Epistle to the Imperial Throne

[VIROS 2915]

Epistle to the Imperial Throne

18^th of Sun’s Smile, 1778

 

Your Imperial Majesty Peter III, Holy Orenian Emperor, @ARCHITECUS

 

In 25 years of my reign, I have never known you to command me; nor I, you. Though I am loath to break that cordiality, circumstances demand it. The world is at stake, and for reasons beyond me, you have not reacted accordingly.

 

I fear that hatred has blinded you, for I see no other likely motive to your choices. The Church maintained our neutrality when you proclaimed your war against Sutica. When pagans and heretics formed their coalition, we then aligned with the Empire, defending the homeland of humanity. Now, less than a year later, circumstances have changed beyond recognition. The Church is reorienting itself appropriately, and I have ordered that our Palatine Guard proceed to the front in Korvassa immediately. Yet you have continued to wage war on Sutica, despite all else.

 

Your Imperial Majesty, you are prosecuting a war of vengeance on Corwin von Alstreim in the midst of an infernal invasion. We have received countless reports of a demonic siege camp in Korvassa; we have witnessed the sun eclipsed by Ibleesian magic in Helena. The world is bleeding, calling out to Oren to defend her, and yet you persist haughty and hardhearted, with eyes only for victory in Sutica. Each day this war is allowed to continue, another thousand souls perish in the gaping jaws of the Inferi. Does the fear of loss weigh so heavily that you would forsake the world before suspending your rancor for Corwin von Alstreim? If this is your idea of victory, I dread defeat, in this contest where the sacrifices seem to exceed the prizes.

 

The Church cannot stand idly by as the world is driven to the slaughter--not for an Emperor, nor indeed any man. God charged me with the same duty as you: to guard all men against the wickedness of Iblees. As your spiritual brother, if you fail in your duty, it is my obligation to admonish you. If you fail to see the errors of your ways, it is my duty to correct you by all means available to me.

 

Accordingly, Peter III, Holy Orenian Emperor, in my station as High Pontiff and Vicar of God, I command that you end the conflict in Sutica immediately, allowing your army to focus on the pressing matter of the infernal invasion. If you refuse, this will be apostasy of the highest order, the penalty for which is excommunication.

 

I will pray that you reconsider this folly, for the sake of humanity and the world,

High Pontiff James II

 

 

[wolfdwg 2677]

Spoiler

((Mfw ppl think demons are related to Iblees, master of the undead.))

 

[Christ 939]

reserved!

[D3F4LT 1026]

"First we beat Oren, t'en we beat dem inferi loike we beated September Prince!" Elronian Kaeronin would say after reading this.

[BenevolentManacles 2232]

Philip Augustus, astride his horse in the sands of Korvassa, rears his horse. Sir Arcean and Sir Cassius with him, they survey the ever-expanding pit from which the demons made their encampment. The iron-clad brigadiers with him chatter as the Prince turns his horse, his eyes glaring at the doom at their doorstep. 

 

“The Lord gives us trials, and by design, they are surmountable,” he laments nervously to the Knights with him. He turns his horse, and the trio ride back to Al Faiz, to the garrison, to assist the Sultan’s warriors in inspecting the defenses. 

 

Philip peels back the cloth wrap that shielded him from the desert sun, sweating inside the walls, before Sir Arcean brings word to him. The Prince dismounts his horse, seizing the reigns with one hand, and the message with the other- an epistle, a letter of admonishment. 

 

He glances between the soldiers with him and the gates to Al Faiz, trembling with anticipation.

 

“This tyrant killed my friend, but these creatures would kill God himself. Vengeance will not bring us peace while the Inferi scour the earth.”

 

The Prince and the brother Knights return to their inspection of the walls, though he is distracted in prayer. This crusade would be an impossible task without the rest of the Army here. Philip’s conversations with the Sohaer and the Sultan made him sure of that. Preparation, decisiveness, and the Lord’s grace were all that stood between the world, an annihilation.

