[(Letter pushed under the door of Leanne Melior's residence by an unseen street urchin in the dead of night)]

(Letter pushed under the door of Leanne Melior's residence by an unseen street urchin in the dead of night)

Letter 2.

Dear Leanne.

I promised you I would write again. Keep this safe along with the first letter as it is yet more evidence against a church which is in truth anti Avatarian.

Klion D’Gar, the one time ruler of Yew, gave much of which I will now tell you to me. Shortly after I first made contact with Klion I soon gained his trust due to the solid and reliable information I was able to pass on to him. Through him I was also able to get to know his wife, Larynda, and we became firm friends despite the fact she was drow.

Back in the days when Yew was nothing more than a glorified swamp, the church was formed as a buffer to explain the hardship the Yewish people endured. It was not the poor location for settlement that was to blame but everything that was around them. The church was formed not to create an aura of comfort and succour but to create an aura of fear and hatred. But a fundamental problem existed in that the word of the Avatar did not sit well with fear and hatred. So to get around this they created the myth that compassion was a false virtue. Of course it took time for the church to get an iron grip on the people but through the tacit agreement of the Yewish military, the church was able to cower the people by force. The relationship between the church and the Yew leadership became symbiotic since there was but one singular aim – total domination of the land.

The people of Yew were conditioned to have a fear and hatred of outsiders and other races especially elves. Everything and everyone outside Yew was to blame for anything that went wrong. Anyone using the arcane was classed as a wytch and condemned. Anything they did not understand was wrong and classed as evil. The world was against them so they would conquer and dominate it. Women also suffered at the hands of the church, they were seen as a distraction to military training, a drain on strength and prowess and every month became “unclean” which was seen as another form of wytchery.

When Yew first allied with Cove they immediately set about introducing their corrupt version of the Avatarian Church. It was a successful introduction due to the fact that the Baron of Cove was only interested in gold. As long as his lust for riches was satisfied he could not care less what happened around him. A weak man and even weaker leader he was easily manipulated by the church and military. With the connivance of the Covian military, which for the first time had a sense of power, the church systematically hammered elves and women into submission. The same element of fear that was so successful in Yew brought the Covian citizenship in line. The church, then as it does today, feeds on fear and if no apparent threat exists, it creates one to keep the citizens in fear.

Through the church Cove has become a puppet state of Yew. All part of the plan to make Yew the “master race”, when Yew says jump Cove asks how high. Covian military decisions are at the dictate of the church and align with Yewish policy. Not only are Covians slaves to an evil church but also slaves to Yewish expansionism.

Now I know you will point out that there have been times when Cove and Yew where not allies, indeed allied with other states to fight against Yew. But these instances happened at times when the church was weak, had token presence in Cove and the authority of the church did not reach beyond Yewish borders. It is no coincidence that when the church is strong Cove falls in line with Yew.

The purpose of a religion is to give believers comfort when needed, to aid it’s congregation when required, feed it’s flock when times are hard and a place to turn to when all seems lost. Does the church of Yew/Cove perform that service? No. It forces people to attend, it forces people to comply, it controls it’s people by fear. It makes example of “sinners” sending the message that this is what is in store if you do not obey.

And here is the irony of all this, the church would not be able to do this without the support and connivance of the military. The church controls the command and the command controls the troops. The church templars themselves alone are weak and cowardly. Let me give you an example. Not too long ago I was spying on the church when I spotted Hugo alone on horseback. I considered attacking him from my hidden position in a tree. He would be dead before he knew what hit him. I was just about to pounce when a water ellie drifted onto the land and went for Hugo so I withheld my attack. Hugo, even on horseback struggled to defeat the ellie, something I would have obliterated in moments but he struggled and screamed in fear. For what seemed like an age the ellie attacked and he ran. It chased him and clearly had the beating of him and I laughed hilariously to myself watching the spectacle. Eventually because the fiend had been out of its element for so long and became weakened, Hugo defeated it with the help of his horse. He then bolted for the sanctuary of his church.

That is Hugo the almighty templar, Leanne, a coward at heart. A coward who is only brave when surrounded by lackeys beating up restrained and defenceless women. Oh what a hard, brave superman he is!

Mischief

[(Letter pushed under the door of Leanne Melior's residence by an unseen street urchin in the dead of night)]

(Letter pushed under the door of Leanne Melior's residence by an unseen street urchin in the dead of night)

Dear Leanne.

After you left several days ago, I thought long and hard about writing this letter. You said you did not want to know what I had to tell you, but you need to know and you know within yourself that is the truth. You need to put your fear behind you and take all necessary means to protect yourself and those you love. Your parting words to me were “If I ever see you in Cove, I’ll kill you.” We both know you will not do that. I know full well who will and you and many others are not among them.

