MadOne

1980. COLLEGE 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 College. We decree the College to be thus: TRR, His Eminence, Ivan Cardinal Lotharia

RESULTS OF THE ECUMENICAL COUNCIL OF 1984 HIS HOLINESS Caius I, High Pontiff of the Church of the Canon, Archbishop of Visigia, Successor of the High Priesthood of the Church, Supreme Pontiff of the Church of True Faith, Keeper of the Canon, Missionary to Aeldin, High Servant to the Exalted's Testaments, Humble Servant of the Faithful and Vicar of GOD does decree with the confirmation of the Ecumenical Council… That the Priesthood, under the authority of High Pontiff, has found resolution to the two foremost issues presented in the form of voting, thus proclaiming the season of Ecumenical Council concluded. The results are as follows: WITH ONLY ONE VOTE AGAINST, THUS MEETING MAJORITY, THE THIRD EDITION OF THE CODE OF CANON LAW IS ABROGATED. CANON LAW IS TO BE REVISITED BY THE CURIA. & IN A UNANIMOUS VOTE IN FAVOR, THUS MEETING MAJORITY, THE AENGUL RAGUEL IS CANONIZED SAINT RAGUEL, A MESSENGER OF GOD. DEO GRATIAS.

"Who?" The Pontiff said towards Frantzisko as the Cardinal brought him a letter, surveying the paper. "Oh, Naya, the Warlock. Why did she think I would attend the funeral of a warlock?" the Pontiff bellowed, letting out the loudest of laughs for the Cardinal. "Nuh-uh. No funerals for Warlocks." The Pontiff declared. "Shut it down!"

MC Name: Madone2k Discord: Madone2k Image: Description of Image: A Frankish Cross. Dimensions: 1x1

1982.. CURIA 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 thus: Auditor of the Tribunal, His Eminence, Callahan Cardinal Artorus Secretariat to His Holiness, His Grace, Ivan Archbishop Lotharia DIOCESAN APPOINTMENTS It is through our Apostolic Right, bestowed unto us through the Laurel derived from the Exalted that we thus appoint the following member of the priesthood to shepherd and be pastor of the Church’s Diocese: THE ARCHDIOCESE OF LOTHARIA to be shepherded by His Grace, Ivan Archbishop Lotharia THE DIOCESE OF RHOSMARK to be shepherded by His Grace, James Bishop Rhosmark

"As if killing 'Order' is some grand feat." Caius said onto Frantzisko, on a totally unrelated topic. "All I have seen of the supposed agents of 'Order itself' is a loose conglomerate of rag-tag brigands that can't even agree with each other on their own doctrine. Order? Psch. The Azdrazi compare themselves to the Sons of Man. I should like to see them boast once they created their first Barony, let alone an Empire."

I write to you, Your Holiness, in inquiry, for I am perplexed by the circumstances in which I find myself. Our recent public correspondences, though seemingly animous, were verily read with surprise; such is the necessary state, when men of the same HOLY spirit are of different minds. Not in any of my years, was there a day in which I imagined such would be the case, since my intention always is to honor GOD through my talents. It seems as if a central aspect of our difference in thought, is founded upon the specific matters of the East's current state of affairs. If the substance of my works were not accurately conveyed by their form, I render my apologies. The intention of those words recently spoken is this; that diplomacy be used as a tool to achieve the greater purpose of GOD. Due both to recency, and the relative human unfamiliarity with the Brabantine civilization, the following information was not widely acknowledged; nevertheless I must make it known to you for the sake of our mutual understanding founded on the love of human prosperity. In my diplomatic interactions with the surrounding polities, I have indeed seen efforts undertaken to adopt canonist churches (and their teachings) into cooperation with the states. For sake of time I must summarize, but chief of these are the Lurinite state; which has to this day been awaiting the construction of a church within their borders. This being known, I relay that this durth of holy sites resides with the absence of communication between the holy architects and the aforementioned Lurin, not of intentional delay on the part of the latter. More relevant to our case, Your Holiness, Vikela had not only accepted our diplomatic agreement constructing a church and multiple shrines, but done so without opposition. There seems to be a popular conception that no canonists what-so-ever reside in these states, but the realities of their populations show this to be outdated information. For the sake of faith and canonist prosperity everywhere, let us put the political aspects of the recent orcish aggression aside; Is it not preferable to convert a state through dilligent and proximate prosthelyzation; even more so if we are able to do it without force? We must do what we can to increase the love of God in states which do not adopt canonism on a state level, for this is precicely how we transcend them from one to the other. Previous leaderships in previous lands may have met failure, but consider how many times we men ourselves fall into sin by our fallen nature, and how the Grace of GOD saves all who are willing. Given the restrictions of our time regarding travel and communication, there must be information which you have that I dont, and vice versa. Therefore if the best potential of God's people from coast to coast is to be seen, let us be clear with one another, in the spirit of honesty. Assist me, Holy father, if I have not rightly matched the premises to the conclusions. If it is preferable for you, that we correspond by face and heart, The Kingdom of Balian has given their support to host a summit of neutrality, intent on peace for the region in which we must share with the descendants of GOD's creation. Signed, Lothair of Brabant, Arch-Delegate To the Esteemed Brother Lothair, I bid you the grace and peace of our Lord, and may His blessings be upon your kin and kith in abundance. Lo, and Seven Blessings onto you, for you have entreated me with your words, and sought the ear of your servant, and thus I reply in earnest, for you are a seeker of clarity and unity. I am thus compelled to elucidate the wisdom of the Church Fathers in my retort. Verily, for such is our duty, it is thus with earnest intent to meet and address your inquiries that I have hastily penned this letter, for it is important to us for our flock to hear the wisdom of the Elders of Horen's tribe, and with it to discern the will of the Almighty. And so I shall embody the Prophet-Father, in solemnity befitting our Holy office and our Laurel and bestow upon you the blessings of the Skies. Now hearken, for it is not uncommon for there to be a discord between the reports from the field in Brabant, wherein you must deal with the Lurinite and the Vikelan upon your borders, and the prevailing outlook on such lands by men of the cloth, who lack such proximity. Such dissonance arises often when men see through different lenses, shaped by different, and perhaps conflicting expressions of knowledge. Yet, I assure you that the Mother Church be not swayed by appearances of falsity, nor the partial truths that may cloud men's vision, for our vocation demands of us, the priesthood to seek the fullness of understanding of the will of the Almighty, and we are named as instructors onto our brethren. Onto your remarks, I must retort; There is no faith to be won at the tip of a sword, for true conversion springs not from fear but instead from a genuine yearning for the divine. Perhaps, this may be one of the views of which you and I must be in earnest agreement of, though we of the Church believe this in a manner different of your personal revelations; For we have seen that the willingness of these dwellers of the East to entertain our presence is not born of an earnest desire for the truth of Canonism, but rather from a fear of the growing might and influence of our Holy Church. It is no secret that these rogues of the land cower before the strength of any sword, and it is for this that the Pagan seeks to placate us. You naively make of the constructions of chapels within those distant lands a token of reverence, yet I must find fault in this; for such feats are not accomplished out of a veneration for the Divine spirit, but out of fear of worldly power. Since the reign of the Sixtus VI did the Church cast a long shadow eastwards, even in those times of war and strife among the tribe of Horen; Requests for free access onto these lands and the veneration of the Lord, which our mission to these lands, has been met with vapid resistance, rebuff, and a casting out for an age. They have long treated us as aggressors and only now, when faced with conflict and strife from a barbarian greater do they seek to appease us, hoping to stave off the Church. Brother Lothair, you do mistake their overtures for genuine seek for God, yet the politick behind their constructions are apparent to us. While you may gawk upon the marbling and the pillars of the Church which they have raised, and admiring the spirit of the Lurinite to be open to such advances, I beg of you to consider the motive behind such acts; For it is not a quest for the divine, but a ploy to keep God at bay. These offerings, these morsels, are meant to to stave off our encroachment. It is not that the Lurinite nor the Vikelan do these things out of good faith, but instead, they look onto one another, and think, "If I should build this marble-arch, which I hold no meaning towards, it will surely appearse the Priesthood of Owyn, that they might not proffer onto us a word longer, and thus be placated." And so I find that such efforts are not preludes to conversion as you hold your belief, but instead a measure against it. They seek to placate, not to convert. Now, you, a diplomat and a borderman to these rogues of the land know this to be true, and it is unknown to us why you must claim otherwise. We find even these tokens of appeasement are dubious. The Church has strived to missionize these lands since my time as an erstwhile Bishop. During this tenure, the Lurinites endeavored to kidnap and harm priests in aid of diabolists and demons. Their actions have consistently shown hostility rather than hospitality. Even when commanded to construct a church, they delayed for decades, only now seeking to fulfill this command as a desperate measure to ensure a lack of any Canonist involvement in this impending war. Their true character is thus revealed — not allies, but opportunists seeking to avoid the consequences of their defiance. It is telling that these men have delayed the construction of these chapels in times of good faith. We have sat upon this office for longer than two decades, and have worn the Bishop's mitre for a part of a decade, and yet still this mission had then still existed. Yet, in times of war and strife, after decades of good will and communication, here now are the promises to build a chapel reinvigorated. What folly! These Kingdoms in truth, are not Kingdoms but anarchical tribes lacking a unifying creed and the rules of wise counsel. Their societies are composed of those who cherish their individual freedoms over any collective ethos or moral compass, based on the malevolent doctrine that one man be allowed his freedom to do evil if he allow his neighbor to do a different evil; These are places where the seekers of power — wizards consorting with liches and demons, and men devoid of a true home or culture — gather. These lands attract those who reject the wisdom of Horen and exalt their individual desires above all. They recognize no sovereignty of the Baron nor King, and it is thus they cannot understand the unifying principles of loyalty to a nation, to a king, or to a shared identity. How then can we expect them to exhibit loyalty to the Lord, our God? As I have said onto you before, I shall say once more. Look Westward; The Reinmaren tribesmen show loyalty to Reinmar and their Princes, the Haeseni venerate their Brotherhood and Saint Karl, and the Heartlanders honor Saint Godwin. But the Eastern Pagans and the Lurinites on the obverse are but a motley assembly, bound only by their defiance of any common ground beyond their immediate existence. Now, as we speak of loyalty to abstract concepts, consider their loyalty made manifest, or rather, their lack thereof. When the Eastern Pagans struck a pact of alliance onto one another, thus have hitched their troth onto one another, vowing that they shall shed blood for each other's defense, the Lurinite also did pledge her sword to defend Vikelan. Yet when war came, they sought to evade their obligation, fabricating excuses to avoid conflict. The so-called offense is that, the Vikelan had expected her Lurinite compariot to hold true to her agreement, and thus to raise a sword against the Luraki Horde in earnest defense. This, of course would be assumed of any ally in civilised lands, and their obligated participation in a war of survival on the basis of such concord duly expected. Yet when the Vikelan called up the banners of her allies and placed upon the mark of the Lurinite onto that parchment for their alliance, the Lurinite took great offense onto this 'slight', that she sheathed the sword back onto her hip! Let us state truth of what all men make of this matter; Lurin never intended to fight even if such a missive had never been authored by Vikela, for they are cowards and fear the throes of war. Yet they claim land for themselves in this cowardice, that they pledge onto one another that they will scrounge, pay tribute, and sway the narrative in any way reasonable for them to emerge if not victorious, but to survive. This reveals their true nature — unfaithful to their word and self-serving. Would such a newfound convert remain steadfast in the faith when adversity arises? I say nay. Their loyalty to their supposed 'personal liberties', and above that, their survival outweighs any oath to God or the Church in the mind of the Lurinite. It is evident that their sincerity in adopting Canonist doctrines as you say, is questionable. In Lurin, preaching in the streets is prohibited by their decrees, allowed only at a monument to their Aengul Worship, that I must send my Priests and Bishops before an idol, if they seek to commune with the Lord, or speak of Him. In what way would you consider this syncretic with any form of Canonist Doctrine? This restriction on the dissemination of the divine word speaks volumes about their commitment to our faith. They do not seek to embrace Canonism, but to contain it! Thus, Brother Lothair, any quarter with the Easterner is not an option for the Church. They have not earnestly sought conversion, nor have they requested our protection. Their actions and history reveal a deep-seated resistance to the true faith, and it is for these reasons that the Church has and must clarify her stance. @Lomiei

