======Heretics====== //The light struck down those who turned their backs to Her. The light struck down those who instead faced the shadows and lived in blissful ignorance. It is a mercy, as those who have turned away can not see the beauty of Her creation.// You finish your sermon. The room seems more packed today--maybe the recent incident in the camp has resulted in more worried souls seeking the warmth of the light. As you snuff out the candles and close your books, you escort two of your disciples to the side. They both have simple instructions: “Follow Grant. Tell me what he is doing--as for Salithra, feign your doubt in me and Her.” —-------------------- The second disciple comes back first. A nod to you as you both kneel in front of a portrait of the High Priestess. The disciple does not face the portrait, however; they face you. “Salithra is a curious soul. She is not one to be concerned about." Your lip twitches. "However, I encountered someone else--someone they warned about in the scripture.” “Please, speak. Your honesty will be rewarded. She always rewards those who seek to protect us.” “I saw Rhys speaking to Verity. I… cannot repeat the words he spoke--” “No, continue. We cannot strike down people on mere assumptions.” “He spoke to her with... words so sacrilegious. He asked why she didn’t doubt her faith, and yet had the audacity to ask for forgiveness. To ask that she don’t tell others of his lack of faith, while he spewed insidious lies about how we cannot trust the preachers or the High Priestess.” “I see.” “I worry, Preacher Rowan, I do. I know that so many of us can be saved, and yet he seems so determined to tear down people’s faiths.” “Do not worry, blessed one, I will resolve this.” "Thank you, Sir. I cannot bear people speaking down to you." He spoke badly of //you.// “Thank you.” A situation more grave than you thought. —----------------------------- The first disciple, a woman called Annette, never arrives. The sun has set far below the horizon now. Her light cannot protect Annette as the creatures of the night stalk their prey. Was she ever faithful to you? The fact she doesn’t return tells you enough. The familiar glint of Ormina’s sniper as the echo of a bullet sounds out amongst the camp. The flash as the bullet leaves its chamber, a gift from above to strike down the creatures that threaten you. However, the real creatures that worry you are those that threaten to usurp you. To remove someone like Rhys would be so simple, a show of strength perhaps. Or would it perhaps be easier to bring him back into your ranks, show that a man is never too far from Her reach? The bullet sounds out again. —--------------------------- //The twins were faced with a decision, as the heretic knelt down in front of them. Their neck is gently laid on the tree stump, stained with blood from previous executions. A show of forgiveness? Or are they beyond redemption?// //Fiadh told his brother, “Do not strike down those who mean to repent, as we should not even strike down those who betray us.”// //Laoch pointed up to the stars, “Do you not see the light guiding us to his resting place? He has torn down our buildings, and cursed our people to damnation – why now should we forgive him?"// //Fiadh replied, “It is not up to us to decide. It is Her will.” And as he raised a flower up to the sky, Laoch lifted up his sword. The sun began to rise between the two men, and the heretic was burned to ash in the dawn.// {[]}{{tag>writeup1 gm_rei complete}}