Editing Oath-Graven Diamond:Act5

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== Moonday, 16th of Ascending Wood, RY 768 ==
<P>I have spent the last days honing my defensive capabilities; I believe I have now mastered the art of repelling any number of attacks. Eino, my sparring partner, has simultaneously been working to accelerate his attacks.  It is a good match.</P>
<P>Today I have begun my true calling -- spreading the word of Sol Invictus.  I approached Hideo and began discussing religion with him.  As it turns out, he is a bit of a fool.  What can one expect, after all, of a being with rocks in its head?  He trusts only what his battered copy of the Immaculate Texts tell him; he sets great store by the written word.  I suppose that, too, makes sense; the spoken word is fleeting, but writing has a permanency he probably appreciates.</P>
<P>In any case, he now realizes that people can be mistaken, even when writing books, and that this one is a mistake of the highest caliber.  I do fear for his safety, to some extent--simple as he is, I would not put it past him to start evangelizing without regard to the... politics of the situation.  I have set him to cleaning up the temple in preparation for its conversion to my own purposes; this should occupy him for some time.  I will try to impress upon him, however, that I am the one tasked with spreading the word.</P>
<P>As I returned to my lodgings, I was all but slapped in the face by the troubles this world sees.  The yozi, the fair folk, the hordes of the undead--all these are threats, true enough, but the greatest trouble of all is the people themselves.  A gang of young men were about to rape a girl after, clearly, beating her brother to a pulp.  Mere children, all of them.  I could not let such a thing pass; I sent the curs scrambling for their mothers, those who were not unconscious on the ground.  One of them had the nerve to hurl epithets at a Prince of the Earth, but I stayed my hand from slaying him for it; he could not know, though simply by my clothing he should have known his better.  I took the boy and his sister to a healer and paid her for her services, with the promise that the children would appear at the temple when they were able.  Young minds should more easily reject the ways of their fathers and embrace the Sun... as will those with little to lose, those who have seen the rough side of the life offered by the Immaculate Order and the Guild.  They shall form the base of my church, and their privation will be repaid with great rewards.</P>
<P>Fox -- Al'mun, I should call him, but as much as he wears that mask it's difficult to think of him as anything else -- Fox visited the Cynis ambassador in my own guise to seek information on the demon summoner at the ball.  It seems that Sardonyx was sent to silence Factor Saham, who was blackmailing Ambassador Mnemon over her demonic connections.  It seems that she is a knowledgeable summoner herself, as well.</P>
<P>Eino returned from his day with some interesting news; Singing Sparrow informed him of a caravan carrying Djala slaves fresh from the barbarian tribes.  We, of course, plan to free them.  I have little time to collect enough weapons to arm them, but it should suffice.  Sparrow also told him of rumors of demon cults within the slave compounds of the Guild... this seems the next link in the mystery.  Eino also had a clandestine meeting with Cathak Kal--it seems he is not concerned with our status, and simply wishes to protect the world.  To that end, he wishes to know the location of a rogue Iselsi magistrate reported to be hiding in the desert.  He also told us of Factor Raeph Haphara's slave compound--another target of opportunity to consider.  I gave Kal a note to meet me at the temple.  I hope that he is not so disgusted by the Immaculates as to be ruined for religion in general.  Perhaps he thinks he is, but I may be able to change his mind--he would be a powerful ally.</P>
<P>Plots and conspiracies... as much as I avoided such entanglements while a member of House Cathak, I find I look forward to their fruition now.  Perhaps it is simply that I know I am doing something good and worthy for once in my life!</P>
<P>Praise to Sol Invictus!</P>