First to Kiran. You might wonder what a sick thug like him has to do with the Yew/Cove Church. Well the answer to that is his most heinous crime was sanctioned by the church. Back in the day when he lived in Yew and began his criminal activities, he got a girl pregnant. Not unusual you might say, but they were unmarried and by the laws of the church that is a crime. For almost two years he managed to keep his “secret” from the church and they stayed together unmarried although he did treat her extremely badly. The church finally got wind of the affair and confronted the three at their home one night. Although there were around 6 templars in attendance, Hugo may have been one of them but that is unverified, and a similar number of Yewish Militia no trial took place. All they did was issue a chilling verdict.

The girl was immediately burnt on a pyre. Her crime? She was a “whore” and a “temptress” who lured Kiran into sinning by using her “feminine charms” sent by the Guardian to prey on mans weakness. It was Kiran himself who poured oil over the poor girl and set the pyre alight. As the girl screamed in agony Kiran turned to the templars and thanked them for letting him set fire to the “harlot”. Judgement was then passed on Kiran. He was to repent his sins and as punishment was to leave Yew. He asked what his fate would be if he did not repent and if he did what was his penance. By not repenting he would suffer the same fate as the girl but by repenting his penance would be the destruction of all evidence of the affair.

Coward that he was, Kiran chose repentance. In front of all the gathered witnesses, Kiran picked up his baby daughter by the feet and repeatedly smashed her head against the fireplace until it was nothing but mush. He then threw the lifeless innocent girl into the fire and watched her burn. The templars congratulated Kiran on his wise choice and told him neither the girl nor the vile creature she spawned ever existed.

This was how Kiran described that terrible night, in fact he actually boasted about it. Now you may wonder why he would confirm a rumour that had be circulating for years without proof. Firstly I had tricked him into meeting me by turning his vainness against him. Secondly, he was sure I would not survive the encounter. But I had chosen the meeting place well, it was at the end of the bridge leading to the Vesper Honey Shop and I had arrived there hours before the arranged meeting time. My choice of location meant his henchmen, Van Cocidus, O’Connor and Valantine (yes Kas Valantine) could not sneak over the bridge unnoticed. I also had Kal Shadowhand as my backup that they were unaware of. Kiran was also unaware that I knew the secret exit from the honey shop area.

So I had all the evidence and all I needed was a witness. I eventually found one. His name is Tommy Nottingbury and I believe he may now be the only witness left to the atrocity. I asked him about that night and he confirmed everything Kiran told me, with one major difference. Tommy said the mother was forced to watch her daughter being brutally murdered before she was burned.

By this time Kiran was the Bailiff of Cove and used that office to continue his criminal activities. He was able to freely terrorise the locals, extorting ridiculous taxes and manoeuvred himself into an almost untouchable position. He did this by keeping the Baron happy financially, had his old VTC heavies, Cocidius, O’Connor and Gerek as enforcers and also used Cove Militia like Valantine, Tev’lar and even Morana. Crucially he also had the backing of the church because by exposing him it exposed the church. I took the evidence to Morana and told him justice should be done. But Morana had been bought off and he was also in other trouble because of the debacle surrounding his wife, she was abducted and tortured and despite warnings had allowed it to happen. Justice was never served on Kiran.

I knew too much, still do, so the full force of the church and army came down on me. I was caught, tortured and condemned to burn as a heretic. The night before I was due to die Kal Shadowhand and trusted allies busted me out of the barracks cell and I was free. Poor Kal’s reward was exile. The Covian armies best Viper had been discarded.

I am sorry this letter is so long but someone else now needs to know the full story about how deep the church corruption goes. Keep this letter safe, as it is just one small part of evidence. Other letters will follow. I will tell you what Ilyana knows, what Pickles knows but will not tell you because of the pain it will cause her. I will tell you what Klion confided to me and about the church tomes he showed me. The “Greater Being” the church worships is NOT the Avatar but the Shadowlord Astaroth.

No compassion equals no love, no love equals hatred – Astaroth.

You will hear again from me soon, but you know where to find me and how contact me anyway. You will not be alone in this, I will tell you who to trust and who to keep clear of. There is another on her way; she will have much to add about this corrupt conspiracy that has festered since the day the Yew/Cove church was founded.

Mischief

(Outside those directly involved this information is strictly OOC)

Living a dream in a nightmare scenario. The truth of the Avatar.

