Letter From a Heretic

The Letter From a Heretic is an important document in the history of the Izaric Exorcists. It was this letter that gave birth to the Oath of the Fallen Court, as well as causing the excommunication of more than one-hundred Exorcists and the splintering of Izarity into the Kalastradi and Falgan sects.
The letter was written from an unknown Exorcist in Falgor to his apparent lover in Kalastrad. In the letter, the Exorcist expresses doubt over the black-and-white narrative of Angels and Demons. He talks about how the good versus evil rhetoric masks over an equally cruel nature in the Angels; Heaven doesn't care for the needs of the few - their scope is too great. This, however, is not what draws the ire of the central church.
Where the Exorcist truly shifts history is when he tells his lover that he has struck a deal with a Demon, voluntarily allowing them partial possession is order to use their infernal magic. This is - in the eyes of the church - a heresy. In the letter, he defends himself to his lover, but whether or not she remained with him is something historians are unclear on.

Historical Details

Public Reaction

When the church intercepted the letter, releasing a statement to the public that the Falgan believers had fallen to heresy and were not to be recognized as true adherents, there was outrage. This had come on the back of the final push to rid Kalastrad of the Eldritch Church, solidifying the hold that the church had over the people. There was fear in every pew that there may be heretics in league with Demons in every town. Fear grew as to what may come of the "Demonic Sect", leading to a wide-spread shunning of Falgan peoples within Kalastrad.

Legacy

There were two major outcomes from the letter.
1. The founding of the Oath of the Fallen Court
2. The split between Kalastradi and Falgan members of the Izaric Church

Read the Document

Letter From a Heretic

Translated from Tesprek
My darling and my love,
It is with a heavy and conflicted heart that I write you this day. I have come to see what I believe to be a new light, though it be found in a realm of darkness. I am a man of great faith - one who has dedicated my every fiber to the service of my God and Lords - but I am no blind sheep. I have thought long and hard on what it is to be good and have found Heaven lacking. Here in Falgor, the people suffer day after day. They are plagued by disease and beasts of the night. Vampires, Lycans, the Souls of the dead and even their rotting flesh bombard these people on every front. Do you know what they do? They pray! They cry out to the Great One and his Angels, but they hear nothing.
This has brought me great conflict. As the Zina tells us:
"When I cry out to you, oh Lord, you hear me. You hang on my every word. You delight in me, and I in you. My every wish you have provided. Is there nothing you won’t give? When I am in need, you supply. When I am in pain, you heal. Never shall my heart be in want."
Yet here are a people crying out and our God does nothing! That is the cruelty of Heaven. They wage war with the Demons, but they do not care for the lives of mortal men! They seek only to preserve the mortal world - their war is more important. How, then, can they be good? True, Demonkind is selfish and vile in its own right, but I would rather perish to the fire of the wicked than die in the cold indifference of the righteous. 
It's for that reason that I made a choice.
I have bound myself to a Demon so that I may better fight the dangers that befall the people here. I know this is a heresy but I cannot fight the knowledge of Heaven's indifference! If Heaven will do nothing then I must turn to Hell! These people will be saved and I shall see to it. I shall keep them safe. Do not despise me, my love. I do this not out of selfish ambition, but for the safety of the people the church itself trusted to me. I can only hope that the church will see the truth and have mercy on me.
I love you.

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Type

Text, Letter

Medium

Paper

Authoring Date

7th day of the Summer Moon, 1243 AK