuz that he had built, that was fast becoming a temple with many worshippers. And he destroyed it. In a sense of poetic justice, he didn't just use his hands. The very tools Iuz had given him to spread the word of Iuz, the former Dark Priest now turned against the shrine. He then fled to his old friend, who took him under his wing and took him to the temple he looked after. But whilst they were quick enough to escape the full wrath of Iuz, they weren't quick enough to escape it entirely. The Dark God, as a punishment, used the link that, as yet, the priest hadn't entirely severed, and wiped his mind of the experience he'd earned serving him. He didn't wipe his mind of the memories though - oh no. That would be too kind.
Once at the temple of Cuthbert, he swore to atone for all the evil he had done. And he also swore to serve Cuthbert as loyally as he had ever served Iuz. Taking all the trappings of his former life, he burnt and destroyed them all. Well, almost all. He kept the holy symbol. Not from any sense of personal attachment, but to remind him of the evil that lurks in men's hearts. To remind himself of why he fought.
However, despite his anger against Iuz, he also knew that the very methods Iuz used, could be turned against him. He would have to tread a fine line - but it could be done. And would be done. And Iuz' church would soon learn to fear the former High Priest.
However, he also realised that Iuz' very weapons could be used against him. And could continue to do so - he'd have to be careful he didn't fall down the same route he'd gone down before, but he was wise to Iuz' tricks now. He couldn't use it as well as before, but he could use the powers of destruction - and he would once again learn the art of stealth.