Nectorist

4th of Sun’s Smile, 655 A.A BULLETIN OF THE CRUSADER ARMY: Heed the Lord, sons and daughters of the Light, The tendrils of evil have wrapped about the south, where the old-lands of the dwarves, removed of their scourge, haplessly fall victim to the encroach of the wicked, united under the profanity of our Temple: the so-called ‘Black Church’. At a dark spire well beneath the Kingdom of Virtue, they dance with sin and dine with monstrosity, for their hearts are pledged to the devils that imbue them with awful power. No power may be so great as that of the Lord, but the trickeries and parlor magics of the wicked hold within them the capability of havoc. Chaos alone cannot forestall the inevitable and unceasing march of His Army, but it may fell scores of those willing to pledge their lives to His Purpose. The march south, wherein we shall find the wicked, must not be expected to be one without risk. The poor conditions of the roads, which were ill-maintained during the years of war against the dwarves and orcs, cannot support the full breadth of the army alone. It is for this reason that we have divided our armies into three prongs, though our intention is to converge upon the Black Church. While this army is made of a disparate and diverse peoples, from the Adunians of the west, to the elves of the east, to the Hearthmen of the north, to the marchers of the south, we are a people of many traditions, some thought incompatible with others. It would be of great surprise were our mission to not encounter the frays that the quilt of coalition brings, even though our crusade is a righteous one. However, we have fought together before and shall fight again. The danger posed by the adherents of Iblees is beyond a mere threat to our collective stability or even our frail lives. As has been our mission from the beginning, the great Aengul Tahariay finds himself under assault from those directed by the Ill-Doer. It is our purpose, be we Faithful or mere dedicated of the Living, to aid his oblates and thus restore his place beneath the feet of the Lord. It is under these conditions that we march south, so that we may strike at the heart of the pestilence that seeks to eradicate the good of this world and the beauty of the Lord’s creation. We pray for the souls of the brave and righteous who join me in this crusade. We eagerly await Our reunion with Our allies, encamped beneath the walls of the Black Church. HIS HOLINESS, CAIUS II High Priest of the Temple of the True Faith, Successor of Clement and Evaristus, High Pontiff of the Church of True Faith, Servant of the Servants of Heaven, Servant of the Holy Flame, Apostle of Saint Lucien, Envoy of Aeldin, High Servant to the Prophet’s Testaments, Humble Servant of the Faithful and Vicar of GOD

