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Pureimp10

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  1. CHANCELLOR’S REPORT: A FAREWELL ADDRESS “I would have perished had I not persisted” Issued by the LORD PALATINE On this 11th day of Joma & Umund of 522 E.S. VA BIRODEO HERZENAV AG EDLERVIK, Blessed be Godan now and forever, Amen. As I write this, my heart is heavy with both gratitude and reflection. I have had the honor of serving as Patriarch of Jorenus for 36 years, guiding souls and nurturing the faith in our Kongzem. For 11 years, I have been entrusted with the noble responsibility of leading His Majesty’s government as Lord Palatine. During one of this Kongzem’s most trying times in recent history, I had the solemn duty of commanding the Northern Thunder artillery brigade in the Covenant War. I was appointed to this office during the Covenant War, a time etched in my memory with the ink of sacrifice and valor. I recall to this day the thunderous roar of my cannons, the steadfast resolve of every soldier under my command, the discipline with which we thrashed the Veletzer cannon corps, and the fraternity shared by men of different creeds. It was a chapter of our history filled with hardship, but I look back with fondness to the unwavering spirit and resilience of the Haeseni people, and with gratitude to those who stood alongside me in those days. In times of uncertainty and pain, it is our faith that sustains us and grants us the strength to continue onward. Though the challenges may be many and our opponents fierce, let us not falter in our devotion to the teachings of the Exalted Sigismund, whose wisdom lights our path during even the darkest of times. As Cardinal Villorik likes to say, may the Light preserve and prevail. The future is unknown to all but Godan, yet I believe wholly that our Kongzem stands poised to face whatever challenges fate will throw at it. With King Aleksandr’s passing, the time has come to pass the torch to the next generation of leaders, both in matters of the spirit and matters of the flesh. As I bid farewell, I do so with deep gratitude for having had the privilege of serving Godan and His people. I pray that our paths will cross again, in this life or the next. With fullness of heart and clarity of mind, I tender my resignation as Lord Palatine of Hanseti-Ruska and as Patriarch of Jorenus. May the blessings of the Exalted be upon us all. IV JOVEO MAAN, His Excellency, Josef, Lord Palatine of Hanseti-Ruska and Patriarch of Jorenus
  2. Josef picks up his copy of the Winburgh Proclamation. 'V.III. The city of Winburgh shall be peacefully evacuated over the course of two years with Covenant oversight, then demolished, and replaced with a monument to wars past and present for the peace and commemoration of all mankind. V.IV. The ‘Winburgh Memorial’ shall be claimed by no nation.' "Huh, that's crazy," He comments as he sets it back down.
  3. Josef picks up the paper and reads. 'Haenseti' Josef puts down the paper.
  4. Patriarch Josef watched as oxen began to drag his artillery from their entrenchment outside of Aldersberg, humming a little tune as word of peace reached the lines.
  5. Patriarch Josef makes a plan to do something cool in front of the singers so that he gets a song written about him.
  6. Patriarch Josef inspected a fresh batch of cannons as they were delivered from the gunsmith. "These better not have been a waste of money."
  7. THE SALVO AT DRUSCO Patriarch Josef closed his eyes. With his vision dark, his mind receded into a void where his other senses were muted. In that void, far from the chaos of war, there was calm. He was only vaguely aware of the vibrations of the earth beneath him as his thoughts rang out across the emptiness of that void, concise and clear. He inhaled through his nose, oblivious to the acrid stench of smoke and sulfur. Instead, that breath was like a cool wind. Just a moment. He only needed a moment of that void to settle his mind, and steel his resolve. Slowly, the darkness paled as he began to open his eyes, and reality flooded back into being around him like being plunged into ice water. “CANNON FOUR IS HIT!” “ADJUST TWO DEGREES FOR THE TOWER!” “DIRECT STRIKE ON THE ENEMY EASTERNMOST CANNON!” Josef could only make out the loudest shouts in the ceaseless tide of noise. All around him, men and women yelled with hoarse voices during the momentary lapses when the cannons did not sing and fire their projectiles in smoky plumes. Bowstrings creaked and fletchling whistled as archers fired and the mages of Hokhmat launched their arcane spells from the Covenant encampment, which faced across a valley towards the clifftop keep of Drusco. “INCOMI -” That roar was cut short as a Veletzian cannonball slammed into the hillside, spraying smoke, dirt, shrapnel, and the blood of the fallen Covenant cannoneers. Josef felt something wet - mud, he naively hoped - splash onto his voice as the plugs in his ears quivered from the vibration, but he forced himself not to look at the struck cannon crew. He could not afford to. As panicked cries briefly swept the Covenant bunker at the sight of their fellow siege engineers' grizzly fate, Josef raised a mailed hand. “ALL EYES FORWARD.” His own gaze was firmly narrowed on the smokestacks rising from Drusco, across the valley. “UNTIL DRUSCO HAS FALLEN, THIS SALVO DOES NOT END.” “ALL EYES FORWARD!” echoed the shout of Deia from his own cannon crew some dozen feet away from Josef. Wiping soot from his face, he rammed his ladle into the barrel to set the gunpowder charge. With clenched jaws and steely eyes, the rest of his crew followed suit, and so did the rest of the bunker. And the salvo resumed. Josef was not sure how long it went on like that as he stood observing the enemy cannons, ordering readjustments of the bombardment when necessary, and watching holes pock the Drusco cliffside, and the keep itself peeling apart. Soon. The time will be soon. The hours passed like minutes, and the minutes like hours. Two more of his cannon crews perished; one from another direct shot, and the other from a landslide caused by a Veletzian shot lower down the hill. Wylein Alpyne had worked with the dwarves of Urguan and the mages of Hokhmat to construct their cannon bunkers into the mountain itself, but even mountains have their limits, and their bunkers had taken a beating in the ongoing artillery duel. Despite that, Josef’s resolve was stronger than the splintering stones of Drusco. He had been raised in the clergy as a teacher and scholar of the Scrolls, but now here he stood as commander of the Covenant’s artillery banner -- Northern Thunder, which had been the lynchpin in the Covenant’s victories at Breakwater, Brasca, and Stassion. He had read and preached all of his life of God’s infinite power, but never had that power been more apparent to him in that moment as blow after blow of cannonfire gradually reduced another stronghold of the Anathema to rubble. And then, finally, the time came. “Patriarch,” called out Viktor var Ruthern at Josef’s side, with binoculars pressed to his eyes. “The last round has opened up a breach into the main keep, right behind the curtain wall!” Josef raised his own binoculars, and saw as much for himself. Though the air was hazed with