PONTIFICAL RESCRIPT - ON THE EASTERN WAR

[MadOne 4945]

 

HIS HOLINESS CAIUS I, High Pontiff of the Church of the Canon, Archbishop of Visigia, Successor of the High Priesthood of the Church, Supreme Pontiff of the Church of True Faith, Keeper of the Canon, Missionary to Aeldin, High Servant to the Exalted's Testaments, Sovereign of the Apostolic City, Humble Servant of the Faithful and Vicar of GOD does decree the following…

to Lothair of Brabant, and Jonathan V’llaire

 

 

Lo, you of the Eastern Lands, for your cries have reached our ears, and we have diligently observed the strife that embroils the Rexdom of Lurak and the Eastern Coalition of Pagan States. Hearken, for the silly pretext of defending their wretched spirits, and the defense of supposed nature upon which the Luraki horde advances against the Queendom of Vikela is naught but a veil for their true intent—war for the sake of war. What, then, can one expect from a throng of pagan barbarians and brutes, save that they delight in the chaos of battle? Verily, this truth we have long known to the Canonist Church. That you are surprised by Krug's nature is a surprise onto us.

 

Know that we did not tame the wild spirit of Brother Krug out of favor or trust in their promises of peace, but rather, we brought them under subjugation to uphold the sanctity of the Church. The Crusade was summoned not to curry favor with these Orcish barbarians but to assert the dominion of the Canon. Thus, when the Orcs yielded to our demands, we, in our mercy, stayed our hand. To wage war upon them after their capitulation would have sullied the honor of the Canonist lands. Therefore, we made peace with Brother Krug, regardless of his barbarous nature, for he swore an oath to refrain from assailing the realms of the Canon. Hence, we bear no duty to restrain and corral the Orc from his brutish wars, especially when they rage and advance against other pagans.

 

As to the petitions of Lothair and Brabant, and Jonathan V’llaire, it is clear unto us that these entreaties are driven by political ambition rather than genuine concern for the welfare of Canonists. Verily, I say unto you, the only ones whom you deceive regarding these Pagan Barbarian states of Vikela, Lurin, and Vortice are yourselves. We know these realms to be wholly pagan in essence. Though you may attempt to portray Brother Krug as a transgressor against Canonism, draping the lands of the Canonist Princes in pious symbols, we discern a different truth.

 

Never have the nations of Vikela, Lurin, and Vortice been embraced as Canonists, neither by themselves, nor by us. They have not sought our coronation, nor desired our Bishops, nor partaken in our holy rites, nor adhered to our sacred laws. The lands of Vortice consort with the Cursed Children, whom we have banned across all Canonist realms. The realm of Lurin is covertly ruled by the Uialben pagan dynasty, who have historically persecuted and scorned our faith, toppling the rightful King of Sutica, Corwin von Alstreim, and promoting every manner of liberalist and metropolitan doctrines, alongside their vile Aengul worship akin to the Xannite and Azdromoth cults. As for Vikela, they harbor Paladins within their borders and do all these things.

 

These states are not, nor have they ever been, Canonist. To claim otherwise is self-deception, for even those states do not consider themselves as such; otherwise, they would seek communion with the universal Church. Thus, it is folly to beseech the Canonist Faithful to intervene on behalf of these Eastern Pagan States. These nations have long rebuffed us. My priests have found no welcome in their lands and have been treated as aggressors and barbarians. These states admit all who come to their gates, with no unifying culture among them. They welcome voidal mages, Elves, Orcs, Dwarves, and all manner of folk. I bid you to look upon our Canonist nations and see the stark difference; the Kingdom of Haense is a unified domain of Canonist Highlanders, and the Heartlander Kingdom a realm of Canonist Heartlanders. Attempt to label these Eastern Pagans as simply as I have labelled the lands of my Canonist Princes, and you shall fail, for they are but a motley assembly united only by their territory of which their citizens live within.

 

As for the Brabantine Duchy, whence you hail, we know them to have maintained communion with the Church and the Canon’s laws, being true Canonists. Sterling Whitewood is a friend to me, and we have kept much correspondence. Yet even he knows this is not a conflict involving Canonists, and that his choice to defend the Pagan hordes is driven not by religious duty but by political strategy, seeking to keep his borders stable. He would rather neighbor peaceful pagans than warlike brutes. Know that, had this war been declared upon Brabant, we would have defended them as the Pontifical Chair. Yet this conflict is against the Eastern Pagan hordes, and Brabant’s decision to join their defense signifies their willingness to fight this war.

