Xarkly

 

 

ISSUED BY THE

ON THIS MALIN'S WELCOME OF 173 S.A.

 

 

 

 

Queen Amaya of Haense is dead.

 

Her body ailed with age, but the Light favoured her with glory nonetheless. 

 

For, in the woods on the foothills of Morteskvan, she did battle with the infernal scions of those who hearken the return of False Siegmund - the Inferi warlord who once laid siege to Karosgrad generations past. These horned and hoofed minions were once treasured companions of the Queen - for, when the world showed these outcasts only scorn, Amaya of Venzia showed kindness beyond her station’s due.

 

Sermi Ulveryn

Laelia

Aaren Colborn

 

These are the names of the Shadowspawn who slew Amaya, Queen of Haense, White Flame of Valdev. They - and an unnamed fourth - summoned the uncanny gall to slay the White Flame as she toured the summer flowers in bloom, beyond the walls of Valdev. Death is little barrier to these servants of the Shadow, but - to the White Comet - this matters little. For, in our Order, the mantra of “a thousand pyres” is a simple solution to those who cling to their ill-gotten longevity: 

 

They shall be slain until they covet death.

 

These infernals, their fates twisted in the bowels of Hallowcliffe, serve a master - a greater blight who gives tribute to the Shadow, and leads a hellish coven. They are called Sarryn, and adopt the moniker of the White Cat. True to the nature of Shadowspawn, they are cut from a cloth most cravenous, for they change their face akin to switching cloak. For if the curseborn claim this mewling cat to be their master, then so shall she be expunged by the Light.

 

Pay heed.

This is not a warning to Descendant kind.

 

This is a warning only to those who conspire to aid these Shadowspawn in any capacity.

Those who do shall, as the Light ordains, share their fate -- in the name of the Light, and in the name of Amaya the White Flame.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was the founding mantra of the White Comet - a prayer and solemn vow alike that the Holy Light shall forever endure and triumph against the Shadow.

 

For the pall of the Shadow lies heavy across the land of Aevos. The curse of vampyrism ran rife and unchecked through the high and lowborn alike; infernal warlocks laid claim to the heads of lords and queens; and the Shadow’s own adjutants made mortal kings dance to their whims.

 

In this period of chaos, the Canonist Faithful languished in fear; they knew not whether their very neighbours walked with them in the Light, or had surrendered their souls to the Shadow. From the assassination of High Pontiff Sixtus VI to the murder of Queen Amaya of Haense, the Light’s truth felt sundered to its bleakest deaths, near eclipsed by the Shadow.

 

Yet, in those depths, the Light rekindled.

 

Aeons past, when the Shadow uttered its final words to lay the curse of transience upon Exalted Horen and his ken, it also tempered the resilience of all mankind. For it was through this same resilience that man has both forged and shattered empires; that man vanquished the great dragons Setherien, Mordring, Avendal, and Cloudbreaker; and that man has held the faith of their forebears for nearly two-thousand years.

 

Now, in this age of the Shadow Rising, the White Comet bears arms as the vanguard of mankind’s resilience once more.

 

For the Light has held for two-thousand years.

So shall it hold for two-thousand more.

 

Father Szetka, Court Warpriest of King Barbov the Black

Royal City of Lahy, Ruska c. 226 A.E.S.

 

The White Comet is a Holy Order of the Canonist Church.

 

Originally formed as an inquisitive tribunal charged with investigating the alleged consortium of the Royal Court of Haense with the Shadow, it’s founding objectives were to not only purge all servants and spawn of the Shadow that plagued the northern archdiocese of Jorenus, but also to rekindle the Canonist faith in the north generally, namely by drawing on its unique practices of the Jorenic Rite.

 

Even after the conclusion of its maiden inquisition in the form of the Esrova Report, it was the will of High Pontiff Caius I that the White Comet be officially constituted as a Holy Order, sworn to oppose the Shadow and its temptations wheresoever it may appear. This path, however, is one fraught with mortal peril, for the scions of the Shadow wield untold powers in their many forms, and the warriors of the White Comet are but mortal humans.

 

But, through all, the Light must preserve and prevail. The core creed of the White Comet is therefore:

 

FIRST, to hunt the Shadow, its spawn, and servants wherever they made hide. The schemes of the Shadow are many, and seldom understood, and so while Shadowspawn themselves are the White Comet’s quarry, their hunt requires careful investigation and research, both to illuminate the dens in which they hide, and to vanquish them in spite of their fell powers.

 

SECOND, to shrive sin from the hearts of mankind, for humans are prone to temptation and sin where they do not feel the Light’s gaze upon them. From the desecration of marital vows to base dishonour, souls ripe with sin make the most fertile soil for the Shadow’s corruption. So it is that the White Comet must guide their fellow man, and hearken those who have fallen back to the Light with repentance.

 

AND THIRD, to join their blades to the banner of Canondom when they march in the name of the Light. While oft the Canonist Princes wage petty secular wars, the White Comet may do battle alongside them where it serves to strike a blow against the schemes of the Shadow and its servants.

 

Akrides and the Comet

Lost Aldersburg, Anthos c. 1502 I.C.

 

The legend from which the White Comet draws its name is central to its identity.

 

Amidst the sagas of the Saint Tobias, there is a tale told of the city of Aldersburg, a ruined city that lay as a blight upon the land of Anthos. The city, though abandoned by its people, played host to a new lord - Hekrigge, a twisted husk of a mortal who led a band of debased marauders. Claimed by some to be an Adunian, and by others to be an insatiable vampyre, what the tales do agree on is that Hekrigge served no master, but their savagery and bloodlust were surely endowed by the Shadow itself.

 

From the stout walls of Aldersburg, Hekrigge beset the region like a plague. Not only were barns plundered and fields yet ablaze, but the peasantry were subjected to all manners of torture at Hekrigge’s hands -- even those who yielded their food and valuables willingly. In this interlude, the road to Aldersburg was dubbed the ‘Painted Path’, for Hekrigge was most creative in their display of murder.