14th of Sun’s Smile, 655 A.A HIS HOLINESS, CAIUS II High Priest of the Temple of the True Faith, Successor of Clement and Evaristus, High Pontiff of the Church of True Faith, Servant of the Servants of Heaven, Servant of the Holy Flame, Apostle of Saint Lucien, Envoy of Aeldin, High Servant to the Prophet’s Testaments, Humble Servant of the Faithful and Vicar of GOD ┏━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┓ SECTION I - Opening Prayer SECTION II - Diocesan Restructuring SECTION III - Appointments to the College SECTION IV - Curial Appointments SECTION V - On the Removal of the Excommunication of Heinrik Sarkozic SECTION VI - On the Faiths of the Automatons SECTION VII - On Ecumenical Council SECTION VIII - On the Holy See SECTION IX - On the Compilation of a Register of Ordainment SECTION X - On the Lives of the Saints SECTION XI - Beatifications SECTION XII - Venerations SECTION XIII - Canonizations ┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛ SECTION I - Opening Prayer Steward of our Souls, beneath your stave we present ourselves to You, humbled before the Awesome Power and Everflowing Grace which draws from Your being. As we gather beneath Your Cross, intent on bringing Virtue to the lands of the dark, we ask that You strengthen our blades and hearts with the former, so that Your Justice may be exacted upon those who shirk from it. Guide the many, even those unknowing, who raise their hands to exalt the image of Goodness which You have given to us so that we may revel in Your Majesty. Amen. SECTION II - Diocesan Restructuring It is through Our Apostolic Right, bestowed unto Us through the Laurel derived from the Exalted that We thus appoint the following members of the priesthood to shepherd and be pastor of the Church’s Dioceses: THE DIOCESE OF ST THOMAS OF GAEKRIN, to be shepherded by His Eminence, Lothaire Cardinal Montcollier THE MAGISTRY OF ARTIFAI, to be shepherded by His Eminence, Iudas Cardinal Numenost THE DIOCESE OF OLTREMONT, to be shepherded by Her Eminence, Solene Cardinal Burgundia THE DIOCESE OF DU LOC, to be shepherded by His Eminence, Enrique Cardinal Du Loc THE DIOCESE OF MALINOR, to be shepherded by His Eminence, Nerium Cardinal Idunia THE DIOCESE OF HOLM, to be shepherded by His Eminence, Florian Cardinal Belcrest Additionally, each Bishop shall be permitted to appoint three Vicars, to aid in the oversight and leadership of the diocese. The Vicariates are as named: Vicariate of Virtue - To see to the conduct of the diocesan flock, ensuring their well-becoming conduct and rebuking those who willingly invite sin. Vicariate of Theology - To cultivate literacy within the diocese, sponsoring the publication of theses and other scholarly works, public sessions wherein questions regarding the Faith may be answered, and debate societies to promote higher thought in all matters. Vicariate of Peace - To assist in managing the relationship between the diocese and the secular authorities within it, typically by attending local courts, aiding the population in mundane tasks, and assisting in regional festivities. SECTION III - Appointments to the College It is through Our Apostolic Right, bestowed unto Us through the Laurel derived from the Exalted that We proclaim the restoration of the College of Cardinals, to resume the responsibilities of electing a new High Priest upon the death or resignation of the incumbent. IUDAS CARDINAL NUMENOST Magistry of Artifai SOLENE CARDINAL BURGUNDIA Diocese of Oltremont ENRIQUE CARDINAL DU LOC Diocese of Du Loc NERIUM CARDINAL IDUNIA Magistry of Malinor LOTHAIRE CARDINAL MONTCOLLIER Diocese of St. Thomas of Gaekrin MARUS CARDINAL ST ARIANNE Diocese of Oltremont FLORIAN CARDINAL BELCREST Diocese of Holm SECTION IV - Curial Appointments It is through Our Apostolic Right, bestowed unto Us through the Laurel derived from the Exalted that We make these affirmations, alterations and additions to the Curia. We decree the Curia to be constituted of the following offices: Vice-Chancellor, His Eminence, Lothaire Cardinal Montcollier - To serve as the first deputy of the High Priest, aiding them in the administration of the Church. Auditor of the Tribunal, His Eminence, Marus Cardinal St. Arianne - To serve as the first legal authority of the Church, arbitrating Holy Law and punishing those in violation of it. Pontifical Secretary, His Eminence, Florian Cardinal Belcrest - To serve as the first secretary of the High Priest, aiding them in the drafting of golden bulls, treaties, and other authoritative documents. Prelate of the Priesthood, His Eminence, Iudas Cardinal Numenost - To serve as the censor of all acolytes and newly-ordained priests, ensuring the righteousness of their conduct and the purposefulness of their mission. Ecclesiastical Butler, His Eminence, Nerium Cardinal Idunia - To serve as the personal assistant of the High Priest. Commandant of the Pontifical Guard, Holy Sir Corswain Royce - To serve as the commander of the armed forces of the Church. SECTION V - On the Removal of the Excommunication of Heinrik Sarkozic In the year 120 S.A, the Duke of Adria, Heinrik Sarkozic, was excommunicated by Pontian IV, on the grounds of servitude to the Dragonkin, consortium with Godfreyist heretics, and infidelity. When Heinrik Sarkozic, joined by his people, acting as instructed by the Office of the High Pontiff, submitted himself before the Auditor of the Tribunal, he was issued the ‘penance’ of death, also While We reserve no small respect for the efforts of Our forebear in his guidance of the Church, We recognize the mistaken decision to remove the Duke of Adria, though by no means a perfect soul, from the Church. The political environment, and the unique pressures it produced, influenced the guidance of many righteous members of the clergy, leading them to suggest the most drastic course of action. In review of the alleged sins of the Duke of Adria, and of the punishment which these sins were said to have warranted, it is evident that Pontian IV, himself a member of House Sarkozic, did not act without duress from the powers of then-Canondom, who uniformly acted to subvert the lawful processes of the Church to punish their adversary. In light of this reassessment of the context of the Duke of Adria’s excommunication, We have come to the following conclusions: I) The charge of servitude to the Dragonkin were exaggerated, as was common of the accusations during the period. II) The charge of consortium with Godfreyist heretics was true, but owing to the rapprochement of relations with the later Veletz, and the lack of similar