TO RECOGNIZE THE INFANT-MARTYR

[LithiumSedai 4837]

Spoiler

 

 

TO RECOGNIZE THE INFANT-MARTYR

A petition for the canonization of Ottomar of Merryweather, penned by the former subjects of the Crowns of Sutica and Atheran Salvus and their allies, concluded at Merryweather Castle and delivered to the Curia of the Holy Mother Church on the 6th of Sigismund's End, 1852.

 “But see, the Lord provides: where the virtuous are cast out of this world, He gathers them in the Skies.” (Gospel 5:41-42)

To His Holiness the High Pontiff, Everard VI, and the Curia of the Holy Mother Church, greetings. @Pureimp10

 

Since the coronation of the Canonist Monarchs of Sutica by your hand almost thirty years ago, the South and its noble lords and common folk both have maintained in their hearts the Canonist traditions once instated by the first Canonist King of Sutica and restored by the pious pair’s Reclamation. Although the former lands of Sutica are now host to other crowns, these crowns and their subjects and traditions remain Canonist to their very core.

 

His Holiness is no doubt aware and reminded of the circumstances which so allowed the glorious Reclamation to bear fruit: the claim of the Merryweather Inheritance, that which was so fortunate for the oppressed Canonists of the South, was bestowed upon Lina Johanna and her husband, Georg, but the true and initial bearer of this claim had once been the Queen’s eldest, late brother, Prince Ottomar. His martyrdom at the hands of Uialbenite pagans is still spoken of with solemn gratitude and respect in the realms of Alstreim, Freimark, and Sarissa, and so are his miraculous intercessions.

 

Recently, the Landgraviate of Alstreim has been informed of two developments regarding the matter. A letter delivered to us from Fausten, the seat of the once-Sutican and colonial Governorate of Atheran Salvus, has detailed to us some religious practices of the remaining colonists in communion with our Church. Though few and ever-dwindling in number, owing their decline to the ruined land’s inhospitality and the vast distance from the realms of Man (in which the colonies are much alike an Aeldinic community), and dejected by the second collapse of the Sutican crown, the locals yet maintain respectful reverence for their former royals and have, since the arrival of the news of miracles attributed to Prince Ottomar together with his remains rumored to be incorruptible, venerated him as a Saint. 

 

This information has coincided with the recent discovery of an incomplete petition penned by the Sutican government of Queen Johanna, seeking to establish for Prince Ottomar a similar recognition within the entrenched Aegisian See as well. We have taken it to ourselves to, with these discoveries in light, finish the petition detailing Prince Ottomar’s life, martyrdom, and miracles and humbly forward it to the Church. Below it are the signatures of good Canonists in support.

OTTOMAR OF MERRYWEATHER, THE INFANT-MARTYR

(1783 - 1790)

 

Prince Ottomar of Merryweather, born Ottomar von Alstreim, was raised in the recently established colony of Fausten, belonging to the Sutican Crown of Atheran Salvus. The news of his birth was met by celebrations and earnest prayers for his continued health among the Canonists of Sutica, both in the polity’s Arcasian heartlands and her overseas domain: the infant was bestowed the substantive title of Prince of Merryweather, created to commemorate the recent Sutican victory in the war against Oren and the established Peace of GOD among the Arcasian Canonists. The title, in effect, named Ottomar the future successor to the Crowns of Sutica and Atheran Salvus, as King Corwin I of Sutica had no children of his own.

 

These celebrations were of short nature. Mere months after Ottomar’s birth, the King of Sutica was overthrown in a treacherous coup of the Sutican Uialbenites, fearful of Sutica’s newfound commitment to Canonism and its values. The eventual knowledge imparted upon him of the loss of his rightful inheritance, however, did not disturb the child, whose mental development and earnest piety and devotion from his earliest days of conscience were nothing short of a miracle. It was said that Ottomar could recite the Canon from memory before learning to walk, and that between the ages of three and five he had obtained a grasp on matters of history, theology and architecture envied by many adults of the colony.

 

At the age of seven, after a thorough study of the incoming reports of the plights and pogroms of Canonists under the rule of Uialben usurpers in Sutica, Ottomar reportedly was so moved that he requested of the loyalist authorities of Fausten to ferry him over to Arcas, to parley with his people’s Elven enemies. The deputy governor of Atheran Salvus, compelled by the Prince’s fervor and unusual intelligence, and with the reluctant consent of Ottomar’s parents, approved an expedition of seventy-seven sailors and cuirassiers.

