Origin of Muranog (4 of 5)

THE HISTORY OF THE MINOTAUR MURANOG – THE CRUSADES

On returning home, Muranog found the Guildmasters in uncommonly grim
mood. From them and their acolytes, he heard that the evilly-aligned
priesthood of the Temple of Pain, some way to the east, were massing
their forces, preparing for an invasion of Nevrast. At the same time,
to the west, travellers spoke of drow and minotaurs staging raids out
of the western Portal to the Abyss, disrupting the trade routes and
pillaging caravans.

Muranog and other adventurers swiftly acted to preempt these dangers.
To the west, the minotaur militant cleric made many swift striking raids
against the encampments of the drow and the evil, abyssal minotaurs,
just beyond the Portal, throwing their vanguard into confusion and
disarray. To the east, Muranog and companions launched raid after raid
on the Temple of Pain, headquarters of the Red-Robed Priests and their
lesser brethren, breaking their might before they could launch their
invasion. Though the Crusades lasted several years, they were ultimately
successful in breaking the power of these evil forces, and preserving
the peace of Nevrast for another generation.

Through the Crusades, Muranog carried the word of Caldyr to new
places and peoples, and learned more from the other priests and mages he
encountered of the mysteries of the arcane and divine. His priestly
powers rose to new levels, as did his martial skills, honed in massed
battle against mystical foes. His goodly faith, tempered in the fire of
battling evil, became a fierce protectiveness of the innocent and the
helpless in the face of danger and adversity. Ever afterward he would
look back on the Crusades as the second great turning point in his life.