//A dark-haired half-elf in white and gold sweeps through Vallaki, posting a scrolling parchment containing an exegesis at various places: signboards about the city, the outskirts, and the entrance of the tunnels leading to the Drain. (Placed in-game.)The Value of Life: A Reply
To the fiend-worshiping cult--
Greetings. My apologies for this unusual and uncouth means of making my reply. You left no place where I might return a letter to you, so, as it’s known you’re about the city, I must resort to this.
I strive to be a fellow of peace, as many folk here know. As such, it was with no small surprise I found your letter threatening me, Monsieur Viris, and others with harm or death if we don’t do as you say.
You wish us to murder some fellow who you believe we’re in a position to slay. You truly believe this act to advance the goals of your “master” will bring some measure of peace? Given that you’re known to consort with fiends and other foul beings, I doubt your intentions. Any promise of peace is false.
Assuming for a moment that we’re in a position to do such a thing, you must know we’d not do it. And so you resort to threats and other foolishness, even going so far as to suggest we’d be responsible for murder if we don’t slay the fellow you seem to be after. This is senseless.
As you said, negotiation won’t be possible.
However, I bear good tidings. It’s not yet too late for you to turn from your path. The fiends or beings you serve aren’t the first of this sort I’ve seen, and I’ve seen other folk be freed from their yoke. Ways to freedom are rather challenging, but they exist.
Almighty God’s great Light and Love wait to embrace you and welcome you home. Turn from the fiends and devilry, for they lead only to death and damnation. (I’ve witnessed it.) A fiend’s not merely the opposite of all that’s good, it’s the opposite of all that is. Almighty God is truth itself. A fiend and its promises of power are nothing but lies, a creature and words yet truly nothing.
You who would encourage me to consider the value of life, consider yours: Don’t toss away your years on nothing, following nothing and doing the bidding of nothing. Choose the Love that chooses you. It would be my honor to speak with you of redemption, even as you must stand before justice.
I realize that we mortals all err, myself included. Your letter, perhaps written and affixed to my door in haste or without thought, may be your error. If so, I’d be gladdened to recognize such and return to my usual tasks. You, meanwhile, would do well to surrender yourselves to the nearest lot of garda in acknowledgment of the harm you’ve caused. You may yet walk in the Light.
However, I’ve also oaths, charges, and duties. I’m required to inform you that should you harm or slay the fellow, any of the Order, or Monsieur Viris, or should you set foot in the church with destructive and murderous intentions, defensive actions shall be taken as required by the situation.
Choose the better path: Walk in the Light. I pray steadfastly that you do. I am
Yours respectfully,
V. Carro
Grandmaster of the Order of the Sacred Rose & Prelate of the Christ’s Church
