A Thesis on Monstrosities and Mages

[ski_king3 0]

A Thesis on Monstrosities and Mages

penned by Baron Marius Valois of Cantal

 

“I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, Blessed be His Name, rewards those who keep His commandments and punishes those that transgress them.” - Principles of Faith

 

It is by these words that all true believers of the Canonist Faith must live their lives. They tell us that GOD is just, and give us the knowledge that all who truly believe in and follow the word of GOD will be rightly treated after their judgment. Perhaps more importantly, they serve as a reminder that GOD’s redemption is not for all; those who rebuke and refuse him face damnation. These are words to take comfort in, yet GOD’s faithful must find this comfort with a degree of restraint.

 

It is easy to think that because GOD’s grace and wrath are simply inevitable, and thusly feel no compulsion to aid in their coming. Intuition tells us that our free will excludes us from exacting GOD’s inevitable judgment, yet this is simply false. The faithful are GOD’s servants, and though our choices are our own, GOD is all-knowing. There is no contradiction in claiming that our own chosen path puts us in the hand of GOD as his tools, for this is the compromise of free will granted by the omnipotent.

 

I make these claims not simply for the sake of making them, though there is surely more to be written on this topic, but instead because those who refuse GOD’s will hide among us, hidden and unchecked. I do not speak of the common heathen, but instead of two particularly vile sort. I speak of the monstrosity and the mage.

 

Since our arrival in this new realm, countless reports have surfaced of the evils imposed upon the faithful by wicked monsters and GODless mages. Whether it be an innocent woman drained of blood by a striga, homes destroyed by a rogue pyromancer, the hunting performed by witches of frost, these stories come in an endless torrent. There is a problem among the realm of the faithful, for those who transgress against GOD have found comfort hiding in our shadows. It is the responsibility of loyal Canonists to serve as GOD’s justice against these forsaken and craven creatures. They will not escape GOD’s judgment, that is certain, but knowledge of that does not absolve us of the responsibility to enact it in his name.

 

I believe that all I have said up to this point is unobjectionable even if it is not intuitive, and thus I hope that the conclusions I draw are not too bold in turn. It is my belief that in order to combat this problem which hides among us, those of the utmost faith must endeavor themselves to learn more about their enemy, and in turn to adopt the use of the void, and in turn heavily regulate it.

 

My reasons for proposing the use of magic to rebuke the forsaken is twofold. The first is out of pragmatism; to wield magic is to better understand this enemy, and in turn arms the faithful with the tool best suited for their destruction. Yet the second reason is all the more poignant, for it allows us to prove the strength offered by our faith in GOD. Use of the void leads the weak and unfaithful away from GOD, yet it is not inherently evil. To best the heathens with that which led them to GODlessness and cling firmly to one’s faith is the ultimate proof of GOD’s triumph. If our worldly victory can be paired with a victory of spirit and morality, then some of his faithful must allow their resolve to be tested by GOD in his service.

 

If you are yet unconvinced, I ask you to look to our history. Saint Lucien is revered by many as one of the greatest High Pontiff’s ever to serve, setting the Church on a new path of strength and piety. His accomplishments are too long to list, his devotion unquestioned, yet it is well documented that at his side he held two mages of great repute and service to GOD.

 

Ser Baldir the Zealot, known for his unquestioning service to GOD, was instrumental in the Conquest of Malinor, an act necessary for the security of GOD’s faithful and sanctioned by his Church. It was by his pyromancy that heretics were burned and the frost witches of yore were hunted. Likewise, Ser Bran Volsung the Water Mage, born without GOD, converted and henceforth devoted his entire being to service within the White Rose. Even the Duchess Rose Valois, a student of Ser Baldir, wove spells of healing and flame in service to our faith and empire, doing her best to hold humanity together in the days of William the Weak.

 

Though I list three unquestionable servants to GOD of a bygone era, during this time there were those who took to the void and fell from GOD’s grace. Ser Alexander Valois, a knight of the Lion, took to the void just as his cousin Rose did. His disgraces were numerous, fighting among GODless Teutons in the Battle of the Dreadfort, and twice seeking to usurp the Duchess of her rightful land and titles, he is an example of how the void can turn good men craven.

 

Let the transgressors see what they could have been when GOD’s punishment is brought to them, and those who can still be redeemed to faith may find Him once more. It is my hope that our Mother Church will closely regulate the use of magic, yet also continue to offer blessing to mages who truly act in service to GOD, so that the wicked and monstrous may be driven from our realm.

[LPT 771]

Father John nods in approval as he says to himself 

"The thesis is very well written, better than the writings of many clergy, even if one disagreen wit the well argued points they can appreciate the effort in the writing. I hope His Holliness gets the opportunity to read this"

[osumanduas 1442]

"One after my own Sybalist nature." Notes Father Himmler

[Angmarzku 1251]

"Watch your profanity." Says a mumbling, calm Wraith.