La Confrérie des Traducteurs

To our Dearest Leandra,

I can't take long, as I know not how long I have. The horrors that inhabit this accursed place have left me alone for a short while, but they have already killed Mattius. Gally and I are afraid we will be next.

We have been keeping much from you, but I don't have time to write it all. Needless to say, we only kept these things from you because of our concern for your safety. Mattius still has his journal on him, if you find that too it will explain far more than I can right here.

If you ever find this, I want you to know that Mattius and I loved you dearly, and we thought of you as a daughter. We have no living relatives, and I want to give you Jolard Manor as your own. The thought of you needing to leave your home is too much for me.

Please take care of it, and think of us fondly. May we be together again in the Over Father's Palace on High.

Yours fondly,

Kreah

<font face=1>Balad of Balmora<br>
<br>
This is a true story, so pay careful attention. It is a story of an unlikely love, and the circumstances that brought the lovers together. <br><br>
Far away in Morrowind, in the city of Balmora, there lived a young woman named Cosette. Her family were poor swamp farmers, and when she was 16 her family had sent her off to Balmora to work for a rich family. Her employers put her to work as a maid; she cleaned and cooked, mended and kept accounts, and she worked hard to help keep her mind off her family. <br><br>
No matter how hard she worked though, she was always lonely. Her employers were good people, but distant and reclusive. They treated her well, but did not let down their guard. They rarely entertained guests, and they never left the home. She had no friends, and no one to confide in. All she had were the letters she got from home. <br><br>
The letters always brought her great joy mixed with trepidation. Her family still struggled, and while she sent them as much as she could, they still had trouble getting by. Even worse was the fact that they were constantly harassed by thugs and thieves. Every letter she received told of an insult, threat, assault or theft. She wished there was more she could do, but she was just a young girl far from home. <br><br>
Two years went by, and her mistress died. Her Master was old and weary, and the loneliness soon claimed him also. She was frightened and unsure of what to do. Her family desperately needed her help, but without her employers, what could she do? Her employers had been reclusive, and she decided that the world would never miss them. She continued keeping the house, doing the shopping, and keeping the finances in order. No-one ever came to check on her master and mistress, no one missed them. She was able to live as she needed to. <br><br>
She went through the finances, and gathered together the majority of the money, and sent a large sum home to her family; she hoped that it would help them to climb out of their poverty. However the shipment of money was stolen by the bandits that terrorized her family. Not only that, but they took Cosette’s sister captive, and used her for whatever they desired. Cosette received a letter from her father; in it her father pleaded for her to send someone to help, possibly to ask her Master and Mistress to use their connections. Cosette had not revealed the fact that her employers were dead, and she did not want her father to find out the deceptive life she had been living. <br><br>
She fretted for days over what to do. Finally fate intervened. One day while shopping at the market, she bumped into a Bosmer. He was dirty, and travel-worn, but held himself with a noble bearing. He was obviously sure of himself, and his armor, sword and bow appeared well kept… and well used. When she caught his gaze, his eyes were deep and kind, and she felt her heart leap into her throat. When she had caught her breath, she ran up to him and begged him to speak with her. <br><br>
The worry and stress finally overwhelmed her, and she spilled everything to this stranger. She told him of her family, their struggles, and the thugs they dealt with. In tears she rushed to tell him of her sister’s capture, and of the letter from her father. She told him that she had sent most of her money to her family, so she could not pay him, but she begged him for his help. With this last, overwhelmed by emotion, she fell into his arms. After only a moment's hesitation, he held her to him.<br><br>
Once she calmed down, he lifted her chin in his hand, and told her he would help. He said his name was William, and he needed no payment but her thanks. Taking him back to her home, she drew him a map and gave him directions to her family’s farm. She then fed him and he left on the journey. <br><br>
William traveled for two days to the farm, north to Caldera and then around the Boldon Mountains. Finally he reached Cosette’s family farm and met her frantic parents. They couldn’t believe their good fortune, and quickly explained where the thugs had taken Jasine, Cosette’s sister. William set off immediately, climbing the hills behind their home, to find the bandits lair. Searching through the craggy landscape, he found their trail, and followed it to a cave in the hillside. Unslinging his bow, he entered the cave. <br><br>
It was dark inside, but quiet, and he could hear the movements and low conversation down the tunnel. Moving forward quietly, he knocked an arrow in anticipation. Rounding a corner in the tunnel, he saw the first of his prey. The bandit was large, dressed in furs and rags, and wore a mismatched set of armor. A battered shield lay on the ground next to him, while a sword lay across his knees as he sat against the slope of the tunnel. Both his hands and his attention were on a haunch of meat, and William slowly drew the string back on his bow. Holding his breath, he carefully aimed and then let the arrow fly. It found its mark quickly and quietly, embedding itself in the man’s neck. He tumbled on his side, dead before he knew what happened. The man’s sword slid off his knees and landed softly in the dirt. <br><br>
William dispatched each of the rest of the bandits in their turn; some with his arrows, one with his dagger slicing across a throat, the last in pitched swordplay. When the last bandit was still, William found a crude cage that had been built in the back of the cavern. Inside was a poor battered young woman, naked and dirty. She looked at him with terrified eyes. <br><br>
William grabbed the key from the bandit captain’s corpse, and unlocked the crude cell door. The girl huddled in the corner, ashamed of her state. He spoke to her, and soon he drew her out of her fear. She begged him to find her clothes, to hide her nakedness. She was too embarrassed and ashamed to go home to her parents without them. She told him that the bandits had tossed them down a hole in the back of the cave. <br><br>

