Hail Achaeans!

I sit here within my grove composing this message to ask the Church why they wish to force their beliefs on me. I have not been in the realms long and it was my hope to learn of the Church and what they stand for, but it seems that their actions towards me have already decided this.

My first experience with the Church forcing their beliefs on me occurred when I was at a sprawling gorge within the Shamtota Hills. Most of you are aware that Death's Heart is also there. Isildur and several others had gathered at the site to try to erect a shrine and attack the poor defenseless thing. I am untrained in the arts of combat; thus I did not interfere for fear of my life being ripped from me prematurely.

Needless to say, I engaged Isildur in a discussion as to why he chooses to attack the heart. The debate was productive and when I had thought it concluded I stood silent meditating, with the spirit of the nightingale, on the information I had received. I called on the spirits to grant me protection from my enemies and the spirit of the nightingale answered my plea for aid by weaving a melody that invokes a prismatic barrier about my form. This barrier prevents many forms of attack, and I often invoke it because I feel very unsafe in this harsh world.

Isildur then asked me, "Do you really think that thing prevents all attacks?"

I replied, "I should hope so."

Suddenly, Isildur frowned in concentration, and a booming voice rang in my head and against my will I was forced to attack the weak heart. To my horror, the prismatic barrier dissolved from about me, and I found myself assaulting the poor, unprotected and innocent heart! I, however, did not over react. I merely took this as a learning experience and proceeded to inform the Gods of the matter in one of the many ways that They have given us to communicate with Them.

My next experience with the Church forcing their beliefs upon me occurred recently, which prompted me to write this message. I again found myself within the Shamtota Hills near the Heart and, lo and behold, who should I find but Juno and Orina there again attacking the poor defenseless heart. I also saw Gabriel there, but he was concentrating on some invisible point in front of him. My experience in survival tells me that he was most likely working to destroy a wormhole, for indeed I had sensed one of those mystical devices there. As I always do when I feel threatened, I called upon the spirit of the nightingale and invoked the prismatic barrier which that spirit grants me.

Suddenly, with neither a warning nor even a greeting, Juno frowned in concentration, and a booming voice rang in my head and against my will I was forced to attack the poor heart. I admit, I lost my temper then and sent a string of expletives towards Juno that would cause any Powers that watch over such things to cringe. Juno then grinned at me as if I would laugh at this little joke. I felt affronted and rightfully so!

I then asked Juno why he had done such a thing and he replied, "Isi said to do it to you to say hi." I assume from the affectionate pet name of "Isi" that Juno was referring to Isildur, the Archprelate and Leader of the Church. This then enraged me even further! Now I understand truly, why the Church is how it is!

From these two experiences, I can only assume that it is the work of that megalomaniacal, former occultist, Isildur. If he is forcing his beliefs and will on the Church, no wonder those young impressionable priests and paladins are doing likewise. Meanwhile throughout this entire exchange, Gabriel stood silent and kept concentrating on that distant point and Isildur began mauling the poor heart again. I then informed the parties assembled that I would write of my experiences and they merely sat there and grinned at me, as if to challenge me to do so. So now, I am here in my grove writing this message for all to read and learn.

Why does the Church feel the need to force their beliefs on me? I do not know the answer to this question, but I do know that I do not want such interference from the Church or anyone for that matter in my life and I ask that the Church do not do these things. Given the history I've read of within these very archives, the propensity of the Archprelate AND other Church leaders such as Gabriel sitting idly by while such atrocities are committed, I doubt that will happen.

May the Spirits give you counsel and guidance, Achaeans,
Countess Draknia, Lady of the Spirits

Penned by my hand on the 15th of Sarapin, in the year 242 AF.