Shadows of Betrayal

155 PR appears to have been a pivotal year for Airtam according to her writings, as the events she was involved in took continually darker and darker turns, leading her not only into situations of great personal danger, but leading her to witness travesties and horrors that she could no longer stand for. The blow incident, while not signed or graced by any plain signatory, is believed to be from the desk of Nonpareil Geraldine Fulton, and implies a second, unnamed conspirator was involved in the matters detailed in the journal entries that followed.

I present this report detailing the apprehension and incarceration of two Volrishtad from the Ven Thuul tribe by a patrol of Wraith Guard agents, with a third individual still at large having escaped while the arresting agents were distracted. Our team caught them not far from the gates of the Palace of Glass in the city of Armuun, claiming to be there by invitation of none other than Headmaster Morenthall herself. While the Headmaster has been known to frequently indulge in strange company, I cannot imagine that even someone with her propensity for indiscretion would be so foolish as to let any of those people even remotely close to the very heart of the Empire itself. It took ample coercion to extract any information from them, but I have little doubt that these obvious thieves and purveyors of illegal arcane knowledge were plotting to infiltrate the Palace to steal from the Empire, or potentially worse, to cause harm to the Sovereign or perhaps members of the Order. It was lucky my men are as vigilant as they are. If it turns out Headmaster Morenthall was indeed involved in this, then I will have no alternative but to arrest her for treason and conspiracy, something I should have done some time ago.
As an aside, I see this as a golden opportunity to finally study the Volrishtad in a clinical environment and understand how they manipulate shadows in the way they do. If we can figure out how their ability works, perhaps it could be replicated and put to use by the Bureau. Imagine our elite guards able to move though shadows and create weapons as needed out of thin air. What better way to combat the encroaching threat of these insolent arcanists? Besides, if our efforts do not bear fruit, well, two less criminals wandering around the Empire is not something I would shed a tear over.

My interactions with the Volrishtad have been nothing but frustrating in the past. They are a secretive people, and their knowledge of the arcane is impressive to say the least, at least according to the reports I have seen thus far, making them damn near public enemy number one as far as I am concerned. I suspect that the two Volrishtad we have apprehended are working for the Crows as the intelligence I have looked over regarding their people has revealed a great many very old connections between them and the Seanachaisians, and their capture could be a key to uncovering a dangerous plot against the Empire. My team will interrogate them further, and I have no qualms about using any means necessary to extract the information we need. These "mutant freaks" have long been a thorn in our side, and it's time we take a firmer approach.

It's not just their knowledge of the arcane that's concerning, the Volrishtad are a people with a dark history, and their appearance alone is enough to make one uneasy. Their unnaturally pale skin, black eyes, and ability to manipulate shadows have given rise to stories of fell pacts and malicious spirits, but make no mistake; they are not supernatural beings. They are people, just like you and me, but they possess abilities that make them a threat to the public good and enduring reign of the Empire, even if I am one of the only people that realizes this, and of course you as well. .



Addendum: After careful consideration and consultation with my team, I have decided to move the two Volrishtad prisoners to the laboratory and holding facility at the Maliciean Scientific Commune. There they will be handed off to Doctor Thomas Einstrahum, with express instruction that this situation be handled with the utmost care and discretion. Given the sensitive nature of our research, I do not want a public incident to occur should word get out, and Doctor Einstrahum is well versed in handling such delicate situations. I trust him to keep our operation confidential. The Commune will provide us with the ideal environment to study the Volrishtad in a controlled setting, and we will be able to observe their abilities without any interference from external factors, and far enough away from the prying ears and eyes of the Crows to avoid rousing them as to my intentions. I have full faith in Doctor Einstrahum's abilities, and I believe he will be able to unlock the secrets of the Volrishtad's abilities. This could prove to be a significant advantage for the Empire, and I will spare no expense in ensuring our success.

Purpose

A desperate attempt to circumvent a tragedy that she felt personally attached to and responsible for, Airtam documented her efforts to find and save a pair of Volrishtad that had come to see her, and in turn had been arrested and taken instead to be subjected to experimentation.

