EPISTLE to the WALDENIANS

[Bogatyr 335]

 

EPISTLE TO THE WALDENIANS

 

The seal of the Ninth Holy Orenian Empire,

affixed in wax and gilt.

 

BY ISSUE OF HIS MERRINESS, RAQVIRER PRIMVS HOREN,

EMPEROR OF THE NINTH HOLY ORENIAN EMPIRE;

1990, ANNO DOMINI

 

——————————————————————————————————————————

 

Urged by necessity, we, the Holy Orenian Empire, ninth of its ilk, by the permission of God, whom this letter is started and ended with, have come into these parts with firm admonition to you, the Waldenic Diet. Your derision of our ranks was taken for slight, and you are proportionately warned. We are the inheritors of eight iterations of the kingdom of God upon earth; the triple-necked thoroughbred of our heraldry alone falls heir to the seat of Horen, whose memory is singed into its sword and crozier. We are prepared to attest to our rightful and legitimate inheritance of this triumviral mantle—not in blood and steel, for our honour denies us this—but through reason and rationality, and rebuke your spurns against us. Your slights against us have been multiple, and we will match rank for this;

 

Quote

"A certain missive has come to the Lady Vandalore’s attention, issued by one ‘Raqirer Horen’, the self-styled Emperor of Orenia."

 

It was written that Raqvirer Primvs Horen was self-styled, his crown and regalia of gold and honour taken for one of impetuous ambition and cunning. This is not so. The blood of Raqvirer Primvs runs black and boils purple, like the quartered badge of his house. In any case which you would endeavour to smear both the name and legitimacy of our rightful emperor, you would be severely mistaken and hope to challenge the esteem of a three-hundred year inheritance and the pedigree of the prophet-king Godfrey. For this, you will be abundantly yet most equitably punished.

 

It seems to us that in this struggle, we are entering a difficult, fierce battle with a crafty enemy of obvious treachery who would sooner take to deception and guile for instruments of war, which are dually the weapons of Iblees and Saul used against the people of Horen; for, your hearts are those of beasts in the able bodies of men.

 

We are nevertheless prepared to prove the legality of our emperor's inheritance, if you would have us.

 

Quote

"[…] names one ‘Vander Horen’, a so-called Vander Knight, as a member of his personal guard."

 

You seem likewise to express doubt about the pedigree of our esteemed kingsguard and knight, the Sir Vander Horen. Would that you were archivists and pedigree-keepers, but it is most evident that you are not. The sire traces his lineage directly to the prophet-king Horen himself, unencumbered by the complicated in-betweens of blood and ancestry. For this, we only pity your quickness to scepticism. It would have done your folk well during the Schism War.

 

Quote

"Per the Orenia Decree of 1897, the Waldenic Diet must denounce any man or woman who would dare lay claim to the Kingdom, or Empire, of Oren without consent of the High Pontiff of the Church of the Canon. However, the Waldenic Diet has unanimously decided that this pretender releases his missives in jest, and will waste no time or ink on him until such a time as it is necessary."

 

We return to the chief point of discussion: that you should in any way take our restoration for jest. 

 

We must caution our malefactors, the Waldenic Diet, to regard this matter with the gravity and sincerity which its importance duly warrants. Our proclamation was not one made jocosely nor with reckless abandon for legitimacy. Let it be made abundantly clear that the restoration of the empire was a rightful—nay, righteous—action of inheritance and kingship. Also was it an action of divine import, for it is written in our scripture;

AND WITH THE THIRD SON OF SPIRIT, NO MORE SHALL PROPHET RULE AS KING; THE CROWN AND THE LAUREL ARE TWO IN HARMONY, LIKE UNTO EVARISTUS AND CLEMENT. FOR WHEN I RETURN, THE WATERS SHALL THAW AND WASH OVER THE WORLD, AND ALL SHALL KNOW MY WORD, AND NONE WILL REIGN AS PROPHET ABOVE ANOTHER. THE SONS OF HOREN SHALL WALK THE SEVEN SKIES.” (Gospel 7:59-)

It was kingship that was thrust into the hands of His Imperial Majesty, Raqvirer Primvs, not taken by foolhardy nor cunning appetite. As scion of the line of Joren, he was mantled by God with the horn and laurel, delivered by heavenly design. Therefore, we ask firmly that you take our declaration in earnest, lest your numbers should be taken by fire and steel. And after you have been bitterly cursed with remorse for your faults, you will be fiercely overwhelmed by the justice of God. 

 

Do not go to sleep, but guard yourselves and your flock on all sides. For if through your carelessness or negligence, a wolf carries away one of your sheep, you will find that you have surely lost any reward which yet remains laid for you in the bounty of God.

 

And we do not care for your safety or for your affection, but defy you, as the enemies of us and God. 

Witness my hand, on the sixteenth day of Owyn’s Fast, in the second year of our reign.

 

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY,

RAQVIRER PRIMVS, Emperor of Orenia, King of Unmerr, Rebuker of Infidels, the Prince in Black, the Cruel Justicar, Conqueror of the Domains of Edel.

 

Spoiler

@Toffee

 

 

Edited August 14, 2024 by Bogatyr

[HeyitsNano 1582]

As a certain venerable figure, clad in his sacred robes, meticulously polished the iron U-shaped fittings of his liege—engraved and worn by many journeys—he offered quiet reassurance to the Emperor of Man. "Fear not, Your Majesty," he intoned, "for no council of men can thwart the will of God. His hand guides us, ever present, and no threat from any assembly shall stand against His divine plan."

[Trenchist 864]

16 hours ago, HeyitsNano said:

"Fear not, Your Majesty,"

"It's actually Your Imperial Majesty, if we adhere to prudence..." says a mangy vagrant who happened on the nowhere where the certain venerable figure lives.

[Toffee 2843]

TO THE PRETENDER EMPEROR,

We spared you from our condemnation, believing your rambling missives to be in jest. You should not have disabused us of that notion, for now we must do as was promised by the Fifth Waldenic Diet in 1897 and issue a stern condemnation of your wrongful claims to the defunct Orenian Empire. You have not been crowned by the High Pontiff. The waters of Gamesh have not touched your brow in holy anointment. You are a pretender of little renown, and I must proclaim you so.

 

As to the matter of your guardsman, who claims to be a Vander Knight; a true Vander would follow the sacred code and recognise no other cultural authority of the Waldenian peoples but the Vandalore, who was rightfully elected in line with the Sacred Law of Waldenia. To that end, I invite this Vander Horen to stand before the Diet when it next convenes and prove his mettle to the Ritterkommandant. We may make a knight of him yet, but until such a time as he completes his trials and swears the oath while the Waldenic Electors bear witness, he is no ser.

 

✠

 

In the name of the sons and daughters of Waldenia,

HER ROYAL HIGHNESS, ADALFRIEDE von HEXENWALD, Princess of Minitz, Lawspeaker of Reinmar, Margravine of Vanderfell, Lady Vandalore, Grandmaster of the Vandorian Order and Order of the Black Eagle

 

 

Spoiler

@Bogatyr