#26 Agents of Neferata
Some years ago, at the zenith of the Society of the Sanguine Rose, the influence of the False Apostle reached even into the highest echelons of Glymmsforge’s aristocracy. One socialite, Marchioness Weiß, was a particularly zealous and fanatical proponent of the Way of the Rose and sought vigorously to spread its message among the wider nobility of the Free Peoples. Her enthusiasm for hosting overwrought prayer meetings earned her ridicule and the chattering classes mockingly referred to her as “Saint Paule”.
Unbeknown to her, one of her would-be converts, Lady Beauvoir, was in fact a Soulblight vampire, Sanguinarch and agent of Queen Neferata. Beauvoir discerned in the Marchioness something surpassing normal religious enthusiasm - a mortal enthralled with delusions worthy of a mordant, yet displaying none of the uncouth cannibalism of the Flesh-Eater Courts. Could this be the work of a vampire? If so, they possessed unique and extraordinary powers. Reporting back to Queen Neferata, Beauvoir was instructed to abandon her current mission and investigate. She granted Weiß the blood kiss and recruited her to assist in further investigation of this mysterious ‘False Apostle’.
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| Marchioness Paule Weiß (Vampire 'Lord') |
The Lady Beauvoir, to Her Majesty Neferata, Queen of Mysteries.
Humble greetings.
Here follows my latest intelligence report regarding the being formerly known as The False Apostle.
Having reflected upon Marchioness Weiß's description of the False Apostle and his favoured insignia, I suspected that his origins might lie with the Order of the Blood-Drenched Rose and travelled to their citadel. Knowing them to have sometimes fought against your Majesty’s purposes, I was gratified to identify among them your agent Lord Voltaire. He was able to confirm my hypothesis regarding the False Apostle’s origins and revealed that he was once known among their Order as 'The Paladin'. Voltaire arranged to accompany us to Glymmsforge, bringing with him a retinue of Blood Knights whom I anticipate will be of use to our purposes.
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| Lord Voltaire the Pedagogue, Lord Castellan of the Order of the Blood-Drenched Rose (Vampire Lord) |
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| Blood Knights |
Since arriving in Glymmsforge, I have found multiple evidences to confirm that the False Apostle appears to have enjoyed unusually extensive control over the minds not only of the dead, but of the living also. By this remarkable power he was able to establish the quasi cult known as The Society of the Sanguine Rose, and exercise absolute power over every one of its adherents - including our own 'Saint Paule'. Most of these souls are now Nighthants, gathered as the Procession of the Foolish Martyrs.
Sometime after his defeat at the hands of Sigmar's lackeys, a portion of the False Apostle's soul somehow escaped its confinement and became manifest as a ghoul king known as the 'False Messiah'. This abhorrent creature has established a large and growing court of flesh-eaters alongside his former thrall, the now-abhorrent Baby-Eating Bishop of Barfunweltz.
By my scrying within the city, I also detected an artefact with a tenacious link to the False Apostle's former residence, Barfunweltz Manse. This building has assumed a non-corporeal form and is almost impossible to locate. However, it is my belief that the artefact, a triple candelabrum, may be used to find - or perhaps summon - the Manse. I am eager to search the False Apostle's residence as it will surely yield more intelligence. I will of course relay this to you once I have succeeded.
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| Anya Leidl, Soulblight debutante (Vampire 'Lord') |
The candelabrum was in the possession of a surprisingly gifted slum girl called Anya Leidl. I sensed in her a strange connection to the False Apostle's activities so I gifted her the blood kiss and recruited her into my coven. The debutante has proved a useful source of intelligence, for she lived her short and miserable mortal existence on the outskirts of Barfunweltz Cemetery. While teaching her the blood rites, I have discovered she has intrinsic necro-mystical connections with both main branches of the Sanguine Rose. This appears to be a consequence of the fate of her own flesh and blood, for her father's soul was drawn into the Procession of the Foolish Martyrs, while her mother more recently become a mordant in the Raptured Court of the Sanguine Rose.
Further reports will follow.
May blood flow forever in your honour.
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