Document Structure

Publication Status

As part of the leaked Morenthall publications following her death, these writings are generally easy to find, though there have been several  attempts by Becht agents to gather and destroy as many copies of this particular document as possible.

Historical Details

Public Reaction

This document was met with outrage from all sides, within Becht society and from other nations as well. The Sovereign, in an attempt to repair relations with the nomadic Volrishtad sent several envoys and negotiators to the leaders of the Volrishtad people that they could find, but in almost all cases they either came back empty handed, or in several cases, not at all. Those disappearances were not pursued.

Read the Document

Shadows of Betrayal

I cannot believe what has happened. As I sat quietly engrossed in a friendly debate with a colleague at the Yerba Mate Cafe this evening, my attention was drawn to a movement in the nearby corner. I thought it was a trick of my imagination or my own wishful thinking, but it was him, one of the toupe of Volrishtad that had allowed me to travel with them in the Wastes two years ago, hiding in the shadows just outside the window. It was clear from his face that he was terrified and in a state of shock. Biting my lip to hide my shock, I quickly excused myself from the table and gathered my things, moving outside to meet him. He all but fell into my arms, injured and obviously exhausted. I quickly took him to my private residence, cleaned up his wounds, and offered him some refreshments as he recounted to me the details of his and his friends' arrests. They had been seeking me out to invite me to celebrate their engagement when they were apprehended by the Guard just outside the Palace. I cannot help but feel guilty for not having been easier to find or available to meet with them in the first place. They were so kind and polite when we had traveled together, and now that kindness was being repaid in cruelty and malcontent.

As I thought more on it, my guilt was quickly replaced with anger. How could the Wraith Guard be so cruel and heartless? They were visitors, legally and lawfully visiting the capital city, just lovers, trying to celebrate their commitment to each other, and yet, they were treated like common criminals, without any shred of dignity or decency! To make matters worse, I cannot help but feel a sense of worry about my own safety. The head of the Bechtlarite Intelligence Bureau has already attempted to kill me, likely on more than one occasion. She has quickly spun out of control. How deep does this corruption go? Where can I turn? No matter. I refuse to sit idly by and watch as she continues to plot scandalous and dangerous schemes that put the entire Empire at risk. I still have many friends and many favors that can be called in. I will find out where the other Volrishtad have been taken, and I will do everything in my power to set things right. I cannot help but feel a sense of dread, however. What if my efforts to help the Volrishtad only put me in more danger? What if I am not able to make a difference at all? These questions weigh heavily on my mind, but I refuse to let them hold me back. I will do what is right, no matter the cost.

We have a location. I've spent the past day coordinating with my contacts within the University of the Lighted Way to gather as much intel as possible. The Maliciean Scientific Commune is where they're being held. It's an isolated facility with extremely efficient security, but I'm determined to get in and get them out. The Volrishtad I'm with, Kael, is instrumental in our planning as his ability to move in and out of shadows can provide critical insight.
We'll be traveling at night, using the cover of darkness to our advantage. I've secured a fast transport, one of the Roper RTTS-3 model cycles, and I'm confident in my ability to handle it. Once we arrive, we'll need to get inside the compound, and we'll need to find a way in that won't immediately arouse suspicion. It'll be tricky, but I have a few ideas. Kael has suggested we try using the air ducts, which could work if we can locate them. We'll need to be careful not to make any noise or trigger any alarms. Once inside, we'll need to find the holding facility. I'm not sure what we'll be up against, but I'm prepared for the worst. I've packed enough firepower to take down an army, but I'm hoping we won't have to resort to violence. I don't want to cause any unnecessary harm or attention, especially considering the majority of the people working there are just innocent Becht, researchers with no knowledge of what is going on. We need to get in, find the couple, and get out as quickly and quietly as possible. The risks are high, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to help them. I know the dangers that come with defying the Bechtlarite Intelligence Bureau, but I can't just sit back and do nothing. Lives are at stake, and I refuse to let them suffer at the hands of the Bureau. Kael and I will be departing tonight, and I'll update this journal once we've successfully arrived and can fully assess the situation.

