HER WALK TO GOD

[Zaerie 3747]

 

 

WRITTEN AND WITNESSED BY

With assistance in spelling and grammar by Father Davide

Spoiler

 

 

 

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To His Holiness,

Today Cardinal Rhosyn has passed into the seven skies.

 

As the peace of humanity settled across the realms of God, the sun shone down on one individual that fought for restitution with all her might. The Cardinal Rhosyn stood among her flock; both her beloved sheep and her beloved Petrans, and asked those present to join her on a simple walk through her diocese to return the sheep to their pasture.

 

Father Davide, Artair von Theonus, Dame Rowena, and Millie of the Mines walked with the Cardinal towards the East, past the Monastery that Rhosyn spent years growing and cultivating, near to the Aldtree that the Cardinal had built and consecrated a holy shrine at, and through the lands that she had chosen as her home and her heart.

 

It appeared that the land had chosen the Cardinal as well, as when she walked, the meadows reacted; flowers growing alongside her, rays of the sun shining down upon her, and the wild animals of the Commonwealth approaching her as the group went. With the events that would soon come to pass, it appeared almost as if God was telling the Cardinal that he stood with her, that she was not alone.

 

Necromancers and forces of the dark surrounded the group, the Cardinal’s flock of sheep fleeing into the meadows. They were taken to a dark and elegant crypt surrounded by rotting corpses, decay, eerie chambers and forces of evil, if there was anywhere that God may not be able to reach, it was the crypt that they found themselves trapped in. The Cardinal was bound to an altar, with the rest bound as witnesses to the sacrificing of their beloved Rhosyn.

 

The Cardinal chanted, her final sermon echoing through the halls. The words would not fall on deaf ears as her voice repelled the tendrils of darkness that threatened her life. She spoke of Juli’el, lessons of Iblees, the Waters of Gamesh, Owyn and the Son of Horen. For a time, they could not take her, for God and his teachings wrapped around her in a bright light.

 

Darkness slowly seeped through her sermon, etching away at the Cardinals lifeforce. In a last breath of faith, the world rattled and blew the necromancers back. “What is going on? KILL HER!” They called over the Cardinal’s preaching, and their reinvigorated efforts began to chip past her will, the tendrils began to seep at her.

 

Despite her dire state, the Cardinal paused her protective sermon to order the others to flee, to leave her behind where she would perish, allowing for the might that was once protecting her to protect her flock instead.

 

With her orders, they ran. Though Millie turned towards the body of Rhosyn in an attempt to bring anything of the Cardinal with them to bury and lay to rest, and while the others made their way towards the door. The light grew ever brighter while the forces of the dark volleyed arrows at the fleeing survivors, until all was white.

 

The white washed away to reveal the chapel within the Monastery of Saint Juli’el, where the survivors collapsed on the floor in safety. All that remained of Cardinal Rhosyn was a glowing rosary of beads, which made the girl that had tried to bring the Cardinal home feel safe and at peace as she walked towards the Holy See to declare her intent to take the cloth; for Rhosyn.

 

 

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Signed,

Millie of the Mines

 

[AndrewTech 3329]

The late Friar-Cardinal of Albarosa, Rhosyn Stafyr, the third of her name, was at rest in the Seven Skies. She smiled, taking solace in knowing that the others were safe and sound, and that the peace she had longed for had finally been achieved throughout the realms of man.

[carebear 1291]

Dame Rowena knelt in the Vallagne Church, praying silently and contemplating the events of that night. Although she knew she had followed what the Cardinal had wished, to protect the others in the group, she still felt she had failed her duty immensely. The Dame rested and recovered from her injuries sustained in the brief scuffle with the undead, but she would have her revenge for the beloved Cardinal Rhosyn. She would not rest until she had destroyed those undead that had so brutally and awfully snuffed out the life of the brave and devout Rhosyn.

[Irishmanmichael 504]

Manfred, once more tied a small black cloth to his uniform, first the Pontiff and now one of the cardinals, a pang of sadness crept through the young man, as he could not protect those who's time had come. "Deus vobiscum, Sanctus Cardinalis." Manfred spoke softly before going back about his duties to the church.

[Destructokeith 1142]

The green eyes of Artair looked out at the sunrise from the walls of Vissingren, once more the teen had seen the death of a beloved leader within Petra, he runs his thumb across the pommel of his blade as he thinks of the battle between darkness and light he had seen within that evil place.

