DancingZebra267

Holy Ser Gerard gives a thumbs up from Heaven

We're in good hands.

Udo successfully pickpockets someone, but as he does, he overhears them discussing the missive, He mutters to himself, "Them devils ain't the real devils. The devils are them who don't drop a few minas in poor Udo's palm. Udo's just a broken ol' solider, lookin' after me blind daughter."

Udo glanced at the missive, unable to comprehend the words on the page. Instead, he took it and decided to repurpose it as fire fuel to warm his socks.

Holy Ser Gerard would approve this message from Heaven!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgxsJSUT-z8&list=PLvTUWRFfJ2_2-2kDcmClb53tHALk6xO6B&index=11 Watery sun cracked past the hand of Horen and spilled into Whitespire, where it cast the city into a paradoxical warm glow. There—beneath the fountain of a good king, desecrating and perverting his revered name—a battle waged between. A son watched, wide eyed and terrified, as the splitting sound of a mace cleaved through his father’s flesh. Gerard had thought he might’ve lived when a javelin embedded deep in his leg, but with each limb lost the grim realization dawned deeper. Blood spurted uselessly as the sight of his own severed hand flopped against stained cobblestones. Gore had never churned his gut but as he watched the ground grow bloody and filled with splattered viscera the knight felt sick. Sweat pooled beneath his helm, his breath was labored. The last time he had spoken to Aurelia they had argued. Would she remember him like that? Angry, violent. Arnaud was watching him now, would he see his father as weak? He croaked, “GOD, Order of Saint Jude, Family, Aurelia.” and there was so little strength left in him. THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF GERARD WHITEWOOD-OUVRIER Declaration I, Gerard Whitewood-Ouvrier, being of sound mind and disposing memory, do hereby declare and publish this as my Last Will and Testament. I appoint High Pontiff Caius Primus as the executor of this will. Disposition of Property and Assets I give, devise, and bequeath all my property, both real and personal, of whatever kind and wherever situated, as follows: To the first of my beneficiaries, Aurelia Whitewood, my wife, I leave to you my blessed cross of Lorraine, wedding band, opera books, and half of my minas. To the second of my beneficiaries, Arnauld Sterling Whitewood, Adeline Gerard Whitewood, Anette Amyas Whitewood, Angelique Whitewood, my children, I leave to you all of my horses, dogs, and plushies of OSJ. To the third of beneficiaries, Whoever shall become the next Grandmaster of the OSJ, I leave to you some of my weapons, that being, Crusader’s Edge, lumière de dieu, Ser halston’s Pole Mace, Vindicta Vintutas. And I leave you half of my minas for the future of the Order. To the fourth of beneficiaries, Canonius, my brother in arms, I leave you my Codex of Purity, and my Aurum dagger, Bord Diven. May it serve you well in testing for dark spawn. To the fifth of beneficiaries, Caius Primus, my brother under GOD, I give you my two handed longsword, Sword of The Pure Hearted, my reports, and letters all of which expel the truth. To the sixth of beneficiaries, Frantzisko Cardinal Albarosa, my dearest friend, I leave to you The Poem, and twenty years worth of Crab feed. To the seventh of beneficiaries, Bronwyn d’Formidon, my old friend, I leave you my friendship bracelet, how it brought me much joy when received. To the Eighth of beneficiaries, Mother Alrisha, my jolly friend, I leave to you all of my Holy Lemons. To the Eighth of beneficiaries, Cardinal Mattia, my friend and justice seeker, I give you all of my alcohol. To the Ninth of beneficiaries, Cardinal Callahan, my mentor, I give you all of my Kosher food, for I understand the struggle of finding any. To the Tenth of beneficiaries, The Bucket Knight, my most trusted Augur, I leave to you all of my herbs ever collected and my map of the locations of each herb, may you use this to help heal GOD's faithful. Disposition of Remains I direct that my remains be cremated in the Ownyst Rite and be placed in the crypts beneath Ownysberg. Any funerary proceedings that should occur are requested to be held in the Apostolic City. [OOC: The Funeral will be held tomorrow 4/12/24, 6PM EST at the Cathedral of the Exalted in the Holy See]

Gerard chuckles as he reads the missive, finding amusement in its contents. With a smile on his face, he begins to pack his bag in preparations for his horn hunting expedition.

Gerard nods thoughtfully as he reads the missive. "This is a wise decision," he remarks, recognizing the practicality of the proposed action. "Not only will it make it easier for us to identify these evildoers, but it also raises questions about why anyone would wish to alter what GOD has gifted them," he muses, "I anticipate that the Order of Saint Jude augurs will be quite busy in the days ahead."

𝔚𝔞𝔯𝔯𝔞𝔫𝔱 𝔣𝔬𝔯 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔄𝔯𝔯𝔢𝔰𝔱 𝔬𝔣 ℜ𝔞𝔦𝔫𝔦𝔢𝔯 𝔒𝔲𝔳𝔯𝔦𝔢𝔯 [!] A sketch of Rainier Ouvrier would be attached to the missive. Keep note that this sketch was last drawn in 1966 and the man is believed to be in his early 50s. Date: 11th of Snow's Maiden, 1971 To all citizens of the realm, The Holy Order of Saint Jude hereby issues a warrant for the arrest of a heartlander known as Rainier Ouvrier, a former member of our esteemed order who has committed treacherous acts against both GOD and the faithful. Rainier, was thought to have perished in 1966 due to illness. However, recent revelations have uncovered that he deceitfully faked his death and abandoned his duty. It is imperative to note that Rainier has espoused heretical beliefs and has allied himself with those who oppose the sanctity of the Holy Mother Church. His whereabouts are currently unknown, but it is suspected that he may be seeking refuge among the druids. A reward of 200 minas is offered to anyone who apprehends Rainier Ouvrier and delivers him ALIVE to the Holy Order of Saint Jude, at the Holy See beside Whitespire, Aaun. Be warned, Rainier is a skilled combatant and may resist capture. Let it be known that aiding and abetting Rainier Ouvrier in evading justice is a breach in canon law, under BOOK VI. The Purifying Function of the Church, TITLE II, The Topics of Canon Law, CHAPTER 3. Crimes Against The Ecclesiastical Authority. A person who obstructs the justice of the Church has committed a crime. In the pursuit of righteousness, Holy Ser Gerard, Grandmaster of the Holy Order of Saint Jude