charges levied against the King of Aaun for permitted their hosting within his lands, We find precedent for the acceptance of certain political arrangements with heretics by the Church during the period. III) The charge of infidelity was based on reasonable grounds and was likely true, albeit did not possess sufficient gravity alone to warrant excommunication. IV) There exists little precedent for the retroactive nullification of an excommunication by a later Pontiff. In light of these conclusions, We decide to exercise Our rightful and lawful powers to lift the excommunication of Heinrik Sarkozic, returning him and his memory to the Holy Mother Church, and recognizing that he resides with his family, friends, and people within the Seven Skies, beneath the foot of our all-loving Lord. SECTION VI - On the Faiths of the Automatons It has come to Our attention that there is a practice of the worship of automatons, wherein divinity is found in the steel-flesh of the product of the labors of the living. While these reports are yet to be confirmed in full, it is nonetheless disturbing, for the image of God imparted upon the natural being of this world cannot hope to be replicated by the hands of His subjects. It is why We are dismayed to learn of a cult that purportedly makes idols of their own craft, thus implying the ability of man to imbue divinity within machine. It is an aberration of any understanding of the Common Truth and a clear violation of even the most fundamental Virtues of the Faith. While We shall continue the investigation into this Faith, there is little truth that may emerge of it that will cause us to refrain from considering it an abominable form of idolatry, unfit to be practiced within the Kingdom of Virtue. SECTION VII - On Ecumenical Council While preparations for the crusade against the Black Church, and the course of the war itself that has now come, have delayed Us from fulfilling Our promise of an Ecumenical Council, after consultation with Fr. James Vursur, We have agreed to establish a tentative date for this council, which shall gather all of the ordained clergy of the True Faith. The event will occur in Alba on the first month of Sun’s Smile after the conclusion of the crusade. A drafted agenda has been written for the topics of discussion, which are presently: I) The Permeance of Excommunication After Death II) Pontifical Elections III) The Reorganization of Sainthood IV) The Definition and Limits of Pontifical Infalliability V) The Formal Adoption of Faithful Orphans SECTION VIII - On the Holy See While We now station Our residence in Alba, the need for a permanent location for the Holy See remains. At an undecided date after the aforementioned Ecumenical Council, We shall field offers for a place where the center of the Church may permanently reside. Any landholder of the Faith may submit their offer, which we shall formalize a method for in a later document. The Holy See, to be constructed by Enrique Cardinal Du Loc, shall serve as the permanent residence of the High Pontiff and the home of scholarly life in a manner guided by God. SECTION IX - On the Compilation of a Register of Ordainment Due to the poor records kept by the Church in the preceding years of Our Pontificate, We are left with a dearth of knowledge as to the recognized members of our clergy and monastic orders. After the publication of this document, We shall instruct the Prelate of the Priesthood to develop a new census, wherein we may count the number of clergy at the disposal of the Lord. In conjunction with this new census, We shall order the creation of a Register of Ordainment, a list of all known priests of the Faith throughout history. Due to the paucity of records, damaged during the multiple flights from the myriad of continents which the Church has called home, We anticipate this project, which shall assuredly go past Our life, to be incomplete at best. However, it is Our hope that this list shall serve as the authoritative ledger of the history of His Most Faithful Servants. SECTION X - On the Lives of the Saints Following the prior discussion of incomplete records, it is to Our awareness that several saints have been raised and recognized since the publication of the third volume of the Lives of the Saints, brilliantly authored by Pontian IV in the year 1907. In order to compile and recognize the achievements of the many saints since, and to assist in the compilation of the other blessed and venerable that have so too found their names etched within the Golden Bulls of the Church, We are authoring a successor volume, the fourth edition of the Lives of the Saints, to complete this missing history and equip the future Church with an updated list of saints. We expected this project to occupy the rest of Our life. SECTION XI - Beatifications It is through Our Apostolic Right, bestowed unto Us through the Laurel derived from the Exalted that We affirm the following beatifications: BLESSED LEOPOLDINE VIMMARK-ROUSSARD BORN 1804 IST - REPOSED 1842 IST A humble wife and beloved member of the Imperial court, Leopoldine Vimmark-Roussard lived a pure and virtuous life in service of her country and family. Her kindness and charity won her the affection of many in the Empire, and she enjoyed the company of loyal friends and loving family. Unfortunately, her life came to a short and violent end when she publicly rebuked the sinful ways of her father, Vladislav, a practitioner of the necromantic arts, in the middle of San Luciano. The necromancer Vladislav, enraged, slew Leopoldine in the city square, though vengeance was later found by her daughter, Henrietta. SECTION XII - Venerations It is through Our Apostolic Right, bestowed unto Us through the Laurel derived from the Exalted that We affirm the following venerations: VENERABLE ARTORUS ELENDIL BORN 1299 IST - REPOSED 1401 IST A descendent of the lost Kings of Ildon, Artorus Elendil gathered what remained of his people after the destruction of their homeland. Due to his righteous and honorable character, he was made a lord during the reign of the Exalted Godfrey, eventually rising to become Duke of Westfall. In his time as the leader of the Adunians, he aided the Ex. Godfrey in spreading the word of God to his people and oversaw their reunion with the Church. VENERABLE JOHN PREUSSENS BORN 1703 IST - REPOSED 1838 IST One of the finest architects in the history of humanity, Prince John of Pruvia’s contributions to the Faith have left a material legacy on several continents, spanning many of the largest cities of humanity. Known for the beauty