The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Haliel Lightsong]

"As she has three living children, I find myself... unimpressed at that idea."

[Marian Hawke]

"She never wanted any of us, I think. She wanted Malcolm, and her brother, and maybe her husband, but not the inevitable offspring."

[Haliel Lightsong]

"Then she should have taken something to prevent children," Haliel says firmly. "Or done, ah, what did she call- Safe sex. She should have done that. If you have children, then you have a responsibility to take care of them."

[Marian Hawke]

"She had to. Just like you'll have to. Bloodlines are important."

[Haliel Lightsong]

Haliel grimaces a little. "I am... not so certain of that. And even if it were, even if I do have a child, it will not occur until I am able to devote the time, energy and love needed to properly raise a child."

[Marian Hawke]

"But that was the price -- she got to move back home, but only because she could provide children to inherit. After I caught her cheating, I am lucky I was sent away and not killed. I threatened the love she'd found." She pauses, then adds, "And, you know, she loves good music and fine wine."

[Haliel Lightsong]

"Even the worst Dark worshipper has a hobby or favorite food or something and your mother is not that far depraved or vile." Lightsong frowns, shaking her head. "This is rather beside the point anyway. Even if she is an Astea, she hardly has claim to the entirety of a Heptad deity. Nor is she a very good Astean."

[Marian Hawke]

"And Love doesn't save you from doing terrible things. I'll stick with neutral deities. They don't pretend to be better than anyone."

[Haliel Lightsong]

"They don't-" Haliel take a deep breath. "What do you mean by that?"

[Marian Hawke]

"Nobody goes around trying to say that Alydra's the ultimate arbiter of right and wrong, or that if you don't worship Alydra you're a bad person. Bad people worship Good deities, and vice versa. There's something bad about each of the Bright deities and good about each of the Dark ones. Just like how staring at the sun can hurt your eyes, but nighttime can be cool and refreshing in a hot climate."

[Haliel Lightsong]

"Okay, sure, but... So what? I mean, foxglove is a poison. The fact that you can make a tincture that helps people with heart problems doesn't change the fact that nine times out of ten, it kills you. Just like how peanuts are a good, nutritious food- even if a rare handful of people get sick when they eat them. If something is mostly good, then it's better than something that's mostly bad."

[Marian Hawke]

"But nobody goes around saying all people should eat peanuts, or that if you don't eat peanuts you're unethical."

[Haliel Lightsong]

"No, they shouldn't. I mean, yes, I would love it if more people adopted the tenants of Bastion's faith. Of course I would. But I don't need people to worship the same deity as me. I'm perfectly fine with you and the others worshipping Alydra and Ciren. And Uyrll, I think for our newest companions." And... Vangal, perhaps, for Soushi-hime? "I would be... cautious if one of you worshipped a Dark deity, and want to... interview works, interview that person closely to judge their character but..." She shivers a little. "The only person I think I would press intently to convert is an Unclaimed and I would not care over much which deity that chose."

[Marian Hawke]

"But you just spent several minutes trying to convince me Bastion is better, more right, than Alydra. Because, what, because you feel it deep down in your gut? You're an aasimar, and a very Pavitra-y one. Of course you do."

[Haliel Lightsong]

"And a paladin," Haliel admits with a nod. "But... how to explain... Okay. I do not think Bastion is better than Alydra. I feel that Bastion's tenants create a better way of living than any other deity's tenants. If I didn't, I would be worshipping another deity. Is that... wrong to you? To have a preference?"