[Imperial Forum] Offices of the ArchPrelate

[Llanwyn Siannodel]

Situated in the area of the Imperial Forum known as the Northern Rim, the offices of the ArchPrelate are little more than a stone's throw away from the Prime villa of the Archprelate. Both the offices and villa overlook a beautiful courtyard garden, centered around a white-marble statue of Diana. Her arms, held out before her, seem to invite the flowers to bloom and bushes to grow tall. It's a marvelous sight to behold. The offices are four in number, all connected and situated around the largest of the three. That office, the office of the Archprelate, is round in shape, quite large and has a dome ceiling. The walls are white with decorative columns from floor to ceiling. Upon the walls are various paintings of religious themes, and gilded symbols of faith and piety. Hanging from the center of the dome is a large chandelier, gold and beautiful in its elaborate display of winding branches. Around the room are various pieces of furniture, all situated around the large mahogany desk in the center-back. Groupings of small couches and chairs sit to one side, to another a small bar with chairs and side-tables. The furniture is elegant enough for business, but also situated for entertaining politicians and church officials, one of many requirements for the job. Dispersed here and there around the room are tall candlestick holders, lighting every corner. Along the wall that features the three doors to the other offices, is an elaborate system of bookshelves that span from floor to ceiling and even over the door frames. Not a single spot on the shelves is vacant, though the books are often read. The door in the middle leads to a secretaries office, more like a waiting room, and it's the primary door through which anyone visits the Archprelate. The doors on either side lead to small offices used for several reasons. On the right is security and food preparation, on the left scribes and advisors.

If one were to enter into the secretary's office, they would find a willowy and elegant elven maiden behind a large teak desk. "Serale," she would say, nodding with a mysterious smile. "May I help you?"

[Llanwyn Siannodel]

Llanwyn stood from his desk and walked past an antique coffee table surrounded by elven chairs, thin and almost leaf-like. He made his way to the center door and opened it with a quiet screech of the wood. "Ariella," he said, getting the attention of his secretary, "Please have a messenger fetch Provost Sheng Kaldres. He will be joining our meeting this brightening with Cencoris Redbeard when he arrives."

She nodded and smiled, such a lovely face. "At once ,your excellency." She rang a bell and a maid appeared from around the corner, which held a door connected to the side office to the right. "Please dispatch a messenger with a note I will supply you with when he arrives." The maid nodded and scuttled off at once.

"Thank you," Llanwyn replied. "Please note that this meeting is regarding the Orc situation in Sheria." With that, Ariella began writing and Llanwyn popped his head back in his office. A messenger came, she handed him the note, and he took it to the office of Sheng Kaldres.

[Sheng Kaldres]

An invite had came from Llanwyn to discuss matters regarding the Legions and Sheng made his way down to Llanwyn's office. Dressed in his uniform which was a bit crumpled given that he had to jump from Prime to Sheria and back, Sheng entered the office of Llanwyn.

"Serale. I'm Provost Imperatis Sheng Kaldres. I believe that His Holiness is waiting for me." Sheng said with a smile to the elven maiden.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

Letters had been changed and a meeting had been marked and to attend to it Cencoris Eyvind Redbeard Avornmagor Björnsson, Acting Provost of the First Dao of the Ninth Legion, Commander of the Black Shields and Provisory Provincial Commander of the Provincial Army of Sheria, the Sherian Serpents, had traveled to the Imperial City. The ten Brightenings journey had been pleasant, spent with the company of his daughter Rainn and a group of his soldiers who had continued to Portshire to perform a quick in-and-out mission.

As expected the Paladins who would escort him to the presence of the ArchPrelate had found him in the Crown Inn and after the proper courtesies they pointed his way and some chit-chat about the situation of Sheria they all arrived at the Forum and at the Office of the ArchPrelate Llanwyn.

As the red-haired Vagaran arrived at the Office he recognized a man talking with an elven maiden at a desk. Provost Imperatis Sheng Kaldres had arrived before he had and was still waiting at the front desk. Approaching the Cencoris saluted and took a position at the front desk, at Sheng's right side.

