I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
—Grey Ashes heretic, as she was burned alive by the Levantine Inquisition.
Report for Evening Star on the Grey Ashes cult, transcribed at the request of Sidathe of the Azure Blades
Overview
The Grey Ashes cult was established 24 years ago in 1336 of the Tower's reign. They originally called themselves "The Grey Ashes of Kordansk" in reference to an Archmage who was executed by the Goddess Tower for heresy. To this day the cult cites that event as the catalyst for their secession and treason. Over time, their name was shortened in common parlance to simply the "Grey Ashes," and today they are often referred to simply as the "Ashes."
Unlike many of the other so-called Mage Guilds that operate with a veneer of neutrality, the Grey Ashes cult has been from the outset an enemy of Ascelia and its people. Its magi and its witches chose to live in the ruins that lie inside Mourclesis, and have become increasingly corrupted over time.
The most infamous of the Grey Ashes' crimes is deliberately transforming unwilling victims into the Mist-Touched. Since the cult was founded after Kordansk's execution scarcely more than two decades ago, there are over 150 confirmed cases of Ascelians, Arxians, and Maelthrazrans being kidnapped and forced to breathe in Mourclesis until they are transformed, their bodies experimented upon all the while. It is suspected, of course, that there are vastly more unconfirmed cases. Some of those forcibly induced to become Mist-Touched join the Grey Ashes. Most die.
On the Grey Ashes' Alliances
The Grey Ashes actively subvert the authority of the Three Cities with their efforts to form alliances with other cabals of magi - and with the monsters spawned by the mists. Entire colonies of beholders, swordwings, and other aberrations have been courted by the cult. They have long sought an accord with the Xuruthites, though without success up to this point.
Aside from their pacts with some of Mourclesis' worst horrors, the Grey Ashes have strong ties to the Inevitables - worshipers of the illithid - and the Children of the Damned - intelligent undead and their thralls. They recently attempted to court the Cult of Asulian, but this effort was interrupted by the Azure Blades and Saynn's Riders.
Status of the Campaign against Grey Ashes
As of this writing, approximately 40% of the Grey Ashes cult has been wiped out by the efforts of Ascelia's guilds and their supporters in Arx. Maelthrazra as a whole has declined to offer its aid against the magi, although General Manasseh has destroyed many of its holdings during his march toward the Xuruthites' domain.
There are two major conclaves of Grey Ashes known to survive: one between the mountains beneath Arx and the Abyss, the other near the center of The Undying Lands. It is estimated that the vast majority of the Grey Ashes' remaining members and resources are now at the Caspyga conclave after fleeing there during the recent successful raids of their mainland holdings.
Conclusion
Wiping out the rest of the Grey Ashes should be a strong priority of Ascelia and all of its guilds. The campaign seems on the verge of completion.
