Investigation: Mistmantle-Sophyra

Pre-Recording [Drustai]: My name is Drustai. I have arrived in Booty Bay to meet with Sophyra Bridlington, also known as Xianni and Lady Estherat and supposedly slain by Braiden Mistmantle. In a previous discussion, I set up a second meeting by asking for her to find sha artifacts from the Dread Wastes of Pandaria, which she had been intending to travel to. This second meeting has allowed me to come prepared, and bring this Gnomish sound recording device. I meet with her not as her ally, but as a spy, an infiltrator. I will be attempting to make her audibly divulge her identity and to provide information on her dealings with Braiden.

01:52:38 [Xianni]: Over here, my dear fugitive.
01:53:02 [Drustai]: Sophyra?
01:53:08 [Xianni]: Indeed.
01:53:28 [Drustai]: Your gnome form, I see. Illusion? Possession?
01:53:52 [Xianni]: Transformation, if it gives you any plreasure to know...it is excruciatingly painful.
01:54:04 [Drustai]: Transmutation, then. Of course.
01:54:57 [Xianni]: You know, there was a great transmuter in Elwynn Forest. A bit eccentric. Baron Griff. He spent thirty years studying various creatures of Azeroth, wrote it all in his research journal.
01:55:18 [Xianni]: But of course the damnable Chapter had to beat me to it by fifteen minutes.
01:55:20 [Drustai]: Mm. How does it feel to be dead?
01:55:34 [Xianni]: You tell me, you have more experience with death than I.
01:55:48 [Drustai]: But you still breathe.
01:56:41 [Xianni]: Take a seat, I would offer you something to drink, but I don't think you want to set your stomach in spirit.
01:57:07 [Drustai]: I would not mind some meat.
01:57:19 [Xianni]: Raw?
01:57:36 [Drustai]: No. Fresh, but prepared.
01:57:45 [Xianni]: Very well.
01:58:39 [Xianni]: I think our meeting gives you ideas how about how to save your dear apprentice, doesn't it?
01:59:17 [Drustai]: Does it? I am not here for her.
01:59:29 [Xianni]: I am very good with illusion. If you find a willing -or unwilling- victim, Drustai will indeed turn herself in.
02:01:14 [Xianni]: So, you are here about the Sha-touched item? I found it. I wasn't sure I can take it out of Pandaria, so I safely burried it.
02:01:34 [Drustai]: They can be taken out of it.
02:02:15 [Xianni]: It is burried near the road between Pawdon and Pearlfin. It has a similar emitter, hard to find unless you know exactly the right frequency.
02:02:20 [Xianni]: Use this as reference.
02:02:35 [Drustai]: And in return?
02:02:57 [Xianni]: Succeed in your research and unleash the Sha on your enemies.
02:03:47 [Drustai]: Sophyra... or shall I call you Xianni now... I'm not stupid. You're not the type to be charitable. You have a motive.
02:04:17 [Xianni]: Of course I have a motive. You can try to figure it out, if you like.
02:04:32 [Drustai]: I prefer being told, so it does not strike me at a bad time.
02:05:26 [Xianni]: I think you will fail, and your attempts to weaponize the Sha will just release more Sha and everything will turn to living hell.
02:06:49 [Xianni]: What can I say? I like a good gamble! If you succeed, you succeed. If not, then not.
02:08:48 [Drustai]: We shall see.
02:08:50 [Xianni]: Since you are the necromancer, do you know Lady Axio?
02:09:00 [Drustai]: I have heard the name.
02:09:38 [Xianni]: You should meet her. She used to be Zaraj Blackblade's right hand woman, she is undead as well. Ruthless, merciless and selfish to boot.
02:09:54 [Drustai]: Mm. Do you have an address I can find her?
02:10:01 [Xianni]: She sold out the Hand of Nightmares to Braiden, so he allowed her to escape trial and punishment and took her into his service as 'Nalera Derivere'.
02:10:10 [Drustai]: I see...
02:10:28 [Xianni]: You can find her easily.
02:10:49 [Drustai]: Where is she?
02:11:20 [Xianni]: She follows Braiden around on every formal occasion, and she lives in his mansion.
02:11:35 [Drustai]: Ah, that one.
02:11:37 [Drustai]: With the monocle.
02:11:49 [Xianni]: The bitch uses Ireth's secret spell to conceal her identity but won't share it.
02:12:56 [Drustai]: Do you know anything about this spell?
02:13:30 [Xianni]: No, if I did I would not use a cheap ward to conceal my own signature.
02:15:01 [Xianni]: There is a small problem.
02:15:27 [Drustai]: Oh?
02:15:30 [Xianni]: SI;7 know of it, but they let it slide. Even if you decide to use it in some mad gambit of surrendering, and then exposing Braiden during trial it will fail.
02:15:49 [Drustai]: Let it slide? How so?
02:15:52 [Xianni]: Of course Church and Paladins don't know anything, or there would be a riot.
02:16:31 [Xianni]: Perhaps he convinced them that information Axio provided is good enough, and they should spare her?
02:16:46 [Drustai]: Hm.
02:17:11 [Xianni]: But, I know a paladin who is ready to march into SI;7 and break down the locks and doors if need be to uphold justice.
02:17:25 [Drustai]: Who?
02:17:43 [Xianni]: Heard of Valestrion Drayke? He is so gullible. When Doreen was held by SI;7, I convinced him to intercede.
02:18:26 [Drustai]: So you be reason she now out and about?
02:18:51 [Xianni]: To a degree, but that was during her earlier capture.
02:19:00 [Drustai]: Ah...
02:20:04 [Drustai]: Were you the one she was working with, then?
02:20:39 [Xianni]: That is one way of putting it, she needed money and had brutes eager for work. I had money, and needed eager brutes once in a while.
02:20:56 [Drustai]: Did you make her her soulstone?
02:21:11 [Xianni]: I did.
02:21:19 [Drustai]: What did her thugs do for you?
02:21:48 [Xianni]: Many things over the years. My favourite was an expedition to Outland to get some reagents.
02:22:14 [Drustai]: I see.
02:22:28 [Xianni]: Blades for Hire are just ...bad. I would never recommend hiring them.
02:22:39 [Drustai]: I have noticed.
02:22:47 [Xianni]: They are a bunch of self-important, self-entitled fools who think they got to know every detail of the job and why it has to be done.
02:22:51 [Drustai]: At least they did come to Pandaria.... eventually.
02:23:05 [Drustai]: Only a month after I paid them.
02:23:48 [Xianni]: And they are ridiculously expensive.
02:23:57 [Drustai]: Indeed.
02:24:13 [Xianni]: I preferred Doreen's men, cheap, loyal in their own way, not asking any questions and great fun to work with.
02:24:30 [Drustai]: And seemingly immune from guard interference.
02:24:40 [Xianni]: I might have had a thing or two to do with that.
02:24:48 [Drustai]: Oh?
02:25:21 [Xianni]: Mediating a treaty between a certain high-up lawman and the thug's boss. Twice.
02:25:32 [Drustai]: Which lawman? Braiden?
02:25:54 [Xianni]: Correct on first guess. What gave it away?
02:26:06 [Drustai]: His many other crimes.
02:26:15 [Drustai]: How did you get around the magical binding, by the way?
02:26:27 [Xianni]: I asked him to remove it.
02:26:34 [Drustai]: And he did?
02:26:37 [Drustai]: Just like that?
02:26:43 [Xianni]: I can be very persuasive.
02:27:19 [Drustai]: Did you convince him to use your fascimile to clear his name?
02:27:22 [Drustai]: Or was that his own idea?
02:27:23 [Xianni]: Most notably, I convinced him that if I get captured by lawmen while his binding is still in place...he will have a lot of trouble on his plate.
02:28:40 [Xianni]: That was team work. He wanted to capture a major cultist to boost his image, I gave him a major cultist.
02:29:12 [Drustai]: "Yourself."
02:29:56 [Xianni]: Indeed.
02:30:40 [Drustai]: You be willing to divulge an awful lot tonight.
02:31:23 [Xianni]: I am in an excellent mood, and we are friends after all. And I was greatly inspired by your defense of necromancy poster.
02:31:43 [Drustai]: That argument with Arenfel?
02:32:06 [Xianni]: Yes. Brilliant work.
02:32:16 [Drustai]: Thank you.
02:32:27 [Xianni]: Just keep it secret, alright? If people obtain immortality with your necromancy, I will have a very hard time buying their souls.
02:32:57 [Drustai]: That be the idea.
02:33:22 [Drustai]: Respect my work you may, but you still be a warlock, and I still be a draenei.
02:34:04 [Xianni]: We all have to stick to ou---roles.
02:34:16 Thelòs silently inclines his head and positions himself behind Drustai.
02:34:28 [Drustai]: Ah, Vindicator.
02:34:36 [Drustai]: Sophyra, this be my Shield, Vindicator Soleth.
02:34:47 [Xianni]: I prefer Xianni. I like the 'X' sound.
02:35:05 [Xianni]: Good evening, Vindicator!
02:35:05 [Drustai]: Xianni then. And what was the other? Lady Estherat I know, but you gave me one other name.
02:35:54 [Xianni]: I have had too many, which one did I give you again?
02:36:05 [Drustai]: It was another Lady. Started with an 'A', I think?
02:36:15 [Xianni]: Ah yes, lady Aldaar.
02:36:21 [Drustai]: Ah yes, that one.
02:36:40 [Xianni]: You have a very strange bodyguard for a necromancer.
02:37:02 [Drustai]: I am a draenei as much as I am a necromancer.
02:37:41 [Xianni]: I imagined your people wouldn't be too thrilled about you practicing that school. I must've been mistaken.
02:38:58 [Drustai]: They are not, not since the issues with my Auchenai kin. This man be a Knight of the Ebon Blade under my care.
02:40:22 [Xianni]: Have you heard of that cult in Duskwood?
02:40:30 [Drustai]: Which one? There have been many.
02:40:36 [Xianni]: They worship death, and undeath specifically. If you ever wanted to become a goddess.
02:41:06 [Xianni]: A bunch of former Ebon Blade, black hand or something.
02:41:06 [Drustai]: I have no desire for cults.
02:41:41 [Xianni]: You can't be a necromancer and not be a cultist, that is indecent. Obscene. It confuses poor paladin brains.
02:42:00 [Drustai]: And yet I am.
02:42:34 [Xianni]: Don't tell me you are not evil, that will drive the poor souls to madness and shatter their world-view.
02:43:08 [Drustai]: Less evil than many of them.
02:43:52 [Thelòs]: The true Faithful, if you don't mind me interject, fair ladyships -- do not believe in evil.
02:44:00 [Thelòs]: Only in ignorance.
02:44:09 [Drustai]: Thank you for your commentary, Vindicator.
02:44:28 [Xianni]: Good thing I never met a true faithful! I prefer being called evil rather than ignorant.
02:47:18 [Xianni]: You should reconsider your attitudes towards warlocks, miss Drustai. All the people on this rock will throw you into the same bunch anyway, so you might as well -be- in the same bunch.
02:47:26 [Xianni]: United we stand, divided we fall or somesuch.
02:47:45 [Thelòs]: This rock is only a tiny little seedling in the Eyes of the Cosmic Beholder.
02:47:51 [Drustai]: I have reconsidered enough to work with them. Does not mean I have to like them or view them as equals, when their magic will damn this world.
02:48:15 [Thelòs]: As a Warlock, you should know that better than most.
02:48:21 [Xianni]: Wait, you actually have illusions of winning against the Legion? That explains a lot. Alright, carry on.
02:49:07 [Drustai]: In any case... be there anything I can do for you, Xianni?
02:50:05 [Xianni]: Yes, if you ever meet a pandaren named Linzu Laozi, tell her that I think that she sucks. Her and her Shado-pan friends attacked me and refused to negotiate.
02:50:28 [Xianni]: They could at least give me an ultimatum to leave Pandaria and die, but they just attacked me while I was relaxing and working on an ink-drawing of the wall.
02:50:32 [Drustai]: The Shado-Pan rarely do.
02:52:02 [Drustai]: Mm... I do not suppose you would have any other artifacts I could perhaps procure from you? For pay or other compensation, of course.
02:52:19 [Xianni]: Nothing related to the Sha.
02:52:30 [Drustai]: I study more than the sha.
02:53:10 [Xianni]: Any field in particular you are interessted in? I don't have items of power just lying about, but I can keep you in mind if I happen upon any.
02:53:55 [Drustai]: Obviously things of necromantic power I always be interested in. I could be interested in a fel artifact or two, though.
02:54:09 [Drustai]: Or even simply more pure mana crystals.
02:54:43 [Xianni]: I will let you know if I find anything. I do however have a friend who is working on portable sha-containment cells.
02:55:17 [Xianni]: If you are interessting, I can let him know there is a buyer.
02:55:37 [Xianni]: He will probably ask you to field-test the prototypes. The cells are still in development.
02:55:48 [Thelòs]: Professor Tjib?
02:55:54 [Drustai]: Who is this frie-
02:56:33 [Xianni]: Haha, yes. I wonder what the good Senator would say if he knew that one of his customers isn't just an absent-minded, goofy warlock-girl.
02:57:05 [Thelòs]: You are right about one thing, Sophyra.
02:57:10 [Thelòs]: It is a small planet.
02:57:23 [Drustai]: Indeed.
02:57:41 [Xianni]: And some people just stand out as giants.
02:58:14 [Drustai]: Tell him that I may be interested, and would be willing to get in touch.
02:58:30 [Xianni]: I will let him know.
02:58:51 [Xianni]: If you ever bring Axio down, I wouldn't mind getting her superior spell for concealing magical signature.
02:59:19 [Drustai]: I will let you know if I find anything.
02:59:53 [Xianni]: Valestrion can be your only hope. But stay cleer of Rae Wulfgnar. He is Braiden's creature through and through.
03:00:04 [Drustai]: I have noticed.
03:01:00 [Drustai]: Would be entertaining, to see the head alongside the real, living thing.
03:01:02 [Xianni]: Oh, and let me know if you need help with illusion. It would be a pity if miss Skarain loses her head.
03:01:20 [Drustai]: I am quite capable at illusion magic, thank you very much, Xianni.
[Brief pause, some rustling]
03:02:36 [Drustai]: What is this?
03:02:57 [Xianni]: Just whisper 'Estherat' to the mirror if you need to contact me. It might not work on first attempt if I am too far, or if I am too busy to answer.
03:03:29 [Drustai]: My anti-scrying wards are quite secure, Xianni.
03:03:39 [Xianni]: As are mine.
03:03:50 [Drustai]: Good, then neither of us will expect to see much of anything through this.
03:04:43 [Thelòs]: I do not think you need magic, ladies, to see one another in there.
03:04:50 Thelòs says without looking up from his booklet.
03:05:59 [Xianni]: Good luck on your quest for justice, miss Drustai. I am a magistrate after all, I have a soft spot for justice.
03:06:46 [Drustai]: Thank you for the relic, and the meal, Xianni. I look forward to future business.
03:07:11 [Xianni]: As always, it is a pleasure working with you. Just remind me never to try to peer under your illusion while eating.
03:07:26 [Drustai]: It not be pretty, yes...
03:07:28 [Drustai]: Good evening.
03:07:35 [Xianni]: Have a fine day.

