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“The Reclaimer” A paragon is raised from the ranks of the ancestral spirits that have joined the ranks of the All Father. This ascension is then conferred unto the ranks of the clergy in the form of a series of vividly realistic visions concerning the feats and deeds of the risen ancestor. Each paragon serves as an aspect of a specific virtue prized by the Father in the pursuit of his great mission. Through heavy prayer and interpretation the High Keeper of the Red Faith has been delivered with the revelation of a new Paragon. Caedric Edvardsson Ruric Caedric Edvardsson Ruric inherited the Duchy of Morsgrad, a derelict and broken nation, purposefully descended from greatness by his grandfather King, turned Earl, Edvard II Edvardsson. All allies of the nation had been dissuaded, defeated or subjugated by the Holy Orenian Empire during the Rubern War and only recently had the Duchy of Morsgrad entered a regency, lead by Caedric’s uncle Chadmyr Edvardsson, after the passing of Duke Godric Edvardsson. The men of Norland all dead from the war or turned traitor to escape the horrible situation that befell the Duchy. It was when Caedric turned twenty and three in the year of 1761 FA that he would answer the calling to rule, begrudgingly at first. It was during his first few years as Duke of Morsgrad that Caedric would reinvigorate the population, appointing young and able councilors to aid him and even recommending that the, then novice, Keeper Alisa Camian, become High Keeper in place of the old and tired previous. Caedric’s most famous act would be his Declaration of Norlandic Pride in 1764 FA, which asserted his position as the King of Norland, and reformed the Duchy into a Kingdom. With this he would go on to order the reconstruction of the old city of Morsgrad, establish a high law in his Kingdom, and divided his government so as to more easily delegate authorities and duties unto his councilors and the Faith. Though not all Caedric had done was wise, as he can be remembered well as a very temperamental and brash man; “Wisdom is for my Councilors.” He was recalled telling a foreign dignitary. Caedric was a very adventurous King, when not on his throne and listening to his Councilors he was exploring the lands of Arcas, meeting men from Helena to Al-Faiz, he was always up to test his skills as a swordsman, archery, or horse riding. His exploits brought him fame and allies in the far reaches of the continent. Caedric reclaimed much in his time as King, but the most vital thing he had reclaimed was the inherent essential identity of the Norlandic people. Ascension Caedric Edvardsson Ruric is hereby ascended to the status of Paragon within the Red Faith, Caedric Edvardsson Ruric will from hereon be styled Caedric “The Reclaimer” Edvardsson Ruric, Paragon of Reformation, Patriotism, and Adventure, and his emblem will be a crowned ashwood flanked by a chain to the right and a northward arrow to the left.

Relegation of Fictitious Paragons Promulgation of Relegation It has plagued the faith of the All-Father for many generations on how to approach the paragons of old that have been proven to never have existed, yet created to fill a niche role to serve as an example to the faithful. Some have chosen to embrace them and their stories, some have chosen to tacitly tolerate them, so as to placate those who would raise issue with their demotion, and others have chosen to outright reject them, seeing these so called “Fake” paragons as a lie and a stain upon our faith. In accordance with the precedence set forth in this document, these paragons proven to never have existed in flesh are to be relegated to parabolic stories, so that the faithful can still yet benefit from their morals, yet know that they were never a part of our true history. The promulgation of this relegation is effective immediately from the day this document is released. On Parabolic Stories Parables are those stories which teach us our morals, stories and tales which illustrate the universal truths of our world. Our parables are to be used to educate ourselves and to help guide us on our treacherous paths of this world, through the lessons of these narratives we may find ourselves cannily prepared for the Father’s Judgment. The following characters have been relegated to parabolic stories either because they have been proven to have never existed in the flesh, they have been supplanted by another Paragon, or their actions while extraordinary or exceptional, are contrary to what the All-Father stands for: Gunthrum Hammer hand Astrid the Maiden Jeorg the Storm Rider Hjarn the Ox Arthas Ruric Aethelflaed the Weaver Aelfwynn the Fleet Snow the Flamesinger Beo the Betrayer Amice the Fool

