His Open Hand, Our Iron Fist

[Publius 4098]

His Open Hand, and Our Iron Fist

 

A thesis on the strength brought by faith, and how it is used. Written by Acolyte Aemolius Lepidus Bracchus on the 9th of Sun’s Smile, 1515, and quickly forwarded to the High Pontiff for review. Copies, in classic Bracchus fashion, are kept for others to read, to better make public the thesis.

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30r_1NoKldo

 

We come upon our second year in Vailor, a land that God has blessed us with much success in, despite the hardships of taming such a massive land. We have erected cities that rival the grandeur of those on Athera, and act as a sign of the strength granted by the Creator himself.

 

Our God grants us two things in our lives in turn for our faith; the means to grow, and the means to defend our prosperity.

 

This growth comes from the product of our work in the name of the faith; as proven by our harvests, as they never have never lead to a disappointment, or through the bounty given to us from the earth, as even the Dwarves and their intuition in the mines cannot move their production to even half of our current standards!

 

The means to defend it though, comes from a more direct, and divine favour to our physical selves. Despite our stature, the faithful humans of Canon have not just defended the faithful, but struck dead the wicked, as seen in the Uru-Orenian war as we pressed against those who worked against our interests and faith. We also see the fist strengthened by the zealots who serve in military orders, raised in the names of saints and serving in the faithfuls interests!

 

In a sense, he has lent us an open hand, and gifted to us an iron fist.

 

God’s open hand is open not just to humanity and Oren, but all of the faithful, and in our days as men and women of the faith, we are to do our best to our best to show the people the open hand of the Creator. This hand, when accepted, leads to states of peace and prosperity unheard of to most. The Elven nations, now protectorates of Oren, have time to develop their culture and rebuild themselves to a greater height in the peace we have lent to them, and what were once pagans and heretics are now happy citizens of Oren and adherents to our faith!

 

But what must be done to those who do not just turn from this generous gesture, but swat it away? When his bounties are spat upon? When those of the faith are disrespected for accepting his bounty?

 

We use our iron fist, no doubt.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G24_1FbBrbg

 

This is that same iron fist has been used time and time again to strike down the enemies of the faith, as seen during the Schism. The fist filled with the infinite strength of God as a tool to protect the faithful, and stays ever available to us for our service in His name.

 

The church is looked to anytime the military is mobilized, as we know that without the Creator’s blessing, we could quite possibly fail in our endeavours. Oren does not act if it is perceived God would be offended by the misuse of the fist, by have we ever considered how inaction could easily be seen as misuse as well?

 

In recent years, the church has not just been called upon to bless our troops, but to lead them; Father Oscar of Norfolk has written a thesis on the need for church militancy, which was well received, and the impassioned plea of Lord de Bar was met by zealous approval by the masses.

 

I will be honest though, when I say that my reaction to the latter was met with a similar reaction to that of brother Colin Samston; these actions of the Orcs were not against God, but Oren itself, so why would it have to have the extra blessing of a crusade?

 

This naive thinking was quickly blown away though, seeing as brother Colin was viciously assaulted by these same Orcs. What instigated this? Nothing other than him exclaiming to him the joy he felt that the compassion of God and how glad he was to hear that a crusade was not necessary.

 

Apparently, they do not share this thanks.

 

Worse yet, they clearly try to offend the church, and more directly, God, by attacking a representative of the open hand. They attack a servant of the Creator AFTER killing and kidnapping countless others who adhere to the teaching and morals of Canon! They dare strike dead someone who lends them nothing less than sympathy DESPITE their attempts to subdue our fellow followers of the faith? Have you heard of anything more evil and heinous living on Vailor?

 

God has granted them peace, and they laugh at us for handing them this victory.

 

Worse yet, we have yet to make them pay for this insolence. We have yet to show them the iron fist that we were so generously gifted by God.

 

What is the use of this iron fist if we do not use it to punish the defiers, and defend the faithful? I am sure God asks the same thing, and I think he shares an answer with any reasonable person; if this is not how it is being used, it is useless.

 

Needless to say, this is not how it is being used.

 

Where do you think God stands on the Orcish question, when they already exercise disgusting practices such as slavery, and leave themselves braindead brutes who casually kill the faithful, intoxicated with both alcohol and cactus green? Would anyone think he truly is not offended by their acts at that point, nevermind the fact that it is the faithful that suffer most for their wild and backwards ways?

 

Worse yet, are we to allow him to be offended, and our people endangered, and honestly say that this does not warrant a battle in the Creator’s name?

 

No is the only reasonable answer.

 

Similar to every duty we have as Canonists and our obligations as men and women of God, the defence of our morals and lives are necessary, and the Orcs don’t prove just to be a liability to this, but an active danger! Our inaction sees the enslavement of more innocents, and the deaths of greater numbers by the day. It would likely be daft for us to believe that how we are acting now would not offend God, and to offend him would be to risk losing his favour, as well as both the access to his open hand and the iron fist he has bestowed upon us.

 

In short, it is the church’s duty to promote all things that better the livelihood of the faithful, and we must do so especially in regards to the military matters affecting the faithful. The calls for both God’s blessing for a crusade is an example where this is more than warranted, and to increase our militarism in junction with this call to arms would see both the defiers squashed, but the faithful enriched, the church’s influence grow parallel to the success of this. In the days of Lucien, church militancy seen our influence explode to grand heights, and we could easily do the same again!

 

May we use this fist to pave a path to salvation; that which is found in the open hand of God.

 

Written by Acolyte Aemolius L. Bracchus

 

 

((OOC references to related works:

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/topic/129910-pontifical-response-to-the-call-for-crusade-1515/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/topic/129901-a-crusaders-plea/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/topic/128660-a-thesis-on-church-militarism/

[Rivk Zavadsky 700]

Rivk Zavadsky screams out "God wills it!"

[Cleggmire_ 130]

Corvo drops to his knees before his lord, raising his fist in the air shouting "Deus Vult! Deus Vult!!"

[TicTocTom 40]

Maximus would smile at his angry nephew and approve of his zealous ways

[Fireheart 2777]

Franz nods

[Jygg 330]

Za'Kabar shakes his head.

[lawnmowerman 3040]

Samuel nods rigidly, glaring coldly at dismembered heads of many orcs he has slain, a whelpish frown curving on his lips.

 

 

[Pond 1069]

Shakes his head "Deus Vult!"

[FORƎST 1312]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLXpq2aFuhM

 

Michael's head bobs in tune to an indiscernible beat.

[monkeypoacher 8055]

Nikola Karlowicz hums a military hymn. He is knelt, polishing his sword, before an icon of Horen.