Recognizing the Prelacy of Hightree

[Narthok 10416]

Recognizing the Prelacy of Hightree

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          The unique circumstances surrounding the Ashen Lady have wracked my dreaming hours of late. Yet I cannot compel myself to label such an ordeal as wytchcraft. What has occurred at Hightree cannot be held as anything other than a miracle bestowed upon us by the All Father. In this vein, It has oft eluded me as to why we, as a body of faith have held the flames of the Ash Tree as sacred. But independent from the essence contained within the Holy Hearths of a Hearth Temple. Thus I submit that the fires of the holy Ash Tree be held in the same regard as that of the Hearth. The very seeds of the Ash Trees harkening back to the Elder days much in the same fashion as the Stonemen of the hills. In this spirit it is important to ensure that the sacred fires, those most holy remnants of the All Father’s essence on the mortal coil are kept, enshrined and guarded by those who would ensure their health and prevent their quenching. So arrives the question. Who is to tend to Hightree, who is to care for its roots, defend its branches, There is only one who could possible suit such a role.

 

          Thus as the representative of the Herald’s blood upon the Hearth council I do recognize the Prelacy of Hightree. I do so in the name of the Hearth Council, and the Throne of the Realm. Due to the unique circumstances of Hightree this Prelacy shall differ from those following more conventional norms. The confines of the Prelacy of Hightree shall be restricted to the pool nourishing the tree. Thus the jurisdiction of its Keeper shall also be restricted to this region insofar as the business of tending to their respective prelacy is concerned. For the sake of administration the Prelacy of Hightree shall be subservient to the greater Prelacy of Nordengrad under the ministrations of Patriarch Rae of Nordengrad. Beyond this pedanticism we of the Holy Hearth do bestow the Ashen Lady with the Keeper’s Rod, for the Prelacy of Hightree. We do charge them with the keeping and defence of the Tree proper. Furthermore we do charge them with the duty of tending to those souls that do dwell or do stray within the boundaries of the Prelacy. We of the Holy Hearth do privilege the Ashen Lady of Hightree with a seat on the Holy Hearth council. In addition we of the Holy Hearth do privilege the Ashen Lady to take initiates and aspirants as they see fit. In brief. The Holy Hearth Council does form the prelacy of Hightree in recognition of great spiritual movements occuring within the realm. In addition to the formation of this fresh prelacy we do bestow the mantle of Keeper upon the shoulders of the Ashen Lady. May she bear her burden well and execute her duties appropriately.

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Penned en Astridsday 420.1, Writ en Namen de

Thoromir Edvardsson, Second of his name. Earl of Nordengrad, Defender of the Faith. Blood of the Herald. Chieftain of the Edvardssons and the Rurikid.

 

[H7R5 55]

           Oracle returns from a hunt, carrying the corpse of a stag over her shoulders, multiple arrows protrude from it's body. The dryad begins stringing the deer's carcass to one of the tree's strong branches, then begins using a small knife of bone to begin the process of skinning the animal, letting it's blood seep down into the pools and soil around the Ashwood tree. After she was done with her work, she left the skins to dry and stowed the meat so it could be cooked by the flames of the tree later. She sighed and wiped the sweat from her brow, between chasing the stag with her heavy bark skin and skinning it, she was completely exhausted. Finally after returning to her tree she catches wind of this notice, sighing deeply with relief, the people of Nordengrad had given her the respect to govern her tree properly against those who might bring harm to it.

[Nectorist 12869]

The local Canonist shrugs his shoulder upon reading the announcement. Gazing to the Ash Tree in the center of Nordengrad he gives a small sigh, returning his focus to the book in his heads. However he still struggles to concentrate, instead thinking of his future within the Earldom. "At least Rae is a friend," he reassures himself, biting the interior of he cheek.

[_Elrith_ 4525]

"She'z an intereztin' ladeh." Ellenora says, tending to her forge that lay next to the Ashtree. 

[Keening 1264]

Gaius Mournstone continued to pass out drinks within the First Hearth tavern of Nordengrad, offering free drinks to the citizens upon the announcement of a Patriarch. "It's about time, lads," he spoke plainly. "Mournstone children can be properly educated about the faith. All-Father be praised."