GoodGuyMatt

Hieromonk Ernst smiles at his cousin's notice, preparing for the ceremony "A true Reinmaren and a true Canonist" he smiles

Hieromonk Ernst gasped dramatically as he learned of the first marriage he blessed ending up in adultery. 

i luv mark

Full Name of Man - Severinus Gradic
Date of Birth of Man - SA 32

Name of Woman - Vasileia Ekaterini Basrid
Date of Birth of Woman - SA 34

Location of Ceremony -  Basilica of Bl. George of Leuvaarden
Date of Ceremony (Year) - SA 57
Name of Clergyman who performed ceremony - Hieromonk Ernst

Ser Brandt Barclay twists and turns in his grave as he hears of an auction he can't attend.

Hieromonk Ernst signed the Hussariya after having led a Mass, gathering the faithful to pray for the lost child. "May the child be unharmed" he prayed idly "And may this ordeal lead to GOTT's glory... however it can"

Wind of the regency of his former liege would reach the former Count of Freimark, now Hieromonk Ernst. He huffed as he prayed for Olivier. He'd then read through the parchment and tilt his head "Hm, wonder why Ulrich isn't part of the regency" he pondered, but then waved his hand in dismissal, turning back to his prayer.

"What da elf doin'?" pondered Ernst

Hieromonk Ernst looks over the missive with a warm smile. He then goes to his monastic cell deep within the snowy Haeseni mountains He prepared his humble baggage for the travel, repeating the prayer of Saint Wilfriche silently.

Hieromonk Ernst nods and offers a sincere thumbs up to the thesis "A very relevant and practical topic." he'd comment idly "Just the type of thesis you love to see"

"A miracle from Infant-Martyr Ottomar, surely!" exclaims Hieromonk Ernst

Hieromonk Ernst reads through the missive, sighing "The voice of the zealots is indeed so loud so to cover their lack of true devotion and virtue" he paused then, shaking his head a few times "Though it seems that zealots are also produced whenever they need moral backing for their excommunicated emperors too." he pondered, pausing once more, the man's head fell onto his open palms desperately "O GOD... when will they stop using Your name for their own gain?!"

Hieromonk Ernst signs the Hussariya as he prays in his cell deep in the snowy Haeseni hills. "May the infant-martyr bring innocence upon the hearts of men... especially so in these troubling times." he says before going back to threading up prayer komboskinis, praying to Saint Theodosius.

Novice Ernst says a prayer for the peace-seeking people of Dobrov within his cell in the Haeseni hills.

Novice Ernst hums in thought.

3 minutes ago, Ramon said:

Karl wonders whether or not the writing of theses was becoming a habit

Ernst starts writing again...

A Novice's Thesis:

ON AMBITION AND DILIGENCE

Written on the Sun's Smile, 1851

Depiction of a siege, initiated so to fulfill the intentions and ambitions of man

Dear Brothers and Sisters in GOD,

Since the dawn of time man has been surrounded by his own ambition. It has been an ever present characteristic. To challenge, to conquer, and to achieve. We are especially able to see its presence in our recent years. We see the ambition of new Emperors to dethrone the old ones, and we have seen attempts of Anti-Pontiffs to dethrone the current one. Ambition to the right, ambition to the left. Even the “THE CATECHISM OF THE CANONIST CHURCH” labels it as a sin, listing it amongst murder, thievery, sexual immorality, etcetera etcetera. Ambition then is something wretched, something that the good canonist should stray away from…

I wish to challenge such belief.

If ambition and all its forms is a sin, why then was Saint Adrian’s “youth was marked with a characteristic rivalry with his elder brother and passionate ambition”? (LEGENDA SANCTORUM I) And why do we read of Saint Harald’s “ambition of joining the Brotherhood of St. Karl” (LEGENDA SANCTORUM II)? Within the House of Barclay, I was raised to be an ambitious man, I was told that ambition was paramount, and that it fueled all the good work I was to do. As a child, I witnessed how the diligence and ambition of King Georg I of Sutica liberated the Commonwealth, purging it from the heathens and the degeneracy that had plagued it.

What then, really is ambition? In simple terms and through this thesis, ambition, in its neutral and pure form, will be defined as ‘the aspiration to achieve a particular goal’. This is what the world usually means by the term ambition, it is to strongly wish for the accomplishment of something.

