>>5200386"I have not learned magic Mozgus, I was born with it. It was a curse that lead me to the debauchery, to hide away from the visions of demons." You kneel in front of Mozgus, offering no resistance as he listens to your story.
"I tried to run away from it, but it landed me in the prison. I would not lie to the church, or bersmirch my parents. So instead I decided to fight the fire with the fire I was given, and it was it that allowed me to purge the swamp. There is a great danger that has yet to come, allow me to atone by slaying it, let me break the cycle of virtue and sin."
For something you managed to come up with on the spot, it didn't sound that bad for an explanation to the priest. However, the shaking of his fist and the way the veins are bulging out of his face... This was never the type of enemy you could befriend or talk to as your equal.
As Serpico said, what Farnese gave you was merely an appetizer for the real torture.
"Atone...ATONE!? Who do you think you are, to repent and choose your punishments without consulting the church? Do you really believe to be so enlightened that God would guide you to your path, instead of being further pushed into the depths of hell?"
"What? No. I just wanted to do whatever good I could, so God can forgive my soul-" You lifted your head to argue with Mozgus, but you were struck by his bible, the blow being powerful enough to send your face into the rocks.
"YOU ARE NOT A SCHOLAR OF GOD! DO NOT PRETEND TO BE INFORMED OF HIS WAYS, INFLICTING PAIN ON YOURSELF IS ONLY MINDLESS SELF-FLAGGELATION IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE LORD, DO NOT ACT AS IF YOU KNOW WHAT HE THINKS, WHEN THE GREATEST INQUISITOR OF MIDLAND HAS NO GRASP OF HIS TRUE GOALS." Mozgus strikes you relentlessly with the holy scriptures. You thought a regular man would have no power over you anymore, but his hits rival even the ones you took from Barnham back at Ilos.
"Your life is doomed to be cast in sin, because you have not truly been punished by your past actions. To truly repent, you shall have your body and soul properly cleansed by an official. Farnese, what punishment shall be given to a believer who has refused to confess, and refused to return to his covenant for years?"
Farnese stammers after seeing you spitting blood on your knees, along with some cracked wisdom teeth, but responds promptly to her master after he stared dead in her eyes.
"777 whippings daily, for 7 days... I have seen his cursed powers at hand, and the way he portrayed himself as a phantom could very well count as falsefully testifying... His fingernails shall be removed in the iron chair, as for the curse, the funnel should work if we cure him with holy water."
"Correct, as expected from the Holy Leader." Mozgus clasps his hands with a smile, should you be happy that your death was not confirmed?
"If god is truly with you, Vlad Of The Santanas, you shall live on and be enlightened by your test."