 

Hekrigge’s sole opposition came in the form of Friar Akrides, once a pupil of the late Saint Tobias, who led a rag-tag militia of local farmers against Hekrigge’s tyranny. Yet, despite their piety, Hekrigge’s band meted them defeat and grizzly executions at every encounter. Before long, Akrides was the sole one left, for his compatriots were dead or fled. Without a single mortal ally remaining, Akrides knelt, and prayed to his departed master for salvation.

 

Akrides’ prayers were answered, and the salvation that came was of the most absolute calibre.

 

For, on the dawn of the very next morning, the pall of the morning sky parted, and Friar Akrides’ writes that the very gates of the Seven Skies opened to part a comet, so pure and white that it lit the land for miles around as if it were a summer sun. Through the sky did the comet streak, and it struck the ruins of Aldersburg to obliterate Hekrigge, their bandits, and even the very foundations of the city walls.

 

When Akrides stumbled to the site of where Aldersburg once stood, he found only an enormous, smouldering crater. The comet that had bit the earth was no longer it's brilliant and pure white; for it had struck this seedbed of the Shadow, and so its surface became the colour of obsidian.

 

A Temple Guard of the Exalted Sanctum

Trade City of Dules, Ruska c. 270 A.E.S.

 

 

The Creed is the White Comet’s goals, and the Codex is its path to them.

 

All faithful must abide by a code, the most basic of which are the tenets of the Light enshrined in the four Holy Scrolls. The greater a duty a mortal soul assumes, the stricter the charter they abide by must be in order to guide their power virtuously. Thus, the White Comet is no exception; in order to maintain integrity amongst their flock, to leave no doubt as to the virtue they espouse and the reckoning promised unto the Shadow, its warriors swear to abide by the Lucent Codex:

 

ONE

TO REVERE the teachings of the Light.

 

TWO

TO REVILE the temptations of the Shadow.

 

THREE

TO HONOUR those who walk in the Light in discourse and battle.

 

FOUR

TO VANQUISH the spawn and servants of the Shadow at any cost.

 

FIVE

TO SHRIVE sin from the hearts of Canondom.

 

SIX

TO MARTYR oneself in the name of the Light.

 

The wrath of Saint Malcolm

The Viper of Fjordheim, year unknown.

 

Although a Holy Order, the White Comet is somewhat unique.

 

Unlike most of its kindred banners, the White Comet styles itself not as a chivalric order nor an army unit, but rather an exclusive band of pious brethren - though small in number, they are strong of heart, and sharp of mind. Whereas armies typically clamour to recruit any willing to bear arms in their name, it is not so for the White Comet: given that they hunt Shadowspawn, and all clues as to their hiding places and powers, a level of skill and secrecy is mandated, in tandem with the fact thats its members must be true adherents of the Canonist faith.

 

The White Comet’s simplistic structure is therefore as follows:

 

COMMANDANT

First among the White Comet is its founder, Villorik Cardinal Westerwald, who wields forthright command of all Canonist orders as Commandant of the Pontifical Guard of Caius I.

 

ADJUTANT

The stalwart lieutenant of the Commandant, serving as both their right and left arm, and prepared to fulfil their role should their master fall in battle with the Shadow.

 

VINDICATOR

A rank for brothers and sisters of the White Comet who undergo the sacrament of ordination. Rather than being dubbed a common priest, Vindicators are specifically warpriests, who achieve the will of the Light by strength of arms.

 

VENATOR

Pious warriors of the White Comet who serve as hunters of the Shadow; they pledge their hearts, minds, and bodies to the pursuit and eradication of Shadowspawn under their snowy-white standard.

 

SCION

Aspirants accepted as squires under the White Comet, and undergo the tempering of body and soul in pursuit of the mantle of Venator.

 

Exalted Sigismund battles Ishtar

Alexandria Bihar, c. 302 E.S.

 

‘To be favoured by the Light’.

 

That is the sole metric by which a new Venator is welcomed into the White Comet. There is no rigid tradition of trials; no grand quest that must be undertaken. No -- for the Commandant, endowed with foresight, determines for themselves whether a warrior has the strength of heart and arm necessary to serve in the Order. Beyond merely that, though, they must carry with them the Light’s favour - a sign that they are destined to not only serve as a hunter of the Shadow, but serve well.

 

There is no such trial for this - when the time is right, it is simply known.

 

Once worthy, new Venators are ordained in a manner reminiscent of the Burgundian Host, one of the first holy orders that ever took up arms in the ancient Highland of Edel -- they must face the Commandant in a battle in which the Venator cannot fight back. Instead, the fighting will not end until they have recited the six tenets of the Lucent Codex while being assailed with blows.

 

For, if the Light rejects them, then their guard shall fail, and the Commandant shall slay them.

 

 

A THOUSAND PYRES

 

 

 

The flames cast fitful shadows on Villorik’s face.

 

I’ll do it to save Elizaveta, mother! Even now - decades later - he remembered those childhood words. I’ll get God to bring her back.

 

Villorik released a slow breath. He reached forward, palm outstretched, and watched as the rising flames flashed against the scratched surface of his black-iron vambrace. He wanted to feel the heat for himself; he wanted to feel the cottage burn. Beneath a darkening spring sky, the wind whipped flurries of snow across the ridge where the warpriest stood atop Saurizyr, his Aaunish thoroughbred. Beneath his faceguard, he stared forward as the flames climbed to the thatched roof of a lone cottage a mere dozen feet away.

 

I’ll do it for Aleksandra and Stefaniya, too! His own childhood voice echoed in his mind as he closed his eyes. And - and Petra! And Viktor! And you and father, of course! He shakily inhaled the fresh mountain air, tainted by woodsmoke. I’ll be the greatest servant God has ever had, and … and he’ll have to listen to me, then! He’ll save anyone I want!

 

Thirty-seven years, he told himself as he listened to the flames crackle, and the beams groan. Thirty-seven years since I made that stupid promise.

 

Slowly, he opened his eyes. As the snowfall swept over the ridge, he watched the fire he had lit consume the cottage hungrily. He watched the spars glow red; he heard the roofbeams beginning to crack; and he listened for the screams of the devil inside, but they never came. Thirty-seven years, and yet I cling to it still.