Since my last entry, all has been a haze until now. There is not much I can remember, not much I want to remember anyway. Betrayal, capture, torture, what’s to remember? I knew it was coming so I had prepared the best I could. In terms of torture Hugo and his cohorts were pretty amateurish. Didn’t search properly, didn’t check what I was wearing under my outer clothes. It still hurt though, accept for the melted wax dripping from a weak candle flame. Maybe he thought it was boiling, maybe his sensitivity is such that it burns him, who knows. I’d had enough and crunched down on the tiny vial I had concealed in my mouth and sent myself into a coma.

How long after, I do not know but I was revived. Marcus the medic did it. He must have found the antidote vial in my coat lining. Least he knew how to search properly. Eventually I was led to some sort of church ceremony. All I could recall was a lot of mumbo jumbo then being pushed through a blue moongate and land on my face on the steep sloping side of a caldera. At the bottom was a large lake of seething, bubbling lava and I was sliding towards it. A small rock jutted out from the shale and I managed to snag the chain of my wrist shackles around it to stop my slide to the bottom. Secure, I rested until the heat rising from the lava pit became unbearable and had to commence my assent. It was difficult to gain purchase on the loose shale and it took forever. Two feet up, one foot back, occasionally finding rocks to snag my shackles on and rest, it took forever to reach the top. When I did, I found the outer slope just as steep. This time I lay on my back and using my feet as brakes I got to the bottom, faster than I wanted, and came to rest against a tree trunk that I slammed into harder than I wished. I passed out again.

When I woke up again I saw the kindly face of an old man staring down at me. He helped me up and put me over his shoulder and started to carry me away from the volcano. It was then I noticed, hanging from his neck, a large silver ankh. Shit! I thought. Out of the fire and into…what next? Where am I, I asked? The Isle of the Avatar he replied.

The old man was strong and he carried me to what looked like a priory. He called for assistance and, what I assumed were three middle-aged female clerics, took me away. I was washed and bathed, my injuries attended to and then fed. When I could eat or drink no more I was taken to a sparsely furnished room where I was guided to lie in a narrow but very comfortable cot. I slept and slept.

After who knows how long I finally awoke fully feeling strong and refreshed. Sitting by my cot was the old man. He asked me who did this and pointing to his ankh I replied, your church did. On hearing this he frowned deeply and told me that is not the way of the Avatar. To the best of my knowledge I explained what had gone on before and what treatment I had received and that this had not been the first time. He then asked me about the brand on the back of my right hand, so I told him. The kindly faced old man took my hand and looked into my eyes and began to speak. This is what he told me.

“The Northern Chapter has long been the bane of the Avatarian Church. It is a rebel branch that Avatarian Church Council based in Britain has long continually objected to and that their clergy had all been expelled. They have been touched by the Shadow Lords, Astaroth, Faulineri and Nofentor; Hatred, Falsehood and Cowardice. It is ironic that Cove is the City of Love and Yew, the City of Justice; stand for all that is a corruption of the word of the Avatar, a travesty of the virtues. Without compassion there can be no love, only hatred and without compassion there can be no justice, only injustice. Justice is fair and right, injustice is not.

The Avatarian Church does not impose its will on the people of Britannia; it does not force people to obey. Nor does it wield a sword of fear to keep people in line. The Avatar embraced all peoples as equals and acknowledged that it is a persons’ free will whether to believe or not. Furthermore the Avatar did not recognise heresy, only healthy theological debate. Without compassion, thou art nothing but an empty hateful soul.”

With those words he left me to rest once more and after a few days I felt ready to move on. He asked me where I would head next and when I told him Serpent’s Hold, he smiled and said I was a true Daughter of the Avatar. “ A wise place to begin anew your journey.” He said. “For thou art one of immense Courage. From thence go to the Lycaeum and find the Truth then go back to Cove and spread Love.” He then made arrangements for me to leave, blessed me and sent me on my way.

* A filthy street urchin shoves a note under Leanne’s door.

The note said simply: -

Same place as before. Burn this.

At the known location, in the pre-arranged place another note is left. *

Friends,

I’m alive but in a bit of a mess. I need to see you soon, but first I need to see our other mutual friend, you know the one. Send her to the dark place I once met with you.

It was not just Sanderson who betrayed me, someone even closer betrayed me. I will eliminate her when the time is right. I will clarify all when I meet our mutual friend.

Regards,
Julia.

Release at last. Preparation.

