Our Father... [PK]

[Sander 3156]

Spoiler

 

 

OUR FATHER...

The Empty Chair of Saint Daniel (Reprise)

 

By the time Sixtus crossed St. Daniel’s Crossing back into Aaun again he’d already been tired, sore from sitting in the saddle for much of the day. As Sixtus arrived back at the Apostolic City, he concluded a lengthy trip to the cities and churches of Petra, Numendil, Haense and Hyspia. It’d been a busy few days for the aging priest who was nearing 70. After stabling his horse he much looked forward to settling down in his apartment for the night and reading the tome he’d picked up before he left, having intended to read it on the way. He’d met a self-proclaimed ‘bookman’ in Numendil however - a poet or librarian he assumed - who had made an endearing impression on him and who had thus received the High Pontiff’s copy of the Scrolls of Virtue & Spirit as a gift. Looking forward to reading the Scrolls though now that he’d returned home, he mustered the energy to walk back down to Saint Daniel’s Square and the Canonist Library to get a new copy before he retreated into his home.
 

The lower levels of the Apostolic City were quiet at that time of the evening aside from the cooing of pigeons. Most people were probably preparing dinner or eating already. Ah! He had those cakes the farfolk in Hyspia had given him to look forward to for dessert, Sixtus reasoned with a smile - a bit of sweetness wouldn’t hurt once a while. But as he exited the library again, something caught his attention. The flock of pigeons were spooked, flying up to the top of the Cathedral, as a figure entered the Apostolic City through King Edmund’s gate. The High Pontiff would call out to the visitor with a hesitant ‘Bonjour’ as he eyed the masked person with tattered robes. Was it another one of those atronachs or constructs that had been bothering him lately because of his denouncement of the Xan cult? In hindsight the Pontiff had naught to fear from the paladins however, this person practiced a different kind of magic.
 

The newcomer came to the Holy See to speak to the men of God, so he informed Sixtus as he drew closer. ‘How wonderful, pilgrims are always welcome!’ His Holiness had replied, holding the copy of the scrolls under his arms. What was that book? Perhaps the figure's lack of knowledge was a sign he wasn’t a pilgrim - but potential converts were still welcome of course! However the atmosphere of the exchange was... off to say the least. Something about the way this masked man spoke was unnerving to the Pontiff, especially combined with the fact that while Sixtus passively tried to maintain a few steps of distance between the two, the masked man kept getting uncomfortably close, slowly but surely backing the Pontiff up against the walls of the library as they spoke about various surface-level facets of the faith. Was he carrying a sword? The question was sudden, not fitting with the rest of what they were talking about, the answer was therefore a ‘Non’ that was spoken with distrust. Then how would he defend himself? The masked figure had asked him, his hands concealed in his ragged cloth garbs. 
 

While Sixtus’ eyes momentarily darted towards the corners of the square, hoping to perhaps catch a glimpse of someone like Gerard, Alrisha, Mattia or Alexander - all in vain - he soon focused his attention back towards the masked figure standing mere feet away. ‘We trust in GOD to defend and protect us, he is our shepherd.’ While he meant what he said, he could tell by the figure’s posture and body language that it didn’t come across. Perhaps his words were more of an admission of being unarmed than being fearless, as he could not help but feel a sense of fear - or rather a deep inner dread as he saw the figure’s eyes begin to glow. 
 

If there had been a split second chance to escape the corner Sixtus had been backed into, that chance was lost as the ragged figure withdrew from its robes a femur bone that had been fashioned into a long and sharp dagger, using it to block the High Pontiff’s passage in escaping. As the masked figure taunted the trapped priest and revealed itself to be a lich by sending Gashadokuro’s regards, Sixtus began to zone out, muttering prayers as he stood with his back against the wall and his eyes on the dagger. After what felt like not seconds but hours, the first blow did not come from the dagger, but from the figure’s other hand. As a fireball was suddenly thrown at the Pontiff, the only thing that guarded His Holiness from having his face scorched was the copy of the Scrolls that Sixtus had instinctively held up like a shield. When the attack with the femur dagger followed though, the blade stabbed right through the charred leather, the lich piercing the Pontiff’s last line of defense. Moments later, the Vicar of God laid dead in Saint Daniel’s square, stabbed repeatedly, charred, smoldering. When the ordermen and priests would find him, they’d find the dagger as a call sign and his aurum lorraine to have been torn off his neck. But the Virtue and Spirit - while damaged and blackened, were still in the dead man’s clutches, held close to his chest. 
 

 

☩ EST CYCLUS, NON MUTATIO ☩

IT IS A CYCLE, NOT CHANGE
 

Spoiler

Thus ends the character of Sixtus VI, AKA Arnaud Novellen. It's been a blast playing the character for well over a year now, from a young kid fleeing Petra to a stint as High Pontiff - something I'd always aspired to do on lotc one day. I've had a blast playing the character for this past year, through all the ups and downs that came with it! I'd especially like to thank Tilly and Eddy for letting me play the character, Andustar for being the supportive (read: annoying ;) ) older brother to my forgotten middle child, and all the various people both inside the church community and outside it that made my pontificate what it was. 

