Sun Jul 06, 2003 7:37 pm
Shortly after Compline, Inquisitor Gestahl sat alone in his cell. His eyes moved around the simple room that served as both his living quarters and his study. There was little in the way of decoration; merely a simple rendering of the Trialo, done in needlepoint, framed, and hanged upon the wall. Candles burned silently, lighting the room and dribbling wax down their smooth stems to puddle at their bases. Gestahl rubbed his eyes for a moment and then stood.
A knock on the door of his chambers broke his train of thought. He looked toward the door, as if trying to guess whom it might be. "Come," he said. The door opened to reveal Brother Tin, a man older than himself, and quite well read. He spent the majority of the time in the scriptorium, writing. In their brief conversations, Brother Tin had expressed some interest in discussing the manipulations of the heavens by the hands of man. Surely he would not come to call at this time of night to discuss the topic.
"Brother Gestahl...?"
"Yes, Brother Tin? How may I be of service to you?"
"Actually, I have been given this notice to deliver to you, from Brother Cletus. He came to it in Myrkentown." Brother Tin handed the bit of parchment to Gestahl, nodded a good evening, and closed the door.
Gestahl put his eyes to a copy of the criers’ notice. One line in particular jumped out at him immediately. Mages willing to aid the combined forces in the protection of Myrken Wood are requested to report as soon as possible to any member of the Judiciary. Gestahl pursed his lips. He moved to his desk, took up his quill, and prepared to write a letter.
Mon Jul 07, 2003 2:44 pm
Six identical copies of a letter were delivered to the residences of each of the named political figures. The parchment bore the seal of the Trialos, which symbolized ecclesiastical origin.
The letter read thusly:
[line][/line]Tomias Gestahl, Lord High Inquisitor, Order of Tulans,
To Altias Bromn, Judiciar of Myrken Wood Council; to Giscard Guillaume, Councilor of Trade and Commerce; to Joseph O'Cynen, the Councilor of Agriculture; to Gad Phuri, the Councilor of Administrative Sanctions; to Marquis Malegnone Al-D'arcu, the Councilor of Defense and Civil Security; to Thomas Daniels, Captain of the Myrken Wood Guard, Order of Straka, may God favor you all this day.
It has indeed come before Our eyes a notice put forward by hand of herald and by source of council, that the Judiciary of Myrken Wood seeks to procure for their services the aid of mages, who, by definition of thine hand, are to protect Myrken Wood by means of combined force with military assembly. The Church is well aware of the approaching threats of foreign bodies and will, of course, assist the souls of Myrkenfolk by any means. It is Our worry, however, that certain bodies whom, through deviousness of persona and aid of demon or warlockery, may beguile the council with bewitchery and place themselves betwixt good and ill, so that they may procure the latter.
It is at the foundation of these speculations and anticipations of this end that We might request and insist that in regard to said mages, We be made part of the interviewing, cataloguing, selectioning processes a expletio.
This appeal is most adamantly pressed as We feel it is of utmost importance for the sanctity, safety, security, and salvation of the people of Myrken Wood entire.
Written on this Sixth day of July, in the name of Our Divine Majesty. [line][/line]
There was a signet of wax, identical to the one that once sealed the document, melted at the foot of the letter.