Today, I present the sequel to the ever-popular Public Post 18209,
Occultism and Devotion. Before I continue, I feel it prudent to provide
a recap of post 18209, for those who may have missed and/or forgotten.

The original Occultism and Devotion recounted a stunning tale of
intrigue and hypocrisy. Numerous Shallamese and/or Devotionists,
including Jaiko, Nexas and Firey (amongst others), fighting alongside
the Occultist Manifest. "How could this be?" many would say. "Is Shallam
not opposed to Chaos in all its forms? Why would they fight alongside
that which they have sworn to oppose since the Burning Times, and the
very founding of the Church of Achaea?"

Of course, expecting the Church or Shallam to adhere to their own
beliefs is as funny as the Carnivalis Institute of Jestering believes
themselves to be. Why obey one's own creed when one can merely pick and
choose his allies from his enemies in order to make one's life so much
easier?

Public response to the first Occultism and Devotion was near-universally
favorable. The Archprelate was found squirming on the ground not long
after the publication of Public Post 18209, and later attempted to save
face with a half-assed warning to Devotionists everywhere that "all
devotionists that, even though they may not be members of the Church,
the power of devotion is arbitrated by the Archprelate and as such there
are rules which all users of this gift must adhere to." Unsurprisingly,
those perpetrators were allowed to walk free and unhindered, despite the
Archprelate's ever-serious and imposing threats.

Now we may move to Part II of the popular series Occultism and Devotion.
This time, we bring you more action and more hypocrisy. The time is
mid-Scarlatan. Numerous Ashtani are assaulting the city of Shallam. In
the mean time, Mhaldor swiftly prepares a retaliatory military offensive
against the city of Eleusis for crimes committed earlier in the month.
Mhaldor makes its move, and Eleusis quickly flees before the armies of
the Lords Shaitan, God of Oppression and Apollyon, the Suffering, the
Divine Masters of Evil.

Not much later, Ashtan's assault on Shallam ends. Various Shallamese and
Cyrenians come to Eleusis's 'defense', and proceed to begin a small tea
party (complete with scones) not far outside the city. Shallamese and
Devotionists, including but not necessarily limited to Jaiko, Jaran,
Khaz, Asamor, Pawlie, Wronic, Jovaras, Guhem, Narsina, Opalene arrived,
bearing numerous snack cakes and other pastries (obviously not gathered
from the bakery in Shallam, which, as many will recall, was destroyed by
Mhaldor many years ago).

The party outside of Eleusis considered for a short while, until the
Occultist Manifest decided to make his appearance. Careful readers will
remember that Ashtan was oh-so-recently attacking the city of Shallam.
As can be expected easily enough, Manifest was one of the Ashtani
raiders present during that fighting. Not long after Manifest's arrival
in Eleusis, the four-city coalition attempted to rout Mhaldor's forces
from the tree-clogged excuse-for-a-city of Eleusis. They were, of
course, repelled. Repeatedly.

There is more to the tale of The Assault on Eleusis, but where it
overlaps with Occultism and Devotion, Part II ends here. Let us take a
critical look at this thrilling recounting of the actions of Shallam,
the Church and various other Devotionists.

Not only is Shallam willing to fight alongside those who they have sworn
to destroy, they are willing to fight alongside those actively engaged
in frequent and continuous military offensives against their own city.
Hypocrisy is one thing. Treason is quite another.

The Archprelate's words have also gone unheeded. What reason would any
have to listen to the ramblings of Palanor, the Archprelate of the Holy
Church of Achaea, when time and time again his warnings go unfulfilled,
even when evidence of the wrongdoings of his subordinates is brought
before him? As was noted in Public Post 18209, I predicted that none
would be surprised by the actions of the Prelacy or Caliphate. I was
right, as expected. The complete inaction of Shallam and the Church is
not at all shocking, and precisely what one would come to expect from
the windbags in the East.

I am confident this prediction will once again ring true.

Penned by my hand on the 23rd of Scarlatan, in the year 517 AF.