here, atop the rugged peaks of that desert cliffside, toiled an elder priest. Clad in humble robes was he, and gripping resolutely wooden staff which guided each step across the treacherous landscape as he made his ascent. Each step was laborious. His breath was heavy, yet his spirit burned without waver. The path was steep, strewn with loose rocks and treacherous inclines, but Caius pressed onward. His physical toil mirrored an internal turmoil far greater, for only days prior, had an act of violence by the Brother Krug onto the Priesthood of Owyn shook him to his deepest core. He remembered sitting atop the throne, wounded and palely loitering as the clarion sounded, and by his word, a call to arms stirred the hearts of the nation Horen. A Crusade. He had envisioned a united front, with the wayward sons of Horen banding together, not to squabble among themselves but to fight a common foe. Such was the curse of man, Caius thought, the curse given onto Horen was not man's short life, but his ambition, that might turn men of Horen's tribe against each other. The sun blazed mercilessly, although blocked with a black haze, the heat and what remained of it's light casting long shadows that danced upon the arid, waterless ground. Sweat mingled with the dust on Caius's brow, yet he paid no heed to his discomfort. His solitary eye, sharp and clear despite his years, remained fixated on the summit above. With each step, he muttered fervent prayers, invoking the strength of GOD to sustain him in his journey to the top. But with each prayer, his mind wandered back to the Orcish Chieftain who had, in a moment of humility, prostrated before him, kissed his ring, and capitulated to his demands. It was not the Canonist way to kill and maim those who would repent, and so Caius had to shamefully call off the Crusade. Minutes turned to hours as the priest ascended the mountain. The nights were cold and the days scorching, yet Caius found solace in his faith. He recalled the scriptures, the tale of Horen, of Joren and Owyn. the tales of the venerable Prophets and their Saints who had undertaken such pilgrimages, their hearts too, burned alight with the same mandate-divine. He steeled himself, and fueled his resolve. With renewed vigor, he ascended the final stretch of the mountain. Cresting the mountaintop, Caius did not only grapple with the arid landscape of this forgotten land, but with the weight of his decision. He wondered if he was sacrificing countless lives of human Canonists of the future at the altar for the bloody wars of Man, of which he had seen plenty in his youth. By showing mercy to the repentant Brother Krug, as scripture demanded, perhaps he rebuked his own people. His heart was heavy, knowing that he had been the only man for peace, the pious and wise rulers of his time such as John of Aaun, Catherine and his Father vanishing akin to the dunes of this vast desert landscape for the call of death. His generation, whom had known war, now was replaced with fiery men such as Ivan and Charles, who sought the same glory that perhaps he himself once had sought. Holding back the throes of war, his decision, was a double-edged sword. On one hand, he upheld the principles of his faith; on the other, he feared he might have forfeited the unity of his people by festering opened wounds further. The human spirit was seldom contained, and would never be contained by the efforts of one man. At long last, Caius reached the summit. There, he beheld a sight that made his heart swell with reverence. Spread before him was a vast expanse of holy land, untouched and serene. The air was still, imbued with a sense of sacred presence. In the center of this hallowed ground stood a solitary tree, its branches reaching towards the heavens, as if in eternal supplication. Thus, now with a heart full of solemnity, he rose to his feet. He grasped the axe and, and swung a wide arc. As the tree fell, Caius saw that it was good. Thus did Caius strip himself of his sleeve, tearing it asunder for fabric, that the branches and the robe may culminate into the Cross of Horen, his people. The blotted sun of crimson cast a red glow upon the desert landscape, and Caius knelt before the newly erected cross. He consecrated the ground with holy water and anointed the cross with sacred oils. His voice rang out in a powerful invocation, declaring this mountaintop a holy land for the people of Canondom, a sanctuary of faith and devotion from now in this age of End Times, and Omens. And thus, he named the mountain Mount Tylos, the Holiest of Holies. Lo and Behold, the People of Canondom, For We Have Toiled and Endured, In the face of adversity, we have wrested peace from the jaws of conflict, and through this very steadfast devotion, did the Lord has bestowed upon us a sacred reward—the holiest of holy lands. With divine guidance, we have transformed the strife of Descendants into the sanctity of the bounds of the Lord God. The lands atop the Southeastern mountaintops, within the realm of the Luraki Horde of Brother Krug, are thus hereby declared the dominion of the Church. We have anointed this land with holy oil and marked it with the stakes of the towers Aemon and Daemon. Henceforth, this land belongs to the Lord GOD in perpetuity, to be shepherded by the Holy Mother Church. Let this mountain be consecrated as Mount Tylos. This land shall remain the property and sacred domain of the Church forever. No iniquity nor man shall assail it. This mount shall henceforth be declared holy and consecrated ground, serving as a pilgrimage site where men may attain a closer spiritual relationship with the Lord. We ordain this land for the establishment of a monastery atop its heights. Holiness and Respect - All who enter Mount Tylos must do so with reverence. This sacred site demands the highest respect for its sanctity and the spiritual purpose it serves. Monastic Community - Only those committed to a life of prayer, contemplation, and service to GOD may reside within the monastery. The community will be one of strict monastic discipline, dedicated to the worship and glorification of the Lord. Pilgrimage Regulations - Pilgrims may visit Mount Tylos, but must seek permission from the Vice-Chancellor. Their stay shall be limited, and they must abide by the rules of the monastery, engaging in prayer and reflection during their visit. Prohibition of Secular Activities - No secular activities or profane behavior shall be tolerated on Mount Tylos. This is a place of spiritual retreat, free from the distractions and corruptions of worldly life. Preservation of Sanctity - The natural environment of Mount Tylos shall be preserved. The monastery and its inhabitants must live in harmony with the land, maintaining its purity and holiness. Access Restrictions - Only adult Canonists of Horen's Tribe shall be permitted entry to the Mount Tylos, in keeping with the traditions of monastic seclusion and focus on spiritual purity. Let no iniquity of Iblees step forth. Mount Tylos shall house the Monastery of Blessed Mateo of Durres, consecrated in his honor and service. This holy place will stand in perpetuity, a beacon of faith and devotion for all Canonists. May this land serve for the boundless grace of the Lord GOD.

Cardinal Frantzisko enters the High Pontiff's room. "But Lord Pontiff, what about the Canonist Pilgrims in the Eastern Lands? Don't you think that the Pagans in Vikela will use the possibility of Pilgrimage routes being compromised as Anti-Church propaganda?" The Cardinal asked the High Pontiff. Caius I lazily turned towards his Cardinal. "What of them? The Orcs know better than to attack our people and lands. What are they going to do? We are not aggressors onto them. Their objective is to attack the Vikelan Pagans. If they wished to attack Pilgrims, and attack Church Land, why would the Brother Krug bow down to the peace demands I have made onto them which prevents such attacks from occuring?" Caius kvetched to his Brother-Cardinal, lazily dismissing the suggestion aside. "Whoever mentions the pilgrims is only mentioning it for its propaganda value, while also knowing full well that our pilgrims will go unassailed by the Brother Krug. Psch."

HIS HOLINESS CAIUS I, High Pontiff of the Church of the Canon, Archbishop of Visigia, Successor of the High Priesthood of the Church, Supreme Pontiff of the Church of True Faith, Keeper of the Canon, Missionary to Aeldin, High Servant to the Exalted's Testaments, Sovereign of the Apostolic City, Humble Servant of the Faithful and Vicar of GOD does decree the following… to Lothair of Brabant, and Jonathan V’llaire Lo, you of the Eastern Lands, for your cries have reached our ears, and we have diligently observed the strife that embroils the Rexdom of Lurak and the Eastern Coalition of Pagan States. Hearken, for the silly pretext of defending their wretched spirits, and the defense of supposed nature upon which the Luraki horde advances against the Queendom of Vikela is naught but a veil for their true intent—war for the sake of war. What, then, can one expect from a throng of pagan barbarians and brutes, save that they delight in the chaos of battle? Verily, this truth we have long known to the Canonist Church. That you are surprised by Krug's nature is a surprise onto us. Know that we did not tame the wild spirit of Brother Krug out of favor or trust in their promises of peace, but rather, we brought them under subjugation to uphold the sanctity of the Church. The Crusade was summoned not to curry favor with these Orcish barbarians but to assert the dominion of the Canon. Thus, when the Orcs yielded to our demands, we, in our mercy, stayed our hand. To wage war upon them after their capitulation would have sullied the honor of the Canonist lands. Therefore, we made peace with Brother Krug, regardless of his barbarous nature, for he swore an oath to refrain from assailing the realms of the Canon. Hence, we bear no duty to restrain and corral the Orc from his brutish wars, especially when they rage and advance against other pagans. As to the petitions of Lothair and Brabant, and Jonathan V’llaire, it is clear unto us that these entreaties are driven by political ambition rather than genuine concern for the welfare of Canonists. Verily, I say unto you, the only ones whom you deceive regarding these Pagan Barbarian states of Vikela, Lurin, and Vortice are yourselves. We know these realms to be wholly pagan in essence. Though you may attempt to portray Brother Krug as a transgressor against Canonism, draping the lands of the Canonist Princes in pious symbols, we discern a different truth. Never have the nations of Vikela, Lurin, and Vortice been embraced as Canonists, neither by themselves, nor by us. They have not sought our coronation, nor desired our Bishops, nor partaken in our holy rites, nor adhered to our sacred laws. The lands of Vortice consort with the Cursed Children, whom we have banned across all Canonist realms. The realm of Lurin is covertly ruled by the Uialben pagan dynasty, who have historically persecuted and scorned our faith, toppling the rightful King of Sutica, Corwin von Alstreim, and promoting every manner of liberalist and metropolitan doctrines, alongside their vile Aengul worship akin to the Xannite and Azdromoth cults. As for Vikela, they harbor Paladins within their borders and do all these things. These states are not, nor have they ever been, Canonist. To claim otherwise is self-deception, for even those states do not consider themselves as such; otherwise, they would seek communion with the universal Church. Thus, it is folly to beseech the Canonist Faithful to intervene on behalf of these Eastern Pagan States. These nations have long rebuffed us. My priests have found no welcome in their lands and have been treated as aggressors and barbarians. These states admit all who come to their gates, with no unifying culture among them. They welcome voidal mages, Elves, Orcs, Dwarves, and all manner of folk. I bid you to look upon our Canonist nations and see the stark difference; the Kingdom of Haense is a unified domain of Canonist Highlanders, and the Heartlander Kingdom a realm of Canonist Heartlanders. Attempt to label these Eastern Pagans as simply as I have labelled the lands of my Canonist Princes, and you shall fail, for they are but a motley assembly united only by their territory of which their citizens live within. As for the Brabantine Duchy, whence you hail, we know them to have maintained communion with the Church and the Canon’s laws, being true Canonists. Sterling Whitewood is a friend to me, and we have kept much correspondence. Yet even he knows this is not a conflict involving Canonists, and that his choice to defend the Pagan hordes is driven not by religious duty but by political strategy, seeking to keep his borders stable. He would rather neighbor peaceful pagans than warlike brutes. Know that, had this war been declared upon Brabant, we would have defended them as the Pontifical Chair. Yet this conflict is against the Eastern Pagan hordes, and Brabant’s decision to join their defense signifies their willingness to fight this war. For these reasons, we deem this strife a war among Pagans. The barbarous destruction they visit upon one another concerns not the Canonist realms. These tribes act in their customary disarray. Let none be deceived. This conflict bears no substance for the Canonist nations, and I shall not bid any to intervene for reasons of faith. These Eastern states should turn to secular Kings and rulers with their political entreaties, rather than to turn to the Church and preach falsities of Canonist Brotherhood of these Pagan states. This is our judgment as the true Holy Mother Church. @sapphic_spidy @Lomiei

Caius I scours the land around Hexenwald with a little telescope, hidden within a disguised trench, covered with burned bushes with a determination to hang anyone who is in communion with the lich.

1980. COLLEGE 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 College. We decree the College to be thus: TRR, His Eminence, Villorik Cardinal Jorenus TMR, His Eminence, Frantzisko Cardinal Albarosa TRR, Her Eminence, Rhosyn Cardinal Casica TMR, His Eminence, Callahan Cardinal Artorus TMR, His Eminence, Mattia Cardinal Lotharia TRR, His Eminence, Jean Cardinal St. Godwin TRR, His Eminence, Rhys Cardinal Andrikev

GRAND-DAUGHTER, On the matter of the Transcript from the Royal Duma, and the definition of the Owynist Sect as heretical and Schismatics, We, of the Church have taken the matter upon our own hands, and have thusly sent a letter to the Lord Siegmund Weiss a letter months before in private, rebuking him for such claims, and urging him to reconsider for a more united man. These tempers of inter-sect strife ought not to be rekindled once again, and to be brought at the forefront, for it will spawn vitriolic rebuke, and will pave the way to reigniting the conflict which we have spent so many hours to queel by our own hand. Siegmund Weiss, in wise counsel has elected to rescind his statement to us in earnest three-four years ago, and we consider the matter, as the Church to be sealed. Let no rebuke be made of this within the Waldenic Diet, for matters of religious are inherently the right of the Canonist Church to address.

