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THE LEGITIMACY OF THEIR BAPTISM OPENING PRAYER FROM THE VENERABLE FATHER PACO DO I RECITE THIS PRAYER TO SAINT NAFISUS THEODERNESIS, LORD VANDALORE OF VANDORIA. ‘Creator of man, overseer of all things right, Whose powers none can resist, Save and deliver us, we beseech, From the hands of our enemies, By granting us dominion over them, Show us the path to victory, That we might produce it in Your undying name. AMEN’ PRAEFATIO I HAVE NOT BORE WITNESS TO THE EVENTS THAT WHICH I DESCRIBE HEREIN. I HUMBLY WORK OFF THE WORK OF OTHERS TO EXAMINE A BAPTISM I ONCE STRUGGLED SO HARD TO ACHIEVE. THE PRINCE OF THE NEPHILIM, THE AN-GHO, WAS BORN A RAEVIR, CAPABLE OF VIRTUE. HE DIED A HERETIC. HE WAS REBORN, AND IN HIS REBIRTH, FOREVER FORSAKEN FROM THE SKIES. THUS, I MAKE THE CASE THAT WHATEVER MAN THE AN-GHO WAS, HE IS NOT THE DRAKE WHO IS. A SON OF HOREN IS CAPABLE OF SIN, AS THEY ARE SWORN TO VIRTUE AND FAITH IN THE COVENANT OF PURITY. IN MY TIME AS A FREEMAN I HAD THOUGHT TOO THE NEPHILIM DOUBLY CAPABLE OF SIN AND VIRTUE. HOWEVER, THROUGH REJECTING THEMSELVES FROM THE SKIES IN IMMORTALITY, THEY HAVE INHERENTLY SINNED. THEY HAVE THE ORIGINAL SIN, BUT ALSO AN INNATE SIN OF KOBOLDKIND. THOUGH THE CASE NO LONGER, THEY TOO HAD THE TAINT OF IBLEES, AND AS IS THE CASE NOW, THEY CARRY THE SINS OF THEIR FATHER, AND THE SINS OF HIS WORSHIP WHICH SO MANY CLING TO. TO THESE KOBOLDS: I INVITE YOU TO FOLLOW IN YOUR PRINCE’S FOOTSTEPS. REPENT TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY, FOR IT IS BETTER TO TRY YOUR BEST AT VIRTUE, THAN REJECT IT AT ALL. IF PENANCE IS YOUR DEATH, SO BE IT - MINE MAY SOON BE. YOU ARE IMMORTAL. I AM NOT. DIE FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, FOR YOUR SIN. YET, A BAPTISM IS THE CLEANSING OF INHERENT SIN AND A WELCOMING INTO THE TRUE FAITH. I WITNESSED FIRST MY OWN ABLUTION, THEN THAT OF MY BROTHERS. ABLUTION CLEANSES ORIGINAL SIN. THE INHERENT SIN OF THE FIRST WOMAN. IT IS NECESSARY FOR SALVATION. SO IN THIS ‘WORK’, IN TRUTH A BRIEF EVALUATION OF EVENTS AND THE OPINION OF AN ACOLYTE, I WILL EVALUATE THE LEGITIMACY OF THE BAPTISM OF THE RAEVIR-PRINCE, THE AN-GHO, BY SAINT ANGEL RAGUEL, MESSENGER OF G-D. EVALUATION HENRY A HARPER THE FIRST BAPTISM TO TAKE PLACE WAS THAT OF THE EXALTED HOREN BY THE ANGEL TESION IN THE GROTTO OF GAMESH. SO, IN IMITATION OF THIS BAPTISM, THE FIRST BAPTISM, OR CONVERSIO, IS COMMITTED. ABLUTION IS DONE THROUGH A CLERGYMAN MARKING THE PENITENT’S FOREHEAD WITH A CROSS OF ASH, BEFORE SUBMERSION IN HOLY WATER. ALAS, SOMETIMES CIRCUMSTANCE CALLS FOR DIFFERING METHODS. FOR INSTANCE, AND KEY TO THIS EVENT IN PARTICULAR, ABLUTION IN EXTREMIS INVOLVES THE SPRINKLING OF HOLY WATER ONTO ANY PENITENT WHO PROFESSES THEIR FAITH. THOUGH PERHAPS LESS OFFICIAL, PERFORMABLE BY ANY BAPTISED CANONIST, ABLUTION IN EXTREMIS IS VALID ALL THE SAME. THE SACRAMENTAL EFFECT IS HELD, DESPITE THE POTENTIAL LACK OF A CLERGYMAN, SO LONG AS THE RECIPIENT BELIEVES THEIR ONLY OPTION IN THIS ‘EXTREME’ (hence in extremis) IS A BAPTISM. ALL THE SAME, THE BAPTISED IS URGED TO SEEK A PRIEST IF THEIR BAPTISM WAS NOT HELD BY ONE. SO I HAVE PROVIDED THE NECESSARY INFORMATION FOR INDEPENDENT JUDGEMENT OF THE AN-GHO’s BAPTISM, AND SO I WILL DELIVER MY JUDGEMENT. THE BAPTISM, BY THE DEFINITION OF WHAT WE KNOW A BAPTISM TO BE, IS VALID, AND YET UNJUST. CRUELLY SO, UNJUST, AS IT WAS NONE OTHER THAN THE ANGEL OF JUSTICE WHO PERFORMED IT. IT IS NOT JUST, TO MAN, THAT THE NEPHILIC PRINCE MAY BE FORGIVEN, CLEARED OF SIN, AND REGRANTED ENTRY TO THE COVENANT OF HOREN AND THE SKIES FOR SO LITTLE. THIS LACK OF REDEMPTION IS ALARMINGLY UNSURPRISING. SO, THOUGH I BELIEVE IT TO BE TRUE, AND VALID, I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS COMPLETE; AZDROMOTH KILLED MILLIONS. MILLIONS OF AZDRAZI MUST DIE AS PENANCE. HOPEFULLY, THE AN-GHO’S SOUL HAS PASSED TO THE SKIES, FOR G-D IS ALL-LOVING AND WILL ACCEPT THE VIRTUOUS ALL THE SAME. JUST AS HOPEFULLY, THOUGH, CAN HE REANIMATE (unG-Dly) AND INSPIRE THE HYPERSUICIDE OF HIS RACE. TAKE YOUR LIFE, KOBOLDS, SO YOU MAY BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE WEIGHT OF YOUR ACTIONS. YOU ARE SCHOLARS. I KNEW YOU WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW THIS. INVESTIGATE THE SINS OF YOUR FATHER, OF YOUR ELDER BROTHERS, AND OF YOURSELVES, AND COME TO MY CONCLUSION. HOWEVER DOUBLY MUST WE EXAMINE THE CIRCUMSTANCE OF BAPTISM. FOR THE PRINCE WAS NOT COERCED, BUT RATHER STEPPED FORWARD; FOR IT WAS NOT A PRIEST, BUT AN ANGEL, AND ONE OF JUSTICE; FOR HE DIED SHORTLY AFTER. SO, AS HE WAS HOPEFULLY CLEANSED IN LIFE IN ONE BAPTISM, PERHAPS HIS SINS IN HIS UNG-DLY UNDEATH WERE CLEANSED IN HIS SECOND? THERE IS LITTLE, IF ANY, PRECEDENT FOR AN ANGELIC, UNDEAD, DRACONIC BAPTISM. FURTHERMORE, IF THE ANGEL ST RAGUEL IS A SERVANT OF G-D, AND NOT A DAEMON FALLEN TO SELFISHNESS LIKE HIS BROTHER, WHY WOULD HE STRIKE DOWN A CANONIST IN COLD BLOOD? FOR TO BAPTIZE THE AN-GHO IS TO INCORPORATE, PARADOXICALLY, A KOBOLD INTO OUR FAITH. IS BAPTISM HIS SALVATION? IT CANNOT BE SO SIMPLE, I WOULD THINK. ALAS, I AM BUT A HUMBLE MAN, AND A LOWLY SERVANT OF THE LORD ON HIS EARTH, WHILE THE SAINT RAGUEL SERVES HIM ON ANY AND ALL PLANES. I RAISE THIS COUNTERPOINT: PERHAPS THE AN-GHO’S DEATH WAS PART OF HIS BAPTISM. PERHAPS G-D WILLS THE HYPERDEATH OF THE LIZARD RACE. I BELIEVE, AND PLEAD TO YOU, AN-GHO, TO COME BEFORE THE ANGEL RAGUEL SHOULD YOU WAKE FROM ASH. COME BEFORE HIM. KNEEL DOWN. BE BAPTISED. DIE AGAIN. DIE HOWEVER MANY TIMES G-D WILLS. CALL YOUR BROTHERS TO DO THE SAME, OR BE A VIRTUOUS MARTYR FOR YOUR PEOPLE AND DIE A MILLION DEATHS. ALTERNATIVELY, YOU MAY ALL KILL YOURSELVES SO YOUR FATHER KNOWS YOU HAVE REFUSED HIS CURSE, AND ACCEPTED THE LORD ALMIGHTY. TO THE OWYNISTS AMONGST YOU: WALK THE PATH, THEN KILL YOURSELVES OR ACCEPT DEATH. OWYN WOULD DETEST YOU. THE LECTORS WOULD DETEST YOU IF THEY KNEW WHAT YOU WERE. THE FIRE OF THE DRAKE IS NOT THE FIRE OF MERCY. IT BURNS, WHILE G-D’S MERCY DOES NOT. As always inviting any scholarly or angelic input, LUCIEN ☺

THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE GOLDEN CROZIER Brothers of the Crozier For we are the sword of Lucien; the shield of Lucien; the raised spears that catch the rising sun. We are the storm of swords, the song of steel: the song that sweeps across the strongholds of devout and faith-less, believer and heathen, paragon and sinner. The axe that splinters shield, the hammer that cracks skull, the blade that causes many a mother to weep her bitter tears. We are those that hold his crozier, and we will hold the instrument that supports his legacy. PURPOSE To those men of the Lord, devout and fearful of his wrath, there exists only one purpose - devotion in a service befitting of Him. The Brotherhood of the Golden Crozier, made up of men who have pledged their lives to the service of that order, exist to help purge humanity, all the races, of the shared degeneracy that recent ages have induced into it through vile, corrupt, degenerate means. A purifying force, so named due to its the symbol of the Saint Lucien and his belief in conservative, traditional family values so designed to restore order to the realm of Man. Soldiers, armigers, warriors; healers, medics, physicians; merchants, tradesmen, artisans; a dozen paths of life amalgamated into a single group worthy of such a legacy and the reconstruction of a great brotherhood. Those who preserve ancient and holy relics in the Brotherhood’s custody and those who travel out in search of more. Men who hunt monsters and cleanse such dangers from the roads of the entire continent, whether they be beasts in unnatural form, or brigands who prey on the innocent and poor. What is a realm without law and order; justice and arbitration? Defenders of the meek, poor and innocent. Guardians of the just and faithful. Located within the hinterlands of Savoy faithful and loyal men from all corners of the world gather in pledged service, their aims clear and definite; restoration to better times. The Brotherhood is not one simply of men, though, nor only Man. Open and accepted are elves, provided they be devout, and any others who desire to serve under such a blessed banner. APPLYING TO THE BROTHERHOOD In order to join the Brotherhood