The Time of Judgement [Goldlight Order vs Prospera]

[Coroneljones]

---

It was not long after the public conference from Prospera that across the settlement of Martyrs´ Vigil preparations continued, as the Unbridled intensified their battle drills, both blade and magic at work.

Armor was polished, and blades were sharpened.

Battle-tonics were brewed and even rations were assembled and packed.

Even the non-magi aides seemed ready to unfurl the war-banner upon the walls of the stronghold, for something.

Until the silence was broken, a direct announcement from the Knight-Commander of The Order, recorded and repeated by his herald squads.

"It is the duty of those that spread the Light of Hope to not only reach out a benevolent hand in aid, but to also dive deep into the dens of the Arch-Enemy´s pawns, and rip them out of the holes that they hide in.

To cast His Light of Judgement, upon the tools of Despair.

And so it is the duty of His Tribunal for the Everyman to enact such retribution, at the behest of the victims, and those close to them, upon the most vile den of sinners to remain in plain sight.

Pleasure Witch Covens.

Necromancy.

Complacency.

Void supporters.

Incompetence.

And above all, willing cooperation to hide these sins and still allow them to occur.

To the Ministries of Prospera, this is a final offer of cooperation, before the all-seeing eye of judgement of the Tribunal.
To surrender those on our list into our custody, willingly and collared, to be put through a truly just and righteous tribunal for sentencing:

The Astalet Siblings, for willing witchcraft and obfuscation.

"Lucky/Don" Luciano, for willingly aiding the Fel under his past identity as Ybiet, and then Saggitarius, as well as counts of vile torture and kidnapping of innocents, alongside complacency and active collaboration.
Aegis and some of the Bastion may have accepted your past redemption and allowed you to keep Prospera, but true judgement will come your way for the one that has not made amends to his past victims.

The re-animated corpse of one "Arnkalta", a witch executed in Prospera and somehow re-animated as a resident of that same city under the name of "Marble".  So that their necromancer may be found, and the soul may be put to rest.

And there are worthy mentions, for the rest of this known list of sins:

To Ilathia, once a Witch of Mori but one that sought redemption compared to most on this list, and strived to do better.
Who died in the defense of Aphros.
In selfless death, your road of penance came to an end, and this Tribunal grants you Absolution, may Pylae grant salvation from Helheim upon your soul.

To Mei Hayme, and those in the Ministries that willingly cooperated in the same endeavour due to it being "fun" and "interesting", your willing cooperation and aid given to Ludmaz Dawnseeker, in building his Voidic Obelisks is currently too much effort for this Tribunal to judge and sentence considering our current list already, and so our focus remains upon the most recent of cases, save one.
And thus, instead, we make this knowledge public so that your peers and those affected by the Voidic King´s madness may do as they wish.


To those uninvolved in this matter, and who perhaps may even find these crimes abhorrent or instead simply do not care, the Order simply asks that you step aside or even seek refuge within a safer city.

Your own cooperation will be rewarded as well, to those that act in support of enforcing this request of justice, directly or indirectly.

This is a singular chance to cooperate willingly, for as long as the top two of this list are given into the custody of the Order and its most Holy Tribunal, and the leadership of Prospera submits to further investigation, leniency shall be granted.
Should it not, the benevolent hand closes, so that the righteous fist may strike.

The Time of Judgement is upon you, regardless.

Judgement comes for this den of Sins and Fel taint.
You have until halfway into the year, the Month of Ios, to make your choice.

It was clear what was to come, for if Prospera did not submit to the will of the Tribunal.

It would face the wrath of the Unbridled in War.

Pylae´s Tribunal would uphold its judgement and cast a verdict upon the guilty, one way or another.

---

---

TARGET: Prospera

OBJECTIVE: Kidnapping
(Primary: Katrina Astalet | Secondaries, if allowed: Kassius Astalet and Lucky Luciano)

DATE: TBA.

