[CHURCH] COMPENDIUM VIII THE CONVERSION OF SMITH ***** ***** ***** Proctor John read the letter from Marco. So the bank wished to expand its operations on Ifreann, eh? He thought for a moment on what the Church's position should be on the subject. After pondering the matter, he could see no reason why he should not find Marco's request acceptable. After all, the bank had so far proven to be an ally of the church. He would mention the bank and its assistance in his next message to the 'Redeemer'. Perhaps he would want to keep the bank around after the redemption was complete. He took out some parchment from his desk and began to write... ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |My Dear Proctor Paul, | | | |My compliments, and I hope you are well. The bearer of this message | |is a representative of the Banco Des Respublica, which has been of | |enormous help in my troublesome domain. They are interested in opening |a branch in your domain, as well as other financial business with the | |court of King Duarte. They would like to open this branch in the capitol |near the royal palace. | | | |I trust that you can spare a moment of your precious time to help the | |bearer of this message with the proper introductions needed to begin | |business in your domain. As I have said, the bank has been of great help |to the Church in Montfort, and I think it will continue to be | |supportive in their new venture in Clermont. | | | | The Redeemer be praised, | | | | Proctor John | | *^^~)> =+>/* *^<::|+ >*^~||X | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Proctor John called in one of Deaconess Thai's grey-robed acolytes. "Take this letter of introduction to the bank. Ask to see Marco, and give him my compliments. Tell him that this is the best that I could do for him, being that Clermont is outside of my domain." The acolyte nodded his understanding, and left with the letter. --Johny Enright Proctor John stood on his balcony surveying the damage to Montfort. An inner rage was beginning to form. The resistance, who were starting to be called the Refusers, had made him look bad. They had made the church look bad. Proctor John wanted some heads. There came a knock at his door. He called out "Enter!" The door opened, and Semareth and Thai walked into the office. "Sit!" They took their customary seats at his desk. Proctor John took one more look at the fire damage, then turned and entered his office, closing the balcony doors behind him. "I wanted to tell you that I am displeased with last night's happenings. We can ill-afford such anarchy, especially at our very doorsteps. Semareth, I want you to step up your investigations into the Refusers. With your 'new' Inquisitors, you should be able to find things out a bit more quickly than in the past. Also, I have been sent a message from the Enrico at the bank. They have Smith in their custody. Take a squad over and bring him to me. I want to see to his redemption...personally." Proctor John turned to Thai. "Deacon, this is a public relations nightmare. I want you to fix this. Whatever it takes. Send out a story that the witches were caught and cleansed outside of town. Guarantee the faithful's loans for rebuilding at the bank. Speak to Marco personally. I want this..." He pointed out his windows at the charred buildings around the church "...forgotten in a weeks time." He got up to see them to the door. "Oh, Deacon Thai, I almost forgot. I have a gift for you." He pulled out a gold pendant and chain. The symbol on the pendant was the circle within a triangle that was the new symbol for the church. Within the circle was a large diamond, and each point of the triangle held a ruby, emerald and sapphire. "Just as Semareth's gift will help him in his tasks, so too shall this help you." As he placed the chain over Thai's head, she could feel the subtle vibrations of strong magic on the pendant. She could 'feel' its warmth through her robes. Proctor John opened the door, and the Deacon and High Inquisitor went out to accomplish their tasks. --Johny Enright The inquisitor sat high on his horse. He had been riding toward Montfort for days. Behind him came a wagon full of his belongings. He had been assigned to this city by the church hierarchy, and was bringing all of his belongings to his new home. selected them as gifts for the Proctor of this town, as a "neighborly show of support" for the recent unfortunate turn of events. (The stingy old man _would_ send these green inquistors with me.) Mauq L'Arain thought to himself as the man approached. (These blundering idiots are more likely to put me in disfavor with the proctor, than anything else.) "Sir, the bridge ahead has been destroyed. Shall we look for a way around." The man