AstriaS

Velsyni Indoren began putting up advertisements for discounted, salvaged weapons and armor, as any proud, unrepentant war profiteer such as herself would do.

The High Keeper, who had managed to acquire a copy of the missive from a traveler, had a pleasant laugh before she then filed her copy into a folder labeled 'Comedically Edgy Letters'.

Refuting a Refutation A Public Response Dated the 3rd of the First Seed, Year 21 of the Second Age TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, Allow me to preface this work by explaining that I am not a woman of elaborate words and that much of this writing will be rather dry and uninteresting. For that, I apologize in advance. However, there have been a series of issues raised and rebuttals made regarding my recent work, and so I find myself obligated to issue a response. While it is heartening to see discussion of the Faith in a broader sense, the current terms of the debate are, unfortunately, less so. With this document, my aim is primarily to address the criticisms raised, and to clarify some of my own statements. Firstly, I will address the statement made in regards to my work’s characterization of the Father. Here, the criticism of my writing appears to be a matter of semantics, specifically in regards to the connotations of the word ‘chaos’. As such, I will attempt to clarify my use of the word. I must begin by explaining that chaos is not, necessarily, synonymous with evil, and it certainly was not used in such a way by me. Chaos is a force of creation, and nothing more. Chaos is defined, simply, as change or turbulence. As far back as the works of Gareth Faretto of Seahelm, the Father has long been described as an agent of change in the lives of the Faithful, and as an entity of righteous wrath and retribution. High Keeper Arthas himself referred to the Second Tenet as a “calling to hold righteous fury in our heart”. This is what is meant by chaos; Not a force of negative persuasion, but of change. This is neither incorrect nor an unheard of statement to make. Secondly, I shall address the matter of the Father’s Flame, hopefully in fewer words than my last point, as in this case the misunderstanding appears to simply be rooted in the miscomprehension of what I have written. It is stated that I have written that the Father’s Flame is metaphorical, and that I have implied that the Hearthfire and the Flamebrands of the Keepers do not contain the Father’s presence. This is demonstrably false, as in the very paragraph that has been quoted I have clearly stated that the Holy Flame is “of the Father’s Essence”. Nowhere was it implied otherwise. Further, it is not incorrect to say that the Hearthfire represents our covenant with the Father, for His Presence is, alongside the salvation it granted, quite literally the boon he gifted to The Herald in exchange for their loyalty to His Faith and His Mission. Further, it is also not inaccurate to say that the Hearthfire or the visual of fire in general is used as a metaphorical symbol within the Faith. To again quote High Keeper Arthas, particularly in regards to the Second Tenet; “The Father calls us to spread his flame to the hearts and souls of the blind. The blind being those lacking the faith of the All Father which in this context is referred to as his ‘flame’.” As we can see here, the Flame is used in a metaphorical context, clearly and openly. To say anything less is quite simply dishonest. Thirdly, I will address the matter of tolerance. Yes, it is true that Tyrian doctrine has embraced a policy of increased tolerance, compared to the Arthurian. However, there seems to be a fundamental misunderstanding by the writer of what the phrase ‘left to the consequences of sin’ means. Punishment, as was written by High Keeper Alisa when she herself was an initiate, must be equivalent to the transgression committed, so as to avoid the vices of excessive wrath and malevolence. This is what is meant by these ‘consequences of sin’, and it bespeaks a poor reading of the High Keeper’s own works to imply otherwise. It is clear, if one was to read the current laws of the Kingdom of Norland, that punishment of the wicked is still paramount to our society. We simply have a narrower, less totalitarian view of what wickedness is. Wytches are still burned, and the sinful are still branded for their penance. Finally, we shall address the matter of shirked duties. This, I will answer very directly. Where were the Arthurians when the Inferi came knocking at the doors of the descendants in Arcas? Where were the Arthurians during the Final Battle of Korvassa, where the world was nearly undone and an Aengul slain to prevent such from happening? It was not they who wore the crimson armor of the Father’s Faithful in the blackened battlefields of that war. It was us, the Tyrians. We were among the first to answer the call when the Infernal Horde emerged, and we fought the demons with steel and wit at every turn. In short, to accuse the Tyrians of backing down from their duties is to forget one’s own failure to appear when the Agents of Ruin appeared at the threshold of our home. Had one been present for such a conflict, perhaps one’s understanding of the decisions surrounding it would be better in line with what is actually true. Signed, Hearth Sister Mera Camian

Velsyni Indoren read over a missive she had come across while on a brief business trip within the realm of Elvenesse. Reading over it, she frowned. "And this is precisely why I don't live in Elvenesse."