[Coroneljones]

---

With little in the way of a public response from Prospera, The Goldlight Order was the first to break the silence, as the last quarter of 2109AC had been reached, for the year had began with a declaration from its Tribunal, and it would perhaps end with one for the same conflict.

"The Order, and its most Holy Tribunal, wish to thank a select few, for their cooperation and volunteering in ensuring things proceeded smoothly, and amicably, when certain parties outright refused:

To the negotiating party from The Traverse, for keeping us appraised to Prospera´s requests and plans, as they refused to reach out originally even as the deadline was extended by a whole month, to the point Prosperan Residents were already planning retribution of their own despite the Order´s claim we only sought the three on our list.

As an addedum, to Lucianus, once known as Zero under Mettadora, I fail to see how my absolution and outright praise of the one who´s blade you now wield is considered insulting. To forget her selfless deeds is the real insult, and whatever "resistance and revenge" is being planned is not only illogical but outright a circus of its own, for it was quite clear no harm would come to anyone that cooperated, and those accused have a mountain of evidence gathered prior to any sort of action.
The most important of said evidence was given to the Ministries of Prospera three to four years ago, and nothing was done.

To the Final Frontier, for agreeing to hold the witches, in custody as a neutral party, and the rituals to check the veracity of the accusations even further. Prospera was informed of this three years prior to my first announcement, and only now did they bother to proceed with anything of the sort.

To Gloomlight, for their plans to venture into the realm of Mori and thus deny the souls of Ilathia, who has earned absolution for her selfless sacrifices, and Ybiet, who only now bothers to do such with these accusations, from being tools of the Arch-Enemy.
For the sake of the absolved, who strived to be better and should serve as an example of redemption, I hope you succeed.


In turn, the Order also wishes to thank the Realm of Delphina, and its most Esteemed Lumin King, along with Aegis and its Lord-Commander, for agreeing to back The Order, and its most Just Tribunal, in anything to be done in this situation.
Their promises of assistance have been a comfortable reassurance, despite all the third parties, attempting to quietly misdirect the Tribunal´s eye, towards Drakonia or others to the lands of the Order.

With The Order´s terms followed, even begrudgingly and with much leniency on our behalf so as to work with the personal requests given to us that Prospera´s Ministries wished without speaking directly, all that is to be waited on now is for the planned rituals and Tribunal to occur, as originally planned and offered even if some try to spin it otherwise in their justifications.

And before I end this announcement, and sign the transcript:
To the malicious coward that hides behind unsigned letters, know this well, the Nethradin that you sought to accuse lays dead, with far more heart than any of the witches you seek to defend, for she was willing to sacrifice herself and be turned over long ago, if it meant that no one would come to harm.
For the one that risked her life, to see the Light of Pylae, even if it destroyed her, died free of the touch of Helheim, even if her form could not handle it and thus it collapsed violently.

A Nethradin, named Desire, with more integrity and honesty than any of the three accused, and anyone attempting to cast any blame upon The Order and its people.
May Pylae save her Soul from Damnation, for this Tribunal finds her Absolved, in her work done to make up for her past sins, and her example will never be forgotten.

His Tribunal marches on, right or wrong.
If right, to be kept right.
If wrong, to be set right.

This statement was brought to you, from the Desk of the Knight-Commander, with the approval of the Tribunal´s Hand of Hope."

An announcement committed to parchment, that was soon spread around by the familiar mounted Heralds of the Goldlight Order.
And true to it, the Unbridled were held back, until the results were secured, with the scouts of the Free Wings focusing their attention upon the Golden City itself, and the Frontier.

A militant force, not forced to stand down, but simply delayed,
For they knew what was to come the moment their guard was let down.

[Rottie]

Following Goldlight's public announcement, an open letter begins to appear all across Meranthe.

To Garret Richter, an Open Letter

Perhaps you are ignorant, willfully or otherwise of what has been happening over the last year.
Perhaps you truly believe in the "Justice" you claim your tribunal now works to dole out.
Perhaps you do not realize, that the reason a public statement about current events was not made previously,
or that we opted to work with damn-near the entire rest of Meranthe rather than contact you directly- Is because discretion was required.
And to be frank, you lack it entirely. Just as you lack any trustworthiness, Garret Richter.