Finally that monster released Ilyana but with stringent conditions. It is within those conditions that the Sisters and I find us hampered. One move against the church and Ilyana suffers whether she was involved or not. Another classic drow manoeuvre; is this bastard in league with them? They are watching me, watching Ilyana’s abode but I am too smart for them. I visit her regularly entering unseen through her bedroom window that she conveniently leaves slightly open for me. She’s improving a little each day but I think she is rushing things and needs to take it a bit easier. She is too strong headed for her own good. But the hold the church has over her is hampering our efforts, this is why I must get her away, this is what the others in the group do not seem to comprehend. I’ll bide my time a little more, then appeal directly to Ily. In the end the decision is hers.

Over the days things have been generally quiet, apart from sporadic attacks by the Undead. They are getting bolder each time and even managed to ruin the grand opening of Carolin’s Inn. She took the death of one of her friends quite badly, but when you sign up for the army, you effectively sign up to die. One thing I noticed within the ranks is a growing resentment of the church. If only they would do something about it. But then what is said in a drunken haze is rarely actioned on.

This apart, I have used the period to concentrate on preparations for the inevitable; plan for the worst, hope for the best. I sneaked into the barracks one night and down to the jail to have a look around. I was looking for possible weaknesses to exploit in any escape attempt. The walls around the cells are solid and thick, no obvious weakness, the whole building is strong and well built. The only way through would be by explosives – not an option. There is no way I could hide enough explosives on my person to blow a hole in the outside wall. Even the notoriously lax searching by the guards would not miss that. As I made to leave, slightly dispirited, I spotted something. Perfect. One up to me!

These last few days has also given me a chance to try and build up a friendship with a Watchwoman who I shall call Sheri. The girl is originally from Templewood and it is clear she knows a lot about the true Avatarian church and is fully aware how the Cove/Yew branch has corrupted the word of the Avatar. Another advantage is that unlike most of the military personnel she is bright and intelligent. This I can use to my advantage when I start searching for tomes and documents that prove the falsehood of that zealot Hugo.

Talking of Hugo, some interesting facts surrounding his personal life have emerged that at the very least will prove extremely embarrassing to him once it becomes public. And make it public I soon will. Handled correctly this will bring him down and finish him for good.

Dear Axiana.

It is so lovely to see you back in Cove after all this time and your arrival has lifted my spirits. I hope our mutual close friend Eve is not far behind.

As to your Summer Faire, I have no trade that would be appropriate for this kind of event. However if there is some capacity in which you think I might be of use, please let me know.

Yours,
Mischief

More brutality and hypocrisy. Betrayal.

Damn that stupid bitch Sanderson, what is she playing at? There I was doing my best to comfort Ilyana and being profoundly respectful to that monster Hugo (through gritted teeth of course) when out of the blue she mentioned something that made the bastard suspicious of me. Why in the Nine Hells did she do that? I scampered smartly before anyone could react and hid in the woods for a time. Whilst there I had time to reflect on what had just happened and to think back on our conversation the previous night, what caused her to betray me? The consensus I receive from Kelly and others (aye and even one or two Sisters) is “don’t rock the boat” “you’ll only make things worse for Ilyana”. I am now coming to the conclusion this is total bullshit! They do not want to do anything not because of consequences to Ilyana, but because of consequences to themselves. In a nutshell they are happy to see someone else suffer as long as it is not they. It is outright cowardice. They are willing to go to war to protect their territory yet afraid to revolt against the tyranny on their doorstep. It just does not make sense. They are slaves, no other description for it, slaves that are willing for their children and their children’s children to become slaves. They will fight to preserve their oppression but will do nothing to remove the shackles of brutality and humiliation. They are masochists who need a sadistic tormentor.

I was angry at Sanderson’s betrayal and started to make preparations for revenge but then I paused. The dumb bitch would be expecting it and be extremely wary, let her sweat a bit. Calming further I decided to leave her be, for in the end she’s just a brainwashed zombie who does not realise what she is doing. Still let her sweat anyway and her name join the list that my contacts hold of people who will never wake up again if anything happens to me.

Earlier I had met up with Leanne in Umbra as we had arranged. I had sympathy for her demeanour that showed she was very apprehensive of being here. I assured her that she was safe with me; the necros would ignore her in my presence. Not sure how she took that but she has to learn to trust me. I outlined my plan. I was either going to release Ilyana myself or wait until Hugo released her then take her away to a safe place where the monster could never touch her again. She objected vehemently to this pointing out that getting her released was just what the church expected. On this I did agree because the lax security around Ilyana was an obvious trap. I then insisted that I was taking her away as soon as she was officially released. I told her that no one would know where to find her. I told Leanne not even she would know. She protested that by doing so I was putting her and others at risk. I said that is why you will not know where I have taken her and if questioned she and the rest were to tell the truth, give my name to Hugo as the perpetrator. This caused more protests because then my life would be endangered. I told her that was irrelevant, if that was the case, so be it. She still refused to agree.

