HappyShackles

James Turnbull signs the charter!

"God may admonish the sinner, for these folk of Dunamis truly have committed grave crimes; but God forgives, and he loves all his children," A young priest acknowledges when he receives word of the Dunamisian conversion.

A failed soldier, Harek of Stafyr, examines the declaration with curiosity. "This is hardly a proper cassus belli. 'Insults to House Romstun'. The Empire is a symbol of man's unity, and will always change and shift with time. Separatists whom seek to undermine it will be incapable of changing it, only angering it. They may kill as many Orenians as they like, but the Empire is a single and unified body, who know each other as friends and allies. This 'crumbling state' has encountered stagnancy and difficulties, but nothing like the regimes prior. It has produced a centralized governance with strength in arms, and any battle with advanced notice in the field will show this. The separatists reasoning appears to be based purely on boredom, or perhaps lack of faith. If they wish to truly succeed, and see themselves succeed, then why not unite with Orenia once more, support the rule, and fight together with their human brethren. For the only failings of this regime are born of the disloyalty of it's once-denizens, those of Skravia, whom have chosen instead of aiding us in the expansion of what could be the greatest Empire since Siegmund, have opted to attempt dismantling it. Though it shall not be dismantled, and it shall not falter. A hopeless endeavor. There shall be no success in this 'Kingdom'. I beseech nothing of no one, but I beseech GOD, the almighty, to show unto these who have lost the light; man is strong together. Man is weak divided, and the institution of Oren is the only one capable of truly overseeing and uniting a human nation capable of becoming the power it once was."

A ghost says 'I told you so.'

((Only Orenian soldiers.

The First Imperial War Games By order of Harek Stafyr, Field Marshal of the Dunamisian Conflict, War Games are to be held to better prepare and organize the Orenian forces, as well as to display and honor each individual regiment and group's individual strengths. This shall be an opportunity for lords and commanders to reveal to their fellow Orenians the prowess of their soldiery. The War Games are not optional. Every single Lord of Orenia, from the lowest Baron to the most powerful Duke, are commanded to attend with the full force of their military. Commanders of Imperial army are expected to attend with the full force of their regiments and units. Additionally, soldiers who do fight for Oren without a unit or Lord, hedge knights and the like, are commanded to attend. They will be organized into temporary units for the sake of the War Games. The Wargames will involve the division of the forces into two large armies, with a mock siege and/or a mock field battle. 8 PM EST Saturday, the Seventeenth

Iosif wonders where Triumph went.

Article III is redacted.

The First Imperial Edict of Felsen I. On the Authority of the Metropolitan In order to act as the left hand of the Emperor, where the Grand Executor acts as his right hand, Iosif tau Roiye, tutor and friend to the Emperor himself in his youth, Bishop and Metropolitan of Felsen and the Crownlands, Pentarch of the Church of the Canon, is granted the Emperor’s seal and authority, overruled by the presence and word of the Grand Executor and the Emperor. He maintains his subservience to the Church of the Canon in all theological matters. II. On the Subject of the Inquisition The Inquisition, established by the Eighth Golden Bull of Dibley, shall be required to ascertain Imperial permission in order to act within the jurisdiction of the Empire regarding Nobility. They are by no means a law-enforcing body within the Empire, and are superseded by the Imperial Guard in matters of secular law enforcement. III. On Taxation IV. On Enemies of the State Henceforth, the Horde of Dunamis are declared Enemies of the State. It is the duty and the authority of every able-bodied man to arrest any man who wears their uniform or serves their purpose. This is not a declaration of discontent upon the Caliphate, whose Honorable Caliph has no obligation or desire to defend the group of bandits whose land is granted merely by virtue of rent in the form of coin and goods; not through the establishment of a Protectorate or Vassalage. Signed, John I Frederick of the House of Horen, by the Grace of GOD, Holy Orenian Emperor and rightful Emperor of Aeldin, forever August, King in Oren, of Savoy, Kaedrin, Haense and Salvus, Grand Duke of Kaedrin, Duke of the Crownlands, Levonia, Courland and Leone, Count of Felsen, Beauclair, Darfey and Dibley, Sovereign of Humanity and Protector of the Elves;

The Metropoption prays for the lost nun, in hopes the Auditor's punishment is somewhat merciful.

Father Iosif is happy for Uldar and the Dwed, and hopes soon to meet with him!

The Metropolitan redacts his statements shamefully, issuing an apology.

