[PK] THE LAST PRAYER

[rep2k 2477]

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQm4pPecvX8

 

“Peaceful Rest of the Papa”

 

Arms of His Holiness High Pontiff Tylos I

 

Time has passed, and enough for someone close to High Pontiff  Tylos I to ask - what in God's name happened to that man? Some must have wondered, some had already gone to his office, some to his ‘sweet home’, and some most likely didn’t care. The usual feelings of mortals, which were expected at all times, must have wandered gloomily through the streets, corridors, rooms, and chambers, but, did any feeling fulfill its mission?

 

As much as Alfred Barclay wanted to become independent and abandon what he had wanted from his early days, he knew he must not do it in a simple way. As the days passed, contemplating further plans for the Church.. it came to him after a long time. Only God knows what disease caught him unprepared at that moment, but that insidious smile that Alfred had every day was different from the previous ones. A smile that could even reveal the fate of this man who will come before God very soon.. Sooner than someone would actually think.

 

 

But Alfred knew there was no going back, as there used to be. Death was useless to avoid, he knew, for it catches everyone, but he also knew that there was no need to be afraid of death.

 

What is death, if not a path to the Skies? 

What is a peaceful death, if not a path to God?

 

He found the strength to go to the room, and take two envelopes from the drawer, which he had kept for a long time, it would seem. Anyone who came across these envelopes could see the following..

 

 

---

 

“A letter to the family”

 

To my beloved Barclays,

 

It's been a long time since we last saw each other as a family, I know that.. I feel guilty, and it eats inner me day by day. But what should a busy man do, faced with all sorts of obligations? Leaving all this is easy, but the Church is at stake, my dear ones, and I ask you to forgive me.

 

Either way, I feel weaker considerably, and it gets worse day by day. I will certainly not last until next year, so my dear ones, I am sending you this letter, as a collective, as a family ... Let this be our last farewell.

 

Yours only,

Alfred Barclay

 

---

 

“A collection of works of Alfred Barclay”

 

“Life is a river that flows fast

and you never know what tomorrow brings.

Once you get to the ocean of death,

upstream you can’t, no matter who you are.

 

Then the sea wind takes you

so you rise into the high clouds.

You fall like an ordinary drop of rain;

you reach the new river again.

 

So you run again; carry those currents

and swirling whirlpools of happiness and sorrow.

You don't go where you want, you float where you have to,

for you are bound by the threads of the rainbow.

 

As you follow your selfish desires,

they carry you like a rotten branch.

And you always have to go downstream,

because all the rivers flow to one side.

 

Sometimes you're at the top, sometimes you're at the bottom,

and downstream a waterfall awaits you.

Then you soon flow into the ocean,

and then you become a drop again.“

 

“Death is not beyond me. It is in me

from the very beginning: it grows with me

at any time.

One day, I pause

and it grows further

in me until the whole sprouts me,

and reached the edge of me.

My ending

its real beginning is;

when she reigns further alone.“

 

“Goodbye, dear, goodbye;

you, my friend, were everything to me once.

Arranged parting without our will

promises a meeting, doesn't it?

 

Goodbye, dear, without hands, without letters,

don't let your eyebrows ache

to die is nothing new in this world,

but living is not much newer either.“

 

“It was something beautiful so it passed

- Or it was just a dream -

More beautiful than the stars, more beautiful than the roses

And the smile of mountain fairies.

 

The nights were moonlit, beautiful

And full of hot joys.

The gardens were full of scents,

And the roses were blooming white.

 

There was laughter, long looks

What do they know but to cut out,

There was happiness, sighs of sorrow,

And the anthem to the magical Arcas.

 

She was a soul full of suns

And fiery longings, which shine

Sometimes like the sky a firefly shines

Then he dies and dies.

 

It used to be. Darkness is everywhere now

And the pain that burns and burns.

It was a dream, it was a story

On one of the most beautiful evenings.“

 

“To meet people means to walk in its footsteps, to eat at its table, to find out what it hopes for, what it believes in. However, first of all, you should know that we are not going on a journey to interpret our truth, but to meet someone else's.”

 

 

---

 

And, there it goes.. The flame of another soul that has fulfilled its mission is extinguished and is now preparing for a new path, but the path that leads it to infinity and freedom. Leaving the envelopes on the table, with a faint smile, Alfred prayed for the last time and lay down on the bed, jumping on the path without going back, but also on the path to eternity, to God, for it was his mission since his early days..

 

REQUIESCAT IN PACE

High Pontiff Tylos the First 1820 - 1835 (b.1753)

 

 

Spoiler

I started playing as Alfred sometime in March last year, and I can say that I had a lot of fun with him during the past and this year. I would never have believed that one day I would be High Pontiff Tylos I, but even that happened, which was Alfred's dream from a young age. You have all contributed to the improvement of this story, and that is why I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I hope to see you again soon, on a new character perhaps !

 

[Iudaes 1087]

As Tylos I, once Alfred Barclay, was enveloped by the blessed light and warmth of the Seven Skies, through those emanations which partition the Skies did Jude II descend. He took his place among those other family and friends who came to meet the late High Pontiff at the gates, stepping forth to greet the Barclay then. Dressed in vestments of the purest white, healed of his scars and with both hands outstretching to grasp Tylos by the arms, he spoke, "Dear brother, I welcome you to your eternal home. You, a worthy successor, truly do depart from that world below with a legacy of glory to leave the people you have served dutifully--yet, of course, as for all Vicars of God, glory only unto Him. You have done well."