“The Matriarch” A paragon is raised from the ranks of the ancestral spirits that have joined the ranks of the All Father. This ascension is then conferred unto the ranks of the clergy in the form of a series of vividly realistic visions concerning the feats and deeds of the risen ancestor. Each paragon serves as an aspect of a specific virtue prized by the Father in the pursuit of his great mission. Through heavy prayer and interpretation the High Keeper of the Red Faith has been delivered with the revelation of a new Paragon. Alisa Camian Alisa Camian was the most prolific High Keeper in the history of the Red Faith. Through sword, quill, and faith she has not only uplifted Norland, but significantly impacted the world. Among Alisa Camians many achievements some of the most well known are being the longest led High Keeper in the history of the Faith, reigning for over ninety years, authoring ‘The Red Faith: A Primer’ the most prolific book in the history of all time, as well as leading the world against the Inferi scourge in Arcas and directly assisting in the slaying of the aengul Gazardiel. Ascension and Supplantion Alisa Camian is hereby ascended to the status of Paragon within the Red Faith, supplanting Arthas as the Paragon of piety and assuming the roles previously held by Aethelflaed the weaver. Alisa Camian will from hereon be styled Alisa “The Matriarch” Camian, Paragon of Piety, Motherhood, and Family, and her emblem will be the flame upon the cover of a tome.

"Da, this is being very good." Grigori nods after reading the essay "This will be finding its place well in the libraries." he says sliding it into a shelf.

