To the Church,

For most of my life I let my heart succumb to the teachings of Good and
the Light, taught to me by the Empyreal Assembly, the Holy Church of
Achaea, and the city of Shallam. I truly believed in every word I
studied, every ideal I was taught, and every sermon I preached. I rose
through the ranks in the House, people learned my name in the Church,
and I defended the city of Shallam with my life.

Throughout my intense devotion to these organizations, however, I was
met with only distrust and abuse. Not a single act of kindness for my
fellow allies in Light seemed appreciated, and during the war with
Ashtan I was even accused of treason against the city.

I left the city to follow in the ex-Archprelate Rho's footsteps, giving
my devotion completely to the Church and the place I thought held the
most truth. It took a long time for me to realize what I was paying
homage to when I regurgitated the teachings of the Holy Codex and fought
for the Churchs cause, but, over eighty years into my life, Ive finally
grown wise enough to the see the truth.

I was taught that the whole world was my enemy. I was taught that we,
The Church, were the only people working to further Growth and Creation,
and that the rest of Sapience was working against us. I was taught that
Occultists were deplorable in their "destructive" practice of Chaos and
that all Mhaldorians were set out to hinder Growth at every step, and
that the world would destroy itself if they were ever triumphant.
Citizens of Mhaldor, Ashtan, Hashan, and even Eleusis for a time, were
to be branded immediate enemies, regardless of personal beliefs. I was
given a Church disfavour from my own husband for being seen with someone
as harmless as Fez, and was strongly advised against my friendship with
Delphinus, who never once tried to make me stray from my path in the
Light.

What I've learned since leaving is that in reality, I had allowed the
Church to both close my eyes and cover my ears so that I would not
really experience the world. Few of their teachings have held true after
I left, and I have found more help and kindness outside of the ramparts
of Shallam than I ever found from within. I see now what I have been
blinded from for most of my life, and all of Sapience does not need to
be my enemy. I didn't know a thing about the world but lies until I
stepped out from behind the veil the Light had draped over me and saw
what the world was really like.

Why was I accused of treason at the peak of my devotion for the city,
dying monthly to protect the Jewel's ideals against the city of Ashtan?
Why did my own husband doubt me and my intentions? Because the Church
must instill doubt and fear in its members, or they will step into the
real world and realize what a lie they've been living over the years. I
urge all members of the Church to step back and look at where they
stand, and what they really know about the world. Did you learn it
through experience, or did you "learn" it from books and outdated
scrolls, or by being told over and over what to believe by someone who
has also never experienced the world for themselves?

I am not asking you to leave the Church, because I believe it is a place
were a certain kind of person can flourish. What Im asking is for is for
you to look into your heart and search your mind and make sure you are
where you truly belong. The followers of the Light are very convincing,
but I urge you to be sure you really belong there before you regret
making enemies for and dying for a cause that is not at all what you
were made to believe it was.

I encourage anyone questioning their position in the Church to feel free
to contact me to learn about my experience within the Light which
currently blinds you to reality.

I know that Lady Mithraea would not approve of this message, and, to not
sully Her name, have shed the surname She bestowed on me so many years
ago.

Signed,
Adalie

Penned by my hand on the 20th of Daedalan, in the year 490 AF.