Chapter 27: Second Intermission

A collection of Letters to the High Priestess From an Inquisitorial officer

 

I have never asked you before perhaps because I never cared to know, but what could you tell me about our former high priestess? I know she was canonized only to die shortly thereafter, but reading these letters has caused me to question the legitimacy of these claims. Perhaps when you return from your trip you can tell me about your time serving under her. In the meantime, I will continue to read over these letters and hope that in doing the same, you gain insight that perhaps I could not.

---Third Letter---

 

7th day of the 13th month, 1827

 

To the High [PRIESTESS] elect,

 

I have found her, though we have not formally met. I was in the [CROWDS], where she told a story. It is a story of an Inquisitor, who takes leave to visit [HIS] family in the wastes. The Inquisitor is surrounded while traveling alone, and is set upon by [BANDITS]. They rob him, taking his armor, his weapon, and his money. He is left for dead, broken and battered. It is not long before a simple farmer is passing by, the Inquisitor calls out, but when the [FARMER] sees the dying man [HE] runs in fear that the bandits may still be near. A short time later, a clergyman on their way to a new [ABBEY] passes by. The Inquisitor calls out, but the clergyman refuses to help, as he does not recognize the [INQUISITOR], and takes him for an impostor. Then a traveling merchant comes by, but says he is in too much of a hurry to help the dying man. His vision begins to fade, as he is left there bleeding out and resigns himself to [DEATH]. At last someone comes. [SHE] dresses his wounds and gives him water, then takes him on her horse, and brings him to the nearest village, where she pays for him to stay in an inn. The Inquisitor wakes up the next morning to see his rescuer tending to his wounds, and sees that she is a witch. He asks her why she would help, as he killed many of her kind. She answered bluntly, and ‘I’ve killed many of your kind,'' then tells him that all she saw was a dying man who needed help. She gives him food, and pays for him to stay an additional three nights, before heading on her way. Though they never saw each other after, the [INQUISITOR] found himself unable to think of a [WITCH] the same way again. 

I’m sorry that I do not have more than a ridiculous story to report. To be honest, I have no idea why I’ve shared this with you. I suppose that perhaps this [WOMAN] we’ve been so afraid of is nothing more than a silly idealistic fool. I shall stay here, and try to get closer. It is too early for me to pass my [JUDGMENT] and I’ve come too close to her to let her slip away now. I will contact you again when there is something to report. Until then, may the Goddess’ light shine upon us both.

- Inquisitor [REDACTED]

 

You remember that story don’t you? I believe you said that it was the High Priestess herself who had taught you it. It would appear that only we Knights of Ada continue to use it in our preaching's, sadly. I always found it to be a charming idea nonetheless. Perhaps if she was still with us, then it would have its proper place in the teachings.

 

---Fourth Letter---

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11th day of the 2nd month, 1828

 

To the High Priestess elect,

 

It has been four months since I last contacted you, and in that time I have witnessed this ‘so called [WITCH] Queen’s’ power. She is not like other witches, she commands multiple spirits. She has used them to [CURE/CAUSE]1 disease, to banish the Malefic, and to even produce water out of [NOTHING]2. I can not tell for sure how many familiars she has, though I do know there are at least [THREE]3. We have always speculated that a witch could have [TWO], though this confirms it is indeed possible. Let us make note of it, among our own Nuns, it is best to not allow so much power, lest we lose control over them4. I have not spoken to [HER] myself yet, but I believe I am getting close. I believe now more than ever my presence here is necessary. Who knows what destruction a witch with such power can bring. The prophet [VOX]5 has been away for some time, though perhaps that matters little now that I know where she is. With [JACOB’S] help, I shall get closer to her, yet. Till then, I am still residing in the ranch in the village of [SYDONIA]6. Though I am growing worried, for I have been hearing voices as of late. They come from many places, though I do not know what they are saying. 

- Inquisitor [REDACTED]

 

1:This is where her words, and the church’s official report contradict one another. She said CURE, though we know the legends of the Witch Queen from the first calamity brought with her famine, pestilence, plague, and even the Malice itself. This ‘So called Witch Queen’ is being reported by an Inquisitor to heal the sick. Though this would not be the story the church would later tell, I believe this is the truth.

2: Interestingly enough, a witch in the second circle has been reported to be doing this very same thing. She is a wanted criminal as she has been disrupting the collection of well taxes, and ‘healing the injured’ without a medical license from the church. I hope they do not catch her, as I’m sure you agree.

3: We now know she had Seven familiars, though based on the text here, I would assume she only knew of three at this point.

4: It’s actually interesting to think that a witch could have more than one familiar. As she mentions it was always speculated, and even used as a basis for a tenant of Nun-hood, that is to have only one familiar, but there were no known cases of this at the time. Since then we’ve seen many witches with a number of familiars, though none as great as seven, and it seems to be the greatest crime a witch can commit. Though the hunting of witches purely for the sake of being witches was put to a halt by the late High Priestess elect, those with more than one familiar are typically put to death to this day.

5: What I find most intriguing at this point is that she no longer calls him a ‘False prophet’, and even uses his name in a familiar way. 

6: Sydonia, as you may now know as the ‘Valley of Tears’, was in fact the village where the Witch Queen was eventually captured. 

I can understand where the initial fear of this Witch Queen came from. Even with their Malecite armor, Inquisitors can be slain by witches, so just imagine if they had powers like hers. Though if these letters are to be believed, she used that power to lend aid to the people of the Wastes. Was she really the monster the church claimed her to be?

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