"Sir."

He stated and nodded. Then he waited for the elven maiden response.

[Alexis Sapientia]

The carriage arrived promptly, and its occupant dismounted, marking measured steps to the offices of the Archprelate. It seemed incongrous, truly, the stark contrast between his duties under the Articles of Imperium and that of the duties of the Archprelate of the Faith, but if all good men of reason could be prevailed upon to cooperate in matters concerning the general welfare, then that was good, and certainly in keeping with the wishes of the gods, and the Sacred Three.

Carrying a thick crimson leather folio under his arm, so did he make himself to the maiden, flashing a smile of his own.

"Alexis Sapientia, Imperial Minister of War, seeking an audience with His Holiness."

[Llanwyn Siannodel]

The three men were all kept in the waiting room and served tea while Ariella met with the ArchPrelate before their meeting would begin. With her he discussed a few things and when she came back out of his office to greet the men once more, she first had a maid come to her. Ariella spoke softly to her and then the maid scuttled off in a hurry. Ariella looked to the three military men before her and smiled a lovely smile.

"His Excellency the ArchPrelate will see you now," she said softly.

She turned and pushed open the doors that led into the impressive office of the Archprelate. Far from stark or utilitarian, every corner was expertly molded, chiseled, or crafted. It was truly a room of beauty among many plainer offices in the forum Standing on the other side of the doors was Llanwyn dressed in all white robes from head to toe. The sun lighting the room from behind him seemed to make him glow as he put both of his hands out before him to shake those of his guests.

"Serale and Alo'" he said to them, speaking in both common and his native tongue. "Thank you for coming, I trust you each know one another or met just outside?"

[Sheng Kaldres]

It seemed that right after Sheng had returned Eyvind's salute, Sheng had to give one of his own to Alexis. In this room, whether Llanwyn knew it or not, he had some of the most influential men of Empire. And this was just to discuss about whether the war in Sheria could be declared a holy war. Sheng guessed that the religious kind liked to listen to more opinions.

When the door opened, Sheng went into the room to meet Llanwyn. In the room, Sheng did not replied. Since Alexis was in the room, Sheng had to give him the priority to speak first. It was all part of the military protocal.

[Alexis Sapientia]

A smile and nod from the Imperial Minister of War greeted the Commander of all Imperial forces in the Southern Coasts as they waited outside, Alexis likewise recognizing Eyvind as the fellow he'd once had in his office. They all appeared weary, as much as the conditions permitted. War was truly a trying business, but the preparation for one was even more so.

A polite bow met that of the Archprelate, Alexis going so far as to kiss the Archprelate's ring as a further mark of piety, even if others considered it nothing more than political fawning.

"Holiness, yes, we all know each other,and I suspect that we are all meeting regarding the same issue." A tight smile greeted that, Alexis removing his black leather gloves from his hands, and giving his subordinates an opening.

"Gentlemen?"

[Eyvind Redbeard]

The Cencoris promptly saluted the Imperial Minister of War when the blonde man met them outside the Office of the ArchPrelate. It hadn't been too long since he had seen Alexis for the last time and although this other Vagaran was almost a strange to him he had to admit that he had an aura about him, what adventures had this man go through? He quickly shook his head and followed the flag officers into the Office. Saving himself for the last he simple bowed his head to the ArchPrelate while patting his right hand over his heart. A common salutation he hoped not to disturb the balance within this mighty meeting.

Eyvind suddenly realized the magnitude of his own act. He had assemble a meeting between some of the most powerful men of the Empire, only by writing a letter. A simple piece of paper had the power to accomplish this. Amazing, amazing indeed. When had the young man he used to be imagined he would be in the same room the ArchPrelate of the Church of Faith, the Imperial Minister of War and a Provost Imperatis of the Imperial Legions? Björnsson had had dreams but just that, dreams. Now he had to face his duties, he had asked for a Holy War on the Orcs, now he had to give the arguments and explanations for doing so. It would be hard, but not impossible. There were no such things as impossible ones. As long as he believed that he would be a master of his trade, whatever it could be. Now it was that of convincing these men that a Crusade was the best thing to do. Later, later he would see how things unfolded.

