Malins Welcome

Love as feeling vs love as choice is always a rich theme. I especially like this part, which hit really well. As a minor criticism, this line seems to accidentally introduce a perspective shift. throughout the rest of the poem "you" has been the lover but in this line "you" is the one loved

༻⊰─ · ──────────── · · · ──────────── · ─⊱༺ Psalms of an Exile By James Vursur ༻⊰─ · ──────────── · · · ──────────── · ─⊱༺ Untitled Haiku ༻⊰─ · ──────────── · · · ──────────── · ─⊱༺ Greatness ༻⊰─ · ──────────── · · · ──────────── · ─⊱༺ Moon Poem II ༻⊰─ · ──────────── · · · ──────────── · ─⊱༺ History and I ༻⊰─ · ──────────── · · · ──────────── · ─⊱༺ The Kings ༻⊰─ · ──────────── · · · ──────────── · ─⊱༺ To Ledicort de Senna An Elegy ༻⊰─ · ──────────── · · · ──────────── · ─⊱༺ God of Owyn A Hymn for the Establishment of the Empire of Mankind ༻⊰─ · ──────────── · · · ──────────── · ─⊱༺

IMPERIAL PROCLAMATION ATTN. PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS Issued by the office of, His Excellency, The Imperial Reeve, 6th of Harren’s Folly, 654 AA ✠ HEED, LEAL SONS OF HOREN; Are you looking for new members as a guild, business enterprise, philanthropic foundation, professional association, religious institution, book club, chess club, boat club, brunch club, equestrian club, birdwatching club, dining club, fan club, circus troupe, Holy Scrolls study, think tank, detective agency, ladies detective agency, sports league, martial arts dojo, pirate crew, musical band, soup kitchen, scientific journal, literary magazine, veterans fellowship, fairie court, historical society, artistic colony, law firm, fraternity, sorority, theater company, reenactment society, hunting lodge, chamber orchestra, adventuring party, wedding party, homeowners association, student government, band of troubadours, mutual aid society, imaginative roleplay society, philosophical school, neighborhood watch, secret society, volunteer fire department, mercenary band, cultural foundation, commune, trade union, weavers union, hobbyist association or a secret fifty-fourth kind of organization? As the Deputy of Settlement under the Imperial Chancellery, my task is the integration of newcomers into imperial society, and, in my judgment, the best way to accomplish this is to connect each one to a small community which they can come to call their own. To that end, I am assembling a PUBLIC DIRECTORY of the empire's active private organizations to help myself and newcomers find a niche where they can belong. If you want to be included in this directory, please contact me personally via bird or other means, and we will arrange a meeting time to discuss the details. AVE IMPERIUM H V M A N I T A S I N V I C T A Father James Vursur, Imperial Deputy of Settlement [ IGN: Wholesome_Thomas ] [ Discord: saffronpark ]