After-Recording [Drustai]: You have enemies. But they are not me. Sophyra revealed far more than I had expected. More than enough for you to use against Braiden Mistmantle, the true criminal.

I am Sir Herad Vane,perhaps you have heard of me?

Now relesed from my otah,bodyguard of Lady Sophyra,and whit my oclorful past,I have obtained some informations you may find of interest,concerning Count mistmantle and his shady dealings whit my now ex mistress,and as ex shadowbreaker of the Chapter,I know some things ,that may be of interest to you.I am willing to meet you in a neutral towe,under the protection of Goblins preferably,If you are interested,visit or write at booty bay tavern.

From,
Herad

(December 30, 29 ADP)

The count is cleverly covering his tracks. How could Sophyra have tricked him and made him a victim if all his employees swear a magical oath, and he knows at once if they think treason?

Hail Anethion, brothers and sisters of the Chapter. Here I, Morgan Pureheart write a tale of loss and treason, a tale that will fill you with grief. But what i want from you, brothers and sisters is to have faith in the Light, and after finishing this, make your faith stronger. For that is what he would expect from you. And weaklings are NOT tolerated.

Glory under the Light!

As the crowd was weary and their eyes filled with tears and hearts shattered at the funeral of the Always loved Abbot, brother Osmand Lightguard. Brother Vanquisher Greagoir has pulled me, brother Herad Vane and brother Jeremya from the crowd. As we stood farther from the ever growing crowd of grievers, brother Greagoir has explained that we must ride with haste to the Burning steps. For there a formidable warlock has been spotted and there was no moment to lose for its death would be a great victory towards the Greater Good.
We readied our steeds and rode with haste out of Stormwind, the nights cold winds striking at our robes as our cloaks rode the wind, the silence of the night only broken by the sound of our horses galloping. No words were spoken between the four of us, we knew our goal, and we were ready to die for it, four faceless Champions of the Light... Would that we have known the price we were about to pay.... We arrived in the Burning steps in a few hours, laying our horses to rest as we continued on foot across the burned landscape, trails of dragons and orcs around us, but the beasts them selves no where to be seen.... Out of fear from the Warlock? Perhaps....

After some time passed on our patrol across these wastelands, we have seen her.. the warlock on top of a hill.... A giant wrathguard demon at her side, its thirst for blood ever seen... As we made our way up the hill to face he and her demon, she started taunting us. Poison that i will not mention here was sent towards us. That is when myself and brother Shadowbreaker Vane attacked the Demon... The sound of clashing steel emitted as the demon was pushed back to its mistress, but our victory was a short lived one, for that is when she raised the burning lava from one of the pools nearby and sent flowing towards us... i took the full hit while i was hiding while crouching behind my shield. Vane, and brother Jeremya have jumped out of the way, and brother Greagoir has managed to pull back as well... That is when i heard words that did NOT fit.... Jeremya... apologized to the Vanquisher... and then a groan was heard, following the word Traitor. I heard the sound of fighting behind myself but i was focused on the Witch... She started forming a massive ball of fel that kept ripping apart the air around itself....

But IT is ever known that Light victors over Darkness and so did the prayer that i have been summoning send of the Witches ball of destruction and fel flames. Not a moment has passed and i was clashing blades with the Wrathguard demon. The sound of fighting behind me has continued, but i had no time to look back, and started pulling back step by step, as i have been dealing great blows to the Demon, but for its size, it has been pushing me back down the hill.... And that is when i noticed...

The dead body of the Vanquisher laying just a few feet from me... I... regret that seeing his body... gave a blow to my mind.. And i lost concentration... enough to be stricken by the Demon, i fell back and Vane was already at my side... Quickly we pushed up the hill and while i was holding my shield in one hand and lifting the Vanquisher over my shoulder with the other one, Vane has been keeping distance between myself, the Witch and her Demon... And the Traitor....that was known as Shadowbreaker Jeremya, may he cry in agony when the Lights judgment gets grasp of him. Vane struck the Witch with his hammer when he flung it towards her... She promised us safe passage if we lower our weapons... We refused the witch, and started pulling back... Myself dragging the Vanquisher with one of his hands over my shoulder and my shield covering us, and brother Vane at our backs ever watch full... That is when Vane stayed.. I have walked far, and called out to him to follow me. But he refused and stayed guarding our backs, still on the same hill... where another Beacon of Light has been taken by the Darkness...

A Shadowbreaker shall know no fear, nor will a Shadowbreaker ever grow tired while doing their Sacred Duty.... Indeed, true words that gain a new meaning.... The horses being not safe... I have carried brother Vanquishers Greagoir Ottos body back to the abbey on my feet... still with shield in hand, the robes i wore burned down to cinders, and my helm lost in some lava pool.... In my mind.. many thoughts appeared.... For i was the Shadowbreaker that lost three brothers in one night.. Brother Jeremya to corruption, brother Vane (Which i presumed has died at the moment) to the Witch... And at last... brother Vanquisher Greagoir.... the man that made a Shadowbreaker... to a death more horrible then anything a life filled with torture would do.... Died... at the hand of a brother. Whom we all trusted. I had tears for my fallen brothers... For Jeremyas fall and for what he will endure when i come for him, to deliver the Lights justice, for Herads (presumed) death, and for death by the hand of a brother... For the Vanquisher, who we all loved....

During the way back, the silence was falling like a thick cloud over me. Shadows haunting us, but not daring to move ever closer... And that is when i heard the galloping of a horse... Not a moment has passed and there he was... Herad Vane.... burned, scarred... But still alive.... i am not fit to write at what has gone through my mind when seeing Vane alive. The only thing i can say, is that it has brought a kindle of hope in me. That is when we have both entered the Abbeys ground, and brought the beloved Vanquishers body to our brothers and sisters....A affliction from the past has taken hold of me when i carried the Vanquisher into the Abbey. And thus i lost consciousness, but before that happened, The last thing i have seen... or thought to have seen... Is the Vanquisher standing in Heaven alongside every other notable Anethionean, and looking down at us. A expression filled with pride and vengeance. For he knows... That the traitor will be found, and when that time comes.... He will come from the Heavens to give the strenght to the Shadowbreaker that will be passing forth the Judgment with his sword.

Keep your faith strong, brothers and sisters... For the White Cross shall rise. Do not break your hearts, but make your faith stronger, and fight on for the Great Good.

Faith shall OVERCOME!

-Sister Shadowbreaker Dame Morgaan Pureheart.

(September 20, 29 ADP)

Grand Inquisitor,

After much hesitation, I sought out the advice of Lectress Gwendelyn about an issue that has been bothering me for some days now. I have done something imprudent and I now regret having kept this to myself. I feel it is necessary to reveal recent events.

On the evening of October 1st, the day after our encounter with those cultists in Raven Hill, I received a letter. It contained the following message:

Dear sister Farelin,

On the night of the 30th of September you have faced my Wrathblades in battle. They spoke highly of you. I wish you expedient recovery from your wounds and look forward to hearing again of your indominable sense of duty and commendable battle prowess.

Please, accept this Ethereal blade as a gift. If you press the runes on the hilt, the arcane blade will come forth, ready to rend and pierce. Hilt is easy to conceal. One day it may save your life.

I would also like to meet you in person, and invite you to a casual dinner in the nearest Independent settlement - Booty Bay. Your safety is thus guaranteed. Please reply by letter to Booty Bay tavern, signing the letter with your name.

I look forward to dining with you, sister Farelin.

-Lady Estherat,
The Graceful Flame,
Guardian of Discord

Though I realize it was not wise, I decided to accept this invitation and met with the Lady at the inn in Booty Bay. She treated our meeting as a social interaction only, refraining from making inquiries about our numbers and so on. She had one escort, a tall man I recognized from the cemetery. During the meeting, Lady Estherat made it no secret she wished to recruit me but I made it clear to her that my purpose was to combat everything she represented. I was invited to visit her at home, so to speak, and at first I asked to consider it. (This is due to my mother's insistence at court training, as a flat-out refusal would have been rude while a "perhaps" answer is more diplomatic.) I later wrote to her and replied that I needed to recover and focus on my responsibilities at the abbey.

The individual who was Lady Estherat's escort later revealed himself to be a former Shadowbreaker but I was never given his name. He had long, dark hair and a beard, with tanned skin. Upon further reflection, his fighting style and the one of the other human we fought at Raven Hill reminds me very much of the techniques I've witnessed during sparring matches with my Shadowbreaker Brothers. I fear this man wasn't the only Shadowbreaker corrupted by this Lady Estherat and the other we faced in Raven Hill was once of our order as well.

I have yet to test the blade Lady Estherat sent me, having witnessed with my own eyes how simple objects can often be cursed. I will submit it for inquisitorial inspection at your order.

Should I remember anything, I will add to this report with all due haste but for now, this is all I recall. I have visited a confessor and this report was the task I was given to absolve myself of my sins. Do with it as you see fit.

Sincerely,


~Shadowbreaker Farelin Kierstad

(October 5, 29 ADP)

Dear men and women of the Church,

Church of the Holy Light values life, in fact that is what you are all about – defending the innocents, upholding law and justice, fighting oppression and acting charitably. I can tell a lie when I see one, and I am calling you out on this one.

Light have mercy, what are you doing in that paladin training? You are not preparing holy warriors, you are brainwashing a team of suicidal maniacs! Why, in the name of all that is sensible, do your paladins insist on fighting to the last breath when outnumbered ten to one (that is, there are ten enemies and one of them) and they have been offered a chance to surrender and a guarantee that they will not be killed. Ideals are good, but you can take them too far. If there are suddenly two paladins and ten enemies, and one of them has been captured and second is allowed to go free if he stops fighting – he will insist on fighting to the very last as to not abandon his comrade, risking not only his own life but the very life of the one he is trying to save!

Why, I had the most sickening experience of my life when I accidentally captured one of your knights (such things happen). I have apologized for the misunderstanding and allowed her to leave unharmed, instead of going she drew the nearest sharp object and went for my heart shouting that I am a “Traitor to everything.” She was alone in a room with three enemies, unarmored and equipped with a kitchen utensil. That poor woman probably left behind children and friends!

And I not even began discussing your appalling behavior in undecided situations. Two groups face each other, they are evenly matched and neither has the advantage of the terrain. It is clear that any battle will be long and bloody, victors being no better off than the losers. Sensible people would break the standoff and go their ways. I understand that the defending party would refuse to go, after all they cannot abandon their task. But your paladins were on the offensive – they were assured that they can safely fall back, instead they chose to attack! They suffered terrible losses.

I feel offended that your Church forces me to fight drooling idiots whose place is in an asylum rather than a battlefield. Are you taking promising, skilled and sensible people and turning them into maniacs with a deathwish!? These lunatics can’t hear common sense over the sound of all the damned chanting in their ears. Is that a scheme of yours, drive me off-balance by sending wave after wave of nutjobs at me?

But why am I surprised, you are brainwashing children from the moment they can speak that the Light will be victorious no matter what! Half of them probably genuinely believed that they can defeat Sargeras himself armed with a toothpick, as long as they have faith.

Your paladins won’t even make deals! I trust them to be men of integrity and honor who would hold their oaths, so I offer to let them go unharmed as long as they swear never to reveal what they have learned in detention. What do they do, they threaten me! They threaten me while I have them in my power! That is madness! That is what Old God followers would do. What have you been teaching them? What have you done to these poor people? What normal person will try to provoke their captors, throwing all offers of freedom back in her face and refusing to make the most harmless of deals. They –want- to be killed. Is that another scheme of yours, thinking that if I kill enough of those three-year-olds in bodies of grown men I will feel remorse and come crawling into the Cathedral, begging for redemption?

I hereby lay the responsibility for death and injury of every paladin who abandoned common sense for madness and got himself killed while having every option to live at your feet! I swear that from now on I will make a list of every encounter and death related to idiocy and make you pay for that slaughter! I may kill innocents now and then, but you, you do much worse – you turn innocents in suicidal maniacs! What next, will you tie bombs to them and send them into my camp like some goblin sappers?

Best wishes,
Lady Estherat,
The Graceful Flame,
Guardian of Discord

(October 8, 29 ADP)

Northshire Abbey, 23:30

Human male knight armed with a spiked great mace and clad in white&blue armor and blue&golden robes with an Alliance tabard was praying in Northshire Abbey. He appeared to follow the Anethionean form of greeting and behaviour. I have smelled Fel about him, and remarked on his fighting demons. His reaction was suspicious, so I followed him outside and confronted him for a routine check on Dark Magic.

The man's armor changed. He wore red and black robes and armor fashioned in a mocking resemblance of the Shadowbreaker's blessed plate, complete with a red and black tabard depicting an eight-pointed star. I have offered him a chance at redemption should he lay down his sword and surrender, he refused and attacked, setting his two-handed sword aligh with fierce magical Fire. As he charged, he told me that I am going to be 'Cut down by a traitor's hand'. I inquired if he was Jeremya, he replied that he was Jeremya's associate. He shouted 'For the glory of Lady Estherat' and pressed his attack.

During the battle, when it began going my way he asked if he will live through redemption. I told him that it depends on his crimes. He asked what the punishment for Oathbreaking and Service of a Demon. When I told him that punishment is death, he pressed on the attack. Being caught in my priestly robes, I had no hope for a prolonged fight and ended it quickly by biting out his threat but taking savage injury to the lower leg.

Few seconds after the Red Knight's death, his body was lifted into the air by dark magic and his wounds sealed as he returned to life. He immediately attacked me. I found him at full strength while my own blood was drainign rapidly from the leg-wound, and so he defeated me despite being shot in the chest and impaled with a blessed Truesilver stake (also in the chest). I remember grabbing his leg and drawing my grenade to end us both before everything went black. I woke up in the Abbey, the canons reported hearing the explosition some thirty meters away from the place we fougth - I assume he wrestled the explosive from me and threw it away.

I do not know why he chose to spare me.

-Sister Gwendelyn Ashborough

(October 8, 29 ADP)

Brother Jeremya, the traitor. WANTED


Taken from the report made by sister Morgan in regards of the death of our Vanquisher:

"After some time passed on our patrol across these wastelands, we have seen her.. the warlock on top of a hill.... A giant wrathguard demon at her side, its thirst for blood ever seen... As we made our way up the hill to face he and her demon, she started taunting us. Poison that i will not mention here was sent towards us. That is when myself and brother Shadowbreaker Vane attacked the Demon... The sound of clashing steel emitted as the demon was pushed back to its mistress, but our victory was a short lived one, for that is when she raised the burning lava from one of the pools nearby and sent flowing towards us... i took the full hit while i was hiding while crouching behind my shield. Vane, and brother Jeremya have jumped out of the way, and brother Greagoir has managed to pull back as well... That is when i heard words that did NOT fit.... Jeremya... apologized to the Vanquisher... and then a groan was heard, following the word Traitor. I heard the sound of fighting behind myself but i was focused on the Witch... She started forming a massive ball of fel that kept ripping apart the air around itself.... "

"Vane, and brother Jeremya have jumped out of the way, and brother Greagoir has managed to pull back as well... That is when i heard words that did NOT fit.... Jeremya... apologized to the Vanquisher... and then a groan was heard, following the word Traitor."

