[i]He is not them. He is you.[/i]

Leo wanted to rail against that message. He wanted to throw Nyphl's *rejection* right back across the telepathic link. Within him, the part of Leo that had given itself over fully to the god he was becoming roiled furiously at the reminder of how he was once a slave and demanded a much more severe response to the flumph's impudence. But as his mind's eye beheld the mental images Nyphl sent him of how he and the drow weren't so different, and his physical eyes beheld the whip marks, the malnutrition, and the plethora of other maladies that were working to end his life, Leo couldn't find it within what parts of himself were still himself to do so.

[b]"He fades, Great SHOOGBIMBHALD,"[/b] Blibdoolpoolp observed as he joined in on looking over the drow. [b]"His spirit leaks out. Does he require the final mercy? Shall we crack him open to let the rest of it out?"[/b]

[b]"No."[/b] SHOOGBIMBHALD replied. [b]"None may die beneath the roof of this cathedral unless I judge them deserving of such a fate. And no judgement may be made until the one being judged has been permitted a chance to speak in their defense."[/b] Only now did Leo realize the hypocrisy those words carried when he first spoke them. He had decreed that judgement could only come after the defendant was given a chance to plead their case. Yet as he spoke those words, he had already condemned the drow in his thoughts. Suppressing a shudder, SHOOGBIMBHALD turned to look at Nyphl and Blibdoolpoolp. [b]"Nyphl, do what you can to preserve this one's life. Blibdoolpoolp, assist Nyphl in this endeavor in any way you are requested to do so."[/b] SHOOGBIMBHALD ordered.

While he was willing to spare the drow's life, he wasn't ready to have a direct hand in saving the drow's life. On top of that, Nyphl had actual proficiency in medicine and Blibdoolpoolp had the ability to cast Lesser Restoration and could call upon any of the cult's resources that were necessary for stabilizing the drow. With the two of them working together, Leo was confident that they could handle this task by themselves.

Which at last left Leo with a stretch of free time to finally get around to what he had been planning to do ever since he woke up.

[b]"In one hour's time, I shall return to see how you have fared in this task."[/b] SHOOGBIMBHALD declared. [b]"I know you will serve me well."[/b] With that said, SHOOGBIMBHALD moved to exit the throne room with a purposeful stride and make his way towards the forbidden chamber that called to him in his dreams.