My dearest Hagar, you are certainly not the first to wonder about the
bloodied shrines dotting our fair lands. This question has been asked
again and again. What is the pat answer of the Church? They "pooh,
pooh" such questions and smugly state, "Oh we only sacrifice animals."
Then, winking at each other in self-congratulations, snickering behind
their backs, they feel that the question is satisfactorily answered and
go about their business. But, of course, the Church ignores the fact
that many witnesses have seen certain Templars slay others, grab the
bodies and hotfoot it back to a shrine. The Church ignores the fact
that a certain Serpentlord, who will be nameless because he fears the
Church retribution, has witnessed human sacrifices on these shrines.
The Church ignores the fact that despite their mewling answer of,
"We only sacrifice animals," the question comes back again and again
and again, "Why is their human blood on the Church shrines?"

Now, friend Hagar, to answer your question of what is the difference
between Chruch and Occultists:

The Church routinely attacks Occultists, Druids, Kharon, and Serpentlords
without provocation, bribes, breaks and enters private establishments, and
generally disparages anyone who isn't part of the Church. (See Public News
posts 57, 65, 73, 90, 93 and 94 for starters.) Most recently, the Church
has highhandedly taken the stance that their members do not kill sentient
beings. Priest Burstwurst is infamous for stating that the Church does not
kill sentients, yet, whenever he gets a chance, he joins parties of
adventurers going to Moghedu to battle the Mhun and, although he may stay
his hand publicly from striking any blows, REGULARLY HEALS THESE ADVENTURERS
AS THEY KILL MHUN. It need not be said that he never heals the Moghedu
Mhun. The Church also enjoys to accuse others of crimes without any proof.
It is anathema to the Church that one is innocent until proven guilty.
For instance, the Church regularly accuses me of killing the orphans at
my orphanage, yet has offered no proof to back up these unsubstantiated
accusations. (The orphans, for the record, are treated with the utmost care
until an appropriate foster home is found.) So, friend Hagar, that is the
Church.

What then are the Occultists? We are a group of scholars, historians and
artists dedicated to safeguarding certain arcane knowledge. We are an
UNALIGNED guild of INDIVIDUALS. I emphase "unaligned" and "individuals"
to highlight the fact that each Occultist chooses his or her path
individually and nothing can be said of one Occultist that would
necessarily apply to all Occultists. However, speaking solely for myself,
I regularly save orphans from life on the streets, cure the sick, help
young Achaeans get started on their chosen paths, and generally do what
I can to make life a pleasant place for all.

I leave it to you to discern the difference between the Church and the
Occultists.

Severlean de Vermiis
Penned by my hand on the 8th of Sarapin, in the year 182 AF.