Report of the Grand Illuminator to the Scorchbishop

  Date: 20th Martymor 1356

  Subject: Investigation and purge of the demon cult at Bridgewater University

  To His Serene Highness, the Scorchbishop of Vandercourt,

  It is with the greatest reverence, and in full awareness of the implications of the revelations made, that I hereby send to His Serene Highness the full report concerning the incident that took place this year at Bridgewater University. This case is a grave and extraordinary example of demonic infiltration, which threatened not only the integrity of our most important academic institution in the kingdom, but also the security of the entire realm and the well-being of all Martyrdom.

  Illumination first became aware of possible suspicious activity at Bridgewater University in the spring of 1356, following initial reports. While initially thought to be isolated incidents, the evidence subsequently became increasingly strong and spoke of secret meetings and unusual academic successes by a particular group of students.

  After consultations with Professor Barberry, one of the University's most renowned professors, who had worked with Illumination several times in the past and who went on record to say that he had indeed noticed unusual changes and fluctuations in Essence currents around the University in recent weeks, an initial investigation began this summer.

  Preliminary results of this initial investigation revealed that Illumination's covert agents in the field were able to find solid evidence that a group of students had indeed been meeting regularly in the university's West Tower to practice forbidden rituals disguised as research into forgotten forms of Essence Weaving.

  However, the real goal of these rituals, as the investigation revealed, was to manipulate the University's Essence currents to open a permanent connection to the Infernal Realm.

  The ringleader and main perpetrator of these machinations was Professor Gerwin Sapolder. He was described as a charismatic teacher who wowed students and colleagues alike with his unorthodox teaching methods and brilliant and engaging theories on the need to expand our knowledge about Essence Weaving and rediscover lost techniques. Sapolder succeeded in gradually eroding the moral boundaries of his followers by exploiting his high reputation and position...

  ~

  Interrogation protocol

  Date: 15th Finster 1356

  Location: Dungeon of the Illumination, Bridgewater

  Interrogator: Illuminator Gareth Kall

  Suspect: Thalia Reed, Student of Essence Weaving at Bridgewater University, member of the cult led by Professor Sapolder

  Illuminator Kall: Your name was mentioned several times in the statements of their co-conspirators. You were said to be instrumental in the success of the summoning. Why did you join the cult?

  Thalia Reed (looks frightened, accelerated breathing, tears in her eyes): It wasn't like that... it wasn't... I didn't mean for it to come to this, please believe me! Professor Sapolder... he told us all... he said we could explore all the secrets of Essence Weaving, learn more than the other students could imagine in their wildest dreams. I thought... he said... he said he wanted to marry me.

  (The suspect bursts into tears)

  Illuminator Kall: And you believed him? You say you didn't realize that the rituals you performed were designed to tap into demonic forces?

  Thalia Reed (crying): It wasn't like this from the beginning! In the beginning it was just exciting theories, exercises. But as we progressed... the Essence became strange. The Essence started to... to whisper. I knew something was wrong, but I couldn't get out. None of us could get out.

  Illuminator Kall: Tell me about the ritual. What was your role in the ritual?

  Thalia Reed (avoids direct eye contact): I was in charge of the markings. Had to make sure the Essence was flowing in the right channels. It was so complicated, but Professor Sapolder said I was the best at it. He... he praised me. He said I was special. Not like the other students.

  (Suspect bursts into tears again)

  Illuminator Kall: Do you know where Sapolder got the instructions he had to follow for the ritual? Where did the design for the ritual come from? How did he know about [Redacted]?

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  Thalia Reed (starts shaking violently at the mention of [Redacted]): I don't really know. Really. He had... an old book. But he never let me look in it.

  Illuminator Kall: Was there anyone who showed particular interest in this book? Did Sapolder ever share it with anyone in the cult?

  Thalia Reed (shakes her head violently): No, never. He was far too careful.

  Illuminator Kall: Tell me the truth, Thalia. Where is the book now?

  Thalia Reed (looks desperate): I'm telling you the truth, I don't know anything about it.

  Thalia Reed (screaming): Please please please, no, stop, please stop, I'll tell you, I'll tell you anything please. Thereon Gladder. Thereon Gladder. Thereon Gladder has the book.

  ~

  ... our further investigations revealed that there were subtle but unmistakable indications that a demonic presence was beginning to manifest itself. Physical evidence was first observed in the form of markings placed on the floor of the West Tower by students belonging to the cult. The nature and placement of the markings suggested that they were placed in an attempt to corrupt the university's Ambient Essence, which would allow a demon to influence the material realm. The increasingly precise and intricate markings showed rapid progress by the cultists in their manipulation. This was a significant indication that the activities were being guided by demonic whispers, as such progress would otherwise have taken a much longer period of time. The changes in behavior of some members of the cult also suggest this. There are reports that they exhibited increasingly aggressive, paranoid and extremely secretive behavior. There are also reports of noises atypical for humans during nocturnal incidents. We have solid evidence of cultists experimenting on animals to prepare them for demonic influence and control. The course of events thus followed the classic pattern of a demonic incursion.

