Diary of Bishop Alexander Cavares (1)

“August 1th, 976

Oh, Almighty Lord! Would you not have pity on this poor city? Would you not bring reason back to my feeble soul? My hands have become so accustomed to the blood of men that I can hardly remember their wrinkles, and I fear the map of your dearest creation has permanently imprinted itself in my mind, for every night I dream of winding arteries and organs.

Tragic Roma, the once magnificent star of the Magisterian church is now less than ash, its people are bombarded by gunpowder cannons in the day and aermit cannons in the night. His majesty bemoans this destruction and has ordered the Virdian cannons to hold their fire, but the crews of Baernvar and Saudricha continue to ravage the city without rest. I assured his majesty that you would forgive him as cruelty was never his intent, but his melancholy persists. What act of atonement could possibly ease his heart and mine?”