From the Hearth Temple of Varhelm, a document was quickly issued in response.

The Tyrian Red Faith A Comprehensive Text on the Faith of the Father from a Tyrian Perspective Dated the 12th of Malin's Welcome, Year 21 of the Second Age INDEX I.Preface II.The All Father III.The Paragons IV.The Father’s Flame V.The Father’s Tenets VI.The Ruinous Powers VII.The Red Clergy VIII.Resources for the Laity I. PREFACE In the year 1759, High Keeper Alisa Camian published her renowned work, The Red Faith; A Primer. In the nearly sixty years since, this text, intended as a simplified, easily-digested exposition on the Red Faith and our beliefs, has remained the most prolifically referenced source of information on the Faith amongst the laity. However, despite its usefulness, the Primer finds itself lacking in a number of aspects, most specifically in matters of more granular details. Further, in light of recent diverging opinions coming to the fore, particularly from the Arthurians, a text on the Tyrian perspective is much needed. As such, the following text is intended as a more comprehensive collation of information and resources. II. THE FATHER The Father is, in short, the Guiding Light and Protector of us all. We of Tyrian belief hold Him to be the representative of the necessary duality of the realms of creation; He is the Order of Law, and He is the Chaos of Wrath and Retribution. It is the Father who charged our ancestors, when they swore their loyalty to Him, with the duty to fulfill his Divine Mission and take up arms in his eternal struggle against the darkness of the Ruinous Powers. As such, he calls on those who are faithful to him to aid in His war against the Long Dark. Those who hold to his Faith dedicate their lives to his service, and in death their honored souls go on to serve him in the realms of the beyond as the soldiers of his Eternal War. It is not uncommon for the uninitiated, uninformed or purposefully ignorant to vastly misunderstand the being of the Father. Many believe he is one of many Gods in a greater pantheon of deities. This is false. The Father is the only deity to whom the Faithful pledge their souls and their loyalty, for it is the Father to whom our ancestors pledged their loyalty. Then, there are those who believe the Father to be a god of fire. This, too, is false. Though the Father is represented by the flames of our Hearth, and though the Hearth is of His essence, the importance of the Flame in our faith is that of symbolism; It represents his presence in our world and in our hearts, it represents the burning passions, fury and luminescence of the Father, and it represents the Father’s covenant with His Faithful. III. THE PARAGONS The Paragons are those servants of the Father who, in their mortal lives, left such significant impacts on the world and the Faithful that they, themselves, came to be revered by their descendants and honored by the Father Himself. They are the Father’s closest servants within His Halls, and it is they who bestow blessings and guidance to the Father. There has historically been much debate over those who are revered as Paragons at a given time, whether it be over the deeds of a particular Paragon or the truth of their lives as a whole. IV. THE FATHER’S FLAME It is a common misconception, due to the symbolic and literary prominence of flame within the Faith’s text, that the Father’s Faithful give reverence to all fire everywhere. This, however, is an untruth, for the Father’s Flame is the only flame which is considered inherently sacred. The Flame which burns in our Hearth Temple is the selfsame which has burned in the Faith’s Temples for generations, descended from the very flame that was granted to Thoromir the Herald to see his people through the Great Blizzard. Taken from the Father Himself, this flame contains a portion of His essence. It is the symbol of our covenant with the Father, and many of our ceremonies take place before it. V. THE FATHER’S TENETS When the covenant between Thoromir’s folk and the Father was sealed, he bid his new Faithful live by his code, the Three Tenets; Suffer not the Unworthy, Spread the Flame and Stand against the Long Dark. By these Tenets, we live as the Father decreed, and we live in service to his mission. Though the tenets vary in the ways they have been interpreted over time and between practitioners of varying doctrines, there are a number of core, essential elements that have remained sacrosanct and therefore unaltered over the course of the Faith’s history. The First Tenet: Suffer not the Unworthy The Unworthy, according to all traditional doctrine, are those who do not adhere to the strictures of honor and morality. They are the greed-plagued, the slothful and the moral degenerates of the world. There is no one face, nation or creed that represents those who are Unworthy. They are everywhere, for where there are men and women to fall prey to the corruption of immorality, there will be those who are consumed by it. The draw towards corruption is an inherent flaw of the mortal mind, and it is up to us to resist its corruption and rise to a greater standing. Those who do not dedicate themselves to this mission of moral betterment are the Unworthy. The Heretic, the Thief and the Murderer are all Unworthy, yes; but so too is the man who allows his honor to be stained and his spirit tainted by inaction, for if we give in to corruption, we harm ourselves and our people. What, then, must the Faithful man do to follow this first tenet? Simply put, he must dedicate himself to his own betterment, for the good of himself and his kinsmen. Further, he should help guide back to the path those who have wandered astray. Those who refuse to be helped, or who are beyond redemption, however, are to be left to the consequences of their sins, as they are Unworthy of the Faithful’s mercy. The Second Tenet: Spread the Flame The Second Tenet is by far the one with the least variation in doctrinal interpretation, historically speaking, being the least subjective. Contrary to the claims of many outsiders, the Flame, in this instance, is metaphorical, representing the Faith and its teachings as a whole, much as the Hearthfire and its care represent our devotion and our service to the Father. To spread the Flame is to teach others of the Father’s teachings, and of the Faith’s values and practices. Further, it