The Preparations for Crusade

[Nectorist 12871]

Spoiler

My face burns, raked by the claws of that beast. At least I've kept my eyes. My body felt hear as its barbs stuck my face, as my life was choked from me, yet my mind was filled with only the sight of its body, a portent of a twenty-second future. I have Sir Corswain to thank for the final blow, but it is the Lord who tells me I have a purpose yet.

 

My enemies of the living are dead. The pagans of the south are scattered. My wicked uncle has drawn his last breath. The houses that would have opposed my ascension now treat me as a friend. I have forestalled the spiritual and administrative health of the Church for this, but the time to strike is now. This crusade shall mark an era of power for the Church for a generation, or my failures will result in my demise. I do not fear the latter, but I do fear what will come of the incomplete project I would leave behind. Exhaustion has effused itself throughout the world, a decay of governance that has spread through the centuries. The Church remains one of the last few bodies capable of organizing a force, at least I vest my hopes within it, so it remains the responsibility of our facilities to make good.

 

And what of your soul, Caius?

 

And what of the state, so I answer. I am incorruptible, though I am weak. I am a warrior, though I harness no fantastic powers. I am the Vicar of God, though I hear only silence. 

 

My sins are present, I cannot pretend to be void of the darkness within my heart, no matter how much the fire burns within my soul. I can, however, attest to my conduct. I love not, fear not, hate not. My life is an orientation of the Word around every faculty of my being, and it leads to this moment, this undertaking, where I may carry the banner of the living, the standard of the Seven Skies themselves. Who else but he who has purged impulse itself from his heart is fit to strike a dagger into the heart of sin itself?

 

But do I feel anything?

 

It's best that I don't.

3rd of Sun’s Smile 647 A.A

On Crusade

Undaunted Faithful, Pious Faithful, subjects of the Imperium, We look upon the conclusion of this war not with the hopeful stare towards the blue-skied future, the vast ocean of hope whose banks draw near when the tribulations of fulfilling the collective dreams of a people are surpassed. From the lands of the Slaves of Yemekar, where pagan rule sought to dominate the Faithful as if of natural order, Our Children return, weary from decades of war, ready to embrace an era of peace. It is with a grieving heart, lamenting this future, fated to be denied, that We report on the state of the old, forgotten war, waged in the periphery of the settled world.

 

The soul-fires of the Faithful, gathered under one state, stand as a beacon in the darkness, its light unquenchable, but other flames, less brilliant, isolated in some measure, risk their extinction entirely. We find this to be most immediate in the south of Azuras, where the settlements of the Faithful have not yet reached and the land, dark and unkempt, is kept beneath the rule of the wicked. It is a condition mirrored in the far north, where other irredeemable foes of the Lord make their lairs, but so great is this power to the south, of which We have witnessed and been told of, that there can be no question of the necessity of its eradication. 

 

The Aengul Tahariyea, servant of the Lord, finds himself assailed by the unholy alliance of devilspawn and deathraisers, respectively incorporated into the cults known as the Black Church and the Black Sepulchre, which claim dominion over the furthest reaches of the continent, where few good men tread and none dwell. The Oblates of Tahariyea have spread their resources thin attempting to match the uncontested spread of their Ibleesian foes, only to be waylaid in their efforts. After consultation with their authorities, We have concluded that only the intervention of the Lord, manifested in the rallying of the living beneath the standard of crusade, may alleviate the tremendous pressure that the Oblates presently face.

 

We, Sword of God, are henceforth charged, by Our fealty to Him and Our compact with Him, to bring His Light to the Black Church, a corrupted and devilish hell-legion that twists the good name of Our Temple and conspires to bring an eternity of darkness upon Azuras. The Holy Mother Church shall not abide the conquests of the servants of Iblees, nor shall we renege on our sacred and holy duty to oppose the corrupting influences that lay within the dark and bring the Light of God to expose their forms so that they may be slain.

 

May all men and women, weighted by sin or inaction, find the waters of ablution in the ichor of the un-living. All sins may be remedied in one’s participation in this most Holy of ventures, all wrongdoing in the Eyes of God made right in service to Him. Even support for the Crusade through the donation of war material and money, the latter of which being of critical necessity for the establishment of advance fortifications, shall be received favorably by the Church. In addition, donations forestall the implementation of any mandatory tithes or taxes, allowing this necessary crusade to progress without logistical constraints.

 

We announce the formal preparations for crusade against the Black Church and the Black Sepulchre, to begin with an offensive south against the former upon the readiness of the armies of the living. The Faithful are hereby obligated to fulfill their service to the Lord and aid the efforts of the Church to bring this scourge to heel, free this servant of the Almighty, and bring His Light to these lands enshrouded in darkness.

 

We fight without condition.

 

---

On The Preparations for Crusade

I) Solicitation of Support

Significant progress has been made here, and numerous houses and polities within the Imperium have pledged their support. The work shall continue until the day we march south, but the greater part of the living puts their strength behind the Church.

 

II) Organization of the Crusading Host

The banners of this army will be a patchwork quilt, but no host, no matter how great, will find victory when division runs rampant. The crusading army will need to be formed into a well-led, well-disciplined fighting force. Leaders will be chosen from the participants.

 

III) Wargames

A series of wargames will take place to prepare the crusading army for the coming campaigns, as well as to select its participants and the members of the Pontifical Guard.

 

IV) Council of War

With preparations complete, a council of war will be called to draft up a final strategy for the crusade, including advance fortifications, marching patterns, and supply lines.

