Word has traveled from the County of Trauntor of a series of recent events involving the newly exposed connections between a Luukosian cult and a local sect of the Order of the Night’s Blades. One of the Ronanite leaders, Lord Redding, faced trial outside the Citadel of Barrett’s Gorge, where he confessed to his dark alliance with the Luukosians, and even offered up the names of many involved in his Order who are still at large and may pose as a threat to both the Church of Koar and the Turamzzyrian Empire. It is said many of those named as accomplices may be operating in or near the area of Wehnimer’s Landing, confirming the suspicions that the danger is more wide spread.
There are a number of conflicting reports, but a majority of the witnesses at the event claim that before Redding was burned at the stake, two Hendoran soldiers tried to assassinate Prelate Chaston Griffin, but the crowd was able to thwart their dark deed and they died while resisting being apprehended. Rumors suggest the soldiers were possibly dispatched to that area by Sir Thadston who is currently operating near Wehnimer’s Landing.
Two days after the trial and assassination attempt, Prelate Chaston stood in the center of the Third District of Barrett’s Gorge and gave a speech to thousands of citizens and soldiers who had gathered. There were few who could not hear his words, and many claimed it was as if his voice projected loudly across the sea of people, a true sign of the divine message he carried.
The Prelate went on to say:
“This has not been an easy time, for any of us. Evil, no matter its face, all too often leaves tragedy in its wake, even in its demise. Men we once called brothers found their hearts poisoned by the Father of Lies, and while our actions were just, they were no less difficult. Victory is often paved by the sacrifice of many, and we as a people are naïve to believe that the road to triumph is not stained with blood. It is never a good thing when a child of Koar is lost to darkness, and even more regrettable is when that life is lost before they can once again see the light.”
“In recent years, our Church, our Empire, our people, they have suffered and died beneath the endless toils of wickedness. War has reshaped our land and broken our homes. Great walls, like the one behind me, no longer serve as the protective barrier against our enemies as it once did. We are now aware, more than ever, that darkness dwells in the garden of the righteous.”
“We have seen men and women raise the banner of Liabo, but secretly worship the shadow of Lornon. We have seen our skies blackened with death, as fleets of airships rained down chaos, once threatening to snuff out the bright light of the Turamzzyrian Empire. We have seen the power of evil be allowed to grow as leaders far and wide have grown complacent, lacking the courage, and dare I say conviction, to rise up and stand against the darkness that creeps across our lands.”
“We have seen the results of such cowardice. Your fathers have perished because of the weakness of some. Your homes have been ruined because of the spinelessness of others. Your families have been shattered and suffocated by tragedy after tragedy, because of the ineffectiveness of countless leaders. Great walls alone are not enough to protect the safety and souls of our people any longer. Many will ignore the weeds growing up within the garden, content to look on and say, oh how beautiful the flowers, refusing to acknowledge the encroaching decay. I stand before you now and promise you that a new dawn is approaching and in this golden age of renewed faith and muster we shall not suffer even a single black speck to diminish the light of the Church and Empire.”
“There is a revival spreading across the great provinces of the Turamzzyrian Empire. There is a reawakening of faith in the souls of those who have been troubled for far too long by the unchecked deeds of malefactors. Let there be no more suffering in our hearts and let there be no more suffering of the wicked. The path before us will be challenging, and difficult decisions will need to be made. But they must be made. We cannot weaken our resolve in the slightest, for evil needs only a small crack to poison the well. There is a harvest coming, and those who follow the truth and light shall reap a benefit unlike ever seen in the history of our great Empire.”
“This new dawn does not begin with me.”
“It begins with you.”
It is said that after Prelate Chaston’s rousing speech, that countless citizens and many imperial soldiers present joined in a prayer to the God-King Koar, who many pledged a new found faith too. Reports indicated that Prelate Chaston Griffin will be leaving the area of Trauntor sometime this week and be traveling north to Mestanir where he will survey the still war-torn land and speak with many near holy sites dedicated to Koar.