No mentions of ambition can be seen in the Scroll of Virtue, it is neither condemned nor praised. The Holy Scroll, does however, praise Diligence:

“For I have blessed you with My miracle of creation, and you shall draw nearer to My throne by your labors. And you shall discover strength of heart as you work the forge and the plow. So I am the Most High, and in pursuit of My Virtue, I bid my faithful this: You shall not be idle, nor forget your duties in favor of sloth.” (Virtue 4:6-8)

So does our Lord explain to us the paramount importance of work. I believe that diligence and ambition are closely related. For how can a man be diligent in his work if he lacks the strong desire to accomplish a goal? And how can an ambitious man achieve his goal except through work?

On the much inspirational and well-written work by Acolyte Agustin “A THESIS ON DILIGENCE AND DETERMINATION” he writes “In [the faithful’s] work, which they do ever so diligently, they do in his name, all glory goes to him. From the baron to the commoners, the people are faithful and diligent.” I believe this point to be right, and wish emphasize that through the very words of our Lord, given to us through the Scroll of Virtue, ever work, as long as it does not aid the weakening of our Church and our faith, or go against scripture into heretical territory, is work blessed by divine grace.

So do us all contribute to the Divine Will through our work, be it the work of an Alderman writing new political bills for his city, be it the work of the farmer who wakes up every morning to plow the field, or be it the work of the King who oversees his people, all such work comes from GOD. It is then important for every faithful to accomplish their work diligently at all times, for they should keep in mind that even though it appears as if their struggles lack importance, they are still participating in the fulfillment of Divine Will. Work diligently, as if your daily work was given to you by GOD, for He has said:

“And I am the Lord GOD without peer, and My works are the holy works, and My labor is the virtuous labor, and all the strength of the Virtue shall serve the righteous laborer.” (Virtue 4:9)

Thus, only through continuous work can we reach Virtue.

Depiction of the northern Canonist men and women going about their daily work.
 

Thus have we clarified the importance of diligence, that as long as work is not done against the holy, it is good work, and the laborer is filled with Virtue. 

What then happens with ambition? I argue that it is the same case. Ambition, in itself, fuels hard work and diligence, but of course, much like the work itself, it can be wretched and serve against the plan of our Creator. 

The ambition of a good Pontiff to bring together his flock with GOD is a holy ambition, as the ambition of the King to lead his people righteously is a good one. However, the ambition of the treacherous and the schemer to dethrone the good King or the good Pontiff is a sin, for it works against what is good and holy. Thus, do I strongly believe that ambition in itself is not a sin, but the intentions that it fuels are. On the contrary, I argue that ambition in itself is a virtue, for it fuels diligence and functions with it. The wretched goals and intentions that ambition and diligence fuel then, are truly the sin.

How then, do we know that our ambition follows the Divine Will? The same way that Exalted Owyn did, through prayer:

“Now he was overcome with faith and knelt in prayer, and wept for the fate of his kindred. At once the darkness was cast out by a sword ablaze, and there GOD spoke to Owyn.” (Gospel 4:20-21)

Only when he prayed was Exalted Owyn given his task by GOD to save the flock, even though his desire, his ambition to help his kindred, as shown by his weeping for their fate, rested in him before GOD spoke to him.

So I say, o faithful, o hard-working flock of GOD, keep your ambition, but cultivate it with the word and will of our Father that is in the skies. Shy you not from the good struggle, instead let the fire in your heart fuel you, and bring you closer to GOD through diligence. Do, however, be careful, and look inside your heart, so that you do not let wretched intentions against the holy and the good sully your ambition and your struggle. Pray with diligence, and work with ambition.
 

Depiction of a priest diligently teaching the youth of GOD

With love in GOD,
Novice Ernst

A Novice's Thesis:

ON DIVINE OBEDIENCE

Written on the Sun's Smile, 1851

Dear Brothers and Sisters in GOD,

Throughout the practices and beliefs of our Mother Church, us Canonists believe obedience to be a prime virtue. To be obedient to our spiritual leaders is held in high importance. The clerics take vows to obey GOD and their Pontiff, and the Pontiff takes vows to obey the Mother Church, her Tradition, and GOD. The Seven Canticles of the Scroll of Virtue are: Faith, Charity, Temperance, Diligence, Patience, Fidelity, and Humility. No obedience.