and resilience in his designs, the three grand cathedrals that bore his making- Cathedral of St. Raguel in Whitespire, the Basilica of the Fifty Virgins in New Reza, and the Cathedral of St. Alexander- survived multiple calamities, standing resolute as a bastion of the Faith’s highest form of material expression. VENERABLE JOSEFINA BARCLAY BORN 1965 IST - REPOSED 2042 IST After the death of her beloved husband in 1992, the young Josefina Barclay swore off remarriage and dedicated herself to the Lord. Serving in His Church, she was known for her virtue and charity in her home city of Kretzen. During the War of Crown and Crozier, she worked tirelessly to feed and house refugees and wounded soldiers from both sides of the war. Her lifelong efforts saw her elevated to become Bishop of Gelimar, a station that she used to advocate for an end to the violence of the period, primarily during the Drusco War and its related conflicts. When not leading charity efforts or distributing food to the poor, she occupied much of her time with beekeeping, often using the honey she made to raise revenues for the Church. VENERABLE ELIZABETH NOVELLEN BORN 1755 IST - REPOSED 1831 IST One of the foremost stateswomen in Imperial history, Princess Elizabeth, Countess of Rosemoor, was a famed writer, activist, and courtier. The dutiful daughter of Empress Anne and Emperor Joseph II, she served with diligence in the Imperial State Army and as Governess of the Imperial Court, which she revitalized with her efforts. Most notably, she was the visionary behind the Rosemoor Movement, an effort to fulfill the equality of Man and Woman, as outlined in the Holy Scrolls. Although betrayal by her brother forestalled the legal equality of women, the dream that she birthed did not die with her. SECTION XIII - Canonizations By vote of Our Curia, We have seen it appropriate to raise two members of our dead and beloved. SAINT GASPARD OF BLACKVALE Patron Saint of Landsknechts, Tournaments, and Untimely Deaths Miracles: I) In the aftermath of the Siege of Southbridge, while on a hunt in the mountains of the Lower Oltremont, Gaspard van Aert and his party encountered a den of dancing bears. The bears, though creatures of violence, ignored the presence of Sir Gaspard and his men and continued their swaying. When he reached the hearth of the den, he fainted and was pulled into a dark stupor for ten minutes. In his dreams, he was visited by the apparition of St. Andrik Vydra, who exhorted him to pick up his sword in defense of Canondom and drive out the worshippers of Yemekar from the Lower Petra. II) As he died in his tent at the beginning of the Siege of Haverlock, a bright, white light burst through the torn fabric of his canopy, illuminating his breastplate. Awed by the sign, his junior officers rallied their spirits and aided the Emperor in retaking the city, liberating the Lower Petra from the pagan horde. SAINT KING URIEL OF NUMENDIL Patron Saint of Quests, Templars, and the Adunian People Miracles: I) The restoration of the Adunian Crown is a feat worthy of being called a mortal miracle. Outside of any royal heritage or help Uther established Barrowton which became the then Kingdom of Barrowton after Uther was crowned Tar-Uriel by High Pontiff Pontian IV. The crowning would seal the new monarch’s title of King and Protector of the Adunians, uniting the Adunic tribes under one banner for the first time in nearly five centuries. This peace was short lived, for soon after the Mori’Quessir besieged and assaulted many realms on Almaris and forced the Adunians from the continent. Coming then to Aevos, Tar-Uriel traveled to the peak of the White Mountain, Alkayaban, where he swore new oaths to his people and took for himself the name Tar-Númenatâr. Tar-Númenatâr then founded his new domain on the western edge of the river Forindun, which he named Númendil. And it was then that those who once were known as the Harren’hil took on the name Númenedain. Numenost the Fair would again become a bastion for chivalry, and continued to grow after the abdication of Tar-Númenatâr into a Holy and Prosperous Kingdom. II) During Saint Lucien’s War the Druscans captured a group of soldiers from Numendil. It was the darkest part of the night, and truly closer to sunrise than sunset. A bleary group of soldiers, including His Holiness Carandir, the Duke Viago Vourkehardt, and the Duke’s son, the Sword of Owyn, Ser Emmerich Vourkehardt. Carandir, leading the prayer, invoked the spiritual and wartime guidance of his grandfather Uther. After the prayer each of the soldiers gathered were invigorated with renewed strength, finding within themselves the spirit and power to defeat the Druscan forces within their own fort and take back the captured soldiers. III) During the tri-confession of the Templar of Idunia, Ser Castamir Mithernion, Dame Elwine Vourkehardt, and Ser Emmerich Vourkehardt, the spirit of Uther manifested to tell the congregation of a new “Macecatcher” upon the shores of Azuras and compelled them to seek out this powerful soul. THE HOLY MOTHER CHURCH OF THE TRUE FAITH Under GOD maintained by His Holiness Caius II THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS IUDAS CARDINAL NUMENOST Magistry of Artifai ENRIQUE CARDINAL DU LOC Diocese of Du Loc NERIUM CARDINAL IDUNIA Magistry of Malinor LOTHAIRE CARDINAL MONTCOLLIER Diocese of St. Thomas of Gaekrin MARUS CARDINAL ST ARIANNE Diocese of Oltremont SOLENE CARDINAL BURGUNDIA Diocese of Oltremont FLORIAN CARDINAL BELCREST Diocese of Holm THE CURIA LOTHAIRE CARDINAL MONTCOLLIER Vice-Chancellor of the Church of the True Faith MARUS CARDINAL ST ARIANNE Auditor of the Tribunal of the Church of the True Faith FLORIAN CARDINAL BELCREST Pontifical Secretary of the Church of the True Faith IUDAS CARDINAL NUMENOST Prelate of the Priesthood of the Church of the True Faith NERIUM CARDINAL IDUNIA Ecclesiastical Butler of the Church of the True Faith HOLY SIR CORSWAIN Commandant of the Pontifical Guard of the Church of the True Faith DIOCESES OF THE TRUE FAITH DIOCESE OF ST THOMAS OF GAEKRIN Encompassing the Imperial Crownlands, including Rittersburg, Alba, and Avistra. MAGISTRY OF ARTIFAI Encompassing the entirety of Idunia and its sworn vassals. DIOCESE OF HOLM Encompassing the lands of Myrine, Blackvale, Rethel, and Lorraine. DIOCESE OF OLTREMONT Encompassing the western Imperial Heartlands, including the lands of Cascanova, Reinmar, Kvasz, and Valwyck. DIOCESE OF DU LOC Encompassing the whole of Kurai-Kuni. MAGISTRY OF MALINOR Encompassing all lands outside of both the Faithful Humanity and Kurai-Kuni.

