Father Howell
From Into the Wilds Wiki
- Father Howell served as a cleric of Imogen for many years in Chevel. His parents were both clerics, and their temple was their life and joy. Howell trained in the lore of consummation and passed in as a priest.
- Howell considered other pursuits, or even moving to another temple for a change, but he had fallen in love with one of the other priestesses, Sarah. Sarah spend most of their time together, working and being excellent friends.
- Meanwhile, his younger brother, Geoffrey, devoted himself to more glorious pursuits of Imogen. Geoffrey travelled far, adventuring in the name of his goddess, and gaining some fame in the lands of Chevel. One summer, Geoffrey returned after establishing a new temple to Imogen on a remote island.
- Geoffrey asked Sarah for her hand, and she gratefully accepted. Sarah bore Geoffrey three beautiful children, her new family drawing her away from frequenting the temple besides weekly prayers.
- Howell's heart was broken. He moved to baser pursuits to fill the void - women, food and alcohol. Life changed and some of his work at the temple lost its appeal. Every winter, Geoffrey returned with new stories of glory and, much to the disgust of Howell, then left his family alone for long stretches of crusading.
- In his thirty-fifth year, Howell's mother died. Howell stayed at the temple for another nine years, until his father also went to Garr. Finally, Howell decided he was going to leave his hurt behind.
- Howell traveled to Myste-Hass, in the hopes that the newly established Temple of Imogen would be in need of new priests. However, new friends and the thrill of adventuring distracted Howell from joining the temple. Instead, he began to understand a little of Geoffrey's thrill for adventuring. He was making new friends - Nazzak, Sylleth, Olive, Bellatrix - friends who like him for who he was, and not for his family.
- When Howell discovers Geoffrey is in town, staying at the Temple of the People and working with the Harbinger, Howell is angry. Myste-Hass was his safe haven and Geoffrey had come to ruin this as well.
- But, during the Sack of Myste-Hass, Geoffrey is trapped in town. Howell learnt that much of his envy was fueled by love for his younger brother, and seeing Geoffrey safely returned to Sarah and his children is more important than the jealously which had long consumed him. Besides, Howell's new friends are giving him a lesson in how to care for others, and perhaps most important of all, himself.
- For the first time, Father Howell finds himself on the true path of Imogen.