What Leanne and the rest of the band do not seem to realise is that Hugo is playing a game. It is textbook drow torture. Torture, let them recover and make them think it is over, then begin again. The same cycle over and over again until the victim becomes a mindless empty shell. Death is a blessing. Ilyana cannot take much more, I told Leanne, I can see the signs. Still she would not agree so I offered a compromise. Once Ilyana was released I would do nothing this time. But if Hugo hauled her in again nothing was going to stop me releasing her and taking her away. She gave me her word and we left.

Before that stupid incident with Kelly, I met up with a very old friend, Axiana. Was good to see her and eased my dark mood over Ilyana’s plight. We talked for a bit then departed. We will have a very long catch up chat before long. After the Kelly incident I caught up with Carolin and told her what had happened. She became very concerned and deeply worried about what will become of me. I tried my best to reassure her and it was then I realised just how much she cared for me. I left to track down Hoagie, I need to talk to him about Kelly but he’d obviously retired for the night. It can wait.

Finally I got round to my night vigil with Ilyana. She was in a hell of a state. The latest beating had left her barely responsive. It sickened me and I truly wept for the first time since I was a child. In one of her brief lucid moments I whispered a code word in her ear. This was so she would recognise me if I appeared to her in disguise. She at least would know who I really was. I whispered away the hours telling her my plans for the future and how nothing would please me more if she became part of them. I do not know how much of this she took in, if anything. No matter it gave me solace, it gave me hope. Ilyana will not be destroyed on my watch.

*In the dead of night Mischief sent out her runner to deliver a note under the door of Leanne and Pickles’ residences.

The cryptic note said simply: -

Same place as before. Burn this.

At the known location under a rock, Mischief left another note.*

Friends,

That bitch Sanderson dropped me in it. I now expect Blackthorn’s puppet to come after me. Made preparations, might need to go deep under cover. If I do I’ll give you a sign

Regards
Julia

Lies, damned lies, brutality and hypocrisy.

Sunday, bloody Sunday. Late afternoon and the town is paralysed in apprehension – no fear. That is the grip those monsters that call themselves “Men of the Avatar” have on this place. It has always been this way. The people are ignorant, they only know the corrupt ways of their church and pointing this out only draws blank stares. Falsehood must be countered by truth, so disguised as a church servant dressed in brilliant white to draw attention, I distributed as many of Friar Wellesly’s books as I could. I then changed into another disguise and attended the service. I could barely take the stench of hatred that oozed from the mouth of Hugo. Ilyana was once again brutalised and humiliated and I could feel the bile rise up and it took all my will not to throw up. I could stand it no longer, I had to leave and get some air. It took all my strength not to react seeing Ilyana chained to the pole in the church grounds and listen to Yewish inbred bastards mock her. I noted who they were and resolved to get them one by one even if it took me a lifetime.

Coincidentally, Yew was my next destination. It was the trial of Nadia for the attempted murder of Aries Harper. What I witnessed was a pure travesty of justice. The whole thing should have been cut and dried as Nadia had admitted her guilt and there were numerous witnesses to the attempt anyway. But the trial descended into a total farce where the victim was portrayed as the guilty party rather than the perpetrator. Poor Aries’ private life was exposed to the court, as if that had any relevance to the case. The verdict was equally farcical. For attempted murder a pathetic dishonourable discharge! Ilyana gets brutalised for some trivial offence whilst an attempted murderer walks scot-free! The only explanation to that travesty is that Nadia shagged her way out of it with Hugo and the rest of his church hypocrites. She looked like a whore, spoke like a whore, so most likely whored her way out of deserved punishment. As for Aries she has 6 weeks to marry Morana or else suffer dire consequences. Morana has the bigger problem for in that time he has to prove his wife is dead. Good luck on that Raiden, no doubt you will be calling on me anytime soon.

I returned to Cove and kept vigil over Ilyana and I will do so every night until she is released. In the water I gave her, I slipped in a little amount of the Heartwood powder. Just enough to dull the pain and send her to a dreamless sleep. As dawn approached I returned to the Inn to find a note directing me to particular destination. Tired as I was I headed straight there to find a message from one of the Sisters. I gave a terse reply arranging a meeting and headed off, I was desperate for sleep.