Do I feel like I've done all I wanted to do? No. Would I have wanted to do some things differently? Yes. So why must this come to an end then? Well as some of you might've noticed, I started not one but two jobs at highschools in december and january, working as a history and geography teacher now - which has meant that I have a lot less time to rp now compared to when I was a bachelor student or just a gap-year bum. Also, while being Pontiff was definitely a lot of fun, it was also incredibly stressful... Seriously, thank you for everyone who helped me and who had my back, there's a LOT of stuff both irp and ooc that comes with this. Those of you who I might've disappointed or pissed off during this time (yes, I DO in fact know you exist lol), I often had to pick sides or take decisions that were unpopular but I felt necessary, sorry for that. No hard feelings oocly I hope, not on my end at least!

But yeah long story short; I've got little time nowadays between work and my social life, and sadly lotc's been feeling like kind of a chore with how stressful it sometimes has been, and I don't want to keep spending my free time on a chore. Hope y'all understand. I've tried to finish things up somewhat, but stuff just kept piling on faster than I could deal with it, so I wish whoever succeeds me as pontiff the best of luck. As for where this pk leaves me in terms of lotc in general; I've hinted at this once or twice with a few people, but I'll probably be taking a step back from the server. I'm not leaving, but I probably won't be playing any major characters anymore. Like I said, I don't have the time, and I don't think I could use any new commitments. I will however probably be playing some minor characters from place to place, just for fun! Gonna take a break first though, with work starting again tomorrow, so take care guys! Love y'all! DM's are always open!

 

[sam33497 2793]

Az'rekash stood over the body of the Pontiff, idly considering.

 

The lich huffed in amusement, the body of the holy man abandoned in his city, a senseless revenge wrought.

 

A life lived in holiness had not protected him from the flames of the Void. But who was a walking corpse to criticize?

[ReveredOwl 5330]

"The Canonist Church is assailed by servants of the Shadow, and the Canonist Princes choose to bring confusion and disunity with their trivial issues. The High Pontiff has been murdered, the Canonist League must act!" exclaimed Rhys var Ruthern.

[annanicole__ 1546]

The image would never leave Lady Laurene's mind, even though she arrived at the Pontiff's body first. "May God be with him." Laurene took hold of the blackened and damaged Book Virtue and Spirit and held it firmly.

[Enlightenment 1470]

"The dark one's shall pay," Emilio the Roach sharpened his blade, "The Creator demands-a such!"

[annabanana1014 1631]

Klara Ludovar would sign the Lorraine, "Shall His Holiness be blessed within the Seven Skies. GOD bless him."

[Publius 3666]

Monk Matsuda Sakuraba heard of the incident from the Monastery of St. Juli'el. He received this news as he wrote a new morning prayer for his fellows, the Julians - he felt a pang of guilt and regret, hearing the circumstances. He dedicated it to the late Sixtus VI:

 

This morning my soul is greater than the world since it possesses You,

You whom heaven and earth do not contain.

Lord, take the blindness from my eyes, the hardness from my heart,

and draw me nearer to you than ever before. Amen.

 

Spoiler

Rest well man, it's been a rough ride.

 

[Wavey 1446]

The Viceroy of Hyspia, upon hearing the news of the Pontiff's sudden passing, signed the Lorraine with a sigh. "A man who meant well. A man who did his best to guide our faithful flock. Regardless of what could have and what would have, he did his best. He shall be remembered. May he rest in the seven skies." He lowered his head then, "But the dark shadows that ended his life shall not be given mercy." 

[beetle 2760]

"Hm, unfortunate." The princess of Númenost took out her flask, "Perhaps it'll be better now."

[rathat 614]

“Literally the Saint’s Day after his visit where I asked myself if it would be humorous to assassinate him then and there…” A man frowned, talking to the skull on his desk. “I chose not to— only an intrusive thought. I even watched for would-be-ones! Do not incriminate me for this. Now, let me pray.”

[Legoboy7984 2441]

Viktor Ludovar does the canonist cross in respect to the Pontiff.
"Let us pray that the next Pontiff is someone that stood strong for our scrolls like he did. But one that is stronger as well."

[Tide1 1593]

"Why, oh why must it hurt so much to be right. An inevitability given the idle nature of the see." remarked a youth of Burgundy blood and solemnly sighed. He signed the Lorraine and bid the man safe travels to the seven skies.

[SimplySeo 5268]

A prince of the Númenedain signs the Lorraine, before strumming a somber tune on his harp in mourning.

[Ryanark 1946]

"May that be the revenge that Veletz has so desired. In the end, so will thee be dust." Ahnakriel spoke scornfully in his fiery chamber of flaming gold— the fallen forget the war, yet the Nephilim remember. Always.

[DancingZebra267 397]

Upon hearing of the news that His Holiness, Sixtus VI has been taken from us. Gerard would kneel before the altar, tears streaming from his face as he slowly began to blame himself for not being there when he needed me most. Gerard would trace the Lorraine muttering a few prayers for the now deceased High Pontiff.