After a treacherous journey across the Blighted Lands, Kael and I have arrived at the Maliciean Scientific Commune, the supposed location of our kidnapped Volrishtad friends. We've hidden the Roper cycle, hoping it won't draw any unwanted attention. Our first order of business was to scout the area and assess the situation. Kael used his shadow-walking ability to get a bird's-eye view of the complex and found a secreted entrance to a central storehouse. There, we observed several researchers entering and leaving with armloads of equipment. This led us to believe that the labs most likely to contain the kidnapped couple are located underground. We then considered our plan of entry. Initially, we had planned to navigate the air ducts, but the underground location of the labs made this more dangerous than we had anticipated, however, after examining the layout of the facility, I decided that the best point of entry would be through an exhaust vent located on the central structure, based on what I know of common Becht engineering and architectural practices. This vent is located 15 meters above the ground, making it a dangerous point of entry, with the added risk of traveling through the vent itself, if we don’t time things just right, we could end up in a very compressed space filled with all manner of toxic gasses. To mitigate the risks, I fashioned a pair of rough breathing filters for the two of us to use during our infiltration. We have spent hours plotting the best way to enter the shaft undetected. We have decided to approach the vent from the shadows of a nearby storage shed and using Kael’s unique abilities affix a rope and grappling hook to ascend to the vent's opening, something I will sadly need to rely on Kael to assist me with. I’m not as young as I once was. Once we are inside the vent, we will have to move slowly and cautiously to avoid making noise that could alert the guards, and we will also have to be mindful of any pitfalls or pressure gates that may be present in the vent. Our ultimate goal is to locate the couple and escape undetected, but we understand the risks involved. We must remain vigilant and focused if we are to succeed in our mission. As of right now the biggest concern is that, despite the arsenal I brought, the vents are too small to bring more than a pistol for each of us. Kael tells me not to worry, but I don’t think he fully realizes we won’t be able to leave the way we came in. If we can leave at all.

I write this now, in the aftermath of the disastrous rescue attempt. My heart is heavy, and my eyes are burning with tears, hot with rage. We survived the Blighted Lands, and evaded the dangers that lurked in the darkness. Everything was so well planned, and we made such good time. When we arrived at the holding facility, where the engaged couple were imprisoned, what we saw was worse than we ever could have imagined. But now that I’veI ridden away from that cursed place, I realize that my anger is not just for myself and those poor souls,iIt is also for the Empire that I serve, and for Geraldine, who I now see as the monster worse than any Void spawned evil, who is responsible for this atrocity. How could she allow this to happen, to sanction such horrors in the name of "security"? How could she turn a blind eye to such suffering? They had been subjected to a cruel and torturous punishment, restrained in opposing chambers, blinded by a constant, blinding light from all angles. They were chained up facing each other, and as their sight slowly burned out, they were forced to watch each other suffer until their skin blistered and peeled away, right up until the point their eyes burned out. By the time we got there, they were either already dead or near to it.

Our attempt to free them set off an alarm that brought the Wraith Guard rushing to find us. In a moment of selfless courage, Kael sacrificed himself to save me, porting me up into the safety of the vents in an act that must have pained him greatly, taking my pistol, and leaving me with the chilling words "Remember this moment." He then ported back to the facility floor and opened fire on the guards, buying me time to escape. As I rode away on the Roper cycle, I couldn't shake the words of the young Phoebe from my mind, echoing the final words of the Volrishtad. The anger and frustration swelled within me, and I roiled and shuddered with grief for the couple who had suffered such a horrific fate.

I feel a deep sense of rage towards myself, the Empire, and most of all, towards Geraldine. I vow that this affront will not go unpunished. I must gather my thoughts and plan a way to seek lasting and prevalent justice against the head of the Bureau. As I watch the dim, clouded dawn rise before me, my heart torn asunder, and my mind racing with plans and strategies for vengeance, I vow that I will not rest until justice is served, and the wicked beast that has tainted my Empire is punished for her atrocities. I will go to the Greenlands for a time, and seek some solace and insight there.

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Type

Leaked Original

Medium

Vellum / Skin

Authoring Date

23rd through the 25th of Cortus 155 PR

Location

Maliciean Scientific Commune

Authors

• Airtam Morenthall