Be greeted citizens of Bane,
This is the first of my letters detailing my infiltration of the group known collectively as the Temple. It was quite simple to join their ranks, though be it at a distance. They just saw me a powerful tool to be used as they pleased, and approached me. It is quite long and becomes dry at points, but the information within is needed in such a shrewd climate that engulfs our island.
Throughout my entire reign as Governor of Troll's Bane, many rumours were spread about my supposed tolerance, alliance, and even membership of the group known as the Temple. These rumours were not unfounded. In fact, they were entirely true. Edric came to me in my formative months on this island, and discussed with me the possibility of infiltrating this dark order. He was stricken with nervousness and had the feeling that the Temple was ready to remove him from power. I was reluctant at first, thinking these petty allegations of the temple were unfounded.
- Personal information within ranges from the 13th of Elos, year 31 to the 9th of Ushos, year 32.
Like many, I was unconvinced as to the true nature of the Temple at first. 'They are evil', we are told, 'they have bonded themselves to the Blood-God.'But we never hear of their true actions. We are expected to fight against them, simply because another claims them to be evil. I was as hesitant to believe these unfounded claims as the next person, until Edric recounted a series of events to me. Edric had befriended, or at least become familiar with, the man by the name of Aelorn. To Edric's surprise and then horror, he was to learn that it was in fact an elf, not human as he appeared, who spoke with him. The elf's tale is well known to many. To those unfamiliar with the tale, it is as follows:
It is no secret that the men of the Northmark hold a strong hatred for the elvenkind. At the time of these events, the Northmarkers were fond of displaying a gruesome set of trophies upon their walls: elven skulls. All would agree that such actions are worthy of punishment. But the Temple's response was to defy belief.
Two Templars, Joxia and Dain, arrived upon Vanima, presumably with the intention of taking the first elf they laid eyes upon. Aelorn was not particularly special in any manner, he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Temple members threatened the elf, and then kidnapped him, forcing him back to their home in Hellbriar. There, he was imprisoned, treated like an animal. Unknown to Aelorn at the time, members of the Temple had also traveled to the Northmark. There, they found three of the Jarl's children, and stole a lock of hair from each one.
Eventually, Aelorn was called into a chamber, where many members of the Temple awaited him. In that room, a sadistic ritual was to take place. Aelorn was tortured, and his blood drained into a bowl. Into that bowl were placed the hairs of the Jarl's children. The Templars used their twisted magic upon the bowl's contents, transforming it into a potion of some form. They then forced Aelorn to drink the mixture, made of his own blood. Once he had consumed the potion, Aelorn was horrified to realise that he had taken the form of a human. And though they could not see them, the Templars knew that the Jarl's children had taken the form of the elves which he so strongly despised.
I do not think there are any who would condone the actions of the Jarl and his Northmark. But the actions of the Temple were abhorrent. Perhaps they hoped that the Jarl would see his children and slay them upon the spot, I do not know. Perhaps they wanted to laugh at the sight of his children's skulls alongside those upon the wall. But to punish the children of your enemy, and an uninvolved stranger, is to commit the darkest of crimes.
If you find my accounts of this story to be absurd, please refer to Joxia's latest parchment under the war column. She openly admits to it.
Because of this shocking story and seeing as how I was in need of coin and perhaps adventure, I reluctantly agreed. Before this parchment is the witness to gasps and people walking off in disgust, let me start by telling you that I was never a full member of the order, nor was I a worshiper of Moshran. I can say with utmost certainty that the worship of Moshran is still a major theme within the guild, and the only reason I was not allowed into the direct inner circles of the guild was because of a personal reservation against it. My first task was to make myself the magistrate of Troll's Bane. They told me by doing this, I'd be able to influence Edric's moves, instead of replacing him altogether.
I was a close friend of his, so I relayed this task to Mister Galthor and he graciously accepted. He was a willing partner, but unfortunately only aided his death. My task was to become the Magistrate, not so that I could influence Mister Edric, but so that I would be the next in line to become Governor. The very next dwarven day, Mister Galthor was assassinated by the known Temple member Aeris. Edric's last words to me were, "Mister Varrin, make sure they do not take control of the town."
Of course, any sane man would have went public and openly declared his predicament. However, despite multiple attempts at taking Bane, multiple failures, and multiple ignorant episodes of power grabbing.. I knew the Temple could survive just about anything. Instead, I became a willing component of the Temple machine, a vital cog in their wheel. My philosophy was one of silent defiance. I would stay steadfast and prevent a majority of their policies from going through.
I could not prevent the Academy from beginning part of the town. I could not prevent the formation of an Army. I could not prevent tyrannical jailing. However, I could prevent a return to a dreaded noble system, and I could prevent using that Army in aggressive warfare. On the outside I was the perfect example of failure. I failed at most things. But I didn't fail at preventing the Temple from having power for nine dwarven months I was in power, for if I was as willing as I could have been, much more damage would have been done.
The Temple's plans have always been to use the town as a battering ram against its enemies, with little regard to the safety and well being of its populace. Any argument to the contrary is plain wrong.
I wish to ask of you, my dear citizens of Troll's Bane for forgiveness for my actions. I wish to also ask you to look over this information I have presented to you and tell me who is the real threat to the safety and well being of Troll's Bane.
Signed,
Elijah Varrin