Lady FallingStar,
I may have some of the story.
I and the Adventure Capitalists returned to the Earth Chosen compound early Sunday morning to assist with searching the High Vindicator's bedchamber. Within, we found assorted personal effects, books, a sentry golem, and a unique mechano-magical device.
The rest of the chamber's contents were typically banal, however upon reviewing the device we came to understand it was displaying images from what we believe to be High Vindicator's past. I cannot speak to the nature of this device, the meaning of the story revealed, or even the accuracy of the "memories" within, however I can relay what we saw.
The scene opened on very recent Rathfall past, perhaps 30 seasons since: a human father and mother doting upon a child in a crib. The perspective was unsettling as though simultaneously external to all three participants while still inhabiting the child's point of view.
Soon, this tranquil scene was shattered as the door was kicked from its hinges and three bloodied and armoured combatants charged the room. The three soldiers made short work of the mother and father, leaving the child squalling in its soiled bed clothes. Two of the soldiers moved to put the child to the sword, when the third, a lieutenant by rank at his shoulder, commanded them to stop.
The officer lifted the child for inspection. In a blur, the perspective shifted and we were face to face with the young human. Though clean-shaven and less-weathered, we were looking into the eyes of the man who would soon become Padishah Adrian VI of the Earth's Chosen.
He said, "Perhaps there is another way. Perhaps, we needn't kill all necromancers and can instead bring them to The Truth. I will keep this one and raise it as my own. Tell the men that all necromancers found will now be converted. We will ensure they are Devoted to the way." With that, he tucked the child who would become High Vindicator Vellano into the crook of his cuirass and walked from sight.
I do not know whether the High Vindicator built this device to uncover his own past or was gifted the device and thus uncovered it unnaturally. Regardless, the outcome seems the same. Confronted with his and the Padishah's past, he decided violence and destruction of all Rathfall was his only recourse. He took the Devoted in hand, shaped them to his will, and we all know the results.
After reviewing the contents of the device, Sir Fiona and Squire Raganarok felt it was proper to return the device to the Earth's Chosen to allow them an unredacted vision of events. Earth Chosen Initiate Regnar brought the news and device to Earth Chosen Adjutant James and revealed the story. How they will respond is anyone's guess.
Dramthin Hartsboon
Prademar University
Keeper of the Tainted Grove