Greetings Achaea,

The Clerics of Phaestus have been investigating many strange happenings
in the Blackrock area, in particular how the Dwarves there lost their
faith. Through guided meditation, prayer and sacrifice, Phaestus sent us
a vision which pointed us in the right direction. I swooped down over
the land and saw a group of Dwarves marching towards the Blackrock.
Gringor strode in their lead, his Goldenaxe shining brightly in the sun,
a true Dwarven Warrior of Lore. In the distance on the hills a taint
seemed to infuse the rocks, the taint of Mhaldor. In the skies the Gods
waged war as each came forth to battle the Lord Sartan. Up untill this
point mortals had been left to fight the battle and with Sartan weakened
the Gods took their hand. What is strange is that my vision did not
focus on the battle, nor the old dwarf sitting in the Temple of Phaestus
sharing an ale with Jerh'mias while watching the event, but it focused
on the taint in the rocks. No matter how hard I tried I couldnt refocus
the vision away from the red taint.

Like a bolt of divine lightning realisation struck me .. the taint and
fog was thought to be a product of Sartan's imprisonment when it was
first noticed, but here it was before the mountain had been cast down by
the Hammer of Phaestus. How is it then that when the Dwarves arrived at
the Vashnar Mountain that was brought down did the taint allready exist,
and how is it that these souls were brought forth to this locale at this
particular time, led by a great Dwarven Hero? For what purpose?

In our investigation of the halls we came across many things the least
of which was how the Dwarves lost their faith. Someone true to their
faith in Phaestus would easily shrug off the attempts of an Apostate to
subvert them to Sartan so the power used must have been stronger than
mere words. The taint that was infusing itself into the souls of the
Dwarves in the Blackrock was just a catalyst.

After their long time imprisonment the Dwarves lost their hope of
redemption from Phaestus and with this loss of Hope despair seeped into
the emptiness that was created from the heartache at being turned down.
In this despair the truths of evil, brought forth through
experimentation by Lord Sartan on the Clerics of Phaestus. Torturing the
souls of these poor Dwarves, Lord Sartan created the opportunity for his
Truths to take hold as the easiest path to take is not that which brings
suffering and pain but that which brings life.

The clerics of Phaestus will continue to investigate this situation to
its utmost but the questions remain -
1. Where did the red fog come from before Sartan was imprissoned?
2. Who sent the dwarves to the exact spot where Phestus threw his
Hammer?
3. why is it Phaestus never knew of these Dwarves' plight?
4. Why would Lord Sartan have to goto extreme measures to subvert
Dwarves to Him, when all Dwarves have the right of free-will?

May Phaestus Bless All His Children
Molotov Lighthawk - Hand of the Lord

Penned by my hand on the 8th of Phaestian, in the year 357 AF.