AN OPEN LETTER: CARDINAL CALLAHAN, AMONG OTHERS

[framalam 837]

AN OPEN LETTER: CARDINAL CALLAHAN, AMONG OTHERS

PREAMBLE

Before I utter any word as myself, I must first shed my allegiances. And so, I, Lukas von Kretzen, do resign from my position as Knight-Captain of the Poor Fellows-Soldiers of Saint Jude. Naturally, this can only be done through release of my oath from my brother in GOD, and formerly in oath, Lug MacSkaul. He has approved such a request, so I speak not as a Judite in any ideas below.

 

Understandably, this does not come without intense deliberation. My life’s work has been devoted to the faith and the Lord GOD, toward knighthood, honor, and chivalry, as it will continue to be,  but, most recently, to the Order of Saint Jude. I simply must focus on this effort wholeheartedly, as I do believe the best interests of the Mother Church are at heart.

 

And so, Cardinal, now we may speak, and know whose hand holds my pen!

CALLAHAN

Dear Father Callahan, I am overjoyed at the chance to engage in genuine theological debate; our time together has been regrettably sparse. I agree fully that the voice of Owynists should be more heard in the Curia and amongst the Mother Church, just as you suggested Archlector Danzen be brought in as a spectator and contributor to ecclesiastical meetings, but I find brandishing me a Lucienist - implying I am not a devout Owynist - simply harsh. 

I have done my path twicefold, and I am in the midst of my third repetition now. 

 

While I understand it may seem that forgiving Azdromoth after his crimes may be grossly unsevere, and simply by his removal of taint deeming him innocent a remarkably Lucienist approach, I bring up the case of the Saint Micheal, the Archangel, once more. He slew countless, too, more than that, he served on equal footing as Azdromoth at the dragon’s lowest, most tainted state.

 

I acknowledge my initial desire for anonymity to be selfish, and deprecatory to my arguments. It was not out of knowledge my proposals were wrong, but rather the reaction of, well, reactionaries, should they take them as whole truths. I am of the belief that one of the most virtuous acts a man can partake in is emulation of the Exalted, and so I shed my hood.

 

I am Lukas von Kretzen, once Lucien, once Ildriunn, son of Aldric. I was born the fourth son of nine, the sixth child of twelve, and I left to swear fealty to the Tar-Caraneth Aryante and her great house. My misguided haughtiness led me to clash with many of my virtuous Adunian kin, but it was exposure to the Scripture that led that childlike eagerness to believe, and believe more than I ever had. And so I did, and so I do, father. The acts of the honourable Ser Jurkha led me to pursue the values of knighthood more than the title itself; the time came, one day, when Caius Primus saw it fit to rise me as a Holy Ser.

 

My acts have never been political. I have never done anything in the interest of a king, a duke, and I have done very little for myself. What I do, and all I do, is for the Mother Church, and the Lord GOD. The wounds I endure, the men I see die, all pale in comparison to the promise of wandering the Skies.

 

You, father, of all people should understand, then, my will to see the Tribe of Horen protected. Through disunity, we are weak - the Mother Church must grasp our reins and lead us towards more virtuous lives. I hope the scepter you wield reminds you of such with every glint of its gold.  Just as the Blessed Gerard was spurred on by the words and sights of Saint Raguel, the Messenger, so am I. Dragon, in this case, is the literal key to the Skies, father. Through Dragon, father, all evils and wicked magicks can be purged from the Earth like the scourge they are, and the Descendants may return to the Skies.

 

The defence of self aside, as that seemed unfortunately - I had thought you would have more etiquette as a renowned orator - the main target of your critique upon my treatise, I would like to address several attacks you made upon my arguments.

 

You have perverted the points I made, and watered them down in order to lessen the rebutting load you must make. I understand it was an introductory letter in staunch opposition to my own, but you provided hardly any points of convincing nature. Your truest reason for denying what I have put forward was merely because you believe the Nephilim, specifically the branch under the An-Gho, to be flawed, evil, and Xionist.

 

Again, I reiterate that asioth is not a religion, and that Xionism is a religion centered around another drake - Mordring. Why would the followers of the firstborn follow his lesser, tainted brother? You conflate Ibleesian, Mystic, with Nephilim. And, of course, the other religions provided are ones I highly doubt number greatly amongst the Nephilim of the An-Gho - in this thinking I could be mistaken, any scholarly Azdrazi happening upon my pieces can freely correct me.

 

You speak of the Nephilim only engaging with the weak of mind, the innocent, and the flepir. Was Horen not a king? Aleksandr, not a king? And are they to be blamed for talking to the innocent? There is no sin in preaching philosophy to an innocent - this in and of itself is not only innocent, but virtuous, as all wisdom is! 

