To the headmaster of Caroban:

I am writing this in the hopes that the actions that I witnessed from a Collegia mage by the name of Faust were not sanctioned by you, but that, instead, he was acting as a rogue and was working outside your bounds of authority.

High Princess' plans in Babel were well known by you I would wager, but I do not know how widely it is known that there was a Srinala raised from unconsciousness as a side-effect of this. She was a child forced into a comatose state at birth. Her mind was alive and she dreamed, but was never able to wake until that night. I am the man who discovered this Srinala, and I and my family cared for her like a family member. Unfortunately my duties as a Knight Templar called me elsewhere and I left her in Rephidim under the care of my daughter, who treated her very well.

Srinala acted very much like a newborn child, awake and discovering the world around her, but part of her was still linked to the high princess' plot and when she slept she played many roles in the dream world that had been created. During no time in her waking moments did she ever threaten, or even harm a single soul, nor did she exhibit any magical powers.

I do not know if you are a family man, but the fact that I left Srinala in the care of my only daughter should tell you how safe I felt the Srinala was.

So you can imagine, upon returning home, how shocked I was at hearing that the Srinala had been forcibly taken from my home and arrested like a common criminal by Mage Faust working alongside the Rephidim Temple. I was shocked all the more to hear that the mages she was being held in the custody of were intending to destroy her.

I did not have the full facts at the time, but what information I came to hear made me decide to rescue the girl. I snuck into the Collegia grounds, incapacitated two guards (I did not kill them, nor anybody that night if you are concerned about such), and invaded the ritual. As I realized that suddenly botching the ritual that I had charged in on might have very bad consequences, I then chose to surrender myself and was allowed to stay close by.

Mage Faust informed me that they intended to put Srinala back into the comatose state she was originally in in order to 'foil the high princess' plans, and that she was a dangerous 'spirit possessed being'.

Sir, my station as a Knight Templar specifically devoted to fighting magical created entities has given me a certain amount of insight on the matter, namely that no living person can be spirit possessed and still live and breathe for long periods of time. The spirit slowly drains them of their life and eventually kills even the strongest of beings. I was with her for months, and saw not one sign. No decay of the body, no weakness when taken up from the surface or even any signs of being affected by the Forbidden Zone of Shabar when we entered it. I tried explaining this to Faust and was met with deaf ears. He was determined to kick the door that held her awake tightly shut again.

I believe that if there is any magic that has hold of Srinala, it is simply keeping her from becoming comatose again, and as time goes by she may not even need that magic at all. Surely there are life rituals that can pull people from comas? Does that make them spirit possessed? Or if a mage uses their powers to keep a tired person from sleeping are they suddenly guilty of possessing someone?

One of the mages, a Naga, decided that something was wrong with the ritual and had decided to destroy the Srinala with a knife, whereupon I threw myself at him to keep him at bay. The ritual was broken and Srinala awoke fully, the part of her that had remained in the dream world (which I think the mages pulled her from in order to destroy) having finally come fully awake. I was healed and able to pull myself free from my bonds, and demanded that Faust let us leave.

Faust told me that I had made an enemy of Caroban because of my actions that evening, and I spent the rest of the night hiding and ducking away from Rephidim guards. For all I know my property is being seized and bounties are being put upon my head and those of my family. This is why I have had this letter specially prepared so that you cannot use it to find my location.

I dearly hope that Faust was acting as a rogue. I believe that he bribed several Rephidim officials (the fact that he cowed and allowed me to leave when I accused him of such further makes me suspect as much) and violated the neutrality of Caroban by kidnapping a child and falsely accusing her of being nothing more than a ghost.

Do ghosts dream? If this was simply a matter of spirit possession, why was a mind mage and a dream mage necessary as well?

My point of this letter is twofold. Firstly, if Faust was acting as a rogue then I would like to see him dealt with and I would like for you to have my name cleared in the eyes of the Temple. I find is sickening that I am being accused of being a criminal because I would not let a child under my care be murdered. Also, in case Faust is telling you a colored version of the events I am also informing you if my side of the story as well.

Secondly, if Faust was acting under your authority and you have further intentions of harm towards Srinala, let it be known that I and every able hand I can gather will protect her. I will do everything in my power to inform all of Sinai how hypocritical Caroban truly is. Srinala has no dreams of godhood, and has not harmed a single soul… yet men who claim neutrality wish to see her destroyed? If this is so then Faust is right in that you truly are my enemy, for nothing is more dangerous than a beast who claims uninvolvement and then lashes out at anything that looks dangerous to them.

I have sent a letter to the Rephidim Temple as well informing them of this matter. I hope to see it resolved soon. I realize that in sending this I may be incriminating myself further, but I also truly believe that there are reasonable men on Caroban who will listen to my words and that the madness I saw in Mage Faust has not afflicted you all.

I dearly pray that my hope is not in vain.

Respectfully,
Shadow