The Office of the ArchPrelate, a room who's held some of the noblest of people in the Empire, was now occupied by Llanwyn Siannodel. As was customary in the tradition of the Church of Faith, the first thing that greeted a visitor to the office... as they made their way through a small corridor, was a tall oil painting of the current ArchPrelate. It's pastel blues and whites, creams and pinks accented by contrasting shadows and gold leaf. Each and every painting of an ArchPrelate that hung in his/her Office was a masterpiece.
The chambers beyond the doors held elegantly-polished wood, oil paintings, finely-woven rugs, chandeliers and marble busts. But one isn't allowed in the chambers without first being announced by the secretary sitting just beneath the ArchPrelate's painting. The secretary, a human women of early-middle age, beautiful in her own way and sharp as a knife, sits upon her padded wooden chair behind a small wooden desk adorned with parchment scrolls and writing utensils. She greets all visitors with the same friendly indifference, after all, she knows they would have had to come through at least two sets of security to get to this point. And just five feet away on each side of her were two more guards watching dutifully.
"Serale, appointment to see his Excellency?" She asks with a slight grin, her reddish-brown hair curling over her ears and on her shoulders.
3rd Brightening of the First Cycle of the Month of Junctior in the season of Autumn; Era II of the Celestine Mandate, Era XIV Post Fractum.
A letter arrived brought by an Imperial Legionnaire.
Quote:
33rd Brightening of the Fifth Cycle of the Month of Imperos in the season of Autumn; Era II of the Celestine Mandate, Era XIV Post Fractum.
To: Lord Llanwyn Siannodel, Archprelate of the Church of the Faith
From: Eyvind Redbeard Avornmagor Björnsson, Cencoris of the 1st Cohortii of the 2nd Daos of the 9th Imperial Legion.
Ref: The War in Sheria
Your Excellency,
As you certainly have heard Sheria is preparing for war. As a representative of the Government and the Church of Faith you are well aware that these promises made by the Orcs won’t be enough to stop the Imperial War Machine and that the horrors perpetrated against Narim and Autumnus can only be answered with fire and steel.
I come hereby ask for the Church of Faith to send help so that this war doesn’t turn into a slaughter for the Imperials like the one before did. All help you can send will be welcomed. Be it in the form of soldiers, engineers, weapons or supplies.
I would advise and thank if Your Excellency would declare a Holy Crusade upon this Orc fealth, therefore bringing the Armies of the Church of Faith and all those who serve Aetheria to help and hammer the Greenskins with the rightful fire of purification for as you certainly know the Orcs do not follow the Imperial Creed, many of them serving Aeternia and its Dark Gods.
Thank you for your patience.
Signed, Eyvind Redbeard Avornmagor Björnsson, Commander of the Black Shield
The secretary, her bouncy auburn hair making light of her movement, knocked politely and then entered Llanwyn's Office. He hadn't even been ordained publicly yet, and already he was receiving requests. While the rest of the Church seemed to be moving slowly, he wouldn't be. Llanwyn was ready to get into the thick of it and perhaps the letter he was about to read would be the start of a great surge in religious vigor for the Empire.
He thanked her with a smile and nod, asking her to have him brought chilled tea and he opened the parchment letter. She nodded and noted that an Imperial Legionarre had brought the letter.
"Next time," he said kindly, "Please have any military representative meet with me directly. Can you fetch him please?" She nodded and exited quickly.
He opened the letter and began to read. The language was abrupt, short and quick to the tongue. He could see the author in his mind, angry perhaps, or at least passionate. What the letter said was a tad extreme, but perhaps not all that far from the truth. This man called for a holy war, but Llanwyn wasn't quick to agree on that premise. He would need to meet with this man, that and consult with his own as to the size of the Church army.
He quickly retrieve parchment and began to write a reply...
Secrets :
Quote:
33rd Brightening of the Fifth Cycle of the Month of Imperos in the season of Autumn; Era II of the Celestine Mandate, Era XIV Post Fractum.
Dear Master Redbeard Avornmagor Björnsson,
Your earnest plea alerts me to the direness of this situation. While I, as of this moment, have not been briefed on the situation with the orcish armies near Narim, that effort will be immediately made in order for me to move forward with informed action.
I would like to meet with you at once to discuss what is needed of the faithful and of course, their Church. "Crusade" is both a harsh and necessary word that we must use only after much thought and prayer. I would like to come together with you and your advisors in order to discuss the Church's place in this dark situation.
Arrangements are being made to meet on the final brightening of the first cycle of Junctior, in Prime. Paladins will be awaiting you at the southern gate as you make your way into the city to escort you to chambers and ultimately my offices located on the Imperial Palace grounds.
I pray you will come baring the fruits of prayer, as I will dedicate much spiritual energy towards this conflict and hopefully an inspired answer.
May the Gods bless you.
His Excellency, Lord Llanwyn Siannodel, ArchPrelate.
The letter was received and a reply was returned on the very same brightening that it was delivered.
Ensealed with the sign of Blackmark, the letter read:
Quote:
From Provost Imperatis Sheng Kaldres,
Senior Commander of the Southern Coast
To Lord Llanwyn Siannodel,
ArchPrelate
Serale.
I thank you for your letter and I am aware of Cencoris Rebeard’s effort in coordinating for the situation in Sheria. And he is correct in his assessment.
I will visit your office as soon as I am able at a date convenient to you.
Signed, Sheng Kaldres
__________________ Sheng Kaldres, a young human male getting wiser and older as time went by. More at here.
Timestamp: 6 Imperos, Summer in the Second Era of the Regency of Milo L'Evienne
The Military Legate for Diana and the Sodality personally delivered the following missive to the private secretary of the Archprelate. It was secured by a crimson wax sigil of the Imperial Warbird wreathed in laurels of victory, bearing a baton, surmounting a crossed sword and a quill - the seal of the Imperial Ministry of War.
Quote:
His Holiness
Llanwyn Siannodel
Archprelate of the Church of the Faith
Secrets :
The Imperial Ministry of War
on behalf of
His Grace Thane Riconus Xindell, Earl of Portshire, and the Citizens of Portshire
request the honor of Your Holiness' presence
at a ceremony honoring our fallen heroes
at Portshire, Principality of Prime,
on Memoriana Brightening, Imperos 15,
in the Second Era of the Regency of His Most Imperial Excellency Milo L'Evienne
War is the horror that occurs when rational minds fail at the negotiating table of diplomacy. ~Queen Katishandra of Daittern, Aelyrian Warfare through the Ages. **1/6: Work (and not mutinous legionaries!) have placed Alexis' puppeteer under extreme duress. Back at Jan the 16th, Markalin willing. I will hold true to Macarthur's words, and yes, indeed, I shall return!**
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