So allow me to enlighten you on some things, indiscreetly, so that there can be no further claim to ignorance.

Since the moment I was informed of Lynn Equisol's abduction and the fact the guilty was present in Prospera, I have been working.
While you were busy posturing and trudging up the mistakes of my youth, I was doing as I have done for the past twenty four years at least- Working to make things right.
I was hunting the real, actual Warlock, Adam Belshazzar responsible for the abduction. One who, I cannot help but notice you did not name despite allegedly having so much evidence against Prospera and her people? Despite the fact he was the one so closely tied to the Undead girl, you mentioned- The one we specifically told you was not affiliated with us, yet you ransomed to Adam all the same? Strange, that.

I hunted him because I did have evidence. Evidence that was found when I had my agents search his home, and they found a secret room. Though the girl was already gone, having been moved by him along with a Riftmancer- a report I got from one of my people. 
I hunted him, tracked him, and eventually came across him alone as he traversed a cave system well known to house the remnants of the Fel.
And there, I along with the aid of Katrina Astalet forced him to reveal where he was keeping the girl, before putting him down like the rabid dog he was. I even brought his head back for Gloomlight, along with the girl once she was liberated.

And while I've been busy doing all of this, Minister Hayme was working to discreetly arranged the ritual which you've so blatantly made known to the world.
So we might have undeniable, verifiable evidence that your claims regarding the Astalet twins are baseless- or not.
Now, you'll notice I mentioned that word discretion again- it's important, you see, because the Twins were not made aware of this ritual.
They were not going to be given any gods-damned hint of it, because if they really are the unrepentant practicioners of Black Magic you claimed- On the word of the Nethradin you claim is dead, and nothing else, I might add- Then them being made aware would warn them, and potentailly allow for them to make preparations to undermine it somehow. 
Not only that, but under my direction she has been working with the keeper of Solais, Azalea, to construct Monoliths around Prospera which will either channel, or replicate the suppressive influence of that sacred tree.
To ensure that no Witch or Warlock who does not seek redemption, such as Adam Belshazzar, can live comfortably within these golden gates again.

Your petty, public posturing is nothing but foolish, as it offers a warning and potentially makes things much, much worse.
It devalues the work done by all those good people you have named in your expression of 'gratitude' and undermines the efforts made by the Ministries of Prospera.
By my assessment, the only purpose you might possibly have in penning such a public announcement is to attempt to shame and disgrace those involved in these attempts to acquire real evidence of your claims.
Perhaps to hasten us, so we can make some mistake so you can further justify this witch hunt, which, honestly?
Seems like nothing more than a pitiful attempt by an old washed up aenite to make a play for power against the city he could most easily paint his preferred shade of guilty.

If I had ever believed you were interested in giving the twins, or myself, a fair trial? I might have cooperated from the start.
But I did not, and now, after this disgusting display of self-important showboating about your most holy Tribunal? 
I believe it even less.

You know that the Oracle herself aided in the initial investigation of your claims, and nothing was found.
A scrying ritual was alleged to follow, to find the book you claimed Katrina had. One which, to my knowledge, never happened.
The Astra Commander has alluded to certain information he acquired from Ilathia- but she is dead, isn't she?
Rather convenient for both you and him, to be able to use a Dead woman's words.

Is this the way I should have handled things? Probably not.
I fully expect Minister Hayme to be livid with me for writing to you like this, and posting it anywhere for anyone to see.
However, after all the good people I have seen killed on nothing more than the justification of self-righteous and hypocritical zealots like yourself?
I don't care.

The Ritual will commence so that there can be no uncertainty about the guilt of the Twins.
Whatever needs to be done after that, will be done.
As for you, and those who supported you in this absolutely abominable charade?

I hope that whatever happens, you remember that Prospera has always valued one thing above anything else, even wealth.
And that is Peace.

