#51 The Futility of Heresy
Despite the overwhelming intensity of the False Apostle's theological delusions, a few individuals within the Society of the Sanguine Rose proved remarkably resistant to his homiletical projections and even dared to question his doctrines.
One such was Lartin Müther. He originally converted to the Society as a youth, like so many others from among the free people of Glymmsforge. For much of his life he was a devoted and zealous follower of the Way of the Rose, even joining one of the Society’s religious orders. A naturally intelligent man, he enthusiastically studied the whole canon of his leaders’ teachings.
But gradually, nagging doubts in the corners of his mind began to encroach upon and even overwhelm the power of the False Apostle’s Abhorrent-Soulblight deception. In particular, Lartin was concerned about the extravagances and indulgences of the clergy. As his mind broke free from the False Apostle's power, he discerned more and more contradictions and lies underpinning the Society of the Sanguine Rose. At first, Müther kept his disbelief to himself, but soon he felt compelled to warn others, including his friend Johann Kelvin. Eventually, he foolishly decided to make a stand.
Approaching Barfunweltz Cathedral in the dead of night, he nailed to its door a document outlining no less than ninety-five arguments against the doctrines of the Way of the Rose. But unbeknownst to him, Kelvin had betrayed him and informed the Sanguine Inquisition of Lartin's apostasy. No sooner had Müther's ninety-five theses been pinned to the cathedral door, than they were torn down and he was taken into custody by the dreaded Inquisitor himself.
For decades Lartin Müther was subjected to unspeakable torture. His captors took away everything he owned and loved - even his name, for he was evermore addressed only as 'The Heretic'. He was locked up alone in a crypt for over a year with nothing to eat but grave-worms. When this diet of worms did not break him, he was subjected to torment after torment: appalling manifestations of all the morbid ingenuity of the Sanguine Inquisition. Eventually, he faced its most terrible torture, a staggeringly sadistic device ironically dubbed ‘The Comfy Chair’. Yet even this horror did not break him.
Years later, Lartin finally died: still in the Inquisition's custody; still chained into their torture machine; still resisting their interrogation. But if Lartin had hoped that death would end his suffering, he was sorely mistaken. Having witnessed Müther's ability to withstand the Sanguine Inquisition like no other, Nagash himself rewarded the Heretic by making him a Krulghast Cruciator in the Procession of the Foolish Martyrs, thus extending his pain into an eternity in its service.
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