BULL'S POST: ANATHEMA EDITION

[critter 2469]

Spoiler

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A harried, freshly-printed publication is frantically delivered by a small battalion of Kortrevich paperboys.

 

VE SAMYZEK POZSKA

VOLUME TWO: SPECIAL EDITION

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WRITTEN AND PUBLISHED BY

HIS LORDSHIP, FABIAN OTTO KORTREVICH

ON THE 12TH OF  VYZMEY AG HYFF OF 471 E.S.

______________________________________________________

THE TRIAL OF THE AGE

 

Those hundreds gathered in the Karosgrad Basilica for the Trial of his Grace Heinrik Sarkozic, Duke of Adria, the Anathema, could not have anticipated the chaos and violence which would follow. Certainly not at its beginning, when the Cardinal presiding addressed the then-still docile church.

As written by his Holiness High Pontiff Pontian IV, the Duke committed “crimes against Man and GOD through doing the bidding of the Azdrazi,” whom he is accused of harboring in Velec and, furthermore, tricked his Holiness into meeting these dragonilk directly. 

 

Duke Heinrik was further accused of “consorting with known Heretics;” namely, Godfreyists, whose corpses were found among fallen Adrian soldiers. The Cardinal said the Duke “did purposefully use” the Godfreyists “as a weapon against another Canonist nation, and through such, a weapon against men of GOD, and through this committed a crime against Man and GOD.” Finally, the court allegeded Duke committed adultery against his wife, Austine of Aldersberg, as demonstrated in an exposed letter.

“I do not think there was an affair,” one attendee explained as the Cardinal went on to pray for fortitude and balance, “but he certainly tried to have one. With his coz.”

Both judges -- including Lord Palatine, Patriarch Iosif Basrid, declared the Duke guilty; with the Lord Palatine declaring Sarcozik “unequivocally defied the Will of God.” Upon this decree, gasps rolled through those gathered. One child even cried out in joy. Several Barclay men prepared to draw their weapons. 

 

Yet even beneath the immense pressure of the crowd’s gaze and the charges laid upon him, Sarkozic - head held high - entered a plea of “not guilty” to the court. When asked if he had anything further in his defense, he asked -- almost, one could think, with his tongue in cheek -- “Charge by Charge, Cardinal?”

He then presented into evidence two letters allegedly proving his Holiness had contact with Azdrazi prior to their meeting; evidence that did not deny Sarkozic arranged such, nor his own contact with the Azdrazi.

 

“...The Pontiff,” Sarkozic said, “stated he wished no further contact with the Azdrazi… We saw each other the next week with no hostility and he would later conduct my coronation.” though he then added, despite his plea, “I do not refute holding such meeting.”

 

His Holiness himself was thus called to the stand, rising to face the assembled. “Good friends,” he called, “I will not lie about my speakings with these Azdrazi. I prayed, I read the Virtue over and over. Waiting for a sign from Him. One day He did and bid me give mercy to the dragonkin.” 

 

A cry of heresy erupted from within the pews as the Pontiff continued, recognizing he acted against the common thought of other clergymen and so found the Azdrazi unforgivable. He alleged the von Dracos have “long been suspected” of being Azdrazi, and has no doubt “they and their kind… wormed their way into Adrian society.”

The church thus erupted. The Cardinal himself called for Death to the Anathema, as did so many. Blades were drawn in droves. Many fled: the Princess Royal calling for her husband, his Grace, to take their children, while Sarkozic protested the spilling of blood in GOD’s house until a warhammer was swung towards his own head and Haeseni men made to bind him. Men, seeking to protect them, swarmed the Pontiff and those Royal Women present, while children were ushered out by those who could guide them, followed by the sickly and unarmed. 

 

In the square, all was quiet; sounds of battle and wrath within the Basilica, until at last a man cried “It is over,” and from the doors armed battlers flooded the city -- soon proving it was not, in fact, over, as they hunted fleeing Adrians from shops to balconies until, at last, the cry came that the Duke fled the city - laughing upon horseback, as fighting continued in the streets. A man allegedly Azdrazi faced two combatants outside the church. Onlookers gathered on the palace balcony. Supposed sons of the Duke were bound, and held within the Church.

 

Those other remaining Adrians were similarly captured; offered Last Rites and food; then summarily imprisoned. Children and women rushed from the palace once it was deemed safe, with no injured among the cityfolk’s ranks. The Pontiff was heard discussing the testing of the von Dracos. 

At last the fighting men began to rally at the Karosgrad gates, and at the time of this writing, marched dutifully to battle alongside the Balianese and other gathered Canonists. 

 

As this ink dries, they ride to, one can pray, deliver Justice to the Anathema at last.

 

Reporting by F. Kortrevich. 

[chaotikal 2236]

"The pontiff is anathema, and his soul desires war and death."

Said Constantine picking up his blad once more

[Danjahb29 247]

“What in the seven skies is happening?” Anton exclaimed as he read the special report edition of the paper. “It seems the war was ended too easily for some.”  Shaking his head in frustration he rereads it again to be sure he didn’t miss anything. 

Edited April 1, 2023 by Danjahb29

[Laeonathan 3955]

"You missed the part where... we got out. The vast majority of us fled with Heinrik... or like me- who stayed back and killed two Haense Azdrazi-Consorts before I too fled!" an ancient Adrian laughed as he dragged out the corpse of a slain enemy - bringing the trophy back to Adria.

[Crymson 481]

Hali nods solemnly upon finishing reading the missive. "As much as I was looking forward to peace, I am glad a stand has been taken against the false duke."

[Asutto 1987]

Alysanne Serena removed her glaive from the chest of a Haenser Infantryman before hopping the walls out of Karosgrad. "Pious Canonist." She mused to herself seemingly disappointed. "Nothing more than snakes in the grass."

[Franczhiz 4053]

8 hours ago, chaotikal said:

"The pontiff is anathema, and his soul desires war and death."

Said Constantine picking up his blad once more

 

"Define the word 'anathema' for me if you are so quick to make a judgement regarding His Holiness's faith." Caius Godwin remarked.