 

As one of the roofbeams finally splintered from the heat, it collapsed inwards with a surge of heat and cinders. As Saurizyr whickered nervously, Villorik raised a forearm to guard from stray embers, and glanced over his shoulder at the two other horses that stood on the ridge with him. On one sat his adjutant Rhys, his platemail agleam in the firelight, and the grey-black tassels of House Ruthern flapping from the shaft of his lance. A woman was unceremoniously lumped across the back of Rhys’ horse, her wrists and ankles shackled together, but where other women wore ornaments in their hair, the white locks of Sermi were crowned with the stubs of demonic horns. She only watched the burning cottage with wide-eyed disbelief.

 

Villorik spared her a lingering look. She, too, was a Devil, and one that had been his enemy for no small amount of time. …but no longer, I think. Not after today.

 

The third horse ferried only children - one a bastard-born prince with a sneer cold enough to freeze water, and the other a girl who cradled a rock the size of her head in her lap. At the sight of the prince, Villorik instinctively felt the dull pain of a sword-scar on his left cheek - a token of his duel with Andrey’s father for the very sin of siring the boy. Villorik spared them as much assurance in a glance as he could, though he doubted it counted for much; a chill jolted through him, and he burst into a fit of coughs.

 

Light-shunned potion, he cursed to himself as he sagged against Saurizyr’s neck for support. It was not the smoke that made his lungs heave nor his skin crawl, but the effects of Abyssal Blight - a gift from Laelia.

 

He glared into the flames as smoke enwreathed the burning cottage. It was here that he and Rhys had tracked that devil to, and here they confronted her; though she now hid in the basement from the fire, she had not done so before setting off that infernal concoction. Though the smoke stung his eyes, Villorik could picture her red eyes and horns, like full lips on a bloodless face, vividly.

 

He remembered that face from his brother’s castle of Morteskvan, when she had been imprisoned and begged for salvation so that she might leave in peace with her sister, Deia. He remembered that face when he felt his heart twinge at her words, and the relief when he allowed himself to be convinced … and he remembered that face when he had returned to Morteskvan, hours later, to find the healer Ilaria cradling the bloodied corpse of Deia after Leila had stabbed her and fled.

 

Laelia had stabbed another, too - the one soul that Villorik would not see harmed.

 

A cold fury blazed in Villorik’s eyes as he scowled at the fire. It burned on and on, roofbeams and thatch collapsing, but still he heard no screams from Laelia in the basement. It matters not, he reminded himself, if she flees judgement once more - if she survives another pyre. He and Rhys had tracked her here, in the depths of the wilderness, and he knew they would find her again.

 

Wherever she hides, he vowed as his glaring eyes teared from the smoke, I will find her with fire. His gloves creaked as he tightened his grip on Saurizyr’s reins for some vain support as the Blighted coughs wracked his throat again. For thirty-seven years, that stupid promise he had made to his mother had held him on his path - to serve the Light, and fight the Shadow.

 

Old as he was now, he knew the words from his childhood were vanity. No matter how well he served the Church, the Light would not answer any prayers to bring his long-dead family back from the grave. And yet … It drove him all the same. That was why he would light the next pyre, and the one after that, and however many more it took. Not just for Laelia, but every servant of the Shadow, for every harbinger of suffering.

 

Villorik was too far down his path to stop now, but he had no desire to abandon it nonetheless. He had seen a great deal of suffering and evil alike in those thirty-seven years; he had seen those like Sermi and Laelia, broken by their service to the Shadow; he had seen depraved vampyres like Florian, bargain with children to save their lives; and he had seen the twisted spires of the Hexicanum cast its shadows across Nor-Velyth. For a time, he had obsessed in the hunt - in finding Shadowspawn, and laying them to rest. It had been a lonely mantle, but he had expected that - he had accepted that.

 

And yet … somewhere along the way, that had changed.

 

Now, his grim memories were infused with different faces. He could picture the wide-eyed eagerness of Tatiyana and Siegmund as they sought tutelage from him, of all people; he could still hear Marian call him a ‘friend’; and he there was even a soul he felt true love for - not for her body nor blood, but for her heart.

 

And she was almost slain by a Shadowspawn. Villorik’s eyes narrowed to near slits at the razed cottage. By Laelia.

 

And so that was why it mattered not to him whether she died in this fire, or not. Whether it was her or another, there would always be another Shadowspawn to burn.

 

“Rhys,” he managed through his Blighted throat and the roar of the flames, “let us be done with this place. I have no intention to die here.”

 

Rhys acknowledged him with a creak of metal as he nodded, and flicked the reins of his mount. “Hup!” Sermi let out a startled grunt as the horse moved beneath her, and the children, too, began to guide their mount down the slope with youthful concern painting their expressions.

 

As he guided Saurizyr around, he spared one last look for the burning house. It was completely consumed by the inferno, now; the encroaching night was kept entirely at bay. He only looked for a moment - it mattered little, now. He shoulders his halberd, and spurred Saurizyr into a canter behind Rhys and Andrey.

 

It did not matter how many pyres it took for Villorik to walk his path.

 

A dozen.

 

A hundred.

 

A thousand.

 

3rd Report of the White Comet

THE ESROVA REPORT

LIGHT PRESERVE AND PREVAIL

 

By writ of the

TRIBUNAL OF THE WHITE COMET

on this 11th day of Sun's Smile of 168 S.A.

 

 

---

 

PONTIFEX SIXTUS VI,

 

Blessings of the Holy Light be upon you.

 

You will recall that the Tribunal of the White Comet formed to reignite the Canon faith in the Archdiocese of Jorenus, with the maiden objective of investigating allegations that King Aleksandr II of Haense conspired with an agent of the Shadow known as Gashadokuro, which has been dubbed as the “Amber Cold Incident”. The research and findings of the White Comet have been compiled herein, entitled the “Esrova Report”.

 

INDEX

1. Foreword
2. The Amber Cold Incident
3. Testimonials
4. The King’s Disappearance
5. Gashadokuro
6. The Inferi Blade
7. The Pigscript Tome
8. Conclusion

 

 

Part I

FOREWORD

 

Two matters of importance must be raised from the outset.