stared dully into Mauq's hansome face and green eyes. "Do you expect us to turn around now and head back for home? Yes, man, find another way." He said with a smile. (Idiots! The lot of them!) Mauq rode back to his wagon to look at his own 'gift' for Proctor John. "It would seem with your grandfather no longer a threat to me I would have no need for you. I fully intend to make very good use of your trade value, however. You see, as an offering you will asure me at least some favor with Proctor John, unlike these fools." He said indicating the men around him who sat sorely on their horses backs. The white form in the cage hissed at him, bringing a small smile to his face. He was well aware that if it hadn't been for that special muzzle placed on her snout, he would have been sprayed with venom. He had been sprayed by Sylpie before and his arm had been numb for days. "Ah, it will please me greatly to see you destroyed." He adjusted his cloak and hood while staring at the forming storm clouds. He caught a glimps of a snakey form flying up into the torment. "Pah, this place is _infested_ with dragons." Mauq was beging to have his doubts about the man he had been asigned to work for. "That will be one of the things I intend to change around here." Then, just for a moment, he sensed something. A spike. Someone of the Wa'ari was here? Oh this wasn't so bad after all. Destroying dragons was one thing, but destroying members of the clan which had cast him aside to suffer and survive on his own... why, that was just marvelous. "We have found another bridge, sir." The young man was pleased to see Inquisitor L'Arain happy. But if he only knew the contempt for him that Mauq held... "Let us go, then. I find myself longing to meet our new proctor." "Yes, sir." The band of men continued their prosession into Montfort, and paused before the gates of the church, the wagon now covered because of the rain and for the sake of privacy. "Stay here. Do not let any approach my wagon. Understand?" He said tapping the hilt at his waist. The young inquisitor straitened in his saddle. "Yes, sir." "Good." He walked up the front steps of the church, sealed documents of exchange in his hands. "Now let's see what kind of man Proctor John really is." --Sam Gonzales Mauq L'Arain walked into the entrance of the church and pulled back the hood of his rain soaked cloak. There were several heavily armed men on guard. Two stepped forward and asked Mauq's business. [They were told to be on the lookout for imposters. Several inquisitors robes were found to be missing after the insident the night before.] "I am Mauq L'Arain. I've been sent here by the church hierarchy to join the ranks of Proctor John's Inquisitors. Please see to it that this message is handed to him or the Deacon if he is unavailable." Mauq handed the scroll to the guard."I will await here for a response." As the guard turned and walked away, another came forward to take his place before Mauq. ------------------------------------------------------- | Dearest Proctor John, | | | | It has come to our attention that you have | | been having a little difficulty with public | | relations of late. To help you keep a tighter | | lid on these happenings, we have sent you a | | gift. Mauq L'Arain has been very succesful | | in hunting down a pesky band of heretics in | | the north, and we feel he can be of some aid | | to you in keeping a handle on Montfort. | | Needless to say, we cannot have any kind | | of public display of violence against the | | church. If things do come to that, L'Arain | | has been instructed that it is absoloutley | | imparrative that any and all supporters of | | any rebellions are crushed. There cannot be | | a single doubt in the minds of the people | | that all who so much as dare to oppose the | | church will be destroyed. We are sure he | | will make an excellent Proctor some day. | | | | Sincerely, | | Proctor Collins | | North Mister Abby | |_______________________________________________________| --Samson Gonzalez Proctor John read the note the Inquisitor brought him. Ten minutes later, Inquisitor Mauq was standing before him in his office. "Welcome to my domain, Inquisitor Mauq. Your former Proctor has many good things to say about you. I trust you will continue your good service to the church under *my* tuteledge?" --Johny Enright "I will do my best not to disappoint you." Perhaps, he thought, I could worded it a little better. No matter. He will soon see just how valuable an asset I truely am. "May I ask what station it is that I to be placed in?" --Samson Gonzales "You will be working directly for High Inquisitor Semareth. But, I am assigning you as the Inquisitor liason to Deaconess Thai. In that way, you can