Everyone has been speculating on Phaestus, His Shrines and His Order for
many months now in conjunction with the Vertani and I thought it my duty
to inform the world of the happenings over the last few years, as His
Hand.

We first noticed the Shrines of Phaestus had changed considerably with a
taint some months ago. At first we thought this was a trick by some of
our enemies in the city of Mhaldor but then more information came to
light. Several notes were found around the world explaining more parts
of a small puzzle.

One was found in Shallam that after some analysis confirmed that a spell
had been placed on the Shrine on Vizier Street, by the command of the
Lord of the Blackrock.
Another 2 were found in Hashan. The first from a scout asking permission
to slay Typhoon for leaking some information to the public and a
response from the Lord of Blackrocks saying ignore him as he is
inconsequential.
A fourth was found in the Ashtan poor district implicating an attempt to
frame Makali for the taint that was infecting the Shrines.
The last one found in Cyrene explained that the taint was created by
Grima of Blackrock and was spread throught the connection of the Shrines
in the act of Worldburn.

One day many Chosen were sitting in the temple talking when Jerh'mias
the High Cleric of Phaestus began to hear a voice calling him. The
Chosen, along with delegates of Cyrene, the Runewardens and Eleusis
followed Jerh'mias to the Great Statue of Phaestus on the Vashnar
Mountain road to Cyrene. This Huge Statue of the Divine Lord, some
hundred feet tall reverberated to Jerh'mias with instructions from the
voice.

The voice confirmed that Barak had ordered the spell made by Grima and
that the taint was attacking Phaestus essence, but was not an attack on
the Divine Creator. The taint was designed to kill all His children,
taking from Phaestus those He loved as He had abandoned the Dwarves that
loved Him inside the Blackrock halls. The voice instructed Jerh'mias
that Phaestus had created a receptacle for the taint and had stored it
in the Ibhir Nest in the His temple there, watched over by His priests.
The act had so weakened Phaestus that He has become insubstantial and
has drifted into a deep slumber as He battles the taint that threatens
to destroy His Chosen. And so the Great Lord of Creation sleeps out in
the cosmos somewhere awaiting the day Grima's spell loses strength and
His children are safe once more.

Jerh'mias then led the representatives through the skilled tracking
ability across land of Baldazar Lighthawk, Craftmaster of Phaestus, to
the Ibhir Nest wherein lay the receptacle of Phaestus in His likeness.
The statue, of Phaestus fighting against the taint to His essence, sits
in silent vigile for as long as it will take to save the lives of so
many faithfull followers.

So again, as He has done before, Phaestus has sacrificed Himself for His
children, the Chosen of Phaestus and all those Dwarves that revere Him.

As of this moment the Order of Phaestus are closing their doors. We will
re-open our Supplicant programme once our 50+ members decide on Our fate
while our Divine Father, our beloved Master sleeps and while those of us
that need to privately greive for Him do so. Those in the Supplicant
Programme allready, or pending applications will be processed.

Jrh'mias will not be collecting new letters of application untill
further notice.

Thank you to everyone that has helped the Chosen through this dificult
time, those members who have worked diligently against the taint.
Cyrene, Eleusis, Hashan and Shallam citizens who have revered Phaestus
and wanted to see Him return to us. The Priests of Ibhir Nest who
valiantly watch over Phaestus's receptacle with their new powers He has
bestown upon them because of their faith and everyone that is close to a
child of Phaestus and is helping them through it all.

I also would like to personally thank Prospero for all His help in
advising me on the course to lead the Chosen down during this harsh time
we face, as many have faced before with the fall of their God.

May Phaestus Bless You All!!!

Penned by my hand on the 2nd of Mayan, in the year 379 AF.