Taken from the report of sister Gwendelyn:

"The man's armor changed. He wore red and black robes and armor fashioned in a mocking resemblance of the Shadowbreaker's blessed plate, complete with a red and black tabard depicting an eight-pointed star. I have offered him a chance at redemption should he lay down his sword and surrender, he refused and attacked, setting his two-handed sword aligh with fierce magical Fire. As he charged, he told me that I am going to be 'Cut down by a traitor's hand'. I inquired if he was Jeremya, he replied that he was Jeremya's associate. He shouted 'For the glory of Lady Estherat' and pressed his attack."

"I inquired if he was Jeremya, he replied that he was Jeremya's associate. He shouted 'For the glory of Lady Estherat' and pressed his attack."

As I spoke to sister Gwendelyn she stated she assumed this man to be Jeremya, but it was not.
She said that: “I know that brother-shadowbreaker Jeremya vanished following a routine mission to Burning Steppes, on which the Vanquisher died.
The Vanquisher died to a single stab-wound, which any blademaster could parry or avoid. There was no search-and-rescue, mention oruneral for brother Jeremya. The conclusion is obvious.”
So you do believe our former brother Jeremy, killed our Vanquisher?
“Yes, the evidence points that way and I am certain brother Herad's and sister Morgan's report will confirm that. If they weren't still classified by the Office of the Inquisition.”

Sister Morgaan’s report does support this claim.
In regards of brother Herad.. He did leave us and announced his wish to be released from his duties the very same day he delivered and was questioned on his report in regards of: Sophyra and our dead Vanquisher.
This is what Sister Gwendelyn have to say about brother Herad and sister Morgaan.
“I've been trying to find him. His friend, Rae told me that Herad went north. Nowever he never left the city through the Gryphon Master or any of the Ports, or even the mage-tower.
He didn't conscript with the Argent Crusade or any regiment fighting in the North”
“Only report I have, is him riding out of the gates of Stormwind after his retirement and heading East. He was spotted by Redridge Tower after nightfall, but that is the last he was ever heard of.”
“I can't find anything on sister Dawn, though. She was last seen infront of the Cathedral talking to a dusky, dark-haired man and a blonde female dwarf.”

Further more..
There will be an own report in regards of the mentioning dwarf. While debating these last circumstances with Gwendelyn this was said.
That the dwarf who handed us Sister Farelin likely is working for the cult.
That the dwarf somehow was involved with sister Farelin and the other two, got somehow suprised with the vistiors.. Took Farelin to us, ratted on the Black Hand..
That Brother Jeremya is clearly involved with her..
That Herad.. Spoke of Sophyra in lenght.. before he claimed he had said no such things at all..
That he had been misunderstood. Yet to me, he agreed to the statements then again changed his mind.
The likelyhood of him being in Sophyra's grasp, means.. problems..
The likely hood of the Black Hand and this other cult and another cult.. is well.. limited..
So.. Brother Jeremya.. Present during the death of the Vanquisher.. Brother Herad present during the death of the Vanquisher..
They clearly... work on the same side.
Anything else would be grave coincidences.. and there is no such thing..
Now the question remains.. is Sophyra suddenly a team player...
Is she leading this cult, is Lady Esterath leading this cult, or are they one and the same?
Sister Gwendelyn pointed out that we have no information at all about Lady Estherat. Which is true. These are speculations without proper evidence.
“Then we have no information to make a connection. What did Herad mention about Sophyra?”
He mentioned that she had promised him youth and power..
That he did have a duel with her.
“Only information we have, is that Sophyra once ran a bar catering to the shady folk. That may be the nature of Sophyra-Estherat relationship.”
He also at first to lectress Oliana stated...That Sophyra was present during the death of our Vanquisher, a statement he withdrew as he claims he was being wrong. He still went to see her.
And when giving his report he asked to be released from his duties.
Quite.. circumstancial considering what you told me now of how he left to the North but didnt..

“I thought that may be this man was Herad, now that you mention youth and power. He didn't have Herad's fighting-style, I have killed him in less than five seconds.”
Maybe he let you kill him.. knowing he would not die, perhaps he spared you for the very purpose of showing you power..
“Perhaps.”
So it is a possibility for that the Red Knight is our former Brother Herad.

- signed Inquisitor Melissa

(October 8, 29 ADP)

Former Brother Jeremya is wanted on accounts of:

Treason.
Cultism
Murder.

To be questioned for: The death of our Vanquisher. His relation to Lady Esterath.

Former brother Herad is wanted for questioning for:
Possible attempted murder
possible treason
possible cultism.
Other notes: possibly being the Red Knight

(October 8, 29 ADP)

Sister Gwendelyn stated it is possible this Red Knight is our former brother Herad and also said..

"The red Knight carried a vial of Fel Blood, from which he drank."

More about this Red Knight comes in a report in regards of sister Gwendelyn.

- signed Inquisitor Melissa

(October 8, 29 ADP)

When sister Farelin was brought to us injured she was handed to us by a human male and a female dwarf.


Sister Gwendelyn: "I can't find anything on sister Dawn, though. She was last seen infront of the Cathedral talking to a dusky, dark-haired man and a blonde female dwarf."

To which I stated any mentioning coming to her ears about any female dwarf is to be reported in.

"She was once arrested for assault and theft."

Do you recall ever reading about Sophyra and some trial.. in Ironforge?
"
Let....ah yes. She was mentioned as sister Yasmin.
Councilor Lilath Taylen has interjected on 'sister Yasmin's' behalf following what Yasmin claimed to be an illegal exile from Ironforge without a trial on charges of Cultism and Attempted Murder."

How likely is it.. That a female dwarf, with a man as you mentioned walks to this abbey and hands over sister Farelin.
Out of the grasp of these.. Black hand people..
Ratting them out..
And leaving two people behind..
You see where I am going with this female dwarf?
There is.. true enough few... female dwarves to be seen in this area..
Let alone around our people.. in any form or way

"The dwarf, Sergeant Agnethilde Hammerface of the Valliance Expedition, deserter, once sentenced in Stormwind for Theft and Assault. Recently in service of Lordaeron Alliance, also deserted."

"The dark-skinned, black-haired man in Stormwind.
The Red Knight masking as a Blue Knight, serving some 'Lady Estherat' and claiming to be a Chapter Oathbreaker, but not Jeremya."

The dwarf works for Lady Esterath. Somehow was involved with sister Farelin and the other two, got somehow suprised with the vistiors.. Took Farelin to us, ratted on the Black Hand..

"It is a possibility, but there is no evidence so far to back it up."

These are the so far thoughts, this woman is to be found, interrogated at all cost!

- signed Inquisitor Melissa

(October 8, 29 ADP)

Nok Theviroth ((We do not know the name of the book icly. ))


1. The book is solid, its got thick chains around them. The chains will not come off unless the wards are removed.
2. If picked up, the book will do something with your mind.
3. The book is written in Titan.
4. Unless picked up by hands the book is too heavy to lift, unless worgen (apparently) or something or someone else equally strong. Magic will not work on the book to move it unless the wards are gone.

This book is currently hidden. "Where the sun dont shine. ".

(October 12, 29 ADP)

Sister,

I was studying in the corner of the library when one of the new Witch-hunter Aspirants, sister Xenia came up to me and grabbed my sword, stating that she needs it 'For diguise'. Before I could open my mouth, she thanked me for my spirit of comradeship and declared that private property is a sin. I was to correct her, but she complimented me on my fur(!) and asked what oil I used to make it glossy. I was so stunned that she escaped and I could do nothing about it!

-Sister Gwendelyn

(October 12, 29 ADP)

I've confronted sister Xenia in early morning. As ordered, she has spent the night studying on her knees. Somehow, she has convinced the canons to keep her supplied with food and hot chocolate (she had a private stash of it). Canons reportedly said that they simply assumed she was a full Witch Huntress and dared not disobey, however they insist she never claimed to be one and was very polite when asking for their services. To avoid further indignity, I will not reveal the names of duped canons. They have been spoken to about assuming too much and jumping at orders of a girl who doesn't look remotely like a Witch Hunter.

“Hail Anethion, sister.”
“Hail Anethion.”
“I am here to speak about your behavior, last night included.”
“Is this about brother Vain or my nailpolish?”
“You are not taking the Holy Faith seriously enough, sister.”
“But I am! That is why I joined the Chapter. I’ve told you. Cleanse the world of demons and undead, check. Smack the Horde back to the pit they came from, check. Expose corruption, check! Reclaim the North, check!”
“Have you studied the Book of Revelations, sister?”
“Look, we had that discussion with the Gee-eye [Grand Inquisitor], you told me to study the book for the test, I did. I know most of it…like by heart! But I am also supposed to follow it, turns out.”
“Of course you are supposed to follow it, sister. Why else would you study it?”
“To pass the test! I was in Stormwind, I saw your recruitment posters. Not single one of them said I have to follow thousand-and-one rules while fighting Evil! I am not stupid, you know, I read the book, saw the Nine Steps, read that I ought to follow them to be an Anethionean so I was like ‘Hey, all I have to do is follow these Nine Steps, the rest aint really important.”
“And have you been following the Nine Steps correctly, sister?”
“I have. Greeting others with ‘Hail Anethion’, kneeling on the way in and out of the abbey. Prostatita—prosta---“
“Prostrating.”
“Yes, that, daily. I’ve been talking heart to heart with sister Farelin, so that counts as Step 2.”
“She is not a lectress, sister.”
“No, but she is a Shadowbreaker. Which is way better –no offense--, Shadowbreakers are way holier than Lectors. I pray daily. I am being…solidari—ious. Don’t have much time for it, but I help old ladies do groceries every day during early market, except today of course. I fight Evil, I really do, but I just didn’t encounter any criminals, demons or undead.”
“You should begin by fighting your inner evil, sister. Combat your own sinfulness. Shadowbreakers are not holier than Lectors, they follow a different path. Some Shadowbreakers are closer to the Light than some Lectors, but the Lectors are better educated in the Scripture and are equipped to guide you.”
“Yes….about that –sins I mean--. I really do mean to confess, but I don’t know what to confess and what not.”
“Confess everything sister, we are here to aid you overcome your sins.”
“Well, I’ve been talking to others and they don’t confess everything either. So I thought that if Shadowbreakers hold sins back, then it is okay for me to do that too.”
“Who doesn’t confess everything, sister?”
“I’m not supposed to tell.”
[There was a short undignified argument that is of no interest.]

“You are not taking your duty seriously enough, sister. You break Inquisitorial Protocols and treat this like a game.”
“But I take it seriously! Look, I know I probably am not the best recruit in the abbey, but it isn’t my fau---well, not entirely my fault. Brother Godric promoted me after you took my Test, and then he just let me slinger around like onion in soup. Then the Gee-eye gets mad and pulls a rapier on me cos I am not good enough.”
“The Grand Inquisitor is not mad, sister. She is trying to direct you.”
“Didn’t look that way looking up the rapier.”
“Did she really pull her weapon at you, sister?”
“She did! I didn’t tell her about brother Vain wanting to kill an undead, and she got pissed and pulled her steel at me. I mean, how am I supposed to know I am to report on my brothers when they go killing undead. That’s what we do! She said there was some orders, but I saw no orders nowhere!”
“You should report anything suspicious to the Inquisition, sister.”
“You mean like Grand Inquisitor of the Holy Chapter getting mad at a week-old aspirant and throwing a knife at her and pulling her rapier. May be she is possessed by some Anger-demon or something.”
“The Grand Inquisitor has much to deal with, sister. You are supposed to become a Witch Hunter, and witch hunters carry their own weight. You must take more responsibility for your own training.”
“It says right here ‘It is our duty to combat evil in all its forms, not out of hatred but out of love towards those it seeks to destroy. Do not hate the sinner, it is the sin that is abhorrent!’, why are you defending her? She’s clearly broke this one. Didn’t seem to me like she particularly loves me!”
“Do not speak this way about the Grand Inquisitor, sister. I will address her behavior, but it does not excuse your own faults—“ [she interrupted me]
“Just listen, please! I train with the sword daily, I shoot daily. I work out. I –am- being responsible for my training!”
“You should study the protocols and methods of the Inquisition, sister.”
“…where do I find them?”
“In your ‘Witchbane’, sister. The book you were given upon promotion.”
“Was given no book, just told to report to the quartermaster for the gear and be ready for training. Which never came.”
[A discussion on where to obtain a copy of Witchbane and why it was not given in the first place]

“Now we need to talk about your behavior sister. You spend too much time on your appearance and do not take your duties seriously.”
“How much is too much? I do all my duties. If I have three hours free of those and want to spend them doing my hair, why’s that wrong?”
“If you have three hours free of duties, you are not taking your duties seriously enough. You can spend those hours training or reading the Book.”
“It’s not like my duties are hard, you know. I need to spy on that bar, but bars are only open at late evenings. I train in the morning. And I’ve read this book like two times, reading it more often won’t make me follow it any better! Look, I want to prove myself, just let me do something worthwhile and I will show that it wasn’t a mistake to promote me.”
“Do you want a hard task worthy of a faithful woman trained for years, sister.”
“Yea, give me that one!”
“I want you defeat a great evil, sister Xenia. It will be dangerous, it will be frustrating, and it will pit you against your inner demons. Can you handle it?”
“Of course I can, I fought in Grizzly Hills and all that. I can handle Evil!”
“I want you to defeat your own sinfulness. I expect you to be as pure as a Shadowbreaker within a week, sister Xenia.”
“But that’s impossible! Bernard said : ‘The Path of Faith is never easy, not even Anethion walked it leisurely. Expect to face off the temptations and overcome challenges, expect to suffer for your faith and be shunned for your purity.’ I am pretty sure Anethion didn’t become a Holy Prophet in a –week-.”
“Anethion never enjoyed the harsh training in the wilds of the Grizzly Hills, sister Xenia. Besides, Bernard also said that there are no impossible feats, only insufficient faith. I believe in you.”
“Wait, that’s not fair! You are not supposed to be sneaky and manipulative like that, that’s what cultists do…”
“Richard One, sister. Richard One. Now do your duty. Or shall I inform the Grand Inquisitor that you’ve failed a task after assuring me that you are well-capable of performing it?”


