The Death of an Old man

[bromadan 368]

 

The Death of an old man

 

(credit to WesleyChen)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D59NyexPnU8

 

   The leaves brushed and blew in the wind, a gust that symbolized the season of the Harvest. The colors of the world would change soon, from a vibrant green to a peaceful orange and red. The old man clothed in black, a silver cross hanging from his belt, made his pilgrimage to the great city of Senntisten. Hoping to make amends in the final moments of his life, or so he hoped. Soldiers and warbands from all kinds of Kingdoms patrolled the road networks, checking caravans and citizens alike for enemies of the state. The old priest slipped by without much attention, no one cares for a aged priest that wanders. His bag wrapped around him was clenched tightly to the frail figure of him, not wishing to part from him as his grey eyes glanced off towards the wheatfields of Renatus-Marna. Seeing the workers toil in the fields, gathering the harvest for the coming fall and winter.

 

   In these moments, when alone and in the presence of GOD and nature, his mind slipped to the older days. From the early days of his childhood as a third-born son to a Noble House. Not much worth to many people. He was not needed to be an heir, to be a marriage made off. No, he didn’t feel that needed. He wore the armor and tabard of his House once, to make him feel powerful and worth something. He had even fought in a battle at the ripe age of 14. He fought against the Romstun hordes as the Empire declared them enemies. The blood that soaked the field, the screams that filled the air, poor Jack didn’t know what to do. He killed a man, shoving a blade through a footman’s back as he was occupied with an Imperial soldier. He took a man's life, who could forgive such a thing….

 

   ..God can. Young Jack approached a vineyard near the swamps of Marna, exploring in his family’s armor. He assumed nothing of it till he heard a voice call out, “You, boy. Who are you?” Jack turned to find that it was none other than his Holiness, Everard. The boy didn’t know what to do, but kept to his polite manners and did the proper procedures as he was taught. They went inside and talked for a large portion of the day, of GOD and the Church. Perhaps.. GOD could love Jack, to forgive him of anything he might do. Perhaps the Church will have a need of him. And from there on he declared his life to the cloth. From that day a friendship was born between he and his Holiness Everard. A mentor to a student.

 

   Through the coming years he was arose to a status as the priest of Adelberg, to serve the Cathedral there. Through hard work and diligence Everard appointed him to be Archbishop of the Crownlands of the Empire and even the legate to the Emperor himself. The now old man smiled at the thoughts, proud of his younger self. It was there in Adelburg he fell in love even, with a young woman named Madison. Then to his ascension to the position of Vice Chancellor, it was a day he would never forget. Yet not all of life was good and bountiful.

 

   Madison had passed on from the world, the lands of Axios embroiled in war with the emergence of Renatus and the declaration of the Third Crusade. It was a time period that caused stress to many, and heartbreak to others.

 

   The old man stopped before the great walls of Senntisten, having reached his destination. He made his way inside, slowly making his way up towards the great Adamantine Cathedral that overlooked the city, memories flooding him like a tidal wave. He recalled when his great mentor, his Holiness Everard, died. When the Synod was called upon to elect someone new to take the Exalted Throne. He recalls his heavy breathing as he made his speech, and the moment when the votes were called.

 

“Jack of Mardon..”

 

“Jack of Mardon..”

 

“Jack of Mardon..”

 

“Jack of Mardon..”

 

   Four votes in his name, with an abstain. He was chosen by his peers and GOD to be the next High Pontiff. Oh how the bells rang with its glorious news, he could even hear the bells ring like they used too. However he stopped himself, a smile soon fading as he saw a man in a familiar suit of armor donning the tabard of the Order of Saint Lucien. His old friend, Rakim..

 

   They exchanged a few words, then were brought inside the Cathedral. His grey eyes shifted around the great church he once stood in to preach, to talk to Nobles and Commoners alike. He sat himself with a grunt onto one of the pews to relax, exchanging a few more words with Sir Rakim. The Knight questioned Jack about the things he had done, and why, and he gave his best answers that he could. He never regretted any decision he had made. Jack was always a stubborn man to be sure. However chants from the other room echoed, The High Pontiff and his successor, Jude, preached loudly. Rakim mentioned that members of the Royal Family were inside, and best they leave in order to spare Jack any.. Painful execution. A kind gesture, in of itself.

 

   Outside they stood instead, on the stone and wooden ramparts as they overlooked the city. Words and ideas exchanged, a last conversation they were to have. The old man turned towards his comrade to continue yet Rakim drew a blade out on him. His hand was shaky, Jack’s voice was soft. Jack knew this was what laid before him when he came here, he was Excommunicated after all, it was only right.

 

“Wish to make peace?” Rakim asked, motioning to the Heavens that laid bright in the sky.

 

“I made my peace before coming here, in the woods of my journey. I do have one request, however.” The Old Priest asked, his voice low and quiet as a gentle breeze brushed against the two friends.

 

“Speak.”

 

“Do not forget the man that I was. The world may stain my name, and i do not blame them. But you, Rakim, do not forget me and the conversations we once had.”

 

   And with that Jack stood closer to Rakim, a soft grunt escaping him as he felt the steel pierce flesh. The blade sunk deep into his fragile body, easily destroying some vital organs in his stomach.

 

“I forgive you..” Jack whispered to him, offering a final nod as he slumped down onto the wooden ramparts to seat himself, a pale and sickly hand reaching to cover the wound that was given. It was at this time that the High Pontiff Jude came down as he spotted us, along with a retinue of Soldiers and Clergy. They came to see Jack live in his final moments.

