Outraged

[Colin_Ginger 76]

"Dear my fellow members of the church,

I write this knowing full well what it means. Few of those in the church agree with my views, which is why I write this. I would like to state my views, and say why the church's position in current affairs is all to secular.

 

Before I was a priest, I worked for a mercenary company. I fought many, and personally took the lives of four of our brothers in creation. Two were sons of Krug, one a dwarf, and the last a human. Besides this, I have seen many of my friends die on the battlefield. I have heard men's last words, I have heard their last screams, and I have seen their eyes glaze over as they face eternity. Many dream of seeing war. Many take pleasure in it. I am no such man. War is what fuels Iblees, for it was the blood that Krug spilled that a woke the daemon in the first place.

 

War can be justified in my mind for one reason only. If someone attacks the church or it's ideals, than we must protect it. If a war is made because a lord wants more land, or has stared at the other lord the wrong way, then what is the point? These wars are caused because Iblees has a hold on all of our hearts. And if you give in to it, than you will soon find yourself clamoring to slay a brother of yours too.

 

And that is what we are. We are all brothers. For Horen had three brothers, and from them birthed all of intelligent life. So why do we hold the lives of some more dearly than the lives of others? A De Sola is just as much a human as a Vladov. Both have sinned, both have faults, and both are forgiven by God. If God, someone so great and powerful, can forgive us, why can we not forgive each other? The scroll of virtue says "And thou shalt be without pretense or conceit, for before the mountain, the ant and the aurochs are equally small." We are all equally small, and we are all equally sinful.

 

So what is the churches wrongdoing? The church has done little to stop, if not fully sanctioned the war. Instead of beging for them to forgive each other, our high pontiff tells them "Make sure you pray for your enemies as well." Aye and while we are at Sixtus, shall we supply them the swords to slay each other? The High Pontiff is so worried that he will lose face if he does not appease both sides of the conflict, that he allows their fratricide to continue. And many agree with him on this point. Why advise to pray for your enemy, when you can simply stop them from being enemies.

 

I have talked to both houses on the matter. De Sola feels wronged that the Vladovs have allegedly housed Camel Bandits in their realm, and allowed them to attack their people. The Vladovs feel wrong because their brothers were slain at the hands of The De Sola's. Both sides have sinned against one another. And yet their solution is to perpetuate the conflict by sending more men to die. If they continue on this path it will lead to the extinction of both houses.

 

I beg both houses; Lay down your weapons, and begin to talk of peace! If you simply heard eachothers opinions than we can stop more from dying.

I beg the High Pontiff; Do not allow this war to continue, less you see the guardians of the faith tear each other a part. Who will protect our churches, when they have killed each other?

Finally I beg the people; Do not wish for war. It is not glorious, it is not satisfying, it is not fun. Friends and family die in war, and then you are left with nothing except holes in your heart.

 

-Colin Samston, Priest of Brelus

[mmat 7460]

Drake catches wind of the Adrian priest's written plea during his journeys in the south. Sitting down and reading the entire thing, a smile comes onto his face. Turning his head to his present company, he speaks, laying the writings on the table in front of him.

 

"I should like to meet this Father Samston once we go home, I feel I must shake his hand for writing such a piece. Civil strife brings nothing but heartache for humanity, no matter the combatants."

[Ragadorus 113]

"Blood for blood."
 

Says Bartholomew.

[YouKnowItsJuno 269]

Emelie de Sola sits at her desk, thinking of the conversation she and the good Brother of the Faith had outside Dour Watch. She sighs.

 

"I wish I could have done what you asked, good priest, but there is no turning back now. Both sides scream for blood. I cannot be asked not to protect my family... you yourself were assaulted by the Vladov scum... they took my brother captive and my uncle is exiled... how can you not see?" She writes this all down on a sheet of paper, but she quickly changes her mind and crumples up the paper.

 

"He should not be involved further..."

[osumanduas 1442]

*Father Edmond frowns, hastily replying to his comrade's letter.

 

"From what I can tell from what was described to me by the the side opposite to your own; you drew an axe and attacked them, you slapped yourself in front of armored men who were sanctioned by the King to make war on a house harboring one who was excommunicated by his holiness himself. If I hadn't escaped via a stairwell to the roof during the Redmark Massacre, I'd have been slain by those Sola you defend so 'piously'. Your continued naivety towards this war is tiring, you can't stop violence on a whim, and honestly not much could stop this conflict in particular with so much blood already spilt."

 

"This 'Camel Bandit' slander is just that, false and utterly terrible propaganda used to justify needless violence, as Duke Hugues himself assured all that Adria, nor the Vladovic harbored bandits of any kind. Even the girl who seems so worried for you wouldn't mind slipping a blade between the ribs of innocent men, as I've seen with my own eyes. Think before rush headfirst into such things before you get killed, either by one of Sola, or Vladovic allegiance." 