smoke and loose dirt, he could see the gaping hole in the castle’s curtain wall, and a breach some twenty-feet wide in the keep beyond. It’s time. One last time, he closed his eyes, and drew strength from that void of calm. There would not be another opportunity after this. His eyes snapped open, and he raised his hand. “SIR GAREN! SIGNAL KING ALEKSANDR AND THE MITHRIL BANNER! THE TIME IS NOW!” “YES, PATRIARCH!” Garen Baruch hollered back as, from atop the hill, there came a heavy flap of canvas as he brandished a flag of pure yellow cloth. “NORTHERN THUNDER, CEASE FIRE!” As the cannons halted, the silence that followed was almost unsettling. It did not, however, last long; for while the salvo subsided, it was replaced by a deep rumble that rose up from lower down the hill. It was not the rumble of artillery, nor crumbling stone; instead, it was a rumbling of soldiers. Josef watched as - on the road below the artillery - banners appeared above a charging cavalcade. Columns of horsemen galloped astride a knot of infantry, their cloaks and tabards and shields sporting the colours of all the nations of the Covenant. Under the grey-orange of Urguan, Grand King Sigrun led the riders through the shallow of the river and up the hill beneath the ruined bridge as the Covenant’s infantry - the Mithril Banner - charged in the horse’s dust-trails, with King Aleksandr of Haense at their helm. Through smoke streaked faces, the cannoneers before Josef watched their comrades charge beneath them in awe, though no doubt their broad grins came from the relief that they had once again bested their foes in a duel of artillery. Josef, though, afforded them no time to rest. “NORTHERN THUNDER! WE TRADE OUR CANNONS FOR OUR SPEARS, AND WE FOLLOW SUIT!” The leather of his gloves creaked as he raised his own polearm skywards. “WE HAVE CARVED OUR SCULPTURE; NOW, LET US PAINT IT RED!” From the cannon bunkers, the Northern Thunder banner advanced in the wake of the main army, their own standards thrust stirring proudly in the smoke-choked wind. Beneath the destroyed bridge they waded, and up the trodden hills they trekked, and they crossed the corpses that the Mithril Banner had left strewn on the main road. By the time they reached the top of the adjacent cliff, where a ceaseless din of voices and clanging steel marked the fighting, Josef was well out of breath, but far from out of spirit. The standards of the Northern Thunder joined the tide of Covenant attackers as their formations bit and bit again into the outnumbered Veletzian defenders among the rubble of Drusco, just as the cannons of Northern Thunder had bit and bit again at the keep to create that rubble. Josef lost himself in a different type of void in that melee -- in a timeless blur of instinct and chaos, he fought. He was barely aware of which foes his spear skewered - be they Orc or Veletzian - except for a Dark Elf officer who wore Ferryman colours. When it was all finally done - when Drusco was reduced to the same pile of smoke-charred stones as Breakwater, Brasca, and Stassion - Josef half-collapsed onto a fallen roofbeam with heaving breaths. The cry of victory still echoed in the air as bands of roving Covenant soldiers scoured the conquered fort, searching for surviving enemies or plunder, but the exhausted Patriarch paid no further heed to any of it. His job was done. Closing his eyes, he sought that void of calm again, and numbened his senses to soothe his thrumming heart and scratching lungs. He found solace in the idea that he would find peace by bringing peace to the Heartlands through war, and that his cannons could achieve what his croziers could not. As the chants of triumph continued to resonate throughout Drusco’s shattered hall, the Patriarch smiled softly. They had, after all, promised to bring their peace.
  8. Patriarch Josef readies the cannons (and fills his canteen with vodka).
  9. [!] A missive would be found nailed beside all copies of the original post. WRIT OF SUMMONS To the officers and leaders of the Sacred Guard, You are hereby summoned for a meeting with His Excellency Josef, Lord Palatine of Hanseti-Ruska and Patriarch of Jorenus. IV JOVEO MAAN, His Excellency, Josef, Lord Palatine of Hanseti-Ruska, Patriarch of Jorenus
  10. Patriarch Josef washed the soot and ash from his face with the water in his canteen. The fight had been long and hard, but his cannons had done their job. Once clean, he took to the most important room in all the castle to claim his reward - the kitchen.
  11. "Suppose I'll have to pack only the essentials." Palatine Josef zipped up his bag (filled with wine, steak, seasonings, pots, pans, vegetables, and pastries) and tossed it over his shoulder as he began the march.
  12. Palatine Josef, the Bovine Reaper, sat talking to businessmen fresh from his victory at Hippo's Gorge. "No no listen to me, we buy the land and let other people make the restaurant on it. They just have to sell our beef. I think I'll call it.... 'Josef in the Box'."
  13. WRIT OF AULIC APPOINTMENT LORD PALATINE OF THE REALM KRUSAE ZWY KONGZEM Issued by the CROWN On this 18th day of Wzuvar ag Byvca of 511 E.S. VA BIRODEO HERZENAV AG EDLERVIK, Following ten years of loyal service as Lord Palatine, Viscount Walter Weiss has notified Us of his intent to resign his office and to focus on his family and the ongoing war effort against Veletz. We thank the Viscount for his years of service to Us and his devotion to the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, and wish him well with his future endeavours. May all Haeseni strive to serve their Kingdom as he has. With the Office of Lord Palatine vacant, We find it necessary and prudent to appoint a new Lord Palatine to continue the work of overseeing Our government and assisting Us in realising the prosperous future that We envision for this Kingdom. To that end, We appoint Josef Patriarch Jorenus (@Pureimp10) to the position of Lord Palatine and bestow him with the Golden Bulava to wield the authority of that office. We have great confidence in his ability and look forward to seeing what he shall accomplish. The ‘Veinir Bulava’, known in common as the ‘Bestowing of the Bulava’, was held following the decisive victory at the Battle of Crimson Banks. IV JOVEO MAAN, His Royal Majesty, Aleksander II, by the Grace of Godan, King of Hanseti and Ruska, Grand Hetman of the Army, Hochmeister of the Order of the Crow, Prince of Bihar, Dules, Lahy, Muldav, Solvesborg, Slesvik and Ulgaard, Duke of Carnatia and Vanaheim, Margrave of Korstadt, Rothswald and Vasiland, Count of Alban, Siegrad, Werdenburg, Alimar, Baranya, Graiswald, Karikhov, Karovia, Kaunas, Kavat, Kovachgrad, Kvasz, Markev, Nenzing, Torun, Toruv, Valdev, and Werdenburg, Viscount of Varna, Baron of Esenstadt, Kraken’s Watch, Kralta, Krepost, Lorentz, Rytsburg, Buck, and Astfield, Lord of the Westfolk, Protector and Lord of the Highlanders, etcetera
  14. "I wonder how much room they have left on that yacht?" asks Patriarch Josef
  15. Patriarch Josef cries as he hands over his emerald rings to the ammosmith.
  16. Credit to @MadOnefor the picture "Make sure you're getting this light." Patriarch Josef posed with his spyglass for his battlefield portraitist, admiring the work of his trebuchet and cannon teams.
