…With The Pillars

JP with Omni and Winteroak

Returning to his tent the Purger made sure he took Voah around the camp in s scenic view so she would see the preparations that were taking place. And to impress on her his own role. Although Bootleggers'Pier was a Ostiarium war camp, everywhere they went men and woman seemed to stop the man and ask for his blessings.
Many wondering when his next sermon would take place

Margrave informed Voah that he had arrived with 40 members of the Silent Flock and in the weeks since their landing o these shores dozens of soldiers had already taken the vows of silence and answered Vastad's call joining their ranks. She could tell that slowly but surely the Purger was wrestling control of the camp from the Duke. Or at least positioning himself as someone the Lord Commander needed to confer with while making decisions.

The camp was an impressive sight, to be sure and Margrave Otho was an unlikely charismatic leader. But the soldiers were already falling in line with him.

Voah just needed to throw herself back in with the faithful as well and she would be her old self again, right? Arbiter of Vastad, God of War and Justice… there was certainly war to be had, but this didn’t seem like justice.

What exactly were the machinations of the Purger? What was he getting out of all of this besides proving his devotion to the faith? He had certainly no need for this kind of excess. It seemed like he wanted to supplant the Duke? Or he simply enjoyed the cruel power and pain over human life.

And he still never answered her question about bringing the faith of the Pillars to the natives.

This crusade felt wrong and Voah felt very much like a reluctant member of the Silent Flock; voiceless, an Arbiter who could not judge and an Inquisitor who couldn’t question.

She followed the Purger back to his tent, wondering what else he had in store for her.

Once back in the tent they shared a meagre meal of dark brown bread and boiled greens. No, salt, no butter, almost no taste washed down with more water.

"I yearn to see you in action sister. Maybe that is what you are in need off. Focus. Hunt down the enemies of our faith, these magik wielders.

"I want you to lead a squad of our brethren along with some of the mercenary companies and destroy them. Bring back any witches for further questioning."

He chewed on the hard bread and washed it down with some water.

"Is your heart and soul still with us sister?"

Voah finally broke her fast and took some food and water as she listened to Margrave. The greens and bread may have been bland, but at least it was a different taste than she had been eating lately.

Maybe the Purger was right. Maybe she needed to focus on the toil of the Inquisition, hunting magik wielders…

His words sounded good. If they were a honey wine she would’ve been drunk on them, but for two words that turned the whole sweetness to bitter. ‘Destroy them.’ He wasn’t referring to the witches… No, the Purger was asking her to destroy a whole tribe of people. Why did that need to happen? As far as Voah was concerned, it didn’t. How and when would they bring the faith if everyone was dead?

What choice did she have at this point? She knew that she could not argue her thoughts, not here. She would be struck dead right where she stood.

No, she would try to continue by the Purger’s way. After all, she had been led here by destiny. This was the crux, she knew that whatever happened next was a crucial and decisive moment of the changes within her. Once the pendulum broke, she didn’t know where she would land, but it would be her next path determined by the Pillars.

Voah pushed down her heretical questioning and feelings of doubt and mustered all of the faith in her people. She would have to lead them into battle.

Keeping the Purger’s eyes, Voah leaned forward and gave him a truthful response.

“My heart and soul are always with the Pillars.”