Thus does the First Scroll tell us that obedience is not its own virtue, it does not stand from nothing. So, it must come from something. In itself, obedience means to comply, to do as one is told. This can be anything. In technicality, if one is told to do a summersault, and they comply, they are obedient. Yet, I would argue that this is not the type of obedience that the good Canonist should strive for, or the type of obedience that clerics vow to partake in. This type of obedience I will label ‘Divine Obedience’, and I believe it stems from the last Canticle, that of Humility. As GOD said:

“For I have given to you a theater of virtue, and I have ordered the estates of the world. And you shall be without pretense or conceit, for before the mountain, the ant and the aurochs are equally small.” (Virtue 7:6-7)

Thus, the most virtuous live not for their own pride and their own will, for they understand that it is insignificant. They instead live a life dedicated to the fulfillment of the divine will. It is so that divine obedience comes to be. It is not a state of subservience towards another person’s orders. Instead, this divine obedience stems from the love of GOD, it is not executed as chores are executed, but it is instead done in a state of mindlessness, for it is the love of GOD that drives the act of obedience. Much like we love GOD mindlessly, we obey his word mindlessly.

Throughout the Scroll of Gospel, we see the Exalted obey to the divine will, which is revealed to them directly from GOD:

“At once the darkness was cast out by a sword ablaze, and there GOD spoke to Owyn… Owyn took up the sword, and was consumed with warmth. He did as he was bidden and went into the village of Rafal.” (Gospel 4:21 and 4:29)

And again

“Owyn obeyed the command of GOD and anointed the brothers Evaristus and Clement…” (Gospel 5:3)

Depiction of a Novice Monk practicing Divine Obedience as he receives a task from his Elder.

Thus, we question, how can we, the current flock of GOD participate in Divine Obedience? None are able to hear the word of GOD like the Exalted did. The answer to this is simple, we do so through our leaders. Just like “At Owyn’s command, the brothers set shepherds over the flock of men, and so created a priesthood for their instruction” (Gospel 5:5), so we, the canonist flock today, still have our shepherds and clerics to guide us. It is thus that Divine Obedience transitions into the obedience of our spiritual leaders. Just like GOD, through Owyn, set out the shepherds of the flock to guide the faithful, so he again brings us our shepherds to teach us of his divine will. The message then is simple, we ought to obey our spiritual leaders with a loving heart. However, as is with everything ever since the meddling of Iblees, things become complicated.

What happens then, when the soul of a spiritual leader of ours is corrupt and orders us to commit heresy? The answer then should, again, be simple. We do not obey them, for such would go against the divine will. The author of “A Thesis on Obedience” seems to agree with such, as should any good Canonist, naturally. However, what I find improper in the message of this thesis, is how heresy is determined. The author writes “If one believes a Pontiff to be going against scripture and GOD’s will then one must obey the teachings of the scrolls for to go against scripture is to go against GOD himself.” This begs the question, who are we, the mere flock, so filled and corrupted with sin that we are unable to account for all of them, to say whether or not a decision taken is heretical? Whilst in some cases this may be more than obvious, based on our Church’s dogma, there come cases where the line blurs.

One such case would be the recent decision of His Holiness Everard VI to allow women to be ordained as Priests, which becomes a prime example of where the lines blur. It didn’t take long after the decision was taken for many of our spiritual leaders to either call it a heresy, or back it. Not only our spiritual leaders, but even us the flock began dividing between ourselves on the legitimacy of this decision.

In such a case, as is Canon Law, the gathering of an Ecumenical Council to decide upon the matter is required. However, in this case such was impossible due to schemes and coups of Anti-Pontiffs. Should the faithful flock then, in their belief that the Pontiff has committed heresy stray from their leader? Should they adopt wroth in their hearts and separatism in their soul? I argue that they should not, at least not until an Ecumenical Council is held. Us sinful mortals tend to forget that despite our rambles and screams, none but the word of GOD matters. Let us not forget how in the Book of Owyn, after the Exalted drew the blood of his own uncle inside the holy city, he still remained GOD’s prophet:

“And GOD spoke again. “That which is done is not undone, for the lords of this land have seen your sin. But you remain My prophet.”” (Gospel 4:55-56)

We only see the word of GOD prevail, for the Exalted is kept as His prophet, despite the flock witnessing his sin. Who are we then, as a simple flock in our fallen state of sin, to decide the legitimacy of the successor of Exalted Owyn? Do Ecumenical Councils, gathered by the grace of GOD, not exist?

