Burnsider 4542 Popular Post Share Posted February 7, 2021 THE OATH FULFILLED "My soul belongs to GOD I know, I made that bargain long ago.” -Jean Valjean It had been a set-up, a planned betrayal since the moment the Diet had been declared. And Nicolas knew it the moment that the Crow Knights laid their hands on their blades as soon as the unarmed priests began to protest. He moved with vigor to the front of the crowd, pushing aside flabbergasted clergymen, to stand in front of them for their protection. And he thought he saw a smile glint on the young king’s face when he waved his men forward to remove the priests from the House of GOD. The clergy stood firm. They knew the sacrilege taking place there, and Nicolas stood in front of them. “Any hand that is laid with force upon a priest is forfeit!” he stated with a certainty that only a man of GOD could place behind his words. There was a pause as each side weighed the other up. There was no doubt of the outcome, of course. A half dozen Crow Knights backed up by a battalion each of the HRA and the ISA. And against whom? One lone Holy Knight. Many of the priests backed up onto the altar, praying. Yet there were a few who had announced that the only way they would be thrown out of GOD’s house was if they were dead. And he harkened back to the words he spoke while kneeling in front of the Vicar of GOD. “I vow to be the sword and shield of the Church of the Canon and her faithful, to fight for them when they cannot protect themselves. I vow to keep my post as Holy Knight until death takes me from this realm into the next.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Father GOD, Du have given me life: Du are my father, und the father of all things. Du guided me in ein theater of virtue, and Ich lived niet except by Your Word. Into your hands now, Ich commit mein spirit.” His eyes opened and Nicolas spied his cousin and liege lord, Friedrich Barclay, on the other side of the line, his sword ready. They shared a silent nod, an understanding, that each had oaths they had taken, that neither felt poorly that they would be at blows, that it was necessary for them to stand by their words. The Crow Knights advanced and as the first blow landed upon his shield, a flash of light emerged from it, seemingly blinding everyone for the briefest of seconds. But it did not stop the press of bodies. In the fury of the fight, it was impossible to know which of the swords pierced his flesh, which of the warhammers broke bone, but his last view of the world was seeing a Crow Knight’s sword pommel coming down upon his skull. His Excellency, Holy Sir Nicolas, Equestor-Imperator and Praefectus Castrorum of the Supreme Order of Exalted Owyn, Secretariat to His Holiness, and Pontifical Delegate to Humanity passed away in the Massacre of St Henrik’s when he was twenty-eight years old. He had spent his youth climbing the trees of the Wickwood and fishing with his grandfather, Osvald Anton. He had spent his teenage years tracking down the bones of Saint Tylos with his cousin, Brandt, so that they could be safely brought to Almaris. It was that holy quest that set Nicolas on his path with the church. He was trained as a squire under Holy Sir Theophilos for a period of a year, but his bravery and command of the Faith in the defense of the Church against the poltergeist that infested it led to his quick knighthood. He carried for the rest of his life the memory of the tears of joy on the face of his father, Alfred Barclay, as he swore his oath. At his swearing, he was invested as an officer of the order and given the responsibility of arming the rest of the Order. In his last year of life, he had been made a member of the Curia and took his duty seriously, beginning to compile the baptismal records that had long lay dormant. He died at peace, fulfilling his oath, and knowing that the Lord GOD was without peer, and His power is the only power, and His eternity is the only eternity, and all the aeons of the Virtue shall sustain the righteous. Amen. 57 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crows 117 Share Posted February 7, 2021 Methas woud bow his head "GODspeed " 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bugbytes21 790 Share Posted February 7, 2021 Javier Fransisco sits in silence in providence, eyes run dry from the grief that he has felt the past few hours. "Another one goes to the seven skies. GOD rest your soul." 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiresiam 462 Share Posted February 7, 2021 "An honourable man, who I could not protect. Another good man lost to tyrannical Lords turned from the light of God's compassion." Spoke Robert de Bourdon, lamenting the most honourable of Holy Knights. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rep2k 2477 Share Posted February 7, 2021 "Son ... they'll pay for this, I swear on my life..",said Alfred, regretting that he had not apologized to his eldest son when he should have. Unremembered memories will remain in his memory, and the toy he still has with him will remain a memory of Nicolas, a man who never failed.. 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urahra 5359 Share Posted February 7, 2021 Tanith thinks back on the kind, young knight who comforted her and held her hand as her god-daughter, Eliza, underwent surgery. That evening, she takes a moment to light a candle for the fallen sir. She offers up a short prayer, hoping the young man - gone too soon - would find his way safely into the arms of the Lord. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mady 3008 Share Posted February 7, 2021 In her home in Varhelm, Analiesa de Astrea was preparing for her second tea party, happily brewing strawberry tea with her mother when the news had arrived. "Mister Nicolas?" She asked, eyes welling with tears as the death of the kind man was explained to her. Although young, Analiesa understood perfectly clear. Politely excusing herself, she would make her way to her room for the night, secretly staying up late writing a letter with a drawing which she intended to send up to the Seven Skies specifically for the Holy Sir. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
argonian 12836 Share Posted February 7, 2021 "Blood for Barclay." Ailred murmurs. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColdestPepsi 1034 Share Posted February 7, 2021 Friedrich Barclay didn't feel poorly at the moment of their acknowledgement having thought that his men would simply subdue the man. Such a things was not the case. He later sat in his office with his head in his hands after having talked to some of his family members. He took out a cigarette from his pack twirling it around as he thought about all that had happened. "Ich knew he would fight to the end. He never would have accepted surrender. ich just did nicht see it in that moment." He mumbled crushing the cigarette in between his fingers. "You will nicht be forgotten and your killer will nicht go unpunished if ich can help it." Friedrich continued to mumble to himself as he stared at the fire in his office as the memory of his silent exchange continued to haunt him. Such a thing would likely do so for the rest of his days. 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadOne 3376 Share Posted February 7, 2021 Adelric, in his intimate hours would look up towards the black blanket of stars, from his Reinmar chambers. He sighed, as tears welled up in his eyes. He joined his hands together and bowed his head in remembrance. He would shoot a small glance towards the Holy Scrolls behind him, and a letter written in confidence for Nicolas, with the knife binding the letter on the wall. "I know you are in your little estate that God had reserved for you since the beginning of time now, cousin. Rest with your forefathers. I hope you will say a words from me to Anton." Osvald wept, and wept for the cruel world. He wept for the world, and he wept for he knew nothing of life but despair, death, fear, and pointless slaughter cast over an abyss of sorrow. He wept, for he saw how peoples are akin to pawns against each other, and innocently slay one another. While he held on the earthen surface of Nicolas's lonely grave in Reinmar, he thought of how the earth means so much to the soldier. The earth now remains as the only creed Nicolas belonged to in this world, the only oath he took. He thought of how the earth stifled his own terror and his cries in the Scyfling war. He thought of how the earth sheltered him and released him from the sounds of the battle, even if it was for a minute. A minute to live, a minute to think. As he would later on glance to the blood-soaked mirrors of the basilica, he would see that his grandson had no such mother to shelter him. 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valannor 6345 Share Posted February 7, 2021 Though horrific in its make, the Hound would feel a frown stretch its away across its maw as the news made its way unto that which lurked beyond the hand of GOD. In truth, it had possessed some measure of fondness for the Barclay, even after their multiple encounters in the haunted Basilica. A fondness more akin to the predator relishing its choice prey than anything else, but an affection born nonetheless. And in crypt most fallow and tomb long since occupied, that doggish countenance lamented the loss of yet another acquaintance. "Child of GOD, rest. I bid thee, join me 'midst the veil, and rise as wolf amongst kine. Verily, indeed, you have been slaughtered with no remorse by those you once bade worthy of thine companionship... Va Krusae Zwy Kongzem i tuosk, joedensk Godan." 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