[Llanwyn Siannodel]

"Please... come, sit," Llanwyn said with a gracious smile. "You are all most definitely here concerning the same subject... the war coming to Sheria, if I understand correctly." He led them over to a grouping of furniture near a fireplace decorated with various statues of gods and symbols pertaining to gods.

"You may not know this, but I was once in the military," he said with a grin, "Not long ago actually, maybe three eras back, maybe a few more. I was an officer in the Imperial Mage Corps." He smiled, "I suppose I may still be, though I'm on indefinite leave... I doubt the Empire wants its ArchPrelate also serving in the military." He winked at them and laughed.

"Now tell me of the situation in Sheria, what is the time line? What would you ask of the Church and please speak plainly of these orcs?" He looked to Eyvind, "Cencoris, you contacted me, please explain."

[Eyvind Redbeard]

The red-haired man smiled at the reference and the simple idea of having the ArchPrelate both dealing with the affairs of the Church of Faith and serving in the Mage Corps at the same time. It would be hilarious in the least. Now sitting on this comfortable chair and placing his hand over the chair's arm, that to his surprise had the form of a lion's head, certainly a reference to Aslan Immanuel, the World-Bound and Prince of Aetheria, Eyvind was being asked to explain his call for help. He cleared his throat after nodding towards Llawnyn.

"As you all are certainly aware, this war in Sheria isn't just another war. This is a battle of interests and a show of strength, or weakness. The Empire is sending its mighty Legions to save Sheria and to continue a war that started long ago and was never properly finished. As we all know the Legions alone couldn't expect to prevail against the power of the Horde. Their numbers are too large and their position too strong to be taken easily.

As a soldier, having the help of the Provincial Army is a great help and it will enable us to attack in full force with the Legions and have the ranks strengthned by more soldiers than ever. That without leaving the Province without defenses. But this new Provincial Army shows something to the Empire's enemies. It shows them how weak the Empire can be, so weak that it needs to raise armies in the Provinces it is defending to keep an edge. This may not be true, the Empire may still be strong, but the enemies of the Empire may consider it a weakness and prepare to attack. As a strategist I think that any attack in another front would considerably thin the Empire's armed forces and leave breaches open.

Therefore, we need to unite what we have. We need to show the Empire's armed forces in all their pomp and might. We need to unite the cream of the ArchPrelate's army with the hammer of the Legion and the anvil of the Provincial.

This war needs to be swift and brutal, a show of the strength of all the Empire united. That is why I sent a letter to Lord Llanwyn. That and because we know that if we don't irradicate the Orc plague in one blow we will have to hunt them down for Eras to come. As all know that the Orcs worship Aeternia, Jorel being treated as a dear friend by the greenskins. This both gives us the reason and motive to attack but also a need to erase their dark cults."

[Llanwyn Siannodel]

Llanwyn listened and nodded. He had no idea the Empire's forces were as weak as they appeared to be, that a single orc city could breed and create a force with the ability to destroy the mighty empire's legions. It seemed so unlikely to him at first, but he did not know the ways of military strategy and when Eyvind persisted in his report, Llanwyn came to understand the situation for what it was, dire and urgent.

When the Cencoris had finished speaking, Llanwyn paused for a moment to think and then said to all three of them, "Safety gentlemen, safety. It is the word that comes to my mind first and most emphatically. Safety must be established and kept. Only in safety can we have peace. Only in safety can law abide. Only in safety can we spread the words of the gods and bring souls to them."

He took a breath and with a determined glare continued, "In chaos, the wretchedly long arm of Jorel will collect many souls, leading them away from the truth. In safety Jorel can be defeated in the hearts of the faithful." He looked to Alexis and Sheng, "Can safety be established with the help of the Church's forces?"