"Mh, a friend has fallen once more. It seems that the age of ours is ending. ." Caius judged of the times, a hand raising up to the scraggly beard to tug and pull at it with a quivering lip. "I judge this man to be a hero. He has made his flock into more, and has instilled faith upon the populace." He murmured to himself as his eyes gazed upon the parchment which heralded the news, recalling the day in which he was the first to proclaim John as the King, and having placed the Crown atop that priest. His eyes travelled outside, towards his window, as he pondered upon his own mortality, one of the last standing men of his age, as the young, energetic men replacied the old. He wondered, if he would soon join John.

Caius I spots Vasyl within the Church laughing at a missive. Outraged by the priestly conduct of the priest, Caius rolls up a newspaper and clocks Vasyl on the side of his head, instructing him to wipe these reliquaries instead of laughing at silly papyrus papers. @Laeonathan

1974. HIS HOLINESS CAIUS I, High Pontiff of the Church of the Canon, Archbishop of Visigia, Successor of the High Priesthood of the Church, Supreme Pontiff of the Church of True Faith, Keeper of the Canon, Missionary to Aeldin, High Servant to the Exalted's Testaments, Sovereign of the Apostolic City, Humble Servant of the Faithful and Vicar of GOD does decree the following… In the name of the Almighty GOD, we, Caius I, High Pontiff of the Canonist Church, by the grace and authority of the Laurel of the Priesthood of Owyn, do now address the faithful and all those who dwell in the realms of man in earnest kinship. It is with a profound regret and heavy heart that we of the cloth now must observe the strife and discord between the branches of the House of Ruthern within the Kingdom of Balian and the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska. This conflict, which we believe did spawn from petty squabbles and quarrels now has sown the seeds of division and discord among the tribe of Horen, and thusly is a matter of grave concern to the Holy Mother Church, for it threatens the peace and unity that men our vocation are divinely called to uphold among the faithful earnestly and with great commitment. As the shepherd of the Universal Church, it has become my sacred duty now to foster harmony and concord among the children of GOD. Therefore, under the auspices of our Lord, who is the Prince of Peace, we commit ourselves to the holy endeavor of mediating this budding conflict, with the earnest hope of restoring lasting peace within our tribe of Horen. In this holy endeavor, we have been approached by the monarchs of both the Kingdom of Balian and the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, who have sought our divine mediation and guidance. We accept this grave responsibility with humility and resolve, and we shall convene peace summits where representatives of both branches of House Ruthern, as well as the sovereigns of the respective kingdoms, shall gather under the banner of the Lorraine to seek reconciliation and accord. In these peace summits, we shall invoke the wisdom and justice of the Almighty, and we shall employ the Ecclesiastical authority vested in us to broker a resolution that is just and equitable. We thus hereby declare our unwavering commitment to monitoring this conflict closely, and to intervening in the name of peace and justice. Moreover, we now declare as the Mother Church our solemn pledge to ensure that this dispute does not escalate into a larger calamity that could engulf the kingdoms in turmoil and bloodshed. It is now incumbent upon all parties to approach these summits with hearts open to forgiveness and minds attuned to the divine will, that lasting peace may prevail and the bonds of brotherhood be renewed. We have received the grievances of the House of Ruthern of Hanseti-Ruska and their demands upon the Balianite Branch of their family, which are as follows; ✠ A formal apology to Lady Tatiyana and the House of Ruthern for the perceived slights. The Church supports this motion for an apology delivered from both sides onto one another. ✠ A payment of 500 minas for your grievances. The Church supports this motion for a payment delivered from the House Ruthern of Reutov to the Duchess Tatiyana. ✠ Forfeiting the title of ‘Head of Rutherns’ or any title that implies it. The Church supports this motion for both of the branches to come to a concord of confederation which will dissolve any claimed titles. ✠ The delivery of the Duke or his head for the House of Ruthern. The Church supports the Duke of Reutov abdicating and taking up a monastic life, and condemns any calls for his execution. ✠ An apology from the Queen Sybille for her dishonorable accusations# The Church condemns this demand for involving the Queen of Balian within their demands. ✠ The Balianites will forfeit the name of Ruthern entirely The Church unilaterally VETOES this motion. Under the auspices of the Law, no son may be punished for the sins of their fathers. Should a decree come to be published, that of which bastardises the Reutov line of House Ruthern, the Church shall release decrees of legitimisation to fix this wrongdoing and will take it as a challenge to Ecclesiastical authority.

Caius I, pleased with the decree nods his head towards the missive, pleased with the outcome and Bo's pious step. He turns towards Cardinal Frantzisko. "It is our hope that hostile relationships with the Sovereignity of Ravenmire will cease henceforth, that relations may be normalised and prosperous for the future. Rest assured, in the name of honour, the Church must cease it's sponsorship of hostile military action against Ravenmire henceforth, on accoutn of this concession. Let it be known to men." @cadazio

As the An-Gho, in some dark corner relishes in his victory, High Pontiff Caius sat atop his desk, writing a visual children's novella about the Azdrazi, even coupling it with nice drawings! He writes; "Kal'Dorkarmorkar'Zorkar, the Dragonkin leal servant of Azdromoth sits in his temple of Aka'zorjar'morkar'dorkar, breathing smoke and soot out of his nose as he screeches and breathes out fire. He then travels outside and starts going on a rampage, killing and slaying random people on the street, banditting on the roads and extracting tribute on people who are travelling. He then infiltrates the King's court and sends a private message to the King's letterbox asking for a councillor position. He gets rejected. Kal'Dorkarmorkar'Zorkar starts breathing fire in rage. He then goes to the church and asks the Pontiff for a Bishop position. He gets rejected. He bends over a shrine of his beloved titan, with his fellow dragonkin buddy Mal'zorkarmorkardorkar. They sacrifice random peasants before the altar. Such is life." He then captions the children's novel with a little illustration. @Jentos

