Greetings,

I have completed my journey to the Gateway of Tarentum and held audience with Consul Bloodfyre. It is dark news to hear of the war among the Brethren, I had been left out of contact by the closure of the Shroud that I was unaware of any such developments.

I learn now that the Alliance of Seven has broken and that war has been declared and new alliances forged. I see that the Grand Alliance has aligned itself against the Shadow Pact of Clans Arcona and Taldryan. It troubles me to hear of these developments following the breakdown of communications with Antei.

What is more is that Consul Bloodfyre informed me that he was ordered by the Justicar to state that Clan Taldryan had deceived the Shadow Pact and Clan Arcona. These claims were seemingly unfounded and dismissed by both Clan's Summits, however they were most disturbing and I have investigated them to the best of my abilities at this time. Being so close to the Gateway I managed to make brief contact with the Dark Hall, however the communications were strange, and not at all like Master Cantor.

I can only cast doubt on the validity of the orders issued by the Chamber of Justice, however I ask that the Brethren exonerate the Consul, for he was only following said orders. If there was indeed a mistake made, then the fault lies within the Chamber itself, and I am afraid the answers will remain hidden until such time as the Shroud is opened.

In a short while I will be departing again to rendevue with the other Order Leaders outside the Aranna system, as is it my intent to seek an audience with Consul Darkonian so that we can discuss more private matters. I will be making a short stop at the Vorago to requisition the star destroyers Autarch and Kormandal, being in a state of heightened alert I feel it wise to assemble my full battlegroup.

I can only say again how it is imperative that the Clans try to hold together during this period. Without the Grand Master we leave ourselves vulnerable to outside forces. Be warned, I believe there is much more at risk here than a simple act of sabotage in a hanger bay, there are hidden forces at work. We must stand firm.

In Service to the Final Way,

<table cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td></td><td>His Excellency,
Dark Adept Xanos Zorrixor Serpenti-Sadow
High Guardian of the Dark Side and the Final Way</td></tr></table>

Standing Orders for all Brethren of the Seven Clans