This interview with Arch-chancellor Ledicort de Senna was conducted by the Northern Geographical Society across two sessions in 2066 and 2067, for the purpose of historical record. The interviewers are James Vursur (JV), Dr. Tanith Vursur (TV) and Emelia Drakkon (ED) JV: “First, would you like to introduce yourself?” “Ledicort de Senna, First Magrave Mount Santa Lorina. Emeritus, now, the title's defunct. Née Ledicort Alexander Vuiller.” “Born 'pon this very saint's day eighty-four years ago, in the Duchy of Aquilae on the shores of Balian. Must've been… nineteen-eighty-two. My father was Marcel Elio, the Duke of Aquilae, my mother a commoner.” JV: “What was your father's role in Balian?” “He was one of King… Citizen Alexander's most favored advisors, his foreign affairs minister. They called the position Legate, and served as its final appointee before the Kingdom's dissolution.” JV: “Did you intend to follow in his footsteps?” “They were best friends, as they liked to pomp about all the time,” he purses his lips to the query, “At that point, yes. I sought to serve my nation. I was once loyal to that state and its institutions, and to my father as a defender of them.” TV: “What was your relationship to your father like? And your mother as well, if you please, sir. Both parents tend to have an influence on the child, I think.” “Mm. Indeed,” - “Strained, as regards my father. A mutual resentment. He despised the Temple, and was never one to express his emotions with vigor. Always held them tight to his heart, to himself, except critiques.” “All of my siblings suffered from this. I was an easy sacrificial lamb, for I was Owynist, and he opposed the sect.” “My mother died in childbirth. I was five, or six.” TV: “You mentioned she was a commoner, sir. How did your father come to meet her?” “He had loved another woman first. Some… Temesch? I forget her name. Though she was wed away to a Ravenmirian, so he settled for a common-woman. I believe one in the Duchy's employ.” TV: “And what of your childhood, sir? Your siblings?” “I never met her nor heard of her aside from her name, Isador. I was the thirdborn son of the old Duke, of six. My elder brothers Harald and Duncan, and younger sisters Laurelie and Johanna. As well as Beanyx, though I never met him either. He was sent away. Boarding school in Rhen, I think.” “I'll admit, shamefully and regrettably, that I was a rowdy young man. I resented my brother Harald for his inheritance, and my father garnered a highly competitive dynamic among his children.” “It was the primary drive behind most of my work, at the beginning. Proving something. To my father and Harald both. It is not always easy on the mind to be a spare's spare. That very ambition.” JV: “How did you come to be Owynist?” “I must provide some context, I believe, first. You lived through much of this, James.” “You recall the excommunication of John Casimir and Alexander the Humiliated. I was too young to see it myself, but I grey up in my teenage years through the regency of Cardinal Ivan over the kingdom after the sedevacante. I first ran for the senate at sixteen, got in at seventeen. My work there caught the attention of Ivan. Ivan Cardinal Lotharia, that is. He took me along to meetings of the Curia as a sort of ward.” “I became Callahan's pupil at roughly eighteen thereafter. I joined almost all of his pilgrimages at the time, and took care of his sheep on the Hill. Along with Sir Prize and the other herders. Under the Pontiff's education, I converted.” JV: “Can you explain the circumstances of the excommunication, for the record?” “Phoo. All of the context could make your head spin, but I'll tl;dr it,” - “After Deunoro's death, Callahan's election into the Pontifical seat was highly controversial amongst Danielans and Jorenics.” “They sought to oust him, to schism. Alexander was one of the primary conspirators, along with the bureaucrats of Haense.” “One of Alexander's children, my brother in law Hadrian Novellen, now Ser Nathannenel- that's Nathan-Nenel, ousted the conspiracy before Númendil and the Church.” “John Casimir, Alexander's heir, participated in the manipulations. They were called to trial at the Apostolic City and excommunicated.” “The compromise to avoid open war with Balian at the time was Cardinal Ivan's regency,” a bob of his head. He returned to the seat, tired of pacing. TV: “Beg your pardon, Your Excellency, and please forgive me. I left the continent during the early part of Almaris and I have only returned recently.” TV: “So I haven't much context for, well… anything at all that you mentioned. I shouldn't ask you to expound on it.” “No issue at all, of course. Make as many queries as you'd like.” TV: “I would ask you how it affected you personally and how you felt about it. It sounds like a dramatic series of events, and ones you witnessed personally, yet you described it in a rather objective and distanced manner.” “It was before I was sentient, in earnest. I was a toddler when the trial happened properly.” TV: “Ah, well, even if you were a child, you must have had your perspective? Children can be perceptive too. And how did it affect your youth?” “They are not the happiest memories. Our people bled from its irreverent, unqualified leadership. The House of Novellen-d'Atrus had fallen into much disrepair, and lost its honor.” “We struggled to get a foothold. I remember playing outside, in empty streets. Some moved away, the rest remained as hermits. Ivan was no good as a regent, but I had the chance to springboard into the Temple thanks to him.” TV: “Was it observing that dismal situation that made you aspire to politics?” “Isolation was common for most Balianese youngsters during those times. Perhaps it was… opportunism, but I believe in my heart that it was a genuine belief to do good, that then motivated me toward the John-Casimir fiasco.” “Yes! Stole the words from my mouth.” TV: “Ehehe, you seem like that type.” “The Senate was good practice, but change was slow. They still treaded the micro-rump state like a Petrine administration, overbloated and understaffed. But the biggest issue yet was the regency.” “My first big break was doing the impossible. I was bolder, in my time. Better at keeping my mind on the goal of politick. I sought my big break in returning the crown to John Casimir. Cardinal Ivan, useless as he unfortunately was, failed at every bump to convince Callahan to yield. And the Pontiff would not yield, he though John wicked and never intended to return the crown to him.” “I agree with him now, in retrospect. Though I was naive, and given the vacancies, I was made Auditor of the Tribunal at just nineteen.” “Of the Church's tribunal, that is.” TV: “Nineteen, sir? That is astoundingly young for such a position.” TV: “Did you feel prepared for it?” “No, in the slightest. I was afraid. But I was a close confidante to the Curia, and could prove my loyalty. I don't know what made the administration at the time heed my words of advice, but I had a voice among them.” TV: “There must have been something about you that compelled them, even at so young an age.” “Speech has always allowed me to get into places you wouldn't expect me to be in,” he rolled his shoulders, “The crown's return to John was seen as impossible, even by those who believed in him. The House of Lords of Balian had made an extraordinary vote demanding he be King, which angered the Pontiff.” “He was not asked for his permission. A very dangerous act, against a man such as Callahan.” “I'm unsure if you ever met him, Lady Tanith. Many unexpected folk have.” TV: “No, sir. I have been away from the continent for a significant number of centuries. My expertise lies in the early Empire, the age of Godfrey.” “Albeit, he has lived his fair share of centuries himself,” JV: “Could you describe him?” “Not accurately, nor in any way that'd do him justice. But I could try.” “Wise beyond all years, old beyond all wisdom. He carried the burden of a whole Tribe. Of a great many Tribes, for a great many reasons, and for this he suffered. He was alike to Saint Caius. A man of laughter. Though vengeful, very much so, and at times wrathful.” “He was more of a father to me than my own. I know the world because of him.” JV: “How did your efforts to return the Crown to John proceed?” “The particularities behind it are private. Temple matters, you see, but it took much work. Haggling, negotiating, and some begging.” “I believe it was resilience that eventually won it. I kept at the matter until there was nothing more to give. Ivan tried to claim all the glory of it, but if it had been for him, the Crown would've never returned to Balian at all.” TV: “Well, perhaps we can talk about the results? This was your big break. What happened after, and what ramifications did it have for your career, and your life as a whole?” “Balian didn't… thrive, but it got some revival. The streets weren't as empty. The people needed their King, and all the other claimants were lame ducks or overseas. I tried to get the second born daughter, Helena Casimira, denounced from the line of succession to up John's odds. Bookmark that particular tidbit, it'll be important later.” “She was overseas at the time. In Rhen, also, ironically.” JV: “Denounced by whom? The senate?” “It earned me some respect in Balian, though they are a thankless people, Lady Tanith. No matter how much good you do for them, they shall never thank you earnestly. They expect you to give them the world selflessly, and receive nothing.” “The House of Lords. They had some control over the succession given the nation was leaderless. They entertained, though never followed through, with the idea. Most were opposed to it. Alas, I digress.” TV: “It sounds very much like