If we actually want to forcibly improve the Church of Sigmar, we might start by pushing support for the sensible Witch Hunters that The Hochlander has contacts with...
From Turn 28:
Rather long-term, certainly, but probably would be more effective per investment.
From Turn 28:
Working to sort out the sensible Sigmarite Witch Hunters and giving them support would give them more influence, which would lead to the more fanatical ones having less, relatively speaking. And would be a valid way for Mathilde to meddle without falling afoul of the restrictions on Grey Wizards' actions.Since you've got all the paperwork out anyway, you move on to checking through the rest of the reports from up north, starting with the Hochlander's adventures in Talabecland, and find yourself quite surprised. You'd expected the Templars of Sigmar to descend upon the innocent populace of Talabecland like a Khornate Beastherd on the warpath, but all indications are that they quickly and efficiently winnowed through the citizens of note with no more threats than necessary and systematically narrowed the suspects down until they identified the culprits as a loose collection of allied burghers in Krugenheim and Ossino, who thought they could avoid suspicion by pointing investigators back and forth between the two towns until they gave up. They thought wrong, and ended up answering to the pyres.
The Hochlander's contribution to the project was minimal, though if his reports are accurate you can't find fault with his attempt, it was simply a matter of the Witch Hunters had both more manpower and a larger information network in the form of the Church of Sigmar. But he did manage to keep up with the investigation and give every appearance of helpful cooperation, as well as aiding the Witch Hunters with transportation upon EIC wagons and boats, and has come away from the project with a significant list of contacts within the Templars of Sigmar. Which is the sort of thing that might come in very handy in the future, even if you're not their biggest fan.
Rather long-term, certainly, but probably would be more effective per investment.