After I slept most of the day it was time to get back to work. Seems I’m going to become nocturnal for the foreseeable future. I joined Kelly Sanderson’s task force early in the evening primarily because I wanted a chance to speak to her privately. The chance arose but I did not make any headway. Despite the growing sense of unease within the Militia ranks, some already on the verge of revolt, many are too far indoctrinated to see the corrupt nature of the Covian Avararian church. When I told Kelly that Cove stood for one of the Avatar’s principles, that of love, she just looked bemused. Even personal tragedy at the hands of the church was not enough for her to fight back. The culture, the indoctrination is too far ingrained. But the more Hugo and his band of perverted zealots continue with their brutality, the more likely the people will eventually turn. Make Ilyana a martyr Hugo, and it is a victory for us, not you!

I also had a brief conversation with a female cleric who was charged with keeping an eye on Ilyana. What a stupid ignorant bitch she turned out to be. No, that is unfair, she has been brainwashed into an unthinking subservient zombie. A dark thought crossed my mind. How easy it would be to have this mindless creature kidnapped and sold to the drow. Mischief you are treading a very thin line here, can you stoop so low? An eye for an eye, fight fire with fire, the end justifies the means. No Mischief you cannot preach compassion and do that. Doing so would make you no better than them, a hypocrite, worse, a monster just like Hugo.

Before I began my nightly vigil with poor courageous Ilyana, I headed to Yew to see if I could learn anything. Something was bugging me about the church and the reliance on using Yewish guardsmen in Cove. I’m aware there is an alliance between Cove and Yew but this is a little more sinister. My suspicions are the church is not only using the Yew militia as bullyboys but to take over in Cove and overthrow the Covian militia. There where few Yewish guards around when I got there. I hid in a tree and spotted Aries but she did not hang around. The few others that remained on guard, whom I did not know, were fairly talkative but it was all useless mundane chatter. One of them had a pet wolf and after a time began sniffing around. Shit! How I hate those beasts. As it got closer to the tree I was hiding in, it was time for me to go. The bushes below the tree served as sufficient cover for me to leave undiscovered before that blasted wolf got too close and make a fuss. Right now Ily was more important anyway.

Dear Father,

My name is Katrina Humble and I am a visitor from Magincia. I’m sure, Father, you will know of the devastation to my city at the hands of the Guardian and how through the strength of the Avatar the city was rebuilt to its almost former glory. Being a devout Avatarian and it being a Sunday, I attended your service in Cove’s beautiful church.

Forgive me Father, but I could not remain to the end of your service because I found the proceedings all so wrong. The service did not portray the sense of spirituality of the Avatar that I experience at my own church in Magincia, nor other churches I have visited in other fine cities of the land. Indeed the service was both disturbing and sinister and profoundly opposite to my beliefs and teachings. Furthermore, not only was there no compassion there was no justice either. What there was, was the blind rage of revenge.

But most disturbing Father was the shadows that surrounded you for they were none other than Astaroth, Faulineri and Nosfentor. Hatred, Falsehood and Cowardice, the anti-thesis of the principles of the Avatar. I therefore fear Father, you have become touched by the Guardian and I urge you to seek redemption.

As I now depart your fine city of Cove, I leave this letter for you to take immediate action to save your soul. The whole event of last night has left me disturbed and shaken and I must inform the church authorities of what I have witnessed.

The Avatar be with you Father, I pray for your soul.

Signed
Katrina Humble

Dear Hoagie.

Time you opened your eyes and saw what is going on amongst your troops. Can you not see how low the morale is amongst many of your ranks? Are you yourself comfortable in the way one of your number is abused and humiliated by the church? Was the crime committed by Ilyana Drachen so terrible that it warrants such continual punishment?

You must go to the Preceptor and demand that this ends now. This has gone beyond justice; this is one man’s gleeful pursuit of deviant pleasure. At the service I saw with my own eyes, as did many of the congregation, how Hugo and others took sheer delight in abusing that poor woman. This is in total contrast to the teachings of the Avatar. It is clear these men are touched by the Guardian and are wallowing in the sexual gratification that devil demands. Like me you must have received a copy of the book by Friar Wellesly. Read it and know how corrupt this church in Cove has become.

I beg you Hoagie, grow a pair, take action now and end this travesty. If you do not you are soon going to have a revolt in the ranks to deal with.

Signed
A Friend

[[OOC. Last night many copies of a book were distributed to players by a character dressed in pure white. Copies were also left in the Goblin, the Inn and the Town Hall. For ease of reading, the following is the text of the book.]]

[OOC. Last night many copies of a book were distributed to players by a character dressed in pure white. Copies were also left in the Goblin, the Inn and the Town Hall. For ease of reading, the following is the text of the book.]