the Petrine era in that regard.” “It makes sense. Balian was a successor state to the Petrine Holy OE.” “About the time the Crown was returned, I married my first wife, Emilija Sofija Whitewood; with her I had five children, four girls and one boy.” TV: “I loved the Petrine very much, but… it too had a habit of extracting the best out of its people and leaving them empty.” “That progressed into Balian, trust me. The very same manner of thinking.” TV: “Oh, do tell us about your family.” “Since Emilija was the only - at the time - living heir to Whitewood, we agreed to split our surnames. Half our children would get Vuiller, the other half Whitewood.” “My daughters Lenora, Aurelia and Eirene were Vuillers. Arowyn and Leif were Whitewoods.” “I had a comfortable marriage with Emilija, until her death. She passed away in my late twenties.” TV: “I am deeply sorry for your loss, Your Excellency.” “Sixty years ago, now. I've grieved enough. It was a grave illness, some sort of infection.” “Between then, I helped the Temple in all its doings. Especially in the Pontifical States, which I helped administer along with James and Enrique.” TV: “Brought about by childbirth or something else? Forgive me for prying, sir.” “I was also in my mid-twenties. Albeit, I ran the Churchly courts, so I was mostly in matters of law.” “Something else. Self inflicted wounds is what I was told.” TV: “Oh, I see.” “It may be inaccurate. She never had a tendency to hurt herself in the slightest.” “In any case, my reputation increased in the Church well into my thirties, when I was made Callahan's Chancellor of the Curia.” Tanith nods and does not press more on that particular line of questioning…. JV: “Would you like to outline how the Pontifical States came about?” “Of course. I love telling the story.” “Another name: Pontiff Deunoro, Callahan's predecessor, had refused to involve himself in an ongoing petty feud between the then state of Ravenmire and the Kingdom of Aaun. It lead to a crisis, where a large coalition supported Tiberias van Aert and the Blackvale levy against the Aaunish, given that Aaun had a bad reputation from the end of the Heartlander Confederation.” “The Pontiff caught an illness and died, leaving the Church in Cardinal Rhosyn's trust. She's now Saint Rhosyn of the Petra.” “The resolution to the matter left Aaun in a regency after their previous monarch, Charles the Second, conspired to schism against the Church as well and was held accountable.” “The Church became the stewards of Aaun. When the little heir never came about, the former state of Aaun was left permanently within the Church's complete administration. It became the Pontifical States thereafter.” TV: “And where were you during this time, sir?” “The former part was before I was born, and its formation was in my infancy. I got involved some time into its existence.” “I handled the courts until they failed to prove their worth, moving to more direct Churchly administration while James and Enrique toiled at the temporal.” “I helped in writing Callahan's bulls, oversaw appointments, the typical for a Chancellor. I was ordained shortly before the war.” TV: “I must admit this is of some personal interest to me, since I really have no clue what my son has been up to in my absence.” “He has done quite a lot!” TV: “Ehehe. I was shocked to see he'd become a holy man. And that he had a beard.” TV: “But yes, please tell me more about how the Pontifical States operated?” TV: “Were they quite controversial?” “It was a loose confederation of states, in truth. Not controversial but heavily disliked by Callahan's typical enemies, Raevs and the like.” TV: “I imagine some protested against the Church taking authority over a kingdom like that….” “Many did. It was this reason why Alexander and John had tried to schism, aside from their hatred of the Pontiff.” “Rumor has it Haense was behind the entire affair. Though don't quote me on that.” “Anyhow. Ivörians, Ravenmirians, Albans and Enswerpians, and all those who didn't particularly fit anywhere else came about to make home in the Heartlands.” “Callahan was a very forgiving Lord, and they were given high autonomy.” TV: “Was there a certain political motivation for that?” “Somewhat. In truth, the state existed mostly to slowly rally banners. It worked quite well, the Pontifical Army was disconnected but huge.” “Tiberias was made Captain-General of it, before his initial disappearance. He was gone for a few decades. It was his return that sparked the whole mess thereafter. The Blackvale folk had moved down from Ravenmire and settled in Grense, just under Lemon Hill.” TV: “And were there whisperings about the reformation of an Empire?” “Not quite. Some assumed, but most thought the Pontifical States would only be a warmongering nation.” “And that war was mongered, indeed. Quite dramatically.” JV: “I want to circle back briefly on something, you said the courts failed to show their worth, how was that?” “They oversaw a few cases. The ones we did, we handled them with care and with law. It was a very sophisticated system. Perhaps… a little too sophisticated.” “The Pontifical States demanded faster justice. Sometimes valued the deliverance of it over what was necessary right. Alas, it fell to disrepair and neglect and was eventually disbanded as I was promoted.” JV: “What led up to the war?” “Vinovia. The Pontifical States and Haense were stuck in a sort of political war beforehand, a… passive war, so to speak.” “That entire period was mostly diplomatic isolation from one another while trying to gain as many third party allies as possible. Folks called it the possibility of Hyperwar, the war to end all wars, you understand.” TV: “Hyperwar, I've heard that term used before a few times. And what were your own, personal thoughts on it?” “This escalated slowly but steadily, until it exploded with a bang. Haense had hired a mercenary group dubbed the Vinovians, who acted as proxy operatives for Haense.” “They were trying to get the war going. Haense wanted its Empire as well, but the biggest roadblock was always Callahan and the Church.” “Mine? Unfortunate. Perhaps not strictly necessary, but not without reason. An inevitable tragedy.” TV: “So you felt there was no way to avert it?” “Not with the Haensers actively trying to spark it, no.” “That brings back the Vinovians, as they had been heightening tensions by attacking our borders. It was until one day they attempted to raid the Holy See and assassinate the Pontiff that it boiled over.” “He was thankfully not home at the time, nor was I. We had a meeting just before and could've very well lost our lives that day. Thankfully, the Vinovians were late.” TV: “A stroke of luck indeed!” “Perhaps, perhaps. That, of course, was intolerable. There were rumors of Haense's involvement with Vinovia, their very public dealings with them, so forth.” “There were some attempts at detente, at alternative deals, but none fell through. Karl the Impious, the then King of Haense, went to sea and died of some illness. Scurvy, I think.” “His brother Joren took over after that. He was a meeker man, never meant to be King. Karl had left no issue, you see.” “The tensions rose so much they ended up in an ultimatum. Either Joren abdicate and hand over regency of Haense to the Church, as had happened with Aaun, or all-out war.” “Callahan wasn't available that day so I had to lead the gathering where he gave his response. When he said no, I excommunicated him before the gathering. War was declared a few days after.” TV: “My goodness, and how did you feel on that day? What was going through your head?” “Hope that he'd say yes. Fear that he'd say no. Resentment when he did.” TV: “Did the prospect of war frighten you at all?” “It did. Not because I didn't think we'd win, but because of what the cost would be.” “My whole family was in Balian, after all. They would forsake me. They did.” TV: “Would you elaborate on that, sir?” “Many of the canonist nations yielded to him. Petra, Aaun, Hyspia, Balian as I said, and other sellouts who preferred Haense's cushy Pax over the Temple and Faith. Only Númendil and the Pontifical States stood by Callahan, as well as the myriads of other allies we had.” “John Casimir and I had a difficult, personal relationship. I had helped him greatly, after all, and we were indebted to one another. I had him swore an oath before me, to never transgress the Temple.” “This is related, don't be afraid…-” Here a short interruption occured “Ah, yes. John. We'd gotten into a sort of… rivalry. He hated my guts as much as I did his, and as per, he was motivated to join with Haense and make me the scapegoat. He blamed me for the war and had me banished from the realm. My father, the loyal dog that he is, followed along by disinheriting me and denouncing me from the Vuillers.” “It split my family. Half my children remained in Balian, the other half joined me in the Pontifical States.” TV: “My God! How awful!” “It was the choice I had to make. To keep true to my Temple, or to submit to my nation. It's obvious which one I went with.” JV: “Were here… difference with Balian similar to your own?” “How so?” JV: “Was she also also siding with the Temple over her nation, or was there a different conflict going on?” “Ah! Helena's- she had some issues with her family. Private, for the most part. She chose a better life for her and her child.” “The war raged on. She fought in some battles, as did I. Nothing too dramatic however. She captured Kathryn of Rhen, John's consort, some… two or three times?” JV: “Very impressive.” “Burgundy was founded about that time as well, and the States dissolved, as you remember.” “The Kingdom. Once Balian was conquered and John died, the Empire was founded.” “Helena