  Events finally escalated when the cult, led by Professor Sapolder, began a large-scale summoning ritual in the late fall of 1356 with the goal of drawing a demon fully into the material realm. As this was not a minor demon, but an extraordinarily powerful specimen called [Redacted] – in our estimation a demonic entity just below the threshold of a Tyrant – a large, complicated and elaborately prepared ritual was performed using large amounts of corrupted Essence.

  Fortunately, our agents in the field noticed the ritual shortly before it was completed. Some of the agents immediately disrupted the ritual, while the rest went to call for reinforcements. If the ritual had been successful, at least the university campus, but most likely even a much larger area, would have come under immediate demonic control, as the cultists did not secure the summoning site in the underground crypts beneath the West Tower with a functioning bankreizh. The agents of the Illumination on site therefore assessed the event as an existential risk and set about interrupting the ritual by any means possible.

  This caused a massive Essence turbulence that subsequently led to an explosion in the crypt, causing considerable destruction in the lower levels of the university and destabilizing the structure of the ancient walls. Although the demon was fortunately unable to fully manifest, the energies released caused significant cracks in the Essence fabric of the university, making it extremely difficult to weave in the coming weeks and months. There were a number of deaths among both the cultists and the agents of the Illumination.

  Immediately after the explosion, the Illumination arrived on the scene in full force to capture the remaining cultists and bring the Essence disturbance under control. At the time, it was assumed that all surviving members of the cult could be overpowered. Some of them later died from wounds they received during the explosion. Professor Sapolder himself was killed by Illuminator [Redacted] during a last-ditch attempt to end the summoning ritual.

  The cultists were arrested and brought before the justice of the Church of the Martyr. During interrogation, some of the cultists stated that they had not realized the full extent of their actions, that they had merely sought more power in Essence Weaving and to push the boundaries of human knowledge. Nevertheless it became apparent how deeply the demonic influence had already penetrated their minds and souls.

  During the interrogations, there were also several indications that an influential member of the cult, a young student named Thereon Gladder, who was considered to be Sapolder's right-hand man, may have managed to escape and may also be in possession of the book containing the instructions for implementing the ritual, which has not yet been found. There is cause for concern that Gladder may be possessed by the demon [Redacted] or otherwise under its control. Illumination continues to follow up on this lead, and Illumination in Bridgewater and throughout the realm remains vigilant. Over the next few years, all of Gladder's contacts will be routinely checked regularly to track his potential movements and nip any danger in the bud...

  ~

  Eyewitness report by Henry Allred, soldier of the city guard

  Date: 28th Finster 1356

  Place: Marketplace of Bridgewater

  As a soldier in the city guard, I've seen a lot of executions, of course, but this one was different, no. It was as if the martyr himself had come to watch, no. The Illuminators did their ceremony and then the pigs went to the stakes, no. Then they lit the pyres and I thought the squealing was going to start, no. But they weren't like normal criminals who are simply afraid of death, no. They were different. Some of them cried, yes, but some of them just stood in the flames and grinned. As if they understood something we didn't, no.

  Then I suddenly heard screaming from the crowd behind me. Some little girl panicked and said something about a shadow running around. At first I thought it was business as usual, someone always gets hysterical at executions. But then I saw it too, no. There was a figure standing at the edge of the marketplace, moving strangely fast and silently. I called the other guards, but when we got there, nobody was there. Bloody creepy, no?

  ~

  Eyewitness report by Kindle Ursula

  Date: 28th Finster 1356

  Place: Marketplace of Bridgewater

  I served in the name of the Martyr when the Illuminators practiced the justice of his church. It was my job to make sure no innocents came near the pyres. But as the flames leapt up and engulfed the demon worshippers, as the air was filled with smoke, screams and the smell of burning flesh, I could not take my eyes off them. It was as if the flames themselves had come to life, as if the Martyr himself had appeared to take and purify their souls.

  One of the cultists looked me straight in the eye as she was engulfed by the flames. She said nothing, made no noise, but her eyes spoke volumes. I saw no hatred in them, just sheer horror. Terror. Not because of her imminent death, but because of what awaited her after death.

  ~

  ... all remaining cultists were publicly executed as a sign of the gravity of their deeds and the unforgivability of demon worship. We hope that their punishment will serve as a warning to future generations not to overstep the boundaries set for humanity by the Martyr.

  The events were one of the most dangerous demonic incursions in East Sommerland in the last hundred years and the Illumination in Bridgewater has been instructed to maintain a state of heightened vigilance for the foreseeable future.

  With the most pious and humble greetings in the hope of illumination in the presence of the Martyr, His Serene Highness's most devoted servant,

  Grand Illuminator Arneaux Cauldwin