God Wills It

[CasualGhost 184]

 

“Do I wish to be known as a warlike Pontiff?”

 

His Holiness, Vicar of GOD, Bishop of Huss, Primate of Oren, and Sumpreme Leader of the Faithful sipped his tea. The view from the top window of the belltower of St. Adrians was pleasant this morning. A fishmonger from Port Vydrik hawked his wares in the main square. Daniel idly wondered if they had any mackerel. He had always enjoyed seafood.

 

Placing a finger aside his lips he returned to his paperwork. The laurels of his office rested on the table, his snow-white hair ruffled and unkempt, and his body clothed in plain brown robes. He did not intend to go out in public today. He stared thoughtfully at the missive on his desk. Each black-penned letter, each carefully and seriously scribbled arch and line oozing foreboding. Dark words. War words.

 

“Do I wish to be known as a warlike Pontiff?” Daniel mused aloud. “A leader of the Faith that led with sword rather than olive branch?”

 

He scratched his head in thought, the movement ruffling his white hair even more. His predecessor, Sixtus III, came to mind. He was a good Pontiff. Aye. Gone too soon, like many others Daniel had known in his lifetime. Before he had died, Sixtus had refused a call to crusade against the Orcs. That particular chain of events had led to the death of Holy Ser Atalf, and it seemed like the greenskin heathens were set on war with Amyas anyway. Daniel was not concerned with Orcs today, but the point was made.

 

“Could more bloodshed have been avoided, were the crusade called?” Daniel muttered, stirring his tea. It was getting cold. Bother. “A unified faith fighting heathens, instead of each other?”

 

Unlikely. The Heartlander-Highlander rivalry ran back centuries. Back to the old northern barbaric tribes of Aegis. Daniel had read a book about it once. It was good to have hobbies. He took another sip of tea.

 

“When does violence become acceptable?”

 

Daniel looked out the window, to the noisy, yet familiar streets of Felsen. The city was finally woken up. There was a man sweeping the streets. Good man. The High Pontiff dropped another lump of sugar into his tea.

 

“When it is in defense of that which you care for.”

 

So the voice of the Creator in the mortal realm scratched his head, took another sip of his tea, yawned, then began to write. And all across the land, the word would go out.

 

 

HIGH PONTIFF DANIEL II, Vicar of GOD, Supreme Pontiff of the Faithful, Primate of Oren, Bishop of Huss, Servant to the Servants of God does decree…

 

HOLY WAR

 

Upon the godless savage heathens of LESSER TACHARY. We have noted your depraved actions in the destruction of the peaceful Halfling village near your realm. We have observed your attack upon MOTHER CHURCH in the form of your attempts on the lives of its missionaries. We have watched your barbaric practices and undeveloped, heathenous worship. We have seen, and now we will act.

 

TO the loyal followers of THE CREATOR, blessed be His Name, take up arms, wherever you are. Heed the call of your fathers, the saints, the Aenguls and the Daemons, the Exalted and all other of the Creator’s servants. Come with swords! Come with axes! Come with fishhooks, pitchforks, and clubs! Bear fists or bear steel, so long as your heart is with GOD you will be protected! As long as there is breath in your breast and blood in your veins, you can fight for your maker. Join, children of the church, and unite behind a banner of righteousness.

 

TO the treacherous steppe-lord, AYRAT BEY, whose misdeeds are told from the Iron Uzg to Saltstone, no longer will your unholy preachings and savagery be tolerated. May you shudder in your huts of mud and sticks and furs. May your women and children weep for the coming storm. May all your warriors unman themselves in terror. A great army will descend upon you and yours, bearing the CROSS LORRAINE. An army which bears the standards of the Creator and does His Will, cannot be defeated. I did not wish for this war, but war it shall be. There shall be no peace for you in this life or the next.

 

DEUS MAGNUS

 

GOD

WILLS

IT

[seannie 7443]

 

 

 

The sounds of activity can be heard throughout the Ports of Oren as Chapters of Holy Men prepare themselves for the Holy Crusade, the swords are donned, and the robes of the Black Sepulchres are donned as men of the Lotharingian Order begin their assembly into the numerous Vessels voyaging to the Holy Land.