We did the Rite of Confession, she was very forthcoming with her sins, listing every one in order of severity and even naming them correctly in accordance with the List of Sins. The Confession is covered by the Secrecy, but I have tasked sister Xenia to:
1. Speak only when spoken to or when having something worthwhile to report, unless in disguise while on duty outside of the Abbey.
2. Burn her vanities, the whole list of which is covered by the Secrecy of the Confession.
3. Live in spirit of Osmand Six.

I’ve also told her that if I ever catch her neglecting the instructions of Osmand Six and engaging in Idleness, I will personally put Canon’s Brown on her and put her to work until she herself is surprised by how productive she can be.

Sister Xenia comes over as highly immature, behaving like she is fifteen while being nineteen. I fear she has fallen victim to overglorified recruitment posters and truly expected to find adventure in the Chapter. I recommend putting her in brown for a few years to build some spirit and sense of duty unless she improves within a week. Please, provide her with Witchbane and any other needed manuals and protocols.

-Sister Gwendelyn

(October 13, 29 ADP)

Traitor Larxxene was captured by two anonymous witch hunters and sentenced to death by the Grand Inquisitor. She was hurled off the waterfall by sister Darelin and Farelin.

She could not be interrogated due to a spell that prevented her to speak.

(October 16, 29 ADP)

Dear editors of Stormwind Times,

I thank you for the tremendous service you have done me with your recent article. Although I might be a magistrate and a businesswoman, I do love my arts and I devote a good deal of time offering private entertainment to those who can affort it. Needless to say, your publication has resulted in an explosive growth of invitations. I've lost certain demographic, but those I got in return are infinitely more pleasant to work with. If this keeps, I might even consider going full-time and appointing somebody in my stead to do all the boring finances and business-management.

Also, thank you for thinking that I am somehow a victim of Braiden Mistmantle. That is a really sweet sentiment, It wasn't in a while that somebody assumed me weak and vulnerable. Although I assure you that if I was indeed a pet witch, I would dress differently. I will certainly wear a collar of dark metal scales set with blood-red rubies, and probably braid my hair, with a lovely pink bow on every braid. I will also talk about myself in third person. "Sophyra has been a good witch today. Can Sophyra have a cookie?"

I understand that it may be challenging to run a newspaper with limited funds, as such I wish to make a donation of ten golden coins and a monthly stipend of 50 silver coins. However, I instruct you to use the money to hire competent fact-checkers. To save them the time, you may review DAL-SWC-PG-RON2-A21.912.5.78 for the Dalaran's permission to conduct experiments in Westfall and the files in the 'Relations with the Great Houses, Regnal Year 39 of Varian I Wrynn', file number 212, dealing with the Minister Astroloxia's permission for the experiments and the grant of Mana-extraction to House Dieudonne.

PS:"...but she have also done some nasty experiments in a lab not far from Stormwind." Come on! Don't keep me on the seat of my chair, you can't speak of nasty experiments and provide no details. I demand a weekly column exposing another nasty experiment!

-Sophyra Bridlington

(October 17, 29 ADP)

Herad Vane is now apprehended by the Disciples of Light.

I was let to see him and he claimed he had been mindcontrolled from before he went into the portal to have his duel with Sophyra. Which means he also claimed he was so, when he returned with our dead Vanquisher.

During the talk with one of the Disciples present Herad stuck to his claim of not recalling. Considering the talks we had after his supposed claim of being mind controlled I began asking him some questions and soon enough he walked right into the pile of trouble, speaking of things and arguing things with me that occured after his supposed mind control and "amnesia".

The Disciple did very much take note of this.
None of our people is to walk to the Garrison to see Herad Vane. Specific orders from me have been given to the Disciples of what they are to do, if ANY member of our order walks down to try see him, including myself.

- signed Grand Inquisitor Melissa.

(October 17, 29 ADP)

Accursed sisters Melissa and Farelin,

I never had a strong desire to believe in anything, least of all the Holy Light. But right now I hope that Anethion is right and the souls of the sinners truly do suffer greatly for all eternity. I assure you, that no amount of good deeds will ever redeem you of your sins. Your crimes are so foul that I feel utterly disgusted by them!

You, sister Farelin, you could right now state a desire to join the Burning Legion and they will not only accept you, but give you a head-start on your career. You have used sir Jeremya’s weakness and loneliness to win his trust and then betrayed it to the Grand Inquisitor which resulted in cowardly and disgusting murder of his wife Joanna. You are one manipulative bitch, sister Farelin, I am shocked that I have mistaken you for a worthy Shadowbreaker of honor.

Sister Melissa, you are the Grand Inquisitor of the Chapter and it is your job to be a monster. Duty well done. However I must disappoint you that there won’t be any bliss in the Light you long for. After what you had ordered done, you will go straight to hell if your Scriptures are true.

I’ve notified sir Jeremya of your willing to take him back in the Chapter and help him get redeemed, and offered to free him from his duty to me as agreed with you in Booty Bay. Knowing what happened to his wife, however, he vehemently refused and begged me to corrupt him as far and as much as I can to grant him every last drop of power to see you two little monsters brought to justice. I cannot force him to abandon my service, but know that I offered him freedom from our contract and he refused. Considering he refused due to your actions, I will treat it as you ‘throwing him away’ and therefore fair pickings. You have no further justification to demand his return and have foresworn all rights to him with your foul actions.

I also wish to inform you that I respect my promises made to sir Jeremya and all those under my protection and am bound by duty to seek retribution against you two in Jeremya’s name. If you surrender into my care, sir Jeremya will name your punishment. I am certain he will be merciful if you show remorse and surrender willingly.

I also welcome you into the ranks of the damned, and recommend you consider a career change. Eternal life in the Legion is preferably to eternal suffering of hell your Prophet warned you against. What you have done, especially sister Farelin, is irredeemable. It something as foul can be forgiven, then you admit that even demons can be redeemed and lose all justification for your narrow-minded crusade to kill all ‘evil’ on sight and agree to disarm your order and become a force of tree-hugging Redeemers.

Lady Estherat,
The Graceful Flame,
Guardian of Discord

(October 18th, 29 ADP)

Hail Anethion Lady Estherat,The Graceful Flame, Guardian of Discord.

When we had our dinner Lady Estherat I do believe I did promise you that from that day we would not touch a hair on the wife of our former brother.
And this promise have been kept. I have not heared any news of this womans death except from by you.
So if this woman is in truth dead, then I am without knowledge as to how or why.

I would suggest your spies should be kept on a leash, for she have not died by my hands.
You may freely choose to spead lies Lady Estherat, it is your soul how is damned not mine. I have kept my word to you.
So I suggest you keep your word in return. And your letter disgusts me. We had a civil dinner and I did expect more from a woman of your caliber when it comes to honoring your word.

You also went against the words, by contacting sister Farelin.

You will find no proof of our order comitting any of these sinful acts, so you may have your Burning Legion for yourself.
If you keep Jeremya and do not see the injustice in your own accusations then I do fear we ever again have much to speak about.

- signed Grand Inquisitor Melissa

(October 19, 29 ADP)

Dear Melissa,

Theodosia shared several things with me, among them were Chapter investigation protocols found in the book titled 'Witchbane' (Thank the Light I am not a witch!)
Let us for a moment consider poor Theodosia a 'member of the Inquisition', by that I mean to say member of my little espionage network. She has been listening in on your office and overheard a conversation of you ordering one of your witch-hunters to locate Jeremya's wife and kill her. (Direct Evidence)

When we have met in Booty Bay, you have assured me that from this day onwards you will do nothing against Jeremya's wife. A very odd way of wording a promise, don't you think? Especially considering his wife died before our meeting took place. That way you could keep your promise even if you killed her. (Circumstancial Evidence)

Due to the nature of our arrangement with Jeremya and Joanna, I will always know if she ended her life with suicide. This was not the case. Somebody killed her.

You had the motive, have explicitly expressed a desire to see Joanna dead and have the means to achieve that. By your own Chapter standards, that evidence would be enough to damn a man to the pyre. Light knows, you burn people on mere suspicion. The time framce certainly fits, especially as same witch hunter reported 'the task' being done withing reasonable timeframe of likely moment of death.

But, it would be a waste of our time to debate this one death back and forth. Between us, we have enough innocent blood to turn milk sour half the world away.

I have offered Jeremya to return to the Chapter, but he has refused the offer. If you write a letter inviting him back and convince him to want to return, I will let him go as promised. However I cannot force him to go back to the Chapter against his will. I will not stand in your way of contacting Jeremya and persuading him.

I do appologize for writing to Farelin in my anger, I hope you will forget that slip considering you have received a copy of the letter and there was no clandestine dealing behind your back.

-Xianni

(October 20, 29 ADP)

Grand Inquisitor,

I'll assume Sister Gwendelyn has informed you of my location. I am currently in residence at the Westbrook Garrison, building bridges with the Disciples of Light. I have much to report, as my first evening here was not in the least boring or dreary.

Not long upon my arrival, it was discovered that Rae Wulfgnar was late in his arrival at the Garrison. Several Disciples and a few mages (as well as myself) went out in search of him. He was located quickly, but it as discovered he was attempting to have an "honorable duel" with the traitor Herad Vane. A succubus was also with Herad, later revealed to be named Theodosia, the supposed Witch-Hunter aspirant Xenia. Herad escaped, Xenia was hunted down and assumed to be killed but it was only an illusion. We returned to the Garrison and I went to pray for a while.

Later, while one a walk with Sir Beladon (later joined by a mage named Sariella), Rae Wulfgnar located us on horseback. He was carrying a man named Crowley with him, and informed us that he'd just fought Herad Vane and the traitor was injured at Beggar's Haunt. Sir Beladon, Sariella and I mounted up, intending to chase Herad down, but by the time we reached Beggar's Haunt, he was already gone. However, the Disciples (with the help of Lady Sariella) have found Herad's sword, with a soulstone attached to it. The sword has been sagely locked away in a warded box.

Sir Beladon ordered that Rae be checked for signs of corruption, which I offered to do. After inspecting him, it was found that Rae has no signs of corruption. He has been restricted to the Garrison and is not allowed to leave for any reasons. Sir Beladon is furious and disappointed with Rae, and the following days will tell if more drastic measures will be required.

This report contains all the information I can recall, to the best of my knowledge. I will send forth any further pieces of information should anything come to mind.

Faith shall overcome,


Shadowbreaker Farelin Kierstad
Westbrook Garrison

(October 28, 29 ADP)

Temporary Replacement

This Document, sent to all notable publications and legal firms in the Kingdoms of the Grand Alliance and the Free peoples of Azeroth, is hereby an official announcement by Thomas Andrew Bridlington, in regards to Bridlington Industries Group.

While I am busy on my travels, thoroughly experiencing various exotic cultures, peoples, locales and practises, I hereby name my good lady wife, Sophyra Bridlington, as my temporary representative in all matters regarding Bridlington Industries.
I also grant her full, yet temporary control of the company, so long as it remains wholesome upon my glorious return to Stormwind City.
I name my legal counsel, Professor James Manoch Warrington, as executor, to ensure my wishes are fulfilled to the letter.

Signed, Thomas Andrew Bridlington, CE of Bridlington Industries.
Witnessed, James Manoch Warrington, Legal Counsel.

-----------------------------------

Admendment to Temporary Replacement

In light of my late wife Sophrya Bridlington's inexcusable actions, I have decided to grant control of Bridlington Industries to my legal counsel, James Manoch Warrington.
He maintains this position in the understanding that he shall hold the business in trust until either I, an heir, or a trusted family member returns to Stormwind City and reclaims the company for themselves.
Until such a time, I trust that Warrington shall keep the company affairs in correct and proper order, and I expect him to maintain the companies health.
It has also come to my attention that the late Mrs. Bridlington illegally moved company assets into her uncles name, in an act which is both morally and legally wrong. I trust that recompense shall be made, and all efforts taken to return all stolen assets.
Signed, Thomas Andrew Bridlington, CE of Bridlington Industries.
Witnessed, James Manoch Warrington, Legal Counsel.


Furthermore, I shall also like to take the opportunity to make a statement on the current affair relating my wife. While I am obviously devastated by her loss, I do not in anyway condone her actions, and I retain no knowledge nor consent for her actions, which were solely her own.

Bridlington Industries shall, of course, aid in any investigation however they can, and trusts that the public will understand that the late Mrs. Bridlington acted wholly of her own accord, and did not represent the company in anyway with her actions.

It has also come to my attention that the late Mrs. Bridlington illegally moved company assets into her uncles name, in an act which is both morally and legally wrong. I trust that recompense shall be made, and all efforts taken to return all stolen assets.

These files deal mostly with trade agreements with the Steamwheedle Cartel, Shipping records to and from Stormwind, Booty Bay, Ratchet, and Uldum. Amongst the files are also plans to put the native pygmy population of uldum to work with simple, menial tasks, as well as employment contracts and records. These records clearly show exploitation of low class workers, but nothing else beyond that.

Document of Reorganisation

This official document outlines the reorganisation of Foray Industries Ltd. as decided by Thomas Bridlington and Sophyra Bridlington, key shareholders and founders of Foray Industries.

I.
a. The document to be signed by Lord Beaumont has been rescinded, the Lord’s property to be returned to him at once. All negotiations regarding industrial fusion will be ceased until further notice.
b. Relations with the Blades for Hire will be maintained, to ensure a fruitful future cooperation.

II.
a. Professor Warrington ‘s share in the company will be reduced to zero percent, without his consent. Consequently, a sum of four-hundred golden coins will be transferred to the Professor’s private bank account with the Bank of Stormwind once action has been taken.
b. Professor Warrington will be sacked unconditionally.

III.
Thomas Bridlington and Sophyra Bridlington will become sole shareholders of Foray Industries, and the company will not accept further investment.

Thomas Bridlington and Sophyra Bridlington remain owners of all assets they brought into the company at the point of marriage. This property cannot be alienated and will pass to their respective heir. All new assets are to be divided 40-60 between them; sixty percent being the property of Thomas Bridlington, forty percent of Sophyra Bridlington.

a. Investment in Kalimdor will be divided 40-60; forty percent from Thomas Bridlington, sixty percent from Sophyra Bridlington.
b. Investment in the Kingdom of Stormwind will be divided 80-20; eighty percent from Thomas Bridlington, twenty percent from Sophyra Bridlington.
c. Investment in the remainder of the Eastern Kingdoms will be divided 60-40; sixty percent from Thomas Bridlington, forty percent from Sophyra Bridlington.
d. Investment in Northrend and -should there be the rare occasion- the Outlands, will be divided 50-50, fifty percent from both parties.
e. Marine investment -investment in any of Azeroth’s seas and bountiful islands- will be divided 20-80; twenty percent from Thomas Bridlington, eighty percent from Sophyra Bridlington.