 

Invoking the Saints and braving the numerous shipwrecking storms of the Terran oceans, the expedition arrived in Arcas in late 1790, in the heat of the Inferi War. Dressed in Royal Alstreim regalia and carrying a tome of the Holy Scrolls, Ottomar disembarked with his entourage of guardsmen in the Sutican port, kept at immediate swordpoint by an angry and alarmed militia of Sutican mixbreeds, Uialbenites and Human apostates. Without fear and with utmost confidence, the child-Prince recited excerpts from the Canon, informing the Uialbenite mob that Divine will demanded the return of the Sutican Crown and an immediate end to their persecution of Canonists. When the mob sneered and raged at the child’s words, proclaiming that “Sutica belonged to no valah'', Ottomar simply replied, unwavering: “Sutica belongs to GOD.”

 

Such was the outrage of the assembled crowd at these words that they immediately beset upon the Salvian cuirassiers with steel and magicks, striking down the seven-year-old Ottomar and most of his guardsmen. In the ensuing chaos, the Prince’s body was recovered and spared from desecration by the surviving sailors who then immediately weighed anchor. Their testimony was that the child-Prince suffered his martyrdom stoically, without a single tear, as the Uialbenite mob tore at him. The Infant-Martyr’s body was transported back to Fausten, reported to have remained incorrupt throughout the entire voyage and in the following years. 

 

Reported miracles:

 

• The Uialbenite usurpers, following the vicious murder of Prince Ottomar, sought to utilize the architectural plans for a new Sutican capital devised for the upcoming exodus to Almaris by King Corwin, altered by the Infant-Martyr in Fausten during his studies of architecture and seized in various forms from both the King’s quarters and the Prince’s Atheran entourage of guardsmen. However, when the Uialbenite council unveiled the blueprints, intent on removing from them the plans for a grand Sutican basilica, the ink reportedly turned into flowing blood, staining the prints before dissipating entirely, leaving blank papers in its stead. The council was instead forced to raise an infamously dysfunctional makeshift city, known to have contained many weak points which eventually aided the Canonist Reclamation’s capture of the city.

 

• During the Sutican Rebellion, instigated against the Canonist government of Queen Johanna by apostates and overseas Uialbenites, the loyalist garrison at the Rhine found itself encircled and besieged by rebels. Cut off, the desperate men of the Banardian Brigade prayed to the Infant-Martyr for relief; mere hours later, as the garrison was about to break ranks, a reinforcement banner of Haeseni knights, reportedly compelled by an unshakable urge to set off towards the Rhine instead of encamping at Osanora, arrived at the most opportune moment for the defenders to break the siege. A pitched battle between the Haeseni and the loyalists, and the rebels, Rustlers and Uialbenites ensued. The rebel commander, Corbin Wick, was reportedly struck off his steed by a mirage of a childlike figure descended from the Skies, resulting in his capture and subsequent execution. Deprived of his leadership, the rebel force was routed; only a single rebel Elf survived and fled the field of battle.

Your faithful brothers and sisters in GOD,

His Excellency, Sir Ulrich Lothar of the House of Alstreim, Prince of Merryweather and the Rhine, Landgrave of Alstreim, Elected Margrave of Vanderfell and Ninth Vandalore, Grand Knight of Savoy

 

Her Excellency, Nikita Averilya of the House of Alstreim, Princess-Consort of Merryweather and the Rhine, Landgravine of Alstreim, Governess of Il Palazzo Aggrade

 

Her Royal Highness, Catherine Johanna, Princess of Savoy and Sutica, Duchess of Corazon, Countess of San Luciano and Sarissa, Baroness of Brynrose

 

The Right Honorable Jurgen Barclay, Count of Freimark, Baron Madvon

 

Ernst Hieromonk

 

William, Lord of Alba

 

His Excellency, Johann Erich Barclay, Lord Marshal of Hanseti-Ruska, Duke of Reinmar, Prince of Sutica, Count of Kretzen, Baron of Siegradz and Freising, Lord of Wilheburg and Freisburg

 

His Eminence, Fiodor Cardinal Allobrogum

 

[rep2k 2477]

Alfred wipes a few tears..

[yopplwasupxxx 5665]

Fr. Jeremi lights a candle for Saint Ottomar, “Infant-Martyr, Pure Child- pray for us.”

[kipps 714]

Leopold lights a candle for the Infant-Martyr "Patron of Innocence, pray for all the children of Man"

[esterhase 164]

"Bein' so close to God." comments Nudge Neatenthorpe as he milked his cow. "Ottomar the Innocent must've died of a happiness unknown to any man."

Edited December 23, 2021 by esterhase

[GoodGuyMatt 7066]

Hieromonk Ernst signs the Hussariya as he prays in his cell deep in the snowy Haeseni hills. "May the infant-martyr bring innocence upon the hearts of men... especially so in these troubling times." he says before going back to threading up prayer komboskinis, praying to Saint Theodosius.

[Pureimp10 5179]

Everard VI reads over the missive, setting it aside with other papers before scribbling a note in his personal journal, "Discuss Infant-Martyr with Curia."