Thus, Divine Obedience, differently from common obedience, serves only to progress the Divine Will, and should not be confused with subservience, for it is done with love and humility at heart. It should be executed mindlessly and selflessly, for it stems from humility, and only through it can we reach connection with GOD. So, do you laymen listen to your priests and friars, and heed their word. So, do you fellow novices obey your elder monks, and do all with love in your heart. So too, do you children obey your parent’s words. At the same time, however, should the faithful stay vigilant in their obedience, to make sure that they do not fall into heresy through either obeying or disobeying their spiritual leaders. It is paramount that we understand our own stance in the grand scheme of the Divine Will and its understanding, and that unless the Dogma of our Mother Church clearly states such, we do not label whatever is inconvenient for us as heresy, lest we fall in worldly ambitions.

With love in GOD,
Novice Ernst

The title...

35 minutes ago, Ramon said:

".....Cares?" Another voice questions, uncertain

Ernst pats his son Karl proudly.

"Damn he really had shooters" commented Ernst

"Who?" a voice echoes

THOUGHTS OF A FALLEN COUNT - JOURNAL I

THE SINS OF ERNST BARCLAY 

Greatly inspired by @Xarkly 's own Memoirs of a Silent Knight posts, the “Thoughts of a Fallen Count” are accounts and journals of the life of Ernst Barclay, written by the character themselves. 

All the information written will not be public knowledge until they are shared officially or shared in roleplay.

Ernst and his men departing to the highlands of Hanseti-Ruska.

So have I left, so have I parted. 

North I ride, with my men and my sons. I leave back what was mine, and to turn to my family, to my roots, and to my ancestors. It has not been an easy decision, but it was a necessary one. It was one of spiritual importance, and from what my mortal mind could understand, it was what GOTT wished for me to do.

So do I understand the message, although I am far from a perfect man, far from even a good one, for only GOTT is good. Yet, through my life I have caught a glimpse of how He works through us all, how his will is executed. Man likes to think that his life is his own, and he thinks that the divine will is only realized through contact with GOTT’s Aenguls and through revelations. Yet, Man lies to himself, for it was GOTT that gave him his life, as He gave life to all of creation, and his divine will is present everywhere.

Why do us mortal ants require seeing GOTT and his Aenguls to understand that our work is for him? Why do we persist that we must witness the unimaginable that breaks all laws of nature in order to call it a miracle or a vocation by GOTT?

I have come to realize that He can reveal his will through chains of mundane events, so perfectly timed that on second thought it leaves a man baffled at the thought of what really happened.

It was all connected to my sins.

Since my youth I have been a man of both vision and ambition. Raised in the south amongst my brothers and Barclay brethren, I was able to briefly meet King Georg before his demise, and before his unfortunate demise. He too was a man of ambition, one that I perceived as good ambition. Through will, determination and hard work he put down those who had corrupted Sutica, and strived to fix it. So, similarly, did I take note to be equally active in my pursuits, and so I was. In my fifteenth or sixteenth year I joined the last council of Sutica as Treasurer, I poured my heart and fortune into my efforts, and after the dissolution of the Kingdom and founding of Savoy did I continue these same pursuits.

Sutica in the eyes of the last council was a lost cause, and it was better to let it fall into a canonist nation after the fall of Queen Johanna I. My cousin, Obrecht, however, did not see eye to eye with such. He came forth to Prince Olivier, challenging him for his sins of killing the Sutican legacy. My cousin had a good heart, a strong and willful one. One that I would only wish to have in my dreams.

I am a bad man.

It has now been many years since Obrecht, with his broken leg, stepped in front of the two Oliviers of Savoy, the Prince and his son and heir in front of their own court. A duel was nigh, a duel to face the sins of Olivier Renault, and his son would fight for him against Obrecht for them. We had gathered before my cousin approached the Privy Council of the Prince, and before we left, had Olivier Renault advised his men to stop the duel only if his own Son would appear to be losing. It was an act of cowardice and dishonor, and I knew it. Yet, I defended it. Not only did I defend it, but in my pursuit to persuade my cousin into dropping the challenge to the duel, I condemned him to the Void. I called him a disgrace to our kin.