To His Holiness, the Vicar of GOD, Everard II I sincerely and deeply apologize for my subversive, impatient and destructive suggestions and behavior. While I do believe the Church has work to be done before it is to be at it's greatest strength, it is not my place to publicly denounce it's practices and present alternatives; it is yours. I will pray on this matter, in hopes that GOD, and yourself, may grant me forgiveness for my foolishness. ~ Iosif tau Roiye, Metropolitan and Bishop of Felsen and the Crownlands

Iosif smiles earnestly at the newly arrived letter, and pens yet another response. Heshakomeu Sohae, War Priest of Tahariae, I am ecstatic to have received such a heartfelt and remorseful letter. It was never, and will never be my intention to wish harm upon you and your ilk, for I know you to be good men and women who serve their Aengul with fervor and strength. I would be happy to invite you unto the Capital, so that we may discuss these matters in person. You may find me about the Palace or the Cathedral at any given time. Father Iosif tau Roiye, Bishop and Metropolitan of Felsen and the Crownlands

Father Iosif receives the Cleric's letter, and purses his lips, penning a short response, with no greeting or parting greeting attached. Yet still you speak ignorantly of what you do not understand, just as you claim we do. Your insults continue to mount, your ignorance is infinite. You say we are murderers. We act on the will of GOD, and not in many years since the fall of the Chivay Empire have we actively hunted Elves and the Faithless. Your hypocrisy is remarkable, when considering the Aengul you claim to revere above GOD himself commanded you to perform a mass killing as well. The reason and rational aside, murder for the sake of Faith should not be judged by double-standard. I am no fan of Holy Crusade, or of slaying heretics at will. However, I am indeed a fervent supporter of defeating and dismantling those institutions which would dare claim their superiority in the reception of visions by an Aengul. These visions, and the words of these Aenguls are mere partitions of GOD's will. Every good that the Aenguls have done has been the good of GOD, for he is their master. You presume that simply because you can not understand why GOD would pit these two Aenguls against each other, GOD must be false. GOD is unknowable, I can not claim to know his purpose in this instance, and neither can you. Your argument is mere folly. I apologize for the past years of Orenian oppression and murder. I am no fan of the methods of the Old Empire, where conversion by the sword was practiced in ignorance. The murderous methods of the leaders of our past have plagued us, and I condemn them for this. I do not believe they acted with GOD's will, but out of cruelty and politic, using the Faith as an excuse. This is your last opportunity to sincerely repent for your grave and blatant insults. I shall await your apology.

The Treaty of Erochland, 11th of Malin’s Welcome, 1527 By the virtue of GOD and John I, Holy Orenian Emperor, the heathen lands of Erochland, known as Aeroch’Nor, are to be annexed into the Holy Orenian Empire as a vassal-state. The terms of the annexation are as follows; The lands of Erochland are to be directly incorporated into the Holy Orenian Empire as a vassal state of the Empire. Constantine of Aegis is to be named Imperial Governor of Erochland, with absolute power and authority afforded by a Liege Lord of the Empire. Kyral Winterleaf shall be promised an administrative position within Erochland. The Holy Orenian Empire shall offer Erochland the same protections and rights it affords all of it’s loyal vassal states and protectorates. Signed, John I Frederick of the House of Horen, by the Grace of GOD, Holy Orenian Emperor and rightful Emperor of Aeldin, forever August, King in Oren, of Savoy, Kaedrin, Haense and Salvus, Grand Duke of Kaedrin, Duke of the Crownlands, Levonia, Courland and Leone, Count of Felsen, Beauclair, Darfey and Dibley, Sovereign of Humanity and Protector of the Elves; Kyral Winterleaf, Magnate of Aeroch’Nor, and her Councillors

The curse doesn't need to be changed, the racial description does. Emphasize spiritualism and shamanism, it's the most intricate and important part of orcish culture. It's the reason they are what they are. The "curses" are not followed by any of the races. Elves have children, some humans are immortal, dwarves aren't all inherently greedy. It's a player choice, the curses are arbitrary.