Holy Ser Gerard reads over the bull. "Rainier, blood-brother," he sighs. "I do not know what is more vile... The fact that you slander the word de GOD, or that you break mon heart by making moi believe you are dead." He pauses, his voice heavy with emotion. "I now know that you perished during the war, and whoever you may claim to be now is but a shadow de what you once were. You have been EXCOMMUNICATED! Both mère and père would be ashamed to call you their son. As I am ashamed to call you mon frère." Gerard prepares his gear, his resolve firm. "GOD demands justice for your betrayal."

𝔇𝔞𝔯𝔨𝔫𝔢𝔰𝔰 𝔖𝔱𝔦𝔯𝔰 𝔄𝔪𝔬𝔫𝔤𝔰𝔱 𝔘𝔰 Date: 3rd of Snow's Maiden, 1970 To all who dwell in Canondom, Beware, for a shadow looms upon the horizon, threatening. the very fabric of our serene existence. It is with urgency that we must alert you to the presence of a malevolent force that has dared to defile our holy lands. Last saint's day, the Holy Order of Saint Jude was called upon by a concerned citizen, seeking aid in curing the sinister vampire known as Lancelot, of the Brotherhood of Saint Karl. Swiftly responding to this harrowing plea, the creature was brought to us and confined within the depths of our dungeon. Despite our efforts to cleanse his tainted essence, Lancelot's soul remained entrenched in darkness, resisting the purity of our cure. In the face of his defiance, we were compelled to resort to the purification by fire. Before the execution, Lancelot was offered one final chance to renounce his vile deeds and seek redemption. Yet he continued to yell blasphemous words, claiming that GOD was false. He has once more turned from the light of Salvation, and embraced the path of damnation. Thus, the pyre was kindled, and Lancelot was consigned to the cleansing flames. Let this serve as a warning to all who dwell within Canondom, the agents of Iblees lurk among us, seeking to corrupt and destroy all that is pure and holy. Remain vigilant, stand against the encroaching shadows. In unwavering determination, Holy Ser Gerard, Grandmaster of the Holy Order of Saint Jude

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔬𝔰 𝔞𝔱 𝔱𝔥𝔢 ℭ𝔞𝔯𝔫𝔦𝔳𝔞𝔩 Date: 12th of Malin's Welcome, 1970 To the flock of Canondom, It is with a heavy heart that I must report a tragic incident that occurred during the arrival of the carnival in Whitespire, Aaun. Amidst the festivities, chaos broke out when a rope snapped, leading to a performing artist falling from a great height. Investigation revealed that a hooded figure, identified as a "Follower of Chaos," was responsible for this dreadful act. Despite our efforts to reason with the individual, he persisted in spreading blasphemous rhetoric, claiming that our faith in GOD was false. He refused to remove his hood, citing religious reasons, and even attempted to strike me with a dagger when we insisted. However, divine intervention spared me, and he was quickly apprehended. Upon further interrogation, the cultist revealed ominous warnings about a "great beast" that threatens our existence. Despite our best efforts to extract more information, he resorted to self-mutilation by biting off his own tongue, rendering him incapable of speaking. In light of his irredeemable actions and the imminent danger he posed, John of Aaun decreed that the cultist was of no further use to us. Thus, he was swiftly brought to justice, and his remains were consigned to the purifying flames of a pyre, ensuring that he could no longer spread his vile influence. Let this be a stern warning to all those who harbor heathen thoughts and seek to sow seeds of doubt among the faithful. Know that the arm of GOD's justice shall reach even the darkest corners of heresy, and those who defy the sanctity of canon shall fat the righteous fury of GOD. Yours faithfully, Holy Ser Gerard, Grandmaster of the Holy Order of Saint Jude

"Brothers and sisters," Gerard's voice thundered, echoing through the halls of the keep, "the time has come to confront the darkness that has long shrouded our lands." He lifted his sword high, its blade gleaming in the flickering torchlight. "Let us join His Holiness in this righteous battle, for the glory de GOD! Deus Magnus!

Gerard's heart sank as he read the missive, learning of Duke Sterling's injury. He felt regret for not being there when it happened. Despite being stuck in a meeting, he knew he had to show his support. With a sense of Urgency, Gerard hurriedly put together a gift basket, filling it with items he hoped would provide some sort of comfort for Ser Sterling. He made sure to include thoughtful items such as healing ointments, nutritious snacks, and a handwritten note. Ser Sterling, I hope this message finds you well. Enclosed with this note is a gift basket I have prepared for you. I deeply regret not being able to join you on the patrol, but please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.

As Holy Ser Gerard read the missive, he'd sigh deeply, pondering why such disputes were even necessary. With a furrowed brow, he continued to hum a tune to himself.