1978. HIS HOLINESS CAIUS I, High Pontiff of the Church of the Canon, Archbishop of Visigia, Successor of the High Priesthood of the Church, Supreme Pontiff of the Church of True Faith, Keeper of the Canon, Missionary to Aeldin, High Servant to the Exalted's Testaments, Sovereign of the Apostolic City, Humble Servant of the Faithful and Vicar of GOD does decree… ┏━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┓ SECTION I - Opening Prayer SECTION II - Diocesan Restructuring SECTION III - Diocesan Appointment SECTION IV - College Appointments SECTION V - Curia Appointment SECTION VI - Beatifications SECTION VII - Canonisation SECTION VIII - Introduction to Reforms SECTION IX - On the lethargy within the Mother Church SECTION X - Black Sepulchre SECTION XI - The Causes of Saints SECTION XII - On the Direction of the Church SECTION XIII - On the Feudal conflict of the Skies SECTION XIV - On the Necessity of Ecumenical Council SECTION XV - Abolishment of Monsignors ┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛ SECTION I - OPENING PRAYER Almighty and merciful GOD, We humbly bow before Your divine presence, seeking Your grace and guidance as we the children of Horen toil and journey upon the pavements of life. As we are bound by the sacred threads of faith and virtue of the Scrolls, through the Exalted, Pour forth the emanation of glory upon us, instilling within our hearts the flame of initiative, that we may boldly step into the challenges that lay before us. Grant us the wisdom to discern Your will from the will of the mundane, and embolden our hearts with the strength to carry the virtuous path with unwavering determination. Bless the Kings, Princes and Bishops of this world, that they may be inspired by Your divine example to cultivate for the greater good of humanity. Amen. SECTION II - DIOCESAN RESTRUCTURING It is through Our Apostolic Right, bestowed unto Us through the Laurel derived from the Exalted, that We see fit to reconstruct, merge and establish the following Diocese, so that Our Church may be better and more efficiently managed by the accordingly appointed shepherds. DIOCESE OF RHOSMARK Encompassing the entirety of the Duchy of Ravenmire, the Drowned Strand as well as the surrounding parishes not incorporated in other Dioceses, with its seat in the Parish of Ravenmire City. To be shepherded by Frantzisko Cardinal Albarosa, ex officio. SECTION III - DIOCESAN APPOINTMENT It is through our Apostolic Right, bestowed unto us through the Laurel derived from the Exalted that we thus appoint the following member of the priesthood to shepherd and be pastor of the Church’s Diocese: THE DIOCESE OF RHOSMARK to be shepherded by His Grace, Frantzisko Cardinal Albarosa, ex officio. SECTION IV - COLLEGE 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 College. We decree the College to be thus: TRR, His Eminence, Villorik Cardinal Jorenus TMR, His Eminence, Frantzisko Cardinal Albarosa TRR, Her Eminence, Rhosyn Cardinal Casica TMR, His Eminence, Callahan Cardinal Artorus TMR, His Eminence, Mattia Cardinal Lotharia SECTION V - CURIA 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 thus: Vice Chancellor, His Eminence, Frantzisko Cardinal Albarosa Auditor of the Tribunal, His Eminence, Mattia Cardinal Lotharia Prelate of the Priesthood, Her Eminence, Rhosyn Cardinal Casica Pontifical Chamberlain, Jean Bishop St. Godwin Commandant of the Pontifical Guard, His Eminence, Villorik Cardinal Jorenus Palatine of the Apostolic City, Abbess Rebecca of the Monastery of St. Julia of Paradisus Secretariat to His Holiness, Callahan Cardinal Artorus SECTION VI - BEATIFICATIONS It is through Our Apostolic Right, bestowed unto Us through the Laurel derived from the Exalted that We affirm the following venerations: BLESSED GERARD OF ST. JUDE Grandmaster Gerard Ouvrier of Saint Jude has been deemed Beatified as per Pontifical instruction, for his commitment to upholding piety across his chivalric duty in life, and his martyrdom at the hands of the Saulician. BLESSED HIGH PONTIFF PONTIAN IV High Pontiff Pontian IV has been deemed Beatified as per Pontifical instruction, for his numerous contributions to the betterment of the Canonist flock, his generous patronage of the Canonist League, and his unwavering resilience in the face of multiple would-be schisms and the transgressions of the Adrian Anathema. BLESSED AMAYA OF VENZIA Amaya of Venzia has been deemed Beatified as per Pontifical instruction, for her martyrdom at the hands of the Saulician, and the Rosebloom Miracle at New Valdev in the aftermath of her death. SECTION VII - CANONISATION By vote of Our Curia We, the Pontificate, has seen reasonable to further raise a member of our beloved dead and remembered. SAINT CALLIOPE OF MERRYWEATHER PATRON SAINT OF NUN COMBATANTS AND THOSE STRUGGLING WITH INFERTILITY MIRACLES Once, the Duchy of Reinmar was beset by a band of undead led by a necromancer that, amidst the ensuing fighting, set the lands surrounding the Duchy’s keep ablaze. After this attack, the Duke went to his keep’s chapel and prayed to Saint Calliope for intercession, after which she appeared to him in a vision and miraculously undid the damage the undead’s fire had done. Amidst the reconstruction of the Aaunic Marchlands following their liberation from schismatics in the Midlands War, Salvian monastics well-versed in the arts of civil architecture were dispatched to Aevos to assist the Aaunic engineers, seeking to restore unrestricted travel for pilgrims to the Holy See. Journeying through the mountainous reaches of the Franklands, a group of Fausteni nuns was ambushed by a band of pagan reavers, clad in the garbs of Frankish remnants. For protection, these sisters carried with them a helmet of their Royal Regiment, dented by a Scyfling strike, that had once belonged to Saint Calliope; seeing the raiders descend upon them from the mountain slope, the nuns formed a prayer circle around their relic. The Frankish chieftain, angered by their silent defiance, forced his way past the nuns and struck the helm with his bronze sword. From the impact rang a trailing sound like the toiling of a bell, and in a blinding flash of holy light, the bandit's blade shattered before his very eyes; the weapons of his companions also crumbled to dust, and the pagans thus abandoned their gear and immediately fled the scene. A lordly couple from the Kingdom of Aaun was plagued by infertility despite many years of pious union, in which they adhered to their marital vows in accordance with the Virtue. The pair then embarked on a pilgrimage to the tomb of Saint Calliope, where they bowed before her icon in prayer, and left an assortment of votive offerings in reverence. That night, the lady of the pair dreamed of standing upon the shores of Fausten, which she had never visited; in her arms, she cradled a healthy infant. A year afterwards, the couple welcomed their first child, securing their line of succession. SECTION VIII - INTRODUCTION TO COMING REFORMS Dearly beloved, It is with devotion and a spirit of the Virtue and the sacred duty of my office that I, your humble servant and High Pontiff, now set forth these words upon the parchment, that you may be illuminated of the path of our endeavors as the Mother Church, and the divine decrees enshrined within this Golden Bull. Verily, the foremost among our triumphs stands as the righteous crusade against the Saulician scourge. For when I had ascended to this holy office, and of the laurel, the blessed of the tribe of Horen erstwhile were beset by the diabolist and the malefactor, much akin to the treachery of Saul. Yet, as the sacred Scroll of Gospel recounts of our exalted father Horen: "So Horen was inspired with the Word of GOD, and he returned to his people. 40 He went into his camp and found that two thirds had fallen into iniquity, and they embattled Horen’s tabernacle but could not enter it." (Gospel 2:40) Thus it was, in the time of our Pontificate, that we, guided by divine providence, have seen the vanquishing of evil from amidst the sons of Horen. We faced the nefarious Demomancer cult, of Sarryn the Cockroach, who now skulk in shadows as the loathsome insects they are. We revealed the abomination Sermi, a flesh-eating ghoul, as an enemy of the faith. We extended mercy to Laelia, apprehended Cassius Javaron, and transformed Haus into a man of virtue. Through covenants with Hohkmat and Kaethul, and a forthcoming pact with the Vale, we have fulfilled our sacred mandate to purge iniquity, as prescribed by the Epistles of Prophet Owyn. Now, we must turn our vigilant gaze to the external threats that loom beyond our Canondom. The insidious forces of the Azdrazist and Necromancer, though not festering within, are grievous foes. In the spirit of Man, of the Breath of the living Lord, and for solidarity among Horen’s tribe, I have thus joined hands with the Kingdom of Balian, supporting their endeavor to cleanse their realm of the Azdrazi blight. We have also bore witness to the Saulicians of the cursed forest during our visits to these lands of man, and behold, for we of the Mother Church hear the pleas of our estranged brethren in the land of Cherry Blossoms, that by our hand, Sakuragakure Liberation Army was promptly established. We, in the spirit of the unity of Horen, as fellow Canonists, fellow brothers, have gathered resources and succor to sustain them in their hour of need. Despite my earnest labors in the field, the sacred administration of our Mother Church is beset by clerical backlog and sundry issues. Reformation is a necessity. We must fortify our dogma and principles with renewed vigor, while upkeep the received tradition and the testaments of the Exalted. Know that I hear your laments and anxieties, and our clerical body shall strive with all piety and diligence to enact the reforms required during our High Pontificate. With this exposition of our current affairs, I seal these divine decrees within this Golden Bull, that ye may grasp and hear my word, of the impetus behind these mandates and the trials we confront. May the light of GOD illuminate our path and sustain us in righteousness. SECTION IX - ON THE LETHARGY WITHIN THE MOTHER CHURCH Hearken, O sons of Horen, and behold, for I, humble servant and High Pontiff, must thus confront an issue that has plagued our Mother Church for centuries, an affliction endured by Pontiffs far before my seating upon the chair of Clement and of Evaristus. It is the lethargy within the administration of our holy Mother Church. This plague, this anemia has festered so deeply within our clerical establishment, that tending to the spiritual woes as commanded of us by Prophet Owyn is an arduous process. Yea, it is verily that our sacred received tradition of the Prophets dictate and enshrine the hallowed Cursus Honorum of the Church, and the decentralized nature of our priestly vocation among the body of the Church; Commencing thus with the ordained priesthood and vowed monasticism, progressing thenceforth toward the ecclesiarchy as bishops and abbots, following a clerical career that culminates in a seat within the High Ecclesiarchy as archbishops, who are ordinarily considered for the status of Cardinal, among whom the High Pontiff is usually elected. Now, during my Pontificate, I have observed that the seat of the High Pontiff is one fraught with great troubles. While the systems of our Church are designed and intended by the Church Fathers to foster a decentralized structure, built from the bottom up, and received tradition dictates the initiative of bishops, archbishops, and cardinals, it is the visage of the Church in our age that has now overtaken these spiritual duties of these mentioned seats. Even now, I receive letters from men across our beloved Canondom, that ought to be referred to their local bishop or my Curial officers, each of whom hath ministerial duties regarding certain sections of our administration. I receive letters seeking clarification or amendment to the verdicts of my Bishops and Archbishops. I receive notices that compel me to travel from the Holy See in arduous journey, that I may resolve these administrative matters, or illuminate the flock with heavenly wisdom. With the power of the seat of the High Pontiff, it has thus become that men among our beloved Canondom recognize only the seat of the High Pontiff to conduct their affairs and dealings with the Church. Am I to follow every minutiae detail and manage them? Am I to be present in multiple places at once? Our Church, and the positions we bestow upon our clergy, are intended to be ones of decentralized initiative, that bishops may have reign over their dioceses, and of Archbishops to manage their Bishops; as I oft proclaim, "Be a Pontiff unto thine own land." However, after centuries of erstwhile High Pontiffs - may the Lord bless them - managing and signing off on every decree and decision made by the clergy, our established precedent has now rendered it that the High Pontiff must approve every minor detail sought by the members of the clergy. This curbed the valuable initiative and the Imperium held by the Bishop’s mitre. This allowed lethargy and anemia to fester among our ranks. Now, when Bishops are confronted by issues within their land, when they are called upon for the management of the faithful, their hands tremble and they fear my ire. And we contend with every minute detail of their approval! So, let me soberly proffer herein my thesis of what the office of the High Pontiff must embody; The bearer of the Laurel must be a figurehead of accountability, one that focuses on grand ideas and one that enforces the general direction of the Church. I cannot sign off on every wedding, see to every manner of clerical dispute, and treat with your kings in your own place. I yearn to welcome your initiative. I desire that you rule your own diocese, and that the men of your land look unto you, my Bishops, for spiritual guidance before they look unto me. I wish to feel jubilant when I hear of your initiatives, and to correct you as needed. Now, hear as I recognize that this issue is no fault of my clergymen, nor of my beloved predecessors, but that we have been raised in an era that has unfortunately assigned profound power to the office of the High Pontiff. You know nothing else! You cannot envision a reality where you can be autonomous within your own dioceses, O Bishops of mine! But begin to envision it! Let us strive to change this reality and shatter these horizons! Thus, hear my decree enshrined by the seal of my office, that we may purge lethargy from among the Mother Church; the decrees of which shall be known for enshrining decentralization within our administration; SECTION I - DUTIES OF CLERICS As informed by the Codex Iurius Canonici Danielus Pontifex, the obligations for the Priesthood are clear. This section now enshrines the pastoral duties of clerics. A priest must oversee minor ceremonial duties and minor sacraments, such as weddings and baptisms, while participating and hosting masses within their Archdiocese regularly. A priest must participate within the regional councils formed and ruled by the local Archbishop, to assist in local administrations. A priest must take regular confessions and offer penances to the flock. A priest is advised to partake in local politics to promote the tenets of the Canonist Church, while serving to rebuke astray doctrines promoted by secular powers. A priest within a diocese must answer to the edicts and tend to the rulings of their local Archbishops and Bishops. A priest must perform inquisition and investigation onto Saulicians to be rooted out, offering redemption and penance to sinful men among the common laity. SECTION II - DUTIES OF BISHOPS As informed by the Codex Iurius Canonici Danielus Pontifex, the obligations for Bishops are clear. This section now enshrines the pastoral duties of Bishops. A Bishop must oversee minor ceremonial duties and minor sacraments, such as weddings and baptisms, while participating and hosting masses within their diocese and Archdiocese regularly. A Bishop must participate within the regional councils formed and ruled by the local Archbishop, to assist in local administrations. A Bishop must preside over a parish of the subsidiary Church lands of their diocese, typically found within Vassaldoms of a Kingdom, performing regular ceremonial duties therein. A Bishop must take regular confessions and offer penances to the flock of their diocese, overtaking the duties of confessor for the nobility and mandating regular confessions for the nobility of their diocese. A Bishop must announce and institute edicts and rulings concerning their own diocese, and abide by and answer to the edicts of their local Archbishop. A Bishop must undertake military ceremonial duties within their Archdiocese, ranging from blessings of weapons to prayers for military endeavors. A Bishop must seek to promote the priesthood, teaching and presiding over multiple acolytes in matters concerning Church administration. A Bishop must perform inquisition and investigation onto Saulicians to be rooted out, offering redemption and penance among the nobility and ministers of their diocese. SECTION III - DUTIES OF ARCHBISHOPS As informed by the Codex Iurius Canonici Danielus Pontifex, the obligations for Archbishops are clear. This section now enshrines the pastoral duties of Archbishops. An Archbishop must delegate and assign minor sacramental and pastoral duties, such as marriages and baptisms, to the priests and Bishops serving under their Archdiocese. If able, an Archbishop must form and rule regional councils that shall meet at regular intervals, consisting of the local priesthood, Bishops, and holy orders, to manage and promote Canonism within their diocese. An Archbishop must assign a Vicar to serve as second in command from among their Bishops. An Archbishop must ensure the baptism of every child under the age of ten within their Archdiocese, delegating the investigation of unbaptized children to their Bishops and the administration of the sacrament to their clerics. An Archbishop must assign clerics to preside over pastoral and sacramental duties in the parishes of subsidiary Church lands, ensuring regular ceremonial duties are performed therein. If able, an Archbishop must mandate regular intervals wherein their seat Cathedral shall be open for laypersons seeking confession and sacraments, summoning the priesthood within the Archdiocese to promote these sacraments to the populace. An Archbishop within their Archdiocese must lead inquisitions and investigations into Saulicians to be rooted out, offering redemption and penance among the nobility and the ministry. An Archbishop must preside over and undertake major sacramental and pastoral duties, such as Masses and weddings of the nobility and ministry. An Archbishop must fund and create Holy Sites within their Archdiocese. If able, an Archbishop must campaign for and receive an honorary seat of council within their respective Kingdoms. An Archbishop must announce and institute edicts and rulings concerning their own Archdiocese, and abide by and answer to the edicts of the High Pontiff. SECTION IV - ECCLESIASTICAL AUTONOMY Reinstatement of Ecclesiastical Bulls: The issuance of Minor Bulls by the local Ecclesiarchy, previously prohibited under the Pontificate of Owyn III, is hereby reinstated. Bishops and Archbishops are authorized to release Minor and Diocesan Bulls within their respective jurisdictions. Duties and Jurisdiction of Bishops Issuance of Diocesan Bulls: Bishops shall have the authority to issue Diocesan Bulls concerning matters exclusively within their Diocese. These decrees must align with the overarching tenets of the Canonist Church and address local ecclesiastical, doctrinal, and administrative issues pertinent to their Diocese. These decrees may not persecute or prohibit any differing rites extant within the Canonist Church. Interdiction Authority: Bishops may place individuals or specific communities within their Diocese under interdict. Interdicts must be reported to their Archbishop for approval, but shall be effective immediately upon issuance. Bishops must publish a public missive for the interdict to take effect. The process of interdiction shall include thorough investigation and the opportunity for the community or individual to repent and make amends. Interdicts will restrict access to certain sacraments and participation, namely marriages, last rites and anointing, that shall last for a period of two years. Duties and Jurisdiction of Archbishops Issuance of Minor Bulls: Archbishops shall have the authority to issue Minor Bulls concerning matters within their Archdiocese. These decrees shall encompass broader ecclesiastical and administrative concerns, ensuring the spiritual and administrative coherence of their subordinate dioceses. Minor Bulls issued by Archbishops shall have the full force of ecclesiastical law within their Archdiocese, and may address matters of doctrine, discipline, and governance. These Bulls may not persecute or prohibit any differing rites extant within the Canonist Church. Excommunication Authority: Archbishops may excommunicate individuals within their Archdiocese. Such excommunications must be reported to the High Pontiff for approval. The Archbishop shall ensure all ecclesiastical protocols are observed, with excommunication serving as a final recourse after all efforts of reconciliation have been exhausted. The Archbishop must publish a public missive for the Excommunication to take effect. Excommunications issued by Archbishops shall carry significant weight and are presumed valid upon explicitly being assented by the High Pontiff. Individuals who have been excommunicated by ecclesiastical authority must also face trial by their secular kingdom. The secular authorities shall be informed of the excommunication and may proceed with legal proceedings as they deem appropriate. Excommunication shall be subject to secular law and justice, ensuring that their actions are adjudicated in both spiritual and temporal realms. Implementation and Compliance Alignment with Canon Law: All Minor Bulls issued by Bishops and Archbishops must be consistent with the Codex Iurius Canonici Danielus Pontifex and the decrees of the High Pontiff. Any Minor Bull contradicting Canon Law shall be null and void. Reporting and Oversight: Bishops and Archbishops must report all coming Minor Bulls, excommunications, and interdictions to the Holy See before publication. The High Pontiff retains the right to review and revoke any Minor Bull, excommunication, or interdict if deemed contrary to the interests of the Canonist Church. Archbishops, due to their elevated status, shall have their Bulls reviewed with deference, recognizing their significant authority within their Archdiocese. SECTION X - BLACK SEPULCHRE Lo, sons and daughters of Horen, hearken and hear now of the hallowed Order of the Black Sepulchre, which had been established by the devout hand of Daniel I. Established within the land of Athera, we know this Order to be a sacred part of the Received Tradition of our Canonist Church for centuries. Yet, this sacred mantle, counting among its membership ancient Fathers such as Andrik Vydra, Guy de Bar and Adelran Coulthard has now languished in obscurity in the intervening epochs, unheard as its tomes caught dust and fray. Yet, under the guidance of the Venerable Pontiff, Pontian IV, and the diligent restructuring efforts of our predecessor, High Pontiff Sixtus VI, the dormant embers of this esteemed Order have been rekindled. However, we of the priestly vocation find ourselves at a juncture where clarity and definition are warranted. The Order, as it stands now, is in need of reform and delineation. By my hand, no longer shall it linger in the shadows of ambiguity, but have a defined criterion, structure and intent. Let it be known that henceforth, the Order of the Black Sepulchre shall be designated as a ceremonial entity, its Knightly title bestowed upon those pious souls from among us who have