demonstrate your abilities in public relations." He scribbled something on two pieces of parchment and handed them both to Mauq. "Give the first to Semareth. You are now a lieutenant in the Inquisitors. This will relate to him your new rank and assignment. Give the second letter to Deaconess Thai. It notifies her of the same." Proctor John stood and led Mauq to the door. "Once again, welcome. Praise be the Redeemer!" --Johny Enright "Thank you, Proctor. Though I am sure the High Inquisitor can assist me in settling my gear, there is a small matter of a gift I have brought for you." "It's a breed of white dragon that grows in the north. I used it as a sort of wedge to keep its parents at bay while I led the church against a band of heretics the dragons had sworn to protect. It is no longer of any use to me as its parents are all quite dead. I was curious to know if you would perhaps care to have the creature, or take a look at it before I have it disposed of." "Again, thank you for your gracious welcome. Praise be the Redeemer!" Lt. Inquisitor Mauq stepped clear of the doorway and began seeking his way to the church common room. Upon finding a church acolyte, Mauq requests that he arrange to have an audience with High Inquisitor Semareth, who was rather busy with Smith,at that moment. Deaconess Thai was out restoring faith amoungst the people. So it was quite late really that he had the opportunity to visit with the higher clergy. Meanwhile, outside, eight men stood guard of Mauq's belongings as the poor weather ravaged on. --Sam Gonzalez Dougan woke and looked around. He was in a small room that looked like it was in the Inn. He listened hard and heard the faint sounds of the common room. He thought back to what he remembered. The battle...running from the soldiers...the Inn...then collapsing. Hugh must have helped him, regardless of the danger. Things were coming more clearly to him now. He remembered the way he implored the people in the common room to help rescue Smith. In retrospect, he realized how incredibly stupid that was. He probably implicated Hugh as a member of the resistance. Evidently everything was still all right, though, because otherwise he wouldn't have wakened peacefully. He found some beef broth next to his bed, still hot. 'Good, I haven't been out too long then. I may still be able to help.' While finishing up his broth, he started formulating a plan to rescue Smith, on his own if need be. He got up and found some old clothes. He got dressed and made his way outside (maybe through some back way or something--however it was, he wasn't seen leaving the Inn). --Count Ryan Bonedancer slowly approached the Church's main gate, appearing to be merely a thin, travel worn, weary refugee from out of town. Shuffling forward, his head hung low with the hood pulled up, he exuded the air of one who is beyond caring. The inquisitor on guard let his gaze pass over him, someone so obviously thin and frail couldn't possibly be a threat. He passes through the gate, and quickly finds a spot in the courtyard to keep watch for the rescue party. "Here you, what are you doing there?" an inquisitive voice calls out from the wall above him. "Just resting my weary bones." he calls back in a tired sounding voice without looking up. "Well, hurry up and move along. There's space inside to rest." Bonedancer merely grunts in reply and raises a hand, the sleeve draped over it. A moment later a snoring noise begins issuing from him. The guard, apparently deciding to find more entertainment elsewhere moves on with a sour grunt. A moment later the snoring noise stops. A few minutes later his patience is rewarded by a woman apparently stepping right out of the wall. "Ah ha. This would be them." he thinks to himself. But before he can move she disappears inside the Church. "Just one person?" he thinks to himself, "Where are the rest of them? Something about this definately doesn't feel right." The rest of the group comes through the wall soon after that, a group of people Bonedancer has never seen before, Cari nowhere to be seen. That lack is soon remedied however as he sees her coming through the gate, like any normal person would. [:)] --Jeremy Farnham Randall looked carefully up and down the street for signs of any watchers from the church, but Elvira had been correct. The Inquisitors guarded the gates and sent out patrols, but they were far enough apart that a small group could sneak past to the wall. The girl had gone ahead to make certain Jarrad hadn't been moved, and to mark the hole for them. Two rocks lay five feet apart against the wall at the point she'd said the hole was. The white rock that was to signify trouble wasn't there between them. After the next patrol passed, Randall