IV.
Thomas Bridlington and Sophyra Bridlington remain owners of all assets they brought into the company at the point of marriage. This property cannot be alienated and will pass to their respective heir. All new assets are to be divided 40-60 between them; sixty percent being the property of Thomas Bridlington, forty percent of Sophyra Bridlington.

a. In case a divorce occurs, the property will be divided 60-40; sixty percent for Thomas Bridlington and forty percent for Sophyra Bridlington. Further consultation required.
b. Should Sophyra Bridlington pass away before producing an heir, her share of the property will pass to Nizam Harun Ayyehide. Should Thomas Bridlington pass away before an heir is produced, all property will be distributed evenly amongst the survivors of the family Grey, from Gilneas.
c. Thomas Bridlington and Sophyra Bridlington must appoint an heir from their children, for once they both have passed, the continuity of the company must be ensured.
d. Should one of the two pass away after an heir has been produced, the deceased share will pass on to the appointed heir. If the heir is too young, the property will be held in trust by the surviving shareholder.

V.
The Committee of Industrialisation will be formed to ensure swift and effortless industrialisation and industrial coordination in the Kingdom of Stormwind and surrounding realms.

a. The location of the meetings has yet to be decided.
b. A chairperson will be assigned; whom will organise a committee meeting through an agenda, which is to be distributed beforehand.
c. The chairperson is responsible for running meetings: keeping the discussion on the appropriate subject, recognising members, and calling for votes after a debate has taken place.
d. All influential persona, entrepreneurs and philanthropists will be allowed to participate in the meeting.

VI.
a. The sheep husbandry located in Elwynn will be leased.
b. The cotton plantation located in Stranglethorn will be leased.

VII.
An ambulatory care clinic will be opened in the Dwarven district to see to the health of the employees and local citizens. Quality of facilities will be announced once negotiations with His Majesty’s Council of the Kingdom of Stormwind have been ensued.

VIII.
Foray Industries will seek out further investment in the Kingdom of Stormwind and beyond. Future projects are the following:

a. Coal mine in Redridge, Kingdom of Stormwind
b. Oil rig near Jaguero Isle, Stranglethorn
c. Marble quarry in Elwynn, Kingdom of Stormwind
d. Gold pit in Westfall, Kingdom of Stormwind
e. Industrial furnace in Stormwind, Kingdom of Stormwind
f. Machine tools and parts factory complex in Stormwind, Kingdom of Stormwind
g. Chemical factory complex in Stormwind, Kingdom of Stormwind
h. Papermaking factory in Stormwind, Kingdom of Stormwind
i. Utilities and toys manufactory in Stormwind, Kingdom of Stormwind
j. Firearms factory in Stormwind, Kingdom of Stormwind
k. Locomotive and machinery works in Stromwind, Kingdom of Stormwind
l. Sewerage system in Stormwind, Kingdom of Stormwind


Signed,

Thomas A. Bridlington
Sophyra Bridlington

Missing: Lady Reihna Beaumont.

I was sent an envelope some days ago. I have burned what the envelope contained as instructed by the words written outside the envelope itself. And I shall do my best to follow these instructions to the letter.

“Dear Citizen’s of Stormwind. We are facing times of tyrrani and corruption. Large posters have covered the walls of our beautiful city. Not written by me. But if these words gets published, then do know I do not have a single regret. You may be finding me, or have found me floating in the canals as Thelos was found.. And perhaps my body will never be recovered, perhaps I am held against my will being tortured. What I do know is, the lack of proof alone will speak measures as proof to me.

Nilda Meywrick, ordered executed, then not being so, imprisoned then released on a whim. No explanations offered.
I did something.. I sent words out, only to find myself being gagged.. By our own minister.. I can allow my own life to be taken, the risk is mine, but do not doubt these words. Our minister of justice, our enforcer of law threatens people on their lives, somehow he does have half of our city in his pocket. What magical hold he does have on people, what he blackmails them with, what kind of rituals he does. I do not know.
But my silence was bought. Bought with the lives of others. I am noble, I was a woman who earned her lives pay by the death of others, I was a woman who did come to work as a mercenary but that does not mean I am a thug. It does not mean I do not know the value of honor. And it does not mean that who- ever he threatens to kill that I do not value what’s right over seeing those I love being treated as lapdogs to a power hungry mongrel named Braiden Mistmantle.

Nilda is not the first, she will not be the last. Do not let Braiden’s guards, his position or his words convince you otherwise. It is time our council, our king, did what is right. For allowing Braiden Mistmantle to torture innocents, kill those who speaks out against him for his crimes, no matter the lacking proof. For he is.. And that I will give him.. Good at hiding his works. People does his dirty deeds for him and the few times he makes his own hands dirty, there are more than enough people in his pockets to cover any tracks, spread the blame and cause doubt.
If I ever return to Stormwind. If I survive this, at all. Then I hope… Our Minister in the least is smart enough to not follow up on his threats. As more letters are to be sent at certain dates, for the longer time I am gone. Kill them Braiden Mistmantle, make good of all of your threats.. And rest assured the documents, the letters, to come… Will be your end..

I do not know what else to do. I have paid my price in blood for this Kingdom, in the name of our King, in the name of the laws and all that is honorable. Stand up. For Braiden Mistmantle is taking the freedom of you all. Now is the time to finally ensure that he is no longer with the power he so love to abuse. I am loosing every person ever being dear to me by doing this. I will likely lose any connection I have had in Stormwind, my friends, my family. All there is.. And who is to blame for this? Me.. for speaking against a lawbreaker, a corrupted minister? Or the minister himself. I will leave this up to you.. And to all those I hold dear to my heart… I am sorry.. But there was no way I could allow this to go on.. In time I hope you can all forgive me. This is no rash decision made. And you know who you are when I say this. I love you… I love you all so much. But time have passed, where no words have been shared. And I will rather know I died trying to aid, then have you live a life without freedom and honor. The very things you changed your life to gain.. I love you, but I love you more as a free soul, than the lapdog of a corrupted bloody piece of shit.. Forgive me..

- signed Reihna Beaumont. “

These are the words sent. Considering all the speculations around Nilda’s case. The very clear instructions following with this letter, the latest rumors and former observations, lack of any answers from our Minister of Justice to the letters asking for words with him, it was reasonable to follow the instructions on this letter in the light of all the recent posters around Stormwind about the man in question.

The words are written down to the letter, no alterations have been made of the words of Reihna Beaumont, of House Beaumont, former or current soldier in Blades for Hire. It is safe to assume that Reihna Beaumont is missing, likely dead. During a previous conversation attempted with Reihna Beaumont she appeared nervous, determined and sad. Her only comment at that time was:
“If you knew the price of what you wish me to answer, you would never ever open your lips again. “Followed by a faint: “I am so truly sorry.” And that was the last seen of her on our account.
If anyone have any more information about our minister of Justice. Speak out! We can keep it all anonymous. We are warned that those who do speak out with name will face sedition charges. Ministers of Stormwind, council members wake up! This is no joke anymore. Act before there is no council left. Remove the corrupted.
- L.D

Meeting Sophyra Bridlington.

A firebreathing dragon lady who eats your children for breakfast? Or is she? Perhaps she is a courtesan as so many claims, maybe she is indeed responsible for all the fel magic, demons and everything else bad you can think of around and within our city… Or maybe not? As I head to the Garrison, I know it is time to hear what the lady herself thinks.

It’s a nice calm evening when I approach the Garrison a little nervous of the to come interview with the rather well known, Sophyra Bridlington. You haven’t heard of her before? Then you must be new to our city for among the citizens of Stormwind, there are both good, bad and very much tremendously humorous rumors to hear about this woman. Her rumors usually hit you long before you get to see her.

I shake hands with this woman and take her out of the Garrison over to the tower to get some privacy, on the way over it come clear to me that the woman is a very charismatic lady. Because as we pass a couple she seems unable to hold her tongue.
“That was a long kiss..” she says. To which I had to remark that perhaps it would be fitting if I wrote an article on long kisses later. The lady herself has a sense of humor no doubt. “Will it include field practice?” Something tells me that this woman is one of a kind, ready with any comment to anything that may come her way.




Now.. How did it come to pass that you became a magister and working for House Mistmantle?
It is magistrate, miss. Magisters are elven magi. I started with House Dieudonne as their financial advisor.
I see. And it was the count himself that hired you?

Due to their guarding work, they asked me to study law and apply for prosecutor, which was granted by the then minister of justice.
And who was the then minister of justice?
Omanos Galenos.
How many years have you now been working for House Dieudonne and later House Mistmantle?
I progressed to magistrate when Braiden Mistmantle was appointed Grand Magistrate.
I worked about half a year for house Dieudonne, then about three months later took the Count on his earlier invitation to work for him. I am working for the count for three months now, I believe. As a financial advisor and representative.
I heard that the Anethioneans gave the Count a hard time when they discovered he had hired you, are there any truth to this claim?
I think we are confusing Count Tarvik Dieudonne and Count Braiden Mistmantle.

But that does bring me to the next part. You have had quite the history with those zealots havent you?
You can say so, I have had an unfortunate misunderstanding with Regelius Renn, the High Inquisitor. But we have sorted it out like civilized people.
Mind going a little more in detail about your misunderstanding with him?
That is between him and me, and long buried in the past. I didn't drag him to court, and he didn't burn me at a stake. That says enough that it was minor and not worth mentioning.
I see. And if I ask you the same as I asked their former High Inquisitor.. Which was.. How many times out of ten does the Chapter in your eyes or to your knowledge illegally torture their prisoners, who is illegally taken to begin with.. He said nine.. What would you say?
Ten out of ten, Chapter has no guard rights so every detainment they make is illegal.
Have you ever been on that part of their bad side before?
I haven't, but from my dealing with the High Inquisitor I've found him a very reasonable man who takes in all the facts.
That High Inquisitor is long gone by now though, if I am not mistaken he was killed a long time ago.
He was. I've not had an encounter with the Chapter since.

How would you describe your personal relationship to Count Mistmantle?
I am an employee, and he is my boss. Our relationship is the best on 16th of every month, when he pays my salary.
And your former relationship to a demoness lady named Ireth?
These are rumours but I do have to ask you know.
Why, I was married to her of course! No, of course not. Before she was a demoness, she was a regular patron at the establishment I used to run.
And which establishment was this?
Red Eclipse, a night of entertainment hosted in the Slaughtered Lamb weekly ..two years back?
What kind of services did the Red Eclipse offer its clients?
Drinks, conversation, dance and music. I was running it with my friend Oshuni, and later with Valerias Dawn who later moved to found the Jewel of Dalaran.

I have even heard you had to do some voodo to get the counts current wife pregnant.
Whatever voodoo the count and his wife did to make her pregnant, they didn't invite me.
I hear you are a dancer is that true?
I am.
I also have been told you never or quite rarely ever do your business without escort of guards is that true too?
That is quiet true, they are all equipped with a personal invisibility field as you can plainly see.
- Oh yes of course I am sure I got about nine blades pointing at my back as we speak
No, I've never had a bodyguard in my life.
- If I do though I hope they will remain still, I am way better with my quill than my blades.

Try to keep in mind that rumours are rumours now miss as I dont intend to offend you.
Its being said that you are quite skilled in the ways of fel and that you part took in some rather serious abuse of magic in Westfall? Rendering the entire area wrecked for a while about soon two years ago?

I know, I enjoy hearing some of them. Some have me a dragon in disguise, others a demoness. I think there was even a rumor that I tore a greater demon to bits with my bare hands and ate it whole.

-You are the second dragon I have heard of in a week then.. Apparently the other dragon did not get the memo of their powers being lost.. People have too vivid imaginations these days.

I do not practice fel, and the Westfall operation was approved by the Kirin Tor and counter-approved by the Tower of Stormwind. Any rumors of ill effects are just that, malicious rumors directed against the property of House Dieudonne by its rivals.


Does any of the rumors of your association with demons, fel and your assumed position under count Braiden Mistmantle and also the former Lord Tarvik, and their supposed dealings with the same hold any shred of truth at all?
In other words, am I an undercover demonic broker? No, I am not.
But..if you ever feel the need to sell your soul, I know a man who has a sister whose dog is walked by a man who knows a broker. Just joking.
- I shall keep my soul for now but if I ever you know.. I will let you know

Are you at all informed about the current case with the Count and his attempt of executing a blade named Nilda, without proof?
I am unaware of the details of the Nilda-case, I am afraid. But you must be aware that executions without 'proof' are permitted in some rare cases.
-They are. But as the laws of Stormwind let a necromancer live. I doubt as words have it..
-That she spoke out about two other former Ravenholt assassins.. That killing her for claiming she is one, as the count claimed without proof when the other two were released..
-Is abuse of the law if this information is correct.
I am too ignorant of the case to comment, I am afraid.

- I hope the count have proper cause for this though.. But on to the next question
There are words and actions in motion these days all the way to Dalaran, speaking against the count claiming he is corrupt and that the council will be forced to deal with removing him from his position.
Do you have any comments on that?

Stormwind always craves a hero in golden armor and with a white cloak to see justice done, Braiden Mistmantle is the hero Stormwind needs. He protects the Kingdom and enforces the law without prejudice or softness. he is the best thing that has happened to the legal scene since the days of Lord Zverenhoff.

- You seem to know him well miss.

Those rumors and malcontent are just words of malicious elements in the society who want to see the justice weakened.

- From a reporters view.. Do try to change his mind. For if this girl dies.. I fear you will see a public rebellion unlike anything before. This is the one single case considering all I have heard of this. That I am sure the accused is innocent.

And it will be put down, like all the rebellions in the past. I doubt they have a leader of VanCleef's caliber at hand. And VanCleef failed.

-Words speaking of other intensions behind this case.. sounds.. very real. This is about a woman with kids.. Being threatened with execution while others walk free. Far different and the farmers, the casual citizens seems very agitated.

Of course they do, that is how terrorists work miss. They speak plausible lies to turn the citizens from their King and his ministers in times of war and crisis.

-If you say so. Are you not worried of the risk of your own position if the Count is indeed taken off his seat?
I am, but he is a great man and I will stand with him to the last as should all loyal subjects of Stormwind. One group wanted Drustai dead, another wanted her to walk free. He acted according to the law, to the letter, and was swayed by neither party.
He is the man we need on the chair, and he is the man we got on the chair. As far as I am concerned - he stays on that chair.

-I am not yet making an article on him, but this will be good for when I do. Just waiting the outcome of the case first.

Great men always invite jealousy, and the jealous try to pull them down out of spite.

-True words that, miss. Had I had all the evidence on both sides here it would make a great article. But people are reluctant to talk

If I may comment, miss.

-Of course

Word has it that Nilda is being 'sentenced' on something she said in another trial. There has been a precedent for that.
I have heard words of that too.. Its also claimed she was arrested for the attack on the garrison while she atteneded the trial taking place inside.

In the famous Chapter-case, the Chapter defendants said that they have captured and executed Protector Immanuel. They have used that to distance themselves from his crimes. -That- got them sentenced on the spot for murder and impersonating Stormwind official.
- Which when witnesses to her arrest state so many different things, makes it hard to know what’s actual fact. That.. must be long ago? I dont think I have seen any records of the man in question at all.

Several years.

- That would explain it.. I did not dig that far back as the cases I am working on are fairly new.