After a long moment he turns and walks, not to his office but instead the chapel within the walls.

[___siren___ 591]

Katrin I. Eryka Stafyr read the missive with great sorrow. The news of her younger sisters passing at opened a wound that she had forgotten for the past decades, covered with distractions of politics and international turmoil. She donned her mourning clothes and made her way to the Petran Church. 

"Why, oh why Godani? Why did it have to be her?" 

Her favourite sister had passed away and as with her twin Leopold's passing, the world had lost some more of it's colour.

[Hom 1987]

When Rowena broke the news to him, Atticus froze.

He remained frozen for a long time, his feelings numb in his chest, an ice-cold shock that lingered even as he offered the Dame what little comfort he could provide. Even as they discussed what to do about the undead plague, as she exited his shop, and as he turned to enter the back room. The grief stayed as an unmoving icicle in his chest until the moment he closed that door, and was once again alone.

And then, all at once, it melted. The wave of horror and mourning hits him like a tidal wave, tears beginning to burn his eyes as the aging man doubles over, slumping into the corner of the storage room and burying his face into his hands. A sob escapes him, shoulders shaking. He could find comfort in what he had told Rowena- That Rhosyn was somewhere better, now. Somewhere surrounded by love, and light, where she could rest. But God, did she not deserve better while on this Earth? All he had known Rhosyn's life to be, from his years working with the Cardinal, was a life of service, and sacrifice. Was there not to be a greater reward for all she had done, than death?

'God loves you, Atticus'. She had told him that, with such sincerity. Even after he had confessed to her what should have been a great shame, all she had for him was compassion, and her honest belief. God loves you. Maybe, maybe not. But if there is anyone who deserves the love of their Creator the most, it is the one who sacrificed everything for his Word, and to protect his flock. Who, even in her last days, even in her last moments, gave everything to ensure their safety. Quietly, he clasps his hands together, and bows his head.

Atticus prays that his friend is somewhere safe now, where she will never have to sacrifice again.

Edited August 16, 2024 by Hom

[Wavey 2568]

Deep within the halls of the library of the Holy See, Cardinal Ivan carefully retrieved a book from the chest. He would then retrieve another as he made his way to the bookshelves to stock them. Whilst he did so, he overheard an acolyte from Casica deliver the news at the square of the apostolic city. 

The Cardinal stopped. His legs refused to move further towards the grand archives before him. Many of his brothers and sisters were falling from the tides of the unholy evils within the lands. He would have to urge the Curia to act fast. Yet, at this moment, He closed his eyes as he whispered, 

"Ex terra efficimur. Ad terram revertamur. For HE has given us the pains of the world, and HE has given us their cure. And we shall know the trials of this theater of virtue, and we know that they shall strengthen us. For they have strengthened her to her last days. Amen."

He held the books upon left hand as he then signed the lorraine with his bandaged right palm. The Cardinal would then glance to the covers of the books, a small smile forming upon his lips.

 

"'Lux In Tenebris', and 'Studium Dux Ecclesiasticae'", He murmured. "Both subjects written by you, my dear sister Rhosyn." 

A sigh soon escaped the Cardinal's lips as he then uttered, his voice wavering slightly, "Even now the LORD professes HIS confidence in your talent for teaching the masses, in the path of the LIGHT." 

[tadabug2000 4918]

"The undead, these creatures. . ." 

Xiomara began in a rasp, as another report came. More death. "They must be eradicated or we will never be safe."

[DahStalker 3692]

Elia Eryka fondly approached her granddaughter with a flock of bleating goats trailing behind. The late Scyfling woman bid Rhosyn a warm smile, beckoning that blessed Cardinal inward for a taut embrace. “Welcome, little peony.” She doted.

 

@AndrewTech

 

[DancingZebra267 1626]

4 hours ago, AndrewTech said:

The late Friar-Cardinal of Albarosa, Rhosyn Stafyr, the third of her name, was at rest in the Seven Skies. She smiled, taking solace in knowing that the others were safe and sound, and that the peace she had longed for had finally been achieved throughout the realms of man.

 

"Bienvenue, Mother Rhosyn," Blessed Gerard greeted her with heartfelt sincerity. "It has been a long, long time since our paths last crossed."