Greetings once more, Sapience!

Many thanks Brimir for that most useful list for Sapience's priests and
paladins. I noted one name on the list, which interested me
particularly. I do not think that anyone in Sapience would be surprised
to see Santar's name on that list - infamous (if former) Occultist, a
prolific, if lower-class thief of meagre talent. I would not dignify him
with the adjective Evil, but his petty, indiscriminate, small-minded
aggression against all of Sapience - in particular, those who are too
young or too weak to mount any meaningful opposition - is common
knowledge.

Imagine my surprise then, to see him forming a regular part of Shallam
and the Church's offensive and defensive operations. I even see him
fighting shoulder to shoulder with that paragon of fanaticism, and
member of the Anointed Synod, Silas Maynard - the very Sultan of
Shallam!

Could this be the same group which only a few years ago ejected citizens
from Shallam for even defending the very idea of consorting with
Occultists? Can this be the very same Church that is, even now,
beginning a new wave of fanaticism and repression across the realms? Can
members of the upstanding House of the Guardians of the Light - where
honour is their watch and warrant - be permitting this? This
fraternizing with enemies?

One can hardly credit it, and yet it seems to be true. Our knightly
House, the Maldaathi, would never sully their honour by riding forth
with enemies. I suppose that definitions of Honour, like so much else.
must differ slightly from east to west.

I had such high hopes for Silas' Sultanship. I had such high hopes for
Bishop Evensong's Archprelacy. A new era had dawned, I thought; one
where our enemies would be worthy of the name. The brightest light
against the darkest Evil. When the dust clears, we see that not much has
changed after all. The Church still betrays its founding principles, and
festers in rank hypocrisy.

I await the day when the purity of your ideology matches ours. Until
then, you will continue to be routed on the battlefield. There can be no
strength of arms, without strength of spirit and yours is corroded by
lies and the weakness of your purpose.

Yours, in disgust and disappointment,
Tenebrus Ninefingers;
Speaker of the Truths and Scourge of Hypocrisy
Grand Larcenist, and Master Thief.


Penned by my hand on the 9th of Scarlatan, in the year 457 AF.