The Third Crusade (4665 ar–4668 ar)

Third Crusade (4665 ar–4668 ar): Now contained within Sarkoris by a combination of the wardstones, increased pressure from the Mammoth Lords, and the distraction of an entire nation to plunder, the demons continued to press against the borders but seemed largely content to revel in their captured realm. Meanwhile, as the years passed, the Mendevian crusaders grew more and more corrupt—in part due to the subtle machinations of the cult of Baphomet, which had successfully infiltrated numerous companies and faiths throughout Mendev, but also because the resource-strained church of Iomedae had increasingly accepted less trustworthy members into its war effort. The church launched the Third Crusade primarily as an attempt to galvanize the crusaders, but as its focus increasingly turned toward self-destructive witch hunts and internal squabbling, the crusade collapsed under its own corrupt weight. Ultimately, the Third Crusade accomplished very little within the Worldwound—apart from delighting and entertaining Sarkoris’s demonic masters.

The Second Crusade (4638 ar–4645 ar)

Second Crusade (4638 ar–4645 ar): When a second wave of demons erupted from the Worldwound in 4636 ar, the crusaders had settled into their new homes in Mendev. They again took up arms against the demons, expecting a short series of f ights and boasting that this time they would drive the host back to the very edges of the Worldwound itself. But their expectations did not come to fruition. This time, the demons pouring from the Worldwound were not only more numerous—they were better prepared. Rather than the haphazard, chaotic, self-indulgent mob the crusaders previously encountered, the marauding demons were now legions driven by powerful commanders. Under
their commanders’ direction, the demons orchestrated strike forces, teleported behind enemy lines, drove their enemies toward their advancing ranks, and then crushed their opponents between them. The armies of the marilith Aponavicius captured the crusader city of Drezen using such tactics, forcing the church of Iomedae to f inally call for the Second Crusade. Even with the inf lux of troops from the Second Crusade, however, it quickly became apparent the demons were going to win. Fortunately for Mendev, the demons aimed the bulk of their devastating attack westward and
southward. The impending loss prompted the leaders of the Mendevian Crusaders to make a fateful decision— they pulled their support from Sarkoris, allowing the demon army to descend on what remained of that land, and instead concentrated their efforts on erecting wardstones along the West Sellen and Moutray rivers. The price of their actions proved steep, but, as the wardstones f lared to life, the menhirs contained the demons within lost Sarkoris and saved tens of thousands from grisly
deaths. Yet despite this success, the near- total loss of Sarkoris is generally regarded as the final capstone on a disastrous crusade.

The First Crusade (4622 ar–4630 ar)

A Brief History of the Crusades
To date, four crusades have been launched against the demons of the Worldwound, and while all four have had varying degrees of success and failure, none have yet driven the armies of Deskari, Lord of the Locust Host, from Golarion. A brief history of the war follows.

First Crusade (4622 ar–4630 ar): Although a fair number of holy warriors came to Sarkoris’s aid in the first several years after the Worldwound opened, the church of Iomedae did not declare the First Crusade until 4622 ar, as the repercussions of Aroden’s death significantly delayed the church’s ability to respond to the growing crisis. By the time the First Crusade reached Mendev, the demons had long since seized control of central Sarkoris, and had claimed significant portions of Mendev as well.

The First Crusade bolstered the defenders of Sarkoris and Mendev, boosting both their numbers and morale, and the sudden increase in the enemy’s strength caught the demonic horde unprepared, causing them to retreat back to the Northmounds. With Mendev and southern Sarkoris thus liberated, the crusaders remained in the region to help rebuild—an offer Mendev welcomed gratefully, but one that the disparate and proud clans of Sarkoris accepted more reluctantly. In any event, for the next few years the demons seemed content to focus their wrath upon Sarkoris’s Northmounds, battling primarily with the surviving Sarkorian clans desperately attempting to reclaim their family lands, while Mendev remained relatively unmolested.

A final note.

An interesting scroll tube was found when going through the belongings of the Witches. After getting the ok from Viorec and Anca a letter is found inside.

The Living Phylactery, The Silver Key, The Maiden and The Fool,

I find myself bemused by your actions in Caliphas. I realize that you seem to have fixated yourselves on exterminating all of my agents wherever you find them, but... you do realize that they were destroying vampires, do you not? I would never have thought that ridding this world of such abominations would draw any protest from you. But what is done is done. To be honest,  the operation in Caliphas were little more than a diversion, a way for me to occupy my mind while waiting for my other plans to bear fruit. If I have to wait a little longer to exterminate the traitorous vampires, it is of little consequence.