rendered their exceptional service to the Holy See and in the name of the wider Canondom. Thus, let the definitions and the structuring of the Order to be hearkened and heard; Establishment and Purpose The purpose of the Order of the Black Sepulchre is the acknowledgement of exceptional service of Canonists to the Church. Its name derives from the ashen urns, or black sepulchres, carried by wandering templars of yore. The form of the Order of the Black Sepulchre is an association of Knights. The Order shall be recognised as an honorary Knighthood of ceremonial capacities, and shall not be bestowed any martial powers. Leadership and Membership The High Pontiff, shall serve as the supreme leader and sole authority vested with the power to confer or revoke membership within the Order. Membership within the Order shall hold seven seats, with every extant member of the Order taking up one seat within. Membership to the Order shall not be granted if all seven seats are presently occupied. Criteria of Membership Membership within the Order is restricted solely to practicing adherents of the Canonist faith whose unwavering commitment and exemplary service to the Church have been duly recognized. Candidates must be nominated by either an Archbishop, or a Curiate for ostensibly demonstrating two requirements listed herein; A candidate for membership must have demonstrated contributions to the enrichment of the Canonist Church through the creation or collating of critical works of arts, architecture, or publications that serve to uplift and edify the faithful. Candidates must have displayed exceptional valor and chivalry in defense of the Canonist Creed, whether through military service, acts of bravery, or the defense of the Church against heretical threats. Candidates must have made substantial financial contributions to the Church or donated significant holy relics, thereby demonstrating their commitment to the material and spiritual well-being of the Canonist community. Candidates must have actively campaigned for legal reform within their respective Kingdoms, advocating for laws and policies that align with the Canonist ethos. Duties and Responsibilities Each member of the Order shall be entrusted with safeguarding an urn containing the ashes of a Saint or a Blessed. Upon their passing or departure from the Order, the urn shall be returned to the Church for veneration. Knights of the Order shall commit themselves to serving as exemplars of virtue and piety. It is incumbent upon members to engage in acts of charity and philanthropy, providing aid and support for the creation of Holy Sites, and routes of pilgrimage. Members are called upon to defend the Canonist Creed and the Church against heresy, schism, and all forms of religious persecution. Consistent with these reformations of the Order, the Mother Church sees it fit to award Knighthood of the order to the following individuals; Sir John of Aaun, Keeper of the Ashen Urn of Saint Godwin of Aaun on grounds of his chivalric valor, enfeoffment of the Apostolic City and other lands for the stewardship of the Church and his upkeep of Church policies in the realm secular. @Ramon Sir Ailred of Druzstra, Keeper of the Ashen Urn of Saint Pius of Sutica on grounds of his chivalric valor and campaign for the Canonist ethics. @Herod Knight-Bishop Rhys, Keeper of the Ashen Urn of Blessed Pontian IV on grounds of his chivalric valor and campaign for the Canonist ethics. @ReveredOwl Posthumously, Sir Gerard Ouvrier, Keeper of his Spirit on grounds of his chivalric valor, his martyrdom and his thorough investigation of the Saulician in life. @DancingZebra267 Sir Kato Oijin of Sakuragakure, Keeper of the Ashen Urn of Venerated Leon, on grounds of his chivalric valor and patronage of Holy Sites. @Reckless Banzai Screamer Sir Uther Tar-Numenatar, Keeper of the Ashen Urn of High Pontiff Saint Tylos II on grounds of his advancement of the Templaric arts, his chivalric valor, and his donation to the Holy See. @SimplySeo Sir Jeffrey de Wees, Keeper of the Ashen Urn of Blessed Mateo of Durres, on grounds of his advancement of the alchemic arts and donation to the Holy See. @Gustando SECTION XI - THE CAUSES OF SAINTS Blessed children of the Mother Church, heed our sacred office as it is spoken thusly, that the blessed memories of the pious that lived before us, venerated as men and women of great virtue and exemplary life, have been canonized into the thread of the Canon in oft lackluster processes that risk exalting those unworthy of the Skies, for political and secular ambition, or the opposite, see the memories of the laudable fade into the obscurity of oblivion. This is why, with the power granted to the Throne of Saint Daniel as successor to Horen’s Laurel, the Church shall henceforth standardize the process for the Causes of Saints, a process overseen by the Pontifical Curia as per their divine administrative and doctrinal mission in service of the Vicar of GOD. THE PROCEDURE FOR THE CAUSE OF VENERATED PERSONS In accordance to extant Canon Law, Book IV Title III Chapters 2-5 SECTION I - GENERAL PRESCRIPTIONS §1. The Church, as successors to Horen’s Laurel and thus the supreme legitimate authority on matters spiritual, shall thus assess the validity of miracle-workers and/or deem a virtuous individual’s assured ascension to the Skies. §2. Only the Church, through the appropriate processes detailed herein, may deem an individual suitable for veneration. §3. Once an individual is found suitable for veneration, this status may not be revoked, except through the appropriate processes detailed herein. §3. The High Pontiff, as the Vicar of GOD, holds the power to veto a cause for veneration at any point after being presented to the Curia. §4 The High Pontiff may not immediately deem an individual suitable for veneration without the appropriate processes detailed herein. §4 The process for revocation is not retroactive. All canonisations made prior to the publishing of this bull cannot be appealed. SECTION II - THE POSITIO §1. A positio is an official document presented by a postulator to the Pontifical Curia on the cause for a prospective candidate’s case. §2. Any individual, be it clergy or laity, may draft a positio as a postulator, as long as it is done so with reverence and respect. §3. For a prospective canonization, a positio of canonization must be presented with the following prescriptions: Wherein the candidate meets by the regulations of Book IV Title III Chapter 3 §3, A biography of the candidate’s life be presented in depth, A thorough recounting of minimum two performed miracles, A brief overview of the candidate’s positio for beatification, If the candidate’s positio for canonization is drafted for an already beatified candidate prior to the promulgation of this document, then a recounting of the circumstances of the beatification and relevant material (golden bulls, etc) shall suffice, Any other relevant material, information, etc. §4. For a prospective beatification, a positio of beatification must be presented with the following prescriptions, without fail: Wherein the candidate meets by the regulations of Book IV Title III Chapter 4 §3, A biography of the candidate’s life be presented in depth, A thorough recounting of minimum one performed miracle, Any other relevant material, information, etc. §5. For a prospective veneration, a positio of veneration must be presented with the following prescriptions: A biography of the candidate’s life be presented in depth, A recounting of martyrdom, virtuous acts in service to the Church or the Laity, and proof of virtuous living. §6. A positio must be presented to the Bishop or Archbishop of the Diocese or Archdiocese where the candidate was laid to rest for revision. Should the candidate’s Diocese or Archdiocese be found unable to revise the document for any reason, then the positio must be presented to the postulator’s Diocese or Archdiocese of origin. SECTION III - PROCESSES FOR EXAMINATION §1. Once a positio is reviewed and approved by the Bishop or Archbishop relevant, it may be published publicly by the postulator, or directly sent to the Pontifical Curia in private, §2. The Pontifical Curia is to launch an official investigation into all matters pertinent to the positio, to assess the claims’ validity and relevance to the cause for veneration. §3. The Vice-Chancellor is to lead the investigation. Should the Vice-Chancellor be incapable, the Auditor of the Tribunal is to take this role, and so forth. §4. The Pontifical Curia is given a total of two Saint’s years to investigate the positio, come to a conclusion, and vote on its validity. Should the Pontifical Curia need more time to investigate, they may ask the High Pontiff for an extension, with a maximum of two additional saint’s weeks. Should the Pontifical Curia be incapable to vote on the validity by the end of the two saint’s weeks, or the four saint’s weeks with extension, then the matter is delegated to athe High Pontiff immediately for an unilateral decision. The positio’s validity is dictated by simple majority voting, with the Pontifical Curia meeting by quorum. §5. Once the validity of the positio is confirmed through vote, it is presented to the High Pontiff, who may decide to legitimize the cause and promulgate it through a Bull. §6. As per Section I §3, the High Pontiff may veto the positio at any stage of the cause. Upon the High Pontiff’s veto, or denial upon presentation, the positio is void and null. If a positio is rendered void, the postulator must wait eight saint’s weeks to draft a new positio and restart the process, for the same candidate or another. If the same candidate’s causes are vetoed or denied three times, the postulator will be barred from submitting any other positios, or initiate any other causes, for the candidate in question or any other. SECTION IV - PROCESSES FOR REVOCATION §1. Should the validity of an extant venerable person be put into question, the revocation of their status may only be done through an appeal for revocation. §2. An appeal is drafted similarly to a positio, and presented by a postulator to the Bishop or Archbishop in the Ecclesiastical jurisdiction of their residence for revision. §3. Any baptized person may write an appeal for revocation, all appeals will require legitimate cause to be valid. The candidate has been falsely canonized on account of improper Ecclesiastical process. The candidate has been falsely canonized under duress. The candidate has been falsely canonized for political, monetary or otherwise worldly gain. The candidate was alive at the time of canonisation. §4. The Pontifical Curia is to launch an official investigation into all matters pertinent to the appeal, to assess each individual argument or claims’ validity and relevance to the cause for veneration. §5. The Vice-Chancellor is to lead the investigation into each argument individually. Should the Vice-Chancellor be incapable, the Auditor of the Tribunal is to take this role, and so forth. §6. The Pontifical Curia is given a total of four Saint’s years to investigate each argument in the appeal, come to a conclusion, and vote on its validity. Should the Pontifical Curia need more time to investigate, they may ask the High Pontiff for an extension, with a maximum of four additional Saint’s weeks. Should the Pontifical Curia be incapable to vote on the validity by the end of the two saint’s weeks, or the four saint’s weeks with extension, then the matter is delegated to the High Pontiff immediately for an unilateral decision. Each argument’s validity is dictated by simple majority voting, with the Pontifical Curia meeting by quorum. §7. Once the validity of each argument is individually valid as confirmed through vote, it is presented to the High Pontiff, who may decide to legitimize the cause and promulgate it through a Bull. §8. As per Section I §3, the High Pontiff may veto the appeal, however only at the final stage, after each argument is individually verified. Upon the High Pontiff’s veto, or denial upon presentation, the positio is void and null. If a positio is rendered void, the postulator must wait eight Saint’s weeks to draft a new positio and restart the process, for the same candidate or another. If the same candidate’s causes are vetoed or denied three times, the postulator will be barred from submitting any other positios, or initiate any other causes, for the candidate in question or any other. SECTION XII - ON THE DIRECTION OF THE HOLY MOTHER CHURCH Faithful children of the Lord, hear the words of Caius I, High Pontiff. Long have I been active in the temporal realm, guiding our holy flock through tribulations. Now, let us turn our hearts and minds to the sacraments and the sacred ministry. Herein, we declare the state of the Church within the Canonist Kingdoms and the divine mandates that shall guide our efforts. Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska and Kingdom of Balian The strife that besets these realms brings great sorrow to the Holy Church. We renew our sacred vow to foster peace among men, striving to quell these conflicts lest they usher in a new age of strife. We implore the faithful of Hanseti-Ruska and Balian to embrace the sacrament of Penance and to seek the path of reconciliation, that the peace of the Lord may reign in their hearts and lands. The Heartlander Coalition Within the Heartlander Coalition, the Church's infrastructure is robust, yet there is a scarcity of humble clergy. In Aaun, the priests are elevated as Bishops or Cardinals, leaving a void in the lower ranks. We call upon the able men and women to embrace the duties of Acolyteship, to minister and deliver masses, emulating the piety of Father Davide. Let the Heartlanders renew their devotion and ensure the pastoral care of all souls. Hyspia The matter of Princess Ramona's coronation has languished unresolved. For her to be rightfully recognized, the High Pontiff must perform the coronation. We urge Hyspia to arrange this with the Holy See without delay. Additionally, Hyspia lacks a parish priest. We beseech the faithful of Hyspia to present men or women ready to serve the Church to nurture the spiritual well-being of their people. Principality of Reinmar We decree that Reinmar shall embark upon the construction of holy sites and shrines along its country lanes and woodland paths, enriching the spiritual fabric of the land. It is vital for the Reinmaren clergy to cultivate the next generation of Acolytes, ensuring the continuity of Churchly duties. Let Reinmar be adorned with sacred places, and let its people walk ever closer to the Lord. Kingdom of Númendil Our bond with Númendil grows strong under the guidance of Tar-Caraneth. Church participation flourishes, with new priests and well-tended holy sites. The Grand Temple of Caius stands as a beacon of faith. We call for the diligent maintenance of this blessed status quo, that Númendil may continue to be a paragon of devotion and worship. Ravenmire Ravenmire harbors excommunicants who defy peace agreements and cling to stolen titles. Ottavia and Richard, having abdicated to evade excommunication, must know that noncompliance with peace terms will extend their excommunication to their ilk. Moreover, Ravenmire’s claim to kingly authority, without our blessing, is a grave offense. All pretensions to kingship must cease until the Church decides that Bo can be rightly crowned. SECTION XIII - ON THE FEUDAL CONFLICT OF THE SKIES With great concern I have observed the conflict unfolding outside the lands of Canondom. The wretched spawn of Azdromoth, that plague and wyrm upon Terra, have for many decades been waging their war against the servants of Xan, the self-righteous legions that call themselves his Paladins. Hitherto has this struggle been contained beyond the domain of Man, and that has been amenable to us, for the ilk of neither Azdromoth nor Xan, far more wretched as the former may be, have long been deemed welcome by any who profess our Faith. Alas, I remain worried that this may not be so in the near future: the battle between these two damnable hosts has intensified in scope and cruelty, and their patrons have emerged to lead their armies in person. Grim tidings of black wings have reached the Holy See, and those of starmetal meteors that are the favour of Xan - all have impacted the lands of Man. The day that one side might claim a complete and lasting victory over the other draws ever nearer, and regardless of who shall briefly emerge triumphant, in the end such a triumph shall only be claimed by the everlasting plague of paganism and iniquity. However, know still that I am not so stubborn as to equate the misguided flock with one lost entirely to vile and wicked Ibleesian lies: I have instructed my Holy Orders and my emissaries to parley with the Paladins, in the hopes that the rift between us could be mended. To you of the Paladin persuasion I declare: there is no victory for your kin but in the embrace of the Lord alongside His faithful. I beseech you, renounce your idolatry, and with your rebellious patron repent and defer to the only authority that could be, the Most Powerful and Omnipotent Creator. Only then will the forces of Canondom march by your side. And to you, Azdrazi, contemptible beasts, I admonish: know that any victory you might claim will be but brief. Your teeth shall shatter upon the bulwark of the Lord - when the host of our Princes moves against you, then you will know war; there will be no corner of this Terra you can scurry back to. SECTION XIV - ON THE NECESSITY OF ECUMENICAL COUNCIL On the Revision of Canon Law Whereas the Canon Law promulgated by our predecessor, Sixtus, was issued without the approbation of the Ecumenical Council, it is hereby decreed that a commission shall be established to undertake a comprehensive revision of said Canon Law. This commission shall consist of esteemed theologians, learned canonists, and devout clergy, whose sacred duty shall be to review, amend, and perfect the Canon Law in accordance with the divine will and the traditions of the Holy Mother Church. On the Convocation of the Ecumenical Council Upon the completion of the revision of the Canon Law, an Ecumenical Council shall be summoned to ratify and sanctify the revised Code. The Ecumenical Council shall be composed of representatives from all Canonist Kingdoms, including bishops, archbishops, and other high-ranking clergy, to ensure that the decrees reflect the collective wisdom and faith of the Universal Church. On the Acknowledgment of Raguel, the Aengul of Justice Furthermore, it is decreed that the acceptance of Raguel, the Aengul of Justice, as a divine protector and overseer of righteousness, must also be presented to and ratified by the forthcoming Ecumenical Council. This acknowledgment shall enshrine the veneration of Raguel within the doctrines of the Holy Church, affirming his sacred role in the dispensation of divine justice. On the Edicts Within This Bull Though these edicts bear the validity of my Pontifical decree, the reforms of the Order of the Black Sepulchre and the reinstatement of the privilege to issue Minor Bulls must likewise be submitted to the judgment and approval of the Ecumenical Council. By doing so, we ensure that these reforms are fortified by the collective authority of the Church and enshrined in the holy consensus of its ordained leaders. Let all faithful and devout servants of GOD understand and uphold these decrees, as we labor to preserve the sanctity and unity of our Holy Mother Church. In the name of the Most High, let it be so decreed. SECTION XV - ABOLISHMENT OF THE MONSIGNORS Hear now, o sons and daughters of Horen, for I have in recent times given much consideration to the matter of the office of Monsignor and its continued purpose in the discourse of our Holy Mother Church. Once a revered bond between the Holy Throne and those faithful Canonist Princes, their voice to our clergy and our messenger to them both, their mark has in recent times become sloth and nepotism. What purpose does a politician serve amidst our Curia's convocations, when they deign to attend them? For where they once conveyed good tidings, now they convey whispers; should a Prince not seek recourse from their Bishops, or deliver their pleas to me rather than through a puppet middleman? Would I not reach out to my flock with my own voice, rather than a hollowed echo? Know that I have hereby deemed this office abolished for all time. Let there be no obstacle between the Prince and the Holy Throne; let the voices of those lords and defenders of our Faith become a choir to the everlasting glory of our Lord. They will come together in a Council of Canonist Princes, where they shall deliver their prayers, and therefore wants and complaints to me, and where I shall hear their calls in person. THE HOLY MOTHER CHURCH OF THE CANON Under GOD maintained by His Holiness Caius I THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS FRANTZISKO CARDINAL ALBAROSA Archdiocese of Albarosa RHOSYN CARDINAL CASICA Diocese of Casica VILLORIK CARDINAL JORENUS Patriarchate of Jorenus CALLAHAN CARDINAL ARTORUS Archdiocese of Artorus MATTIA CARDINAL LOTHARIA Archdiocese of Lotharia THE CURIA FRANTZISKO CARDINAL ALBAROSA Vice-Chancellor of the Church of the Canon MATTIA CARDINAL LOTHARIA Auditor of the Tribunal of the Church of the Canon CALLAHAN CARDINAL ARTORUS Pontifical Secretary of the Church of the Canon RHOSYN CARDINAL CASICA Prelate of the Priesthood of the Church of the Canon JEAN BISHOP ST. GODWIN Pontifical Chamberlain of the Church of the Canon ABBESS REBECCA Palatine of the Apostolic City of the Church of the Canon VILLORIK CARDINAL JORENUS Commandant of the Pontifical Guard of the Church of the Canon CANONIST DIOCESES THE HOLY SEE Encompassing the entirety of the Apostolic City State, to be shepherded by High Pontiff Caius I PATRIARCHATE OF JORENUS Encompassing the entirety of the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska and surrounding territories, to be shepherded by Patriarch Villorik Cardinal Jorenus DIOCESE OF ANDRIKEV, encompassing all the lands east of the river Lahy, to be shepherded by Rhys Bishop Andrikev DIOCESE OF WESTERWALD, encompassing all the lands west of the river Lahy, to be shepherded by Amleth Bishop Westerwald ARCHDIOCESE OF ALBAROSA Encompassing the eastern region of Aevos, including the lands of the United Kingdom of Aaun, the Commonwealth of Petra, and the surrounding territories, to be shepherded by Archbishop Frantzisko Cardinal Albarosa DIOCESE OF ST. GODWIN, encompassing the entirety of the United Kingdom of Aaun as well as surrounding parishes not incorporated in other dioceses, to be shepherded by Jean Bishop St. Godwin DIOCESE OF CASICA, encompassing the entirety of the Commonwealth of Petra, to be shepherded by Bishop Rhosyn Cardinal Casica ARCHDIOCESE OF ARTORUS Encompassing the central region of Aevos, including the lands of the Kingdom of Númendil, the Midlands, and surrounding territories, to be shepherded by Archbishop Callahan Cardinal Artorus DIOCESE OF AQUILA, encompassing the entirety of the Kingdom of Númendil, to be shepherded by Galadain Bishop Aquila DIOCESE OF ST. ARPAD, encompassing the entirety of the Midlands, to be shepherded by Alexios Bishop St. Arpad ARCHDIOCESE OF LOTHARIA Encompassing the south-western region of Aevos, including the lands of the Kingdom of Balian and surrounding territories, to be shepherded by Archbishop Mattia Cardinal Lotharia DIOCESE OF TYRIA, encompassing the entirety of the Kingdom of Balian, to be shepherded by Belisarios Bishop Tyria IMMEDIATELY SUBJECT TO THE HOLY SEE DIOCESE OF GELIMAR, encompassing the entirety of the Principality of Reinmar as well as surrounding parishes not incorporated in other dioceses, to be shepherded by Matthias Bishop Gelimar. DIOCESE OF RHOSMARK, encompassing the entirety of the Duchy of Ravenmire, the Drowned Strand as well as the surrounding parishes not incorporated in other Dioceses, to be shepherded by Frantzisko Cardinal Albarosa, ex officio as Archbishop of Albarosa.