Clerical Ascension Adapted from the Alisan methods of clerical advancement Induction into the Red Clergy When inducting new initiates into the clergy, it is necessary to ensure the prospective initiate’s readiness for the position. This has, historically, been accomplished through a variety of methods. In the early days, there was little need for a priesthood, as those who joined the Faith were joining to fight with the Red Brothers in the All Father’s name. In other times, prospective initiates have been asked to put pen to paper and take oaths to prove their knowledge and piety. In more recent times, under High Keepers Tyr and Sølvi, the would-be initiates were put through a gauntlet that tested the depths of their dedication and commitment. These gauntlets included such things as brandings, bloodletting, and drowning; Ordeals that pushed the limits of mortal tolerance. Upon completion of the gauntlet, be it in the manner of Tyr or the manner of Arthas, the prospective would be granted the rank of Initiate, at which point they would embark upon the path to becoming a fully-ordained Keeper. Our faith is our history, therefore our methods of induction into the faith should reflect our past. In the modern era, the methods of induction into the faith are a combination of the methods employed by High Keeper Arthas, High Keeper Alisa, and High Keeper Tyr. Aspirations of Faith Those dedicated to taking the first steps of clerical ascension are dubbed Aspirants, and while they have no Clerical powers within the Red Faith, are expected to teach themselves the Red Faith and the histories of Norland through whatever means they have available until a senior member of the clergy chooses to take them on as a student apprentice, immediately granting them the rank of Initiate within the Red Faith, where their true path of Ascension within the red clergy will begin. Expectations of Initiation Initiates of the Red Faith are expected to train with a senior member of the clergy to generally learn the Red Faith and the histories of Norland, however there are certain aspects of the faith that must be fully understood by any prospective Initiate before they can ascend further in the red clergy, once an Initiate has proven their ability to recite these facts, and has served the faith as an initiate for at least three years, the Initiate shall undergo three gauntlets to prove the prospective’s ability to serve the faith, through both knowledge and dedication. Those truths which must be known before an Initiate may begin their gauntlets are such: All of the Paragons of the Red Faith, their virtues, and their stories The parable of Beo the Betrayer The Popular Heresies of the Red Faith The Three Tenets handed down from the All-Father The story of the descension of the All-Father The history of Norland, with focus on the following events: The founding of Norland The tragedy of Seahelm The Kraggen Isles The Highland realm and the Reformation The Inferi war and the Destruction of Arcas The Svarlandic sack of Varhelm Once proven their ability to recite these truths properly an Initiate must undergo each of the following three gauntlets: Gauntlet of Mind The Gauntlet of Mind is both the most important and least complex of the three gauntlets. Designed to test and prove the initiate’s understanding of the Faith as well as his piety, it will consist of three proofs; proof of knowledge, proof of understanding, and proof of piety. This will be a matter of simple determination on the part of the senior clergy member. When a prospective initiate shows through written word, all three of these traits, a senior clergy member may make the determination that the initiate has shown his proof. Gauntlet of Flame The Gauntlet of the Flame is designed to test the initiate’s strength of will and dedication to their faith. Completion of this gauntlet reveals the endurance of the initiate’s spirit. By proving their soul’s endurance, the initiate shows that he is dedicated enough to face the Abyss, unafraid of what lies within. Upon choosing this gauntlet, the prospective initiate shall be given the following options: - Marking: Whether by branding, tattooing, scarring, or a combination thereof, the initiate shall be marked with the symbol of his Paragon, along with the text of a prayer of their choice. - Drowning: The initiate shall, at the supervising Keeper’s discretion, have their head submerged in either bull’s blood or water, and will be held there until they fall unconscious. Should they awaken after being pulled out, the gauntlet will be considered complete. - Ritual of Fire: A small, wooden stage shall be erected around a stone center, and a fire lit below it. The initiate will perform a ritual prayer from atop the platform as it burns. The initiate may not descend from the platform until the ritual has finished, otherwise the gauntlet will be considered a failure and may not be attempted in this way again. The objective of this trial is not to burn the initiate alive, but rather to test his willpower; his willingness to remain composed in even the most trying situation. Gauntlet of Steel The Gauntlet of Steel is a test of the initiate’s physical strength. Our culture, our history, is built on the strength of warriors. The earliest members of our faith, the Red Brothers, were warriors through and through. The strength of a warrior is, and will always be, among the most admirable of mortal traits. By proving his mettle and skill at arms, the initiate shows his readiness to stand against the agents of the Long Dark. To complete this gauntlet, two trials must be completed: - Trial of Beasts: The initiate shall first be tasked with hunting a particular beast of the supervising Keeper’s choosing. The beast of choice should be a predator, but not one so dangerous as to make the trial impossible to complete. Upon completion of the hunt, the initiate will make an offering of the beast’s remains. This trial will ensure the initiate’s ability to stand against feral beasts. - Trial of Men: For this trial, the initiate shall prove his mettle in three rounds of combat. The first round will consist of the initiate facing his opponent unarmored and armed with only wooden rods. Both contenders in this round may be initiates, if two initiates are present. The second round will consist of a similar fight, with the changes of leather armor being permitted along with wooden training weapons. The final round shall consist of the initiate facing an opponent chosen by the supervising Keeper. All armor is permitted, and all fighters may use the weapon of their choice. Intentional killing will be prohibited in all rounds. All rounds will continue until the initiate either claims victory or can no longer stand. This trial will serve as proof of the initiate’s ability to stand against the mortal, intelligent enemies of the faith. On Further Clerical Ascension Once the Gauntlets of Initiation have been completed, the Initiate becomes a Hearth Brother/Sister, and their path to becoming a fully ordained Keeper is nearly complete. To once again ascend to the final common rank of Keeper the aspiring Hearth Brother/Sister must hold the rank of Hearth Brother/Sister for at minimum five years and prove their understanding of The Norlandic law codes, the Red Law, and the Codes of honor to the high Keeper. Once the Hearth Brother/Sister has proven their understanding and ability and their fitness for the role of Keeper, they shall then be tasked with the creation of their Flamebrand. Then, once the Flamebrand has been crafted and the time is deemed right, the Lighting Ceremony shall be held, wherein the Flamebrand is lit from flames of the Hearthfire. Following this ceremony, the Hearth Brother/Sister will become a fully-fledged Keeper.

Name: Grigori Ruslanovych. Age: yes. Gender: He/Him. Race: Human Lakian. Interested in: Woman, but no goats. I am interested in being scehmed on? (yes or no) 100% yes.

Grigori shudders at the sight of the goat

Grigori prepares to perform the Lakian hop and squat at another southern shindig.

"This is being a folly for sure." Grigori says curling his lips "They've been being given all they are being asking for and make of complain for things they have niet been demanded of, but are offering of their own will." He says spitting on the ground "Let this lord of lies be telling what he wants, the world will be seeing him for what he is being, a consort of wytches and dark magics who makes of placing his own greed above the protection of his people, niet a leader, but a puppet of the Long Dark." Grigori then for the first time in decades, dons armor "Yesterday, Grigori was teacher, mentor, and friend." He calls out "Today, Grigori is being soldier, warrior, and if All-Father is wishing." Grigori takes in a deep inhale, closing his eyes before releasing, resolving his faith and courage "Martyr."