- As you apparently are no demoness about to kill me, I fear I don’t have much to add for now miss. I would however like to speak to you at some point if I make an article on the Tanarisi tribes or something else of importance

Of course, thank you miss.

-No thank you. It’s not much to go on in either of these cases so any words spoken are good for the article. As I assume you don’t know Vincent Whistecastle? Or.. knew I mean?

Never really met him.

-Then I think we are done for now. It’s been a pleasure to meet you. I am a little disappointed you don’t breath fire and have eight arms though. It would make me the owner of Stormwind Times in a heartbeat.

Oh, that is for exclusive interviews you will have to pay for.
-I shall keep that in mind too.

Like stated above, walking from this interview I found myself a little disappointed that the woman there are so many legends of, actually is just a very charismatic charming woman. A magistrate, a financial advisor, a lady from Tanaris who seems to be well adapted to anything coming her way. What else can people of Stormwind ask for? And I can now vogue after being alone with this woman, that there is sadly enough no fire coming from her mouth, she doesn’t have eight arms, she does not look like she just ate a newborn for breakfast and well, she seems like a nice lady. What else can the people of Stormwind ask for?

Sophyra Bridlington our law enforcing witch!
In a former interview with Sophyra she said..
“I progressed to magistrate when Braiden Mistmantle was appointed Grand Magistrate.”
She is known to me now as Braiden Mistmantle’s pet witch. Now what does that say about our law system? No wonder, Braiden Mistmantle lets necromancers and fel users live…

In the light of the recent events, it has come to light that our Magistrate Sophyra Bridlington is in fact a woman practicing dark arts. She have been in a duel with a man of the chapter of Holy Anethion, using her dark powers. It is also questioned if she herself have corrupted several members of that order, given them power to resurrect upon death, her new minions have indeed not just attacked the Anethioneans, but also healed themselves through fel magic.
Her minions may not be so willingly, as they seem to be force fed with demon blood.
It seems like this Lady Esterath and Sophyra is working together. Sophyra have spent the last years not just taking over the economy of large industrial factories in and around Stormwind, scattered across the lands, but she have also done some nasty experiments in a lab not far from Stormwind. So claims the sources. It is also said she did not have any authorization to condone the experiements in Westfall three years ago, but that people were paid off to testify she had full permission from Kirin Tor to do what she did.

Kirin Tor have not offered any comments in this regard but considering they are supporting and have a pet necromancer, also known to us in Stormwind as Drustai and have let her live despite her breaking their laws while under their supervision one has to wonder…

Is Sophyra Birdling ton and Lady Esterath to be feared or are they too as many others victims of Braiden Mistmantle the most powerful man in Stormwind except for our King, and the most powerful magician around. For surely.. If he has brainwashed all of these people, then he is the true leader of the Discord, possibly.. also the Black Hand. People of Stormwind now is the time to get the torches!

We are allowing our own law enforces to kill innocent people.

Sophyra Bridlington and Minister/Magister/Count/Lord Braiden Mistmantle.

Most of our citizens have likely heard due to the council meeting some time ago how Braiden Mistmantle, the magister himself apprehended Sophyra Bridlington former Magister of Stormwind.
Sophyra a known leader of the cult Discord under the name Lady Estherat, a follower of Burning Legion and a shapeshifter. Yes, citizens of Stormwind, Sophyra is capable of being in many forms and thus with many faces. I am not sure if she can change gender, but beyond that her magic seems to know no limits.
Known as a dart art user for years, thrown out of Ironforge, accused of witchery and trialled, she have been during the past years. Still our Minister took it upon himself to ensure this woman turned into a magister of law for Stormwind. He claims he apprehended her through tricking her, but have we people of Stormwind heard of any trial or its outcome? No.
Have we citizens of Stormwind at all heard of any checks as to why, an explanation in full from our Minister about this? No.
Do we now however know that Sophyra Bridlington is once again roaming the lands freely? Yes we do!

How? One of my sources have told me a meeting over a cup of tea occurred with the demon worshipping, dark arts user. And she said straight out:
Yes, I was taken by Braiden. He needed to look good, and I could use a vacation. So, here we are.
Due to Sophyra herself not being a reliable witness, she was not apprehended. And even my source had tried to bring her in, it would be pointless. For they were not within the lands of Azeroth.
So dear citizens of Stormwind today I can announce the victory of Braiden Mistmantle, in cleaning himself with a willing person taking the fall for his own wrong doings. This is a day to rejoice citizens of Stormwind for clearly our Minister is a very law-abiding, light following man!

Count Mistmantle, Saint or unforgiveable sinner?

Count Braiden Arthur Bernard Mistmantle, minister of Justice and High Magistrate to the Kingdom of Stormwind is beyond a doubt one of the most powerful men in the country. His quite numerous personal guard, gold reserves beyond the common man’s wildest imagination, lands in both Elwynn and Redridge, noble titles and the final word in a high number of trials in our Kingdom secures him the power of arms, gold, political power and juridical power. But citizens of Stormwind, it is time we ask ourselves, is this nobleman worthy of all this? Is he a high defender of justice in our kingdom or is our good magistrate an egomaniac on a mission to turn the entire kingdom into his mindless slaves?

These, my friends, are the facts of the matter:
1. Braiden Mistmantle has thus far taken any possibility to increase his titles, the good Count was only a few months ago known as a Baron.
2. In his role as judge, the Count has shown a greater will to imprison, lash or execute political adversaries than to help the people. What has the Count done to apprehend the killer who leaves all the notes with the hand and heart? Not a thing. Simultaneously we know that he would go through savage duels just to remove other nobles who oppose him.
3. The Count has started overtaking the council. The minister of Magic himself is affiliated with the Mistmantle Academy! With the turn-up at most council meetings, the Count has secured himself half of the votes in any given matter, often more.
4. The Count hates the common man. We all know the stories of what happens when a subject to the Count’s house is late with his taxes. This man that suppresses the common folk in the savage way he and his fellow nobles claim they have the birthright to, is the Judge in the trials of common men. This man does not have our best interests at heart.
5. The Count has been known to judge in trials where he himself is one of the parts. That no true Justice ever can be done is such a trial goes without saying, it is a vile atrocity performed in the name of good, and this fact alone should have the Count stripped of all titles.
6. He isn’t even from around here. The Count is descended from the Kingdom of Gilneas, the nation that stood by and watched as the Alliance fought for our lives. Why should we then trust the Count more than the average gilnean refugee? The answer, brothers, is that we shouldn’t.

Those are the facts of this matter. I cannot even stand forth with these concerns in public, in fear of the legal charges this monster of a noble would throw at me; such is the peril we all are in as long as this man still holds power.
But when one man holds such power, what can common folk do?

Brothers, the answer is that the count, despite all his power is one single man. We are LEGION. Standing together we can rebel against this purple-clad abomination. Together we can yell so loudly that our voice cannot be silenced by his brutish tactics. When we stand together, the Stockades cannot hold our numbers, no prison is large enough for the entire population of our glorious home city. The time has come, friends, to rise up against the injustice. In the names of King Varian Wrynn and Stormwind City, we must stand up for our rights, before they are forever lost!

Depose the snake! Long live Stormwind!

(September 4, 29 ADP)

Fellow law abiding citizens

Despite stooping to the level of this anonymous anarchist I have taken the time to draft a response to show this person and the general population the flaws of the supposed facts the anonymous writer presents. While my resources are indeed vast the lands in Redridge does in fact belong to my dearest wife, Countess Ophelia Beatrice Foxworth not to mention that my resources generally is returned to the kingdom in one way or another trough varied contributions. Just as my resources contribute to the stability of this kingdom and the war against the horrid orcs, my men adds to the kings own. These ridiculous accusations show how misinformed the mysterious writer in fact is. For clarity I add a response to each supposed fact presented below.

1. Marriage among noble bloodlines is a common practice that in this case lead to the continuation of the Foxworth line aswell as the Mistmantle line. The addition of title has little to do with the matter. I feel nothing but endless love for my Countess just as any common man would for his wife and that is the reason we are wed.
2. Politics has little to do with justice. Do we want anarchy and chaos? Do we aim for a Kingdom where disorder and revolution is enouraged? Tradition, law and order is the foundation of civilization, without them there would be little to separate us from the beasts. Because of the steady and indiscriminate hand of justice our people can walk the streets safely.
3. While Minister Nargrandus is indeed the headmaster of an academy for gifted magi founded by myself this does not influence his stance on council matters, as I'm certain the good minister himself would agree upon. This arrangement was made long before I became a minister. Accusations of myself supposedly overtaking the council is nothing but blatant lies and slander as there are no actual facts supporting this. That being said, would anyone in their right mind think of ministers such as the honorable Geldar Angelos as corrupt "puppets"?
4. Again, the mysterious writer of this twists every action taken. The taxes payed by the common man goes to his majestys army, keeping citizens safe and feeding the poor among other things. Should one really have the right to own land if they refuse to pay the taxes they can? I for one pay more then my share and contribute my personal guardsmen to the kingdom and the war effort because doing anything less would be dishonouring the people of this kingdom and our king. In addition to this I personally have arranged soup kitchens and various charity occasions that has lead to the poor and needing being fed. If these actions is a sign of hatred I must be living in a different reality then our dear mysterious writer.
5. I have sworn an oath to his majesty and this kingdom and if I cannot remain impartial I simply direct the matter elsewhere. There is little more to say about this.
6. I arrived to this country with my father, while he was a Gilnean he pledged loyalty to his Majesty over his own king. Worth to mention is that my dear mother, light bless her soul was of the noble house of Brighthall that is Stormwindian in origin. This means that my lineage is half Stormwindian, not to mention the fact that my father served this country with blood, coin and soul to earn himself a Baronage. I'm a proud man of Stormwind and I intend to continue to be just that for the rest of my days.

I hope this statement is enough to prove how pathetic this false material presented to spur revolution really is. Always remember: at his best, man is the noblest of all beings; separated from law and justice he is the worst.

Justice, Tradition, Prosperity

Count Braiden Arthur Bernard Mistmantle,
Stormwind Minister of Justice.

(September 5, 29 ADP)

Arenai Skyshadow was present during the deal between Sophyra and Braiden.

(January 1, 30 ADP)

Arenai Skyshadow is in the custody of the Stormwind Guards.

(January 1, 30 ADP)

Xelene: Speak it! Word by word. It is no good unless you say it exactly, word by word.
S: I swear on my soul.
Xelene: Nooo! Swear what? You must be specific! And swear to kill me with a single shot.
S: I swear, on my soul, that I will kills you once you've told me who "he" is and five additional questions untill sunrise. I swear to do it painlessly.
Xelene: Almost right. 'Answered five additional qestions untill sunrise'.
S: Five. Yes. That, or we keep you alive indefinately just to torture you.
Xelene: ...Okay! Last vow you made stands.
S: Now your turn.
Xelene: Okay. "He" is (at this point subject hesitates and stutters before speaking coherently again) Braiden Mistmantle.
(Subject seems distraught, cowering and whimpering.)
Xelene: Why did you need to know? How will you protect yourself? Can I call you 'mask'? Will he find me? When is sunrise?
S: In about eight hours from now.
Xelene: I must endure. Please, stay with me. You must guard me, and yourself. Yes, he will come for us borth!
S: Explain
Xelene: He came for me. If I didn't get the name right, he would hurt me untill I got the name right. He told me he will do things if I ever told who "he" was.
S: You're not Sophyra, are you? What's your real name? That's one question, by the way.
(Subject whimpers and stammers before continuing.)
Xelene: Xelene.
S: Xelene, I'm sorry this happened to you. Are you a demon, Xelene?
Xelene: Yes. I am.
S: Elaborate.
Xelene: Sayaad. (Subject refers to succubi.)
S: Tell me about who you were before and how he found you.
Xelene: I was always a sayaad.
S: Tell me how you came to be enslaved by Mistmantle.
Xelene: My sister (subject probably refers to Sophyra) betrayed me to him.
S: Your sister is Sophyra.
Xelene: You know, you should stop being so annoying with asking questions without asking questions. Since it doesn't matter.
S: It does. I need as much information I can get out of you before I kill you.
Xelene: You swore to kill me if I 'told' you five questions, not answered five questions. I already did. So, why don't you knock back and listen? Becaise I will you everything about that bitch. Now cut to the chase and ask, damn you! Ask anything.
S: Where is Sophyra? Be specific.
Xelene: She planned to take her ship and chase after a myth, this silly Pandaria thing.
(Subject enters state of angered psychosis, rendering her incoherent and unreliable. Subject is terminated. Interrogation is over.)

Association with Nifty: Nifty was an informant for the Ministry of Justice. She informed on the crime network in the dwarven district until she went rogue. Before she went rogue, she provided information that helped bust a smuggling operation.

Nifty ceased contact with the magistry three weeks after being released from the dwarves. The Senate released her in return for several criminals being handed to the Ironforge Guard. "Officially bail was posted as the guards were not in the know, so to speak." Braiden claims that he argued for Nifty's release because of a critical situation.

The critical situation was that Nifty was "involved in an operation containing all the leaders of this organization she belonged to... they where planning on taking a shipment of precious metal belonging to a merchant. Apparenlty the operation was called as she disappeared." This lead Braiden to believe that Nifty was exposed and fled, "considering she later turned up as a cultist of sorts."

Stormwind Times accusations: Braiden says that intelligence agents have informed him that the Grand Inquisitor of the Chapter has a hand in the Stormwind Times.

On capture of Sophyra's double: "Miss Sophyra sent a messenger carrying a parchment with a wish to meet and discuss the potential our 'continued cooperation' could have. That is, after she was exposed or rather exposed herself as the monster she is."

"I do not know the exact details of how she was first exposed, I felt the bond i placed on her broken."

When asked to testify that he did indeed place a magical bond on her, Braiden said, "She was allowed as a servant in my household and as such I did, yes."

Braiden says that he believes Sophyra circumvented being caught by a technicality. He says that it is an oath of personal loyalty, and his servants are made to swear to serve his house, obey the will of himself and his kin, to uphold dignity and honour of the house and to act with courage to do what must be done. The moment the bond broke as the moment she openly exposed herself as a demon and as such damaged the dignity and honour of his house.

After finding out about her breaking the bond, Braiden started investigations "that turned up close to nothing".

After receiving the letter (which is stored in the Ministry of Justice files), Braiden accepted the invitation as he believed he could capture her. They met at the edge of his lands, where "Sophyra" came along. She offered Braiden power in exchange for him pledging himself to her master. Braiden had set up an ambush with Miss Darivere, Mister Grayldan Thorn, and Mister Gandur Redlock. All are in Braiden's service. They apprehended her.

Braiden then announced the capture and relayed word to the Disciples. The Disciples informed him that their security routines were lacking and requested Braiden to keep her. Braiden arranged the details with Beladon Indarys. Braiden claims that Rae Wulfgnar and Valestrion Drayke were also present.

Disciples interrogated but were sloppy. Ministry of Justice therefore also handled interrogation, files have been requested.