[Colin_Ginger 76]

He looks at the response from the Eastcliffe man

"Dear my fellow of the Adrian parish,

I must ask from now on that you read what I have wrote before adding your comments to it. This had nothing to do with the events that took place today, because when I wrote it, they had yet to take place. When you say I attacked a man, was it before or after I was attempted to be both stabbed and punched by these men? You also mistake the fact that I am defending the De Solas, another problem that could have been fixed if you actually read my letter. I call for both sides to lay down their arms, for they are both equally at fault. I thank you for calling me pious on the matter, for I fear that so often we see men of God turn away from piousness for worldly matters.

 

"I am only relaying what both sides called for as crimes against their houses, I am not supporting the claims of either. As you tell me to think first, I must ask you this; Pray to God before you so casually throw the lives of these men in the garbage.

[Guy d'Yood of Mann 39]

"Dear my fellow members of the church,

I write this knowing full well what it means. Few of those in the church agree with my views, which is why I write this. I would like to state my views, and say why the church's position in current affairs is all to secular.

 

Before I was a priest, I worked for a mercenary company. I fought many, and personally took the lives of four of our brothers in creation. Two were sons of Krug, one a dwarf, and the last a human. Besides this, I have seen many of my friends die on the battlefield. I have heard men's last words, I have heard their last screams, and I have seen their eyes glaze over as they face eternity. Many dream of seeing war. Many take pleasure in it. I am no such man. War is what fuels Iblees, for it was the blood that Krug spilled that a woke the daemon in the first place.

 

War can be justified in my mind for one reason only. If someone attacks the church or it's ideals, than we must protect it. If a war is made because a lord wants more land, or has stared at the other lord the wrong way, then what is the point? These wars are caused because Iblees has a hold on all of our hearts. And if you give in to it, than you will soon find yourself clamoring to slay a brother of yours too.

 

And that is what we are. We are all brothers. For Horen had three brothers, and from them birthed all of intelligent life. So why do we hold the lives of some more dearly than the lives of others? A De Sola is just as much a human as a Vladov. Both have sinned, both have faults, and both are forgiven by God. If God, someone so great and powerful, can forgive us, why can we not forgive each other? The scroll of virtue says "And thou shalt be without pretense or conceit, for before the mountain, the ant and the aurochs are equally small." We are all equally small, and we are all equally sinful.

 

So what is the churches wrongdoing? The church has done little to stop, if not fully sanctioned the war. Instead of beging for them to forgive each other, our high pontiff tells them "Make sure you pray for your enemies as well." Aye and while we are at Sixtus, shall we supply them the swords to slay each other? The High Pontiff is so worried that he will lose face if he does not appease both sides of the conflict, that he allows their fratricide to continue. And many agree with him on this point. Why advise to pray for your enemy, when you can simply stop them from being enemies.

 

I have talked to both houses on the matter. De Sola feels wronged that the Vladovs have allegedly housed Camel Bandits in their realm, and allowed them to attack their people. The Vladovs feel wrong because their brothers were slain at the hands of The De Sola's. Both sides have sinned against one another. And yet their solution is to perpetuate the conflict by sending more men to die. If they continue on this path it will lead to the extinction of both houses.

 

I beg both houses; Lay down your weapons, and begin to talk of peace! If you simply heard eachothers opinions than we can stop more from dying.

I beg the High Pontiff; Do not allow this war to continue, less you see the guardians of the faith tear each other a part. Who will protect our churches, when they have killed each other?

Finally I beg the people; Do not wish for war. It is not glorious, it is not satisfying, it is not fun. Friends and family die in war, and then you are left with nothing except holes in your heart.

 

-Colin Samston, Priest of Brelus

[!]

With loud cawking and other typically crowy noises, Constans' raven would deliver a small, tightly wrapped package, containing a letter, and some small, crudely drawn map, with the former's contents slightly dimmed by the crownlands' rainy climate.

"Dear brother in faith...

Once more, did you miss the point, but alas, I am no Oscar of Norfolk to point such out. Nobody disagrees with that, especially none of those among the clergy you would condemn for such tendencies. What brothers such as myself wish and crave for, is Church on a strong foundation, as pure as an ivory tower standing tall in the sea of dark sin. We want something for people to find sanctuary in, hope and faith in our Lord whom we all serve. And alas, we seek a Church, that can defend itself and it's faithful, for we all live in grim and brutal times, and denying the fact that all thugs of Vailor understand only equally ruthless force, will not bring back all the brothers and sisters, children of Creator and Four Brothers, back to life.

 

Seconding that, is the cause of your thesis. Some may have been infuriated at the claim that count de Bar is a warmonger, that much, the rage you sired against yourself is true. But neither that, nor your latest scribbles should bring any condemnation from the Church, and even less so, from a Pontiff so boldly trying to refute claims of sinnery much worse than that you brought upon yourself. You will always find safety in the Faith, even if foolhardyness of those trying to interpret God's will to their own, miserable gains will try to sway the hearts of many Orenians.

