3 The Letter

Roland met with Steven the next morning. Roland begun with a simple question. "How much do you know?"

"Huh, what do you mean? I already told you what I know yesterday." Steven was confused.

"I meant, what kind of technical knowledge do you know?", Roland explained.

"I don't know much. I was in the middle of college when I died and awoke here. I know a bit of math and science but nowhere near what you know. Honestly, you are basically a cheat. There is no way a normal person would know how to build all the things you do. Gunpowder is basic and concrete is understandable but you simply know too much. It's ridiculous!", Steven exclaimed.

Roland looked disappointed. "I guess that means that you can't help much in terms of scientific advancement then."

"You are just too outrageous. You know way too much, how in the world am I supposed to add any more", complained Steven.

"Well, I guess I was hoping for too much", Roland said. "Also, I need you to learn the local language. I will hire some teachers to teach you how to speak and how to write. Given that you will be constantly exposed to it, you will definitely be able to learn the language quickly. Right now you don't have much else to do so you can spend all your effort learning."

"Sure thing", Steven said.

"By the way, I have been thinking about what to do about the church. What do you think should be done?", asked Roland.

Steven told Roland, "We all share a common goal, we just have vastly differing methods. The church has a lot of resources and influence. If we could get them on our side we can speed up our timetable as well as having one less threat. The real issue now is to try to convince them to change their plans."

"That seems like it would be difficult", Roland replied.

"A letter probably won't end up being enough. However, if we can draw enough of their interest they might agree to come to Neverwinter and once they are here, I am sure that we can wow them enough to convince them to join the future." Steven was confident as he said, "As long as they come to Neverwinter I refuse to believe that we can't show them the power of technology.

Roland and Steven began writing a letter. On the outside it was addressed to the pope and sent from Roland Wimbledon. As an official diplomatic communique it is likely to reach the pope.

Dear Lady Zero,

I am Roland Wimbledon, the lord of the Western Region of Graycastle and the man who will soon become king. I am writing this letter to you to discuss the fight against our mutual enemy - the demons. I know of the Battles of Divine Will and I know that the third such war will soon begin. In this time of trial, it is in humanity's best interest that we unite to serve a common cause. The church was founded by witches to prepare for the fight against the demons. All I ask is that the church will fulfill its original obligations. The fate of humanity rests on it.

The old ways of war will not be sufficient. The only way to defeat the demons is through the mass mobilization of society. All people must become a part of the war effort. No person is useless. Nobles, commoners, witches, they all play a part. However, I implore you do not go through with your plan. Using the pills on the commoners is most inefficient. You may think that a commoner has no use than to become cannon fodder, but in reality they are the backbone of the war effort. To waste valuable human resources by turning them into disposable soldiers is unacceptable.

How can an ordinary man defeat a demon? The power of humanity, the quality that separates us from beasts, is the ability to make and use tools. Here in Neverwinter, I have created weapons of unparalleled strength. These weapons can allow a single man to kill multiple demons, even a Senior demon. The cannon can obliterate targets farther than one can see. A machine gun can allow one man to kill knights like a farmer cuts down wheat. A plane can allow a man to soar through the sky faster and higher than any bird. What I have wrought here in Neverwinter shall be the undoing of my enemies - be it the demons, the other kingdoms, or the church. Yet all of this relies on one overlooked resource. The citizens of a nation are the ones who work to produce these weapons. It is through the power of the people that we create these engines of destruction. The power of the people rests not in their physical combat prowess, but in what they can create. The culmination of human knowledge is applied to create so much more.

The witches are even more critical. Their abilities can greatly streamline the manufacturing process. In fact, combat witches are the least crucial of all the witches. One witch under my command was looked at as useless by others. Her power allowed her to magnetize objects. With the knowledge of science, she is able to generate power which can light up an entire city. To use such valuable resources to create God Punishment Warriors is a waste. What they can create with their abilities can be used to allow someone to destroy dozens of God Punishment Warriors with ease. For the sake of humanity, I implore you to end the killing of witches.

I hope that you will come to see that the best use of people is to use them as the backbone of industry. To create and manufacture all that our society relies on. The persecution of witches must end for they can do so much more. The power of mankind is vast beyond your imagination. If you should choose to agree, then I will give you the knowledge to create these tools. The power of technology will be obtainable by you and together we can lead humanity to defeat the demons.

-Roland Wimbledon

Roland and Steven both leaned back in their chairs and stretched after they finished composing the letter.

Roland said, "So, what do you think? Do you think Zero will come?"

"She will definitely want to know more about us. After all, what we have put information in this letter that we should not be able to know. Seeing how we are somehow so informed of the situation, there will be no choice but to find out more about us", Steven said.

"I will send the letter then. I do hope that this works", said Roland. "This is an opportunity. With the church working for us rather than against us, we could gather more witches and mobilize more human resources than if we did so by ourselves.

"Alea iacta est", said Steven. "The die is cast."