In the end of 2768 ad urbe condita Old Magician and Shade made a visit to "The Theocracy of The One" to find additions to the library. While browsing through theological publications and inquisition guidelines they found a report published by the High council of the One, classified as top secret and for the eyes of High Inquisitors and Theocrats only. It was entitled "The Abode", "An Accurate Eyewitness Report of a visit to a Most Horrific Demonic Abode and the accurate descriptions of the foul creatures observed therein". At first Old Magician though it more of a coincidence, but Shades nuance of grey darkened after a quick look inside. "Seems that we had a visitor with ill intent some time ago"...
Thus it was added to the pack of books that they had decided to relieve the High councils secure storage off.
The following is excerpts from the report, we have left out the parts where the Theocracy tells us of all the righteousness they stand for, how enlightened they are and how the One will prove saviour of all that follows and defeater of all who oppose. Even if it sounds fun to read it gets more than a bit boring after the first dozen or so repetitions.
Some of the inhabitants of the Abode found this report a great source of fun, others thought it less amusing though...
The Abode - Charting an hitherto unknown threat to the Holy church of the One
An eyewitness report by the most holy and zealous paladin J.S.
2766 ad urbe condita (adjusted to Abode standard time)
...
Following the lead previously reported to the local inquisitors by an observant local shopkeeper, about a maid not connected to any of the blessed households in the city, I set out in the early morning of the midweek market and had the suspect maid and a helper of apparently tender age, pointed out within the hour. Based on the wares she bought, she must belong to an household withholding their tribute to the church, or possibly belonging to a witch master who extorted money from our easily mislead believers. In any case, something that we should investigate further, to either guarantee that the church gets its fair share, or that the evil is driven from town and whoever was misled from the true faith should be granted salvation, by fire if necessary.
The young maid seemed ordinary, even if she moved around and haggled with great confidence, far beyond what is proper for simple maids. Her helper, which I at first thought was a skinny young girl, raised my interest though, she was unnaturally petite, with extremely long legs, and I immediately recognised her as either a changeling or possibly of half fairy origin. Coming face to face with such a creatures from the legends, known to seduce and mislead men into damnation, almost made me hesitate, but strengthened by prayers to the One, I bravely continued with my important mission, strengthened in both soul and belief that there was evil to be handled.
I followed the suspect maid as she went through and bought quite an odd assortment of quite luxury foods, not at all in line with what people not blessed by the Theocracy should be able to afford. A stop at the apothecary convinced me that whoever sent this maid out, was no ordinary believing citizen, but possibly an unknown alchemist doing forbidden experiments. By now I also noticed that the proportion between what they bought and put in their bags didn't match, neither volume nor apparent weight was close to what it should have been. This is something heard of when investigating fairy legends, but is usually disregarded as nonsense.
At this point I must confess that I should have understood that I needed reinforcements, but made the mistake to keep following them myself. I beg the Patriarchs forgiveness for this. But to my defence I will say that then perhaps we should never have had this report.
More text to be added shortly