 

May you ever walk in our immortal Lord's light, and may that path lead you to the Skies."

[!]As signed[!]

Constans of Nerezza, acolyte and God's servant.

[Colin_Ginger 76]

"Dear Acolyte of the church,

 

I thank you for taking the time to respond to my letter. Despite the fact that you are not Oscar, you do yourself have a way of arguing, and you should not lessen your worth as a theologian.

 

In your letter you say that there are 'brothers such as yourself.' I have come to the conclusion you mean followers of the Flammen ideals. I, contrary to what some of my writings have indicated, am no anti flammen. Quite the opposite, I find a call for war to defend the faith necessary at times. But what you ask for in your letter, a strong church foundation, can only be accomplished if we are not constantly at war with our enemies. What protects the church from said war, is the backing of a strong united Kingdom of Oren. If we are to allow a very non-holy war to take place, we are personally allowing the destruction of our protectors. I do believe that you miss the point of Flamenism entirely. The point of it is not to support war, in every facet of its existence, it is to bring strength to God's church. Such feuds do not bring strength to the church, they destroy it.

 

Your second paragraph I'm having a bit of trouble understanding. I did not know that the men of Bar, were involved in the conflict. I also ask what sin have I brought among myself? I have showed anger at times, yes. Righteous anger is not something inherently bad, and I do believe my anger was righteous. If the sin I have committed is striking a man, than I must point back to your flammen schol of thought. Does the flammen not believe the life of a clergy more valuable, than that of average sinner? I was attacked by said man, and defended myself accordingly. If that is not flammen of me, I do not know what is.

Go with God my Son

-Colin of Brelus

[Guy d'Yood of Mann 39]

"May this letter find you in good health.

 

I must admit that I am surprised - and, commend your pidgeon on delivering the previous letter, and I dare say that such brave lesser brothers of ours deserve all the care we can foster for them.  With so many trials ahead of us in those days, one could sincerely expect the poor creature to fall pray to many a stray arrow, as is in the bad habit of us Descendants.

 

To cut down to this theological chase - I must say, that we're both gifted at ignoring the other man's writtings to some extent, and, mea culpa t'is, for not speaking out more clarily.

 

I do not doubt your faith and the strength of it's flame. What I spoke of, was agreement upon your, as you've stated, rage, and what I hoped would be reassurance that regardless of what awaits you, you shall always find our help - and doubtlessly, guidance from our Lord. What you did miss, is, that, I do not advise war, and neither do I advise turmoil. We live in dark, horrid days, and that darkness doesn't always come embodied by a few Descendants of Krug that gave in to their curse. What little authority Church commands, is diminished by persistence of the one supposed to lead it. While such stubborn nature would be fitting for a trueborn son of Godfrey, the cause behind it will never become just. Position of High Pontiff comes not only with privileges, but also responsibilities, and with sinful pursuits from such, how can we expect anyone in our holy nation to pay him enough respect the Vicar of God deserves?

 

Many a servant of God finds himself or herself a servant of the lord who's grounds they dwell in, even further fostering the civil unrest such as that inbetween Vladov and de Sola families. However, while we do not posses the power to directly end such a conflict, I sincerely agreed and will always do so, that we cannot give in to the whims of those valuing their own interest over that of Oren. Yet, we must lend all the support we may to his majesty, our God-chosen king Olivier, for if not him, who will the smallfolk turn to, if so many lords of our realm seek to eradicate each other for even so little earthly power, and at that, power that will never gain them the access to Heavens, with the keys they've long lost in the endless abyss of mortal pride and ambition?

 

And, finally, some do say, we believe our lives to be worth more then that of a commoner. Some would say, that so is right with anyone, who is simply more useful. But then again, we would turn men into assets, resources. What right have we, to deny what little humanity is left already when the blood of innocent became cheaper then wine? In that, every life matters, and we hadn't any right to decide, which is valued more. A true warrior of Creator is not a killer. A true warrior is a protector. He or she must value the life as much as they value the ability to take it, lest they become nothing but overglorified murderers, little better then the Haelunorians. I know not of your incident, but if it was a matter of defending yourself - and at that, the life of one who breathes for the sole purpose to serve our Lord and Creator, then you've done naught wrong.

 

Yet, it is only God that will truly judge the sins of us mortals, and only in our death and departure to the other world, shall we receive His judgement. As for the mortal laws, I assume, knowing you as a man of piety and honour, that you already are dealing with it, for it would not speak good volume of you to leave it behind, shoveled under the carpet like Kalenzian sins.

 

May you ever walk in our immortal Lord's Light, and may that path guide you to the Skies."

 

Constans of Nerezza

[Daisy 9735]

Moved to The Great Library. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.

 

If you feel this is a mistake, please contact myself or any FM and we'll restore it.