  17. ON THE JORENIC RITE OF SIGMUNDIC CANONISM Issued by His Eminence, Patriarch Josef of Jorenus CONTENT Introduction Exalted Sigismund The Seven Skies, the Archaenguls, and Jorenic Astrology Yna, the First Sky Byzenbor, the Second Sky Akerlaniya, the Third Sky Gyambor, the Fourth Sky Vizima, the Fifth Sky Oryniya, the Sixth Sky Godanistiya, the Seventh Sky The Name ‘Godan’ Jorenic Beliefs and Traditions On the Shedding of Blood On Crows On Total Submersion in Water On Pilgrimages On the Color Black On Archaengul Tetel On Bells The Sacraments Ablution Matrimony Consecration Ordination Confession The Blessings and Gifts of Godan The Cross of Husariya The Five Golden Days (Holidays) Hierarchy within the Rite INTRODUCTION The Jorenic Rite is the set of rituals, liturgy, dogma, and Canonist doctrines and traditions developed in Haense following its ascension to a kingdom in 131 E.S.. Its name is derived from Saint Joren, son of Horen the first man and father of all Highlanders, who formed the northern highlander Kingdom of Edel found in the Scroll of Gospel. The rite itself was blessed by High Pontiffs Sixtus V and Sixtus VI and developed by Patriarch Josef of Jorenus in 502 E.S., with the assistance of Bishop Stanislaw of Westerwald and Bishop Amleth van der Grendok of Andrikev. The first sect of Canonism practiced primarily by the Raevir people was the Ruskan Orthodoxy. It was cultivated by Saint Bogdan the Pigeon (Exalted Sigismund’s famous travelling companion on his pilgrimage to find the Godani Scrolls) and was indoctrinated as a righteous sect in 26 A.E.S., soon expanding beyond the Raevirs to the Orenian West and becoming prominent among much of the Orenian nobility of the time. Within Ruskan Orthodoxy itself grew the Lendian Rite. Created by and named after Bionn Lendus, a famous holyman and knight during the Northern Crusades of the 700s A.E.S., the rite grew slowly in popularity among followers of Ruskan Orthodoxy before achieving its peak followership at the time of the Franciscan Massacre of 9 E.S. In the years following the massacre, the rite was diminished in favor of the more common Danielian Rite and was later labeled a heresy by Saint High Pontiff James II for its belief in the Ioranija, the Fifth Prophet. The Jorenic Rite as written today is an amalgamation of both of these past sects, combining Ruskan Orthodox doctrines and accepted Lendian beliefs with Haeseni traditions cultivated over the near 400 years of the highlander kingdom’s existence. Much like how the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska stands as the kingdom of all highlanders, the Jorenic Rite serves as a Canonist rite for all highlanders, capturing those core beliefs and values held in high esteem by all highlander peoples and pairing them with the rich history and traditions of their ancestors. Exalted Sigismund Sigismund, Prophet and Emperor Sigismund, the fourth and final prophet of Canonism, was born into minor nobility as the son of Duke Boris Carrion. His early childhood was spent as a ward to Count August Blackmont, whose armies would assist Sigismund in retaking his homeland of Raev after his family’s massacre at the hands of Nzech knights. Now a baron within the Holy Orenian Empire, Sigismund remained a loyal vassal to the Blackmonts and played a vital role in the Blackmont victory of their war against the Teutonic Order. Soon after the war’s conclusion, Sigismund and Saint Bogdan ‘the Pigeon’ traveled to the far north of Anthos, seeking out the Ivalyos in order to retrieve the ‘Godani Scrolls’ (a copy of the Holy Scrolls translated to Classical Raev) and bring them to Kralta. It was on this trek that Sigismund washed himself in the holy waters of Gamesh upon a glacier and was called to prophecy by Godan. After his ablution, Sigismund and Bogdan sought out and returned the Godani Scrolls as they had set out. Upon the completion of their trek, Sigismund returned to a broken world of dwarven hegemony and humanity fractured across many kingdoms. One by one, and with the help of his loyal retainers, Sigismund was able to unite the human kingdoms under his Imperial crown, thereby breaking the overlordship of the dwarves and returning humanity to its premier place in the world. At the end of his reign, as he lay on his deathbed, Sigismund received the Scroll of Auspice which foretold the end of times and his soul ascended to the Sixth Sky as he became Exalted. Many Jorenic practices take inspiration from Sigismund’s life, such as pilgrimages and ablution in springs of water. Jorenic believers are also reverent to crows, which were the animal of Sigismund’s House Carrion and considered the eyes of Godan in Old Raev. It is believed that having a crow’s favor is symbolic of having Sigismund’s favor, with the Exalted acting as a personal interceder for one’s prayers and requests. The Seven Skies As in mainstream Canonist theology, followers of the Jorenic Rite believe in the existence of Seven Skies, with each being the holy realm of a set demographic of descendants. It is very common for souls to move from sky to sky as their status changes. A member of the laity dwelling in the Second Sky could soon find themselves in the Fourth Sky if they are beatified by the Church following their death. However, this migration is rare and does not happen to most souls. Each of the Seven Skies are protected by an aengulic guardian class known as the Seven Archaenguls. These aenguls command a host of aengudaemons which safeguard entry into the celestial planes. The temperaments of each aengul correlates to one of the seven elements of the known world. Furthermore, each of the Seven Skies is said to be viewable from the earth in the form of ethereal constellations, of which there are seven in total. Being born during a month where the constellation is at its height in the night sky is of great importance to the Jorenic Rite. The names of these constellations are maintained in the traditional astrological practices of the Highlander peoples. Seal of the First Sky The First Sky | Yna Guardian of the Sky - Archaengul Aerial Element - Air Constellation - The Queen (Morrighein) The First Sky, known as Yna, is the Holy Realm of the Virtuous. Yna is home to non-believers, both human and non-human, that lived virtuous lives and obeyed the commandments from the Scroll of Virtue without accepting Godan as their Lord. This sky is also home to those who never received the chance to convert to Canonism, but still obeyed the Virtue and acted morally throughout their lives. Seal of the Second Sky The Second Sky | Byzenbor Guardian of the Sky - Archaengul Tesion Element - Earth Constellation - The Wyrm (Garundorech) The Second Sky, known as Byzenbor, is the Holy Realm of the Virtuous. Housed in this realm are those Canonists who accepted the word of Godan and were baptized into the Church, but did not spread the word. This includes most members of the laity, from poor farmer to rich king. Laypeople who did not join the clergy but still spread the word of Godan and shared the Virtue do not rest here, but instead belong in the Third Sky. Seal of the Third Sky The Third Sky | Akerlaniya Guardian of the Sky - Razael Element - Water Constellation - The Wopperklaw (Koltain) The Third Sky, known as Akerlaniya, is the Holy Realm of the Priesthood. This sky is home to all members of the clergy, including priests, monks, nuns, and deacons. Also housed in this sky are those laypeople who did not join the clergy but spread the word of Godan. This includes crusaders or holy warriors, charitable noblemen, pious believers, and missionaries, all of whom contributed to the spread of Canonism and conversion of non-believers in their own way. Seal of the Fourth Sky The Fourth Sky | Gyambor Guardian of the Sky - Artifai Element - Fire Constellation - The Giant (Osbjor) The Fourth Sky, known as Gyambor, is the Holy Realm of the Blessed. This sky is reserved exclusively for those men and women who obeyed the Virtue to a notable degree and were rewarded with beatification for their deeds. There are none who die and are immediately brought to this sky. Instead, they are moved from the lower skies following their deaths if they are beatified and made Blessed by the Church. Seal of the Fifth Sky The Fifth Sky | Vizima Guardian of the Sky - Eshtael Element - Metal Constellation - The Drake (Frysklund) The Fifth Sky, known as Vizima, is the Holy Realm of the Saints. This sky is reserved only to those who have been canonized by the Church and are regarded as Saints by Canonists. Again, much like the Fourth Sky, there are none