The Journal of Urius Knok

Written by: Grand Inquisitor Urius Knok

Year: 1391 - 1404

The personal journal of a Grand Inquisitor of the Church of Dovien, specifically going over a long string of travels Urius took from Kanona all the way to the northern border of Westly. During this over 10 year mission, Urius goes over in previously unseen detail the process he saw and handled the many trials and executions of witches he oversaw. In this overview we'll be particularly talking about a secton starting in the fall of 1393, regarding the curious case and trial of Graciela Pan.

In the early fall of 1393 Urius Knok entered the town of Frankfield in the small kingdom of Arpan. Upon entering the city with his caravan, he was quickly told that there was a plague going around ravaging the children in the town. In the last two weeks, 22 children had fallen ill, and 9 of them had died. They all had the same symptoms: fever, convulsions, screaming fits, and they would violently refuse to take food or drink water. The citizens were sure that witchcraft had gripped their town.

*"Discussing the details with the townsfolk seemed impossible. All of them only wanted to tell me tall tales of spirits, hooha, and friends of friends they had who claimed to see their neighbor slaughter a goat to the dark gods. If this trial is to start in gossip and chaos, then I fear it may be easier to skip the trouble and raise the town completely. Though there is one woman I spoke to named Senila Marello, who peaked my interest. She told me several stories of her neighbor, one Graciela Pan. A widow who Sanila claims to have seen on many nights walking into the fields outside of town, undressing herself, and rolling her nude body in the tall grass. This gave me pause, as she wasn't lying. Tomorrow, as the dawn climbs the horizon, I will investigate these claims myself."* - Page 456

Before meeting with Graciela, the Grand Inquisitor took the time to do research and make note of her station in the town. Graciela was a town healer who married a farmer in Frankfield, but she was originally from Greenwich. In 1390, Graciela's husband disappeared under mysterious circumstances, and according to many towns people, she couldn't be trusted after that as she slowly lost her mind after her husband's disappearance.

*"I spoke to a small man with perhaps a total of seven teeth at a pub liked by many of the locals. I asked him about Mrs. Pan, and he went from surprised, to excited, to ecstatic all in the mere matter of a moment. He droned on for nearly an hours time telling me about how Mrs. Pan is shifty, reclusive, untrustworthy, unright in the head, and receives visitors at all hours of the night. Many in town had the same response. Whether a witch or not, one could hardly blame the woman for being a recluse in this town, but my work demands I see this to the end."* - Page 1461

From there, Urius went to the widow herself for the first Inquisition, feeling he had enough anecdotal evidence to justify an investigation. To his suprise, Graciela was a very kind, well spoken, and humble host, far from the psychopathic monster the town made her out to be. Something troubled him though.

*"Far be from what the folk would have you believe in this simple place, Mrs. Pan was rather pleasant. Her appearance was pleasurable, her demeanor that of a kind host, and her home was very well kept. Surely I would have found this relieving, had I not watched the light bend around her as she moved. She be a witch, of this I have no doubt. Her ghastly dark aura is what ails those children, of this I have no doubt. Whether or not this is purposeful ritual, or harmful side effect is unknown and irrelevant. My duty is known."* - Page 1464

The trial date was set, witnesses were set to testify, and preparations for inevitable execution were organized. Then, something unprecedented happened.

*"By the light, my days get ever stranger as the days pass. For the passed four days I have readied evidence, testimony, witness, and logistics in preparation for the upcoming trial of Graciela Pan, and yet here I stand with my efforts dashed on the rocks as a wayward ship. I received a parcel at first light just this morning from the Archbishop himself. 'Ah a great honor!' I thought, 'he must know of my great works!' I glowed. Nay. Not such a glorious thing could it be. Instead, a letter instructing me to delay the trial of Mrs. Pan and transport her to the capital city of Greenwich, at the behest of her father, a man whom I have been assured is a great patron of the church. Furthermore, Graciela's father has made great donations and contributions in order to appeal for his daughter's homeward return."* - Page 1487