Yet, I was the disgrace, I was the sinner.

My reason? So that this Prince would not view me as a traitor and as an enemy, so that I could keep my good status in his eyes during my road to achieve my goal, to fulfill my ambition. I sold my kin and my soul, my honor and my blood. And for what? For a good look before a man who would help fulfill my ambition. Obrecht died that day, his injuries and wounds too great. When I saw him fall, I understood what I had done, only then did I realize the man I had become. Yet, to deal with my sins, I sinned further. I protected the Prince’s name in front of the gathered, and I dismissed his foul play. Done so for the same reason as before.

The duel between Obrecht Barclay and Olivier the Younger within the Savoyard Palace.

As I turned on my cousin, my brother turned on me.

Jurgen saw it all, and whilst I backed the dishonorable with my own dishonor, he backed the honorable with his own honor. He hated me for my sins, and I hated myself too. Many tears I shed then, and so I ran out of tears when I was sixteen. For many months I remained silent, I begged for forgiveness from the LORD and my cousin. Yet, I found none, for I deserved none.

With my honor tainted, I continued on my pursuits, I worked hard and soon became Baron, and then Count. I achieved my ambition, a town I erected from the forest land of the southern islands, men I made to join my banner and swear loyalty to my name. Yet, I deserve no loyalty, for I had none to my own brethren, to my own blood.

Then, many years later, I fell ill.

The Agues I caught, and my hard work had to halt, I was to step back from the further pursuit of my ambition, and GOTT made it so I had no choice but to do so. For a year I fell ill, and through this year, so did what I had built. I came back to a weakened County, to one that only I could maintain. Then, came the schism, led by my own second cousin, Christoff. Then so did Olivier Renault, for whose good eye of whom I sold my soul and my kin, left his own Savoy behind, pursuing his own ambition into Imperial politics, leaving his own heir with an unstable populace so as to gain his own power . He is now publicly known for his further sins and his plots, for his unquenched ambition and his aims of power. And so, I asked myself, why in all my years I only became ill only when all of this chaos erupted.

Then I realized my sickness was no curse, but a blessing. Only then did I realize that my ambition was earthly, and for it I had committed many sins. Yet, GOTT, in his incomprehensible grace, saw fit to open the eyes of a sinner like me. So I saw that my ambition had led me to wilt my soul, and so it would continue doing if I was to not stop it, it would not stop, and like Olivier, I would leave all I had built for more personal power.

Thus, did I decide to stop it.

I decided to drop what I had worked for, and to pay for my sins which I committed because of my ambition, by killing my own ambition. I decided to abdicate my titles, and move with my family to aid it, so that I may redeem myself from such. Yet, so far I fear to tell anyone of my sins, I have even been unable to confess them to a priest, for my wretched soul, although it cried for its sins, was too ambitious to deviate from its earthly path.

I understand not why GOTT deemed it fit to give me a second chance, but I shall hold it dear and fight against my sins, I shall repay for what I have done and serve in humility. 

Thus, do I make a Vow before my Father in the Seven Skies and myself. I vow to drop my ambition and fight against it, I vow to never again hold or seek titles or personal power for myself, I shan’t hold titles of power and ambition. Thus, I vow to serve in humility, for my family and the pious King and Country of Haense, who showed itself to be the defender of the righteous faith of GOTT. I shall only work to serve the King, Kingdom and Family, not for myself anymore.

Some of my men came with me, Aldred, Alija and my sons Dietrich and Karl made to travel with me to our family. Yet, they shan’t be my men anymore, I have had them enlist into the BSK and serve the Kingdom, as I did myself. Now, I can only pray and see what path my life will take.

I hope I will be able to hold to my vows, and I hope that GOTT mercies me for my sins.

"A strong commander to lead strong troops" nodded Ernst Barclay, who had already witnessed the Prevailer's skill during the friendly skirmishes between Freimark and Haense some years prior.

In the seven skies would Erich meet Jan again. They were not fond of each other, and their interactions were not so pleasant. Yet, after his passing, had the former Duke left back his aimless, unnecessary anger and his quarrel. He'd see Jan approach, and give the man a dip of his head, he used to respect him during his much younger years, and so like before, did he find respect for the man now, he found respect in his goals and his ambition, albeit, like himself, their journeys were cut short. Up in the seven skies, he'd dip his head with a smile towards the Count.