Eight Arms and the Mask

 TO: Gracious Lord Sahtashtan, Hierophant of the Magi, Suppliant of the Transcendent Light Idovanus, Despoiler of Lies, Friend of Turos, etc.  It was with some slight misgivings that I went forth on the mission so assigned by you, worthy one. I thought, "But this is an area where they consider any rite of divine worship less than a thousand years old to be a new rite, and have four priests of the old rituals standing by in case anything explodes. Surely there is nothing to worry about in the way of heresy. If anything, I may have to temper their zeal." O worthy one, it was my foolishness that led me to doubt your wisdom, but the Truth blazed before my eyes at last even as I wandered in the dismal murk of the Lie.  When we came to the place under question, myself, two scribes, six others of the hazar rank, and eight peasant baggage carriers, I was immediately appalled to see the condition of the temple complex. They had removed what seemed to be half of the shrines, most e...