Now that the Australians aren't looking... Good job everyone for helping me keep them out of this event

Introduction: In the past, conflict between magic groups and nations have often forced resolution to come via a warclaim. While this is understandable (warclaims are basically the only avenue for rules-backed conflict resolution between larger groups), it’s quite unideal for building an interesting narrative. The strength of magic groups lay in the power they harness through lore, which cannot be feasibly represented in PvP, while nations have such large numbers that any PvP that comes is likely to be minimal and boring. Therefore, the more successful model to have a conflict play out on the server, while providing a fulfilling resolution, is through CRP, despite the many issues it may have. After a few weeks of consultation, the leadership of the crusading forces and the Black Church have come to an agreement on a set of common rules that will try to provide the interesting sort of conflict that the server lacks, while playing to the strengths of pitting crusaders and demons against each other. I struggle to remember the last time a CRP war not run by the ST ever happened. Because we are walking into this without much precedent, besides one-off events and pre-arranged PvP vassal wars, there will undoubtedly be things that these rules miss, get wrong, and/or need to have changed. At the end of the day, I envision this to be primarily an experiment on how a CRP war system might work best, so all feedback is appreciated! Rules: I) Be wholesome chunguses. II) Involve staff only as needed to help things flow, mostly to mediate the rules/CRP and ensure fairness. III) While this is not a mandatory PK eventline, players willing to PK are to be given priority at all times (do the most things, have the most aura moments). Everyone else is to be a grunt. i) Accordingly, anyone who doesn’t want to PK will still be locked out of the event for a week if they’re killed IRP. IV) No raiding or banditing between 12am-12pm EST (12am-8am EST on Saturday and Sunday). Agreed-upon encounters are permitted. V) Killing/PKing should be, if not a last resort, done in good taste. While you don’t need to go out of your way to make everyone die in some blaze of glory, players should not be subjected to troll or meme RP if they’re facing death. VI) Everyone knocked out of the event, whether ‘killed’ or injured or otherwise, will be allowed to participate in the assault phase (i.e., the warclaim proper) if they so wish. VII) There will be a limitless timer for prisoners of crusader leadership or people of significant note. Mediocre prisoner RP is forbidden, and requires a rescue raid, or some RP for saving. VIII) Both sides will have open channels of communication and Moderation arbitration when needed. However, the CRUSADERS retain the right to turn the war to PvP and go through the normal warclaim process if this war is stonewalled to an unreasonable degree. This is basically the nuclear option, in the event of a total breakdown in cooperation and a disregard for the spirit of what this war system is supposed to achieve. i) If players on the CRUSADERS fail to adhere to the spirit of this war system on a widespread and egregious level, I (Nectorist) will unilaterally forfeit and declare a victory for the BLACK CHURCH. Pre-War: Both the CRUSADERS and the BLACK CHURCH will establish rosters for who is participating in the event. The BLACK CHURCH is allowed to divide their forces how they wish. The CRUSADERS will establish two large pools of players: I) The Vanguard - This will be about ~60 of the more dedicated, PK-willing players with the most narrative stakes. They will be the ones doing the majority of the combat. II) The Reserves - Everyone else. They will be able to partake in certain events, as well as the general fighting that happens outside of pre-arranged fights, but will mostly just be there for the final, big fight. Phase 1: Vanguard Travel (1 week) Sorry for it being hard to see, but basically 3 different army groups (Red - Burgundy, Green - Idunia+Koyo-Kuni, Blue - Norland+Caurost+Others) travel south to establish different camps (might just mechanically build one for expediency). Before the traveling begins, the CRUSADERS will choose how to divvy up the vanguard. Because of poor road and supply conditions in the south (it’s desolate and whatnot), the total vanguard will be no more than 60 players divided into 3 armies. The exact number of soldiers each army has is to be determined by the CRUSADERS. Maybe we divide it evenly, 20-20-20, maybe we go 10-30-20, maybe we do 1-1-58, it’s up to us. On the day of the march, the BLACK CHURCH will roll a 3d20 to scout the three approaching armies in order to determine their size: 20 - The identity of everyone in the army group is revealed. 17-19 - The exact number of people in the army group is revealed. 14-16 - A range of people, within five, is revealed. 10-13 - A range of people, within ten, is revealed. 6-9 - A range of people, within fifteen, is revealed. 2-5 - Nothing is revealed. 1 - The CRUSADERS can give whatever number they want. The BLACK CHURCH can then choose if they want to ambush one of the columns with a roughly equal-sized force (within 5 players, counting summons) and where it will occur (we can do the sea if we want a naval fight). If so, an arranged CRP encounter will take place under the following rules, which will apply to every arranged CRP encounter: Both sides will be given a 50x50 area to set up in. Defenders will be allowed to add makeshift defenses in addition to what is already present. A turn order will be established, with a coinflip made to determine who begins first. Each side will have 4 minutes to emote. Anyone who doesn’t emote within that time will lose their action for that turn. The timer can be extended if certain actions need to be clarified. An effort will be made to keep the CRP around 90 minutes at most. This means about 22-23 turns, which I feel like is fine to reach a workable conclusion. Not every battle has to be a decisive encounter where everyone on one side dies. The win conditions for CRP are: FOR ATTACKER: wiping the defenders out, driving the defenders from a fortified position, forcing the defenders to retreat away from a location they were trying to reach. FOR DEFENDER: wiping the attackers out, repulsing the attackers from a fortified position, reaching a specified location to ‘escape’ the attack. Mediation of the CRP will be handled by both sides, with efforts made to not require Moderation oversight. CRP will operate on a ‘good faith’ clause, where players are expected to avoid argument and adhere to proper redlines. If a contested action cannot be resolved within five minutes, it will be permitted to stand. Any players who abuse the ‘good faith’ clause will be removed from the event entirely. Any mana (or equivalent) limitations on spellcasting will be modified. All other CRP timers/movement counts remain in place. If the BLACK CHURCH wins this encounter and either destroys the convoy or prevents it from ‘escaping’ south, the siege phase will require 3 successful weeks in order to progress into the assault phase instead of 2. The travel lane that the ambushed column was using will be closed off for the duration of the event. If the CRUSADERS win this encounter and either destroy the ambushing force or escape to the south, the BLACK CHURCH will lose a counter-action on their first turn of the siege phase. Phase 2: Siege (2 week minimum, 12 week maximum) After the travel phase, a siege camp will be built around the BLACK CHURCH to serve as the forward base of the CRUSADERS. The siege phase will center around the besieging force trying to break into the fort (duh) while the besieged force tries to stop them. Each irl week will function as a turn, with the besiegers being forced to do three regular actions each week: I) Bring supplies and reinforcements in from the north using one of the available supply lines. 15 reinforcements can be brought down each week, counting replacements for those who have been injured/killed in the fighting. (This allows the army to grow/replenish). II) Forage for supplies in the surrounding area to sustain a growing and active siege camp. (This allows the siege camp to sustain itself for longer, starting at 5 weeks and extending by one week with each ‘successful’ foraging expedition). III)Maintain the camp itself and fire upon the fort. (This allows for progress to be made towards the assault, which requires 2 (or 3) weeks of successful bombardment). These three tasks correspond to the three armies that were sent down in the first phase. Like before, each army will be assigned to one of these tasks and have its composition chosen by the CRUSADER leadership each week. Additional reinforcements can be added to any of these armies at the start of each week, but rosters must be locked in every Sunday. The BLACK CHURCH is allowed to conduct 2 counter-actions each week to try and disrupt the CRUSADERS. While they are not held to the same ‘army group’ rules as the CRUSADERS, players from the BLACK CHURCH are only allowed to participate in 1 counter-action per week. The actions that can be taken are: I) Attack supply lines, preventing reinforcements from arriving at the camps. (Will require ‘guessing’ which route the reinforcing army is coming down, to be handled by each side informing a neutral staff member white route they are taking). II) Ambush the foraging party, resulting in them returning home empty-handed. III) Attack the siege camp, possibly destroying its cannon/siege weapons. (Stalls bombardment until new siege weapons can be brought over in the next successful supply caravan). Aside from the structured events, the area in between the siege camp and the fort will be considered no-man’s-land, where both sides may fight each other freely. Because this area is entirely optional to engage with, pking and/or being knocked out of the event is as well. This is the fun zone for fun fighting. Both the siege camp and the fort will be off-limits to attack, but small groups of infiltrators (1-3 people) can enter to try and assassinate people, map out the area, eavesdrop on RP, etc. In line with this, all decisions made regarding soldier allocations, what armies are being sent where, and other major strategic decisions MUST be conducted through RP the week prior. The siege phase will progress when the CRUSADERS have either completed 2 successful weeks of bombardment (in which case the assault phase will begin) or have run out of time due to a combined of failed foraging and bombardments (in which case it will be an automatic defeat for the CRUSADERS). Phase 3: Assault (CONDITIONAL) If the CRUSADERS have fulfilled the requisite number of successful bombardment weeks to launch an assault, they may do so at any week of their choosing. The specific day and time of the final assault will be planned in advance by the leadership of both sides (I assume it will be a late Saturday morning). The fort will be designed in such a way to allow for multiple points of entry and for access to the entirety of the interior, but it will also be conducive for defense. The win condition for the assault is simple: the crusaders either conquer and occupy the fort, or they are forced to retreat (or they all die ig). Should we approach this point, the specific details will be decided between the leadership of the two sides, but the primary emphasis will be breaking the main assault into smaller fights in order to get through the battle quicker. Victory Results: IF THE BLACK CHURCH WINS: Caius II will die (if in the final assault) or abdicate out of shame. The Church will abandon all attempts to crusade against the dark or even provide support as an institution for any crusade or war for the next 30 weeks. The nations participating in the crusade will cap their raid cooldown timer at 2 days for the following 30 days, no matter the size of the raiding force. IF THE CRUSADERS WIN: The Black Church will be razed and the island freed of any Warlock influence. Those who sided with the Black Church will be unable to raid the lands of those who sided with the Crusade for 8 weeks. The Black Church will be unable to raid at all until a new lair is built (they may rebuild/repurpose the old site).