and the others moved out quickly and silently. The illusion passed them through, and there was the courtyard as Elvira had described it. Grym sniffed the air suspiciously and placed a restraining hand on Randall's arm as he was about to start forward. He shook his massive head and rumbled his unease. The musky smell of ogre and troll tainted the breeze meandering through the courtyard and he didn't like it at all. --Phaedra Whitlock Cari wished Randall, Caitrine, and Grym "good fortune" on their plans and watched them move off toward the place in the Church wall that Elvira had marked with the stones. Since they had only a rough idea where the dungeons were it had been decided to tackle the problem from two angles. She straightened the robe she had stolen from the scribe, pulled the hood up, and stepped out into the busy thoroughfare from the ally. The area around the Church was still busy with clean-up from the fire so Cari wasn't worried about being noticed. What she hoped she could pull off was just walking through the gates. Yes, she had the robe, but she didn't have the knowledge of the routine within the Church. And her ignorance could show her up. All she could hope for was that if she did blunder that she pass herself off as very new. And pray no one was scanning at that particular moment. She worked her way meekly through the people and was relieved to notice a couple of other Church members going through the gates ahead of her. She watched to see if they were checked by the guards at the gate. She didn't want to have to try any mind tricks on the guards, because she had a nasty idea that after the rescue the best men were probably on guard, and those would probably have shields. Cari stayed to her calm and steady pace, ignoring the drum-loud sound of her pulse in her ears. She really wished that Bonedancer had shown; they had so few taking on this rescue. She was angry that he hadn't shown, but told herself, "What did you hope for - finding a troop of true knights who'd ride to the rescue? What did you honestly expect to find in a few hours besides a boaster? A complaining skeleton at that!" She walked to the gates. --Cathy Mosley As Cari came level with the Inquisitor at the gate he said, "Hold and show your face!" She stopped and pushed back the hood, and looked up at the tall guard with frightened eyes. Her stomach was trying to twist in on itself, but she ignored the sensations of fear in her body, preparing to try to turn the guard's mind to her viewpoint. "Your name." The girl touched her lips, then her throat, and shook her head. "Can't speak?" She shook her head. She nudged at his mind, telling him, "You recognize me, let me in." The Inquisitor studied her for a moment, then signaled her through. Cari decided to leave the hood down since it looked a lot less suspicious and kept to a sedate pace, heading for the ornate entrance to the Church of the Redeemer. Loathing filled as she neared the steps. For seven years she had fled the Redeemer's people, and for five years she had fought the Church in her own quiet way. Now she had to enter their filthy halls. She forced her emotions down, in case any of the Church's pet mages were scanning. Despite the risk she sent out a quick check to see if her fellow rescuers were in, and found them just inside. The whole of the courtyard was the normal bustle of everyday business. Cari started up the steps when she noted three Inquisitors, two of them large and not-quite human looking, heading toward the entrance from her right. She kept an eye on them, but continued up the stairs. She became aware that she was alone on the stairs; that for some reason all of the Church workers were gone. She saw the Inquisitors were still coming from her right, and movement on her left caught her attention. There were three more coming from that direction, and both groups were converging. "Ambush!" was all she could think, and took the only option she had, one she liked slightly better than getting caught, and "jaunted." She stumbled and reached out a hand to brace herself against a wall. The only certainty she had about her ability was that she wasn't going to merge with something solid. Beyond that . . . She hated the seconds that always followed a jaunt, and waited helplessly for her vertigo to pass. When her eyesight cleared she found herself standing in a hall, but at the far end she could see the light from the immense doorway of the Church's entrance. The ringing sound of several people coming at a determined stride made her turn and she saw that her luck had gotten worse. Because coming towards her was the High Inquisitor, Semareth, and reinforcements. She had the sneaking suspicion that her co-rescuers hadn't gotten much farther than she had. --Cathy Mosley He went to the Church and found some refugees going in. Deciding that he looked like a refugee now, too, he went right up to the front gate. When he was confronted at the gate, he explained how his home was lost in the fires that ravaged the town, and that all he owned was on his back (that part was true at least!). The guard looked suspicious, but decided to let him in. As he walked into the courtyard, he looked around. One very thin man was sitting in the shadows, and a woman was getting ready to start up the steps. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a small group of people seem to come through the wall. Then the soldiers started to come. Lots of them --Count Ryan "Well, this is more like it," he thinks to himself as he stands up and prepares to join the rescue party. His relief is short lived however as Inquisitors fairly erupt out of the woodwork. "So is this," he thinks as he moves back against the wall to avoid the inquisitors attentions. "I knew it couldn't be easy. Three to one odds in the church's favor, and guess who's side I'm on," He looks up and points to the sky, "Don't you think just once you could make it easy on me?" he exclaims. (NO) Throwing back his borrowed cloak, Bonedancer draws some daggers [he picked them up on the way over] and prepares to wade into the melee. --Jeremy Farnham >From her darkened tower window Thai/Elvira watched as the rescuers approached the wall of the church and slipped through the illusion. Others mingled with the church personnel coming to serve the Redeemer another day. It had been her idea to use Jarrad as bait, but it had been a mistake to involve herself with him beyond that. When the rescue he was counting on failed, she wondered, would he surrender his will to the Redeemer, or would he find another way to delay the inevitable. Either way increased her pleasure in the battle of wills they played. The last of the party below was through the wall. Thai waited until they had moved well away from the place before she closed the hole Smith had created. The illusion no longer necessary, she dispelled it and turned to go downstairs. A good hostess always greeted her guests and Thai had no intentions of missing this party... --Phaedra Whitlock Opening the cell door, Semareth stepped into the doorway. His seven foot figure stooped slightly as he walked inside and shut the door behind him. His eyes adjusted slowly to the dim light within, but eventually the sitting figure of Smith became visible. Semareth walked silently to the dark corner of the cell, just inside the doorway, till all Smith could see of him were two silvery eyes peering out from the darkness. "You have caused the Church much trouble in the past, Smith.", he began, his voice echoing eerily through the cell. --Nick Takayama Smith grinned and replied "Who, me?" as he adopted a look of injured innocence. --JLSmith "And it is common knowledge that you killed many of my men in your useless token of resistance yesterday." --Nick Takayama Smith nodded an emphatic no and replied "Nope. Wasn't me." He knew very well how certain interrogators could obtain a "voluntary" confession, and he was not about to give them that opening! He'd used it himself...gotten a fellow to confess to murder, then had him executed. All nice and legal... --JLSmith Semareth's face remained passive, but he began to wonder how this man could handle captivity so well. --Nick Takayama He couldn't stand up straight in the cramped cell, so he sat, his movement only noticeable by the swishing sound of his cloak. "So I present you with this choice... either join us in our righteous mission, or die.", he smiled. Hopefully Smith was a fighter. --Nick Takayama Smith raised an eyebrow... --JLSmith "I assure you, if you choose to help us, you will be richly rewarded.", he smoothed his face out, and leaned back to await Smith's reply. He readied his arguments... --Nick Takayama He chuckled and replied "So far, I see an organization with a lot of money, a couple of reasonable troops..you, for example, Proctor John... maybe, Thai...and a lot of amateurs. Enrico's proud of his troops, but they don't know how to fight a civil war. Oh, they're OK when there are lots of them, and they're in a city...but remember, the majority of the population doesn't live in the cities here on Ifreann. The Limpia troops are good, but there just aren't many of them. Anyway, that's what I hear. I wouldn't actually know, of course..." --JLSmith Semareth smiled to himself in darkness. Smith was leaving all options open, while demonstrating his knowledge. --Nick Takayama Smith grinned, then added "So, you say you want some 'professional' assistance. That would be a lot of work. How much 