 

Probative Value

I must firstly acknowledge that this Report will be of little probative value to most of Canondom.

 

This is because it is penned by a man born on the slopes of Greyspine, into a family whose historical roots as vassals to the Kingdom of Haense run so ancient that it predates most Elves. While I have forsaken my family name in service of the Light, I accept this may mean little to an objective observer. This is irrespective to my purpose, which is to compile this Report for the benefit of my flock of Westerwald and all of Jorenus; it is a solemn vow and proclamation that should any trace of the Shadow rear its head, the White Comet will see it unveiled and expunged.

 

Mantle of Judgement

Secondly, the White Comet is invested with no particular powers by the Holy See.

 

The Tribunal formed and undertook to investigate the Amber Cold Incident by its own initiative; therefore, it cannot speak for your Holiness in passing down any judgement nor penance. Therefore, while findings of note will be outlined through the Report, these should only serve as persuasive authority to the Holy See, upon whom the responsibility of ultimate judgement lies with.

 

Part II

THE AMBER COLD INCIDENT

 

It is prudent to begin with a factual summary of the Amber Cold Incident.

 

Aleksandr var Georg Bihar, King of Hanseti-Ruska, is accused of conspiring with a Shadowspawn called Gashadokuro for malevolent purposes. It is alleged that the King took part in a trade with Gashadokuro, wherein the King gave this Shadowspawn a sword from the Haeseni reliquary. This section of the Report shall recount the timeline of the Amber Cold Incident, and it shall do so without input. It is a purely factual recollection that forms necessary context for the remainder of the Report.

 

Prelude

During the Covenant War, where the Grand Covenant invaded the League of Veletz, King Aleksandr II began to correspond with an individual named ‘Uugi’ -- an alias of Gashadokuro. ‘Uugi’ had become aware of the King’s keen interest in astrology - in other words, knowledge of the stars and the cosmos. They initially met in Valdev in, prior to the conclusion of the War, during which ‘Uugi’ offered to teach the King of the stars and "how to reach them".

 

In return, ‘Uugi’ sought to be rewarded with an item from the Haeseni reliquary and expressed interest in a sword he believed was secured therein. He petitioned the King to peruse the reliquary personally, but this was refused. The meeting did not reach a conclusive result, though throughout the War, the King appeared to have remained in correspondence with ‘Uugi’.

 

The Incident

On the evening of the 11th of the Amber Cold of 167 S.A., the King agreed to meet ‘Uugi’ now that the War had ended. He departed Valdev in the company of (1) his wife, Queen Amaya, (2) his daughter, Princess Emma, (3) his daughter-in-law, Grand Prince Nataliya, (4) his knight, Ser Walter Weiss, (5) his knight, Ser Garen Baruch, (6) his vassal, Duke Viktor ‘Daemonsteel’, and (7) his royal architect, Wylein Alpyne. The King brought with him a number of items from the Haeseni reliquary, including several swords.

 

Their meeting place was a frozen lake in the snowy glens of the Karenina Mountains, north of Valdev. This was chosen as the King had spoken to Gashadokuro about building an astrology tower in the region -- this was why Wylein Alpyne was in attendance. Atop a frozen lake, the King’s company met a gathering of some half-dozen individuals described as “elderly, bearded men clad in roughspun garb”, with ‘Uugi’ at their forefront. Among ‘Uugi's' party was a former Haeseni diplomat known as Lukas Radanovic, who was recognised by a few in the King’s company.

 

Upon their meeting, ‘Uugi’ identified a particular sword amongst those the King had brought from the reliquary (the “Inferi Blade”), which he requested in exchange for the knowledge he promised the King. The Inferi Blade is described as eyewitnesses as “paining the eyes to behold”, and it was known by the King - but no other eyewitnesses - to have been acquired after the infernal warlord known as False Siegmund was defeated at the Inferi Siege of Karosgrad two generations. Most witnesses were unaware of the Blade’s existence, as it had been secured in the Haeseni reliquary for many decades. It was among three swords retrieved in the course of the war against the Inferi, with one of the others being Svjetlast. Until that point, the Inferi Blade had no left the Haeseni reliquary in approximately eighty years. 

 

In return for knowledge of the cosmos and how to "reach the stars", the King bestowed the Inferi Blade upon ‘Uugi’. It is described that ‘Uugi’ appeared to have cast a magic spell of some kind, which resulted in a book (the “Pigscript Tome”) materialising in the King’s hands. Immediately after touching the Tome, the King vanished inexplicably. It was at this point that eyewitnesses recount that ‘Uugi’ and his company “peeled the skin from their faces, laughed, and fled beneath the lake’s frozen water” before Ser Walter and Ser Garen could intercept.

 

Aftermath

Oblivious to the King’s fate, Grand Princess Nataliya declared that the King had been wounded by Ailmeren raiders and was bedridden. Meanwhile, Ser Garen and Ser Walter set up a camp in the Kareninas in order to wait and see if the King reappeared. The following week, an anonymous missive circulated throughout Valdev alleging that the King had “ … given tribute to an Arch-Lich” and conspired with the Shadow. 

 

Not long thereafter, another publication entitled ‘Age of Rancour’ authored by Gashadokuro circulated, claiming that “... the King forsook what his predecessors swore to protect after recovering it from the hellbent leader of an infernal party …”. This missive was distributed by lesser breeds of Darkspawn in service to Gashadokuro who rode into cities, tossed the papers into the air, and rode out immediately.

 

Exactly three months passed before the King reappeared in the Kareninas at the site of his vanishment.

 

Part III

SOURCES & TESTIMONIALS

 

It is, at this point, prudent to outline the White Comet’s sources.

 

This ought to be done before engaging with the substantive elements of the Report and detailed examinations of particular issues. In doing so, it must be chiefly noted that the majority of the Esrova Report is compiled of witness testimonials, as there exists no other source from which to draw. This, therefore, invites ‘human error’ into consideration, which in this case may take the form of bias -- all eyewitnesses are associates and subjects of the King to various extents. Consequently, this Report undertakes to apply all testimonials critically and with regard to consistency and general credibility.