Upon receiving a copy of the Cleric's letter on his desk in the Imperial Palace in Felsen, Iosif purses his lips before smiling. An opportunity, he realized, had presented itself. He dips his feathered quill in his inkwell and begins to write. Dear Cleric, Heshakomeu Sohae I present unto you the truth of the matters which you have so deftly thrown about without a mention of GOD or His true will. I hope this Truth of the Canon may cure you of your ignorance. You proclaim the Church itself to be plagued with fallacy, a wretched and heretical proclamation. Regardless of what you believe or what you know, we are the Church of the Canon, the Ministry by which GOD exercises his will through the mortal men most Faithful and devoted. GOD is infinite, immortal, omnipotent and omniscient. No creature is beyond his absolute control and command. Each step we take is willed by GOD, each trial we undergo is willed by GOD, and each action the Aenguls and Daemons whom are his servants, is willed by GOD. Your proclamation is nothing but speculation and, as I said, heresy. All of what you say here may, or may not be true. I agree that the thesis you mention is presumptuous in regards to the goodness or falseness of your Order's mission in regards to recent events; if an Aengul truly commanded you, then GOD himself commanded the Aengul to do so, and so your mission is righteous. If GOD willed others to stop you, so he did. We can not presume to know the will of GOD in this instance, for he is unknowable, but I am of a belief these events were a trial by Him to test all of us in our Faith. You speak of Daemonkind as though they wield inherent blackness in their hearts. This is ignorance. A quote from the Scroll of Gospel. "And from His breath, GOD created His Immortals, the Aenguls and Daemons, and named them His servants and messengers. And He assigned to them their roles, and said that Aenguls shall rule all that is, and Daemons all that is not, and they resided in the planes below GOD, and no place was forbidden to them but the Void. And GOD saw that it was good." The Scroll, within written the word of GOD, speaks of no inherent evil or good within Aenguls or Daemons, for they are born with their charges. The Aenguls to rule all that is, and the Daemons to rule all that is not. Only Iblees has fallen from GOD's grace, as quoted here. "But among all the Daemons, the chiefest was Iblees, and he was very proud to reign over his kind. And he doubted GOD’s strength, for it was given to the Daemons to rule what was not, and Iblees was chief among Daemons, and he desired to rule without the Lord. So he descended the emanations of glory, and grew farther from GOD, until he reached the Void. And lo, he was cursed by its touch. And GOD was wroth." Furthermore, your ilk is well known to have many among it whom revere Tahariae in fashion similar to the worship of a deity. It is clear even in your letter, where you speak of Tahariae's light greeting us, when Tahariae's light is but a byproduct of GOD's himself. This 'Faith' in Tahariae is a farce, for he is born of GOD,, known as Yemekar by the Dwedmar and the Creator by many others. No Faith is supreme above the Canon Faith. I have studied the Holy Scrolls extensively. Have you? This is not relevant. The fate of the world and Oren is held in no palm but GOD's. We mortal men are all sinners, and purity is unattainable even by the most Exalted, the Prophets of Mankind. However, we know that through remorse, confession, and faith we may be absolved and ascend unto the Skies above and into GOD's glorious embrace. We shall choose no side in your conflict, diluted as you are for believing your patron deity to be any other than GOD himself. We shall take our side. We shall take the side of GOD. I await your apology for insulting the very core of Orenian culture and beliefs. ~ Father Iosif tau Roiye, Bishop and Metropolitan of Felsen and the Crownlands

Father Iosif offers a blessing for the damned man, in hopes God may show mercy in his eternity in the void.

The Treaty of Metz 15th of the Grand Harvest, 1526 Gereon Ashford de Savoie, Lord Regent of Oren, henceforth agrees to uphold the following conditions of the Treaty of Metz: The total end to the conflict between the Imperial forces and Savoyard partisans. The total surrender of the City of Felsen to the Holy Orenian Empire, along with the transfer of the title Crownlands officially to John, Holy Orenian Emperor. The recognition of John, Holy Orenian Emperor, as the one true Sovereign of Mankind, under whom all men are subject, and the recognition of the reformation of the Holy Orenian Empire and its government. The swearing of fealty of all Savoyard forces, leaders and holdings to John, Holy Orenian Emperor. John, Holy Orenian Emperor, henceforth agrees to uphold the following conditions of the Treaty of Metz: The total end to the conflict between the Imperial forces and Savoyard partisans. Lord Gereon Ashford de Savoie, brother of the late King Olivier Ashford de Savoie, is to be entitled with the Grand Principality of Savoy consisting roughly of the following territories, its official delineation to be determined by the Imperial Cartographic Services: The granting of amnesty in the form of an Imperial Pardon for all Savoyard partisans, including the cadet families of House Ashford de Savoie and House Ashford de Bar, fighting against John, Holy Orenian Emperor, and his claim to the throne. Signed, John I Frederick of the House of Horen, by the Grace of GOD, Holy Orenian Emperor and rightful Emperor of Aeldin, forever August, King in Oren, of Savoy, Kaedrin, Haense and Salvus, Grand Duke of Kaedrin, Duke of the Crownlands, Levonia, Courland and Leone, Count of Felsen, Beauclair, Darfey and Dibley, Sovereign of Humanity and Protector of the Elves; Gereon of the House Ashford de Savoie, Grand Prince of Savoy, Lord-Regent of Oren;

Bishop Iosif nods as he finishes reading the thesis. "A promising one indeed!"