'righteous mission' can you afford? And, what exactly do you want to do? Obviously, Montfort...even the Kingdom of Claremont...are small potatoes. You must be planning a takeover of all Ifreann. Equally clearly, you don't have the military assets to do a clean invasion, so....whoever is in control called in the spooks. Where have I heard this before? And, Semareth, if you can't win the hearts and minds of the mass of the population, the Church will lose." He leaned back and continued "No disrespect, Semareth, but you people haven't got it together in the 'business'. You're too high profile. That matter of getting the local homeless to snitch on people who went into the Inn...great idea, bad execution. Hugh knew about it within an hour of when your operation started...and that means, everyone in Montfort knew." --JLSmith The truth of this stung at Semareth. How did Hugh find out about these things? The man was a menace, but he remained hidden behind the "safety" of his inn. --Nick Takayama "So, Semareth...what numbers are we talking about?" --JLSmith A quizzical look crossed Semareth's face, as if the idea of payment hadn't actually occurred to him. He stood, so that his head touched the ceiling, and folded his arms. "To start, we shall let you live.", his face was in blackness as he looked down at Smith. He removed his left glove and caught a passing rat. It's dying squeals echoed hollowly around the cell. Smith noticed the momentary shiver which ran through Semareth's body. The withered rat carcass fell to the stone floor. --Nick Takayama Smith grinned and replied "Cute trick. Just one problem...you're not doing a silent kill. There are times you want to have some dying screams...frightening prisoners, for example...but, all in all, silent is more useful. Or maybe you can control it?" Smith was, of course, afraid of dying, just as anyone would be; however, he had assumed he was dead the minute he was captured, so he couldn't be any worse off if he negotiated a bit... --JLSmith "Firstly, as to whether or not I can control the death caused by my hand... it works differently with mice and men, and I can't wait to begin experimenting on humans.", a sick grin grew on his face. --Nick Takayama Smith looked interested and replied "I'd like to see the experiment... it could be most interesting..." --JLSmith "Surely I'd have thought you were above greed, Smith. We offer you power, and a chance to serve a god... ", he put his glove back on. "It would be a shame to let a fine mind like your own just wither away...". He laughed, a low hoarse laugh. --Nick Takayama Smith chuckled and replied "Money makes a deal real, Semareth. It's one of the best ways I know to weed out the wanna-be's from the players. And just between you and me, a wanna-be will get a lot of people killed. Now, as for letting me live..you know and I know that if I'm free, and able to function, I can leave. I can go a long way off, and you'll never find me. . Or, I could turn on you...agree to switch sides, and then betray you. So, it's to your advantage to give me some incentive so I stay around and help you with your mission. Or, you can kill me...but that just makes me a dead hero. Which can be more dangerous than a live one, and harder to fight." "Now..you talk of power. That can be a good incentive. There are other things that could be useful too, I suppose. I'm flexible on some of the terms. As for serving a god......I don't know much about that. Keep in mind, what the gods want isn't necessarily what *_you_* want...that can get pretty miserable for the true believer who really does serve them. I think I'll pass on serving any gods." "I prefer to be self-serving." "Anyway, what would you want done? Or, have you and your associates taken over the area without a plan?" --JLSmith "The Church would use you to eliminate our opponents. The Dragon's Inn, for one. Hugh has proven to be a major nuisance. After that, we wish to rid ourselves of the shackles of our sponsors, such as Soros. The Church _will_ become an entity in it's own right, and shall not rely on the whim of some 'lord' or even have to bother with innkeepers.", he scoffed. "If you think you can do these simple things for us, we will not only let you live, but we will pay you well, Smith.". He leaned back and waited for Smith's reply... --Nick Takayama Smith paused, as if waiting for Semareth to add something, then chuckled and said "That's it? Destroy the Dragon's Inn, make sure Hugh is dead, and terminate Soros? I believe that can be handled easily enough..." Smith suppressed a laugh, then added "I assume you don't care if there are a few 'innocent bystanders' that have an unfortunate accident; like most amateurs, Hugh is too kind hearted for his own