\--==Official Submission==-- FROM: General Debinani Rahl RE: Chapter Twenty-Two - A Final Letter to the Troops Soldiers, Allies, Friends, this may be my final chance to speak to you and I wish to explain everything I can in the short time I have, as well as give some final orders. All contact with me after this correspondence should be considered suspect until proven otherwise. Many of you have noticed strange behaviors and stranger scheming among the Society's command staff of late. I must apologize for our secrecy in these matters but trust that subtlety is a necessity. I will tell as much as I can however. Somewhere far away chained in a tower sleeps Kishara. I will not go into detail on her, for it is available in the Society's Annals and a matter of public record. What I will say in brief though is that Kishara has five champions, five Ringbearers, whose purpose is to see to the sacrifice of a million souls so that Kishara may once again be free and reach her terrible hand out to shadow the world. Three of these Ringwielders are dead. Lord Daithomir Latarin, Ringwielder of Fire, was slain by the Black Rose several years ago. Cyan Marinetta and Ari Stonehand, Ringwielders of Water and Earth respectively, have both been slain by their two remaining brothers for conspiring with us, the enemy. The two remaining are the crux of the problems that face us today. The first, Whisper, Ringwielder of Air, is at large. The second, our old Master, Lord Torrellian Tahl- Mearis, Ringwielder of Spirit, is...well...me. Allow me to explain. About a month ago I intercepted a message bound for Myca Vodyanoy from Whisper. It contained instructions for meeting him at a remote location on the Arctic Island to discuss things. It was known that Whisper was in possession of the Ring of Spirit, which contained Lord Spirit's essence. The message was meant to lure Vodyanoy to the meeting and gain a new body for our enemy. For reasons of my own and motivations spurned from events long in the past, I chose to go in his stead. There was a battle, but I eventually fell to the Ringwielder and the Ring of Spirit became mine. Ever since I have been combating the will of Lord Spirit to commandeer my body for his own uses, and so far, save for a few instances, I have been successful in delaying Spirit's return to the world. My will however, is only mortal, and the will of Lord Spirit is not. I am failing. My intention was to buy time for our forces to prepare and buy time I have. I can only hope it was enough. The Whitecloaks are currently out to capture or kill our command staff as a part of their preparations, everyone please be on their guard. Their "light" is not the light of the Creator, but the clever manipulations of Kishara herself. Forces are conspiring against the Society and our allies. The million souls have nearly all been collected. We can not allow Kishara to be freed. Now, my final orders to the Society. 1) As I said previously, my will is failing, and after this point I am not to be a party to any tactical planning on this matter, for it is only a matter of time until Spirit is in control. 2) Major Lazarus Shade now holds complete Command of the Society until this issue is resolved. He will be working close with Captain Anubis and Lieutenants Demelock and Aragos as well as all of our Allies to formulate a strategy to prevent Kishara's armies from meeting their hideous quota. 3) Until such time as this issue is resolved, the Society is now on a state of combat-readiness. All personnel should make appropriate preparations and supplying to be ready for a major engagement. Also, a personal request. Everyone try to look after Alexander. He is soon to be another of The Society's orphans. Someone please look after him. Well, I've never been one for goodbyes. I hope I have cleared the way and delayed the inevitable long enough. It has been an honor and a privilege serving with each and every one of you. Let this be our finest hour. This one purpose is what Kironius Mengst created us to do. Darkness is upon us and soon, night will fall. My death will be the harbinger of the witching hour from which all things evil will strike at you. YOU MUST BRING THE DAWN! Justice for All! And may we not rest before those who have fallen before us. Semper Servuus Lord Adulphus Turon II a.k.a. Debinani Rahl Duke of Stormstone Sound General - The Black Rose Society \---- Debinani Rahl rolled and sealed the parchment and handed it to a page. "Issue this to all of our soldiers and allies. You've served me well, Devin, server the new Commander of the Society equally well." The boy ran off on his errand. Rahl handed a large, very old book to his second page. "Take this to Duke Elendril Shadune. He'll know what to do with it." The second page ran off on his last errand. The old general stood and walked over to the pallet where his son was sleeping. He gently kissed the boy on the forehead and went into the kitchens. He swallowed his communications crystal. He knew the same trick wouldn't work on two Ringbearers in a row, but he had to try. Rahl splashed some cold water on his face and looked into the mirror. The face that looked back at him was his, but decades younger. It was Spirit, come to gloat at the General's weakness. "You know you can't win, traitor," taunted the reflection. "I am but one man," replied Rahl, "I can not defeat you. Only unity will defeat you." The reflection chuckled. "Your faith in that forgotten goddess is laughable." "I could say the same for you, Tahl-Mearis." "You know Rahl," continued the reflection, "You should've joined me. You're a fine commander...for the most part. It's not too late you know. I could make all the pain go away. Give me Vodyanoy and I'll place you above all others in The Sackcloth Rose...." All the tension left Rahl's body as he smiled at the reflection in the mirror. For the first time in months he truly relaxed and cracked a wicked grin. Spirit smiled in victory. "You know," Rahl began, "some day, someone like me is going to kill you, your goddess, and your whole fucking cult." The grin faded from Spirit's countenance as swiftly as it had come. "Time to die, Rahl." Lord Torellian Tahl-Mearis, Ringwielder of Spirit looked into the mirror and saw the reflection of the old General fading away into nothingness. Chuckling at some private joke, he left the small tavern in the town of Northwood and rode away on the wind to find his compatriots.