O Bane of Sorcerors, Her Heavenly Demon Kshetraghan, they who speak the Divine word of Wrath Most Holy, champion of Winter's Vengeant Eye, Whose Wingspan Shelters You in Eternal Grace!


Harken unto me.


I have witnessed your might. I have witnessed your judgement. I would witness the depth of your devotion as you teach the ways of the One you serve so fervently.

I seek audience with you, priest of a Wrathful Goddess. I alone, and whomever else you choose to be present, that words may better be exchanged without interruption. I defer the choice of time and location to you.

For I, too, am a priest of a Furious Divinity. I am an ardent child of my own Wrathful Mother, as I am a fervent servant of Rage Most Hallowed. I, too, bear the burden of a Divinely appointed duty. I am to honour our Guardian spirits and Divine equally, and I will undertake my purpose as Wildwood Ritualist with no less zeal than you undertake yours as an Asura of the Culling Breath of the South.

I would offer Her gratitude, and learn to do so according to your ways.

I would request of you, as well, the answer to a question that can only be asked before the culmination of our tribulation, pertaining to a matter that may offend the Toppler of Tyrants.

This I do not demand or expect, but ask. I suspect that you are not eager to hear yet another refrain on the unwelcome noise of dogs barking to disguise their lack of teeth, and I do not seek to join that clamorous chorus. I know full well that I am young and unproven. I make no false claim to strength at arms. But I welcome you to test the mettle of my will, of my faith, and judge if their strength proves me worthy of this audience.

Understand that I do not intend transgression upon the sanctity of your holy work. I do not seek to wheedle advantage for my kin in overcoming the Heartwood's tribulation. We do not need it.

Thus; I vow that I will not endeavour to use what you may impart unto me in order to assist or interfere with any of the current tribulations, nor convey any of what passes between us to my kin until the trial's completion, excepting that which you expressly permit.

I understood from the first that what you bring to our shores should not be met with outrage, but open arms and rejoicing. You bring us the gift of paring weakness from strength, and as Vo'acha teaches, that is a gift most holy.

Weakness exists only as sustenance for strength, devoured to make the strong more powerful still - such is our way in Duiran.

I have a gift to offer you in turn, lest you think the Heartwood ungracious. It is a gift beyond the scope of mere words. A gift that I can grant without a single utterance, if you so choose. I offer insight. I offer to guide you towards a chance to strengthen Vorostra. I offer you the I'xan Ma'ats'a Qum'lat.

I offer it because Vorostra is weak in a way that Albedos is strong.

I offer you the chance for Vorostra to cull that weakness and so make a more brutal, powerful world.

You need only accept what I offer and do with it as Vo'acha does with the weak.

Devour it.

In service to DIA'RUIS, She Who Is Life,
An ardent son of Rage Most Hallowed,
Her Wildwood Ritualist,
Lhoden

Penned by my hand on Closday, the 8th of Haernos, in the year 15 AC.