 

   A brave Holy Knight came quick to Jack, passing Rakim as he went to apply pressure to the wound, telling the old priest to keep it tight. However it was of no use, jack knew. Jude however quickly came to Jack as well, beginning to pray loudly to GOD and the Heavens. Life was slipping away from him, it was close now. His Holiness then lifted the Anathema on Jack, allowing him to ascend to the Seven Skies once more. It was a final peace given upon him, a feeling of solace gifted upon Jack..

 

“Do not forget the man that I was..”

 

   The final words of Jack Amador, before his grey eyes peered up towards the Pontiff and his men, before peering up at the starry sky and soon faded into Darkness…

 

The life of the High Pontiff-Emeritus, Clement the Third,

The man, Jack Amador,

Had breathed his last.   

 

((OOC Note: Keep OOC comments to a minimum my friends, as always. It was very good RP that occured and I enjoyed every second. Ya boy Brom <3))

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R03cqGg40GU      Piov wanted me to put this in, I am ashamed 

 

[Imperium 3495]

Rhys weeps

[seannie 7443]

"A national tragedy, to be sure." commented Amandil as he was informed of Jack's passing.

[Andustar 4143]

Rickard Henrik sighs softly at the news of Jack's death, displaying a tone of sorrow at the passing of his father-in-law;

"May you have safe passage through the Soulstream, friend. Give my love to Elizabeth..."

The Ascended would state, looking up at the star lit sky.

[sandey0000 216]

Sergei Stafyr bowed his head out of respect 

 

Karl Amador shears a tear "May you find rest and peace in the seven skies uncle"

 

Nathanael's body would pay his last respect by also being dead but freezed in

[Farryn 860]

Elvira would frown softly at the news, bowing her head. "May your soul have safe passage through the soulstream and be forevermore at rest within the seven skies, my friend."

The battleworn Ascended would then light a candle in honour of the man she met during the Axios Exodus.

[MunaZaldrizoti 8037]

Elizabeth Amador would welcome her father into the Seven Skies, kissing his head and hugging him close.

 

Emma Kovachev would light a candle in the cathedral of Markev, in memory of her 'Grandpa Pontiff' whom she had seen from time to time.

 

"Leave me," Victoria Vientos would say to her maid, the one who had brought her the news of her nephew's death. She prayed to Aeriel and the Creator for his passage into the Seven Skies, then shedding a few tears for one of the last blood relatives she had remaining in the world.

[rukio 8924]

The days of Adelburg were long gone, but had she been capable Lily would grieve for the man who had forgiven the sins which plagued and destroyed her throughout her pregnancy all those years ago.

[Jondead 260]

Magnus Siting at home: Hearing the death of his Friend and ally Jake, he weeps in morning of Jack "May GOD and Aeriel guide your Soul to the Seven Skies..." He says wiping the tears from his face and stands up from the stool, just before walking outside.

[Reckless Banzai Screamer 15456]

The old Qalasheen knight sits alone in his temporary quarters in Judeburg after Jack's funeral, contemplating his last moments with the former Pontiff. There was no malice in his actions, feeling some mixed bag of emotions unto now. Grandmaster Rakim learned the lesson of not going against the grain years ago in his past failures as a secular man and to not deliver punishment onto Jack would set a bad precedent for the future of the Church. Regardless though, his duty did not make him feel any better with his actions. He remembered his debates, his discussions and his plans with Jack when he was referred to as Clement III. Compared to most of the younger people that replaced the aged man's generation, there was a kindred desire to make humanity a better place between Jack and Rakim that allowed the old knight to find his place in a world that usually forsakes old war veterans.

 

"You know," Rakim thinks aloud to himself at his desk. "If I had another son who wasn't a piece of ****, I'd want Jack to be my son. My white son."

 

Nearing the fine age of 100, Rakim looks forward to seeing Jack soon in the Seven Skies for more theological debates and discussions.

[Bloody_Russian 131]

Samuel sheds several tears, anger festering in his heart despite his efforts to purge it from his being. "There shall be a reckoning, no doubt...While men bother themselves with the demise and survival of their brethren, holy men consider the death of their precursors imperative, ordering writs of exile and excommunication warranting the demise of one holier than themselves, the Almighty rules in the Eternal Seven Skies, forever infinite, forever benign, shining like a beacon to those who seek guidance...and yet the very institution which is to carry forward his word seeks to promote itself, and institutes a policy of death and destruction upon one of them who helped build it with no gratitude.  This is not the way of the Lord.  I am no priest nor pontiff, minister nor monk; I am but a simple commoner, as unaware of the Vast Glory of Almighty God as a newborne babe, unread in the way of the Scrolls, so truly, I am in no right to have any opinion on such matters, anymore than the Undead which so ravage this God-Given land of Atlas.  And yet, in my heart, in my spirit, in my very soul, I sense that this is wrong.  I cannot comprehend how the Almighty would endorse the death of one who has served Him most of his life, faltering so rarely, simply for questioning the Institution ran by Men, and all Men may be mistaken.  No man is perfect any more than a Mali, a Halfling, or even a son of Krug.  No,  no simple Man is perfect, only the Almighty is Perfect in his Eternality, infinite wisdom, and unending Might."

Looking around, at the luscious greenery in the meadow, the vivid indigoes and crimsons of the flowers, and the (admittedly dull) mud-brown shade of his horse, Everjoy, Samuel laces his fingers together in prayer. "Almighty God, I beg you to pardon Jack of his sins.  Please forgive him his trespasses and wrongdoings, and admit him into your eternal Kingdom of Seven Skies, and let him escape the bleak, unfortunate limbo of the Void.  Let him join his family, and let him Rejoice in your ever-powerful Glory, forever and ever.  Lead those of us who anger over his death and bear fury in our hearts find ways to be rid of such negativity, and guide us towards the Way, so that we may work to be more like You in the end.  Amen."

[osumanduas 1442]

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.