is to not shy away from letting the Father’s name and presence be known. Most commonly, the laity do not engage in proselytization, however, and instead fulfill the Second Tenet by way of ensuring their children are given proper, pious upbringings. As such, it is a common belief among women that being a mother is among the greatest ways they are able to serve the Father. It should be noted of course that the Faith and the Father abhor quite strongly the practice of making converts at the point of a sword. Those who are forced into speaking words of devotion do not speak them truthfully, and therefore the words have no meaning; A blind man cannot be made to see, even with his eyes pried open. The Third Tenet: Stand Against the Long Dark Considered by many to be the Red Faith’s mission statement, the Third Tenet is the one by which the most dedicated of the Father’s Faithful live and die. The Long Dark encompasses a number of ruinous forces that would seek to destroy or actively bring harm to the balance of our world. It is these forces against which the Father fights in an eternal struggle of Light against the unfathomable darkness. In his mission to ensure the continuation of the realms of creation, the Father demands of his faithful vehemently oppose such enemies of his Light, and his followers are expected to adhere to this demand without question. It is for this reason that arcane practices are banned within realms governed by the Red Law, and similarly why the Order of the Purifiers exists as an institution of the Red Clergy. To allow agents of ruin to advance their agendas is to allow creation as a whole to become jeopardized, and to insult the Father and our ancestors who fight tirelessly to defend it under the Father’s banner in the afterlife. VI. THE RUINOUS POWERS As previously stated, the Faith holds the fight against the Long Dark to be one of its most central purposes. This darkness includes a variety of malignant forces, ranging from Voidal magics to the abhorred creatures of the undead. Left unchecked, these elements run rampant, doing untold damage to the natural balance of the world. In the past, under the leadership of High Keeper Arthas, such things became known as the Fel Plague, and were treated as an infectious disease that leeched upon the soul rather than the body. In the modern day, and after the Inferi War especially, the myriad facets of the ever-lurking Darkness have come to be called the Ruinous Powers, and it is these powers which we must oppose at every turn. The Void and practitioners of the arts which draw upon it, wytches, the Inferi and their servants, the dreaded dark arts, and many other malevolent powers and beings; All are agents of Ruin, and must be treated as such. It is the duty of every devout follower of the Father to take up the blade against these forces wherever they may be found. It is for explicitly this reason that the Order of the Purifiers exists. They are our bulwark against the Darkness, and it is they who fight in place of those who are unable to do so. To fail in our duty to illuminate the darkness and expose its agents would be to fail the Father and doom the world to its end. Should the Light falter, then all will be consumed in eternal, tenebrous nothingness; all that is the world- every rock, every creature, every man and woman- will cease to be. It therefore falls to us to act as the raging flame to bring forth the Light and repel this looming fate, and in so doing prevent the Ruinous Powers from bringing about the eternal end; the Long Dark. In many ways, the subject of the Ruinous Powers is where the Tyrian and Arthurian doctrines deviate most strongly from one another. We Tyrians hold a much narrower view of what is and what is not a step on the path to ruin than the Arthurians. We have come to acknowledge those practices with goals similar to our own as benign, even benevolent in some cases. It was the Tyrians who took up the sword against the demonic horde in the Inferi War of Arcas, and it was we who found ourselves on good terms with the Paladins of Xan, some of our most honorable allies in that conflict. Further, it was we who were granted the blessings of the Aegnul Aeriel in the Final Battle of Korvassa. As such, we have come to tolerate the presence of those who, in their own way, bring benefit to our cause in the fight against the Long Dark and its agents. VII. THE RED CLERGY The Red Clergy is the primary source of authority on the Faith, its teachings and its doctrines. It is composed of three offices. There are Initiates at the lowest rank who are given the menial duties of the Temple’s functioning; They are the scribes and the Temple’s custodians, as they work on their path to advancement. Secondly, there are the Hearth Brothers and Hearth Sisters. They are tasked with minor administrative duties and with sharing the Faith’s teachings and guidance with those who seek it. Finally, there are the Keepers, the fully fledged priests of the Father and the bearers of His Flame. They are the ones who tend to the Hearthfire, educate the Faithful, and delegate tasks to the lower ranks and guide them in their advancement. As a supplement to its goals, the Clergy also employs the Order of the Purifiers, who act under the command of the Lord Purifier. This subordinate branch of the clergy is dedicated to the location, documentation, and elimination of those individuals, groups or entities who would pose an obstacle to the Father’s Light. VIII. RESOURCES FOR THE LAITY Below are listed a selection of texts for the laity to review for further information. It should be noted, however, that the below-listed writings are from varying periods in history, and therefore the doctrines and policies described within are likely to differ from those to which the Tyrian Faith currently adheres. The Paragon Codex; Multiple Authors Hierarchy of the Red Clergy; High Keeper Alisa Camian The Order of the Purifiers; Lord Purifier Thorfinn Kursin On the First Tenet; High Keeper Arthas Edvardsson On the Second Tenet; High Keeper Arthas Edvardsson On the Third Tenet; High Keeper Arthas Edvardsson The Book of the Keeper; High Keeper Tyr Faretto Scribed by, Hearth Sister Mera Camian With Contributions from, High Keeper Alisa Camian Luminary Lucien Arkin Keeper Dramyr Edvardsson Keeper Tavish Faretto Hearth Brother Grigori Ruslanovych