A letter was penned in retort, both letters being placed over Churches and Canonist Kingdoms publicly for all men to see. Serwa, In the name of Almighty, the LORD GOD of Horen and the Prophets, and by the Laurel and the Chair of Owyn, I must now address you once more, with grave concern and righteous indignation festering within my heart. This farce of a letter which you have sent me, though filled insincere with admissions of vanity and sin, does not mask the deeper transgressions against the Holy Church that you have perpetuated, and still continue to this day to perpetrate with envy, vainglory and avarice. Hearken to my words: your intent to construct the so-called Stone "Chapel" without the sanction of the Holy See and the Laurel is a blatant and thinly-veiled affront to the sacred traditions and divine hierarchy established by the Prophets and Lord Himself, which you claim to listen. Such audacity to dismiss the authority of the High Pontiff, the Chair of Saint Daniel, cannot and will not be tolerated. You have mockingly confessed to pride and folly, yet your very actions belie any true repentance. To place your personal vision - no doubt earned through the foul trickery of Saul and Iblees and your Elven magicks - above the ordained guidance of the Church is to tread to heresy. This act of defiance is not only an error as you claim, but instead a grievous sin against the unity and sanctity of the Canonist faith. It is your intent now that you are a cornered beast, that you must capitulate to our wishes as if you are some paltry Baron in the losing side of warfare - Nay, this situation is much more profound and spiritual than the secular lens which you seem to look through and live within. Furthermore, you have now revealed your disingenuous nature by stating that you will build this chapel regardless of my permission. What is the point of asking for my 'permission', then? Such a statement renders your plea hollow and insincere. You ask for this so-called permission in the name of preventing conflict and strife? Who do you think you are to presume to deal with the High Pontiff on equal terms? The only men who can claim to deal on such equal terms with the Vicar of God are fellow Canonists - of which you assuredly are not, for any man professing the Testaments of the Exalted would not ask for this permission in the name of "preventing conflict" but rather simply because I am the High Pontiff, the legitimate Ecclesiastical authority. What conflict can you offer to the Church of the Canon that you threathen the Received Tradition with it? Do not mistake my gentle nature for weakness. Your threats and your false-testimony will be met with equal fierceness. Measure for measure. If you seek to become a 'prophet' and to found a new elven religion, do not attempt to hijack the processes of the Canonist Church or usurp rightful ecclesiastical authority from within. You desire to worship graven images and beasts of the earth. You acclaim yourself a prophet. Thus I say onto you; join the countless hordes of pagans and heretics who already do so openly. Know this: should you proceed with the erection of this 'chapel', it shall be deemed heretical. By my decree, any such structure shall be razed to the ground with the cannons of the faithful. Furthermore, I shall inform Queen Tar-Caraneth of your wicked insolence and your vainglorious ways of Iblees, and will advise her to thwart any support for your most unholy endeavor. Moreover, your affliction as a leper, for as a heresiarch claiming to be the only one capable of receiving Revelation from the Lord, is telling of the Lord's disapproval upon you. Take heed and recognize this affliction as a sign to repent sincerely and seek true reconciliation with the Church. The authority of the Holy Church and the received tradition of the faithful must be upheld. Your plea is thus rejected, not only for your lack of respect for ecclesiastical authority but also for your presumptuous self-proclamation as a prophet. Return to the path of true humility and submit to the will of GOD and His Church. CAIVS PRIMVS