 

On the Flagship of the Crusade, alongside with the higher command of the Crusading Leaders, Wilhelm, a martial commander of men, begins to write down a personal log,

 

"17 of the Grand Harvest, the Date, 1522, the Crusade has begun, with the Sanctions of the Heavens, and the Support of the Kingdom, the men of the Cross begin their Holy Quest to convert the Heathens known as 'Tarcharmen', with retribution in their heart, these Pious men are fueled with the guidance of God's own light for they know they shall be going to the Holy Land as Crusaders, bringing the Faith of God with them. With fire and sword, they shall clear the land of the heresy that plagues it or they shall die trying, for there is no wavering in God's own Quest."

 

"I Wilhelm Herrmann shall ensure that our Faith shall establish itself within these Holy Lands and that our Church may flourish and prosper for the greater good. 

 

Deus Vult, God wills it!"

 

[Kralek 519]

House Oakheart joins the crusade.

[Rig 17580]

Quinn Falk takes up arms, readying for the carnage and hard truths of war. 

[osumanduas 1442]

Edmond cheered upon hearing the news. Returning recently from a string of weddings with a heavy hangover he'd ride for the encampments near the Tachary menace. His arse raw from all the riding he wastes no time in joining the celebrations, praising the declaration with his brothers. Ready to kill some pagans, the idea kindling him somewhat. 

[_Sug 2809]

*Anthony of Cyriaum, nephew of Abbot Jude or commonly known as Deacon Jude, reads over the paper and smiles with a muttered* "God Wills it indeed."

[Blanchables 528]

Sporan Kyroc prepares his robes and swords for the long journey.

[yopplwasupxxx 5946]

"For how can the ignorant teach others? How can the licentious make others modest? And how can the impure make others pure? If anyone hates peace, how can he make others peaceable ? Or if anyone has soiled his hands with baseness, how can he cleanse the impurities of another?"

-Ecclesiastical Report to High Priest Pontian I, Unknown

One year. One long, gruelling year, from the first contact with the Tarcharmen, the vile horse lords of the South, to the Royal Sanction that Baldwin gripped his hands. GOD had put every obstacle in his path, yet GOD shined the way every time. Even convincing the Vicar Himself was no easy task, and Baldwin had begun to think it a fool’s errand after a time. Yet here it was.

From all the thoughts that rang through Baldwin’s mind, his memories of Lord Hughes is what judged him the most. Would he have been proud? Would he have agreed to this? Or what of his own father, the Blessed Otto? What does GOD Himself think of this? Doubt had always clouded Baldwin’s mind, but now, after achieving what others said he could not, it shrouded his entire vision, his thoughts and actions. Had he done the right thing?

‘Our family needs you, my dear..’

The voice of his mother rang in his thoughts, almost haunting him as he slept, as he ate, as he prayed. Were the words true? His mother was a pathological liar, but.. she was his mother. It is true for any son to listen to the womb which birthed him, for her words would always show the truth. She told him to stay. And he should stay, stay and assist his Uncle in his duties.

‘If only you put as much zealotry into your House as you do your Faith..’

Those were his Uncle’s parting words after the Royal Sanction was given, though Baldwin had not paid little mind till now. Was this selfish of him? Was this, the entire Holy War, a selfish ploy? Did vanity cross Baldwin’s mind, cursing him away from his duties and to dream of a Southern Crusade? Perhaps he still held loose loyalty to his old ward-father, Lord Hughes, as if doing this was his only way of rebellion against his own kin. Baldwin did not know. How could he?

But now was not a time for such thoughts. GOD had brought him this far, GOD had brought him the courage to face his Uncle, GOD had brought this band of merry men before him. GOD would lead him to victory, and he will shine GOD’s Light in the darkness. As Saint Lothar once wrote, the guilt before action shall always be the Darkness That Comes Before.

‘May GOD have mercy, for we shall have none.’

“And so Harren, Joren, and Godwin,

the sons of the Chosen Himself, stood

and watched the collapse of their

home, by the hands of the once uncle of their

kind.

Harren took to bed concubines,

the one of indulgence.

Joren bellowed in rage and hate,

the one of wroth. And Godwin drank

himself blind, the one of

acedia.

Soon the Aengul came down, the one which

guided Horen years before, and He sayeth one phrase, before

sending the children to each corner of the

world;

‘So is the Darkness That Comes Before.’”

-The Book of Saints, Unknown

[Daisy 9731]

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

 

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