Once upon a time, in a far away world, armies in long red uniforms fought their dread foes, the armies in the long blue uniforms. Both met on the field, as the sun came up, formed rigid lines, and exchanged blows until the sun went down again. All was glorious and noble. The red army then went to a distant land to form a colony. The natives of the land resisted, and the fighting ensued. The red army formed their time tested columns and formations and waited for the sun to come up. The natives did not show. During the night, as the soldiers rested, the savages came into the camp on quiet feet, to slaughter and raid the ill prepared men. As the days progressed, the red army was forced to enter the forests and rocky regions to face the enemy on uneven ground. The natives attacked from behind rocks, tree tops; ambushes and sneak attacks from every side were overwhelming for the stalwart soldiers. It was like shooting fish in a barrel, to coin a phrase.
A new strategy was needed. After generations of fighting the natives on equal terms, they were pushed into small safe areas and kept like sheep on a farm, bested by the stronger force, who learned to fight with the same guerilla tactics.

In this tale, the natives had a home court advantage, and the soldiers had a technological advantage. The Infernals are now at a junction in their history- a turning point. We too are faced with an enemy we can little deal with by traditional means. Our city is in danger. Many of the stronger Occultists have taken to retirement, the Kharon have abandoned us, and the serpents, tend to fight on their own terms. The Infernals are the first and last line of defense for Ashtan, and we are taking a decided pasting from the guerillas in Achaea. We have neither a technological, numerical, or home court advantage.
In the old days, chivalry was knights meeting on a bridge in a fair fight, men showing respect to women, and fearing their gods. In these modern days, a new chivalry is required. The enemy are not knights, the women have the same propensity for violence as men, and the gods have their own agendas that we are seldom privy to.

From this day on, the Infernals make a shift in their basic philosophy in an effort to survive, and protect our city. We will still be as chivalrous as the situation dictates, but when the enemy is hiding in the trees, or preparing an ambush, we will not be standing in the sun waiting for them to meet us on the field of valor. The shrines of the church have encroached even unto our guild halls in Ashtan. To protect ourselves, and drive these invaders off, we will use ANY means available. Any venom we can get a hold of, any tactic that works, and any amount of excessive force. We have been the whipping boy of Achaea far too long.
-the Sinistar

Penned by my hand on the 1st of Glacian, in the year 239 AF.