The lightbearer stood silent as everyone spoke, until at last their attention turned to him. He avoided Thalya's gaze and nodded with resolution, and then turned his blue eyes to Alyssa, "We face them."<br/><br/>"Here or in a squall ahead." He said, "But we're in this together. The men and women of your crew shalt not imperil themselves for me. I am the lightbearer-" He said, drawing Sunmaiden's kiss and bathing them all in its light, "And shine the light must."<br/><br/>He and the sword were alike, Norton thought. Neither of them did any good sheathed. The blade itself was elegant, gilded gold in the hilt and steel almost white as snow. Compared to his patchwork mail hauberk and the robes over it, it was a single ray of light shining through the clouds- the rest of Norton was uninspiring... but when he drew the sword, he began to take the semblance of the man that would be Lux's champion.<br/><br/>A part of him didn't want to admit it.. but he also could not bear the thought of abandoning Alyssa. He had lost so many already. Whether or not they lived was worse than knowing for sure, and the captain of the Esmeralda would not be another to pray for in ignorance. He had to prove, to her, to Lux, and most importantly to himself, that he could bear Her light in the darkest of places, without balking, without fear.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">Using Inspiring Leader, 10 minutes, granting Thalya, Al'Rhayel, Alyssa, Norton, Kurt, and... one other person... a mighty 3 temporary hitpoints! Dear lord, I rushed this guy's crunch. xD Fluffing less as a rousing speech and more as just a few comforting words with each person individually.</div></div>