Ishuri,

I don't claim to speak for all the former Priests who are bereft of a
Guild, nor those who have chosen to walk the path of Flame, but I don't
believe your 'righteous' indignation is deserved by those of us who
choose to hold to the old ways.

You are quite right that we are no longer Priests, and that our Guild
was dissolved for apparently good reasons, though I am still unsure
exactly what they were, apart from 'apathy' and 'corruption'. Perhaps
indeed it was for the best, but having not been a part of Lady Sahmie's
great vision, I simply do not know. Our Guild may be gone, but many of
us still hold to the principles that we once swore to uphold, and no
accusations of treason, corruption or selfishness will sway us from
them.

You speak of "Priests" who joined not to serve and help others, but
instead only to wield the skills and powers granted to us most
graciously by the Divinities. I must admit, that is partially true in my
case. I joined the former Priesthood in order to learn the great arts of
healing, so that I could cure others from sickness and injury, and offer
my assistance whereever I could, to those who were willing to
acknowledge the wisdom of the Light. Indeed, I have always tried to
offer my skills freely, and that is the Service that I have sworn my
life to. However, I don't think that not joining the new guild of
Illuminati is a sign that we have abandoned the Light in a mad grab for
abilities. Indeed, as far as I can tell Illumination is a much more
powerful discipline than the Healing that the Luminaries have abandoned,
in terms of battle-use. Though I hope I am wrong, I believe that some of
the former Priests who have altered their ways to that of the Illuminati
may have shown less character, possibly reaching for powerful new skills
rather than the new goals held by those of the Flame.

As for your assertion that we all desire to head to Moghedu and murder
innocent Mhuns, I completely reject that. A loss of a guild does not
mean that we suddenly lose our minds in a frenzy of bloodlust, attacking
those who do not deserve it. I am not sure what happened when you left
your Guild, but I will never so abuse my powers to slaughter innocents -
it is one of the guiding principles of the Light. Nor do we suddenly
have a desire to 'bed the consanguine' as you put it, though you have
raised an interesting difference in the philosophy that I hold to, and
that of purging Flame.

I believe that simply killing those who are deemed to be of the Darkness
does not make us of the Light. Such a distinction becomes overly fine,
and dependent on the prejudices and belief of a few in power. Rather, I
would say that Evil is most characterised by the heinous actions
committed in its name, not the skills and professions a person may have
learned. I believe that one of the most important differences between we
who try to follow the Light, and those who follow the Darkness is our
compassion, our understanding, and our wisdom. Slaughtering 'evil' is
one way of combatting its spread, and I can only hope that the
Luminaries are successful in their goals, but it is not the path I
choose to walk. Instead, the healing and renewing aspects of Light
should be taught to any who would listen, and perhaps by listening to
the reasons behind dark actions, we can find a way to persuade them to
change.

I have not joined the Luminaries because I do not want our gifts of
Healing to be lost to the world. I do not bear Lady Sahmie any hatred or
blame, nor those who have followed her into the noble path of the Flame,
and I can only wish them success in their battle. Do you truly begrudge
those of us who remain some semblance of community? We who follow the
Old Ways have had many trials of faith and resolve levelled against us,
but we must try to hold strong to our beliefs, and to one another. The
Priests are gone, that is true, but as the Cycle turns all things are
Renewed. One day, perhaps, a new generation of Healers will once again
spread wisdom and healing throughout the land, and that is the day I,
and others, will wait for.

In hopes that Renewal is swift and complete,
Rujel, Wandering Healer.

Penned by my hand on the 15th of Ios, in the year 98 MA.