The Violet Lance has arrived safely in Zahirinee and without incident. We are investigating the golem and hope to have it dealt with within theweek. But as you know, it is much too early for me to send you a simplestatus report. No … I instead have much more grave matters to speak toyou of.

Priest-Queen Jade-Eyes' proclamation about being in contact with the"Silent-Ones" is no secret, nor are her claims that these people willsupposedly come from beyond the gateway worlds and planets that we callour home. I was given the honor of having one answer to whateverquestion I desired given to me by Zahirinee's scrying pool. Afterconsidering the possibilities with Sister Shade and Brother Vague, wedecided that the most useful answer would be to know what the intentionsof these people truly are.

The pool did not answer my question entirely, but it answered enough. The Silent-Ones bring a false Messiah, a man who claims to be the Starhimself and who has the power to rain fire down from the skies on thosewho deny him. He comes with Titans, armored warriors, and numerouscrafts that resemble Golgotha itself. In the vision, any who denied himwere struck down.

I have heavily considered what to do to and have decided to give you myfrankest and honest opinion.

I believe that the best way to contend with this menace is not to chargeinto battle against it. Rephidim and the Temple are still heavilydepleted from their losses in the past war and the Lancers and Championsof Golgotha are greatly reduced in numbers. Our brothers in the Amber Lance arenot warriors nor are they affiliated with the Temple. The Champion ofOrder is likewise no great warrior. If we straight out oppose thisfalse Messiah then I believe that it will bring nothing but death.

What I ask is no easy thing, but it is the best solution I can think ofin dealing with this: grant the Knights Templar their independence onthis one mission. Allow us to act on our own and call forces from Sinaiand Abaddon. If we fail, then the Temple can wash its hands of theKnights once and for all, and if we succeed perhaps we may finally proveto the Temple that we should not be cast away so easily.

The Temple will not be able to combat this being, I believe. I feelthis way because the Temple supports the First Ones and if they speak tothis Messiah with the will of the First Ones, then the supporters of thisfalse god will band together against the Temple to denounce what theyfeel to be a false god. Fire cannot be wiped out with more fire. Ifthe Temple speaks, it will not be a simple matter of the Temple againsttravelers from beyond the gateway, but perhaps the Temple against all ofSafar and Savan.

Allow the Knights one final rally. Allow us to unite with our brotherson Abaddon, Shabar, and Chronotopia and allow us to gather as manyfollowers of the true Star as we can to help us raise our voices againstthe false star. If we do not, then people will look upon this mockeryand claim that this is the Star that we follow. I am not asking thatyou allow us to charge into battle, but give us strength so that we mayspeak to the people this false Messiah may sway with a voice as powerful ashis own. It is obvious that what this being wants is worship, and if wecan deny it that, then we have already taken a victory.

I ask that you grant the Knights the freedom to bring the light of theStar to these people before their souls are stolen by a false god. Theonly true thing that can battle this impostor will be the true Star.

If allowed a free hand, my intentions are to send word to Abaddon, and totravel to Bosch and deal with the monster menace so that my brothersthere will be free to join us. I await your orders.

In the Star's name,

Shadow