 

Inversely, it is noted that many commentators on the Amber Cold Incident have relied on the publications of Gashadokuro to contend that the King is either a Shadow sympathiser or a Shadowspawn himself.

 

The White Comet is not prepared to rely on Gashadokuro as a witness.

 

The Shadow is alternatively known as the Deceiver, and therefore it correlates that Gashadokuro is a creature of cunning who seeks to sow chaos, fear, and division among Canondom. It is the view of the White Comet that to rely on his claims absent any nonpartisan evidence would amount to abetting the agenda of the Shadow. While Gashadokuro’s claims may be referenced throughout this Report, the White Comet urges your Holiness to recognise that any man relying on these claims unilaterally has committed a sin.

 

With this in mind, the White Comet has compiled this Report from the following witnesses:

1. Ser Walter of House Weiss: A knight of Haense who described himself as a close companion of the King. Eyewitness to the Amber Cold Incident. Generally regarded as a man of honour. Naturally favourable towards the King but testimony consistent with all others. Performed Rite of Vindication prior to testimony.
2. Queen Amaya of House Bihar: Queen of Haense and wife to the King. Eyewitness to the Amber Cold Incident. Celebrated as a kind and honest ruler, and the ‘heart’ of her country. Naturally favourable towards the King but testimony consistent with all others. Performed Rite of Vindication after testimony.
3. Deia of Valdev: Handmaiden to Queen Amaya. Secondary witness to the Amber Cold Incident by virtue of first-hand information from Ser Walter Weiss. Quiet and timid in nature, reluctant to testify. Seemed generally indifferent to the King, but exhibited remarkable loyalty to Queen Amaya.
4. Aleksandr of House Bihar: King of Haense and subject of this Report. Testimony naturally subject to personal interests. Obtained as a matter of record. Performed Rite of Vindication prior to testimony.
5. Sermi: Wanderer and friend to Deia of Valdev. Tertiary witness to the Amber Cold Incident by virtue of second-hand information from Deia of Valdev. Outspoken and brash in nature, notably critical of the King. Testimony to the White Comet alleged the King was a deliberate conspirator with Gashadokuro. Suspected author of the anonymous missive. Performed Rite of Vindication prior to testimony.
6. Ser Mikolaj Radovanic: A knight of Haense and ‘oracle’ of Haense’s knightly order. Secondary witness to the Amber Cold Incident by virtue of first-hand information from one of the lesser Undead thralls of Gashadokuro (Lukas Radovanic). Cryptic throughout testimony, generally unfavourable towards the King. Performed Rite of Vindication prior to testimony.
7. Arch-Lector Danzen: High-ranking Owynist cleric and author of Ars Belica. Expert among Shadowspawn studies. Not a witness to the Amber Cold Incident, but key source of information on Gashadokuro, the Inferi Blade, and the Pigscript Tome.
8. Otto of House Ludovar: A councillor to the King, and leader of the Duma (the Haeseni legislative assembly). Not a witness to the Amber Cold Incident, but a witness to the King's initial meeting with Gashadokuro some years prior to the Amber Cold Incident. 

Part IV

THE KING’S DISAPPEARANCE

 

Why did the King disappear after the Amber Cold Incident?

 

This is a question that can be dealt with with relative ease. As summarised in Part II, the King inexplicably vanished after the Pigscript Tome was teleported into his hands by Gashadokuro at the Amber Cold Incident. This occurred after the Inferi Blade had been given to Gashadokuro, who was at the time disguised as ‘Uugi’. Eyewitnesses are consistent in alleging that ‘Uugi’ and his company revealed themselves to be Shadowspawn after the King’s disappearance, at which point they fled beneath the ice lake.

 

Upon returning to Valdev, a state of regency was declared by Grand Princess Nataliya Leopoldina after a select few members of the Aulic Council were informed (namely, Lord Palatine Josef, who reported what he knew of the matter to your Holiness immediately). The Grand Princess announced that “in a recent attack by occupier raiders, our King was struck by an arrow in his chest … [and] his wound had unknowingly festered with infection … until [his] recovery, the Crown formally issues this … declaration of regency,”.

 

It is apparent now, however, that this is deliberately inaccurate.

 

At the time of this declaration, the King’s whereabouts were completely unknown. Eyewitnesses of the Amber Cold Incident all profess that they were unsure if the King would return, or if he was even alive. While your Holiness has been apprised of this twice now, no public announcement has been issued since the King’s return three months after the Amber Cold Incident. While the matter of where the King went will be dealt with substantively under Part VII, what this section is concerned with is whether there is any malevolent aspect of the misrepresentations of the Grand Princess’ declaration.

 

The answer appears quite straightforward. The Royal Court had disclosed to the White Comet that this misrepresentation, while deliberate, was not malevolent as it sought to prevent panic and instability within Haense that might have been sparked were it learned that he had vanished after meeting a disguised Shadowspawn. While this did not have its intended effect - as internal and international discontent still spread - what this Report is concerned with is motive, and not outcome. Therefore, in assessing the credibility of the Grand Princess’ reasoning, the following factors have been considered by the White Comet:

1. General Stability: The sudden absence of an absolute monarch in suspicious circumstances and without any indication as to his fate would inflict general discord and disorder within the Kingdom.
2. Ailmere: Impact on morale and organisation may have impeded the Brotherhood of Saint Karl’s ongoing defensive campaign against the Shadowspawn raiders known as Ailmerens.
3. The Grand Covenant: As de-facto commander in chief of the Grand Covenant, the King’s disappearance may have presented an apparent weakness in the Covenant which could stoke Veletzian rebellion (as did indeed happen).

 

The White Comet therefore posits that the Grand Princess’ rationale is credible with regard to the circumstances, and the matter of the King’s disappearance does not appear to be any kind of fabricated defence to collusion with Shadowspawn. Therefore, it is of little further concern to the White Comet nor the Holy See from a judicial perspective. 

Part V

GASHADOKURO

 

Did the King know that Gashadokuro was a Shadowspawn?

 

This question goes to the heart of this Report, as it determines whether or not the King wilfully conspired to serve the goals of the Shadow. Naturally, this is denied by the King, and eyewitnesses are consistent in professing that the King appeared to have no indication as to the true identity of ‘Uugi’ prior to his disappearance. In order to assess the credibility of such claims - bearing in mind no other source of evidence is known to exist - the White Comet shall set out four distinct factors to consider before distilling its findings.