Sylvia Camian sighed and began mentally preparing herself for the inevitable, impending increase in paperwork that was about to flood her office.

Renovation and Reopening of The Ashwood Tavern Dated the 19th of the First Seed, Year 20 of the Second Age It is with great pleasure that we announce the reopening of the newly remodeled Ashwood Tavern, located in the center of Varhelm. While the old layout served its purpose, the simple fact was that the floor plan and entrance simply weren’t conducive traffic flow, and the establishment was not easily located. The renovation has brought the house floor up from where it previously was, making it visible from the tavern’s entrance and a much shorter walk from the plaza. The old ground floor, however, has not gone to waste. Instead, it has been repurposed to include more seating and a newly added fighting ring for entertainment and recreational use. Above the ring, our workers have installed a bas-relief sculpture of the ashwood tree itself, adding a bit of decoration to the room. With the completion of these additions, the tavern is now fully reopened for business. Signed, Sylvia Camian, Master of Keys and Royal Engineer

Deratrys, renowned troublemaker and, coincidentally, Norlandic elf, read over the missive with a hum. "Well, I do really hate elves." She stated to nobody in particular, beginning then to polish her kneecapping baton in preparation to commit some hate crimes for the hell of it.

This is, as the children say, pretty pog.

A Notice on the Health of the High Keeper Issued 10th of the Amber Cold, Year 19 of the Second Era TO THE FAITHFUL OF NORLAND, Following a series of repeated stresses and overexertions, our dear High Keeper Alisa Camian has fallen ill. Her physicians report she is in otherwise good health and that there is little cause for concern, though they are monitoring the progression of her condition closely due to her age. During her period of convalescence, her administrative duties will be handled by her second-in-command, Luminary Lucien Arkin, with assistance from Keepers Terra Faretto and Dramyr Edvardsson. However, she will be continuing her ceremonial duties to the best of her ability. Signed, Lucien Arkin, Luminary to the High Keeper In the Name of, Alisa Camian, High Keeper of the Red Faith

Clan Camian collectively do the traditional crusading dance

The High Keeper remained ignorant to this missive, as she was still throwing a fit in her office. Sylvia Camian rolled her eyes. "Good riddance. B****."