 

"Now, High Pontiff Tylos, once His Eminence, Alfred Barclay of my College, you are rewarded by God, joining Him and the many faithful in eternal rest." he said. "Though, verily, as Father Seraphim said unto me upon my passing, it is the work of the shepherd which does not end upon passing through these here Gates, for it is the virtues of our labors that give us wholeness in His Truth. As we have served in life, we shall serve in death and we, forever to rejoice in those great gifts of the Lord. And therefore, do rejoice, my friend, for you are now with God."

 

Jude II left his successor, Tylos I, to ascend to that Sky of which God had chosen for the 54th bearer of the Laurel. Certainly Tylos I, once Alfred Barclay, was deserving of that great reward--that great, holy expanse of the heavens.

Edited August 31, 2021 by GoldWolf

[GoodGuyMatt 7060]

Ser Brandt Barclay, Tylos I's favourite cousin awaits him with open arms in the Seven Skies "Come your Holiness, time to get piss drunk, just like we used to in our youth" he chuckled

[MissToni 3487]

Katerina Ceciliya uttered some prayers that day upon hearing the news of the pontiff's death. Her heart feeling heavy before uttering the words

"Spasiba for showing me guidance during harsh times and offering advice when I needed it. I pray vy reach the seven skies safely"

[Burnsider 4542]

He smiled and held him close. "Hi Dad."

[GhostSHTR 1002]

Vladrick Cardinal Sava would stare down at the announcement "Alfred was in good health last time I saw him, he can't he-" he'd choke on his words are tears begun to run down his face soaking the parchment. "Vy treated me like I was your son, vy were more of a father to me than my own" he'd croak before completely breaking down in his office

[Javert 5498]

"Damn..." muttered Henry Bishop upon hearing the news of the High Pontiffs death.

[Fionn__TWG 2616]

Klaus Barclay read the letter sent to the family with a somber look, clasping his hands together as he prayed for the first time in a long while "Requiescat in Pace, cousin. Say hallo to opa und vater for me."

[Pureimp10 5178]

Patriarch Yaromir lit many candles in the Basilica and silently prayed for Tylos' soul.

[Capt_Chief26 1205]

Ser Reinhardt Barclay was sadden by the passing of Al, he signed the lloraine, praying for Pontiff’s safe passage into the Seven Skies. “Danke Onkle Alfred, for all du have done, Rest Easy Big Pope, du have done great things and history shall remember du” He said going to check on his 1 year old son

[hemomancy 2835]

...And so the Poet saw, papers 'neath her hands crumbling.  A man she knew, a man she'd hoped to visit once again- nay, not hope, planned. Hope had been lost with time, replaced with a bittersweet numbness of her thoughts. Hushed whispers she gave as she rose, her desk now without any comfort. Off the woman went to silently mourn through her days- out of no sadness, but respect.

[DahStalker 2842]

       A frame pressed back into the crimson cloth of a refined chair, molding forcefully into its confines for some sort of half-hearted solace. The recent news of said blessed death hit the elfess akin to a boulder. With only a hastily poured glass of wine to comfort her as she miserably fell down a maze of thoughts and memories - from ages before most - to the lands of Kaedrin. 

             Firstly - She thought of her sweet Nenica, capturing the youth alongside her twin within the desolated orphanage within a young age of her own, and bringing the babe home to raise her as her own. She thought of the St. Thomas in which the green-eyed girl was memorized with; as if it were one of the living heavens. 

 

             Secondly - She thought of that large tree of a man within the old Haenseti Basilica, pivoting before the men of the north and men of ivory as he fought, shielding away corrupt yet frighten clergy. She had thought him misguided but she had also thought him a martyr. Who was he? Those eyes of green. That face so familiar. Only caught in a glimpse of shining armor and devoted fury.  And then later on after the action had been done, and she could do nothing, she heard of the most devastating news. He had belonged to her sweet Nenica.

 

              Lastly - She thought of that boy named Alfred. That boy who loved her daughter; who protected her when she could not; who gave her a life of purity and normalcy. The boy who without doubt supported the family he loved, the boy who rescued her blood from ruins and made it his own. She primarily disliked the partners of her long passed faux-children. But, this one was different. He had followed the path of GOD and would join her beloved Godric in the seven skies. 

 

       As the elfess glanced to that single candle flickering toward her right, it was joined with a set of emerald rings, one for a woman and one for a man. She had lost a son that night. 

           

[Gutz 390]

Nenica Barclay offers her husband a curt smile, enveloping him into a short embrace. "Welcome home my dear," She'd hum, her emerald eyes meeting his facade once more with a proud smile.

[valecu 2017]

Philip Michael rushed into the Basilica of Ascent of Exalted Godfrey, falling to the ground on knees and lowering his head into silent prayer.

[Ramon 3877]

A now saddened Owyn lit a candle for his old guardian and friend in the Basilica "Thank you, one day we will meet again."