 

I: History of Acquaintance

As outlined in Part II, the King’s acquaintance with ‘Uugi’ - Gashadokuro’s alias - dates back some years. The King testifies that they were introduced through letters, and remained in penned correspondence for sometime throughout the Covenant War. The focus of this correspondence was the King’s fascination with astrology and, in particular, “reaching the stars”. Prior to the War’s end, they met in Valdev, where ‘Uugi’ appeared as an elderly and decrepit man. Otto Ludovar - a councillor to the King - was also in attendance and supports the King’s description. It is testified that ‘Uugi’ offered to teach the King how to accomplish his desire to reach the cosmos, and in exchange sought a reward from the Haeseni reliquary. ‘Uugi’ exhibited an interest in a particular blade, but the King denied his request to personally peruse the reliquary to identify this specific sword.

 

Given the ongoing war, the King neglected to engage ‘Uugi’ further on this occasion.

 

II: Circumstances of the Incident

In order to infer whether the King did, or should have reasonably guessed, Gashadokuro’s nature, we must revisit the facts of the Amber Cold Incident once more. This meeting occurred after the conclusion of the War (and prior to the brief Burgundian uprising in Winburgh), and was arranged by letter. The King rode out with the apparent intention to take up ‘Uugi’ on the trade proposed during their last meeting, as he took with him a number of blades from the Haeseni reliquary -- he claimed to be unaware of which particular blade ‘Uugi’ referenced at their last meeting. Of the King’s company (that being Queen Amaya, Princess Emma, Grand Princess Nataliya, Duke Viktor, Ser Walter, Ser Garen, and Wylein Alpyne), there is no evidence to suggest any knowledge of Gashadokuro’s identity.

 

Once again, eyewitnesses are consistent in testifying that ‘Uugi’ and his half-dozen or-so followers appeared as elderly humans and Elves, with the addition of a former Haeseni courtier known as Lukas Radovanic. At the meeting in the Karenina Mountains, ‘Uugi’ examined the collection of swords brought by the King and requested a particular blade -- the Inferi Blade. While the King’s knowledge of the Inferi Blade and his bestowal of it to Gashadokuro will be substantively considered in Part VI, it is sufficient to note for this section that the King and all eyewitness claim they had no knowledge on the nature of the Inferi Blade, and only recount that it “hurt to behold”.

 

After the Inferi Blade was given to ‘Uugi’, the Pigscript Tomb was teleported into the King’s hands, which led to his abrupt disappearance. Eyewitnesses are consistent in claiming that it was only after the King’s disappearance that ‘Uugi’ and his company revealed themselves to be Shadowspawn before fleeing.

 

III: Gashadokuro’s Attempt to Sow Chaos

A significant aspect the White Comet has considered is what appears to be investment by Gashadokuro in creating chaos, uncertainty, and discord in the aftermath of the Amber Cold Incident. Several considerations arise in this regard:

1. Reveal in the Kareninas: Gashadokuro is described as only revealing his Shadowspawn nature after the King vanished, and boasted that he had fooled the King.
2. ‘Age of Rancour’: An inflammatory publication alleging that the King was a servant of Gashadokuro and the Shadow was penned and distributed throughout Canondom. Clerics of the White Comet personally witnessed an unidentified armoured figure, who fled when confronted, and a goblin riding a donkey distributing these publications in Valdev.
3. Raid on Numendil: A faithful named Canonius reported to the White Comet that lesser Undead clad in Haeseni armour had assaulted the Kingdom of Numendil, during which they declared they served King Aleksandr II and openly displayed rotten flesh, open wounds, and exposed bones. These raiders were repelled and the heart of one of these Undead was presented to the White Comet. Of further note is that this occurred during the King's disappearance. 
4. Undead Thralls: One of the lesser Undead who had attacked Numendil and been slain was identified by Canonius in Valdev. After being apprehended and unmasked by the White Comet and the Brotherhood of Saint Karl, they discovered a dim-witted creature of rotten flesh that claimed to serve Gashadokuro before it was killed.
5. Attacks on the Pontifex: Your Holiness will also recall the several attempts on his life over the previous months, which are undoubtedly attributable to these Shadowspawn.

In light of the foregoing, the White Comet posits that it was clearly Gashadokuro’s intent to spread chaos and instability across Canondom, and it was his earnest wish to convince Canondom that the King did indeed serve him, and the Shadow.

 

IV: Testimony of Arch-Lector Danzen

Of particular assistance to this Report is the specialist knowledge of Arch-Lector Danzen, who sought out the White Comet in Valdev on the matter of the Amber Cold Incident. The Arch-Lector advised that he was well-acquainted with Gashadokuro - who he knew by the alias “Shinji” - and advised that this Shadowspawn was particularly prone to disguise and deception. Therefore, he surmised it was likely the King may have been manipulated by Gashadokuro while disguised as ‘Uugi’.

 

V: Findings

Based on the above, the White Comet assesses the situation as follows:

●        Identity of ‘Uugi’: It appears plausible that the King was unaware of Gashadokuro’s dark nature. While it can be generally accepted that the King thought ‘Uugi’ to be an opportunistic mage throughout their correspondence, it is somewhat difficult to explain why the King did not make inquiries into the following:

○        The source of ‘Uugi’s’ knowledge,

○        ‘Uugi’s’ specific interest a particular sword,

○        How ‘Uugi’ was aware of the existence of this particular sword, and,

○        What ‘Uugi’ specifically proposed to give or teach the King in return for that particular sword.

Even so, this lack of diligence is likely better described as just that -- a lack of diligence. While these factors will be revisited in the context of the Inferi Blade in Part VI, it appears generally unreasonable to attribute this lack of diligence to knowledge or conspiracy with Shadowspawn in light of the other findings compounded below and the lack of any other evidence.
 

