text: he Inquisitor will soon intervene directly and then we'll be at a complete disadvantage." Shade says.
  "It's okay, I've got something that's going to make magic in general completely useless to everyone." You say.
  "So you were successful then. Mind telling me what you have?"
  "It's an item that you need to break within the vicinity of the Inquisitor. You just need to get in close enough to do it though. As long as that happens however, his defenses will go down and he'll be vulnerable to everything. Here." You say and hand the orb to Shade.
  
  Shade doesn't take it and instead gives you a bit of a suspicious look.
  
  "What? It's not a trick." You exclaim.
  "Maybe not, but forgive me if I'm less trusting of the Dornans than you are."
  "Shade, YOU told me to seek their aid if possible and I got it. What more do you want?"
  "Nothing, but I have no idea if that thing strips magic ability permanently or what. For all I know Flynn is setting us all up."
  "He's not, because I didn't get this from fucking Flynn, I got this from a different Dornan."
  "Oh, that makes me feel even better. You got it from one of his lessers. To be honest, IF this IS indeed the powerful item you believe it to be, I'm a little leery that you're so freely giving it to me, rather than keeping it for yourself."
  
  You know this isn't going to help matters, but given what you've been through already...
  
  "I'm giving it to you because your weak ass magic is already going to be fucked by the Inquisitor so you don't have anything to lose. Not to mention that between the pair of us, YOU are the close combat expert so you'll most likely get in closer than I'll be able to since we still have to fight through all those fanatics. Fucking hell Shade, I'm doing YOU a fucking favor, so stop being a paranoid asshole and take the damn orb in the spirit of our fucking alliance that its being offered!"
  
  Shade's stare softens a bit and he even smirks a bit before taking the orb.
  
  "Very well, you've made your point. Let it be known though if something goes wrong and we both survive it, I'm going to kill you." Shade says.
  "Fair enough. Anyway I'll be hand picking my own people for the attack along with still being there in person since it'll be the only way I'll feel comfortable that my orders are going to be carried out. We probably should look at a map of this area to go over the details better." You say.
  
  You spend a couple more days planning and preparing. Despite his magic going to be rendered impotent, Shade still wants to attack at night since he feels his people are still going to hold advantage over the Joachimites during that time. Since you don't have any real preference, you agree.
  
  The night of the attack comes and you lie in wait from a distance with your people. You soon hear the scuffles and shouts of battle. Unlike the faithful of Fel, the faithful of Joachim aren't exactly the most quiet when they fight.
  
  You soon join the fight and find that there are indeed a lot of Joachimites that seem to be coming out nowhere. They are screaming their deity's name and how they're going to purge all unbelievers, still they seem a little take off guard when you arrive.
  
  Shade so far is holding the advantage due to him and his people teleporting all over the place, but you imagine that won't last long. In the meantime, you order your people to stay together and not get surrounded.
  
  After about twenty minutes of combat, the streets are starting to pile up with bodies. You half expect the Watch to arrive with all the noise going on, but then the government has for the most part taken a slightly hands off approach to the religious conflict since it started, which explains why it's gone on as long as it has.
  
  And then the Inquisitor finally makes his arrival. You've never seen the guy before, but he certainly makes an impression especially since he emanates a white light from his person making him visible to all even in this darkness. He looks exactly like how Shade described him, though he's also carrying a mace in his hand.
  
  "FOUL FOLLOWERS OF FEL! LET TONIGHT BE YOUR LAST!" his voice booms and then suddenly several beams of light from the sky seem to target every Felian in the street, as soon as you see this, you tell your own people to find cover wherever they can.
  
  Shade's people are unable to simply teleport or even turn invisible. A few barely manage to find cover before the beams of light completely ignite the unfortunate ones that couldn't escape.
  
  Shade himself is unfortunate enough to not react in time before being caught in this light. He is set aflame, however fortunately for you he has enough in him to take out the null orb and throw it to ground. It shatters and suddenly the white light surrounding the Inquisitor disappears and so do the beams of white light coming from the sky.
  
  The Inquisitor starts screaming prayers to Joachim, but nothing happens, the rest of his people seem confused by this sudden "disappearance" of their divine weapon, but you're not confused and you urge your people to press the advantage since Shade is obviously no longer in any shape to do so.
  
  You keep your eyes on the Inquisitor (Who is still pretty visible in the dark due to his white robes) and unsurprisingly realizing he doesn't have his magic advantage anymore, he runs away. Though you were expecting him to just start running down the street, instead he runs back in the house he was staying at.
  
  You waste no time in following him, fighting and dodging along the way. You kick the door in and you find the Inquisitor standing in the middle of the room with his mace held ready for battle. An old couple stands further behind, frightened out of their minds and holding each other.
  
