Once Tyrannus,

It warms my heart that, to this day, Sothantos' legacy looms large among the citizenry of the Dawnspear, and that your Archivist has not locked the records of his work away. Given your obvious scholarly inclinations, I look forward to discussing his Disputation with you in the near future, and how you reconcile it with the modern Targossian faith. But perhaps we can do so in a forum more suitable for discussion, rather than blithe posturing.

Others have been prompt in their enthusiasm to speak for Her. Their efforts, while scattershot and overeager, will suffice. I will restrict myself in this public missive to respond to your address of my own person.

I will not dispute your description of me as being 'hollowed out', and that is indeed a quote taken from a post I shared with the Faith Recusant shortly after Sothantos' demise. I am curious as to how you arrived at the conclusion, however, that the latter came before the former. My memory is not what it used to be, but, if I am not mistaken, we have spoken only once before, and certainly not on the subject of my admittedly poor mental health. From my retrospection, however, I would point to the moment when his Brother Caefir condemned him for the act of pointing out a lie told by the Lightbringer (such a thing may be unsurprising today, but at the time, it was considered irreconcilable with Her Realm, and Their faith) as the moment I began to 'hollow out'.

You appear to be under the illusion that Who She is, and what She represents, is a secret within Eleusis. That the manner in which She has expressed Her affections towards me are unknown to any who serve Her, and seek to learn of it. But consider this, Emissary Stheno, recently of Targossas; if these were great secrets, why would She have whispered them to you?

I offer you your own advice. Try to listen to all that She says, not just that which you find pleasant and in alignment with your own placated thoughts. Perhaps you are simply not someone worth being honest with.

Ever hollow,
- Aroan, Epopt of Wintertide

Penned by my hand on the 6th of Lupar, in the year 888 AF.