who die and are immediately placed within this sky. Instead, all who dwell in Vizima must first pass through Gyambor, the Fourth Sky, and later ascend to this one. Seal of the Sixth Sky The Sixth Sky | Oryniya Guardian of the Sky - Tetel Element - Levin Constellation - The Crow (Gorm) The Sixth Sky, known as Oryniya, is the Holy Realm of the Prophets. This sky, along with the Seventh, is one that has already been closed and holds those it was meant to host for eternity. Reserved solely for the four Exalted: Horen, Owyn, Godfrey, and Sigismund, as well as their wives, this realm is home to those blessed few who were honored by Godan and received one of the four Holy Scrolls of Canonism. Seal of the Seventh Sky The Seventh Sky | Godanistiya Guardian of the Sky - Malchadiel Element - Arcane Constellation - The Moon The Seventh Sky, known as Godanistiya, is the Holy Realm of Godan. The Holiest of Holies, this sky serves as the throne of Godan from which He rules over all His creation. Only the Exalted Horen was blessed to enter this sky, to witness Godan’s plan at the beginning of time. Never again shall any descendent break the seal of Godanistiya and look upon the throne of the Creator. The Name ‘Godan’ Throughout the history of mankind, many terms have been used for the Creator. Men of the heartlands often refer to Him as ‘God’ and ‘Lord’, while the ancient Raevir called Him ‘Godanistan’. Followers of the Jorenic Rite call him ‘Godan’, with the term originating from the original Raevir term for the Creator, which itself originated from the name for the Seventh Sky ‘Godanistiya’. The use of the term ‘Godan’ allows believers to feel connected to the God of their highlander ancestors and to the Raevir heritage of Exalted Sigismund, further enshrining the Jorenic Rite as the Rite for all Highlanders. Jorenic Beliefs and Traditions There are many beliefs and traditions held by Jorenic followers and clergy that set them apart from the main Canonist body and followers of the Danielian Rite. They are as follows: On the Shedding of Blood Jorenic Canonists believe that the Great Silence was caused by the shedding of Harren’s blood (Scroll of Gospel 4:41-62). For this reason, Jorenic clergy are not permitted to carry sharp-edged weaponry on their persons, and may only use blunt weapons for the purposes of self-defense and the defense of their flock. Acceptable weapons include maces, bulavas, warhammers, morningstars, etc. On Crows Since the time of the Carrion hegemony, the crow has come to be a symbol of all Raevir people, and now of all Haeseni people. With the importance of the crow in Raevir and Haeseni culture, and with the golden crow being the sigil of the Haeseni royal house of Barbanov, Jorenic Canonists hold these animals in high reverence. It is not uncommon to see Jorenic Canonists place offerings out before battle or after a confession. Should a crow come and accept the offering, it is viewed as a sign of Sigismund’s favor and personal intercession on your behalf to Godan. On Total Submersion in Water In the common Danielian Rite, baptisms and other ceremonies involving water usually only involve a quick wash of the head. In the Jorenic Rite, believers totally submerge themselves within a pool of water including during baptismal services. This serves to emulate the Exalted Sigismund’s bath in the waters of Gamesh upon a glacier while on his winter trek. For this purpose, Jorenic nobles and landowners will construct springs and grottos to be blessed and serve as pseudo-waters of Gamesh. On Pilgrimages It was on his winter trek that the Exalted Sigismund was bathed in the waters of Gamesh and received his call to prophethood. In order to feel closer to the Exalted and to emulate his closeness to Godan, Jorenic Canonists will often embark on pilgrimages to various holy sites around the Patriarchate. A common destination of these pilgrimages are the various grottos and holy springs scattered around Jorenus, as well as nearby mountain ranges. On the Color Black Through the events of his life, the Exalted Sigismund proved himself to be the prince in black prophesied in the Scroll of Gospel (Gospel 7:42). For this reason, Jorenic clergy put special importance on the color black, switching out colorful robes and vestments for simple black clothes, or having their beads and crosses painted black. The Hussariyan cross which hangs in the seat of the Patriarchate shall also be constructed of blackstone. On Archaengul Tetel The Archaengul Tetel, guardian of the Sixth Sky, was the aengul which granted the laurels of prophethood to Exalted Sigismund during his pilgrimage. Great importance is placed on this aengul specifically within the Jorenic Rite, and the divine agent is commonly featured in the symbols and iconography of the north. Specifically, the famous symbol of ‘Lady Haense’ is said to be a personification of this aengudaemon as protector of the Realm of All Highlanders. Tetel is also considered the defender and custodian of the Jorenic Rite itself, given the apt title: ‘Guardian of the Jorenic Rite and All of Edel.’ On Bells Bells were a rare thing in the days of Old Ruska. Though bronze was a common metal in those days, the tin needed to craft bell metal was difficult to acquire, which made it expensive. As most strelts lived in poor farming villages, the only churches with bells were often found inside large rich towns, such as Dules or Lahy. Given how rarely these bells would’ve been heard, and only during royal coronations or weddings, many poor Ruskan Orthodox believers often equated the ringing bells with the voice of Godan granting His blessing. Though bells are more commonplace this custom has survived in the Jorenic Rite, with bells rung during particularly special ceremonies and still used to symbolize the voice of Godan. The Sacraments Followers of the Jorenic Rite receive the same sacraments as followers of the common Danielian Rite, though there are differences within the specific ceremonies themselves. These sacraments are, Ablution Ablution within the Jorenic Rite is how new believers are inducted into the Church and join in the covenant of Horen and Godan. Unlike the Danielian Rite, which typically performs baptisms within a baptismal font, Jorenic baptisms make use of springs or pools of water, whether man-made or natural. This is to emulate Sigismund’s ablution within the waters of Gamesh while on his pilgrimage to seek out the Godani scrolls, which granted him the horn and laurel (Scroll of Gospel 7:46). Matrimony Matrimony unites a man and a woman together in a lifelong partnership. No longer are they two independent persons, but rather united by Godan into one. One significant break from matrimony in the common rite is the importance of the marital cloak and blade. The union of man and woman is shown by the exchange of rings in mainstream Canonism, but followers of the Jorenic Rite show their commitment to their spouse through the exchange of the marital cloak and the marital blade. One of the spouses (typically the husband, though this can also be the wife in matrilineal marriages) wraps their partner in a red cloak, symbolizing their promise to protect their spouse. The other spouse then presents their partner with a blade, symbolizing that they shall be partners for life and will face life’s challenges together. The opulence of these offerings varies depending on the couple’s social status. Those who are higher in status will typically give richer cloaks and longer, more ornate blades and swords, while those in lower classes will give thinner plain cloaks and small daggers and knives. Consecration Consecration dedicates a place, relic, or person to Godan’s name. This includes newly constructed water springs to be blessed for use in ablution as well as new churches and chapels. Relics may also be consecrated, especially when they are found to be related to a saintly miracle. The consecration of men occurs when one decides to live a monastic life as a monk. Their lives become totally consecrated to Godan, though they are not ordained and cannot perform sacraments. Ordination Ordination welcomes a person into the ranks of the Church and grants them the ability to perform Godan’s sacraments. Any who wish to be a priest must be ordained first. Within the Jorenic Rite, acolytes must first complete a pilgrimage in which they transport a copy of the Godani Scrolls to and from the tallest mountain within the borders of the Patriarchate. This is to emulate Sigismund’s pilgrimage to return the Godani Scrolls from the Ivalyos and the transformation of his