  "YOU! I knew you were an infidel, but I didn't know you'd thrown your lot in with the blasphemous shadow worshippers! No matter, you too shall face the righteous justice of..."
  
  While the Inquisitor is giving a monologue, you take the opportunity to end this by shooting him several times. He falls backwards crashing into a table and knocking over several other items as well. The old woman screams and begins sobbing.
  
  You walk over to the Inquisitor's body to make sure he's dead and see that he is indeed still alive, but he won't be for long. In between his gasping and wheezing he tries to speak.
  
  "Don't...ki...please...not..." he says.
  "Little late for that." You reply reloading your pistol.
  "Not me...par...ents...for...old times...please..."
  
  You look over at the old couple and guess the Inquisitor means them. You suppose you know why he came running back in here now. What you don't get is that he seems to know you and not just by reputation.
  
  At this point the Inquisitor's parents run over and kneel by him. Both are sobbing and his mother lifts his head a bit and removes the white mask he was wearing.
  
  "I'm...coming home...Joachim...I see his light..." Yinen remarks and then he dies.
  
  You did not see that one coming. Of course you never knew his parents either.
  
  You aren't even sure how you feel about it. What caused this radical transformation? You can somewhat guess that perhaps Yinen never quite got over his experience of getting captured by the Neroth cultists. His return to his Joachimite upbringing to the point of zealotry was the result.
  
  You wish you had known Yinen was the inquisitor the whole time. Maybe you could have spoke to him. Maybe not. Doesn't matter now, it's done.
  
  You leave Yinen's parents to their grief and dead son.
  
  As for the battle outside, it's winding down with your side winning, but you've suffered more than few losses. Still, could have been worse.
  
  The few Felians still left have managed to bring Shade back from the brink of death, but he's a mess, what with burns all over his body and the fact he previously pre-maturely aged himself. This war has cost him quite dearly. You actually don't think he'll live too much longer or if he does, he's going to be spending the rest of his days as a cripple. However, apparently he's pleased that this was a "win." He even manages to say a genuine statement of gratitude. Saying that the Temple of Fel will come to the aid of the Nocturnal League if you ever need it.
  
  You imagine this "war" won't entirely be over just by the events tonight, but this was definitely a big turning point and probably in a few months, it'll be over completely and then you can refocus back on business.
  
  > Time passes...
  Year 29
  
  Lot can change in just a few years, some things you predicted, others not so much.
  
  The Church of Joachim being outlawed in the city wasn't too surprising given all the trouble that was caused and how Holgard in general tends more towards embracing sin and vice rather than moving away from it. Still, sort of funny that the faith is now in the company of it's eternal enemy, Neroth as far as being illegal.
  
  As for the other faiths, only the temples of Dorna and Fel maintain any presence in the city and in the Felians case, that's thanks to Shade dying soon after the war was over and the new leader Gloom, making an effort to strengthen their relationship with the upper echelons of the government, namely Baroness Ludmilla.
  
  Gloom has also extended a hand to the Nocturnal League, stating that the temple would be more than willing to come to an understanding like it had with the Ebony Claw Syndicate and train your members in shadow magic.
  
  You declined that offer though. You've always said members are free to pray to whoever they want, but if they're going to be wrapped up in Fel (or whoever) that hardcore then they can go take up some black robes and start living in their temple's meditation rooms. The less religion you have in your organization the better.
  
  Still, your cordial relationship with the temple has had benefits you hadn't intended. Due to the Felians being on better terms with the Baroness, some of that "understanding" has inadvertently trickled down towards you. As a result the Nocturnal League has freer reign over the city than it once did. Possibly similar to what the ECS once had.
  
  So things are going good for the Nocturnal League and business couldn't be better. You haven't had any decisions of the major kind lately, but for whatever reason this has caused you to sometimes over think the minor ones now that do crop up.
  
  Like right now for instance.
  
