Commencement was as expected: severe, evaluative, and entirely unveiled in its skepticism. The hearing wasted little time highlighting our lack of qualifications and, in some cases, character. It was not untrue. Few among us seem like natural candidates for the service of the Ledgerman. Fewer still seem enthusiastic about it. Myself included. The Oracle, however, speaks as it will.
Horatio, a goliath, and Ledgerman operative, outlined our assignment with no ceremony. We are to act as spies, saboteurs, and assassins. Our first task: investigate a heretical illness at the Sanctiforge. Determine the cause. Contain or eliminate as necessary.
We departed by rail. Myself, Yedan Neric, Charles Brand, Mazrin, and Sal Brentwood. An assembly with no coherence by training or background, yet somehow we are meant to function as a unit. Marion, the Ledgerman secretary, also accompanied us.
The train contained a number of civilians. I observed Yedan Neric initiate conversation with another halfling. NOTE: Based on passengers logs this was likely Kallow who was traveling with an escort to meet with a healer in the Santiforge. His condition is suspected to be connected to the reports The Ledgermen received.
A woman in mourning approached me. Her husband had recently died. She seemed overwhelmed, seeking… comfort? company? I could not offer what she required. She knew of Conscriptus. Of House Katharis and its Bladedancers. But she kept crying. I do not understand how one is meant to interact with that. Mazarin intervened and helped her move on. Efficient.
The train stopped unexpectedly. A man named Father Hendricks appeared hostile to our mission. Mazarin later shared that he had somehow charmed the Railwarden into stopping the train.
A horde of pilgrims then attacked. They used erratic magic, incoherent and twisting. I had not fought against beings like this before who moved without discipline, plan, or form. I missed more than I should have. My form was technically ideal, but far from perfect in execution. The Admiral would have Pruned me. Rightly.
Charles bore the brunt of the assault. We reengaged the train and escaped the hordes. Charles voiced that none of us had seen real combat before and was visibly frustrated.
Sal and Yedan seemed concerned for my state of mind. Unnecessarily. Mazarin was also frustrated, though I couldn’t discern the cause. NOTE: It was determined that Mazarin was unsuccessfully trying to probe Yedin-Neric’s mind. This corraborates Luminora’s accounts of Mazarin’s frustration.
We will rest as we continue now to the Sanctiforge.
Newly Encountered Individuals
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Horatio - Ledgerman operative. Oversees our assignments
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Marrion - Secretary. Magical and combat capabilities
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Stevan Logerath - Poet from the sanctiforge
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Father Hendricks - Hostile. Led attack on train. Magical capacity unknown. May still live.
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Kallow - Halfling acting abnormally. Travelling to healer.
Current Places
- The Pale Waste
Recap Video
https://youtu.be/_rLNgvOfxnM?si=svPQIbV5Q9iBP8f_
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