and I married and went on to have some… eleven children? I forget.” JV: “I do. Before that, how did the war go?” “The war went as all wars go. Death, destruction, incredibly annoying opposition. The beginning was uncertain, but after our first few victories, it was pretty much decided.” “They tried raiding the Holy See a few times, once with my children about. Could've hurt them. Thankfully they didn't do it again.” JV: “It must have been hard on your family life.” “Yes… though some of my children who remained in Balian came along to join me in the States, especially after the Whitewoods settled Silasia.” “Once it was won, the Empire was founded, and due to a friendship with Tiberias I was made his Archchancellor.” “Then came the Druscan fiasco.” JV: “Hold on, how did the Empire come about?” “Humanity was, for the most part, completely united. The natural state of a united humanity is an Empire. Therefore, it was pronounced shortly after.” Here, a more serious interruption occurred, causing the rest of the interview to be postponed to a later date “Well, where were we?” JV: “We had just gotten to the rise of the Empire. A good point to have recessed at. I'd like you to tell how exactly it came about. This will be a period of great interest, I think.” “I believe I gave some of the context in our last session, would you like me to go about all of it again?” JV: “I think that would be good.” “Very well! Well, the only history prior to the war of two emperors is only relevant as in the line of Augustus, the second of the Emperors of Man of the first Pertinaxi dynasty.” “Augustus had a child. Quite a few, in fact, but one of them was a boy who would go on to create the house of Vilacz.” “Vilacz became Vilac which became van Aert.” “The Burgundians had direct agnatic ancestry straight to Aurelius Canonius. Tiberias, son of Gaspard II - who was Captain-General of Veletz - knew this.” “Tiberias and his host, a large levy of soldiers of Blackvale and Burgundy, marched with him out of the Middle-lands and up into Ravenmire.” “When James was first made bishop, Ravenmire was his diocese. He himself can speak on how brutally cold and isolated that place was. Almost fell to Aurelianist heresies, if it weren't for the good shepherding of the Church.” “A man named Charles Alstion was crowned Charles the Second down in Aaun, after the death of his father John of Aaun. Charles cannibalized the union-state of Aaun and Petra and caused the dissolution of the Heartlander Confederation.” “He was a terrible, horrible man.” “So much so that he murdered his own brother, whose name escapes me. Something James? I believe?” “The death was related to some claimant issues. Aaun was a rump-state of the eighth empire which maintained legitimacy only through its Alstionite roots.” “Though more importantly, the kinslaying was discovered. The royals of Aaun weren't very bright and decided to discard of the body inside of… I think a cistern, or a basin of holy water in the chapel. After a raid to the Hand of Horen, which was a massive tower the Alstions inhabited as a palace, Tiberias' host found the dead body of that Prince.” “That's when Tiberias made his first and very important move. He revealed the death and declared an ultimatum against Aaun, backed by Ravenmire and a miscellaneous gang of orcs and dwed.” “Aaun was highly unpopular, though. The general canonist community hated them with a passion, especially Númendil and Petra.” “Though, they hated Tiberias more.” “Haense had just defeated Tiberias' father, Gaspard, in the Veletz war. They saw the return of the Blackvale host as a dangerous resurgence of Veletzian ideology, especially from what was at the time a radical. Tiberias was much more Burgundian than his republican forefathers.” JV: “What does burgundian mean in this context?” “Of Burgundy, which was the main military backbone of Veletz Somewhat derived from Pertinaxi. Certainly Pertinaxi in nature, at least.” “Veletz as a whole was less so, and focused on Dumacratic ideals of elective autocracy. Semi-republican. In any case, Haense saw this as a threat to their order. The Church maintained a neutral stance, not openly backing neither Tiberias who sought against Aaun, nor Haense who sought to defend it.” “Many believed it'd be all-out war.” “Though it wasn't. An important summit took place at Numenost, the capital of Númendil, where basically all world leaders met with their hosts, including Tiberias. There, Saint Rhosyn of the Petra and then-Cardinal Callahan, who were acting in the old Pontiff's stead while he was dying, managed to broker an important deal.” TV (to ED): “Were you there, llir?” ED: “It is as he said, it was a very… passionate meeting, as I recall.” TV: “Passionate? Indeed? How so? Do tell.” “Incredibly so. I read the transcripts, believe it or not, the Church kept extensive records.” “There was… a lot of shouting. King Alexander of Balian was a complicated man who hated Tiberias.” ED: “Complicated man is a simple way to describe Alex.” “But Saint Rhosyn, through expert and dare I say God-given negotiation skills, managed some impressive maneuvers and maintained peace. Charles the Second had been excommunicated prior, so Aaun was under further crisis.” “He was excommunicated on grounds of kinslaying, by the way.” ED: “But to merely be present in the room was an almost deafening experience.” “His son, whose name I don't remember… Godwin? I think? Was just nine, or ten.” “So, the brokered deal saw the release of the Treaty of Minas Aranath, which gave the Church essentially complete ownership of Aaun as stewards and regents while ensuring no invasion from Tiberias' forces.” “Then came quite troublesome days….” “The aforementioned King Alexander hated Owynism as well. With a passion, more than he did Tiberias.” “And the face of Owynism at the time was Callahan, who was elected as the next Pontiff after the death of the previous.” “So you can assume that an openly Owynist Pontiff wasn't all too appealing to King Alexander or King Marius of Haense.” “They plotted to schism, though the Haensers didn't commit. They were clever and had the Balianoids as scapegoats, deliberating with some old Aaunic authorities; the Chancellor and other such folks, and conspiring with them to openly schism.” “However, this ploy was revealed by the second son of Alexander, Hadrian the Hero Novellen. My brother in law. Ironically, my wife's twin, Hadrian, who attended the meeting, fled to Numendil where he told the Church of the ploy.” “Alexander II, Queen Lavanya his wife, and John Casimir his heir were all excommunicated… as well as the Aaunite chancellor and other officials.” “They were all sent to THE ISLAND: Also known as, the Citizen's Island, where some of them remain to this day.” TV: “The island?” “Yes. THE ISLAND.” TV: “Would you elaborate on that, please?” TV: “THE ISLAND, ti. Begging your pardon.” “It was a little Island just south of Almaris where the Church sent all of its enemies it had excommunicated.” “Charles II, Alexander II, their wives, their heirs.” TV: “Was it a very fearsome place? A prison?” “No, just a monastery. They were forced to become monastics.” “A monastery and a nunnery on opposite sides of the island, if I recall correctly.” Tanith nods. “Ahernan, I was just curious. You made it sound rather terrifying, pronouncing it that way. THE ISLAND. Quite foreboding.” “THE ISLAND.” TV: “THE ISLAND. It's a little fun to say, actually.” “Yes. It was foreboding, two nations essentially ceased to exist thanks to it.” “Balian was also entrusted to the Church, what we discussed our last session, with the whole deal of Cardinal Ivan and my struggle for John's crown.” “That heir to Aaun, little… Godwin, I think, yes, he failed to show up. He didn't meet by his end of the deal, so Aaun was dissolved. That line of Alstion ceased to exist there. And in its stead were founded the Pontifical States, headed by the Church as its only sovereign. Tiberias was made Captain-General, the head of its armies, as per his covenant with Callahan. Though he disappeared. He went away for many years.” “And so commenced a very long, very tense cold period. The one I grew up in. The Pontifical States and Idunia on one side as one superpower, Haense and its lackeys- Petra, Hyspia and Reinmar on the other. None daring to war one another, but both hoping to eventually.” JV: “You had moved to the Pontifical States by this point.” “I had.” “I got work in the Church so I worked where the Church was. I lived at Lemon Hill and was one of its few permanent residents.” “After Lemon Hill ceased to be Sir Morgan's little plot and instead became the Church's headquarters, as the Holy See.” “Then that waiting period, yadda-yadda, nothing very interesting happened until the Schism war.” “I believe I spoke on it last time, did I?” JV: “Yes, I believe so, briefly." “I may elaborate, if you wish.” TV: “Please do. The Schism War I am personally familiar with is… uh… much older.” “Yes… this newer one is typically referred to as the war of Crown and Crozier.” “Awful name, if you ask me.” “That's why us who lived through it refer to it as the Second Schism War, or the Vinovian War.” JV: “I always called it the Vinovian War.” “Yes. It was a huge, bloody affair.” “Started with the Vinovians, who appeared out of nowhere as mercenaries. They were hired by Haense on the down-low, but not down enough, to conduct partisan operations against the Church.” “One day they went too far. They raided Lemon Hill in hopes of assassinating the Pontiff, but instead gravely injured Tar-Anorhil and murdered innocent priests and monastics.” “This initiated the Vinovian Crisis. The Church's coalition fought against them while Haense observed as a proxy.” “Then the Vinovians