Anonymous Screed

Side A:

The unmoderated ignorance of the average intellect need not cause us to refrain from examination of the actuality of the history of Python's downfall contained in the supposedly truthful Canticle, a fine piece of hierophantic propaganda as generated by the official mouthpiece of the upstart, one Mirabelle Sagron, bedmite and sycophant to Epimetreus the Usurper. Truth is found in many guises, and the censorship of those who believe themselves informed does not contradict this; nor does the protective jealousy of those who are found to have spent lifetimes in fruitless study of mere detail (of which does not contradict the facts of the numerous and varied cases in hand); and the intricate dependencies of Pythonic and Stygian culture: the Roots of Our Civilization are, naturally, useful indicators of the points which can be examined by intelligent students of what really happened within the carefully censored bounds of the allegedly true Canticle. Did these events in fact occur, or were they in actuality created afterwards to cover more surreptitious and darker deeds by a deity who would stop at nothing to achieve dominance?

There are, of course, a number of objections to this case. Some traditional "sages" have suggested that alleged deific interventions on the Plains of Battle would have caused titanic changes there. Others we have "queried" point out that the inscriptions actually depict formal temple ceremonies, according (they claim) to the accompanying text, or lack of texts. Unfortunately the actual truth was too much for their mortal minds. However, there are a number of responses possible to the former objection; perhaps the Plains were formerly mountains, or perhaps the Albidarian blood and fire magics were later canceled by that same deific intervention -- Gods do not tread lightly, especially ones attempting to hide their tracks. It is indeed curious that numerous magical interventions seem to occur within the tapestry yet our current sages agree that true magery was only started quite recently, in deific terms. How is it that these men were able to use magics then? There is evidence that strongly presents that a few early mages, albeit extraordinarily talented, were able to fool quite a few followers of our Lord, or that indeed they were not men at all.

As for the inscriptions; translating these is, in fact, a difficult and complex science, and any translation is far less reliable than might be thought. In fact, one might wonder about the motives of these "respectable" academics, who are, after all, well-paid in their collegium chairs of study (and perhaps in receipt of more payments than they will publicly admit). Since the fall of Python, human beings have repeatedly been shown the error of their ways -- and yet, again and again, humanity has refused to accept the pressing need to turn away from the blind obedience of the Mithras, and to return to the wisdoms defined by the Ancient, Sacred, Elder God.

One would have thought that the obvious fact that this is the religion used in the creation of the languages of magic and the meanings of words themselves (if the piece is indeed true) would have convinced even the greatest doubters of its God-given nature -- but no there are too many who would claim these bounties from this new god, the pretender god, he that usurped the true place of Set in these domains.

Side B:

As Herecrat, Maciveam, and Eprasa have proved, and as Siobhan has demonstrated the Pythonians were, in fact, descendants of the Stygian ruling class made flesh through the histachii adventurers who founded the northern cities. Obvious, yes, and the blood shows in the blessed, yet the northern clime does indeed favor the hybrids, which is perhaps their weakness. Epimetreus and Sagron, Elihu and Albidar led the north through the rebellion, and yet none were in charge at its end. All had been in touch with a "higher plane" in the mountains during the great hiding from the King of the Night -- and who knows what magics the god Mithras had brought upon them there? Obviously, something more than coincidence must be involved in this matter. Epimetreus was "taken away", while Albidar lost all of his worldly might shortly after that.

Curious that Albidar should be persecuted for the skills that enabled some of these victories in the first place. And if Epimetreus was so important, why was he not allowed to rest or ever procreate? Simply because he was not human. Of the four only these two wielded temporal power upon the world, and therefore threatened Mithras new dominions -- why? How? A complex plot? Obviously, more investigation is needed, but for now, we can assume that once the new religion had been grafted onto the wounds of the former, there was no need for these folk -- indeed if they were ever rewarded at all. The holy places overlapped in some areas, and there is still the disturbing and obscure references of the ways -- whose? Is this a lost art? Or is there a cycle involved? There are darker implications here.

If the rebel church is really working to eradicate the true pythonic bloodlines, an informed mind might wonder why it is so adamantly opposed to meddling into kingdom politics, which might, after all, help reduce our number of the remnant Lords and Minions. Of course, this represents an ingenious obscuration or blind; the other actions that the Hidden induce it to perform cause many of its followers to doubt and even ignore the Archimandrite's canonical bulls, so that this 'policy' has little detrimental consequence for his schemes, while permitting him to use it as a blatant ruse behind which his plots may be developed. Clever and careful stealth! Here, as elsewhere, we observe the invidious energy of the Hidden at work. Interestingly enough, other churches explicitly disagree with the Archimandrite's statements on such matters. A yet-more-subtle method for undermining the ancient genetic Pythonic heirs? Some of these will invariably bear fruit, likely here and the west. The Minions have worked long, hard, and diligently for their modern moment of triumph, and doubtless they are now tempted to emerge from cover. But they remain self-controlled and secretive, their supple willpower and stealthy caution still in place. What else can we expect from those whose coils were formed by the Lord of Night himself, and his agents? There are clever, dangerous plotters arrayed against the Truth. As long as the Church stays apart from the King, our torments are scattered.