After checking to make sure she was ok, William left Jasine and went to find the hole. He tossed down a torch, and saw that the hole was not too deep. Slipping down inside, he found a large cavern, a pond of water, and two eyes peering at him from the darkness. He quickly cast a shield spell and drew out his sword. The eyes resolved themselves into an enormous spider, venom dripping from its fangs. The spider leapt at him, William dodged to the side, while slashing across his body with his sword. He connected but only slightly, and the spider was soon upon him again. Steel shone, fangs slashed, and claws cut, until at last William took advantage of a weak move, and the spider was impaled on his sword.<br><br>
Wounded but luckily un-poisoned, William searched the cavern and found Jasine’s clothes. He took them back to her, allowed her to dress, and then returned her to her home. The homecoming was of course joyous, and the happy parents rewarded William with a pair of ten league boots. These remarkable boots allowed William to make huge leaps and bounds, and allowed him to return to Balmora… and Cosette, as quickly as possible. <br><br>
Cosette had not been able to stand the waiting. When William walked through her door, she leaped at him from across the room. Startling herself and William, she threw herself into his arms, emotion threatening to overwhelm her. William held her tightly, and then whispered the words she was longing to hear. Her sister was safe, her family free of those who persecuted them and he had returned to her.<br><br>
She looked into his eyes, and there she found the soul of a hero. Her knees weak, she held on to him, willing her heart to slow. Finally composed enough to speak, she told him that she could of course not pay him, but that she would give him the only thing she could. Herself.<br><br>
From then on, William always had a home, and Cosette was no longer alone. William went on to many other great adventures, but he always returned to her. Together they lived out their days in the grand old home. In every sense of the phrase, they lived happily ever after.

<div align="center"><font face=1>Protectors of the Nine<br>
<br>
<div align="left">[from the Annals of Garmash]<br>
<br>
<IMG src="Book/fancy_font/a_70x61.dds" width=70 height=61>lthough the Nine are all powerful, and do not need our help, we cannot but remember the stricture: Protect The Faith. Those who profess to love the Nine, will hate all who oppose them.<br>
<br>
<br>
<IMG src="Book/fancy_font/a_70x61.dds" width=70 height=61>ny who will take upon them this charge, will forswear all oaths, even those professed to the Church as a whole. The new Oaths of the Zealots of the Nine will suffice him or her who begins on this path. <br>
<br>
<IMG src="Book/fancy_font/s_61x62.dds" width=61 height=62>o long as this path is walked, you will fight the heretics, showing no mercy. For only when they are destroyed can the purity of the Nine be restored. <br>
<br>
-- from the liturgy of the Path of Zealotry

