But a single month after Belin, a young boy, was brought to the monks of Judgement Mountain, a suspicious death occured within the walls of the monastery. A novice in training, Auldyn, had been murdered.

A shout was heard across the land, originating from the village of Nimick where the innkeeper, Borme, was frantic with concern for his son. Many flocked to the small inn, eager to offer aid to the innkeeper, who regaled the growing crowd with tales of his son fleeing in the night, on a ship bound for Meropis. Wracked with worry, the middle-aged man asked a group of adventurers to make that same voyage, to journey to Judgement Mountain, and check on his boy.

All but one ventured forth from the inn, eager to investigate. Only Kassa Lighthawk remained, propping up the tavern bar as Borme eagerly told stories of the past.

Upon their arrival at the monastery, a horde of adventurers descended upon the boy. Among them, the voices of Shirszae, Faedwyn, Ehene, and Titonus resounded loudest, relentlessly questioning the young boy on his part in the recent tragedy as Davkas looked on in horror at the death of one of his novices. While at first the boy avoided direct answers, he soon wilted under the onslaught of questions, revealing that Auldyn had bested him using a staff in sparring practice.

In his rage, Belin flew after the girl, wresting her staff into his own hands and bringing it to bear against her body. Moments later, Auldyn had perished, bludgeoned to death. Not a trace of remorse or regret could be found in Belin's short, over-enthusiastic narrative, a fact that deeply disturbed those present.

This unfortunate story brought to light the age-old quarrel against using the staves as weapons, looking back to the agreement made centuries before when Castomira Brangwin led the Seleucar empire.

Ciglo the historian of Judgement mountain, and Davkas, the venerable tutor, after hearing of Belin's betrayal and the use of the staff, went before Grandmaster Kevadrin to argue about using the ancient weapon once again. Though Ciglo felt the historic agreement should be honoured, Davkas felt that the monks should cast off the shackles of the past and allow the staff to gain prominence once more.

Presenting this to the Grandmaster, arguments erupted afresh between the two factions. Amid the clamour, Kevadrin declared that he would listen to both sides before making a decision, inviting the residents of Achaea to make their cases to Davkas and Ciglo.

Summary: Belin, the young boy smuggled to Judgement Mountain, slew a fellow initiate after being defeated in sparring. The initiate was training with a staff, a custom that is typically forbidden to those of the monk persuasion, and Belin used her own staff to bludgeon the girl to death. Many gathered in the monastery to discuss the boy's fate, and heated debates sprung up over whether the staff should be reintroduced to the monk teachings. Grandmaster Kevadrin invited adventurers to make their cases for and against, declaring a judgement to come within the fortnight.


Penned by My hand on the 16th of Chronos, in the year 742 AF.