"The Unsung Feats behind the Crusades"

Note · 55 gp · Weight 2

"Ever since the Third Crusade, our templar brothers — may their true names remain veiled by the dark of anonymity — have served as an example to other followers of Lord Baphomet through their impeccable service. Read of their greatest accomplishments, neophyte, be awed, and be inspired. In the year 4664, at the dawn of our service in the Worldwound, our brothers began to infiltrate the ranks of those called to serve Mendev and the rest of the mortal world. The crusaders paid no regard to whom they were recruiting, and soon the templars found the perfect material for their work. One night, two Orders that shared a Mendevian outpost suddenly discovered irrefutable evidence that both parties had been hobnobbing with the demons in hopes of saving their hides just before an upcoming surprise attack. The consequences were immediate, and by morning, the army had turned into squabbling packs that had completely shed the veneer of noble ideals in their fight for righteousness. In the year 4665, with the onset of the Third Crusade, a saint appeared in the ranks of Iomedae's church — a pure and brave maiden who inspired new warriors. Unsurprisingly, among her admirers was a hot-blooded young man whose adoration went beyond the bounds of virtue. Leading a selfless heart to sin was no easy task, but the templar had taken lessons from Alushinyrra's incubi for a reason. Our brother unleashed in the maiden the overwhelming depths of passion and sin, but as soon as the church caught wind of the orgies that were taking place in the heart of the new Order, bonfires flared up — not just for Iomedae's ward, but for her followers too, including the brave templar who had revealed his true face to her on the eve of their execution. In the year 4667, a famed inquisitor, who was particularly enthusiastic about roasting peasants at the stake, suddenly grew despondent. And for good reason: his closest friend opened his eyes to the rampant demon worship right under his holiness's nose — in the ranks of the inquisition itself. This butcher had his work cut out for him, and in his great purge, he hanged and stabbed whomever his friend pointed at. Alas, all good things must come to an end, and soon the poor inquisitor was apprehended and sent to the capital to stand trial. Before his execution, he made futile attempts to call his trusted friend as a witness, yet the friend had gone missing, or maybe had never existed at all. The templars know how to cover their tracks."