went quiet, and at almost the same time, Tiberias returned.” “The connections between Haense and Vinovia were made apparent, and a large meeting - also at Númendil ironically, gave way to an ultimatum made before the Haeseni. Either have their monarch Karl the Impious abdicate and cede regency to the Church, or face war.” “A bunch of other demands were made at the same time. They were ordained by the Angel Saint Raguel, you know, who I had the blessing to meet and converse with a few times. The actual, real Angel who came down from the Skies. Such prophetic times, they were.” TV: “I imagine that went over well with the Haenseni?” “- Hah, not at all, Lady Tanith. Not at all indeed.” “I was the one to give the terms. I had to face down King Joren, as King Karl the Impious had died. Joren was his younger brother, by the by. He was a meeker and more reasonable man. But not reasonable enough, unfortunately.” “So I provided unto him the demands, and he denied me, so I excommunicated him. And that was how the war began.” TV: “What was that like, having to deliver those terms at the meeting's conclusion?” “The terms were at a secondary meeting. The first one was at Numendil, the second that actually started the war was at Lemon Hill.” “Haense had been summoned. The room was quite packed.” “After the excommunication, the war started proper. The Pontifical States, Númendil, orcs, dwarves, and Caurost against Haense, Hyspia, Petra, Reinmar, and Balian. A true world war, everyone duking it out.” “It ensued for… quite little, surprisingly. Haense gave up after the third, fourth battle?” “Their land got annexed and they fled to become a Norlandic vassal rump-state called Karoslund. Which is now, itself, gone.” “Reinmar is now an Imperial vassal, Petra under Idunia, Hyspia became Viru, and Balian………….” “Balian lasted longer. The only one who didn't capitulate. They fought until we sieged their capital. Honorable, but foolish.” “I hated them, I'll admit. Hated my father, my brother in law, that halfwit John Casimir, after so many olive branches I gave him he still refused.” “But, in the end the line of Novellen was abolished there, to never return.” “Balian was dissolved, and I even got to marry John Casimir's sister!” “Your rival marrying your sister. Eheh.” TV: “I bet that made the wedding a little awkward.” “Oh, he wasn't invited. Though we did marry in Balian, secretly.” TV: “What are your feelings on your brother in law now?” “I'm glad he's dead. That's about it. To say anything else would mean he's still got a smidge of power over my life, which he thankfully doesn't.” TV: “Ah, that's a very healthy attitude to have.” “Anyhow, Balian became Lotharia under the orcs, similarly to how Beleth is now.” “Prior to Balian's capitulation, I crowned Tiberias as King of Burgundy. I wasn't given a script and dare-I-say I did VERY well. It was quite the spectacle.” JV: “How did he go from King to Emperor?” “When Callahan couldn't or didn't want to make it to a coronation, he'd make me do them. I crowned the Prince of Reinmar, the King of Petra, the Queen of Hyspia….” “Thus why I said prior to Balian; when Balian fell, humanity was (for the most part) united.” “Everyone under the Imperial banner.” “So, Callahan crowned him Emperor on the basis of that agnatic succession I mentioned earlier.” “Through Aert through Vilac through Vilacz to the Pertinaxi.” JV: “There was no Imperial Banner before there was an Emperor.” “The proto-Imperial banner. Technically the Burgundian banner. Which was also technically the Pontifical States, given the States later became Burgundy which later became the Empire.” JV: “I don't recall the States becoming Burgundy.” “I know it's a touchy subject for you, James, but in broad strokes that was what it was. All Pontifical vassals swore to Tiberias that day, under Callahan's instruction.” JV: “Did you automatically join the Imperial Government?” “No. I was Lord Chancellor of Burgundy prior to that, I'd become friends with Tiberias and my work as the Church's Chancellor impressed him. I helped him found the Imperial state when the time came, and have been Archchancellor ever since.” JV: “There must have been much work to do.” “An excruciating amount. Vassal negotiations, forming the first government and the state as a whole. If it weren't for my wife, my sweet Helena, I wouldn't be here today. She gave me the courage to continue, and helped me much in legal work.” “Though she was made to step down after a controversy. One that was grossly overblown, may I add.” JV: “Would you like to elaborate on that?” “She was the first Lady Justiciar, and set the foundations for current Imperial legal procedure. Though some rumors were spread of her involvement in the death of some noble-lady or other. She had to step down to avoid further controversy on the Crown. Alas.” JV: “How did you go about forming a brand new government?” “I studied older Imperial forms of governance. We maintained a more Pertinaxi flavor while keeping the general Imperial cabinet shape.” JV: “What's a Pertnaxi flavor?” “Think old Empire of Man, expressing titles and ranks in a similar way to that of the first Pertinax.” “Given the historical differences with the Helane-Novellen side, it's natural not much was taken from the eighth empire's form of council.” “That is a short and somewhat convoluted history of the Empire's creation, Lady Tanith.” TV: “It's very strange and funny to hear your speak thus, Your Excellency. The last time I was in Oren was under the reign of Joseph II and I departed shortly after his passing. Back then, our understanding of the Pertinaxi was that they were horrific tyrants and their example should be shunned.” TV: “To hear you say you emulated them purposefully is very strange to my ears. But - I will admit my understanding of the Pertinaxi was likely colored due to the political propaganda of the time….” TV: “I heard many diverging opinions on them.” “Why, of course. And the old Empire of Man was quite brutal indeed, though we must respect the culture of our forefathers.” “The Petrines hated the Pertinaxi because they won against them in Two-emps.” TV: “Naturally. History is written by the victors, as they say.” “Not always! Sometimes it's written by independent third parties, like yourselves.” “And I find those histories to be much more interesting to read.” “Have you any further questions?” JV: “What do you see as the major events under your Archchancellory?” “Phoo… too many. The Margrave's war between Ivoria and Drusco, then the Druscan war between Drusco and Numendil, the integrations of Norland, Caurost, and Iryalen, and now this war. I think they're calling it the Badlands War?” TV: “Oh my, I didn't know it had a name. Everyone I've spoken to has merely called it 'the war'.” “That's what they'll continue to call it until it ends, I reckon. Which shouldn't be long at all.” TV: “Well, I suppose, what's next for you, Your Excellency? Where do you see yourself in five years?” “A series of reforms, mostly to the legislative and judicial processes.” “And then, well… death.” TV: “…That's rather grim, Your Excellency.” “Oh, not at all. I lived a good life, Lady Tanith. A human is made to return to His Lord eventually.” TV: “I would think a more cheerful answer is… retirement to someplace tropical.” “And in my old age, and with these old bones, I can only aspire to make good on that covenant and make way home. That's the blessing of Man. Mortality gives perspective. I did all I needed to do to provide to the Tapestry.” “I loved and was loved, I worked for and was worked for.” TV: “Well… I should hope you will get to enjoy retirement for a few years before the Lord calls you home. You've been an awfully busy man. It's important to rest too.” “Alas! My contract doesn't end until my passing.” “I'm to serve in office until I keel over.” TV: “Oh dear… well, let us hope your final years in office won't be so hectic. A swift conclusion to the war and then peace in the realm.” “Hah! They ended in a regency and a war, quite hectic indeed, though I love the work I do.” JV: “Wrapping up, how would you characterize the situation of the Empire, and what would you say are the greatest challenges ahead of it?” “The Empire will soon be everything. There won't be a thing on this continent that doesn't happen within its borders.” “… In a way, paradoxically, the Empire's challenges will be every challenge at once. From every corner of the realm. From every vassal, every thinking mind, every creature. It will have to survive. Kick and fight and gnaw, like an animal. It'll have to overcome everything, all the time, all at once.” TV: “You… don't sound optimistic.” “I am optimistic. I never said it wouldn't triumph. I worry for the sanity of Marcus and his little heir, I do. But if they labor, then there'll be peace. Long lasting peace.” JV: “And Hadrian?” “The Emperor will prove his own strength with his war. It'll be his magnum opus. He will have been the conqueror of everything that crawls and walks. That is legacy enough, I believe.” JV: “Any closing words to history?” “I was of service. To love, to Empire, and to God. I pray my wife Helena is as remembered as I am. If I am to be remembered at all.” JV: “Very good. Before we go, I'd like to give you an opportunity to put something on the record to be released only at a much later date.” “Mmm… only that my hope for my successor was my son Ezra, and I'm sure he'd do splendidly. I'd ask that… most of my opinions and takes be left off of an biographical material. I'd like to be known for the things I did less than for the things I thought, you understand.” JV: “I don't plan to do much editing of the transcript, my friend.” “Ahah! Oh well. I said nothing I regret, anyhow.”