of the Golden Crozier, located within the lands of Savoy at Drusco, ((x170, z-2020)), one must either visit those lands, a cart is present outside Felsen, or submit an application to the Grandmaster via bird. These shall be registered as swiftly as possible, providing that the applicant is a male of fighting age. APPLICATION: OOC: Skype name: Username: IC: Name: Reasons for applying: Do you agree to PK if RP is done appropriately and well?: RANKS Discipline shall make or break these men, the cruel crack of leather on flesh; whip on skin, shall forge a force worthy of that furnace which is war. Discipline shall temper any band of soldiers for blessed battle. Every single man who serves in the Brotherhood is expected to obey the commands of a superior without fault or question - obedience shall be met with reward, and disobedience with punishment. (SENIOR COMMAND) GRANDMASTER The Grandmaster holds complete and total control of the Brotherhood; all those who serve within it are subservient to his command and that of God. His word is final and it is expected that all soldiers shall follow him, whether it be into peace or battle. The current Grandmaster is Denis de Bar, the first of that name. TRIBUNE The most senior of officers beneath the Grandmaster in the Brotherhood, elevated from the most competent of prefects, the Tribunes are experienced battle commanders who have shown their skill in combat, administration and leadership - equipped and empowered with the ability to command large chunks of men and serve as a competent aide to the Grandmaster. (LOW COMMAND) PREFECT Prefects are officers entrusted with the command of smaller units; oft in reconnaissance missions. Either experienced soldiers or red-blooded nobles, they have proved their worth to hold such a position and dispense their judgement on those that follow their words. DECURION Decurions are those officers entrusted with the whip, with disciplining rowdy soldiers and ensuring that even in the thick of a conflict the battle-line is held, and it is held well. Respected rather than feared, they hand out deserved punishments, and more often ensure that no punishment is required at all. (ENLISTED) All of the Enlisted are to be referred to with ‘Brother’ for formality. MAN-AT-ARMS Man-At-Arms are the backbone of the Brotherhood, soldiers who have proved their grit and demonstrated their mettle through years of service to the group; dedicated and experienced men who can be relied upon to maintain a respectable example for those unblooded who join the Brotherhood. FOOTMAN Brothers are those unblooded who have passed through their training and trials, going on to serve as full armigers of the group, respected as equals by all and as the men who make up by far the largest number of soldiers. UNBLOODED The unblooded are green-soldiers who are fresh to the Brotherhood; men who have not yet engaged in any fight or been through training. Always treated as newcomers, they are expected to look to officers for an example of competent behaviour while meshing with the current soldiers. (HONOUR RANKS) ENSIGN To be named as the Ensign, the man who is entrusted with the responsibility of holding the banner above the seething masses as a guiding light, is a great honour. If the Ensign were to fall in battle, the whole Brotherhood would feel his loss dearly; during the constant ebb and tide of battle he must lift his burden high above the men’s shoulders so that it can become a focal point for rallying. CHAPLAIN The chaplains are men schooled in holy teaching and thought, their hearts lit aflame by passion for His service. Men who recite litanies and chants, whether it be in the mess hall or the field of battle, their passion is able to beat the spirits of all their comrades into a similar fury. CHAMPION The Champion of the Golden Crozier, the hardiest warrior in the Brotherhood, is a title awarded to those who demonstrate the greatest competency within the entire group at martial work. Whether earned through conflict at war or on the tourney field, the title is constantly up for contest - an honour levied only upon the greatest of brothers.