 

For these reasons, we deem this strife a war among Pagans. The barbarous destruction they visit upon one another concerns not the Canonist realms. These tribes act in their customary disarray. Let none be deceived. This conflict bears no substance for the Canonist nations, and I shall not bid any to intervene for reasons of faith. These Eastern states should turn to secular Kings and rulers with their political entreaties, rather than to turn to the Church and preach falsities of Canonist Brotherhood of these Pagan states. This is our judgment as the true Holy Mother Church.

 

@sapphic_spidy

@Lomiei

 

 

 

[Borin 7646]

Brother Ninnias praises tha Lord for gifting Canonism such a wise and cool High Pontiff

[mika1278 3213]

Mika Anarion pinches his nose as he reads the missive "I don't know why the alliance keeps persisting on canonist aid, this is not a matter of faith in the slightest." and with such he sighed, seeing little use in including faith in diplomacy when that is exactly the one thing not in common with these potential allies.

[LithiumSedai 5750]

"One can always trust an Ork to be an Ork, but the pagan will drape himself in one hundred deceitful disguises groveling for help and understanding. The one hundred and first will deliver a knife into your back," wrote Jean Cardinal St. Godwin in reply to the Pontiff's wise response.

 

[i.uomini 2552]

"I cannot blame the Pontiff for such an opinion. There is so much to read, in so little time." Lothair flicked the bottom corner of the pontifical letter, letting the sound ring in his ears...
"Before, I took it as obvious that the construction of Holy Sites was different from the establishing of a full canonist state. But if the Church will not have regard for the pilgrims travelling throughout the eastern territories, We must implore GOD himself for defense of the world's cooperation... he will know his own."

Lothair knelt beside his bed in prayer, 'may the Lord open their eyes, and blunt their tusks. Let men of virtue shun neutrality against evil, and take more respect to diplomacy. Amen'

[MadOne 4945]

Just now, Lomiei said:

"I cannot blame the Pontiff for such an opinion. There is so much to read, in so little time." Lothair flicked the bottom corner of the pontifical letter, letting the sound ring in his ears...
"Before, I took it as obvious that the construction of Holy Sites was different from the establishing of a full canonist state. But if the Church will not have regard for the pilgrims travelling throughout the eastern territories, We must implore GOD himself for defense of the world's cooperation... he will know his own."

Lothair knelt beside his bed in prayer, 'may the Lord open their eyes, and blunt their tusks. Let men of virtue shun neutrality against evil, and take more respect to diplomacy. Amen'

 

Cardinal Frantzisko enters the High Pontiff's room. "But Lord Pontiff, what about the Canonist Pilgrims in the Eastern Lands? Don't you think that the Pagans in Vikela will use the possibility of Pilgrimage routes being compromised as Anti-Church propaganda?" The Cardinal asked the High Pontiff.

 

Caius I lazily turned towards his Cardinal. "What of them? The Orcs know better than to attack our people and lands. What are they going to do? We are not aggressors onto them. Their objective is to attack the Vikelan Pagans. If they wished to attack Pilgrims, and attack Church Land, why would the Brother Krug bow down to the peace demands I have made onto them which prevents such attacks from occuring?" Caius kvetched to his Brother-Cardinal, lazily dismissing the suggestion aside. "Whoever mentions the pilgrims is only mentioning it for its propaganda value, while also knowing full well that our pilgrims will go unassailed by the Brother Krug. Psch."

[Jonass 11]

"War. How savage this is, over something so humanly natural for the age we're in. Unlike the high nobility, they refuse to find an agreement and advance to war." Enkan laid his back on the bed, sighing as he stared at the stone ceiling. "The blood... who's going to clean it?"

[_RoyalCrafter_ 5285]

The bed ridden duke of Brabant coughed and wheezed, a servant brought him the various letters that came out. "Ah... Caius is wise..." Cough cough. "I will have a word with Lothair" He sighed and pinched his brow, reaching over to take a medicinal tonic before sending for the diplomat to be summoned.

[Guest]

Sitting in his desk, a certain Cheif Justice would read the Arch Diplomat's missive and then the Pontiff's missive and after having done so he would sigh. "Godan be, vhat vas Lothair und Marjorie zhinking writing such ein missive vithout zhe permission of zhe Duke or zhe Ducal heir? May zhis get resolved peacefully so zhat ve may have our roads safe und peace restored in zhe courts, in our lands, and in our church once more!"

[sapphic_spidy 1089]

And yet, "V'llaire's" goal has been accomplished.

 

Confirmation.

 

The church will not interfere one way or the other.

The unnamed human behind Jonathan's identity can rest easy knowing that the Canonists will not intervene for the sake of anyone. 

 

It is best this way.