+1 and I won't hear otherwise

James Vursur discovers with mild bemusement that he has been incorporated into yet another institution. He sits down to read the document over again to discover what this one is going to involve.

To Ledicort de Senna An Elegy by Fr. James Vursur And I recall those golden days Of terror, blood and zeal, When reared the crowns of Canondom To crush us under heel When dreadful, countless, senseless Stood their Carrion force arrayed We stood fast on our mountain And we took up arms, and prayed. And the Mercyflame was with us While Horen's sons were not And the Tzadek's benedictus Which we long have since forgot For greater, deeper darkness More confounding than the last Upon our day of victory And all the world was cast And through the age nocturnal We grasp and crawl our way And another light from Lemon Hill Has flickered out today. 🕯️

STOP UPDATING MINECRAFT GAMES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DONE AFTER YOU RELEASE THEM YEARS OF PLAYING yet NO REAL WORLD USE for any mob after ENDERMEN Want a mount anyway for a laugh? We had a mob for that, it was called "PIG WITH CARROT AND STICK" "Yes I want a WAXED OXIDIZED CUT COPPER STAIRS please. Give me a MUDDY MANGROVE ROOT. I want FOUR DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF STONE IN THE GROUND." - Statements dreamed up by the utterly Deranged LOOK at what Mojang is demanding you update your game for for all this this time, from all the creeper merchandise we bought from them (this is REAL minecraft, from REAL Mojang updates) ??????? ??????????????? ?????????????????????????????????? "Hello I would like an axolotl in my digging building game please" They have played us for absolute fools

Don't forget, you're here forever. What was the original concept for Manon as a character and how far has she deviated from that throughout and after her Dark Age? Self Indulgent, feel free to skip: Favorite Manon / James moment?

Gwendolyn, Thank you very much for preserving the memory of my old friend. As the years march on, they leave behind much that is precious and beautiful. It falls to us to carry the weight of that past that we would not have lost, and that is a weight you have here borne beautifully, doing, I think, more for her legacy than I ever have. I want to invite you back to the NGS. I am still here, as are Tanith and Eliza, and we will all be overjoyed to see you again. Please do not be a stranger to us any longer. Your friend, James Chapel P.S. I have one note.

