To the entirety of Achaea,

I post today in response to the recent events and tragedies that have
occurred within our lands. In the past months, many gods and mortals
have been manipulated by Varian, also known as the Other. Just last
month, many mortals lost their lives, the populace found several Divine
missing, and much destruction was caused. I hope to shed a bit of light
on my memories of what all happened.

As many of you may recall, I spent the month putting out forest fires
around Achaea, traveling from the Aalen to the Northreach. A
particularly large fire was found in the Darkenwood, thought to be
caused by some meteor crashing to the ground. We soon found what we
believed to be the meteor: a large gilded chest that could not be moved.
The Great Mhunna shouted of an odd occurrence, the appearance of a
strangely glowing key within his possession.

Most of Achaea flocked to him in an attempt of gaining the key. When he
refused to hand it over, much blood was shed by the Ashtanites, led my
Malaclypse. They soon murdered the Mhunna for the key. Acratin obtained
it, but it strangely disappeared from his hands only to be found with
Shakti. Shakti opened the chest, and the Basilica was destroyed, along
with all of its inhabitants. By the curse of ignorance embedded upon
mortal minds, I reasoned that Shakti, being an Occultist, would surely
have one wish within the realm: to destroy the Church and all of its
influences upon the realm. I thought, again with this imperfect mortal
mind, that it was not possible this Other could have randomly targeted
the church. Why would Something who had shown no preference of moral or
alliances within Achaea (through punishing all of us with odd
occurrences, manipulating all of the Divine, etc.) target the Basilica
unless it was so wished by she who had opened the chest?

Another chest and key soon appeared within Achaea, and I knew of what I
had to attempt. Fern was the first to find the key, and I rushed to her
to ensure her safety. Before I could protect her, however, she was slain
by Vexlore, who grabbed the key. Using my skills in hypnosis, I forced
the glowing key away from Vexlore and fled to Shallam where I distorted
time and space to conceal myself from my enemies.

With the aid of Shallam citizens, I safely made my way to the chest. I
thought completely that by unlocking and opening the chest, I could wish
this all away. I knew that with the right will I could undo the great
horrors which had been placed upon the lands. I knew that I could null
the destruction of the Basilica, banish that which plagued our lands,
and return Achaea to what it should be. Here is the most descriptive
account of that moment I can remember:


------------------------------------------------------------------------

Narrow corridor through hills.
A blizzard rages around you, blurring the world into a slate of uniform
white.
Your movement causes your magical shield to dissipate.
Ryvern arrives following Dresden.
Dresden shimmers into view before you.
A large gilded chest is already unlocked.
Dresden pokes a large gilded chest in the arm.
You open a large gilded chest.
As the chest is opened, a pillar of flame erupts from the chest to shoot
toward the heavens and splash across the clouds, seemingly setting the
skies alight. Unfortunately for you, the searing heat disintegrates your
body, slaying you and everyone else in the room instantly.
Dresden has been slain by misadventure.
Aldair has been slain by misadventure.
Darand has been slain by misadventure.
Darand drops the corpse of an old rat.
Darand drops the corpse of an old rat.
Darand drops a skullcap flower.
Darand drops some irid moss.
Darand drops some irid moss.
Darand drops some irid moss.
Darand drops some irid moss.
Darand drops some irid moss.
Darand drops some irid moss.
Darand drops some irid moss.
Darand drops some irid moss.
Darand drops a finely sculpted crystal torus.
Darand drops a finely sculpted crystal torus.
Darand drops a perfect crystal sphere.
Darand drops a finely sculpted crystal torus.
Darand drops a perfect crystal sphere.
Darand drops some golden sovereigns onto the ground.
You have been slain by misadventure.
You writhe in pain as you fall to level 60.
You sigh in frustration as you fall to the level of Glorious.
A brightly glowing key falls out of your inventory.
Lyndal has been slain by misadventure.
Lanthus has been slain by misadventure.
You reach over to comfort Lanthus as he falls to the level of
Illustrious.
Lanthus drops a keen-eyed falcon.
Alpine has been slain by misadventure.
Alpine drops a bright red and blue kite.
Muaxl has been slain by misadventure.
You reach over to comfort Muaxl as she falls to the level of Dazzling.
Muaxl drops a keen-eyed falcon.
Amon has been slain by misadventure.
Amon drops a skullcap flower.
Amon drops slippery elm.
Amon drops a skullcap flower.
Amon drops a valerian leaf.
Amon drops slippery elm.
Amon drops a skullcap flower.
Amon drops a valerian leaf.
Amon drops slippery elm.
Amon drops a skullcap flower.
Amon drops a skullcap flower.
Amon drops a valerian leaf.
Amon drops slippery elm.
Amon drops a skullcap flower.
Amon drops a valerian leaf.
Amon drops a keen-eyed falcon.
Apoc has been slain by misadventure.
Apoc drops an amulet of darkness.
Apoc drops a keen-eyed falcon.
Kiara has been slain by misadventure.
Ryvern has been slain by misadventure.
Ryvern drops a bloodroot leaf.
Ryvern drops a goldenseal root.
Ryvern drops a piece of kelp.
Ryvern drops some prickly ash bark.
Ryvern drops a lobelia seed.
Ryvern drops a ginseng root.
Ryvern drops a bellwort flower.
Ryvern drops a pyramid carved of crystal.
Ryvern drops a pyramid carved of crystal.
Ryvern drops some irid moss.

