Holy Hostage No More - A Pontifical Letter

[Sander 3156]

 

Holy Hostage No More

On The Seizing of Sixtus

Dear brothers and sisters, children of God,

We write this letter to you in light of that which has recently transpired, seeking to briefly explain what happened and how we reflect on recent events. Two Saints Days ago, we were seized in Aaun by agents of Sir Gaspard of Veletz as part of a raid. He had us kidnapped, brought to Winburgh as a hostage. Eventually, after being interned there for a while, we were brought to the table in his castle, where he revealed to us what we already expected. He wanted us to lift the excommunication upon him and his associates in exchange for our release. We were lucky that Sir Gaspard was joined by Duke Markus Sarkozic, who served as a voice of reason, and that we ourselves were at some point joined by Cardinal Brandt, the Archbishop of Albarosa, who spoke passionately in our defense and that of the Church as a whole. The conversation was difficult and tense - for a while the subject of our presence there was in question, as Sir Gaspard tried to downplay the captive nature of our stay at his castle. Had he not shown infinite compassion to His Holiness the High Pontiff by providing a room, food and drink? Why certainly, we enjoyed all the fineries that constitute the bare necessities of prisoner life, Sir Gaspard... 

At one point, Cardinal Brandt sought to ask the Captain-General Gaspard; "What will you do if His Holiness does not agree to lift the excommunication?" to which the response of Veletz' leader was something along the lines of having little reason to let us live. When said answer led to outrage from not only the Cardinal, but also Duke Markus - who said he'd sooner  take up the sword against Gaspard then let the Captain-General kill us - Sir Gaspard was quick to try to soften his words, insisting it was not a threat - somehow. For a conversation supposedly solely aimed at resolution, it was not exactly drenched in good faith or a mood of amicability. We insisted that we too wanted resolution at that point of the conversation, and fearing the talk of threats and murder turned sour, we sought to stear the conversation towards establishing some clear terms for lifting the excommunication. The Captain-General then also made clear that on top of lifting the excommunication, he wanted us to tell the faithful flock of Canondom to forsake the ongoing war between Veletz and the Covenant, and turn away from it. While this notion stuck in our head as Sir Gaspard caring more about the winning of his war and dealing a blow to the Covenant's morale rather than having the excommunication of his eternal soul lifted, we continued along with the talks of terms for the time being. As a deal seemed to be getting closer to being hammered out, and the conversation drifted into the matter of these negotiations being held under duress however, we could not help but get stuck pondering and reflecting on some of the things said.

What we said about the matter of lifting the excommunication and how we felt about the matter began to drift further and further apart in our mind. In terms of the conversation, the Veletzian leader was eager as it seemed we were close to making a deal. In terms of inner reflection however, we kept reflecting on how Sir Gaspard had resorted to kidnapping us, a High Pontiff, to how he said he had little reason to let us live, to how we kept bringing up trying to turn Covenant forces against the war from our position as the Vicar of God. The agreement was not being made in good faith, we felt. If we were to lift the excommunication and no longer have the backs of those canonists loyal and faithful to the church on the opposite side of the war to Veletz - alienating us - what was to keep Sir Gaspard from simply not adhering to our agreement for the sake of convenience in the war? ...Little reason to let us live. We were not a man of flesh and blood, let alone the High Pontiff in his eyes, but a means to an end. A tool for his ambitions, to be discarded when not serving the purpose he had in mind for us - he needed a reason to let us live, more than the reason that murder is a grave sin. We do not know if it is the correct way of thinking, but it is what it began to feel like to us.  Once the excommunication was lifted, would he be faithful or break our agreement made before God the next time it was convenient for his ambitions? The agreement we were working on for lifting the excommunication felt like it was being made in bad faith, under duress, didn't account for the burning of the church in Petra, acts like the murder of King Edmund, the lingering presence of the terrorist Ferrymen in Veletz - more and more it didn't feel right to us the more we thought on it. Between the long negotiations and the debating with our conscience, we were tired. 'Could we sleep on it?' we asked. Sir Gaspard, in decent spirits at this point, responded positively. That then raised another question: were we free to leave? When Sir Gaspard answered the second question affirmatively as well with a questionable 'You were always free to leave', we resolved to do just that and continue reflecting on the matter in freedom and solitude.

And as we did so, unburdened by feeling the need to provide a reason to live among other burdens, we decided we would hold off on lifting the excommunication, for it does not feel right to do so, but rather like a compromising of our own and the Church's integrity and morality, more like being pressed to do so, rather than it fully being the right thing to do. The offers made by Sir Gaspard were a step in the right direction, should he keep true to his word on them, but they would be a partial resolution rather than a complete one. A compromise, and we feel it is not right to compromise in matters of excommunication. Thus we say the excommunication shall remain in place. It may yet be lifted some day, a day where the leaders of the people of Veletz or Adria entreat with the servants of God in good faith and in wholeness of virtue, but it is not this day.