The one task of importance in Caliphas was securing The Font, which of course, you know as Kendra Lorrimor. I made sure to accomplish that while you were busy sorting through the diversions made by the Giovanni's and disposing of the Witches of Barstoi. The loss of those minions is more than made up for by acquiring the final piece of my grand design. Thanks in no small part to the very nosferatu set free by your meddling .

There is still a chance for all of you. I am sure you know by now that my plans for The Font do not involve anything so plebeian as simply killing her. She is being prepared as we speak for her role in the events to come, at a location which I am sure you have already deduced. You should certainly come and attempt to retrieve her -- it will save me the time of tracking all you down once I have finished with my preparations.

If you want to maintain your delusions of victory though, you must hurry, for the time of my triumph is approaching. I look forward to your arrival.
Sincerely,

A. A

Father James and Lady Irsinoe.

James had the feeling before Brutus said anything to him. He knew they were being followed but he wasn't sure who would be following the two of them this early in the morning. Brutus was right though, if someone was following them then they certainly knew who they were and could guess where they would be heading.

 "What is the point of using the prayer beads to whisper to me if your going to keep looking over your shoulder?" James asked . He was past the point of patience with the man and just wanted to get to the temple. " We can split up here. I'll be back to the manor by sun down." His words left no room for argument as James turned to walk up the steps to Our Lady of Lanterns. "Brutus," James whispered just loud enough to activate the beads power, "Be careful and stay out of trouble"

James felt the calling as soon as he touched the grand doors to the temple. Someone in The Lady's service was calling for aid. When he walked through the door it was into a small room with a fireplace in the corner. The floor was an odd color of reddish brown and seemed slick. James noticed the heat first, then the man strapped to the table. He was reciting the Pharasmin prayer for aid over and over in a dry croaking voice. Standing over the man was a woman James had seen before. Lady Irsinoe of Kabriri, the demon lord of ghouls looked up at James with a delighted smile. "I had to call you, you see I want to give you one last chance to surrender to me before I bring the gifts of Kabriri to your friends. Come with me James and I promise to give you all the power of a Demon Lord. Give in to the call James and together WE can rule this realm! Not the Whispering Way, not the Tyrant... Us James .. rulers for eternity."

Andrezi's visit home.

As he made his way through the city Andrezi couldn't help but feel them watching him. They were all watching, even the children would stop what they were doing to move out of the way and stare at the old kellid woman who only had one eye and walked with a hunched back and a bad limp. Andrezi allowed a small smile to himself, this was one of his best disguises and from the expressions  of disgust on the people he passed he was sure he would not be followed this time. His path took him the better part of the day, but as he arrived at the now ruined manor he could tell that the looters had picked through what remained of his own families home. Most of what was left had been drug out of the ruins to the lawns on the front and sides.

Andrezi passed by all this with a purpose and that was what must have given him away. Standing in the shadows of the ruined foyer was a familiar halfling.

" I knew you would come back" he said with a devilish smile. Those were the only words said between the two cousins. As the fight began a crowd gathered to watch an old one eyed woman fight a halfling in the ruins of some old money estate.

Detective Viorec's Dossier - Final entry

Detective Viorec,
 I had dispatched my agents to watch the Manor in the positions you had requested when you and your companions had returned. The first 4 days my agents reported no activity, on the 5th night the one known as Tibor was followed to the edge of the city heading north-west. He was easy to track in the city, but once he made it outside of Ardis my agents lost him. I have contacted agents in Chastel and Morcei to alert you if he is seen there.

On the 6th and 7th days agents reported following the 2 known as Brutus and Father James to several places in the city. The two separated at Our Lady of Lanterns, Father James visiting the church while Brutus entered the White Corner. Brutus managed to lose my agent inside that haunted place, I know I don't need to remind you of the tales about that cursed place. Father James stayed with Our Lady for 2 days and was then reported to return to the manor.

On the night of the 8th day Brutus was followed to the center of town, to the Blindstone where he stayed studying the monument and pacing the length of the square for several hours before heading south to the Merridweigh Gardens. This was the last time I heard from that agent He is now presumed dead although his body has not been recovered. I removed Brutus from our watch list as I could not afford to lose another agent

My agents reported no activity from that day until the disturbance at the ruins of the Galdana manor. We had been watching for the description of the person you had identified as Andrezi Galdana but it seems he was able to elude us. Concerning the fight at the Galdana ruins my agents did their best to  not interfere as per our arrangement but they were hard pressed to keep the innocents out of harms way and hamper the efforts of the city's guard.

After these two episodes I have pulled off my agents and I am filing my official report with my superior's as you are reading this. I believe that losing 4 agents over the coarse of this assignment is more than Professor Lorrimer and the Agency had ever expected and should cover the debt the Agency owed.

Good bye Detective and good luck,
M.