So Garret Richter, while we await whatever the future holds I leave you with the hope that you have somehow gained something from all of this.
And with one, sincere request; Look at yourself, who you are, and what you are doing.
Because I know who I am, what I am. And all I'm doing is trying to be the man that I know I'm not, for the sake of those who deserve better.
Can you say the same?

With all due respect, which is to say, none at all
-Lucky Luciano, Father of Prospera

P.S. Thank you for at least having the common sense to give us this delay, even if you lacked enough sense to not sabotage our efforts. 

The letter appears as if out of nowhere, found in mailboxes and on tables, pinned to notice boards. Whoever was responsible for disseminating it having done so entirely unseen.

[Milly]

The Astra Captain, Ezra, upon hearing himself mentioned within the 'Father' of Prospera's response to Garret offers a quick rebuttal:

Ilathia admitted she was present when Desire handed that stupid book of shadows over.

And it isn't just me bringing up a dead woman's words - Tecuani was present, multiple others were present and most importantly: Mei Hayme was present.

Further more?

Shut the fuck up, man.

You yap too much.

Sincerely,

Ezra

[Spiffspoff]

A very displeased engineer rolls out of bed, only to be assailed with inquiries over the night's trials.
Soon after, her own letter is added to the mix.

I am tired.

Every time I close my eyes, things begin to escalate.
I fear that, should I permit my body its necessary recovery, I shall wake up to smoke, and cinders.

To find another flashmob of people looking to kill, and destroy that which I hold dear.
All that I have worked to make.

Change is inevitable in the face of such disruptive waves, and change will come.

So that I may finally have some fucking peace, and quiet to do my work.

. . .

I will ensure no Coven can operate within Prospera ever again.
I will ensure that no Fel disturbances can draw me from my work.
I will develop means to rip out the truth, efficiently, and decisively.
I will make certain that Prospera is not safe for you.

And I will do it all despite the fact it will never be enough to sate the bloodlust of foreign hounds.


To Garret Richter,

That you believe you have the right to judge anyone is the poison which you spew-- Ilathia needs no absolution from the likes of you.

You praise third parties for their assistance, but insult my attempts to communicate. I ask, where was yours? Before you raised your
sword, and threatened war upon my city, where was yours? Where was this pile of evidence you claim we apparently stone-walled?
Where were your solutions to the issues you presented? Why did you not suggest the very ritual I have slaved away to arrange for?

No one has heard anything from you.

Not me, not Lucky, not Lucianus, not Katrina.

Show me the receipts.

Because I can show you mine.
I can show you the memories of me, in the aftermath of the investigation carried by your initial accusation, delivering the results directly to your face, personally.
I can show you the memories of me, asking you about a ritual Katrina herself informed me of was to take place, to locate the book of shadows you claim she had.
Which you knew nothing of.
That no one I asked knew anything of.

But, would that not have been a good place to start?

The only 'Evidence' you ever presented was the word of a Nethradin in your captivity.
A Nethradin one of my 'Birds' informed me was still making contracts whilst you were trying to 'Redeem' it.

Perhaps reconsider your judgement.

I can only conclude you weren't looking to communicate.
Because you were free to do so.
To present your 'Mountain of evidence' as I requested during the first investigation.

But, congratulations.

You've successfully forced my hand.
We'll do this the right way.

The twins will be housed in the Frontier, until the time of their ritual, as per my arrangement with Svendgalf Sandsker.
They will not leave the settlement's borders, lest they prove their own guilt.

In which case, Prospera no longer cares what happens to them.

I implore Azalea Aubreen, and any other person capable of assisting in the matters I spoke with them about.
I do not understand how the ritual works.
I need help to have it properly arranged, and scheduled.

I do not believe this will appease anyone.
Small men will find something to bite at.


To Ezra,

Grow up.

