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The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
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{!} A new notice is placed around the Spire and Undercity. It is stamped with the symbol of the Ace of Spades. {!}
You might be quick to rush to judgement or accusation, and I will not waste my breath trying to dissuade you. However, you must understand by now: not everything is black and white.
What I am about to write is very serious–so much so that it threatens the very fabric by which whatever flimsy agreements between the Spire and Valkia are written upon–and for good reason. It should. Valkia is a conquering Empire. It garners no benefit to reason with us, to please us–just as the Feyguard do not, or their civil rivals, or the Stonerunners–none of them. Because we have proven time and again that we are willing to lay down and let them abuse a system we’re so intent on following blindly.
No longer. Your government is lying to you. It is manipulating you. It is taking you for fools.
I received a tip that the Countess Petrova was a vampire. Not just any vampire, but one that feeds solely on the lives of innocents. She would send her assistant out every morning to track down her next victim, and after he’d killed them, he’d drag their body back to her to feed. I was uncertain of the validity of this, I demanded proof–and was told where his ‘hunting grounds’ were. When I went there and sat by a pond, fishing, he did in fact approach.
It started as a conversation about fish.
And then, when I reached for my rod–distracted, he thought–he attempted to snap my neck.
A fight ensued.
Now, I have no doubt: she will attack. Without her food source, she will get her own hands bloody–devour any innocent she finds in her path. But from where I am, I cannot say a word. No one will believe I was attacked by him. No one will take my word over a Countess’. I have no idea where she is, if I wanted to do anything at all–and if I attempted to surface, to warn anyone–I’d be arrested. Why would I risk myself for a place so content on turning a blind eye?
So I will wait until she shows herself, and do what I can then.
{!} Space is left here–likely for an update. The handwriting changes with the update–it is shaky, as if the author is struggling to pen it. {!}
A new tip arose. We heard she'd be traveling through in the direction of Albern's. Given the bodies she'd left behind, we had to see for ourselves.
By the time we caught up to her–we were too late.
She was curled over the mutilated corpse of a stranger, face coated in their gore, devouring what was left of them like a starved hound. We called to her, demanding answers–and a fight ensued yet again. This ended with her death. It was us or her.
You may refuse to believe me, but there are witnesses.
Tali'Caele.
A younger warrior I never caught the name of alongside Tali.
...and Cadayle. There, at least.
You can hear it from them.
{!} The writing picks back up as it was on the first page–not shaky, determined. {!}
So knowing that the Countess is a murderer, placed here by Valkia itself and finding refuge within the Stewardess’ own walls, many questions should arise:
1. Did the government–The Stewardess, who hosted her within her own home–know of the Countess’ affliction?
2. If they claim ignorance… how? This is negligence at best, treachery at worst. Did they know of her murderous appetite? Part of this coverup?
3. If they knew of her affliction–were they going to hold her to the same standards as they’re forcing upon the law-abiding Vampires of the Spire? Sign your name away on a registry or have your name and bounty branded to hunt? Or does that only apply to the commoners and not the clear enemies of the Spire?
4. Did Valkia knowingly place her within our walls? Knowingly endanger the Spirefolk, cause strife and death amongst them? Force our hands to slay her for their own purposes?
5. Will this be written off, if so? Ignored? Roll over and pretend it didn’t happen?
And now that the Stewardess has stepped back and allowed the Marshal to take her place, who is to say a word from the Marshal-turned-Steward’s mouth is true? Helara is not bound by a demon’s penance to have the good of the Spire in mind. Helara is the head of the Spire’s military–which means your government, already uprooted without your say, ripping free your voice–is now even further so. It is in active occupation. And you are fine with this?
When will you stop rolling over for all that walk upon you? When will you stop attempting to play by a rulebook no-one else is following? The Spire pretends to pride itself on its Independence, while actively being mocked by every single surrounding body–even it’s own “government”.
- Valkia endangers the Spire by placing a man-eating Vampire within its walls and calls it diplomacy. Who's to say they didn't do it with this outcome in mind? Force the Spire to slay her, and declare war?
- Feyguard kidnap a member of the government and plan an execution, laughing in the faces of the Spirelings that call it into question.
- Civil wars rage and drag us into their webs knowing we’ll do whatever’s in their interest, and not our own.
- Your stand-in government official poisons an entire population, and it’s written off as an ‘oopsie’.
- And now your own government–which overthrew the previous one without question–has willingly given the power to the head of the military. And not a single person has bat an eye?
Where is your limit, Spire?
When will you stand up for anything?
When is enough enough?
Show your teeth. Stand your ground, or suffer on your knees.
The cards are in your favor. Play your hand.
- The Ace