louislxix 3054 Share Posted February 7, 2021 Ser Alric frowns deeply. He had been one of the initial knights to bring him down, unharmed, so he thought. Regardless, upon pivoting on his heels to face the man once more, he was no more, inanimate and put to death. So he signs the lorraine in his office later that night, uttering a prayer - but most of all, respecting the late man for fighting until his last breath. A fete not many men were willing to do. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoodGuyMatt 7060 Share Posted February 7, 2021 Ser Brandt Barclay let out defeated noise, an unexplainable, yet saddened and weak one. His eyes widened as he learned of what had happened in the Basillica after his departure. Being one of the crow knights to stand by the Koeng's side and on duty during the diet, though he had left to Reinmar because the happenings for reasons of his own. His gaze fell to the ground as he had heard the news. He asked to be left alone, and so he was; in the presence of no one but the eyes of GOD, Saint Tylos and whoever stood above him in the Seven Skies, he shed tears. Tears of regret and melancholical tears left his eyes, dripping into the ground as the knight tried to make as little noise as he could. Murmuring of prayers left his lips. "Saint Tylos deliver you, son... you who had more faith and brave in your childhood than most men have in their adulthood. Unafraid of traveling for decades in the search of Saint Tylos, I knew GOD and the Holy Saint had blessed you. May they now bless you with peace and eternity in the Seven Skies." he signed the Lorraine as he let out a loud huff, trying to free his chest of the burden that had weighed it, though to no result. Minutes later he sat up, dried the melancholy and regret off his face, reached for his Knightly Polearm, "Patience" as it was named after his moniker, and headed towards the Reinmaren forge. Complementing to his moniker, he began his waiting in contemplation and prayer. He prayed to GOD and Saint Tylos to empty his mind of the feelings that had overcome him. As he sharpened the edges of his poleaxe, taking time to do so to perfection, he remained silent. Not only him, but everything about him did; the only noise heard in Reinmar now was the grinding of steel in the wheatstone, the keep itself seemingly mourning the loss of his young cousin. "GOD, if only ich stayed there, if only ich stayed in that Basillica. Oh Lord why did you nicht move my mind to make me stay there und protect him."Once done, he sat up, and put his poleaxe in his back. His brows had furrowed in a way some would describe as anger, and some others in determinance, and yet some others in sadness. No matter, he then began leaving Reinmar, perhaps in search of clearer answers. On his way, he only uttered some last words "Blood for Barclay!" he said "Und I'll draw that blood myself if Alfred won't." 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eryane 3629 Share Posted February 7, 2021 The news of the previous Alderman's death came to office door of Irene Sarkozy late in the evening, if not into the dark night. Three knocks sounded at the door and swiftly did the Lady Speaker rise from her desk to see to who would attempt to inform her of any ongoings at such a late hour. A courier dressed from head to toe in mourning garb informed her in sorrow, and dipped his head without any other news to give her. "A good man, he was, even if I adamantly disagree with the ways of what the Church was under Owyn III. And yet, a good man nonetheless. These views I held in opposition of him canniet blind me from the diligence, perseverance, and devotion he showed to all aspects of his endeavors, whether they be that of his tenure as Alderman or his elevation to the position of Holy Knight." 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harald 2465 Share Posted February 7, 2021 As Johan once more reentered the Basilica of Korsgrad he`s eyes would start to water as he slowly made his way towards the body of Nicolas, looking his once close friend over he`d get down to one knee placing the cross gifted to him at his chest folding Nicholas cold hands around it "You where a good Knight Nicholas, and we might not have agreed in the end, but i shall keep your memory close as if you where on of my own. Your oath has truly been fulfilled " he`d sign the Lorraine before raising to his feet once more "May Saint Tylos and Saint Harald guide vy and welcome vy into the seven skies with their arms wide" he`d then start walking towards the alter to see to the body of Amadeus d`Aryn 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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