  "You were invited to the Baroness' yearly costume party? How the hell did that happen and why aren't you immediately making preparations to go?!" Vera asks.
  "Just one of the perks of being allied with the temple of Fel I suppose. Gloom had one of his members deliver this letter to me a week ago. Apparently Baroness Ludmilla has heard interesting things about me and would like me to show up at her party so she can see for herself." You say.
  "She thinks yer intresstin'? She really doesn't know youz at all." Warts snarks and chuckles at his own attempt at a joke.
  "Well, you have to go right? I mean it's the Baroness." Vera says.
  "I dunno. I mean I suppose I see why I should, just don't really feel up to it." You reply.
  "What? When the Baroness of Holgard calls you to court, you have to go!"
  "Never knew you were such a supporter of our dear ruler. You secretly harboring royalist admiration?"
  "No. It's not like that! I mean yeah she's royalty, but not really. I mean... I dunno, I've always sort of admired how she took power from her father and brother I guess. She's a very powerful independent woman and has remained that way. I guess that's what I admire."
  "Hm. Well I guess I just see her as another corrupt aristocrat that used her position of power to gain even more power. Not that that's a bad thing, but nothing special. Lot harder to do when you aren't born with a silver spoon in your mouth."
  "Yes, yes, we all know. You cleverly lied, cheated, stole and murdered your way to your position. You're the epitome of a self made man. We're all very impressed. Truly. I'm wet just thinking about it. Still, I really think you should go to this party, if only so you don't inadvertently offend her which then will cause our current friendly relationship with the law to become unnecessarily complicated."
  "Yeah, I already took that into consideration. (Sigh) I suppose I'm going, though the letter also says I should bring one more person with me since that's apparently the rule of this event."
  
  As soon as you've said that, Vera's eyes light up.
  
  "Me! You gotta take me! Seriously I will seriously suck your dick if you take me to this party." Vera exclaims.
  "You mean aren't already?" Warts responds.
  "Wha? Why is that your go to action with me?" you say.
  "I'll do whatever you want to do then, look I don't care! I just really gotta go to this thing!"
  "Why? Wait a minute, you don't have a crush on the Baroness do you? I mean you were praising her pretty hard a moment ago."
  "No! This ain't about pussy bumpin! Its just...(sigh) nevermind you'll just make fun and if you don't I know damn well this ugly half breed will."
  "Oh fuck you, Vera."
  "Warts, step out of here. While there won't be any dick sucking involved, I am sort of interested in why Vera wants to go so badly."
  "Gruh, fine by me. I certainly don't wanna go. I gotta go see my kids anywayz, later."
  
  After Warts leaves you motion Vera to speak which she does though she's still a bit hesitant to do so, fearing that you'll make fun.
  
  Vera suddenly goes into more of her life story than you ever thought to ask of her.
  
  She mentions that her mother was once very briefly employed as a maid during the Baron's reign of the city. She goes on to say that her mother always told her that she once had a brief fling with him while she was cleaning one of the guest bedrooms. Unfortunately the Baron being the asshole he typically was, he had all the maids, including Vera's mother, replaced a week later because he claimed his palace wasn't getting clean enough.
  
  In any case, Vera said that shortly afterwards, her mother discovered she was pregnant and claimed to the day she died that Vera's real father was really the Baron.
  
  "Wait a minute...you're telling me you're actually bastard royalty?!" you ask.
  "I knew you'd make fun or not believe me." Vera says.
  "Honestly, it's not really that far fetched given what I've always heard about the old Baron. Though I'm just surprised you've never mentioned it before. Seems like something you'd brag about."
  "And get myself fucking killed?! No thanks! One of the big reasons my mother never told anyone or even tried to get financial support from the Baron is the fear of some assassin coming in to kill her and me. I mean I'm hardly the only illegitimate child the baron probably had and his son Farad was notorious for having suspected bastards killed. And if he didn't do it, I can't imagine Ludmilla was any different. Especially now."
  "I guess that makes sense."
  "Honestly, you're the ONLY person I've told about this and now that I've done it, I feel a little weird and vulnerable."
  "Well, I'm not going to say anything. Not like there would be anything to gain. Though I guess this is why you want to go to this party so badly huh? Experience what might have been? Possibly even briefly speak with your older half sister?"
  "...sort of. I know it's silly, but...sometimes I do think of a life that is different than this one."
  
  Vera's thoughtful words are a little out of the ordinary, but not lost on you. Not like you don't have similar thoughts on your own life at times.
  
  "Okay, I guess we'll go together then. Not like I can think of anyone else to take anyway. Says it'll be in three days so I suggest you prepare yourself." You say.
  "I will! Thank you for this boss!" Vera beams.
  "Don't mention it, princess." You mock.
  "So, what are you going to be wearing?"
  "I dunno. Some mask of some sort I imagine since it's a costume party. Which makes me wonder, how the hell is the Baroness going to know it's me if I'm wearing a mask?"
  "I imagine she's got some way of figuring it out. Make sure you dress nice though! I've heard about these things and if we go in looking like we crawled out of the sewers, they'll turn us away, invitation or not."
  "Yeah, yeah, I'll take a trip to the tailor's or something."
  
  A few days and a trip to the tailor's later, you're dressed and ready to go to this thing. You're not exactly comfortable in this type of clothing, but many League members compliment you on your new threads. Warts of course has something to say.
  
