From: General Gustave, Eastern Frontier, Fort Lean

To: Primus Javolenus, Military Consul, Androsat

Javolenus,

The church leaders in Enclave have stuck it to us again, my friend. They deliberately withheld information about our opponents. We weren't facing one disciple but over a dozen, plus some capable students. I don't know what Enclave was thinking when they misled us, but Ullidian soldiers died because of it. This is not some little case of heresy they've asked us to clean up for them. They're dealing with a full-blown schism in the church, and they spent our soldiers' blood to fight it.

Disciple Phillip the Younger (a.k.a. Taylor DeLanion) is every bit as young as they say. I don't buy into his "summoned from another world" claim but as a disciple, he's the real deal. Don't let the low casualty numbers fool you. His people kicked us around like we were children, literally tossed us in the air for fun, then healed us and weren't strained by it. The two disciples Enclave lent us were useless by comparison.

Apparently, this new kid picks up defrocked healers and anyone he finds with enough spirit, trains them, and anoints them with full disciple powers. (Yes, he can do that. I don't care how many times the church denies it.) According to Phillip the whole "First Families" thing is a myth. I don't have to tell you what Enclave thinks about the idea that practitioners could come from anywhere.

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Healer Julius' assessment of Nexus' disciples is they are stronger than most Enclave ones, even though none carry their much-vaunted "heritage". Julius is the most competent healer I know, and I trust his judgment on matters of the spirit.

Phillip confirmed the rumor that most of the fielded disciples were defrocked. The way he said it felt like he had personal knowledge, not just reportage. Perhaps that's why we haven't heard from Edos or Ma'Tocha in so long, and why the church keeps asking if we know where they are. We can speculate Enclave is desperate to find the ex-disciples before they can join Brother Phillip and recover their powers.

I had a chance to spar with the pup until he ran me through the guts. He's a hard worker with good fundamentals, and he adapts to new situations. What his sword lacks is guile, the talent to get inside his adversary's mind and make them dance. He makes up for that weakness through his skill in the arts. He conquered me with sheer speed. Then the damn whelp convinced me to live, for Ullidia's sake, and healed me.

We know he has experienced advisors, but he also has personnel he's keeping secret. It would be worthwhile to know who else is advising him.

We must stay out of this conflict, Javolenus. Enclave and Nexus are in a fight to the death and we can't afford to be caught on the losing side. Even fighting for the winning side could be too costly for us. It's wiser to let them fight each other, and then make our apologies to the winner.

Honestly. The things I do for Ullidia.