OOC:
As a small tangent, the Ilathia-scene specifically feels incredibly icky for me to reference ICly due to the massive retcons that happened at the same time.
The scene was very much unresolved, and I feel would have ended very differently if it had been allowed to roll to completion.
Maybe that complicates things more, but I hate retcons. I hate having to move about, not knowing what I can, and can't say or do in fear of getting admin-bopped.
I'm not saying anything needs to change in regards to the scene as already discussed, but I'm, personally, just not a great fan of how it feels OOCly, is what I wanted to clarify.

[Coroneljones]

---

---

Most of 2110AC proceedeed quietly, since the last batch of letters, as work had been focused upon rituals, scrying, divination and more, until that fateful day where the witch-finder ritual was to be held in the Final Frontier.
But whatever peace was expected to come from it was shattered, by whatever had occurred there.

For the Knight-Commander himself was seen directly marching towards his office, the moment his boat docked near Martyrs´ Vigil, and only leaving with several drafted letters to be spread.

A new proclamation, for the Herald squads to deliver.

"To think so much leniency was given.
Time and time again, every request given room.
The scrying ritual, done with what little blood I could collect from the original owner of the Tome.
The request for who would hold the accused, instead of my people.
The extended deadlines, for an answer.
The cooperation of the Frontier, to conduct the ritual, and go as far as to not even collar the Astalet siblings, upon your request.

And after all of it, there is still a refusal to cooperate, be it from those leading Prospera, or Lucky Luciano and the two witches he shelters.
To think so much leniency was given, and still, the Frontier, and everyone else that attended the rite, was tricked through the use of potions and coercion, to have two others pretend to be the accused twins.

I have shown leniency, time and time again.
Others have shown goodwill, or outright believed innocence.
And so we learn that courtesy is truly dead.

I have shown you kindness, and you have mistaken it for weakness.

And now, I shall show you strength, so you may mistake it for brutality.

This shall be my final Ultimatum, to those leading Prospera.

You shall surrender your city, the Astalets, and Lucky Luciano, for further investigation and judgement.

Or all those seeking retribution for your trickery shall march alongside me, and force it to be so.

Some amongst you, in the Ministries, may not have been involved,
Yet it is no longer for Prospera to investigate on its own, after all of this trickery.
It has left a permanent stain, and thus you have become a risk.

Let your residents evacuate if they wish, they are not my target, nor were they ever.
They shall not be harmed, nor will their homes be burnt without cause,
unless they strike against those that will occupy this Den of Sin.

I tire of it all, for all I wished was to be done with this.

If you wish for me to be the warmonger you claim me to be, so be it.

So shall Prospera burn, if you want it so.

Until all is naught but dust.

The Unbridled return to their march, the long-planned standing down orders now cancelled, and any sort of rest and disarmament delayed for this would only end in one way now:

Capitulation, or destruction.

---

---

TARGET: Prospera

OBJECTIVE CHANGE: Siege and Capture.

DATE: TBA.

[Spiffspoff]

It was time for another conference.

Something both dreaded, yet needed.
This one would be brief, in comparison to the lengthy spiel the last time the Minister of Technology, and Innovation took the stage.
Would it clear the doubt that hovered in the air? Would it save the city from wanton destruction? Would she call to arms against the invaders?

"...I stand before you in this moment, with much to say, yet none of the words to speak it with. I had hoped, with my interventions, that we could see this ordeal finished swiftly.

But I was mistaken about the guile, and deception that had truly taken hold in this city. The trickery, and subterfuge, privy not even to I. Of that, you have my most sincere apologies.
Lucky Luciano, and Katrina Astalet are relieved of their ministerial duties effective immediately, on grounds of high-treason, conspiring with the Fel, and active witchcraft.
They are exiled, without chance of appeal. All property is to be ceased by the state, and subject to further investigation.

If arrested, for their active deception, and endangerment of the city, their verdict is this: Summary execution by firing squad.

...Is what I would have liked to say, but alas, such a choice is no longer mine to make.

Effective immediately, the Ministry is disbanded.
Administrative charge is, under accord with Martyr's Vigil, granted to the Aphrosi state.