You are dead, perhaps you should Pray for Salvation.
Your mana drains away as you concentrate on maintaining a link with the
living.
The light seems to fade and darkness envelops your consciousness...

As I made my way through the halls of Sarapis's Corridor, I felt pity
and sadness for those who had died in the room with me. However, it was
overthrown by the happiness and pride I felt in knowing that by
sacrificing my life and of the few people in the room with me, I had
saved Achaea from more death and destruction. I knew my life was little
compared to all that I had avoided by opening the chest with only wishes
of goodwill.

Though, as I found myself outside of the cave I realized that not all
was as I thought it had been. I was told of the screams of Hashan's
citizens as the city went up in a flaming vortex of fire. I was informed
of the countless deaths of Hashan's citizens, visitors, passersby, and
other innocents that I had caused in my ignorance. I could not believe
what had happened, and I retreated to Shallam in shock of what I had
done.

Thankfully, Sarapis soon came to our rescue, banishing Varian into a
realm other than ours. The fiery vortex was extinguished, though many
small fires still remained. I offered my aid to Hashan, but it was
refused. I did not know what to do. How could I have killed so many
innocent people in one moment?

I hope that everyone can believe me when I say that this was in no way
intentional. I never imagined that this could happen. Many of those
slain were in fact close to me. I wept as I heard of the deaths of
Keyth, a fellow serpent in class, Acadia, who I would trust my life
with, Caleth, who I look to as a father in the absence of mine, Lothair,
a fellow guildmate, Grellek, a close friend, Faunus, one who I had known
a bit from my small experience in the Hunt, and many others, innocent
and not. I realize that nothing I can do will make up for the damage I
have caused. I have stripped away the homes of so many, slain so many,
and hurt so many, and no one deserves that. This was never my intention,
and to Hashan, her citizens, guilds, orders, patron, clans, and all of
Achaea, I announce my heartfelt apologies. I am terribly sorry for all
that has happened, and I can come no where close to how I feel with
words.

There are many that seek revenge for what happened, and I must say it is
well deserved. I will soon be turning myself over to the Hashan
officials to accept any punishment that may befall upon me, including
fines, labor, torture, death, or whatever else is decided upon to
suffice for the collective damage I've caused to Hashan. I only wish to
finish some business first. As for the individual deaths and harm I've
caused to so many, I am willing to accept your punishment as well.
Please contact me with your wishes.

I would like to give my thanks to Sarapis, the Logos, who came to our
aid when the ignorant and imperfect minds of mortals wreaked havoc upon
our realm. Without Him, we would be nothing. Thank you, Logos, for
undoing some of the damage that we caused.

Again, I apologize for all that I've done. Thank you for your time,

-C.V.-



Penned by my hand on the 21st of Lupar, in the year 288 AF.