Lady Vesta, I would be more than happy to bless your cross! Ghosts may appear to be frightening, but know that they hold no power over our Lord, who shields and protects you. I do plenty of business around Rittersburg, so bring your cross to me when you can, and I shall bless it so it may ward off the wicked things that your brothers speak of. If you wish, bring them as well, and I shall reprimand them for trying to frighten you! The reality is that ghosts are rare, harmless creatures in most cases, and your chances of seeing one, especially a malevolent one, especially a malevolent one with the means to attack you, are quite rare. May the Lord Guide You, Caius II

An old Barrow, too aged to do much else than write, lay in bed, and be doted over by his dark elven wife, sputters happily as he sees news of this host in the morning paper.

This is fine to me as someone who doesn’t do self-TA magics or whatever, but it feels like this falls into the same trap that staff do of seeing a system that’s prone to abuse and trying to resolve it by scrapping it entirely instead of trying to bolster it with stricter rule enforcement first

Demetrius Barrow accepts the invitation!

The High Priest, indisposed at that date, sends the Vursurs a bouquet in his stead, perhaps to be used for decor.

I believe Amuletic can be trusted with any project

give the settlement or i attack

so they'd be cool with ihop?

“Grandfather, do you have another story?” Cassius jolted awake, greeted by the warm rays of the sun. The waters over the bay of Myrine, often wild-whipped by the turbulent storms, enjoyed the peace of the mild spring’s day. It was a sight that he and his wife had enjoyed when it came in a place often clouded by overcast. The rare heat felt like fading memories of home, of hot summers in the shantytown of Grense, where the estate of the Marenos was a brickhouse with four rooms, and the van Aerts, two decades from total Imperium, saw straw roofs when they looked up at night. It had not been long since she had passed. Minutes bled into hours and hours into days that felt like years, for the old Prince of Myrine could barely recall when he was not within a few steps of her beside. A decade or more had passed since they had last danced, and his right arm felt light from where she had linked hers with his. You’d be lost if I weren’t here to drag your head from the clouds. He missed her nagging, even if he could lay a few incomplete books at her feet. Surer pens had shaped the world, while he had enjoyed his with his family. “Oh, uh, sorry, my dear.” The old Mareno propped himself up in his wooden rocking chair and looked down to his granddaughter, Eirene. There was some of her grandmother in her- wide-eyes of wonder that took in the world and held it dear- but more of Circe’s fearlessness. “Wha- uh- what was I saying?” “You had told me about how you didn’t like that old Ruthern castle because everything was frozen. You couldn’t sail.” As he lifted his weary head up, dozens of small fishing barges flecked the sapphire canvas like birds in the sky. A few larger vessels lumbered in and out, bound for Silasia or Koyo-Kuni or Alduun. He liked to imagine that Calias was on one of those boats, finally at peace with himself. “Grandfather, can you hear me?” The fog of memory broke again as he blinked, and Eirene’s face reappeared in his eyes. Cassius chuckled softly. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, uh… I’m listening now, I promise.” Eirene huffed, though thankfully she never had her mother’s temper, nor her grandmother’s. She and her cousin would wail, surely, but only when they suffered the wounds of scrapes, and so Cassius would tell them of the uncomfortable battles he had to fight, and of how their bruises and nicks were like battle-scars for- “You said it was important for us to sail and that the frozen waters kept you bound to that keep, like a marlin trapped in an aquarium basin.” The girl mustered a small laugh, but he could feel the sadness behind her words. The old prince reached out a shaking hand to take her own, clasping it within his own with as strong a grip as he could muster. As he had done so many times before, he smiled for her, and she smiled back. “We live in a great, wide world, my dear. Life takes us apart, like when you go all the way to the capital, or when Archie and Ghetsis went south to fight in the war.” He swept his other arm across the golden skyline. “When Caerine went afar to study, and when Caecilius went west to explore.“ He breathed in sharply and squeezed her hand again. “And when your grandmother went to the Seven Skies.” One boat appeared over the horizon, emerging as a speck in view. Its sails were large and billowed in the breeze, while the sun blinded all but its silhouette. “But I have never worried, I have never feared the months spent in this quiet castle. The sea binds us together; it allows us to be reunited again. So long as we have the wind at our backs, our family can never be pulled apart. Whenever you miss your grandmother, or your cousin, or anyone, just know that the sea will always let you reach them, no matter how far away they seem to be.” A loud horn blared from the watchtower atop one of the rocks of the bay. Cassius’s gaze broke from his granddaughter’s tear-stained cheeks as he looked again to the great vessel that loomed above the smaller crafts. Now no longer so distant, he could see the blue marlin dancing along the flax-sails that brought it home. “Grandfather, look! It’s Caerine! She’s coming back- she’s back! That’s really her, isn’t it? She’s back! Caerine’s back, grandfather!” The excited young girl was ripped from her sorrows as she leapt to her feet and clambered atop the railing that overlooked the sea. “She’s almost here! I can’t believe she’s almost here! We need to go down to meet her, let’s go down, grandfather!” She tugged on his arm with her uncle’s strength, but the Prince of Myrine merely laughed and stayed put. “Go ahead, Eirene. I will be behind you. It is a long walk, so give me a moment to rest.” With a kindly grin and a well-taught curtsey, the girl made her goodbye and darted off. As her footsteps faded in the distance, Cassius found himself left alone again, and the only sound in his ears the gentle breaking of the waves upon the rocks below. Caerine’s ship, growing larger, treaded in a straight line towards the port that lay at the feet of the castle. The old prince closed his eyes and dreamt again, for few men loved dreamt more than he. He dreamt of stolen wine from the Petran tavern, an evening war council with his grandfather, a wedding within the ruins of Veletz, hours within his study and hours with his children and grandchildren in the courtyard; of battles in the rolling hills of Drusco and afternoon strolls taken along the sandy beach of Myrine with his wife at his side. When his eyes opened again, he realized that none of it was a dream at all. I sail to you, Madelief, for now that we are by the sea, we are never far from each other

'Brother' Jake turns to his friend @Phersadesand tells her "hey your plan to overthrow the empire can begin now, this is your chance to rebel, like you've told me you plan on doing for several years now, this is your chance to kill the emperor in that meeting you plan to arrange with him on the 15th of Tobias's Bounty, 280 S.A, and use that as an opportunity to launch your rebellion. I think this is a good time to execute this longstanding plan of yours." He is then forcibly committed by concerned onlookers.