To those of you who stood by loyally all this time, thank you.
To those of you who would lay down their lives despite all that has happened, for the home which you care for, thank you.
But our best isn't always enough, unfortunately. And this was the outcome of all the trials, and tribulations.
The only way to spare what was left. I will not have you burn for the mistakes of others.

So, please, do not resist this change.

To those of you that fear the wrath of the on-going war between the Aphrosi state, and the Citadel, know that you will not fight.
No citizen of Prospera shall be drafted to fight. Prospera shall not be a front for that war.
Despite new management, peace, and non-aggression remains the core values of Prospera.

What is to come, I do not know. It is no longer within my duties to know.
Please forward any questions you have to the Oracle of Aphros."

And with that, the overwhelming number of drones that floated in the air around the plaza slowly dwindled.
Explosive runes cast upon the populace was dispelled.
And the former Minister locked within her workshop.


OBJECTIVE:
Annexed by Aphros

DATE:
Right now

[Titania]

The Oracle's words come relatively quickly in the aftermath of this announcement-- a public address to both the peoples of Prospera and to her own. It is a message, again, ferried to all relevant nations, feathered out towards all governmental bodies of any legitimacy.

---

"In respect for the time and efforts of Goldlight's Commander, Garret Richter, and the interests of many other of the continents' faithful, a full inquest has been authorized upon Prosperan soil, to be headed by the Goldlight Order and in accord with whoever else may be interested in ensuring the certainty of their results. Based on my own information, Kassius, Katrina and Luciano were the primary witches left in Prospera, but I'll be quite fucking honest in saying I am through with half-measures on the topic of their permittance within the borders of that particular settlement. The greatest mercy I can offer, and the single most efficient and forward action that can be taken to ensure the continued survival and prosperity of the city, is to ensure no more fucking covens live there."

"In respect to the capitulation agreement I have made with Mei Hayme, she is no longer to be considered an authority in Prospera or Aphros, and in exchange she and her people's will not be involved in our ongoing hostilities. What peoples of Prospera have remained even in the face of all of this wish for peace, and I am not going to drag them kicking and screaming into a war that is not their own in the immediate aftermath of narrowly avoiding the wrath of the Order."

"Katrina, Kassius; You had your chance to turn yourselves in to me. I would have been merciful, and simply had your souls cut free. I am waiving my usual policy of forgiveness for you. I will not be giving you a chance to be better, because you have made very clear that you have no interest in it. I am a redeemer, not a destroyer-- but it is the gospel of Athelios that some are beyond redemption, and you have proven with your willingness to do anything to avoid facing the consequences of your actions that you - are - not - worth - trying - to - save. If I find you, you're dead."

"Luciano-- Sagittarius-- Ybiet. This game has gone on long enough. You've wasted the forgiveness I granted you. I do not have words for the loathing I feel towards you, but I'm sure when my hands are wrapped around your neck, I'll figure something out.  If I find you, you're dead."

"That is all. Ad astra per aspera."

And with that, the Oracle departs, her message relayed to all who may need to hear it.

[Nailman]

From within the halls of the Citadel, does a single exception to a rule fly off. While otherwise they do not meddle in the affairs of politics, the topic of witchcraft does mean Aegis' involvement is clear.

I must congratulate you all.

I expected little, yet I still am disappointed. All that was achieved was nothing more than a long and public show without conclusion.

You had the attention of the world for a moment, and a chance to achieve greatness; Yet in the name of some false notion of mercy, you opted instead to achieve nothing. The witches still live, now only put to exile. And worse; Mei, I imagine, shall be one person who would be on the lookout to see they do not return with false identities. They have done so once, and they shall do so again. And when they did it, Mei claimed simple lack of knowledge.

At times, I wonder. At best, the prosperan inventor is incredibly stupid. At worst, she is complacent.

Athelios weeps once more, for His sacrifice found its message bastardized.

The witches have faced the awful consequence of having to scramble to make new potions to disguise themselves once again.

And to Meranthe; Rest assured. Should there be even the suspicion of it, they shall be dealt with by hands more capable than witch hunters that have never found success.