●        Extrapolation of the King: If, as is claimed by some, that the King is a wilful servant of Gashadokuro and the Shadow, it is difficult to reconcile this with the timing at which the King was ‘revealed’ or ‘ousted’. While the Inferi Blade may be of value to Gashadokuro, there is no logical explanation as to why Gashadokuro would not further seek to extrapolate the King either under his control or in his service. Manipulation of the most powerful of the Canonist monarchs would be a boon of unmatched utility to a Shadowspawn -- this is especially compelling when it is considered that other Inferi artefacts remain in the Haeseni reliquary, such as the crown of False Siegmund, which is noted to retain vestiges of his demonic power. On a scale of probabilities, the White Comet notes that - based on current evidence - it appears far more likely that Gashadokuro successfully deceived the King on this occasion than that he abandoned an alleged tributary when there appears to have been a great deal more he could have gained.
 

●        Gashadokuro’s Agenda:  It is apparent that for Canondom to act on the unmitigated claims of Gashadokuro in the ‘Age of Rancour’ is to serve the Shadow’s agenda to the detriment of the Holy Light. As previously affirmed, the White Comet considers it untenable to aid this agenda by acting on these claims in the absence of any other evidence. In other words, it marks a glaring ‘red flag’ for the White Comet that there exists no other proof of these claims.

 

The White Comet is therefore satisfied that there is no evidence of the King serving the Shadow. Note that this finding is reached on a simple scale of probability when considering all evidence and testimonies -- while the King did undergo the Rite of Vindication before your Holiness, there is no definitive method of proof other than to critically assess testimony with the known circumstances of the Amber Cold Incident.

 

While an apparent lapse in diligence can be observed through the King’s interactions with Gashadokuro while disguised as ‘Uugi’, these do not reasonably amount to wilful conspiracy with the Shadow, especially given Gashadokuro’s notoriety for deception. Ultimately, these allegations boil down to the unsupported proclamations of the Shadowspawn in question, and the White Comet is satisfied these claims are adequately rebutted.

Part VI

THE INFERI BLADE

 

Did the King know the nature of the Inferi Blade?

 

While the White Comet opines that the King was not a wilful conspirator with Gashadokuro, of equal concern to the Tribunal is whether the King was aware of the hellish nature of the Inferi Blade, and whether he willingly parted with with a malevolent artefact to a man about whom he knew relatively little. Therefore, this section shall outline the known history of the Inferi Blade, what is presently understood about the Blade, and whether trading it to Gashadokuro - or, as a matter of fact, anyone - was an obviously grievous error.

 

I: History of the Inferi Blade

Two generations ago, the-then Haeseni capital of Karosgrad upon Almaris was besieged by False Siegmund, leading an Inferi horde. By the time False Siegmund was slain by King Karl III outside the gates of Karosgrad to bring the war to an end, a number of peculiar artefacts had been reclaimed by Haense. Records from King Karl III and the curators of the Haeseni reliquary indicate that these artefacts include:

●        False Siegmund’s Crown: Worn by False Siegmund and claimed from his corpse by King Karl III. It is known from King Karl III, who briefly donned the Crown, that it infuses one with malice becoming of its Inferi origins. Its exact power is unknown, but it clearly does possess power.

●        Svjetlast: The ancient sword of Ruskan Kings, wielded by King Barbov the Black of Ruska before eventually becoming lost to time. It was retrieved by a Haeseni Prince during a battle in the outskirts of Haense prior to the ultimate Siege of Karosgrad, presumably from False Siegmund’s collection. It is unknown how the Inferi warlord came to possess this. It has been wielded by King Aleksandr II for several decades, and exhibits no supernatural traits.

●        Inferi Blade: The subject of this section. It was placed in the Haeseni reliquary after the war, where it remained unperturbed until the Amber Cold Incident (many decades later). It is claimed that the Blade causes pain to those who look at it.

●        Infernal Script: A script of paper written in some infernal tongue. It is not known what it means.

●        Infernal Gemstones: Valuable minerals that cause pain when touched.

 ●       A Third Sword: An unnamed third sword that remains secured in the Haeseni reliquary and is not described as bearing any notable powers.

 

Of importance to note is the fact that - with the exception of Svjetlast - these items were secured in the Haeseni reliquary for over seven decades, which was long before the birth of King Aleksandr II. Therefore, the only individuals with access to these relics - namely, the Inferi Blade - for the previous two generations have been the curators of the Haeseni reliquary, which typically takes the form of the reigning king and queen. Therefore, access to the Inferi Blade and knowledge of it has been exceptionally limited prior to the Amber Cold Incident. Also of note is that the only two items whose specific origins are recorded is Svjetlast and False Siegmund's Crown - the rest of the artefacts are simply noted to have been collected in the course of the war.

 

II: Nature of the Inferi Blade

It thus follows that it is not well understood what the Inferi Blade is. Like the other Inferi artefacts - again excepting Svjetlast - it exhibited some unsettling traits. Eyewitnesses of the Amber Cold Incident, including the King, recount that the Blade caused pain to their eyes when they looked upon it. This is similar to the gemstones obtained throughout the Inferi war, which inflict pain when touched.

 

Otherwise, however, it is claimed by the King that he was unaware of any other properties of the Blade, and all eyewitnesses to the Amber Cold Incident are consistent in claiming they did not even know of its existence. It has since been proclaimed by Gashadokuro that it is a “blade of immense, demonic power”, but the specific form any such power takes is not yet known, or understood. That is not to say that such power does not exists; Gashadokuro’s interest in the Blade from the outset can be attributed to verification of some power, or as a symbolic trophy.

 

III: The Trade

This Report has already recounted in some detail that the King brought a number of swords from the Haeseni reliquary to meet ‘Uugi’ in the Karenina Mountains at the time of the Amber Cold Incident, and ‘Uugi’ picked out the Inferi Blade and requested it in return for his knowledge of the cosmos. The King obliged, which led to his subsequent disappearance as ‘Uugi’ teleported the Pigscript Tome onto his person.