<div align="center"><font face=1><br>
Mattius Jolard's Diary<br>
<br>
<div align="left"><IMG src="Book/fancy_font/f_59x61.dds" width=59 height=61>ive years ago, Kreah and I began to doubt the Nine. We had prayed many times, but never seen any results, and therefore we lost our faith. Truthfully, I am not sure we ever had the faith that we see in others.<BR>
<BR>
This lack of faith in the Nine is not so uncommon, but there are a few.. oh a precious few of us who do what we can to spread the word. We worship not the Nine, but the Over Father. Most of you will dismiss the Over Father as a legend, a myth, or an ancient superstition. However we have found great faith in him.<BR>
<BR>
This "heresy" has been brutally oppressed by those that follow the Nine. We have been forced to stay under cover, to be careful who we speak with, and especially, to hide those who are discovered.<BR>
<BR>
Kreah and I decided long ago that we would not proclaim our faith openly any more, but that we would do what we can to help those who do. Since then, we have been forced many times to hide those who are oppressed, and help them escape to new lives. While the followers of the Nine would not officially and openly persecute us, in secret they have tortured, murdered and worse to suppress the teachings of the Over Father.<BR>
<BR>
We will continue to do what we can to help.<BR>
<BR>
******<BR>
<BR>
Kreah and I have been taking in more children of the Over Father. The latest is a young woman, Gally. She was preaching right in the center of the Imperial City. Oh she was brave! One of our allies found her being beaten by the Zealots of the Nine in an alley, and they were able to scare the Zealots away.<BR>
<BR>
Before they could return to finish their work, our allies whisked her out of the city, and they were able to bring her to us. We were lucky; Leandra our Maid almost saw her, but Leandra's schedule is so predictable, we have been able to protect her from our secret. It is not that we don't trust her, it is simply that Kreah and I think of her as a daughter, and we do not want to put her in danger. <BR>
<BR>
******<BR>
<BR>
We are in luck! I was putting something in one of our chests in our "guest quarters" when I noticed a small hole in the floor of the cave. Curious, I dug away at it and was lucky enough to find a whole separate cave system! The cave runs away deep into the earth, but surfaces again close to the surface on the other side of the river.<BR>
<BR>
Kreah had the idea that we should dig the rest of the way to the surface, and see where it comes out. We may be able to use the cave system as an emergency escape exit. This could be greatly useful if ever the Zealots of the Nine discover our "heresy".<BR>
<BR>
******<BR>
<BR>
We did it! The tunnel comes out into the graveyard of the cathedral!! I can't believe our luck, we have been truly blessed by the Over Father. We installed a hidden door at the end, and padlocked it to keep it safe. I also installed an additional precaution, a door disguised as a boulder that blocks the path at the point where it goes under the water level for a short distance. Hopefully this will help keep us secure. <BR>
<BR>
******<BR>
<BR>
Kreah was working on widening the tunnel this morning, when a portion of the side wall collapsed. Since we are near the graveyard and the cathedral, she wonders if we have opened a passage into one of the crypts. She was afraid to enter on her own in case there were more rock falls, but it appears to be reasonably stable. I told her we should go explore it tonight, maybe it will give us another way to escape!

Dear Mother and Father,

I don't know when this might reach you, but I wanted to write anyway, and let you know I am OK. Mattius and Kreah have hidden me for the time being. I would tell you where, but I am afraid this note will fall into the wrong hands. Needless to say I am safe and warm for now, although I am afraid.

I am so sorry I put you through all of this. It has been such a hard time, but with Mattius and Kreah's help, I should have somewhere to go soon. They said the arrangements are being finalized, and I must admit, even though I have trepidation over what is coming, I will be glad to get out of this cave.

Mattius found a natural tunnel leading out of this cave, and we have been working long hours to dig it out further, and we finally finished 2 nights ago, we managed to find an exit that will work well for an escape route. I will be able to leave through this tunnel soon, it will be wonderful!

I love you, and miss you. Hopefully one day we will all be able to be together again.

Yours always,

Gally

<div align="center"><font face=1>Book of the Over Father<br>
<br>
<div align="left">[Extracts]<br>
<br>
<IMG src="Book/fancy_font/a_70x61.dds" width=70 height=61>fter years of suppression, the one true faith of the Over Father has been restored to us. We have learned that the polytheism of the Nine is an abomination, the Nine are but corrupted aspects of the one true Over Father. While the Nine are fractured, and represent only parts of existence, the Over Father represents all. He is not diminished, he is instead supreme.<br>
<br>
Only through understanding this one great truth can we hope to overcome the heretical teachings of the Nine. The Priests of the Nine will try to tell you that the Gods reflect us, that they govern their respective earthly spheres. The Over Father doesn't reflect us, we reflect Him. He encompasses all existence, and we are but parts of the whole. The Gods are not aspects of us, we are aspects of the one true God.<BR><BR>
********<BR>
<br>
<IMG src="Book/fancy_font/a_70x61.dds" width=70 height=61>ll who choose to follow the Over Father must preach his word. The Gospel of the Over Father must be spread, and the corruption which is the Church of the Nine must be overcome. All followers must give all they have in the service of the Over Father. He will bless those that choose Him, rather than the distractions of life. <br>
<br>
********
<BR><BR>
<IMG src="Book/fancy_font/s_61x62.dds" width=61 height=62>eek out the good in all things, reject the evil. Find the life, and reject the death. Search for the beautiful, and reject the ugly. Follow the light, and reject the darkness. Accept the truth of the Over Father and reject ignorance and deception. Become one with the Over Father . <br>
<br>
-- Extracts from the Book of the Over Father, Part 28