New Orders

Phaedra shucks of the heavy plate armor as she walks into the small house that serves as office and bedroom and sighs in relief as the cool evening desert air washes over her. She gratefully accepts a mug of cold berry juice from Olivia (her initiate), and peers at the chalk board where she had written a short cryptic report. She has no way of knowing if the Oracles at the Warbrides headquarters could use their visions to see the board, and if her messages were even getting through to her superiors. Just as Olivia, now dressed in a similar light tunic, joins her at the table to go over what they discovered that day, there is a knock at the door. With a deep sigh she goes over to the door and opens it, to be confronted with an emaciated woman dressed in basic sandals and clothes. She is wearing the familiar slave bracelet that marks her as a prisoner. "Sister Phaedra?" the woman asks through parched lips. Phaedra nods. "Yes. Who are you, and why are you looking for me?" The slave hands over a message bag with the seals of the Order on the flaps. "For you. From Sister Michelle." She nearly falls from exhaustion and catches herself on the door frame. "I have been running for two days to find you." And then starts sobbing. Phaedra beckons Olivia over. "Help me bring her inside, and give her food and water. " As they take her inside, the slave begs her "Please Sister, let them know that you have received this. My sister and I were condemned to death for adultery. They did not believe our protests of innocence over the word of the priest. If they do not hear from you, they will execute her. If they know I have arrived, they will release her". After they took care of the slave, Paedra shoves the map and scrolls to one side on her large working table, and carefully breaks the seals to look in the message bag. It contains a sealed scroll, a signet ring, and a pouch filled with coins. Putting the other items to the side, she opens the scroll and starts reading.(edited)

*Beloved Sister Phaedra, I send this missive to you on behalf of the Grand Matron. We applaud the crafting of an alliance with Prince Asher and the rapid establishment of a base of operations in the Exiled Lands. We have studied with interest your regular reports about the developments in the Exiled Lands, and share your concerns that this might be bigger than a normal outbreak of beastmen or other abberations that we typically deal with. We were dismayed at the violation of the Temple of Mitra in the north, and the sacrifice of one of His priestesses. We encourage you to intensify and speed up your efforts to find the source of these incursions. We also take note of the high levels of barbaric practices and the apparent widespread acceptance and use of sorcery. To this end we have decided that it is in the interest of the Order to establish a more permanent outpost in those parts. Given your long history of service as a Battle Sister, which ranged far and wide in many different lands, we believe you have the necessary martial skills as well as the wisdom and diplomatic skills to head up such a mission, and herewith promote you to Sister Superior. We know that you will continue to grow as a competent leader of Battle Sisters and a clear voice for Mitra and the Order. A ring of office and official seal is included with this missive. We regret that you can not receive this directly from the hand of the Grand Matron, but the urgency of this matter requires unusual measures. This missive also includes funds to craft your Cloak of Office through a skilled local artisan, as is our practice. May this cloak symbolically link you to the land and its people, who we serve in the name of Mitra.(edited)*

*I include some writings of Saint Yevaine le coeur de Lion, who you will know led many battles to victory, as inspiration to ever better yourself towards the example she set. She was as gentle and merciful as you, but also led with a firm and just hand - we have noticed that you sometimes let your kind nature stop you from doing what you know to be right. We instruct you to adopt her name and follow in her footsteps.*

*Mitra bless you and your work.*

*Michelle Sister Supreme (Western Hyboria)*

Phaedra sits back and frowns. "A cloak? They want me to wear a cloak in this godforsaken desert? Mitra give me strength!" Then the weight of the additional responsibilities hit her. Her mission has just gone from a simple investigation and dealing with an incursion, to estabishing a full-blown outpost. It meant that she was going to be here for many years to come. She turns to Olivia and gives her the scroll to read. "Looks like we are here for the long run. What are we going to do with this poor girl?"