[Guest]

 

 

“Forgive King Corwin, for while he has sinned, there yet remains the question of a Demonic Uncursion; and the dreaded Interstice from which they arrived.”

 

Uttered a silver-haired Elf to the dying, bleeding, setting Sun overhead. Ponderously, he looked out across the prairie before rearing his horse while grasping the reins; a luminous sight of burning manors seen behind him as he galloped off.

[ScreamingDingo 20568]

The Hermit ponders within his own dirt filled hovel, blankets thrown over around pine trees and hanging adjacent to the river that brushes past his home. The sounds of footsteps and the Helenian trumpets occasionally echo through his mind. Yet the old hermit seems to look upwards, mud covered rags clinging to his emaciated body as he mutters continually to himself.

 

“Follow betwixt the eyes, follow betwixt the eyes. For that is when you will see with your eyes. One comes, another follows.”

 

His own crazed ramblings continue to himself, glass-eyed for a few moments before continuing to his habits of foraging and living on the mudded banks of his home.

[Reckless Banzai Screamer 15456]

Paco de Mantequilla smiles believing he brought peace to the realm, perhaps Santegia could reform now

[AstriaS 4988]

High Keeper Alisa choked on her drink a moment. “Well, I’ll be damned. Maybe the church isn’t as much of a puppet show as I thought. Or, maybe the Pontiff has just seen fit to finally cut his strings.”

[Proddy 2415]

From within the comforts of his office within the Palace de Novellem, Governor Arbaaz Simhari stares out of the window in a state of deep reflection. A pipe filled to the brim with Rhenyari hemp betwixt between his fingers, and a copy of the Pontiff’s statement sprawled bare upon his desk.

 

“Ya Mitras... Perhaps his Holiness is not so holy after all!” the Rudran sighs with dishevelment, shaking his head with disbelief. ”Has he forgotten so easily, the murder of Peter Amadeus and his mother the Princess of Alstion before him?  Both good Canonists, the former of which was only a minor? Would God not judge the Tyrant of Sutica a sinner for such crimes alone, even if he propagates himself to be a ‘good’ canonist?”

 

”And what of the pious and innocent Canonist souls that have been slain by his filthy Hangmen dogs in this dreaded war. Where is their retribution? The Pontiff has much khrum to commit to such a statement.... in his wanton lust to convert the world, he has been blinded and censured. It will be the undoing of us all should he continue down this foolish path.”

[Callistus 988]

A pilgriming man of holy cloth is soon apprised on his path through the earth of the posture so bravely seized by the Church, in whom he had once seen a severed and sedentary people with idle hands and lesser regard for worldly affairs.

 

With greater respect thus, he ensures a letter is penned that conveys a concurrent stance by the Vicarage in this regard, and makes known also his desire to soon establish covenant with the body in mutual interest of their inclusive faith (be it only for the period of this war).

 

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@Mead maybe not everyone likes to rp an encyclopedic meta-knowledge of the actual truth of things? By way of inference, it’s very easy to see how a mundane individual in that world associates horned fiery demons with the satanic devil himself unless they legitimately learned otherwise (a difficult feat given the scarcity of rp insight on the matter)

[GoodGuyMatt 7113]

”Love him or hate him, he ist speaking facts” Brandt Barclay huffed idly as he read the letter to the Emperor ”Demons und inferni... or whatever in Horen’s balls these things are do nicht sound like they are going to wait fur people to sort out their Wars” he commented before putting the letter away ”Gott, hilf uns” he’d conclude

[erictafoya 3276]

“I’d rather have the actual demons die before the one King that sinned” Ser Ivan said after reading

[rukio 8924]

“If you care so much about this affair you should demand he give up his lands to Sutica for the greater good, as you demanded Rubern give up theirs to Oren during the AIS war’s end when they asked to be un-excommunicated.” John Helson’s blonde haired daughter states plainly with a yawn. 

[Lojo613 1882]

Fr. Goren begins to bake cookies more furiously in order to feed the Crusaders.