 

I will happily engage in debate publicly, in whatever town square will have me, in whatever king may hear me, in whatever council sees me. Your attacks on my character are just that - attacks on character, and not my logic. I am not some genius who has, per happenstance, fallen upon his behind and read these texts! I am a humble knight, and an even humbler scholar. It is only through the works of both Canonist and Azdrazi scholars that I have compiled, and then provided what I perceive to Canondom.

 

You critique my methods of transferring such information, as well. While, truthfully, I did hold some rein of power as Knight-Captain of the Pontifical Guard, it is no position to spread my thoughts and ideas. Knights, first and foremost, before any codes or oaths, are soldiers. How else would you have suggested I undertake such a task? I do not have the backing of the An-Gho, nor the Pontiff, nor the grandmaster, nor my own squire, and I am doubtful, even, of the support of my wife and her family.

 

Admitting you never said such, but I felt was implied, I would like to refute the point that I am doing this for some grander agenda - a most correct assumption. However, the nature of such is not power, domination, ambition, for all greatness pails before the Lord GOD’s, but rather of service to that very greatness. If you gaze upon the princes of Canondom as they are know, and compare them to the times of the Exalted Godfrey, after the Exalted Owyn, most points in history, in all truth, do you call them as virtuous? As united? Every man with an army at his back has formed his own kingdom, every conqueror his holdfast. Disunity weakens the Mother Church; I have seen its effect firsthand. 

 

I will contextualise the oaths of Saint Jude, so you may better understand. We have several oaths, but I took the Oath of Judication: an oath dedicated to the investigation, revealing, and upheaval of Ibleesian circles through reporting them to my colleagues. For the sake of ongoing investigations, I will not say much  on the matter, but know this, father: our enemies are many, and lay amongst us, by our side in bed.  I come to Haense, and see an Uruk perfectly matching the description of Gashadokuro’s lieutenant - what does the Brotherhood do? They doubt the information gathering of a man dedicated to information gathering, a man two seats away from foremost martial and security advisor to the High Pontiff himself, and prate, argue with me until a prince arrives and settles the matter.

 

Under one banner, with one charter, allowing the detainment and investigation of subdued Darkspawn, these situations can be avoided. Swords were drawn to defend this orc - in his DEFENCE! 

 

Forgive my digression. I fear, simply, that you think of me still as a flepirknight, as you dubbed me in the clash against the accursed mammoth of the Ogre Lich.

 

In conclusion, I would like to revoke my thanks to the Brigade of Marna. I was uneducated on the matter, and was simply overjoyed to see other men, knights and nobles, no less, thought even vaguely the same as I on the Nephilim. Furthermore, I am open, as I said, to a public debate at a venue of your choosing.

 

THE CRAB

My holy father,

 I have but one thing to plead of you in my departure from the Order of Saint Jude, I would ask that, seeing my departure, you continue my efforts in construction of a cathedral in Lurin. I told such to my grandmaster, but I am unsure if it ever reached the upper echelons of the ecclesiastical hierarchy. The Silver Lubba is a good son of Krug, who seems most friendly, or even accepting of our faith.

 

The Mother Church has an excellent opportunity to reach out. Lurin is a vast land, with many virtuous. Amongst them you will find the Company, who wear masks reminiscent to that which Caius Primus once wore - good men who can help with the construction.

 

LUG

Brother,

 

I thank you for releasing me with honor. I thank you more for taking me into your flock, and setting me on a course where I could most directly serve the Church. As a hedge knight, I lost sight of the virtue of charity - I had no home or food after all!

 

You housed me, gave me purpose, and for this I will be eternally indebted. Though I do think I will dedicate the rest of my, hopefully, long life to this cause, should the waters shift, I would most like to re-enter your service.

 

Flame protect you,

HOLY SER LUKAS VON KRETZEN

THE APSINTHION

 

Edited July 23, 2024 by framalam
added a comma

[framalam 837]

 

 

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[Jentos 9422]

A small letter run into a scroll is sent to the holy ser. 
 

« It pleases me to offer correction ; 

 

None should forget the crimes of my Father. Among them wrath and kinslaying - under the darkness of Iblees’ corrupting hand. Only now with clear eyes, can Azdromoth, through his children, make amends. 
 

Moreover, Xionism is not exactly a religion. It can be seen as religious for its many lords - but the adherents of Xion reject the divine and see them as enemies. Asioth has no such stipulations, and the Nephilim still weep over the fate of Dragur. 
 

That said we worship not Dragur. But what son does not weep over his father? What son does not pay homage to his father? We are not Xionist precisely because we burned mystics alive and excised them from Xion. And now, what corruption once touched us is revoked. Damnable Iblees was ever a slaver to our kin - now his stench is no more. 
 

Likewise, most Azdrazi are not religious. They offer no worship to Azdromoth - neither does Azdromoth desire worship, but tends to his duties. 
 

Mordring, as per himself, is on an endless quest to regain his mortal hood, through a philosophy of Xion and self transformation which we hope to correct through whatever means we can.

 

May your fires burn bright, 

 

-The An-Gho. »