destiny from mortal ruler to prophet of Godan. Confession Confession offers Godan’s mercy to a person who admits their sins to an ordained clergyman. In taking responsibility for their actions before Godan, the penitent recognizes the harm they have done and seeks to play some role in its repair. The sacrament is performed in private as in the common Danielian Rite, though its prayers and assigned penances are usually more reverent to the experiences of the Exalted Sigismund. Followers of the Jorenic Rite will also lay out offerings of bird seed and other foods to crows after their confession. If a crow accepts the offering and eats, it is taken to mean Sigismund has interceded to Godan for one’s forgiveness The Blessings and Gifts of Godan By establishing a covenant with Horen and Man, Godan granted His chosen people a collection of freely given blessings, ones that were withheld from their lesser descendants. These blessings include the following: Eldazoge | Self-Determination, or Blessing of the Freedom of Mind Eldkanyos | Self-Reliance, or Blessing of the Courage of Mind Eldraastey | Self-Assurance, or Blessing of the Endurance of Mind Borsaski | Fraternity, or Blessing of the Community of Mind Wielka | Faith, or Blessing of the Hope of Mind The Four Virtues lead to the five Gifts of Godan, which are, Laska | Clemency, or the Denial of Krug’s Wroth Mylokeo | Chastity, or the Denial of Malin’s Lust Povteji | Poverty, or the Denial of Urguan’s Greed Vulkyus | Humility, or the Denial of Harren’s Pride Mauley | Loyalty, or the Denial of Iblees’ Ambition The Cross of Hussariya The Cross of Hussariya with the initials of the Four Exalted in old Ruskan script The Cross of Hussariya, frequently employed as a symbol of traditional Ruskan Orthodoxy, bears three bars rather than the conventional two of the Lotharingen cross. The uppermost bar represents the Seven Skies, deliberately rendered smaller to emphasize the purity and exclusivity of those admitted to this realm. The central bar, the largest of the three, symbolizes the mortal plane, while the concluding bar, smaller and slanted, serves to signify the desolate Oblivion. This cross is used primarily as a symbol of faith, although the Lotharingen double-barred cross remains prominently displayed in most churches. The history of this cross can be traced back to the early years of the Northern Crusades in the 800s AES (approximately the 600s in the common calendar). It was introduced by Vekarimir Husariya and became a symbol utilized by the initial converts to creatorism, following the gradual transition of the highlander people from paganism. The Five Golden Days (Holidays) Of all liturgical celebrations and feasts within the rite, none are as important as the Five Golden Days. These five form the basis for all other Jorenic religious holidays and festivals and are days of obligation for all Jorenic believers. They are, JULIYEAFEST, the Feast Day of St. Julia and the Fifty Virgins or Day of Holy Love Juliyeafest is traditionally observed as a Canonist fertility festival, or the ‘festival of love’ in more recent years. Marriages and proposals are a frequent occurrence throughout the holiday and the days adjacent. It is customary for a male to bestow upon a female companion a crown of lilies, or the Liliekongis, as a symbol of his romantic devotion. Others may anticipate the gift of the Verevka Belt, a sash woven of ivy and twine that has been consecrated by a priest to seek the hand of their beloved in holy matrimony. RORTDEY, the Feast day of St. Amyas, Red Day, or Day of the Red Sticks Rortdey is the celebration of the coming of spring, and rejoices in the honor of Saint Amyas, the Patron Saint of medicine, healing, botany, and wild herbs. This festival is steeped in the belief that the arrival of spring serves as a divine metaphor for Godan’s healing touch of the winter’s blight, akin to the healing that St. Amyas performed in life. It is traditional to light five candles as the night comes, of which four belong to each prophet, and the fifth to Godan. JROTHIK, the Feast day of St. Joren and St. Tara Jrothik is the commemoration of the tragic fall of Hanseh, the capital of Saint Joren’s realm, in which Saint Tara fled with her court to the banks of an icy river whereupon she settled and named Jroth. Saint Tara and her courtiers then sought the bounties of the earth to hold a feast in honor of the fallen. It is this feast of mirth during the Age of Silence that many still continue to celebrate on Jrothik. JAKKO, the Feast Day of St. Tobias the Pure or St Tuv’s Day Jakko is the celebration of the winter solstice, where many gather in the heart of their village square for a feast and a theatrical performance by the youth. Traditionally, the holiday was a solemn affair, though it has since been imbued with traditions from the heartlander Saint Tobias’ Day, which includes the practices of gift-giving and selfless acts. WIELKEY SIGMUNDI, the Day of Accession or Sigismund’s Day Wiekley Sigmundi is dedicated to the ascent of Exalted Sigismund, one of the revered patrons of Haense, and many spend the eve with their kin or most cherished. On this day, it is traditional for those of the Karovic lineage to feast in the halls of the current Karovic Patriarch. Common foods observed during this feast include veal, iskov, and restineol. Hierarchy within the Rite As with other legitimate rites within the Canonist Church, the Jorenic Rite recognizes the High Pontiff as the Vicar of God and leader of the Canonist faith. That said, followers of the Jorenic Rite also recognize the Patriarch of Jorenus as the leader of their rite and their direct spiritual head. The Patriarchs themselves are chosen by the Pontiff and are answerable to the High Pontiff. Beneath the Patriarch are the body of priests, acolytes, and bishops collectively known as the Kleur, whose structure is as following: Akolyta | The Acolytes of the Faith The lowest rank within the Church, Akolyta are those unconsecrated young men and women who have made the decision to devote their lives to Godan. While in this phase, they shall learn about the faith and the Church itself, understanding its dogmas and principles as well as the responsibilities of ordained clergy. When their studies come to a close, they shall have the opportunity to test their knowledge with the Prelate of the Priesthood of the Church. Should they pass their test, they will be ordained and fully welcomed as a Kaplan. Kaplan | The Priests of the Faith The first consecrated rank in the Church, Kaplans make up the majority of the Kleur. Similar to priests in the Danielian Rite, kaplans are responsible for providing services and sacraments to those under their care. Typically, a kaplan is assigned to a specific parish within a diocese to administer to the people there. That said, these assignments are not restrictive, and kaplans may travel and work freely throughout the Patriarchate. Unlike priests in the Danielian Rite, Jorenic kaplans are required at all times to carry with them a blunt weapon to use in defense of themselves and their parishioners. Jorenic priests believe that the offensive shedding of blood is a great sin, as Owyn’s shedding of Harren’s blood led to a thousand years of Godan’s Silence (Scroll of Gospel 4:41-62), and so are not permitted to carry or use sharp weapons. Episkopas | The Bishops of the Faith Ranking above the kaplans and below the Patriarch, Episkopas are those clergy recommended by the Patriarch and appointed by the Pontiff to serve as the bishop of a diocese within Jorenus. They serve as advisors to the Patriarch, assisting them in the administration of the Patriarchate and managing the affairs of their assigned dioceses. Their responsibilities as such include the recruitment and maintenance of the kaplans under their authority and the promotion of the faith through sacraments and service. Patriyark | The Patriarch of the Faith The highest position attainable in Jorenus, the Patriarch serves as head of the Jorenic Rite and representative of the Pontiff to Jorenic believers. They are responsible for the maintenance and promotion of the Jorenic Rite throughout the Patriarchate, and often collaborate with local nobles and royal officials to achieve this. Though appointed by the Pontiff and therefore answerable only to him, the Patriarch is almost always a former bishop who has served in Jorenus. This is done so the Patriarch may better manage the unique blend of highlander traditions encapsulated within the Jorenic Rite, though this is dependent on the views of the reigning Pontiff.