Regardless, we left Veletz and the captivity we were held in - something that we believe cannot be said of all the people that were kidnapped alongside with us, as we do not think everyone made it out alive. We say to all the faithful flock of Canondom; remain steadfast in your faith and your pursuit of the Lord's righteousness, may our story be an example that you do not buckle to threats and intimidation. To Duke Markus, Cardinal Brandt and Bishop Callahan, we wish to say we are thankful for your influence on the conversation and for pledging to protect our right to live when such was put into question. We apologize if we disappoint your wishes for resolution and peace, but in the current moment this is not a full or true peace and thus not a peace we can agree to. GOD blesses the peacemakers, yes, but He also blesses those who hunger and thirst for righteousness - and the events of the past Saints Days have not left us nourished, but hungering.

Sincerely,
HIS HOLINESS SIXTUS SIXTUS, High Pontiff of the Church of the Canon

 

[Jentos 6884]

« A man of his word. Or rather, a man of other men’s words. » said Jagobert who knew the machinations of an outdated, worn out curia of old and bitter men. He understood that if it had not been for the brain-waves sent by angry churchmen into the mind of the pontiff mid-dialogue, the war might've been ended then and there. 

[ImmortalShadowZ 438]

Godric ap Easworth would burn the missive, using it as fuel so he can forge a sword. A sword to swear fealty to the true Messenger of God, Nerium the Wise. "No holy puppets in the Halls of men." He would say in response to those who question his view. 

[ContestedSnow 778]

"The constant charades are rather tiresome on the part of Ser Gaspard and Veletz. Our enemy es as they have always been, the same den of snakes and dragons, who would sooner burn the whole of the Church to the ground and start anew, and bite the hands that feed them eagerly." Viktor var Ruthern spoke aloud as he regarded the Pontifical letter. Kidnappings and writing under duress were same old fare, even back on Almaris. He turned his attention back to the armoury of the Bastion before him.

[PrimnyaQuorum 1039]

"They keep arguing and arguing, don't they?" 

 

Haus asks towards that familiar Yisar, holding up the paper so the creature can 'read' it. 

 

"If they could only decide if they wanted peace, or bloodshed. This back and forth - the common man only suffers more for it, da?"

 

The creature stares blankly at him, before taking a bite out of the paper. 

[Nooblius 5794]

The hands of the Duke of Adria began to tremble as he read the letter. With a shaking voice, Markus muttered under his breath. A servant asked him what he had said, and was matched with a furious roar.
"She was a Stablemaster of Adria!"

[Digit_005 249]

“Collusion with Darkspawn und Azdrazi, disregarding Canon Law, killing a pious king, burning a church, und kidnapping the High Pontiff along with threatening his life und that of the clergy with him. Is there anything that the heretical nation of Veletz won’t do?” Klaus von Berkhoven inquired to himself through gritted teeth after reading the open letter from the Vicar of Almighty GOD.
“This heresy has gone on too long, the heretics und their nation must be razed off the face of the map as anything less would be an insult.” Klaus zealously stated as he rose from his desk and picked up his sword, going down to the forge in front of his home and sharpened his blade for the battle to come.
 

THIS IS OUR PEACE.

[LithiumSedai 4837]

Jean de Rennes, an immigrant from Gwynon, attempted to read the Pontifical letter to no avail, as the Common used was far too advanced for him. He pestered his newfound friends in Aaun to read the letter to him out loud, however, and all was well when he learned of the Aegisian pope's safe release. He uttered a prayer on his behalf.

 

 

[YoungSimba 83]

In the training yards of Veletz a squire was taking a break from her tasks of resupplying the Legion’s munitions. She’d sit down and go over the various letters, missives, and advertisements she had collected to stay up to date in world affairs. 

 

This one in particular she read a few lines then packed it into a wad to be used in cannon shot.
 

Edited December 14, 2023 by YoungSimba

[wolfdwg 1497]

2 hours ago, Sander said:

some day, a day where the leaders of the people of Veletz or Adria entreat with the servants of God in good faith and in wholeness of virtue

"This will never happen if Covenant is dead set on its genocidal dogma it has clearly stated. Shall we grovel at the boot like mewling babes; begging to not be killed. Bah!" Kursik af Vennith would remark as he touched his scarred neck sullied with the kiss of blaze. A recent wound from the failed defense of Brasca, "Fight or be forgotten." Kursik would then toss the missive into a smoldering hearth.

[ReveredOwl 5351]

"Perhaps it would have been better if Veletz did not lie to the Pontiffs predecessor in claiming that no ferrymen resided in their lands, if they had simply heeded the pontiffs request to evict them, they not be losing all of their land." remarked Ser Andrik.

[moosehunter123 351]

Upon getting the missive reading it over, Bo would scoff as this is nothing to what was actually discussed. "There was nae even a weapon within the room when the Pontiff and Gaspard spoke. The pontiff even said he was nae under duress..." shaking his head as he thinks to himself mumbling out loud "It seems external influences keep wrapping themselves around the church as they nae want peace but genocide."

 

Spoiler

 

Why can't RP stay RP