For the next three months, the caravan made the slogging trip through the plains as the fall turned to winter and the wagons were slowed again and again by the driving snow and cutting wind. During this time, Urius would have several biting thoughts that gave him great worry. One being that Graciela's demeanor never changed; from their meeting, to her arrest, to being transported hundreds of miles in the driving snow, she was still the calm pleasant woman she had been since day one. Secondly, he regretted leaving Frankfield, as now he wouldn't know the fates of those sick children, and whether or not the removal of Graciela was a boon to their recovery. Lastly, he worried about who Graciela's father was, as who could have the power, or finances needed to sway the favor of the archbishop? This was unheard of.

As the caravan entered the city, things were made abundantly clear. The caravan was led to a large villa built right on the waterfront. Off the villa was its own private port and a fleet of half a dozen ships. Graciela's father was Antoni Vella, the owner of Vella transports, a company that traded goods, supplies, and slaves across the ocean to the new world. Antoni was known to be a god fearing man himself, and refused to believe his own blood was capable of such a crime. As calm and complacent as Graciela was throughout the whole ordeal, her father was loud and aggressive and made no attempt to hide his contempt for Urius.

*"Frankly, I find this whole endeavor thoroughly absurd. By the gods, I am a Grand Inquisitor, my voice is supposed to be that of the echo of the Archbishop himself. Yet here I am, risking my men and my own life in order to shuttle a witch to the loving embrace of her father, who I say, has no qualms about insulting and threatening my men and my own person. This in itself, is punishable by hanging, and yet I am trapped under the order of the Archbishop. The trial is in two days, and I still have the final say as Grand Inquisitor. We shall see what occurs then."* - Page 1613

Finally the day of the trial came to pass. Once again, Urius had set up witnesses (some being townspeople who joined the caravan from Frankfield), had set up the trial, had made preparations for the execution, etc. and once again, Antoni stepped in to make it all for not. Imagine the look on the Paladin's face when meek, quiet, pleasant Graciela Pan stood before the court and demanded a trial by combat.

The Grand Inquisitor was speechless, this was unprecedented. Never before had a woman stood for this type of trial before. Another 3 weeks would pass as Urius reported and waited for approval from the Archbishop, who did end up approving the trial on the grounds that her father was allowed to fight in her place. Urius was floored, selecting a champion was not something the Paladin's allowed. If your trial was to be by combat, then you were to stand before the Paladins and Dovien one your own merits. Yet again, the choice was no longer Urius' to make.

At dawn on January 14th, 1394 Urius met Antoni in combat. Antoni spent the entirety of the start of the match, swinging wildly at Urius. Constantly antagonizing him.

*"He slurred from his mouth that was alive with foam like a rabid dog, 'I told you I'd have my revenge on you! I paid a lot of money for this, and my return will be your head!'*

*A fool. A true and utter fool. So consumed by his hate, so consumed by his attempt to protect his daughter, he did not understand that I was only but toying with him. He swung like a child swings a stick when they play war. Wild. Not an ounce of control or grace. When he had tired himself out, I merely kicked him to the ground, and slid my blade slowly from the back of his neck until it protruded from his forehead."* -Page 1654

After the death of Antoni Vella, Graciela was burned at the stake, being found guilty by combat. At the end of the whole situation, Urius Knok would make this final comment:

*"It seems morbidly humorous to me looking at this whole situation. I think of the series of events that led to that poor girls execution, and how many cards Antoni played right. Extend the date of the trial. Remove Graciela from the town where she stands accused. Bring her hundreds of miles away to a place she is comfortable. The folly of the man was his hubris, and his thirst for vengeance for a perceived slight he thought I took at him. It seems foolish now, when he could have done one very simple thing to save both their lives. Had they insisted on returning to Frankfield, and upon arrival found that the children were still ailing, they could have very simply argued that it could not have been Graciela afflicting the children. It would not save her from retribution, but it could have saved her from execution. A pity, really, but my duty does not allow me to hold such regrets, though at some point I must return the Frankfield to learn of the fate of those children."* - Page 1666