[Sheng Kaldres]

Safety. It is a strange word to use with regards to the Orcs and the waging of a war. Sheng wondered if Llanwyn had other ideas in mind when he mentioned the word.

“I’m not sure what you mean by the word ‘safety’, but perhaps let me give you my views.” Sheng said despite his misgivings of involving religion in wars. Sheng’s belief was that religion should be where it had been; praying in temples and churches, not waging of war. But if Eyvind believed that the Church’s support would help….

“This is a war where many will die. There is no doubt of that. In the end, the Imperials hope to eradicate the Orc problem that has been plaguing Sheria for countless eras.” With his voice calm and hopefully persuasive, Sheng continued, “With the Orcs out, the Empire can begin to have a resemblance of peace and order. The Orcs are blood-thirsty and over the eras, the cause of many weeping wives, grieving husbands and orphans. With the Church’s affirmation and involvement, the Empire will have a greater force to contend with.”

That was the best that Sheng could give. Speaking of Jorel and Ioannes was just not practical……perhaps Alexis could give a better one, afterall, Alexis was the Minister of War, speaking of gods and demons should be second nature to him!

[Alexis Sapientia]

Alexis Sapientia had been sitting attentively for the past couple of minutes, taking great care not to interrupt, merely remaining there to let his subordinates air their views before he stated anything.

"Provost Imperatis Kaldres is correct," interrupted Alexis smoothly, raising a hand to call attention somewhat. "With the Church’s affirmation and involvement, the Empire will have a greater force to contend with, indeed." Setting a finger to his lips, so did he continue.

"While we could use - and would wholeheartedly appreciate - any support the Church grants us be it via men or materiel, it is more the institutional strength of the Established Church that would tip the balance," expressed Alexis, tone remaining constant.

"For the moment the impression of the situation is that of the Sherian being nothing more of a, if you will, 'police action', no different than, say, a Vigile arresting a criminal at the streets of the Holy City. This is not true. Your Holiness will remember that it was peaceful citizens and members of your flock that were cruelly murdered while they were asleep, by these very same orcs that had done them no harm. Surely that is act most despised by the Gods. I am told they are led by a shaman," this he said in a whisper, the fleet's intelligence reports having confirmed the same, "...and there, I believe, lies the crux of the problem."

Alexis leaned forward, setting eyes on Llanwyn.

"Holiness, were you to declare for us, this would not only be a just war, but a holy war, one done for the glory of the Gods, and not just for the Empire. We must eradicate this evil lest it take root and thus become the catalyst for a further erosion of the Faith," exclamed Alexis somewhat passionately. "Let your clerics speak for it in the pulpits, let good works be done by the slaying of the enemy. His Most Imperial Excellency has declared them barbari, and are thus repugnant in the eyes of the law and outside its protection. Let the faithful praise the pantheon, blessed be their name, by striking hard at the Jorelspawn and sending them all hence to the umblat, to the satisfaction of their conscience."

He wasn't sure if he was saying it properly, but he hoped that they would get at what he was driving at.

[Llanwyn Siannodel]

Llanwyn leaned back in his chair and thought it over. Elevating this conflict to a holy war had its pros and cons. A holy war would cost money, which the Church also needed badly and wasn't really in the position to lose. At the same time, a holy war would mean defeating these orcs quickly hopefully and it would drive to the common man a sense of duty and faith in his church. If nothing else, it would please the gods. But the fact was, Llanwyn didn't see it as a holy war in his own mind... it seemed more like an offensive by some aggressive babari looking for blood and spoils. They had not yet taken a city in the name of their god, but never the less Llanwyn knew something had to be done.

"You know gentlemen," he said with a stern gaze. "To protect the Empire is to please the gods, for this is the their Empire above all else who lay such claims. It would be for that reason that the Church would go to war."

He looked to the three, "Would this suit your needs?"