⋅──────⊱༺ ♰ ༻⊰──────⋅ Litany Against Iblees By Fr. James Vursur ⋅──────────⋅ Instructions: The portions of the litany intended to be read by the leader of the litany are rendered in red. The responses are rendered in white. ⋅──────⊱༺ ♰ ༻⊰──────⋅ Eternal Creator Preserve us Eternal Word Enlighten us Eternal Spirit Guide us We renounce Iblees And all his evil works We renounce Iblees and all his wicked lies We renounce Iblees and all his vicious counsels Saint Julia, who guardeth the Tabernacle Pray for us Saint Owyn, wielder of the sword of the Mercyflame Pray for us Saint Rhosyn, exorcist and counselor of peace Pray for us Master of chaos Flee and begone Father of abominations Flee and begone Renouncer of truth Flee and begone Enemy of mankind Flee and begone Rebel against God Flee and begone Fountainhead of envy Flee and begone Slave of pride Flee and begone Corruptor of creation Flee and begone Devourer of mortals Flee and be gone Poisoner of souls Flee and begone Accuser of the faithful Flee and begone Calumniator of the righteous Flee and begone Murderer of the saints Flee and begone Weaver of lies Flee and begone Architect of ruin Flee and begone Teacher of confusion Flee and begone Darkener of reason Flee and begone Cultivator of malice Flee and begone Denier of mercy Flee and begone Promulgator of despair Flee and begone Thou destined for utter destruction Flee and begone into the void forever Holy Creator, whose power is beyond reckoning and whose enemies are less than the dust of your sandals, protect us from the wickedness and deceptions of the evil one, that we may praise and serve you, and after our battle, join you in Seven Heavens forever. Amen ⋅──────⊱༺ ♰ ༻⊰──────⋅

⋅──────⊱༺ 🍋 ༻⊰──────⋅ Planting of a Lemon Tree Age of Mankind 2071 ⋅──────⊱༺ 🍋 ༻⊰──────⋅ A sapling grown from preserved seeds of the tree on the holy Lemon Hill is to be planted in the courtyard of the monastery attached to the Church of St. Raguel, outside Rittersburg. A small ceremony will be conducted to commemorate the occasion. The program shall be as follows: ⊱༺ Opening litany in the sanctuary ⊱༺ Procession to the courtyard ⊱༺ Planting of the tree ⊱༺ Reflections ⊱༺ Closing prayer The ceremony will begin at [SATURDAY, MARCH 7 at 7:30 PM EST]. All are welcome to attend. The event will not be formal and is not expected to take long.

BASIC INFORMATION [« DISCORD USERNAME » saffronpark.] [« MINECRAFT USERNAME » Wholesome_Thomas.] « IN CHARACTER NAME » James « SURNAME » Vursur « AGE» 371 PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION « OCCUPATION » Priest, NGS member « EXPERIENCE » President of the Northern Geographical Society, 52 years. Premier of the Pontifical States, 12 years, Mayor of Chambery. « DESIRED ROLES » Deputy Reeve, News Contributor - Religion, Director of Immigration, Immigration aide.