good, and that can be used against him." --JLSmith "There _are no_ innocent bystanders in this world, Smith. All who fall victim to the operations of the Church are possessed of some taint. Indeed, only those walking the true path are saved.", he grinned. "My father taught me such. A holy man.". At that moment he didn't look much like a man who _had_ a father. --Nick Takayama "I suppose you want the Soros operation to be sanitary...no problem on that...or do you prefer a disappearance? Anyway, I don't do my best work when I'm dirty, hungry, and so forth...so, we need to do something about the accomodations here. Tell me, Semareth, what do you suppose the chances are of rounding up a local and testing out that hand of yours?" Smith leaned back, waiting for a reply... --JLSmith Semareth unfolded his arms, and leaned forward to touch Smith on the arm with his gloved hand. "What's to say I don't just try it on you?", he didn't smile. "But, *he laughed* I couldn't do that to you just yet. I will have a room prepared for you, as soon as I can. As to my experiment...", he paused, a shiver ran through his body and he felt power growing within him, radiating outwards from his chest. *Sh'aljien, my god, you had left me.... what is it you wish of me now?* An image came to him, of a courtyard filled with fire, and a group of people attempting to break into the church. He smiled at Smith, and released his shoulder. "It seems the locals are coming to me to volunteer for the experiment. Wait a minute. I will see to your room after I deal with a small matter of security.". He unlocked the door, and clanged it shut behind him, ordering the guards to lock it. --Nick Takayama Hassef stopped as the crowd in front of him became too dense to walk through. He was only a few metres from his stall in the markets, yet he could barely see it. Cursing his luck, he tucked his hands into the pockets in his robes and focussed on the centre of the crowd's attention. A tall man in light brown robes stood atop a make-shift podium in the middle of the markets, his voice booming above the hub-bub of the merchants' haggling. He was dust-covered and grimy, but his eyes shone with an intelligence and nobility which seemed to draw in the observer. Hassef noticed the sounds of the stalls behind him dropping away, and the man's words became audible... "-- and the pure and righteous shall be spared! Listen not to the politicians, and the bureaucratic minority who heretofore have ruled your lives. They are misguided in their thinking, and know not the true path to salvation! It is the responsibility of each man, woman and child to seek their own salvation in the teachings of The Redeemer - may his name be ever held in glory - it is our _right_ to be permitted to achieve this salvation! Do not let those unenlightened, and fear-stricken souls misguide you, too. I heard about those who dared to defy the Church these days past, and their subsequent recapture and deaths. This is a sure sign that it is The Redeemer's will --" Hassef nudged the man next to him, a rug-trader named ChenWei. "Who is this man?", he asked quietly. Chen glanced over, and stroked his thin goatie thoughtfully. "He is a prophet of sorts, come from the North. He speaks very highly of the Church of the Redeemer and their good deeds. He has seen them with his own eyes. He even pointed out how trade has picked up here since the Church arrived...", he nodded his head. Chen had done extremely well of late, indeed since the Church arrived. The fires had helped as well, for people were re-furnishing their homes as they were rebuilt. Hassef returned his attention to the prophet. "-- Hear you now the great booming, and the roarings coming from the Church?", he paused dramatically, and indeed the sounds of explosions came dimly from the direction of the Church. "These are the sounds of the Great Cleansing. The Church seeks to forewarn you of the great power of the Redeemer, and what will happen to the spiritually forsaken when the day of Cleansing comes. I'm sure many of you already walk in the light, and you, truly shall be safe when the time comes. But think of those degenerates out there, who reek of mistrust, and reap the benefits of their misdeeds! These are the ones who shall be purged when the Great Cleansing sweeps the world! The noises the Church makes now are warnings such that you enlightened shall not be afraid when the time is at hand, that you may walk bravely in the face of heathen attitudes..". Hassef stayed for the whole speech. As he walked away, and the prophet was being hussled quickly away from the markets, he made a silent prayer to the Redeemer. He was not alone in pitying the fools who ignorantly opposed the Church. --Nick Takayama