Disputation of Richard Wellesly on the Efficacy of Punishment

Too many good men have died not knowing the compassionate nature of our Lord the Avatar. They know all to well his just nature, but not his humble and compassionate sensibilities. The fire and brimstone of many of my esteemed ecclesiastical colleagues is not wholly wrong. There is a time and a place for punishing heretics. But without the compassion and humility that our dear Avatar so clearly espoused, then we push away our believers. They will fear us, when they should love us. They will reject us, when they should welcome us.

Many of you will recall the tale known as The Avatar and The Brigand. The Avatar was in the forest one day when set upon by a nefarious type, a brigand. The Avatar was momentarily surprised, but threw the man off him with a turn of his shield and was soon at the man’s throat with his sword. At first the brigand snarled at the Avatar, but the serene expression on our Lord’s face unnerved him, and he began to weep. Our Lord asked the man why he wept when justice demanded death for his crimes and that a man of his calibre should well expect that. The man began to recount his life to the Avatar; an impoverished childhood, a plague-stricken family, a swindled business and a livelihood lost. The Avatar drew his sword away and sheathed it. He told the man to stand and laid a hand on his shoulder. Our Lord said. “Go now child, and make peace with thyself, redeem your lost way”. The brigand cast down his weapon and headed for the town. It is said after many of toil this man opened his own Inn.

The point of this tale is that the Avatar saved this man’s soul not through justice or sacrifice, but through humility and compassion. Compassion should never be subordinated to the needs of justice. If one deserves compassion, then one should receive it. Compassion is the virtue that separates us from the servants of the Guardian. Without this we are mere brutes. Honourable, honest, just and valorous brutes, but brutes nonetheless.

I do not write this treatise to debate with my brethren of the cloth. We fight the same battles. We have the same enemies. I merely seek to remind them of the compassion and humility that led them to the faith in the first place. We must welcome all the Avatar’s children to the faith and not be endlessly searching for heretics amongst the innocent faithful. This will only drive believers into the hands of the Guardians and in extreme cases, we clergy may find ourselves unwitting servants too.

This change and reform will take time, but if we do not wish to experience a revolution against the Church of Britannia we must move ourselves into the modern age. I will no doubt encounter resistance to my teachings, but those that may seek my death in order to quiet my words will only prove that compassion and humility is gravely lacking in our clergy. Nevertheless if my death is required by our Lord the Avatar to allow for ecclesiastical progress then I shall gladly go. But I will not die a martyr nor wish to be seen as one. I am but a man, with a simple set of teachings. I have no political ambitions nor do I seek high office in the Church. I simply wish to return our faith to its former pure balance. Reform it to a balanced state, where all virtues are equally represented. Where compassion, the virtue that sets us apart from the criminals, wild animals, abominations and servants of the Guardian, is never forgotten.

R. Wellesly.
Friar

As dawn started to approach, Mischief reluctantly ended her vigil over Ilyana and returned home. She found the note, memorised the location and burned the note. Mischief immediately set out, her mood profoundly dark after the hours in deep thought guarding Ilyana. The expression on her face was one of hatred; she looked ready to kill.

On reaching the location she read the note and scribbled a reply underneath: -

Meet me. Umbra. Alone. Change your attire. Soon as you can.

Regards
Julia

Mischief headed to Leanne’s residence and slipped a note under her door, it simple said: -

A reply. Same location.

She then return home, rested for a short time.

Corruption, hypocrisy and lies.

Been an eventful last few days, I have been busy behind the scenes nurturing my network and all seems well. There is a new Inn being built opposite the Green Goblin pub and I have gone into partnership with Carolin the owner. This provides me with excellent cover and another avenue to exploit. If the church sees me as a “good citizen” then the better chance I will be left in peace to get on with my “real” work.

In the late evening of one night a blue magical portal appeared, which some call a “moongate”, not far from the barracks door. Nothing particularly unusual in itself but what stunned me and the various citizens and military nearby was who emerged from the portal. It was none other than a church Inquisitor! Well, well, well. The church classes ordinary arcanists as wytches and there before my eyes was a church official using “evil magic”! What a prime example of hypocrisy! This was a gift for our campaign against the church, one to exploit to the full. So it is one law for the church and other for the rest of us – do as I say not as I do? Huh. The Avatar led by example, the church that soils his name is nothing but a self-serving, perverted, brutish tyranny.

The following evening I struck up a conversation in the Goblin with a young military girl by the name of Sheriam. As we got chatting the conversation turned to the church. Turns out she had recently left Templewood following the death of her mentor and had signed up with the Covian army. Her origin intrigued me and it turned out that my suspicions were correct, she was a true Avatarian. She was a follower of the true church. I made up my mind there and then to befriend the girl. She is just the kind of person that will be useful to our campaign. Someone who knows the true message of the Avatar, not the corrupt bastardisation of Cove and Yew. I must be cautious with her though so as not to “spook” her. At this point her faith would prevent her from going against even the corrupt version she attends.

