The Blackguard's Mark

This thin paper is seen, most commonly, on the houses of mages and those harboring Monsters within the Ievlen Empire. In thick black ink, scrawled, are its contents--ritualistically noted in the rightmost column. The document serves as a warning to those inside the building that they have been accused of a civil disobedience. From then on, those that live within will one day soon be collected by The Blackguard.

Who Posts The Notice?

Whether by the hand of a member of the Blackguard or by anyone else, these documents are honored bu the city and cannot be legally removed. It can be placed upon a building just as well by a suspicious neighbor as by some curmudgeon who does not know better; but when placed, even if removed, the Blackguard always seem to arrive, always come to collect. Whether this is due to the Oracles atop the Tower of Cyclops or not is up for debate among the citizens, but it is wholly true; As Ievlen's Thought police, they see all.
However, as a result of this document being open to public use, when such a document is posted upon a house, the writer, neighborhood, and all involved are scrutiny--so long as it is not affiliated with the Blackguard. As a result, when this document is posted, it often means that the lives of those living there will be "over", in a sense: Businesses there close and await the day that the Blackguard will come; most never reopen.
If those collected are not found guilty of a crime they always come back a little paler, frailer, softer. This is thought to be because they are taken to the Tower of Cyclops, to meet the Oracles.

Scandals

While the citizens cannot prove anything yet, the fact that businesses and the citizen's lives can be so thoroughly affected is often used to the advantage of the Blackguard: The people who agree with the Ievlen Empire live there; those that benefit the empire live there; and those who show any sign of insurrection can eventually be replaced.
All in the name of the perfect empire.

Long Live Thyreon Irivel, Patriarch of the Empire

Read the Document

The Blackguard's Mark

I wish the paragons of justice upon you, for the Oracles to see into your mind.
I wish a ironclad hand against you, for the Blackguard to halt your heresy.
I wish the world to look into you, for the Patriarch to lay your business bare.

I suspect here a witch, monster, or ill business.
Signed, [Name]
Prepare yourself and all within to be collected.
Signed, [A Member of The Blackguard]

Close

Type

Decree, Religious

Medium

Paper

Location

Ievlen Empire