 

IV: Findings

In consideration of the above, the White Comet posits as follows:

1. Evidence of the Blade’s nature: While it is credible that the King was generally unaware of any power the Inferi Blade possessed (and the existence of such power is yet to be confirmed), the White Comet surmises that there was sufficient evidence to conclude that the Blade did exhibit unusual traits, such as its aversion to being looked at and being an artefact associated with the Inferi to begin with - it can be loosely correlated to False Siegmund's crown the power of which was known to the Royal Family. This, however, can be mitigated with contrast to Svjetlast, which was also obtained during the Inferi war and wielded by several people across the decades without adverse effect.
2. ‘Uugi’s’ Interest: It is further questionable as to why ‘Uugi’s’ keen interest in the Inferi Blade was never queried. Given that the Inferi Blade was retrieved from the Inferi and did exhibit odd magical traits, it is extremely curious that (a) Gashadokuro even knew of the existence of this Blade in the Haeseni reliquary, and (b) that he seemed determined to acquire it. The White Comet finds that it is an omission of gross negligence that these inquiries were never made, for they may well have shone light on ‘Uugi’s’ true nature.

 

The White Comet accepts that the exact nature of the Inferi Blade was unknown to the King, and therefore does not believe that the King willingly distributed an evil relic. However, all surrounding circumstances would indicate to a reasonable observer that such a weapon ought not to have been dismissively bartered due to (1) its origins, (2) its known properties, (3) Gashadokuro’s knowledge of its existence, and (4) Gashadokuro’s eagerness to acquire it.

 

It is apparent that this gross lapse of diligence is attributable to the sins of greed and pride, as the King was evidently willing to forsake all duties of diligence in his pursuit of what Gashadokuro claimed to offer.

Part VII

THE PIGSCRIPT TOME

 

What is the Pigscript Tome?

 

This section of the Report serves more so as a clarification rather than an assessment of the accusations levied against the King. It is, however, nonetheless integral to understanding the Amber Cold Incident. Note that this is a somewhat complex magical matter, and only a scarce level of detail is understood by the White Comet at present.

 

The promise made by ‘Uugi’ to teach the King how to “reach the stars” is not merely figurative - it is a literal endeavour. Although it was not understood prior to the Amber Cold Incident what exactly ‘Uugi’ was to give or teach the King in exchange for the Inferi Blade, it is now known to be the Pigscript Tome. This Tome appears to be a magical artefact of considerable power, and bestows upon its bearer the ability to ‘shift’ between dimensions. Notably, it appeared to have been possessed by Arch-Lector Danzen, who suspects it was, in turn, stolen by Gashadokuro before ending up in the possession of King Aleksandr II after the Deep Cold Incident.

 

It was by touching the Tome that caused the King to be transported to some kind of alternate dimension, one where the King described as “having a voice that read all [my] thoughts aloud”. It follows, however, that the Tome can be used to access all manner of dimensions. The method by which this is done is not known, nor is it understood from where the Tome originates nor what manner of magic it utilises.

 

It is ultimately a question for your Holiness as to whether this Tome is an affront to the Holy Light.

Part VIII

CONCLUSION

 

Thus concludes the Esrova Report.

 

The White Comet set out to investigate allegations into the activities of King Aleksandr II of Haense surrounding the Amber Cold Incident, namely whether he was a willing conspirator with or agent of the Shadow. While there is ample basis to criticise the actions of the King, chiefly in relation to the disposal of the Inferi Blade, there does not appear to be any compelling evidence with which to conclude the King is an enemy of the Light other than the claims of Gashadokuro. As affirmed in-depth throughout this Report, to act on the word of a Shadowspawn who seeks to perpetuate chaos and division among Canondom is to directly aid the Shadow’s work -- this much must surely be a sin.

 

 

In spite of this, the White Comet reaffirms the contents of the Foreword and similarly accepts that the outcome of this Report may be unsatisfactory to some. The Light’s justice must be absolute, irrespective of partisan agendas, and while this Report may be criticised for that very reason, all observers are invited to assist in unearthing truths that may yet remain hidden.

 

The Tribunal submits this Report to your Holiness, your Curia, and your Auditor.

 

Judge as you will.

 

May the Light prevail.

LIGHT PRESERVE AND PREVAIL

Tribune Villorik

Bishop Westerwald

 

 

---

 

This is a roleplay letter addressed to Pontiff Sixtus VI @Sander and Cardinal Mattia @christman. It's contents are not roleplay knowledge unless shared by these characters.

 

TRIBUNAL OF THE WHITE COMET

 

PROCLAIMED BY

THE ARCHDIOCESE OF JORENUS

ON THIS 8TH DAY OF OWYN'S FLAME OF 1963

 

LIGHT PRESERVE AND PREVAIL

 

Let it be known before all the Realms of Canondom that upon this day, it is the will of the Holy Light made flesh that the works of the Shadow - and all who worship it - be expunged without mercy from the Archdiocese of Jorenus.

 

While the works of the Shadow are to be abhorred across all the World, in times where the chaos of war still lingers, the Shadow finds easy harbor in the hearts of men. Therefore, it is a divine calling mandated by the Skies that this work be undertaken by the Jorenite clergy to restore not only the full radiance of the Light, but the trust and integrity of the Light within the Kingdom of Haense.

 

Therefore, it is the annunciated will of the Light that:

 

I. The Tribunal of the White Comet shall be formed to undertake a holy mission to root out all servants and works of the Shadow from the Archdiocese of Jorenus.

 

II. The White Comet shall be composed of ordained clergymen of Jorenus and shall enlist the aide of foreign clerics and pious knights as necessary, especially in the matter of disposal of Darkspawn.

 

III. All members of the White Comet shall be tested with aurum and salt prior to the assumption of their duties.

 

IV. The White Comet shall compose a census of those tested and vindicated by the Light as true and pure souls, untainted by the Shadow, and furnish this to the Holy See.

 

V. The White Comet shall investigate the allegations levied against the Royal House of Bihar, namely their purported consortium with a ‘lich’, and submit a report of their findings to the Holy See.

 

All is willed by the Holy Light; thus, the spreading fear and chaos of the Shadow can only be intended as a divine mandate that we must not forget the diligence commanded unto us by the Scroll of Virtue.

 

Verily - no Shadow shall thus go unexpunged.

 

LIGHT PRESERVE AND PREVAIL

Villorik

Bishop Westerwald

 

Josef

Cardinal Jorenus