The Holy Militant

[Nectorist 12869]

Spoiler

The war in the Badlands draws to a close, and the fighting spirit of the dwarves is diminished, to say nothing of the orcs and their allies. The objectives of this Empire, near-completion, shall soon shift towards consolidation of what was gained and preserving what was had. It is there that an opening presents itself, for the activities of the Ibleesians have increased in their frequency. I very much believe that they pose a more significant threat than the dwarves and orcs had. I have spoken some of crusade, but the attentions of the Church must shift towards it entirely, so that we are prepared to wage it as soon as the arms of the Faithful are freed.

 

I believe that this will be the pivotal moment of my pontificate, as early as it might seem to be. Success will reestablish the authority of the Church in the war against the dark and return the perception of our leadership among Humanity- perhaps beyond, even. Failure will condemn us, and I will have failed in my purpose: all efforts of revitalization will have been made for naught.

 

There is also my personal legacy, but the less I think of it, the better. I must not allow pride to cloud my judgement. If my life may be spent in the name of the Church's empowerment, I will have fulfilled my duty to the Lord.

14th of Godfrey’s Triumph, 645 A.A

Of The Cause of Arms in Service of the Lord

The consequences of the wars of man are not to concern the Faith. By its nature, the struggle of politics, often resolved on the field of battle or along the castle ramparts, can only be ephemeral; what is won may be unwound, what is lost may be gathered again. Polities rise and fall, kings are made and unmade, heroes find victory and defeat, yet the Faith remains, the Word of God remains, and our mission to Him remains.

 

Although the Church may choose to intervene in secular wars, and has frequently done so, its past decisions to commit its forces to the struggle of politics were not made lightly, and almost exclusively against pagan forces, or those otherwise deemed enemies of the Faith. However, the role that is best-played by the Church, owing to its general neutrality in the affairs of man, is as a mediating body, to see that feuds remain limited alongside the blood shed of the Faithful. If war may be prevented, then we have fulfilled our purpose. If war may be limited and honorable, then we have done our best. If we must participate in war, then the most necessary of circumstances have compelled us to take up our swords.

 

With the exceptions regarding secular warfare aside, we are left with one unconditional circumstance during which the Church will pursue military action with the full breadth of its resources.

 

While the lords and ladies of humanity, and indeed further beyond, concern themselves with the wars of the present, of immediate consequence, We the Church have waged an older, deeper war, fought against the Ibleesian forces that reside within the dark. As continuity and general neutrality in the politics of the world stage have enabled us to focus our attentions on the war for the living, we are called to devote our arms primarily to this cause. The principles of the Holy Militant must necessarily be grounded in this purpose, lest it simply be utilized for conquest that expands the borders of the state but not of the Faith.

 

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The Body of the Holy Militant

 

Those who join the Holy Militant shall find little in the way of rank, prestige, or riches. The mass-movements that defined prior iterations of the Church’s armed wing fell victim to the base impulses that often come to dominate such organizations: bloodthirst, recklessness, and fanaticism. In the judgement of these militant organizations, evil was found to take the form of innocent, uninvolved elves, while the good of God resided in chambers filled with instruments of horrific purpose. There can be no excuse for cruelty absent of guiding Virtue, nor can We permit the Faith to be used as a proxy by which the grievances of centuries past, of far-faded relevance, may be litigated through violence.

 

The Holy Militant is to be defined as all those who commit their sword to the High Priest, and are commanded by them and the Captain of the Pontifical Guard. Personal rivalries, secular politics, and other unnecessary scruples are to be discarded when in service to the Church and the Faith which it leads; the command of the Lord is all that shall compel action. Accordingly, members of the Holy Militant shall receive direct assignments related to the present campaign of the Church, regardless of its form, and will be expected to act with a degree of independence. Rather than raising a host of foot infantry to be drilled, commanded, then sent to die, it will be the aim of the Holy Militant to develop a competent, disciplined, and regulated cadre of warriors equipped to face the challenges of the dark.

 

As expected of a professional fighting force, the Holy Militant will submit itself to seven rules that regulate its conduct:

 

I) The light of Virtue, brought by the flame of the soul, is to illuminate the darkness that shrouds the wicked.

 

II) Decency is to be extended to all peoples, and laws are to be obeyed in all instances, save to the Ibleesians.

 

III) A mission is to be completed at all costs, but orders may be interpreted according to their appropriateness.

 

IV) Exercise violence only where it is demanded: in defense of the self or in defense of the higher good.

 

V) Serve first the Lord, then His Church and those who steward it, then His Flock, before any secular masters.

 

VI) Demonstrate no cowardice in the exercising of duty, nor fear of reprisal for Virtue.

 

VII) Fight not for a world that you will see free of evils, but for the world of your descendents that is nearer to the Lord.

 

All who wish to pledge their swords to the cause of the Lord, directed by His Holiness, are to contact either the High Priest or the Captain of the Pontifical Guard, Holy Sir Corswain.

 

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On Holy Knighthood

A frequent mistake that We have taken notice of in regards to the styling of knighthood is the adoption of the title of ‘Holy Sir’ or ‘Holy Dame’ by those who have both been ordained by the Mother Church and knighted by a secular order. We shall take this opportunity to remind all knights of Burgundy, Idunia, and elsewhere, that Holy Knighthood is the responsibility of the Church to oversee. All those who take the titles implying Holy Knighthood are hereby commanded to change the styling to fit the custom of the secular order under which they received their knighthood. Lastly, it must be reminded again that Holy Knighthood is an honorific title, recognizing one’s service to the Lord, and thus carries no enumerated privileges or obligations with the exception of the right to take a squire.

 

The authority to make and unmake Holy Knights belongs solely to the High Priest, whose office shall keep a registry of recognized Holy Knights, to be initially listed within this document. Should any who was conferred Holy Knighthood find themselves absent from this document, they are to petition Us for their recognition. 

 

Recognized Holy Knights:

 

His Holiness, Caius II

Corswain Royce

Valindra the Elf

 

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THE HOLY MOTHER CHURCH OF THE TRUE FAITH

Under GOD maintained by His Holiness Caius II

[BaconAvengerII 117]

Maeryk nods slowly as she reads it over. She'd always respected the Pontiff, and in their many meetings, came to trust his judgement in all things. A woman of God seldom questions the friggin' Pope.

Her own home, land, family, and people had been taken by the Dark, and until recently, she'd relied entirely on defense. Preparing. Defending.

Now, the time spent on all that preparation had paid off.

It was time to speak with the Pontiff, again, only this time, it was about what she could offer his efforts.

[Morigung-oog 5697]

"Not just an elf... The elf." Valithael grinned, proudly brandishing the missive to her husband.