  "Oh well la de da, if it ain't da duke of da undaworld." Warts say.
  "Don't even start, where the hell is Vera, she's the one that made a bigger deal of all this?"
  "You ain't seen her yet? She's even fancier than you are right now. If it gets anymore highbrow here, we're gonna hafta forge all dat gold and silver we got inta fancy eatin' utensils."
  "Yeah, well this is a one time thing. So where's Vera again?"
  "She's in her room I think...um don't tell her I said so, but she iz sorta pretty. I mean she wouldn't be MY type, but y'know dressed like she iz right now, she looks like of doze princesses or sumthin. Hah, Vera a princess, dat's funny."
  "Yeah...hysterical. Later Warts."
  
  You shake your head and go get Vera.
  
  You don't even bother knocking on the door, you just enter and that's when you see Vera who turns around from her mirror to face you. She does indeed look a lot different than you're used to seeing her.
  
  "Wow. You look, really different." You say.
  "Good different or bad different?" Vera asks.
  "Neither...I mean good of course. Look, I'm just saying you could easily blend in with the rest of the aristocratic types. You're very pretty, like a princess and I'm not just saying that."
  "Thank you. You look...appropriate too."
  "The hell's that mean? I'll have you know I got a lot of compliments!"
  "Well of course you did, you're the boss. They're hardly going to tell you, you look like shit. Not that you do. You're fine. I guess we should get going, do you have your mask?"
  "Yeah, got one of those half masks. Don't really feel like struggling to breath with a full mask on that covers my mouth and nostrils. Still covers most of my face so I figure I'm good." You say and put it on.
  "I think most people will be wearing those so, you'll fit in fine. I got one too." Vera says and puts on her her mask and the pair of you are soon on your way.
  
  When you get to the palace you're sort of relieved since you half expect that you're going to get robbed on your way there. A guard stops you at the gates and you show your personalized invitation at which point you're waved through.
  
  You and Vera take a moment to sort of absorb the fact of where you actually are for a moment. The seat of rulership, the palace! The grounds are certainly well taken care of and it's obvious that every effort has been spared to make it look as festive as possible.
  
  The closer you get to the palace the more grandiose everything is. You also notice the increase in guards and you and Vera are patted down more than once.
  
  You get inside the palace and the elegance of the interior is about what you expect. Vera is practically enamored by everything. Right now, she's probably imagining herself as that princess you ribbed her about being. As for you, you're a bit more of a harder sell on being impressed by such things, but if you could run your organization from a place like this instead, you certainly wouldn't turn it down.
  
  You and Vera spend a bit of time just looking around until Vera wonders if you should start actively mingling with some of the other guests. You're of course against this idea, but you soon are forced into doing so anyway by someone you weren't expecting to talk to, or at least not so early.
  
  "Well, if it isn't the head of the Nocturnal League. Glad you could make it, I was hoping you would."
  
  And there you are standing before Baroness Ludmilla Varsakken. She wears no mask and at this close range you get a good look at her. She almost looks like she could be a vampire what with her skin on the paler side and the black hair accentuating it. She's beautiful of course, but just looking into her eyes a bit you can see a very ruthless woman before you. You also take a good look at her in general and then glance over at Vera.
  
  Now that you're looking at them both, there could very well be a family resemblance.
  
  "Well, you certainly like to stare." Ludmilla says, noticing your examination.
  "Oh, um, apologies. Just sort of...overwhelmed you know. Never thought I'd be before royalty." You say.
  "Hah, not the complete uncouth rogue I've heard our mutual Felian acquaintances tell me about I see. Good."
  "How did you know it was me anyway?"
  "I make it a point of knowing all my guests as they arrive. Not to mention your clothing isn't exactly shall we say refined enough. While I'm sure you thought it was very upscale looking, but the workmanship is obviously from one of the mediocre tailors in the city. Only a crimelord with no care for such extravagant airs would believe it to be sufficient for this party. Not to worry though, I will not hold it against you. You tried."
  "I appreciate that, and your invitation."
  "You quite welcome, and who is your companion here? She certainly seems to have a better grasp on the dress code. I dare say this dress is better than a few of the boring nobles here."
  "Thank you! I had it custom made a long time ago. Always knew I'd get to wear it some day!" Vera says a bit excitedly.
  "Now that's what I like to hear. A woman that plans in advance."
  
  At this point Ludmilla begins speaking to Vera and you excuse yourself to get a drink. While you don't normally do so, you get the impression you're going to need a bit of extra help to get through the night.
  
  You can't believe you're even in this situation, let alone acting the way you are. Still, you suppose it makes for an interesting change.
  
  Still, you really don't want to be here all night. You made your appearance and now you'd like nothing more than to leave. Vera however