Braiden wishes to settle out of court.

Name: Doreen
Race: Gnome
Residence: Dwarven district, Stormwind city
Citizenship: Yes
Crimes: 5 accounts of murder, blackmail
Notes: The gnome known as Doreen or Nifty was arrested for five murders and attempted to blackmail Grand Magistrate Mistmantle by claiming to have a letter from him offering aid to a known unspecified cultist. When confronted, Doreen had no letter in her possession and confessed to it being an attempt to be spared from the noose as she had heard malicious rumors claiming the Grand Magistrate dealt with cultists. In order to mitigate her sentence to penal labor and a lashing she offered to provide the Stormwind Magistry with intelligence from the inside of an organized criminal network in the Dwarven District of Stormwind city known as ”the Company”. These files contains correspondence and evidence collected trough this exchange. Doreen is referred to as “D” in notes and letters provided.



Short note attached to a report:

The boys are planning something. Come visit at dock five around midnight.

- D

As a result of the information provided by the note attached to this document a group of smugglers by the names of Wilbur Barnsley, Sprackle Sparkcog, Twizzle Sparkcog and John Burnside was caught and convicted. Summaries of the trials can be found below.

Name: Wulbur Barnsley
Race: Human
Citizenship: Yes
Crime: Smuggling
Previous convictions: None
Magistrate: Grand Magistrate Mistmantle
Evidence: Caught unloading smuggled cargo in the harbour of Stormwind by Mistmantle militia. Confessed to charges.
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Branding, a day in the stocks and a month of penal labour in order to pay for lost tariffs.

Name: Sprackle Sparkcog
Race: Gnome
Citizenship: Yes
Crime: Smuggling
Previous convictions: Assault (multiple), robbery
Magistrate: Grand Magistrate Mistmantle
Evidence: Caught unloading smuggled cargo in the harbour of Stormwind by Mistmantle militia. Confessed to charges.
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Branding, a day in the stocks and a month of penal labour in order to pay for lost tariffs.

Name: Twizzle Sparkcog
Race: Gnome
Citizenship: Yes
Crime: Smuggling
Previous convictions: Assault (multiple), armed assault, robbery, obstruction of justice
Magistrate: Grand Magistrate Mistmantle
Evidence: Caught unloading smuggled cargo in the harbour of Stormwind by Mistmantle militia. Confessed to charges.
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Branding, a day in the stocks and a months of penal labour in order to pay for lost tariffs.


Name: John Burnside
Race: Human
Citizenship: Yes
Crime: Smuggling
Previous convictions: Disturbing of the peace, Sexual Harassment, Public Intoxication
Magistrate: Grand Magistrate Mistmantle
Evidence: Caught unloading smuggled cargo in the harbour of Stormwind by Mistmantle militia. Confessed to charges.
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Branding, a day in the stocks and a months of penal labour in order to pay for lost tariffs.


Separate document with several attached notes and letters, first and second is dated two week in between, the last two weeks after Nifty was ”bailed out” of Ironforge jail:

1
Need to lay low after the bust, you will not hear from me for a while.

- D

2
The management is planning something big, meet me in the abandoned graveyard just off the road south of Darkshire.

- D

3
A date for ”the party” is set, meet me at the abandoned warehouse in three nights.

- D

During the meeting in Darkshire (attachment 2) Doreen explained that the leaders of ”the Company” where planning a heist against a ship carrying a large shipment of silver. Said ship was supposedly owned by a local buisnessman named Timothy Higgins. Doreen promised further information within a week.

Doreen was captured by Ironforge law enforcement, negotiations with the senate of Ironforge for her release was deemed necessary. Doreen was officially bailed out.

Doreen did not show up for the meeting appointed in attachment 3. A warrant for her arrest has been issued to Sador Steelmane.

(Letter from Sophyra, lead to Braiden's ambush and capture of Xelene.)

Dearest Count,
I apologize for not getting back in touch but as you surely understand things are quite hectic. Never the less I would like for us to meet and discuss the future or rather -your future-. Should you accept I will be found by the abandoned mine at the northern border of your lands tomorrow night at 21.00. Send your response with the messenger.

-Sophyra

Report from interrogations with "Sophyra Bridlington". (now known to be Xelene)

Session 1: Subject is brought to Westbrook Garrison. Under interrogation subject changes form into a demonic visage and claims to be the one known as Lady Estherat. Subjects wings is removed as a safety measure and she is transported back to her previous holding cell on request of Valten Grimaldus.

Session 2: Subject keeps threatening the ones responsible for interrogation with fire and brimstone.

Session 3: Subject mentions an unspecified person refered to as ”him” and speaks of itself in third person while using the name Serena. Subject acts submissive and with fear claiming no knowledge.

Session 4: Subject claims to be Sophyra Bridlington, subject offers sexual favours in exchange for her freedom.

Session 5: Subject claims to be a demon named Xelene, offers eternal service in exchange for freedom.

Session 6: Subject alternates between personas, it is impossible to get anything but insane rambling about ”him” out of her.

Session 7: Subject continues the behaviour from session 6.

Session 8: Subject continues the behaviour from session 6 and 7. Interrogation is held off a week or until subject regains sanity. Use of alchemical help is considered.

Arenai says she was under magical oath to Sophyra. She witnessed a meeting between Braiden and Sophyra outside his estate, where they mentioned some book, but she doesn't remember more.

Under Sophyra, Arenai had jobs including exterminating Anethionians and Disciples, gathering information on the Blades for Hire, and otherwise killing people.

Exterminating Chapter/Disciples: Worked with Professor Tjib, Dothan Silver Wolf, Abdias, Herad Vane, Keilah Blackheart, and a half-ogre half-human and his mother, Naz-something. They had operations in Surwich, Fuselight, and on a vessel (Note: Tjib owns a ship). Killed high elf Disciple, and nearly killed Wulfgnar.

Arenai gave a "portal ring", that leads to the ship. Use it at the tree on the island between Duskwood and Westfall.

About Professor Tjib: Experimented on the Disciple high elf. Also was using the Temple of Atal'hakkar in the Swamp of Sorrows for experiments.

Used the Professor's lab at Fuselight as a base of operations until the Disciples interfered. Then they began to use the boat.

Claims that Sophyra is a dragon: Said they were fighting the Chapter. Chapter had a book belonging to Braiden, important. Was at Braiden's estate. During this fight, Sophyra turned into a scaled monster, possibly a dragon.

Bronze.

We gladly honour your services and the information provided in the past year, the Queen of Lordaeron has been in awe of your loyalty and duties, but now, she has ordered that you are to be rewarded and released of service and oath.

Your loyalty to the Queen has been most remarkable thus far, and as such, once the Forsaken front legion penetrate the Gilnean border you will be given a sizeable estate alongside the agreed upon payment.

Allow Agent Serpent to read this information as well and continue his infiltration of the Stormwind Council.

Shadow’s Grace
V.L

(January 1, 30 ADP)

Hello, folks!

If you heal a dying woman with Dark Magic, help with a jailbreak or approach the Minister of Justice and in honesty and sincerity toss a sword at him you will end up arrested, held in a dark room with beautiful steel chains for ornamentation, trialed and publicly punished. Unless your name is Count Braiden Mistmantle.

Minister Areyah Conover and Lieutenant-colonel Bismack Bronze received evidence for Mistmantle’s involvement in a conspiracy against the Kingdom, this evidence was strong enough to make both Conover and Bronze march to Elwynn Forest and place Mistmantle under arrest. This is the same Mistmantle who destroys people for speaking out against him, by the way. You can appreciate how certain Conover and Bronze must’ve been about Mistmantle’s guilt!

I won’t talk about Mistmantle’s lenient and comfortable house arrest while common people languish in dirty jails, but I will talk about his recent release. Has there been a fair and open trial, where people of this Kingdom can see for themselves that the man who watches over the Law is not guilty of very serious crimes? No, there was no open trial. We do not even know what charges were pressed.

Is this true Justice?

Our holy Church that must cry out for justice has been awfully silent, the Disciples and the Chapter must act to see Mistmantle receive a public, open and fair trial where all evidence against the Count is examined, all charges are pressed and a sentence is passed before the eyes of the people and the Church.

The Disciples and the Chapter must act during the Council on 15th of January.

(January 13th, 30 ADP)

Says that he doesn't know the details of the case as it was Beladon Indarys' charge. He said he will send a letter to Beladon to ask him to come for questioning.

He does say that he was present for Xelena's acknowledgment of not being Sophyra, when she was threatened with execution. He says that he believed her, but Beladon did not. Lord Mistmantle was not informed that it was not Sophyra as it was Beladon's case and Wulfgnar did not take the matter to him. This occurred "several months" before the Section Seven interrogation of Xelena.

When questioned if the Disciples have had any reason to suspect Braiden Mistmantle of criminal activity, Wulfgnar stated that they did not. He did say, however, that Beladon Indarys had suspicions.

Wulfgnar has additionally been contacted by Sophyra regarding a meeting. He stated he has no plans to accept the meeting, and that due to recent issues between the Disciples and the Regiment has no desire for cooperative action. He has, however, authorized a fabricated response of the letter in his name so that we might arrange an ambush.

He also claims that Herad is still working for Sophyra, despite his claims to the contrary.

(January 14th, 30 ADP)

Herad is free, and last I saw him he was rather happy. We parted with no ill feelings on either side.

I am happy to hear that you actually have a daughter! I have underestimated her. Raise her well.

Want to hook up again and chat for a few hours? If you do, pin a little red ribbon on the sign above your disciple base in Stormwind and I will contact you about place and time. I have something special planned. You will love it!

-Herad's lady-friend.

I love you. You have the most fabulous red hair, just imagine what I could do with it given a few hours! And your body is gorgeous, it is small and gentle like a woman's should be. Change that armor for a dress, and the whole city will be on its knees before you.

You are so beautiful and kind (when you are not trying to kill people with that sword, thrusting is for men....but a few arrangements can be made if you are into that)

-Theodosia, a.k.a Xenia Smolnik

Interrogation of Nifty Fizzlevolt regarding the Mistmantle affair on the 18th of January, by the Ironforge Official.

The asked was working for Mistmantle and she revealed quite some information regarding the Minister.

Prisoner said the following:
"Sure, I got rid of people for him occasionally"
The interrogator asked:
"You say he ordered you murder of certain people?"
The prisoner nodded.

When asked for the names of the those that Minister wanted them dead; she replied with the following:
"Tyrdin was the first, human male, Dastor next also a human male, Swindle Figgins, gnome male"

On the question "How would you rate Minister Mistmantle on the scale from 1-5 according to corruption?" Corruption defined as what the law considers a crime.
The answer was 5.

On question: "Our sources claimed that Mistmantle was also involved in some things with cultists, can you confirm that?"
The prisoner answered:
Sophyra? Oh yes, although I doubt that he ever participated in cultist activity himself.

When asked more about Sophyra, the prisoner told the interrogator:

"She is a warlock that often hires thugs and other lowlifes for various jobs. Worked for Mistmantle, also magistrate at one point even.

He seems to bind employees and subjects that are closely related to affairs like this using blood magic. Sophyra seems to be an expectation and thanks to her I am too."

The crimes of Braiden Arthur Bernard Mistmantle, Baron Mistmantle, Count of Foxworth

- the use of blood magic to bind his servants to his will
Count Mistmantle employed the same method upon all of his employees. Upon hiring, they were forced to take an oath of allegiance, sworn in blood - carving themselves with an ornate ritual dagger while the Count cast his spell upon them. Breaking the oath would result in a painful death.
- unlawful seizure of lands
Count Mistmantle and his previous steward engaged in extortionate affairs in order to acquire property from lesser nobles and commonfolk in the kingdom. The great expansion of his wealth and sudden influence is attributed to this.
- the murder of Jonah Dwyburn, Director of the Freelancers
Mr. Dwyburn failed to give evidence against one of his own Freelancers. Mistmantle met him in his Stormwind villa. After an argument on the balcony, Mistmantle cut himself to make it appear that Dwyburn had assaulted him, after which Mistmantle flung an arcane barrage at Dwyburn, making him fall over the railing. He died as the staff on his back pierced his throat as he landed on the streets below.
- the torture and murder of Veridin Shadowraven
Mr. Shadowraven was in the employ of Count Mistmantle as a general servant. Upon attempting to leave after a dispute with the master of the house, Count Mistmantle had him bound in his tower, allowing his magi to practice their fire casting upon the man. A tortured, black skeleton was all that remained.
- the Stormwind jewelry store hit
Some time ago, the jewelry cutters in Stormwind refused an offer of purchase by Count Mistmantle. The purchase involved a special gem containing some unknown magical property, dark mostlikely. The offended Count retaliated by hiring a band of thugs to raid the place. It ended with the store robbed and three workers killer. The matter received little attention, as the Count used his connections to suppress much public knowledge of it.
- assisting and collaborating with enemies of the state
Sophyra, magistrate and accountant

Additional crimes to be revealed in due time:
- dispensation of justice by unlawful means: Renatha Vanimedle, “Papa” John Goldmill, among others; irregularities will be made known once the new deal comes through
- ‘disappearences’ – the location of the bodies will be made known once the new deal comes through
- bribes – the list of corrupt officials will be made known once the new deal comes through

Arenai Skyshadow was present during the deal between Sophyra and Braiden.

Arenai Skyshadow is in the custody of the Stormwind Guards.

Xelene: Speak it! Word by word. It is no good unless you say it exactly, word by word.
S: I swear on my soul.
Xelene: Nooo! Swear what? You must be specific! And swear to kill me with a single shot.
S: I swear, on my soul, that I will kills you once you've told me who "he" is and five additional questions untill sunrise. I swear to do it painlessly.
Xelene: Almost right. 'Answered five additional qestions untill sunrise'.
S: Five. Yes. That, or we keep you alive indefinately just to torture you.
Xelene: ...Okay! Last vow you made stands.
S: Now your turn.
Xelene: Okay. "He" is (at this point subject hesitates and stutters before speaking coherently again) Braiden Mistmantle.
(Subject seems distraught, cowering and whimpering.)
Xelene: Why did you need to know? How will you protect yourself? Can I call you 'mask'? Will he find me? When is sunrise?
S: In about eight hours from now.
Xelene: I must endure. Please, stay with me. You must guard me, and yourself. Yes, he will come for us borth!
S: Explain
Xelene: He came for me. If I didn't get the name right, he would hurt me untill I got the name right. He told me he will do things if I ever told who "he" was.
S: You're not Sophyra, are you? What's your real name? That's one question, by the way.
(Subject whimpers and stammers before continuing.)
Xelene: Xelene.
S: Xelene, I'm sorry this happened to you. Are you a demon, Xelene?
Xelene: Yes. I am.
S: Elaborate.
Xelene: Sayaad. (Subject refers to succubi.)
S: Tell me about who you were before and how he found you.
Xelene: I was always a sayaad.
S: Tell me how you came to be enslaved by Mistmantle.
Xelene: My sister (subject probably refers to Sophyra) betrayed me to him.
S: Your sister is Sophyra.
Xelene: You know, you should stop being so annoying with asking questions without asking questions. Since it doesn't matter.
S: It does. I need as much information I can get out of you before I kill you.
Xelene: You swore to kill me if I 'told' you five questions, not answered five questions. I already did. So, why don't you knock back and listen? Becaise I will you everything about that bitch. Now cut to the chase and ask, damn you! Ask anything.
S: Where is Sophyra? Be specific.
Xelene: She planned to take her ship and chase after a myth, this silly Pandaria thing.
(Subject enters state of angered psychosis, rendering her incoherent and unreliable. Subject is terminated. Interrogation is over.)

