The Path of a Sinner:

[Octiovus]

Flames.

They flickered in Hugo's mind as he strode down the heavy stone steps towards the barrack's library. The accused was charged with responsibility for the murder of a Yewish Templar and the burning of a church. He snarled under his helmet, clenching and unclenching his gauntlet around his warhammer. Broken scenes played out. Cove. The chapel. The mob. His own near immolation. Justice must be served.

He snapped back to reality, the Drow corporal nestled among the shelves of the barracks library. It was in the nature of both Drowkind and the witch to seek forbidden knowledge - she was a truly tainted combination. It would be wise to keep one such as her close. Witnessing righteous justice was the only temporary antidote to her innate evil. The wobbling Sergeant would serve too, a buffoon - but at times, a useful one.

The trio descended yet further into the newly rebuilt structure, half-furnished, workmen downed tools and scarpered as party made their grim and purposeful way. Even though the cells had only recently been finished they had a dank quality as if they had been festering for a life time. The rats were already in full force, scurrying from the footsteps. An air of menace lingered in the cavernous, underlit, foreboding halls.

"Are you awake?" Hugo peered through the bars of the cell at the woman. Already beaten, yet still with a hint of defiance. She offered no resistance as she was taken to the interrogation room. Her claims came out easily; in her naive way she made them as if she expected the group would be sympathetic. She stated clearly that defending a common prostitute had led to an altercation with a Templar and during it a candle was knocked over. In the fracas the Templar 'died', the church burning as she fled the scene. She was young. It was an accident. The pleas rolled quickly off her tongue but made no impression on Hugo's armour clad form, illuminated only by the brazier in the corner of the room.

Extract any useful information, then kill the girl. It could be the only outcome.

Though the look in her eye betrayed the story as likely true, other details had to be ascertained. Who was the Templar? No answer. What was the connection with Guardsman Cowin and a wider plot against the Church which the Yewish militia had alerted him to? Again, nothing. Enough. Heavy gauntlet connected with her face, knocking her to the ground as he turned sharply to select a small, flat knife from the rack. Returning to her as the others foisted her up, in one fluid motion he moved it under one of her tiny fingernails. No time to react, the nail quickly popped off. Screams, wide eyes, terror, passing out. Darkness as she hit the cold stone floor.

Hugo paused for a moment in contemplation. Then a low murmur, pleasant; soothing. It told that there was a higher purpose for this one. Not death, but redemption. He closed his eyes, flinching a little as he felt the flames lick him as if they were around him again, as they had been when the Covian chapel was set alight.  His mind was filled with the thick smoke that choked the air before darkness engulfed him that night. Slowly, it cleared and the once clouded vision became at once crystal clear. The new chapel, glistening, a beacon for the pious, a repository of the righteous. Stained glass and vaulted ceilings, an oasis of faith in a desert of sin. She would help. He faded back into reality as he was removing another finger nail, the same response, little gained. So be it.

Moving to the brazier, he tended to the branding iron as the former Commander Morana was sent to find a robe of penance. It would not be death for Sarah Walder. It would be redemption.

****

Sinner, your tasks await:

• Collect 10,000 wooden boards for the construction of the chapel
• Acquire 10,000 coins as a tithe through guild events
• Lead an escort of guardsmen to visit on Holy Shrine of your choice and offer repentance
• Locate the most able craftsmen of Cove to work on the Church, and use the tithe money to pay them for masonry, furniture, and works in the glory of Avatar

Avatar wills it!

*signed*

Frair Hugo,

Templar Preceptor

[Raiden Morana]

Raiden's thoughts wandered back to Monday eve and what he witnessed in the cells.

The Templar's cold, merciless interrogation of the girl was to be expected. And in fairness, she offered little in defence of the crimes laid at her door. What troubled him more was the eagerness of Corporal Veldrin to assist the Churchman in this dirty business.

Drow, half drow, whatever, she seemed more than happy to restrain the girl as Sir Hugo popped off her fingernails with a blunted blade and she never flinched as the stench of the lass's scorched flesh filled the room.

Sergeant Shadwell barely kept his bowels from loosing... At least he seemed like a decent man. Raiden was just a young guardsman the last time he'd seen the two officers before their time in the colonies.

And feckin' Cowin AGAIN... his name kept coming up and it was never in a favourable light. Hearing it again had made Raiden snap, he'd threatened the girl too that eve. He wouldn't have the good name of the Covian army besmirched by a shoddy guardsman... Nor deserting elves... NOR a zealous drow Corporal.

What a bloody state of affairs.