Tidings, people of the Basin,

I write to you as one who once called Master Thorgal Khuprus friend, in
hopes he will learn the lessons brought to him in dreams in the form of
Lady Juliana the Just. This writing is to him alone, but I share it with
all in hopes that thosse of you who face a similar dilemma may
understand the folly in such beliefs. You shared not these disturbing
images with your Nihilist brethren and your friends and comrades in the
Empire, but instead fled in terror as these horrible visions filled your
head. It must be terrible indeed that one who was so often the predator
suddenly thought himself the prey. I find pity in my heart that you have
been so afflicted with these visions, and hope to help you understand
better what you have done in the service of Magnagora.

I understand that you grieve for the families of those who you have
slain. Understand that all of Magnagora grieves with you, and we reach
out to those families in hopes that they will find forgiveness for us.
It has never been our intent to bring harm to the innocent and
good-minded common folk. Indeed, I urge those families to visit
Magnagora if they are able, and find welcome here in our fair city. New
lives may be birthed from the ashes of what once was, and in time you
may find new purpose and direction. In time, you may even learn to live,
laugh, and love again.

Let me be clear that Magnagora seeks only to defend herself against a
terrible aggressor. The so-called Grand Celestial Army of New Celest is
but a faade for an impressive war machine that is bent on the utter
destruction of the ancient Magnagoran way of life and all the people of
the Empire. This is the key difference between Magnagora and Celest, so
note it well: Magnagora seeks to bring change and new ways of thinking
to the peoples of the Basin, Magnagora seeks to engage in spirited
debate over what is commonly accepted and taught, over the true
existence of ethical conduct, of morality, of the various virtues and
vices. New Celest seeks to massacre and bring destruction all those they
consider to be outside their way of thinking.

Magnagora does not seek to destroy all those who live in New Celest and
live under the auspices of their strict rule. Magnagora seeks to make
them part of the Empire and to join with them to collaboratively create
something far greater than what we could create alone. Look at what the
history of Celest has wrought! The destruction of Hallifax, Gaudiguch,
and Ackleberry! The near destruction of Shallamar, Magnagora and the
Glomdoring Forest! Thanks to Lord Raezon's indictment of the common ways
of thinking combined with Lady Viravain's powers of Creation, the
Glomdoring Forest has been fanned back to life from the embers that
smouldered for years in silence and in drawn-out death throes. Celest
would destroy all that has been wrought through the blood, sweat and
tears of everyone. Remember the folly of Celest, whose once grand empire
lies in rotting ruins, and whose weeping specters linger on still!

Thorgal, I beseech you as a friend, to consider what you do. You trade a
valiant and noble quest for another that seeks to destroy all life that
does not accept its narrow-minded beliefs. Do you not consider the
families of the Magnagorans you have betrayed and now seek to murder?
What of your dear friend Ashar d'Valeros, who was mortally wounded in
your blind rage? What of his wife, Aurelia d'Valeros and his brother,
Navanad? Do you not consider them? Only thanks to the magicks of
Necromancy was our dear Ashar saved from certain oblivion that was
brought in the name of Celest. His is but one tale among thousands!

I urge you, my old friend, to think of the damage you do. Lady Juliana
is both wise and just indeed, but She would not counsel you to stoop to
such foul murder of your friends and comrades. You have been deceived,
and blinded by the false teachings of the Light. The Light is a powerful
glamour, and I urge you to break free from the horrible strings it would
have you dance to before there are any more weeping families like the
d'Valeros.

Your friend and brethren,
-Nokraenom


Penned by my hand on the 24th of Estar, in the year 120 CE.