Caius I reads the letter with mild amusement as he was in the middle of another card game with Frantzisko. In according to the rules of the board-game, Caius placed another card in front of Frantzisko with mirth. "Got you!" he said jubilantly, as he displayed the card forth for him; @cadazio

Caius I makes a mental note to join the MELEE TOURNAMENT to BASH some HEADS.

1974. HIS HOLINESS CAIUS I, High Pontiff of the Church of the Canon, Archbishop of Visigia, Successor of the High Priesthood of the Church, Supreme Pontiff of the Church of True Faith, Keeper of the Canon, Missionary to Aeldin, High Servant to the Exalted's Testaments, Sovereign of the Apostolic City, Humble Servant of the Faithful and Vicar of GOD does decree the following… Brother Thomas Williams once said; “The first law must not be hatred of sin, but love of God. We don't start with sin and hate, that is to have it wrongly proportioned, for we know that sin is wrong because it is a violation of the Good.” Grace onto you, and behold now my decree, my brethren in faith, from the Judite Warrior, to the humble monastic within the sanctuary of God’s embrace, and allow me to pen my wise counsel onto you for the betterment of the Soul. Verily, my tenure indeed has been characterized by my strife against the Saulician, the Defilers and all manner of the Unclean thing. And verily so, I have indeed taken up my blade, and have done the most valiant of efforts in an attempt to diminish their presence from embroiling our flock, for whom you and I share both share ministrations and the crook. By my works, you will find that I am no pacifist, nor do I cower away from the sight of battles to come, nor do I cower from the flame which springs forth from the blade of Prophet Owyn. It is during these crusades of mine, in which I have come across many strangers, who do not know our Lord, nor know the words of our Prophets. By all means and metrics, I consider these men totally severed from the Tapestry of Man, in that they do not profess the same things which I profess. And during these crusades, I have also faced many of the iniquitous kind, many made after the image of Saul himself. It was during this time during my erstwhile Cardinalship that I had deliberated greatly on the issue of spirits, and moral well being of those severed from the Covenant made by our Father, Horen. As I have seen wretched creatures, such as that of Malphas and Sarryn, who deserve the flame that we bless them with, I have also had the genuine pleasure of meeting the virtuous pagan as described by our catechism, such as Ar-Malna. And too, I have had the pleasure of meeting with men who, despite being sinful in their lives, seek to embody the value of virtue deeply within their spirit, men such as Atticus of Reinhold. Despite being a zealous warrior in my youth, to behold the ones whom we condemn the most and wish to strike down, to shake his hand, to compare my life with them, to be presently aware that we share the same gifts of Virtue blessed by the hand of God, whether he is born a gentile, or if he is not has stirred my spirit greatly, and I have abandoned such wanton hatred of the unknown, purging it from my spirit. I have come to embrace my philosophy of the ‘Canonist Elect’. As I reflect upon the journey of my faith and the encounters I've had with individuals of various creeds and convictions, I am compelled to delve deeper into the theological concept of the 'Elect.' Let me thus impart onto you this notion, which has long intrigued and challenged my understanding of divine providence and human salvation. In our sacred scriptures and teachings, we find the notion that some individuals are to earn the covenant of the Lord, such as the kind of our Prophets, while others are destined not to embody this path, as exemplified by Harren. My thesis upon this doctrine of predestination, rooted in the mysteries of God's will, is that those who are born into the Canonist faith or who earnestly convert to it are among the Elect. They are chosen vessels, blessed by the Spirit, to walk the path of righteousness and ascend to the celestial heights of the seven skies. Take the ploughman of Hanseti-Ruska, or the armsman of the Heartlands and Balian; Those among the covenant of Horen will embody the path of virtue, and will unmistakably become a part of the Tapestry of Man, as has been suggested by our philosophers and scholars for many centuries. From the infidel and the Elf too, I have identified members of the Elect, whom have an innate understanding of the Lord’s hand across the realm, who have their heart opened up to rational wisdom and discourse, ranging from the Brother-Convert Pius of Sutica, to the virtuous Cunimund Hal’Cingedoz. No matter where this man of the elect is born, his soul is marked by the hand of the Lord, thus the words of the Lord resound with clarity within his mind. Conversely, I find that those who choose to apostatize or who are fated never to embrace the Canonist faith are not counted among the Elect, for they have hardened their hearts. I beseech you! Travel to the land of the Elf, and the metropolis of the Magi. While you may embark onto them every wisdom, and every conceivable path that provides and illuminates the path of the Lord, ultimately, their destinies will lie elsewhere, outside the covenant of our Lord. Indeed, you can take up the hand of this man, guide him towards a monastery, sieve him through years of monastic and scriptural education, the mark upon this Man’s soul will never be redeemed, for he holds no innate understanding of the Lord’s Grace within the world. Too many times have I seen this, from Callahan’s Serwa, to Valindra, to the condemned Harren, who always will seek to use the faith in the name of glorifying their own name and prestige similar to the men of Elvenkind who use the arts of the magick to glorify themselves. I have seen this of men such as Arthur Burke, who, despite being born Canonist, will never hold a true understanding of the emanations of glory - they cannot perceive it! They, if they have not outright condemned the Church, nor have apostatised themselves overtly, will play at being one of the faith, while cynically manipulating and using their so-called faith in the name of earning glory among men, and worldly gain. See, that our faith will beseech men to perform selfless acts, acts of humility and submission to the wider will of the Lord. You will see these men spit upon such acts, and live their lives in every manner that is against a binding covenant. You would think that men who profess their soul being tethered to Virtue would not shun eternal salvation so easily, lest they were insincere in the beliefs which they hold! Verily, I say unto you that this division between the Elect and the non-elect is not arbitrary. You may rightfully criticize my penning as fatalistic, and cry that salvation is earned through the effort of man! But see that the notion of the Elect is not meant to absolve individuals of their responsibility in seeking salvation, nor does it negate the importance of free will! Nay, I do not scorn this. However, I earnestly profess that salvation is ultimately a gift from God, bestowed according to His will, that Man must trust in God's sovereignty and thus seek to embody the virtues of faith, hope, and love in their daily lives to reflect the divine wisdom and sovereignty of God. Now, I hear whispers among you as I pen this, frowning onto the words to criticize my word as such; that the all-loving nature of the Lord God will contradict rebuke this doctrine. How can I profess the destiny of the Elect, when only the elect are predestined for the salvation offered of the Covenant? For which I will remind you the true nature of the Seven Skies, and it’s layered nature; “God is not only a being, but a state of infinite virtue emanating from His throne in the Seventh Sky. Whoever is virtuous is alike to God, and thus is near to him. Whoever is unvirtuous is unlike God, and thus is spiritually distant from Him. The Void exists as the farthest spiritual distance from God, a place completely deprived of His virtue or His mercy. Thus, whoever is unvirtuous cannot enter the Seven Skies upon their death, because the Seven Skies are close to Him and the unvirtuous are far. If a soul leaves the World and cannot enter the Skies, where else is there to go except the Void?” The Catechism of the Canonist Church Our dogma around the Seven Skies stipulates that the ascension of the Faithful for its embrace is embroiled with a justification for that ascension in the first place; Indeed, the Covenant is binding, and man may ascend to the Second Sky by being ‘Justified in Faith.’ However, this does not come to mean that those who are not of the Elect, thus not having the status of being Justified in Faith, are justified in other terms in accordance with the Lord’s Wisdom. Verily, while the Covenant is binding and in effect for the body of the flock, there exists another covenant extant without faith - being VIRTUE. For those who are justified by virtue will gain admittance to the First Sky, to dwell among their kinfolk and other virtuous of their kind, embraced by the Lord’s favor and glory. Thus, I find that the true test of the realm Mundus is not that one must be justified in faith, for we have seen wicked men who are otherwise justified in faith, but that the true and righteous test given and mandated by the Lord is VIRTUE. Verily, this is the exact reason why the Scroll of Virtue was delivered by the First Prophet - for it was the most important creed, which would be binding for all Creation! Who are we, to condemn to the Void the one who will embody the Scroll of Virtue fervently? Does it matter if he is a man of the flock or not? Thus, it is crucial to understand that the favor of the Lord does not exclude the possibility of redemption for those who are not among the Elect. While the path to salvation may differ for them, the virtuous among them still have the opportunity to embody the virtues and ascend to the First Sky. Informed by my previous musings, do I now see it fit to introduce you to the concept of Mercy, and the sacred purpose of the Canonist Church, the mission of which you, reader must surely embody as a servant of the Light; “He entrusted to them the Word of GOD, which were the Virtue and the Spirit, and charged them to instruct their brethren in the path of holiness. At Owyn’s command, the brothers set shepherds over the flock of men, and so created a priesthood for their instruction, in anticipation of the second son of spirit.” It is the purpose of the Canonist Church that we must tend and minister to the spiritual worries over Men, to guide and instruct them towards the right path, to sit as judges, and to make moral verdicts in an attempt to guide our brothers from the flock and gentile alike to the path of righteous salvation. So, I find that our enshrined purpose is one of gentle guidance and the placement of wisdom upon the minds of our brethren so that they may not be compelled to stray from the path set out before them. Verily, the Lord is just, but the flesh is weak, and loves the worldly boons granted onto it, from the sin of avarice to greed. Thus, our struggle, I find, is not to do with the sword, but rather with the pen! In the face of adversity, when the clamor of war and the thirst for vengeance resound, it is the duty of the faithful to uphold the banner of mercy and understanding. For what profit is there in crushing those who stray from the path, if not to further distance them from the embrace of the Light? Nay, it is through patience and benevolence that we may lead even the most wayward souls back to the fold. Verily, in this righteous pursuit of the Church's mission to cleanse the souls of men, I have traversed treacherous paths where darkness reigns unchecked. Amongst the gentile masses of Kaethul, I beheld a people, though noble in their ignorance, ensnared by the vile temptations of Saul and his accursed ilk. Upon the sight of their ignorance and the city beset by the Saulician, The brethren of Saint Jude clamored for blood, to purge the unrighteous. My clergy have cried; "Let us make war on them! Let us destroy their very foundations!" Yet, I have stayed their hand, urging restraint and prudence. Instead of the sword, I wielded the quill, drafting a treaty with the heathen, granting respite to their beleaguered city, allowing their people to rest easily at night. Through this act of mercy, the seeds of Virtue were sown, unbeknownst to them, the ignorant elect and the gentile alike were drawn closer to the divine light. I have ventured forth across the Vale, who have otherwise belittled, insulted and threw stones at us at their gates, rebuking us and spreading heresies of the faith. And with this, the voices of Saint Jude cried for retribution, and the clergymen called; "Let us make war upon them! Let us reduce their keeps and holdfasts to rubble!" And yet, I have held out my hand, and sought to reason with this Council of the Vale - for although they are not of the elect, they may be guided towards Virtue, as it was the mission of the Mother Church. And with this, did I make correspondance with the druid who spread heresies within the righteous Kingdom of Numendil. I faced them, extended my hand, and cried, "Behold, for the Lord's love is just!" And thus, did I now have their ear that they may hear my word and listen; thus softening the heart of the gentile that he may ascend to the first sky in virtue, while drawing the Elect closer before us by our word. In the realm of the Hohkmati mage, ensnared by the allure of forbidden magic, defying the edicts of Owyn, they sought independence to establish a bastion of wisdom. Yet, upon seeing their spires and towers, the men of Saint Jude and of the clergy have cried unto me; "Let us make war upon them! Let us rip their robes and wands to shreds, that the world may know of the glory of the Church!" Yet, I stayed my hand, preaching caution, reminding them of the Church's mission to save souls from iniquity. Thus, a pact was made with Razad, exchanging words of wisdom to remind them of the path to salvation. With that, the mage Laurissa approached, engaging in dialogue, acknowledging past grievances but recognizing the righteousness in my words, thus altering her perception of the faith. She imparted to me that she had a distaste for my religion on account of some mistreatment in her youth, but that she had seen reason and righteousness within my words, and thus, I had changed her view of the faith. I have pardoned Haus, I have forgiven Cassius Javron, I have forgiven Sermi. And for those deeds, the more zealous and fervent brothers among Saint Jude and the Clergy scowled at me, mocking me as "Caius the Merciful" behind closed doors and gates. Some deemed me weak, fearing conflict, blind to their perception of an assault upon the faith, forgetting the true mission of the Church to which they are sworn. Forgiveness, that oft-forgotten virtue amidst the clamor of righteous indignation, I bestowed generously upon those who erred. Thus, I find that it is not weakness that guides my hand, but the steadfast conviction in the true mission of the Church - to save, not to condemn. Thus, Verily, as I stand amidst these troubled lands and my kvetching colleagues, I am reminded of the sacred charge laid upon us by Owyn himself, the charge to shepherd His flock with compassion and wisdom, not with the brunt force of steel; “Observe Owyn’s Epistles. When inter-acting with the gentile races and peoples, he does not begin with what they have gotten wrong, but begins by praising them. He does not merely rebuke, but he also consoles with God's mercy.” Brother Thomas Williams Thus, I must now rebuke the more zealous men, who cry for war among my Church. When confronted with the ignorance of the gentile and the heresies of the misguided, it is not with swords drawn and banners raised high that we shall prevail, but with the gentle persuasion of reason and the unwavering conviction of our faith. Verily, I see men among my clergy, and the men among the Holy Orders who are fast to draw their swords, who are fast to strike the iniquitous down, who are fast to rebuke and condemn. Despite the Flame of Owyn burning brightly within your hearts, I find that you have strayed in your duties as a priest, and have forgotten the true mission of the Church in offering redemption and safekeeping. I beseech and remind you that you, as a minister and a holy warrior are the first avenue in which men may find sanctuary and gain access to the Lord’s unending mercy. How can you embody a Lord, who loves and cherishes all of Creation, when you draw for your sword and search for blood before you impart the Lord’s love and wisdom? How can you slay a man which you have not forgiven before? Nay, brethren. As men, it is not our charge to proffer judgment, for the time of judgment comes through the breath of the Lord upon death. As Brother Williams quotes, if we must decide between mercy and severity, then it is tenfold better to decide in favor of mercy. Our swords are present within our scabbards not that we must use them to purge iniquity, but that we are forced to achieve this deed in the name of keeping iniquity out of the Covenant, that it must be pointed towards the men of Saul and the Deceiver, rather than men who are otherwise capable of salvation, even if erroneous. Why do you rebuke mercy, and praise severity and violence? Is it not the goal of our faith to guide? Will you guide corpses? It is in the moments of greatest trial that the true character of a servant of the Light is revealed. To forgive the transgressions of others, to extend the hand of reconciliation to those who have strayed, this is the mark of a heart ablaze with the fervor of GOD's love. Mediated by these musins and theology herein, I, Caius I, in my capacity as the High Pontiff and the Vicar of God thus designate the following as LAW and DOGMA for the Faith Militant of the Canonist Church. TITLE I. PROCEDURES OF HOLY KNIGHTHOOD 1. A Holy Military Order is a Canonist order of knighthood that is founded for the purpose of spreading the one true Canonist faith and defending the lands of Canondom and Canonist faithful where necessary. 2. A Holy Military Order may only be established as such by official decree of the High Pontiff. To whom, in his capacity as Vicar of GOD, Holy Knights swear vows of obedience, owing allegiance first to his office. 3. Thus those wishing to form a Holy Military Order must petition the High Pontiff and Church directly. 4. A Holy Military Order is led by a Grandmaster appointed by the High Pontiff, and further managed by the Commandant of the Pontifical Guard, who is tasked with the organization and management of all orders of holy knighthood as well as given authority to oversee and command them on the Pontiff’s behalf. 5. All holy knights must answer to the Grandmaster of their respective Holy Military Order, who themselves are required to answer to and obey the commands of the Commandant of the Pontifical Guard. 6. Grandmasters of respective Orders may choose to knight their own holy knights, though they must first have explicit prior approval from either the High Pontiff or the Commandant of the Pontifical Guard. 6. All holy knights are required to take a holy oath before being knighted in a proper religious ceremony. 7. All holy knights before being oathed must from now on read the Creed of Redemption, this document. 8. Holy Military Orders may draft their own oaths, however, they must include the following at all times; An oath of fealty to the received holy tradition of the Holy Mother Church, condemning all heresy. An oath of fealty to the High Pontiff and the further hierarchy of the Holy Mother Church. An oath to keep true to customary chivalric and martial values of knightly orders, chivalry and honor. An oath to keep true to the tenets and dogma of the Creed of Redemption, that is, this very document. 6. Furthermore a person seeking to join a Holy Military Order needs to meet the following criteria: Have been a Canonist for at least two years prior to their proper induction. Have sworn no secular oaths that would conflict with serving the Holy Mother Church. Have reached the age of majority, that is to say eighteen years of age. Be of unblemished character with no cause for public notoriety. TITLE II. PROCEDURES OF APPREHENSION 1. Knights must prepare on a case by case basis prior to apprehension. This must be done in accordance with what is known of a target to ensure the best possible outcome and safety of all. Magi, to name one example, will require that null-arcana weaponry and auric oil be used, and any cuffs treated with this also. 2. One must get a letter of warrant signed by a Bishop or above before setting off to the arrest. Once such a letter of warrant signed by a Bishop or above has been granted and the target found, knights are to surround them and inform them they are to be detained. When doing so, violence is to be eschewed, safe should the target in question try to flee or engage, in which case the use of non-lethal violence is permitted. 3. Once the target has been detained, they must speedily be brought to either the Holy See or any territory such as outposts maintained by the Holy Mother Church for the purpose of proper interrogation. TITLE III. PROCEDURES OF INTERROGATION 1. Once a target has been successfully detained and brought to the Holy See or otherwise, knights are to interrogate them on their suspected Darkspawn nature and are, in doing so, to try and extract a confession. 2. Confessions are to regard the target’s crimes, as well as names of their accomplices and their locations. 3. Once a target has confessed, they are to be offered redemption and a cure to their ailments where possible. This is to be done in the spirit of the mission of the Holy Mother Church, salvation and redemption. 4. If the target denies the offer of redemption or is found to be incurable, they are to be executed, which must be followed by a letter of notice regarding the execution to the nation from which the executed hails. 5. If the offer of redemption is accepted, the target is to be cured of their ailments and brought before a priest, this priest preferably a Bishop or above, with the aim of prescribing the target appropriate penance. TITLE IV. PROCEDURES OF PUNISHMENT 1. First offenders, if they accept redemption, are to be prescribed a penance that will force them to cut down on their evil ways. Corrupted magi, for example, are to cut themselves off from their magic in entirety. 2. Once a first offender has accepted redemption and been cured and given penance, they are to be provided with a letter of proof that they have stood trial and done penance. This letter of proof is to be provided by the Bishop of whichever priest prescribed it, or themselves should they be a Bishop or above, and is given to ensure that these formerly captured targets are not harmed again based on past suspicions. 3. Known second offenders or those so corrupted that they are incurable may be executed without issue.