Association with Nifty: Nifty was an informant for the Ministry of Justice. She informed on the crime network in the dwarven district until she went rogue. Before she went rogue, she provided information that helped bust a smuggling operation.

Nifty ceased contact with the magistry three weeks after being released from the dwarves. The Senate released her in return for several criminals being handed to the Ironforge Guard. "Officially bail was posted as the guards were not in the know, so to speak." Braiden claims that he argued for Nifty's release because of a critical situation.

The critical situation was that Nifty was "involved in an operation containing all the leaders of this organization she belonged to... they where planning on taking a shipment of precious metal belonging to a merchant. Apparenlty the operation was called as she disappeared." This lead Braiden to believe that Nifty was exposed and fled, "considering she later turned up as a cultist of sorts."

Stormwind Times accusations: Braiden says that intelligence agents have informed him that the Grand Inquisitor of the Chapter has a hand in the Stormwind Times.

On capture of Sophyra's double: "Miss Sophyra sent a messenger carrying a parchment with a wish to meet and discuss the potential our 'continued cooperation' could have. That is, after she was exposed or rather exposed herself as the monster she is."

"I do not know the exact details of how she was first exposed, I felt the bond i placed on her broken."

When asked to testify that he did indeed place a magical bond on her, Braiden said, "She was allowed as a servant in my household and as such I did, yes."

Braiden says that he believes Sophyra circumvented being caught by a technicality. He says that it is an oath of personal loyalty, and his servants are made to swear to serve his house, obey the will of himself and his kin, to uphold dignity and honour of the house and to act with courage to do what must be done. The moment the bond broke as the moment she openly exposed herself as a demon and as such damaged the dignity and honour of his house.

After finding out about her breaking the bond, Braiden started investigations "that turned up close to nothing".

After receiving the letter (which is stored in the Ministry of Justice files), Braiden accepted the invitation as he believed he could capture her. They met at the edge of his lands, where "Sophyra" came along. She offered Braiden power in exchange for him pledging himself to her master. Braiden had set up an ambush with Miss Darivere, Mister Grayldan Thorn, and Mister Gandur Redlock. All are in Braiden's service. They apprehended her.

Braiden then announced the capture and relayed word to the Disciples. The Disciples informed him that their security routines were lacking and requested Braiden to keep her. Braiden arranged the details with Beladon Indarys. Braiden claims that Rae Wulfgnar and Valestrion Drayke were also present.

Disciples interrogated but were sloppy. Ministry of Justice therefore also handled interrogation, files have been requested.

Braiden wishes to settle out of court.

Name: Doreen
Race: Gnome
Residence: Dwarven district, Stormwind city
Citizenship: Yes
Crimes: 5 accounts of murder, blackmail
Notes: The gnome known as Doreen or Nifty was arrested for five murders and attempted to blackmail Grand Magistrate Mistmantle by claiming to have a letter from him offering aid to a known unspecified cultist. When confronted, Doreen had no letter in her possession and confessed to it being an attempt to be spared from the noose as she had heard malicious rumors claiming the Grand Magistrate dealt with cultists. In order to mitigate her sentence to penal labor and a lashing she offered to provide the Stormwind Magistry with intelligence from the inside of an organized criminal network in the Dwarven District of Stormwind city known as ”the Company”. These files contains correspondence and evidence collected trough this exchange. Doreen is referred to as “D” in notes and letters provided.



Short note attached to a report:

The boys are planning something. Come visit at dock five around midnight.

- D

As a result of the information provided by the note attached to this document a group of smugglers by the names of Wilbur Barnsley, Sprackle Sparkcog, Twizzle Sparkcog and John Burnside was caught and convicted. Summaries of the trials can be found below.

Name: Wulbur Barnsley
Race: Human
Citizenship: Yes
Crime: Smuggling
Previous convictions: None
Magistrate: Grand Magistrate Mistmantle
Evidence: Caught unloading smuggled cargo in the harbour of Stormwind by Mistmantle militia. Confessed to charges.
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Branding, a day in the stocks and a month of penal labour in order to pay for lost tariffs.

Name: Sprackle Sparkcog
Race: Gnome
Citizenship: Yes
Crime: Smuggling
Previous convictions: Assault (multiple), robbery
Magistrate: Grand Magistrate Mistmantle
Evidence: Caught unloading smuggled cargo in the harbour of Stormwind by Mistmantle militia. Confessed to charges.
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Branding, a day in the stocks and a month of penal labour in order to pay for lost tariffs.

Name: Twizzle Sparkcog
Race: Gnome
Citizenship: Yes
Crime: Smuggling
Previous convictions: Assault (multiple), armed assault, robbery, obstruction of justice
Magistrate: Grand Magistrate Mistmantle
Evidence: Caught unloading smuggled cargo in the harbour of Stormwind by Mistmantle militia. Confessed to charges.
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Branding, a day in the stocks and a months of penal labour in order to pay for lost tariffs.


Name: John Burnside
Race: Human
Citizenship: Yes
Crime: Smuggling
Previous convictions: Disturbing of the peace, Sexual Harassment, Public Intoxication
Magistrate: Grand Magistrate Mistmantle
Evidence: Caught unloading smuggled cargo in the harbour of Stormwind by Mistmantle militia. Confessed to charges.
Verdict: Guilty
Sentence: Branding, a day in the stocks and a months of penal labour in order to pay for lost tariffs.


Separate document with several attached notes and letters, first and second is dated two week in between, the last two weeks after Nifty was ”bailed out” of Ironforge jail:

1
Need to lay low after the bust, you will not hear from me for a while.

- D

2
The management is planning something big, meet me in the abandoned graveyard just off the road south of Darkshire.

- D

3
A date for ”the party” is set, meet me at the abandoned warehouse in three nights.

- D

During the meeting in Darkshire (attachment 2) Doreen explained that the leaders of ”the Company” where planning a heist against a ship carrying a large shipment of silver. Said ship was supposedly owned by a local buisnessman named Timothy Higgins. Doreen promised further information within a week.

Doreen was captured by Ironforge law enforcement, negotiations with the senate of Ironforge for her release was deemed necessary. Doreen was officially bailed out.

Doreen did not show up for the meeting appointed in attachment 3. A warrant for her arrest has been issued to Sador Steelmane.

(Letter from Sophyra, lead to Braiden's ambush and capture of Xelene.)

Dearest Count,
I apologize for not getting back in touch but as you surely understand things are quite hectic. Never the less I would like for us to meet and discuss the future or rather -your future-. Should you accept I will be found by the abandoned mine at the northern border of your lands tomorrow night at 21.00. Send your response with the messenger.

-Sophyra

Report from interrogations with "Sophyra Bridlington". (now known to be Xelene)

Session 1: Subject is brought to Westbrook Garrison. Under interrogation subject changes form into a demonic visage and claims to be the one known as Lady Estherat. Subjects wings is removed as a safety measure and she is transported back to her previous holding cell on request of Valten Grimaldus.

Session 2: Subject keeps threatening the ones responsible for interrogation with fire and brimstone.

Session 3: Subject mentions an unspecified person refered to as ”him” and speaks of itself in third person while using the name Serena. Subject acts submissive and with fear claiming no knowledge.

Session 4: Subject claims to be Sophyra Bridlington, subject offers sexual favours in exchange for her freedom.

Session 5: Subject claims to be a demon named Xelene, offers eternal service in exchange for freedom.

Session 6: Subject alternates between personas, it is impossible to get anything but insane rambling about ”him” out of her.

Session 7: Subject continues the behaviour from session 6.

Session 8: Subject continues the behaviour from session 6 and 7. Interrogation is held off a week or until subject regains sanity. Use of alchemical help is considered.

Arenai says she was under magical oath to Sophyra. She witnessed a meeting between Braiden and Sophyra outside his estate, where they mentioned some book, but she doesn't remember more.

Under Sophyra, Arenai had jobs including exterminating Anethionians and Disciples, gathering information on the Blades for Hire, and otherwise killing people.

Exterminating Chapter/Disciples: Worked with Professor Tjib, Dothan Silver Wolf, Abdias, Herad Vane, Keilah Blackheart, and a half-ogre half-human and his mother, Naz-something. They had operations in Surwich, Fuselight, and on a vessel (Note: Tjib owns a ship). Killed high elf Disciple, and nearly killed Wulfgnar.

Arenai gave a "portal ring", that leads to the ship. Use it at the tree on the island between Duskwood and Westfall.

About Professor Tjib: Experimented on the Disciple high elf. Also was using the Temple of Atal'hakkar in the Swamp of Sorrows for experiments.

Used the Professor's lab at Fuselight as a base of operations until the Disciples interfered. Then they began to use the boat.

Claims that Sophyra is a dragon: Said they were fighting the Chapter. Chapter had a book belonging to Braiden, important. During this fight, Sophyra turned into a scaled monster, possibly a dragon.

Bronze.

We gladly honour your services and the information provided in the past year, the Queen of Lordaeron has been in awe of your loyalty and duties, but now, she has ordered that you are to be rewarded and released of service and oath.

Your loyalty to the Queen has been most remarkable thus far, and as such, once the Forsaken front legion penetrate the Gilnean border you will be given a sizeable estate alongside the agreed upon payment.

Allow Agent Serpent to read this information as well and continue his infiltration of the Stormwind Council.

Shadow’s Grace
V.L

(January 1, 30 ADP)

Says that he doesn't know the details of the case as it was Beladon Indarys' charge. He said he will send a letter to Beladon to ask him to come for questioning.

He does say that he was present for Xelena's acknowledgment of not being Sophyra, when she was threatened with execution. He says that he believed her, but Beladon did not. Lord Mistmantle was not informed that it was not Sophyra as it was Beladon's case and Wulfgnar did not take the matter to him. This occurred "several months" before the Section Seven interrogation of Xelena.

When questioned if the Disciples have had any reason to suspect Braiden Mistmantle of criminal activity, Wulfgnar stated that they did not. He did say, however, that Beladon Indarys had suspicions.

Wulfgnar has additionally been contacted by Sophyra regarding a meeting. He stated he has no plans to accept the meeting, and that due to recent issues between the Disciples and the Regiment has no desire for cooperative action. He has, however, authorized a fabricated response of the letter in his name so that we might arrange an ambush.

He also claims that Herad is still working for Sophyra, despite his claims to the contrary.

Herad is free, and last I saw him he was rather happy. We parted with no ill feelings on either side.

I am happy to hear that you actually have a daughter! I have underestimated her. Raise her well.

Want to hook up again and chat for a few hours? If you do, pin a little red ribbon on the sign above your disciple base in Stormwind and I will contact you about place and time. I have something special planned. You will love it!

-Herad's lady-friend.

I love you. You have the most fabulous red hair, just imagine what I could do with it given a few hours! And your body is gorgeous, it is small and gentle like a woman's should be. Change that armor for a dress, and the whole city will be on its knees before you.

You are so beautiful and kind (when you are not trying to kill people with that sword, thrusting is for men....but a few arrangements can be made if you are into that)

-Theodosia, a.k.a Xenia Smolnik

Interrogation of Nifty Fizzlevolt regarding the Mistmantle affair on the 18th of January, by the Ironforge Official.

The asked was working for Mistmantle and she revealed quite some information regarding the Minister.

Prisoner said the following:
"Sure, I got rid of people for him occasionally"
The interrogator asked:
"You say he ordered you murder of certain people?"
The prisoner nodded.

When asked for the names of the those that Minister wanted them dead; she replied with the following:
"Tyrdin was the first, human male, Dastor next also a human male, Swindle Figgins, gnome male"

On the question "How would you rate Minister Mistmantle on the scale from 1-5 according to corruption?" Corruption defined as what the law considers a crime.
The answer was 5.

On question: "Our sources claimed that Mistmantle was also involved in some things with cultists, can you confirm that?"
The prisoner answered:
Sophyra? Oh yes, although I doubt that he ever participated in cultist activity himself.

When asked more about Sophyra, the prisoner told the interrogator:

"She is a warlock that often hires thugs and other lowlifes for various jobs. Worked for Mistmantle, also magistrate at one point even.

He seems to bind employees and subjects that are closely related to affairs like this using blood magic. Sophyra seems to be an expectation and thanks to her I am too."

The crimes of Braiden Arthur Bernard Mistmantle, Baron Mistmantle, Count of Foxworth

- the use of blood magic to bind his servants to his will
Count Mistmantle employed the same method upon all of his employees. Upon hiring, they were forced to take an oath of allegiance, sworn in blood - carving themselves with an ornate ritual dagger while the Count cast his spell upon them. Breaking the oath would result in a painful death.
- unlawful seizure of lands
Count Mistmantle and his previous steward engaged in extortionate affairs in order to acquire property from lesser nobles and commonfolk in the kingdom. The great expansion of his wealth and sudden influence is attributed to this.
- the murder of Jonah Dwyburn, Director of the Freelancers
Mr. Dwyburn failed to give evidence against one of his own Freelancers. Mistmantle met him in his Stormwind villa. After an argument on the balcony, Mistmantle cut himself to make it appear that Dwyburn had assaulted him, after which Mistmantle flung an arcane barrage at Dwyburn, making him fall over the railing. He died as the staff on his back pierced his throat as he landed on the streets below.
- the torture and murder of Veridin Shadowraven
Mr. Shadowraven was in the employ of Count Mistmantle as a general servant. Upon attempting to leave after a dispute with the master of the house, Count Mistmantle had him bound in his tower, allowing his magi to practice their fire casting upon the man. A tortured, black skeleton was all that remained.
- the Stormwind jewelry store hit
Some time ago, the jewelry cutters in Stormwind refused an offer of purchase by Count Mistmantle. The purchase involved a special gem containing some unknown magical property, dark mostlikely. The offended Count retaliated by hiring a band of thugs to raid the place. It ended with the store robbed and three workers killer. The matter received little attention, as the Count used his connections to suppress much public knowledge of it.
- assisting and collaborating with enemies of the state
Sophyra, magistrate and accountant

Additional crimes to be revealed in due time:
- dispensation of justice by unlawful means: Renatha Vanimedle, “Papa” John Goldmill, among others; irregularities will be made known once the new deal comes through
- ‘disappearences’ – the location of the bodies will be made known once the new deal comes through
- bribes – the list of corrupt officials will be made known once the new deal comes through