  18. Patriarch Josef sat in the tavern with a bottle of mead as he recalled the events of the previous day to his few listeners. "No no, I mean it, His Holiness was right there, shouting down those terrorists! You should've seen it; I've never felt prouder to be a Canonist."
  19. Patriarch Josef, single and handsome, sends a letter to the former Queen offering one-on-one counseling.
  20. SIGMUND: VE ULTENPROFYET SIGISMUND: THE FINAL EXALTED Emperor Sigismund Carrion, the Final Exalted 68 A.E.S. - 0 E.S. | 1379 - 1447 Authored by Patriarch Josef of Jorenus PREFACE Josef, Patriarch of Jorenus I have served as Patriarch of Jorenus for close to fourteen years now and, over the years, I have prayed many times to the Exalted Sigismund for guidance and wisdom. Despite my tendency to call upon Sigismund for his intercession and blessing, it occurred to me that if I do not know many details about the life of this Prophet, then neither would my flock or those under my spiritual care. This accounting of the events of Sigismund’s life has been compiled from official documents dated to his reign as Emperor and from written accounts of companions of the Exalted. It is my hope that during the 500th anniversary of Sigismund’s revelation, my Haeseni flock will finally come to know the Prophet from whom their Kings descend, whose tomb lies within their Everardian Basilica, and whose intercession makes their prayers come true. Exalted Sigismund, pray for us. THE BEGINNING A scene from the Raev-Nzech war, c. 47 A.E.S. _______________ The once-glorious Raevir people have witnessed their prosperity crumble, decimated by the Undead in the wake of Aegis's collapse. The once-thriving Duchy of Raev now stands as little more than a shantytown, its former grandeur obliterated along with the rest of the continent. It is within this grim backdrop that Sigismund is born, the third child and second son of Duke Boris Carrion of Raev. A rather insignificant Duke, Boris was notorious for his opportunistic social behavior and frequent infidelity, often straying from his marriage to Lady Julia Towers, naturalborn daughter of King Aislin Hightower. This reputation garnered him no respect, and his noble status found acknowledgment among only a select few beyond the confines of the Duchy. As a second son, and therefore the “spare”, Sigismund was treated with little respect by his father and little still to look forward to in life. In an attempt by Duke Boris to curry favor with the Renatian nobility, he would send the young Sigismund to ward under Count Augustus Blackmont. This was seen as a disgrace, as Count Blackmont held a reputation throughout the human realms as a street urchin and a bandit (owed to his origins as a Flay) while Sigismund, despite being a second son of the Duke of a ruined duchy, could still claim a historical pedigree to great men of the past. Sigismund made the best of the situation he was in, taking part of the Wars of Conquest against the Kingdom of Seventis as a man-at-arms under Count Blackmont and Baron Divinius von Xiphias. The war has Sigismund prove his skill at fighting, though the young man remained a recluse and was often noted as seeming uncomfortable in the war camps. Despite his discomfort as a ward for Blackmont, his absence from his home had saved his life. Nzech knights, a pagan noble clan from Old Ruska that had converted to Canonism and served the Carrions as men-at-arms, had risen up against their Carrion lords and slain most of the house, including Sigismund’s older brother and sister. With his father and brother dead, the responsibility to deliver justice to the Nzech fell upon Sigismund’s shoulders. Close comrades of his note that Sigismund was particularly conflicted during this time. In addition to losing a majority of his family, he had come to despise the game of politics that the nobility played, and so considered for a time the possibility of resigning his responsibility and serving as a man-at-arms for the rest of his days. This inner turmoil would soon dissipate when his bastard brother Diedrik Barrow, who had survived the initial massacre, brought to him news that his nephew, his beloved sister Ipera’s son Heinrik van Roy, had not been killed during the uprising and was instead held as a captive for ransom. With a newfound determination, Sigismund pleaded with Augustus for soldiers to avenge his house and reclaim his lost estates; a plea that would be answered and granted under the condition that Sigismund swear fealty to Blackmont once the war was over. To swear fealty would be to forfeit his Duchy and become a Baron under the Holy Orenian Empire, but Sigismund had no choice other than to agree to the terms. With the armies of Blackmont and von Xiphias behind him, and his bastard uncle Hogmund Barrow to command the Raev militia, Sigismund wages a guerilla war against the Nzech usurpers of Raev. The war saw few major confrontations, though these were not avoidable over the course of the conflict, and was resolved primarily through minor skirmishes and ambushes. Just before the conclusion of the war, Hogmund Barrow learned of the deal Sigismund made for the soldiers they fought with, a price that Sigismund had managed to keep secret for fear of alienating the militiamen. Soon after this revelation, Hogmund would be mortally wounded by an arrow during the Skirmish of Vsetsk near the village of the same name. As he died, the Barrow would curse Sigismund for beginning the war that cost him his life and for betraying Raev to the Blackmonts. Though he was not close with his uncle, the bitterness of Barrow’s dying words struck deep with Sigismund, and this is said to be the origin of the grim and melancholic temperament that would come to define him throughout his life. With the war over, Sigismund returned his Renatian soldiers to their lords and, in accordance with the deal he had made prior to the war, forfeited his title as Duke of Raev and became a Baron under Count Blackmont and Holy Orenian Emperor Godfrey. Though a relatively minor accomplishment compared to all that Sigismund would eventually accomplish, the Nzech war had burned in him a hatred for knights and bastards; the former he saw as hypocrites who broke their own sworn values, the latter for reminding him of his uncle’s curse as well as his father’s licentious ways. CRUCIBLE OF WAR A Raevir Warband returns with Teutonic prisoners from the Battle of Crowfield, c. 37 A.E.S. _______________ As a Baron of the Holy Orenian Empire, Sigismund embarked with his fellow Imperials to the Island of Kalos after the destruction of Asulon. During his brief time on Kalos, Sigismund crossed paths with several notable companions, including Toveah Goldman (who later became Saint Tobias of Sarkoz), Baron Adrian Sarkozy, and Orlik, his half-orc retainer who would create the renowned Carrion Black brew. It was also on Kalos that Sigismund lost his eye when Count Blackmont punished him for public drunkenness by stabbing it out. (Author’s note: This severed eye has since become a relic of legend, rumored to grant clairvoyance to its owner.) After several months on Kalos, the Empire and Sigismund set sail once more, discovering the continent of Anthos. This would become Sigismund's lifelong home and the stage for his legendary achievements, which would forever alter the fate of mankind. Shortly after landing, Sigismund encountered two more of his father's illegitimate children: Vladimir Barrow, an intelligence officer for the Teutonic Order and whose records on