After leaving Sheriam I retired to the half build Inn to get some rest. In the stupid o’ clock hours of the morning I was awaken by a loud explosive sound. Shit! What now? Turns out the church had been damaged by a cannon shot. Oh how I laughed. So someone also with a grievance had decided on the direct action method. More power to them. Then it dawned upon me, this could back fire on me. Although the church as yet had not cottoned on to the fact I was back, it was only a matter of time. Even although they would know that blowing up buildings is not my modus operandi that would not stop them making me a scapegoat. Any rogue operations against the church is helpful but the Sisters will not be part of it. We have our own agenda.

Last night I joined Leanne and her troop on a supply patrol to Altmere. Gave me a chance to observe her closely and no doubt she did the same to me. Not far outside our destination we were ambushed, as expected, by a bunch of undead. In the ensuing melee, I took down one of the tragic creatures. A fruitless exercise really since it will just rise again later. Still unless undead can regenerated, this one will be minus its right hand for I cut it off and put it in my pocket for later disposal. Afterwards Leanne, Pickles and myself had a long chat. I think at last she is beginning to thaw a little towards me. Maybe calling her Miss Frosty Knickers is a bit unfair. I think the route cause of her antagonism lies in the fact I have and still do, deal with the drow. I told her that in my business I have to deal with things that are distasteful even to me. She was taken aback when I explained that just about all city leaders, including Cove, have all at one time or another ask me to be a go-between and arrange a meeting with the drow queen. What they discussed is not my concern, I do not know and nor do I want to. I think she seemed to understand that apart from arranging clandestine trysts I would have nothing to do with them. Knowing what her and Pickles experience at the hands of those bitches it is natural to think I may have been in league with them. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Late that evening I relaxed in the Goblin, water only, I do not drink thank goodness. The Goblin was raucous and full of people who were intent on getting drunk. I tried to speak with Sheriam, since she at least was remaining sober but it was futile amid the noise and chaos. One thing that did stand out was a guy called Sergio. I had been tipped off that he was a possible candidate to be part of our operation. In his drunken stupor he mouthed off loudly about the church that were heretical and down right dangerous. Fortunately for him no churchies were present nor were most of his companions sober enough to understand what he was saying. Only Sheriam noticed and tried to calm him, clearly she understood how stupid he was. When a man gets drunk, the few brain cells he processes just turn to mush. I mentally crossed his name off my list. When Aries arrived I tried to get her attention, I wanted to pass on my support for her in the up and coming trial. But either I was always on her “wrong” side or the distractions were too much. By this time the stink of vomit was becoming unbearable and when a fight broke out, I had had enough and left.

It had been a hectic week and I needed some peace and solitude. I wandered aimlessly and the next thing I knew I was outside Ilyana’s place. I noticed her bedroom window was slightly open and unthinkingly I climbed up and noiselessly broke in. I sat in a chair near her bed I watched her sleep so peacefully. Just watching over her filled me with peace and well-being. She had obviously taken one of the powders I had given her because I could tell by her facial expressions she was not suffering terrible nightmares. Quite the opposite in fact. That made me feel even more serene so I stayed for hours, much longer than I should have. Thank you Ilyana, tonight I am at peace. The sun had just begun to rise so I left as silently as I entered. Before I left, I placed a single golden rose at the bottom of her bed. When she awakes she’ll wonder how it got there and who placed it.

Deviant. Bigot. Coward. Liar. Fanatic. Zealot. Pervert. Lecher. Corrupt. Hypocrite.

We could go on, there are so many ways to describe you and the rest of your sick cohorts. But for now we will settle on hypocrite.

For how long have you and your Church been condemning innocent folk as wytches because they were skilled in the art of the arcane? Well now you have a chance to redeem yourself and lose one of your above titles.

Last night a Church Inquisitor arrived in Cove to interrogate the prisoner known as Nadia. His method of arrival stunned the many witnesses, for he arrived through a powerful magic portal – a moongate. So by your own teachings this Inquisitor is a wytch and we demand his arrest, trial and condemnation. The people of Cove demand fair justice for all. The people will know the truth, we will ensure that happens and there is nothing you can do will stop us.

Know this too. You hold power because of the ignorance of the people. This will change because we will inform them of the truth. No longer will you be able to hide behind archaic language. Make martyrs of us and 10 more will replace each one burned!

The people will know the truth. Start by arresting the Inquisitor wytch!


Sisters of Jaana