A statement is issued from Clan Camian in response. A Letter from Clan Camian TO CLAN KVITRAVN, Desist. You’re being absurd. The King has made his will known, and it will be respected. We, too, are a clan of tradition, but so too are we a Clan of law. And in this case, we side with the law, which does not contain provisions for the Kingsmoots of old. Signed, Alisa Camian, High Keeper of the Red Faith, Chieftain of Clan Camian

The Coronation of 20 SE Dated 7th of the Amber Cold, Year 19 of the Second Era TO THE CITIZENS OF NORLAND, In light of the departure of King Halvar Edvardsson from his reign, the Crown and the Faith do hereby announce the coronation of Crown Prince Sven Edvardsson Ruric, the King’s eldest son. In order to ensure a swift, smooth transition of power, the coronation shall be held as soon as possible, in four Elven Days. Attendees will be treated to a feast, consisting of a banquet of the finest foods in the Kingdom, and drink without end. All are welcome to attend, however due to recent tensions those who are found to be detrimental to the peace of the affair will be escorted out. Further, direct invitations will be issued for the following individuals: The entire citizenry of the Kingdom of Norland, including; The Duke and residents of Elysium The Jarl and residents of Leumont The Jarl and residents of Nueva Tierra His Majesty King Heinrik II of Hanseti-Ruska, his family, and his citizens. His Majesty Grand King Norli Starbreaker of Urguan, his family, and his citizens. The Rex of Krugmar and his citizens. Lady Li Xiuying of Yong Ping, her family, and her citizens. OOC: Thursday, April 15th at 5 PM EST Varhelm Palace Signed, Sven Edvardsson, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Norland Alisa Camian, High Keeper of the Red Faith

The High Keeper, at nearly ninety years of age, continued to lament the day's drama with the volume and vigor of a woman of thirty, the sounds of yelling, shattering and crashing heard from behind the locked door of her office for the entire day.

The High Keeper, still locked in her office from the previous missive from Clan Freysson, began to scream in anger.

A Statement from Clan Camian Regarding the Matter of Haelun’or Issued 5th of the Amber Cold, Year 19 of the Second Era TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, In the past Elven Day, it has become known that Clan Freysson has chosen to voice its displeasure with the negotiations between Norland and our ally, Haelun’or. It saddens Clan Camian to see our own kinsmen stoop to threats of violence and bombastic, psychotic demands. Further, it should be noted that we take personal offense to the aspersions cast upon the negotiations, seeing as it was our own Chieftain, the High Keeper, and Queen Ancelie who- at King Halvar’s request, remember- were chosen to sit at the negotiating table. The discussion was held in a civilized, reasonable manner, and the matter was resolved swiftly and formally. After a discussion of events, both parties found themselves at an impasse regarding the exact turn of events regarding the issue that had brought about the meeting to begin with. With the Lord Palatine of Haense as a mediator, it was then agreed that, since neither party could fully prove the case one way or another, the issue would be considered moot. It is not the most fortunate outcome, this is true, nor is it the outcome we would have preferred; however, it is the outcome we reached, and it is Clan Camian’s word that made the agreement. In short, the actions of Master of Coin Vane Freysson are, in Clan Camian's view, utterly unacceptable. We therefore wholeheartedly condemn the actions and threats of Clan Freysson in their totality. Further, we demand the immediate removal of High Keeper Alisa Camian’s name from Clan Freysson’s decree, as she desires no apology, and considers the presence of her name alongside single-minded, dim-witted threats to be not only an insult to her honor, but to that of the King and the Kingdom on behalf of whom she negotiated. Signed, Clan Camian

The High Keeper, who had been in charge of the diplomatic delegation an Elven Day prior, threw up her hands in abject frustration and locked herself in her office for the rest of the day.

The High Keeper looked baffled for about three seconds before sighing and tossing the missive to the wind. "Father, give me strength if this is about to turn into another four-Rexes-in-four-years ordeal." Krelga let out a contemplative hum. "Da Rex wehnd agh turhn'd hizzelf intu uh gohlden ztatue? Dat'z preti zkahin' metal, azh myte blah."

The High Keeper paused her endless paperwork as an initiate placed a missive in front of her regarding the unfortunateness in Haense. Briefly skimming over its contents, she sighed, "How unfortunate... I quite liked that one."

Sylvia Camian, self-appointed Master of Keys of Norland, did in fact take notice of the failure to pay taxes and promptly marched over to the residence in question, several neat stacks of bureaucratic hell (known to the common man as paperwork) in hand. Unfortunately, upon letting herself into the home, she found nobody to extort taxes from. In fact, the place seemed to be completely deserted, and the counters and shelves decorated with a layer of dust from at least a year of neglect. "Well ****."

Mera Camian paid only half attention to the contents of the missive that had managed to circulate its way to Norland, briefly commenting, "Vell, ve invited the trolls to Svensday and taught them how to smoke cactus green and milk animals. I vonder vhy the others are having trouble vith the creatures? They seem lovely."

Writ of Dissolution Issued 3rd of Malin's Welcome, in the Year 18 SA By Order of, Alisa Camian, High Keeper of the Red Faith