the war against Setherin in the north would later be used to defeat the Daemon, and Heinrach von Stahl, who was a well renowned warrior of the time and would become one of Sigismund’s greatest generals. Together with his companions, Sigismund would establish the city of Kralta and the fortress of Krelmstad as his noble holdings. Controversially, both of these were built on lands claimed de jure by the Teutons, though Sigismund himself was a vassal of House Blackmont. Despite the ongoing tensions with the Teutons, Sigismund’s attention would soon be captured by Lorin Chivay, the niece of the famous Brothers Chivay and the betrothed of Count Blackmont. The risk involved was great, but so enamored was Sigismund by Lorin that the two began an affair and conceived a child out of wedlock to be raised in Kaedrin in secret. This bastard, Saint Tuvya ‘Rosebud’, would go on to be Holy Orenian Emperor and is a direct ancestor of the Barbanov line. After their affair, Lorin Chivay married Count Blackmont and secured an alliance between Chivay and Flay. Believing himself strong enough now to fight the Teutonic Order, Count Blackmont declared war and began what historians have dubbed “The Blackmont War against Hansetian Tyranny”, pitting the Flays of Blackmont, the White Rose of Chivay, and the Strelts of Carrion against the coalition of Teutons, House Hightower, and House Green. With the war in full swing, Sigismund found himself close to the frontlines and in the thick of the fighting, with Teutonic raids going as deep into Blackmont territory as Kralta, though these raids were minor and mainly meant to disrupt supply lines. In an effort to hasten the war's conclusion as a Blackmont victory, Count Augustus ordered his coalition army to march along the Bub River and advance into Teuton lands. Their force, however, was intercepted by an approaching Teutonic army, resulting in the Battle of Crowfield in 1410, where Sigismund commanded his personal force of 20,000 soldiers to defeat and pursue the fleeing Teutons and their allies. Sigismund’s role in the victory at Crowfield made him a primary target for the Teutons, with Hochmeister Mirtok DeNurem charging his brother Lion DeNurem with incapacitating or killing him. The plot came to a head with an attempted assassination in the streets of the city of Abresi, where Sigismund was inflicted with a near mortal wound. It is claimed that only through the holy magic of High Pontiff Pius I did Sigismund survive. This encounter, from the assassination, to the holy magic that saved his life, would be the spark to set Sigismund on a path of piety and religious grandeur. After recovering from the attempt on his life, Sigismund rejoined his army at the Dreadfort: the true target of the Hochmeister. The army that had been bested at Crowfield had been a distraction, meant to mask the real army’s march to the Dreadfort. Only through luck did the Blackmont coalition discover this true target; personal correspondence had been found on the corpse of a Teutonic officer describing his whereabouts and his role in the Teutonic strategy to his mistress. The army had then turned around and marched with haste to garrison the Dreadfort before it was surrounded and besieged, though they would not have to wait for long. The Siege of the Dreadfort began in early 1412 and was the defining battle of the entire war. Hochmeister Mirtok, who had previously led the Teutons through the war, had disappeared to the north to combat the threat of Setherin, leaving Jonathan Black to take up the mantle of Hochmeister. Though the new Hochmeister had served for many years, he lacked the finesse and attention to detail of DeNurem. Lacking the patience to continue the siege and starve out of the garrison of the Dreadfort, Hochmeister Black began an artillery barrage to destroy the walls of the fort and create a breach through which the Teutons could assault the fort. The Hochmeister’s attack, however, would be his undoing. The artillery barrage and the destruction it wrought revealed a newly created sally port, discovered by Thomas Denims, a ward of Sigismund’s. After relaying this information to Peter Chivay, who then ordered a total charge through the sally port, Sigismund joined his men in the final push and the Blackmont coalition would go on to rout the besieging Teutons. Despite being a great victory for the Blackmont coalition, it was pyrrhic for both sides. His failed command cost Hochmeister Black his title, and with no suitable successor for the Teutonic Order, Emperor Horen V disbanded it. Count Blackmont, victorious in war and with all the glory that comes from it, succumbed to old age just days after the siege. With the leaders of both factions dead or discredited, Emperor Horen ended the war in favor of the Blackmonts and promoted Sigismund from Baron to Marquis. Now with his focus on peacetime development, Sigismund married Helaine Sarkozy, with whom he would have his legitimate children. A SHIFTING WORLD A lone Raev rider inspects a memorial stone erected following the Exodus, c. 27 A.E.S. _______________ A newly appointed Marquis, Sigismund sheathed his sword to dedicate himself to building his home. He focused on strengthening Kralta, steadily enhancing its prosperity and House Carrion's power. However, he found no satisfaction in his accomplishments. Instead he is drawn to Godan, and receives what he described as a religious calling compelling him to leave home and journey north in search of the Godani Scrolls. Much of the information regarding this pilgrimage comes from the notes of Sigismund's sole traveling companion, Saint Bogdan the Pigeon. Their mission, as Sigismund's calling had dictated, was to locate the Ivalyos, a splinter group of the Burgundian Cossacks known for preserving the Holy Scrolls in both Flexio (a language readable only by the Horens) and Classical Raev (a language known to Sigismund and his family). Sigismund's task was to retrieve the scrolls in Raev, known as the Godani Scrolls, and bring them back to Kralta. The journey was arduous per Saint Bogdan’s notes, with the pair travelling through horrible snow and sleet, fighting illness and hunger and wild animals, traversing thick forests, and climbing the Greywynn mountains. It would be atop these mountains that Sigismund would again receive a calling from Godan, this time asking him to submerge himself into the ice springs at the top of the mountains. It is said that this submersion was Sigismund’s official call to prophecy; with the Creator revealing this destiny to Sigismund directly. Sigismund and Bogdan soon found the Ivalyos and returned to Kralta with the Godani Scrolls. The world they returned to, however, was not the one they had left. Emperor Horen V and his court had exiled themselves to the lands of Aeldin, leaving the Empire in turmoil. To survive, the Empire was forced to release many of its vassal kingdoms. Emperor William, who succeeded Horen V after exile, had been convinced by his court that the Raevir people were inherently evil. He attempted to bestow Carrion lands upon House Green. High Pontiff Owyn I, a distant relative of Sigismund and the King of Savoy, challenged this order and brought House Carrion under his vassalage. Shortly thereafter, the Dwarven Grand Kingdom of Urguan seized the opportunity presented by the chaos among humanity and vassalized many kingdoms, including Savoy. Enraged by the Dwarven dominance, Sigismund conspired with the High Pontiff to free humanity from Dwarven rule and reunite the kingdoms