This is all unironically the fault of 98% of human RPers since 2020 for being wholly unambitious

Laying on his bed in a state of delirium, the Vicar of God wonders if the axe that had gutted him had been meant for the Admiral, or if it was all just coincidence that they were shoulder-to-shoulder in that moment. He knows nothing of the woman's fate, dying, steel-in-hand, as the wicked fell upon her home.

Caius II goes digging through his attic for a scepter, laurel, crozier, anything that would that would befit the king's hand as he was anointed before God and subject. All he finds are stacks of unanswered letters and old war loot.

Is it true that high elves are a snow elf subrace

The High Priest sends every snow elven bloodline several packets of easy-make hot chocolate for the trek.

Hold the line, you heart souls of Sternfell. The host of the living nears; the Kingdom of Virtue does not abandon its people. Thinks the Vicar of God.

The Second Compact of Caurost, 647 A.A In the interests of the toleration of the customs and faiths of those Imperial subjects that, while removed from the Word of God, still conduct themselves in a manner most virtuous, aligned with common principles of decent character, derived firstly from the teachings to be found within the Holy Scrolls, a compact has been made between the Holy Mother Church and the states of Norland and Caurost. The eyes of the Faithful turn towards our enemies without, those enthropic forces that seek domination of the living, thus requiring a broad alliance between those of dignity. ARTICLE I The Holy Mother Church shall respect the free practice and expression of the Elven faiths within the lawful borders of Caurost, as well as private worship within the lands of the Faithful. In turn, the Church, while permitted the right of proselytization, shall establish no regular ministries save those which service the Faithful present within Caurost, to be left undisturbed by the local authorities. All religious authorities of Caurost shall make no efforts of their own to convert the Faithful or preach within the lands of the Faithful. ARTICLE II The Princedom of Caurost shall aid the Holy Mother Church in its crusade against the armies of Iblees, defined as the Black Church and the Black Sepulchre. All soldiers from Caurost are to be exempted from the requirements of tithe, conversion, and sacrament to the Lord. ARTICLE III The Holy Mother Church and the Princedom of Caurost shall cooperate on all matters pertaining to the defense of the living against the armies of Iblees, denying no logistical or martial assistance, pledging to the free and open share of information, and cooperating on all strategic planning. Under the Authority of God, HIS HOLINESS, CAIUS II, High Priest of the Temple of the True Faith, Successor of Clement and Evaristus, High Pontiff of the Church of True Faith, Servant of the Servants of Heaven, Servant of the Holy Flame, Apostle of Saint Lucien, Envoy of Aeldin, High Servant to the Prophet’s Testaments, Humble Servant of the Faithful and Vicar of GOD Signed, Galahad Ílumrin High Prince of Cauróst, Prince of Malinor & Eldest Son of Húrin Ilumrin

The First Compact of Caurost, 647 A.A In the interests of the toleration of the customs and faiths of those Imperial subjects that, while removed from the Word of God, still conduct themselves in a manner most virtuous, aligned with common principles of decent character, derived firstly from the teachings to be found within the Holy Scrolls, a compact has been made between the Holy Mother Church and the states of Norland and Caurost. The eyes of the Faithful turn towards our enemies without, those enthropic forces that seek domination of the living, thus requiring a broad alliance between those of dignity. ARTICLE I The Holy Mother Church shall respect the free practice and expression of the Red Faith within the lawful borders of Norland, as well as private worship within the lands of the Faithful. In turn, the Church, while permitted the right of proselytization, shall establish no regular ministries save those which service the Faithful present within Norland, to be left undisturbed by the local authorities. The Red Priests of Norland shall make no efforts of their own to convert the Faithful or preach within the lands of the Faithful ARTICLE II The Kingdom of Norland shall aid the Holy Mother Church in its crusade against the armies of Iblees, defined as the Black Church and the Black Sepulchre. All soldiers from Norland are to be exempted from the requirements of tithe, conversion, and sacrament to the Lord. ARTICLE III The Holy Mother Church and the Kingdom of Norland shall cooperate on all matters pertaining to the defense of the living against the armies of Iblees, denying no logistical or martial assistance, pledging to the free and open share of information, and cooperating on all strategic planning. Under the Authority of God, HIS HOLINESS, CAIUS II, High Priest of the Temple of the True Faith, Successor of Clement and Evaristus, High Pontiff of the Church of True Faith, Servant of the Servants of Heaven, Servant of the Holy Flame, Apostle of Saint Lucien, Envoy of Aeldin, High Servant to the Prophet’s Testaments, Humble Servant of the Faithful and Vicar of GOD HIS ROYAL MAJESTY, Haraldr av Edvardsson Ruric as High-King of Norland, High Chieftain of the House of Ruric, Chieftain of the Clan Edvardsson, Jarl of Verdegrad, Blood of the Herald & Lord of the Ashwood Throne, Protector of the Highlanders HER EMINENCE, Sissel Freysdóttir av Ruric as Master of the Order of the First Flame, High Keeper of the Red Faith & the Flame Imperishable