 

THE HOLY MOTHER CHURCH OF THE TRUE FAITH

Under GOD maintained by His Holiness Caius II

Spoiler

OOC: 

 

This is the commencement post for CRP war that I wish to try out. The point of this is to try and give an opportunity for people to do some in-depth war RP, where logistics, strategy, communication, etc, have real weight and there are stakes to decisions that people make. While the crusading army will almost certainly have a manpower advantage, I want to make this a conflict that gives the darkspawn groups a fighting chance, where real damage can be done to us at the very least. The alternative is just buying the tile then mobbing them with overwhelming numbers in a PvP warclaim, which I think is probably the lamest way to settle things here. 

 

I want to use this opportunity to see if a CRP war is even possible, and if a system like this can build a meaningful narrative for both sides. While I enjoy PvP wars, I think their RP value comes in the conclusions much more than the journey. Historical wars against mages/darkspawn have had little of the same narrative weight, and have sometimes just turned into ‘okay let’s pvp the bad guys and wipe them out’. Something with greater impact to the story ought to be created, even if it means handicapping my efforts.

 

While the details for now remain sparse, I’ll lay out a proposed war system when it comes to the “warclaim” post.

 

[Cryptic 553]

"You have my House's full support, Your Holiness." Barathan d'Artagnan said to himself, holding the missive in hand as he began to prepare support in the form of arms and supplies.

[Eliseth 134]

Spoiler

Looking forward to seeing if a CRP war is possible. Totally agree that just buying the tile and pvp claiming would be lame. 

A fiery haired woman glanced over the missive, a curious eye meeting the planning. A small smile formed across her lips "This is my chance, to rid the plague of corruption" Sloane Pachakutiq glanced down at her Champi before placing the missive down "I must see if supplies are needed for such an order" she then went off preparing to write a missive.

[Digit___ 1226]

“The waves ‘re at your command, Yer Holiness, and my House backs ye. ‘Til sea swallows all.” Aviel Roy intoned to himself, making his way to his ship, The Menagerie, to prepare it for combat. Masts mended, deck scrubbed, and cannon bores cleared.

[Javert 9633]

The Margrave of Avistra, a veteran of many a war, prepares his arms for this holy cause. He finds his grandson, Ser Kestrel the Flamewrath, to speak to him. "Assemble the Avistran levies," he spoke whilst placing a hand upon his shoulder.

[truelarper 594]

Thus prepared Kusi the Barbarian, his club clasped in iron-grip. 

[Beardicuss 488]

Konrad von Schwanstien silently hoped he would be old enough to join when the crusade began

[KaiserJacobII 1461]

The glint of an aurum blade catches the eye of Lothaire Cardinal Montcollier as it sits idle, resting on a table across the room. Pushing himself from his chair, one hand on each armrest, he rises to cross the floor. Taking it in an untrained hand, wield awkward and uncomfortable, he holds it up to dyed morning light spilling out from stained glass. It reflects gold, orange, green and blue. It bows, heavy in his hand. Relinquishing it with a clunk back on the table, the Cardinal returns to his chair.

[Security_ 2287]

Lazar pulls the lever of a pulley-machine, layering out plated steel to rest upon a skeleton of churning cogs and pulleys. Holy incense filters from the roof as preparations are made for the holy crusade. "The crusade will require machines. Best keep up with it."

[Kyrrn 345]

The aging Knight and former Lord took notice of the call, setting the writ upon his desk as he stared deeply into the candlelight. "If it is Crusade, so be it. By what little remains of the House Seregon, I shall call it to arms."

[Navigator 4260]

 

“ARENAE FORMATUS, FIDEI DURATUS.”

---

THE HOUSE OF BASRID, through this writ, does formally declare, to the public light, its full endorsement, active participation, and whole support to this most holy of endeavours, His Holiness’ Crusade. The Patriarch of House Basrid, Nafis Lorethos Basrid, decrees that all scions of House Basrid are to report to the Holy Church of the True Faith, and swear the Qasam al-Faris, the Oath of the Warrior, so that the world may be rid of filth, and the faithful triumph once more.

 

---

ᴡᴀ ᴀᴋʜɪʀ ᴅᴀʿᴡᴀɴᴀ ᴀɴɪ ᴀʟʜᴀᴍᴅᴅʜ'ᴀʟʟᴀʜ,

ᴀʟ'ʀᴀᴊɪ ʀᴀʜᴍᴀᴛᴀ ʀᴀʙʙɪʜ

 

[penninoe 169]

 

Just now, Javert said:

The Margrave of Avistra, a veteran of many a war, prepares his arms for this holy cause. He finds his grandson, Ser Kestrel the Flamewrath, to speak to him. "Assemble the Avistran levies," he spoke whilst placing a hand upon his shoulder.

The Captain of Avistra's levies, gave but a firm nod to his grandfather as he was put up to the task. He dwelled over what would await them should they pursue pledging their blades on such a crusade. Twice, the Levies of Avistra had proven themselves useful in battle since the Druscan war. Twice, had they fought. "The Dove of Avistra takes flight out of her nest once again." As Kestrel clasped the lorraine cross around his neck, there was no hesitation on the matter, GOD was with them. 

[Sr_Dimentio 586]

"Ayayay!"  an undead jester held into his head, Joka! The ''charming'' voice of the NEO MEAT CIRCUS (self declared tittle) "They want to what!? I should put on my best makeup... I can't let the simpleton mortals see me without looking MARVELOUS!!!"  he declared, going to bother some mortals around and cause some small chaos.

[Unwillingly 18133]

Spoiler

if there are no nectorist fans I am dead

 

[PrimnyaQuorum 4008]

Spoiler

There's no limit to the LARP

 

looking forward to this :3