⋅──────⊱༺ ♰ ༻⊰──────⋅ A COMMENTARY ON THE CITRINE CREED By Fr. James Vursur ⋅──────⊱༺ ♰ ༻⊰──────⋅ First, the text of the creed in full: ⊱༺ I confess one Lord and GOD, The Singular, Almighty, Most-Merciful Creator, fashioner of the heavens and the firmament, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Master of the Universe. Singular, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omnibenevolent. I kneel in obeisance to His will, and I keep faith with the Covenant between Him and our Forefather Horen. GOD alone do I confess, worship, and seek after. I confess the one Holy, Apostolic, and True Faith of the Temple. I bend to the successors of Saints Evaristus and Clement - the Pontificate, the Episcopacy, and the Presbyterate who bear their laurel and cloth themselves in their authority. I profess that the Pontiff is the High Priest and Vicar of GOD, able to speak on His behalf. I acknowledge the Holy Scrolls and believe in the Four Sacraments and their efficacy as holy mysteries. I believe in four sons of Man, the Fathers of Mankind. I profess to the two Sons of Spirit - Owyn, and Godfrey. I await with anticipation the coming of the Third Son of Spirit and the healing of the world, and place my faith in the mercy of God for hope of my ascension to the Seven Skies. This is not to be a comprehensive account of the doctrines of the Citrine Creed, only an attempt to illuminate certain aspects as one who took part in its formulation. God grant that it be helpful to all those who hold these articles of faith as their own, and be a testimony of wisdom for those who do not. ⊱༺ I confess one Lord and GOD, To confess in this context means to acknowledge and profess. By this statement, the Temple states that it acknowledges only one Lord and only one God, which it proceeds to describe. ⊱༺ The Singular, Almighty, Most-Merciful Creator, Three attributes of God are described, first that He is one. We can know from natural reason that the origin of all things must be only one. Natural reason also tells us that this origin must have all power, here expressed as almighty and later expressed with the more technical omnipotent. The mercy of God has been revealed to us, and for many it is the most difficult to believe. The temple places this title as the last and most significant, and connects it to His identity as Creator. The creation was the first act of benevolence, by which He granted all things the precious gift of existence itself, and He continues to sustain us in this and grants us more gifts beyond it, even after we creatures betray His will and have used His gifts to spite Him. ⊱༺ fashioner of the heavens and the firmament The creed specifies two objects of His handiwork, both connected to the sky, the Heavens, God's own realm toward which we strive, and the firmament, which refers literally to the sky, but implies the firmness of the created natural order, which was decreed by God and can not be unsettled except by His will. ⊱༺ King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Master of the Universe. The original draft of the creed read "King of Kings, and God over gods". Though this could be understood in a theologically correct manner, that phrasing was rejected as the temple did not wish to dignify the created spirits with the term "gods". Rather, this expression was chosen. It may seem that King of Kings and Lord of Lords is redundant, but this need not be so. For a King is chiefly considered in relation to the people over which he is king, and a Lord is considered chiefly in relation to the domain over which he is Lord. (Thus, as a digression, it is more proper to speak of "King of the Burgundians" rather than "King of Burgundy", though such technicalities are not observed in our day and age.) Therefore by use of the two titles the Temple signifies both the authority of God over all mankind personally, from which flows all authority in which Kings and other sovereigns partake, as well as his dominion over the physical creation. Master of the Universe can signify both the relationship between a Master and his household, thereby signifying a close, personal ownership, or the relationship between a Master and apprentice, signifying that the universe ought to heed closely his instructions and strive to emulate him. ⊱༺ Singular, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omnibenevolent The creed mostly reiterates. Briefly, but in the strongest possible terms, it professes that God is one, that He has all power, that He is in all places, and that He is all benevolence itself. ⊱༺ I kneel in obeisance to His will, and I keep faith with the Covenant between Him and our Forefather Horen. Here, the belief is translated into action, for mere belief is of no benefit to anyone. No mortal believes in the omnipotence and omnibenevolence of God more than does Iblees, the Deceiver. Well indeed could the enemy and his demonic hosts recite this creed up to this point, but here they must stop, for their kind kneels in obeisance to nothing but their own pride and envy, and they keep no faith even amongst themselves. It may be objected that I, a son of Malin, should claim Horen as my forefather, but the creed does not here refer to the fathership of Horen in a physical sense, but is recited only by the sons of Horen according to their faith to the Covenant. This I have by virtue not of my ordination, but of my baptism in the waters of Gamesh, and my faithfulness to that baptism. In this sense the sons of Horen are all who follow the God of Horen and keep the covenant God made to Horen. Thus we may say that persons such as myself, or Saint Pius of Sutica, or Saint Sertog the twice-born are true sons of Horen of whom it is said "where the virtuous are cast out of this world, He gathers them in the Skies" (Silence, 42) and we need not say that such men as Augustus of Blackmont or Ostromir of Dobrov or the pagan nations have any share in the glory of God in eternity. ⊱༺ GOD alone do I confess, worship, and seek after. God is Truth itself, and by confessing God alone the Temple affirms all truth that partakes in Him, and renounces falsehoods that flow from some other source. The Temple intends by the word "Worship" both sacrifices and divine honor, which are rightfully directed only to the Creator of all things. To say that we seek after God alone is to say that we direct our attentions always to the Heavens, pursuing always the Will of its Master through outward actions, and pursuing the Master Himself through our interior disposition, and discarding such distractions the world dangles before us, which draw our attention downward and away from eternal things. ⊱༺ I confess the one Holy, Apostolic, and True Faith of the Temple. I bend to the successors of Saints Evaristus and Clement, the Pontificate, the Episcopacy, and the Presbyterate who bear their laurel and cloth themselves in their authority. Horen was selected from among his brothers to lead the faithful in the fight against the Deceiver. The scrolls record how the priesthood of Horen was scattered among many separate rites, each with a only fraction of the authority which had been placed in their father. Therefore God sent the Prophet Owyn to gather the rites together into a single laurel, so that the people of God would more easily act in a single accord with the fullness of authority. Owyn appointed the first Pontiffs, Saints Clement and Evaristus, to lead the institution he had established, and the Pontiff of the True Faith is nothing more nor less than the successors of those two. ⊱༺ I profess that the Pontiff is the High Priest and Vicar of GOD, able to speak on His behalf. The Pontiff is High Priest of God, as it is through whom and with whom we direct our worship to God, and he is Viceroy of God, as He is authorized to act on God's behalf. The Temple knows that she has had faithless Viceroys, but their authority remains, and it is not for a subject to stand in judgement over a Viceroy, but for the King himself, who sees all that is done in daylight and in the dark, and who reads perfectly the intentions of the heart, and Whose judgement upon those whom He has given such great responsibility will be terrible indeed. Therefore, if one is to stand, in service to the King, against the Viceroy, they must examine themselves closely, scourging themselves of any impurity of intention. They must take counsel with the wise, and make themselves fully aware of the circumstances the Viceroy is facing, and proceed with great humility and steadfast virtue, knowing that they have, in a sense, taken their souls into their own hand. The same is the case for one who is to become Viceroy themselves. ⊱༺ I acknowledge the Holy Scrolls The Holy Scrolls are the Scrolls of Virtue, Spirit and Gospel, which were delivered to us by the Prophets Horen, Owyn and Godfrey, whose authenticity was verified by miracles witnessed and known to the people of their times. They were given to us that we might have assurance in those things of God we can know by reason, knowledge of those things we can know only by revelation, instructions concerning a life of virtue, understanding of our place in the history of the world, and many other things besides. ⊱༺ and believe in the Four Sacraments and their efficacy as holy mysteries. The Four Sacraments are Baptism, Confession, Holy Orders and Matrimony. These four have been promised by the giver of all Grace, through the Temple, to effect the working of grace in the soul. Every working of Grace in the soul is a miracle greater than any miracle, for when all things were created, they offered no resistance to this action of God. Nor do the laws of material objects resist when He who declared them declares their temporary suspension, but souls with intellect, unlike all other beings, have the capacity to resist the will of their Maker. Therefore is the working of Grace beyond the understanding of mortalkind, and they are therefore called Holy Mysteries. ⊱༺ I believe in four sons of Man, the Fathers of Mankind. The four sons of Primordial Man were Malin, Urguan, Krug and Horen. They were born of Man and Woman, therefore they are of the kind of Man, and so also are the tribes given to them. To exclude any of the sons from the term Mankind, therefore, constitutes not only a denial of the creed and the clear teaching of the scrolls, but a denial of all histories told of our origin by faithful and unfaithful alike from the very dawn of the world. ⊱༺ I profess to the two Sons of Spirit - Owyn, and Godfrey. The Holy Scrolls record that Horen was promised three sons of Spirit through Julia. These are distinct from his sons according to the flesh as well his sons according to the covenant, being sons according to the spirit of prophecy held by both the patriarch and his wife. The first was Owyn, called the Purifier, who reunited the Hurinaic priesthood and established the Church, and Godfrey, called the Redeemer, who established the first Empire which, though not in his lifetime, would create the conditions for relative peace among Mankind. Each played pivotal roles in the working out of Divine providence in mortal history. ⊱༺ I await with anticipation the coming of the Third Son of Spirit The Third Son of Spirit, called the Preserver, has been foretold and not yet fulfilled. He will likewise be a pivotal figure, perhaps, and I speculate, saving the Faith during a time when it would seem to be overcome by her enemies. ⊱༺ and the healing of the world, At the end of history, the Deceiver will be finally overthrown, and the war of Horen against the agents of malice shall be concluded, and the Eternal Word will descend once again to put the world in order on that day as He had done at the beginning, and the virtuous of Mankind will be free to complete their commission of completing the creation of the world without the interference of our infernal foe. ⊱༺ And place my faith in the mercy of God for hope of my ascension to the Seven Skies. Created beings are made in a state of debt for the enormous gift of our own existence, which we can never repay, for we have nothing to offer Him except that which He first granted to us. Who would say to a King "As I have not broken any of your laws, you therefore should allow me into your feast and grant to me a fiefdom." Thus would be even the most righteous angels, and perhaps even some of the Holiest mortals. But God owes them nothing from obligation, and we, who have broken his laws, can claim even less, except that God is eternally merciful and delights in rewarding the faithful, as an outpouring of goodness from He who is Himself Goodness. This is the hope, in which, more than all things, we can place our trust.

RP Name: James Vursur Discord: saffronpark I may be late

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The Census is closed.

༻⊰──────⊱༺ ♛ ༻⊰──────⊱༺ The Kings by James Vursur ༻⊰────────────⊱༺ The Kings of Haense were mighty men And fearsome was their crown They fought for Prophet Sigismon And put the schism down Their palace walls were scarlet hued Their roads were crimson red And red the banner that they flew And red the blood they shed. They reigned amidst the ice and snow Where cold and hard their hearts had grown Until a flame on temple mount Had called their monarch to account ༻⊰────────────⊱༺ The Kings of Oren reigned supreme And set their splendid throne Oe'r mount and plain and sea and stream And cities, church and home Their citadel was white as death They powdered wig and face They spent their vast collected wealth To hide their inner place They kept their darkness close concealed Till rays of providence revealed No gilding mortal kind can make Could form authentic gold from fake ༻⊰──────⊱༺ ♛ ༻⊰──────⊱༺