1974. HIS HOLINESS CAIUS I, High Pontiff of the Church of the Canon, Archbishop of Visigia, Successor of the High Priesthood of the Church, Supreme Pontiff of the Church of True Faith, Keeper of the Canon, Missionary to Aeldin, High Servant to the Exalted's Testaments, Sovereign of the Apostolic City, Humble Servant of the Faithful and Vicar of GOD does decree the following… Legions of devilers march on through the world. They have set their blades upon the innocence of Man. Overnight, a massive coniption: in the cities of the west-east, in the lands of the cherry blossoms, a legion luring innocent souls to drink of the forbidden fountains, Diabolism, Xionism, the curses of the fallen hosts. Like many before, they've marched on us for WAR. "But see, the Lord provides: where the virtuous are cast out of this world, He gathers them in the Skies." (Gospel 5:41) We're warning them now, IT WON'T PAY! Sakuragakure, her sanctity crying with the Diabolist evildoer tresspassing our HOLY of HOLIES. The Infernal's vain crude pride- but are we not of Horen, the Chosen Nation? So as Horen and God's People as a collective One, we will overcome, thusly bringing our FREEDOM forthwith! SAKURAGAKURE IS NOT FOR SALE! So 'LO! See that the Lich and his legions have come upon that city, HOLY for that it is of the Tribe of Horen, and see that they have SCATTERED THE PEOPLE OF THE EAST INTO EXILE. We, the tribe of Horen, will brook no iniquity, suffer no tresspass, fore we are the people of the Legion of God, Glory to the LORD of our Host! Are we not the chosen progeny of Horen? As the people of Horen, the Elect of God, we shall prevail, wielding our freedom as our banner! TODAY, SAKURAGAKURE SHALL NOT BE SWAYED! THUS IS THIS ORDER FOUNDED: THE SAKURAGAKURE LIBERATION ARMY OF FREEDOM FIGHTERS Under the captaincy of CAPTAIN-CARDINAL VILLORIK, who is henceforth assigned with the levy of the virtuous militant of the Kingdom of God through His True Faith, by the Church of the Canon, and so it is that the select elite warriors from all lands across Canondom are called to arms: from those among the summoned, whoever counts themselves as a true son of Horen, whoever affirms their love of God Pantokrator, whoever renounces the sin of Iblees and all his curses, here are your summons, by the grace of God! Up with your spears, and make ready your blades, you are called to enlistment in the Army of SAKURAGAKURE LIBERATION. BY THE DECREE OF GOD'S HOLY CHURCH, FROM THE SEAT OF THE VICAR OF GOD. Henceforth, let it be known to all Canonist Princes of the Lord, under the august authority of the Exalted, that they are summoned and obligated by the Chair of Exalted Owyn to fulfill the following mandates: Contribution of Sixty Four Drachems worth of Raw Iron and 64 drachems of edible provisions for the noble cause of extending relief to the Oyashi diaspora, a mission of utmost mercy. Additionally, our Canonist Princes are urged to consider providing alchemical herbs and reagents for the crafting of explosive ordnance to combat the abominable forces of the Lich, Gashadokuro Noteworthy contributions to the relief endeavors in Sakuragakure shall be duly praised and acknowledged by the Church as acts of profound piety. Furthermore, it is decreed: Every individual who pledges themselves as a freedom fighter must receive a personal summons from the Office of the High Pontiff and the Commandant of the Pontifical Guard. All freedom fighters are to place themselves under the authority of the Sakuragakure Ashiragu militia and War-Captain Takemura, bound to obey the directives of the Shugo. Each member of the Sakuragakure Liberation Army is obliged to display identifiers upon their person, preferably in the color of crimson and bearing the emblem of the Sakuragakure Liberation Army. Such identifiers may include kerchiefs worn upon the arm or coats of arms emblazoned upon the chest or cloak. Every freedom fighter is required to provide 16 Drachems of Raw Iron and five distinct varieties of Alchemical Herbs upon their enlistment, as a gesture of commitment and readiness for the cause. The Command Structure of the Sakuragakure Liberation Army shall be enshrined as follows; The Oyashiman Military: Shugo Kato of Oijin, the Supreme General, holds the highest authority. Shugodai Ugokuyama Atsuko, second in command to Shugo Kato. War Captain Ugokoyama Takemura, leading the frontline forces. Mayor Honma Monjaro, overseeing logistical operations. The Sakuragakure Liberation Army of FOREIGN FREEDOM FIGHTERS: High Pontiff Caius I, the Supreme Commander, directing operations. Captain-Cardinal Villorik, Captain of the Pontifical Guard and the Sakuragakure Liberation Army, leading with strategic acumen. Grandmaster Lug MacSkaul of Saint Jude, entrusted with the command of elite forces. Grandmaster Tiberias of the Midland Crusade, coordinating tactical maneuvers. Knight-Bishop Matthias of Reinmar, providing spiritual guidance and martial prowess. Callahan Cardinal Artorus, the Chaplain of the Liberation Army, offering moral fortitude and divine blessings. The stated mission of the Sakuragakure Liberation Army shall be enshrined as follows; To vanquish and expel the Undead Forces of Hexicanum from the revered land of the Cherry Blossoms, restoring its sanctity. To eradicate the vile presence of the Lich Gashadokuro and his nefarious Lieutenants, ensuring the safety of all righteous souls. To secure and safeguard Holy and Sacred Relics of profound significance to the Canonist Creed, preserving the divine heritage of our faith. To oversee the provision of foreign aid for the relief efforts, extending a hand of compassion to those in need. To actively contribute to the aftermath of the GREAT SAULICIAN WAR, aiding in the reconstruction and healing of the war-torn lands.

Caius I, while engaging in a grand board game with his colleague, Cardinal Frantzisko picks up a card, and plays it;