[a sealed letter is left with Cyrus entitled 'Manunach']

Manunach,

Time passes and yet I am left bereft of news concerning what we spoke of. Are the tasks I allocated you being seen to? They are paramount in importance. Send me a written missive with an update if you cannot reach me in person.

*signed* Avoun.

*Written in flowing cursive script*

Imperator Avoun,

The tasks you have laid out are underway. Missives have been sent to known members of the faith. I have confirmation of willingness to attend from Salter, Chishio, Sabel, and Anril. There has been no response from others, including Welton.

My retainer has been given the go ahead on the other operation we spoke of. Be aware, this task will be a slow process, and may take months to complete, if he survives.

I will wait a few more days for responses before I set the date for the meeting. I am also waiting on word from Cyrus at the Crone concerning a secure location.

Manunach, Servant of the Black Hand

*Written in flowing cursive script*

Imperator Avoun,

Cyrus has not responded with an affirmative reply concerning a secure meeting location. The ideal date for the conclave is Tarsakh 15th (July 29th) You mentioned at our last meeting you would be able to provide a location if the Crone could not be used. It appears that is going to be the case. There has been no response from Cyrus. Either our coin is not good enough for him, or he wishes to distance himself from us. Most likely the latter. Plausible deniability could be a motive. If you can secure your location and let me know as soon as possible, I will forward word to the faithful.

Manunach, Servant of the Black Hand

Manunach,

The location I have in mind shall suffice. Confirm the time for the gathering.

The duel between Salter and Welton ended in the former's death. I then commanded Welton to enact his mandate set by the Holy Tyrant, and he did not comply, instead fleeing under the guise of invisibilty, only to dare attack me later. He was immediately bested, and once again fled like the cowardly dog he is. Eventually, he struck from invisibility and killed Techiel and Azarthan, only to once again flee.

I have instructed the faithful to bring him in alive. He shall be tortured and sacrificed to our Lord. His coward's heart and his treacherous eyes shall be ripped from his living body, even as his lifeblood stains the ritual dagger and the words of sacrifice are uttered. He seeks to evade the punishment for his heresy, and, accordingly, his soul will be sent straight unto the Black Lord himself. There shall Welton quaver for all eternity, before Holy Terror labyrinthine and insidious.

As will all who disobey the Black Fist.

*signed* Avoun.

*Written in flowing cursive script*

Imperator Avoun,

Bringing him in alive may prove difficult. The mandate may be inadvertently instituted in the process.

Manunach, Servant of the Black Hand

Manunach,

The order has been given. Have your cell deliver Welton to me within a tenday or I shall conclude you.

Avoun.

*Written in flowing cursive script*

Imperator Avoun, Conclude me? I suggest you hold your tongue. My cell is already under direction of a Priestess of the Fist. Your presence up to this point has furthered the efforts of the faithful. You do not want to find yourself in the awkward position of no longer being of use to Bane in this arena.

I hope that I have made myself abundantly clear...

Issue a challenge to Welton and settle this. He states he has already called for single combat and you have refused.

Manunach, Servant of the Black Hand

Manunach,

Your 'cell' is nothing without me. You speak of me perhaps no longer being 'of use to Bane' here?

I AM BANE HERE.

You answer to me and me only. I hold obvious rank over your priestess, and, as such, she shall obey me as well. Communicate another single insolent response and I shall school you, at the behest of the Black Lord himself, in the consequences.

Also know that Welton has never offered a duel, instead opting to attack me from the guise of invisibility, and run via the same method after failing in battle. You will use your contact with him to set up an ambush and bring him to me alive. His heretic's heart shall be ripped out of his chest, his soul sent to Bane to finally fulfill his mandate of puishment.

Make no mistake: if you disobey me, I shall hunt you down like a dog, and you will be made to curse the hour of your birth before you die by my hand.

Avoun.

*Opens the letter, reads it, and shakes his head as he reaches over the counter and lights the edge in a candle flame. Wisps of black smoke slowly circle into the dark rafters*

*Removes a clean parchment from a belt pouch and begins to pen, written in flowing cursive script*

Imperator Avoun,

Your message has been conveyed to our Priestess and the faithful. None are in agreement with your position that you hold obvious rank. We have received no orders from The Keep, merely the words of a priest who has dragged his ass into our midst after a failed mission to the Drow. I know not how you formed that opinion. Your statement that you "Are Bane here" borders on the heretical. None are Bane here; we are merely servants of the Black Lord.

Issue a challenge to Welton and settle this. I will convey your written challenge to him in person and gauge his reaction. Unless of course you fear him....

Manunach, Servant of the Black Hand

[the letter is received]