under one banner. As the closest kin to Owyn, he became the crown prince of Savoy and used his newfound prestige to command the Kingdom of Galahar to join Savoy. He also granted land to the House of Ruthern, earning him the title of the Prince in Black mentioned in the Canon. With Galahar under his rule, Savoy grew in strength to rival the other human kingdoms. As Sigismund continued to improve Savoy’s standing in the world, Owyn abdicated the kingdom to Sigismund. He rebranded the Kingdom of Savoy into the Kingdom of Ruska, representing the now resurgent Raevir people who had made it their home. As King, Sigismund welcomed his sons to his court, including his bastard son Tuvya, who formed a close friendship with Sigismund's first legitimate heir, Ostromir. Other notable figures in his court at this time included his son Fyodor (the progenitor of the Basrid line), Franz-Joseph (the infamous King of Oren killed by the Decterum in his own throne room), and his daughter Milena. Ostromir and Tuv earned great renown during this period, honing their skills against the neighboring Adunian kingdom, which had been placed there by the Dwarves during the Exodus. After a series of minor raids and with Emperor William refusing to assist Adunia, Sigismund successfully incorporated Kaedrin into his territories. Only Salvus and the fledgling Empire remained independent, with Salvus later pledging allegiance to Sigismund. Emperor William, abandoned by his allies and isolated in his struggle, attempted to invoke Horenic divinity to excommunicate Owyn. This endeavor failed, and William was compelled to abdicate to Silus Horen, an ally of the Carrions. Silus, in turn, abdicated to Ostromir, who swore loyalty to Sigismund and, in doing so, reestablished a united Empire. EXALTED EMPEROR A sketch of the Exalted Sigismund as he received the Scroll of Auspice, c. 0 E.S. _______________ Now Emperor, Sigismund faced his first domestic crisis when the nobles of Renatus rose up against Ostromir. In response, Ostromir and his brother Tuvya initiated a purge of the excess nobility in Renatus. Their purge particularly targeted nobles with elven or Adunian ancestry or those with family ties to past rebellions. Consequently, all nobles in Imperial society were now of primary human lineage for the first time in human history. After quelling the rebellion, Sigismund set out to re-establish the Imperial capital and ordered the reconstruction of Abresi, which eventually grew into the largest city on the continent. To enhance House Carrion's power, he entrusted prestigious roles to his many sons and allies. His nephew, Heinrik van Roy, was tasked with preparing for the war against Setherin in the north, following the demise of Heinrach von Stahl a few months earlier. Sigismund's illegitimate son, Tuvya, was appointed as Imperial Chancellor for his administrative skills. After High Pontiff Owyn's passing, Sigismund's son, Franz-Joseph, succeeded him as High Ecclesiarch. Former Emperor William, once an adversary of Sigismund, now served as his spymaster and confidante, a role that would prove invaluable to the Exalted. As an elderly man, with the day-to-day functions of the Empire managed competently by his sons and councilors, Sigismund shifted his focus to deciphering the mysteries of the Godani Scrolls. Unfortunately, as he began his meditation, exiled nobles, led by Huron Silverblade and Slade Tarus, joined forces with the Grand Kingdom of Urguan and claimant Sophia Horen. They launched a naval invasion on Shadowcastle, then the seat of House Stafyr in the south. Amid the chaos, Tuvya disappeared in the Kaedreni wilderness, Ostromir was suspected of being assassinated, Fyodor departed to Ba’as, Milena left the Orenian court to travel the continent, and Franz-Joseph nearly caused the Stafyrs to defect by having them punished for a religious offense. The Imperial apparatus constructed by Sigismund faltered, and he found himself with Heinrik, his nephew, as the sole support to defeat this claimant coalition. Donning his armor and the famous Boyar’s Cap, Sigismund led his forces in one final battle. Assisted by a young band of Rovins (who would later become the Order of Saint Lucien), the orcs, the Strelt armies of the Carrions, and various other loyal noble houses, Sigismund repelled the Dwarven-Silverblade invasion. It is worth noting that during the battle, an Aengul in the form of a tortoise was seen flying during and after the battle, providing inspiration and Divine blessing to the Orenians. Although the invasion was thwarted, Sigismund was left without any of his family except Heinrik, for whom he amended his will to ensure Heinrik would inherit the throne after him. In this will, Sigismund declared that the Empire should be dissolved, with only a chosen Divinity deemed suitable to bear the title of Emperor. His final days were devoted to religious study while Heinrik ruled in his stead. The young van Roy continued to confront the dwarves for their aggression, simultaneously contending with the threat of Setherin in the north. It was in Sigismund’s final moments that he was raised to the status of an Exalted. In great old age, he received the Scroll of Auspice from Godan and transcribed it perfectly in Flexio, despite never having learned the language. He passed away immediately after completing the scroll, having seen the face of Godan and the binding of time. His funeral was held in the former lands of House Green, where a pilgrimage site was erected by his eldest son Tuvya (who re-emerged after the Battle of Shadowcastle) and his brother Diedrik. Both were legitimized in Sigismund's will, indicating the Exalted had overcome his earlier mistrust of bastards. Heinrik inherited the throne after Sigismund as the King of Oren and dissolved the Empire as per Sigismund's will. Many years later, Sigismund’s descendant, High Pontiff Daniel I, completed the adaptation of the Holy Scrolls from Flexio to Raev to Common using Sigismund’s Godani Scrolls and the Scroll of Auspice he had received. Sigismund's legacy has endured to this day, with his descendants through Tuvya being the Barbanovs, who lay claim to their royal lineage through their connection to the Exalted. When we consider Sigismund as a man, he can be characterized as the last of the true Raevir Boyars: pious, stern, somber, distant from his family yet beloved by his people, and unwavering in his pursuit of prosperity and piety. The author firmly believes that the Raevir people and their descendants, particularly the Haeseni, owe a great deal to Exalted Sigismund. Though many have tried to wipe the Exalted from our faith and our history, through conflicts like the Schism War, our ancestors stood their ground and defended their heritage and their Exalted from any who challenged them. Therefore, it remains our responsibility to continue their defense and ensure that the memory of the Exalted lives on eternally, and that his contributions to Humanity and our faith are never forgotten or diminished.
  21. “How could Haense do this?” asked the Patriarch
  22. If you wish hard enough then maybe we could have both, we need more good things on this server
  23. Patriarch Josef writes a quick note, "Do not anger Aleksandra of Vidaus."
  24. Patriarch Josef looks at the long list of notable figures killed by members of House Ruthern since their inception, highlighting the ones that were Rutherns themselves. He puts away an almost entirely yellow paper.
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