Glory to God in the Heighest (CoST deligation Nell, Shortround)

[Thoth]

The Praesul Prelatus rode in a simple carriage towards the Imperial Palace. He would have walked or ridden himself, but his age was catching up to the Dorian. He had noticed that since the changing of the eras and the disappearance the short lived durians could feel the time passing by quicker. His brown eyes traveled from side to side taking in all that was around him. The capital was as busy as usual and it seemed to have suffered little effect after being closed by the Aelyrians.

The Praesul Prelatus was surrounded by only a couple peoples. A couple priests accompanied him as they continued towards the palace. Each was dressed like the Praesul Prelatus in simple white robes of wool. Each worked to remain composed as they came closer to the future of the Church. They wondered what waited for them. Would they become martyrs for their cause or would they become heros. How would history see this event. More importantly how would the Regent act. The regent hadn’t even contact them for the summons to the capital. The only reason they knew about it was that the herald had recorded it.

That was where much of their worries came from. The Regent had so far said one thing but done something else. Never once had he actually asked for their views. Never once had he contacted them. He said he wanted reconciliation but he had never actually shown them anything close to true courtesy or interest.

The dorain sighed again. Whatever was to happen would happen. The Dorian looked forward as they came to a stop at the gates of the palace.

[Nell L'Evienne]

TS: 17th Ioannes, XIII

It was a fairly ordinary meeting room as far as meeting rooms went within the Palace. A room with a round table placed centrally and with a number of chairs, the carpet fairly soft underfoot and colourful tapestries hanging on the walls except for the one where long windows stood in a row to allow in natural sunlight. There was little frippery to distract the eye though and overhead a large chandelier hung, the candles unlit for there was no need of such artificial light. There was little on the table either, a leather folder containing the notes which Nell wished to refer to, and a number of glasses next to a pitcher of clear water. It was here she waited, and here all who were to be present would be directed.

Not knowing at what candlemark Jodus and his delegation would arrive, Nell slowly paced the room, going over the agenda in her mind. Footmen would announce the arrival of Jodus before showing him to this room, and warning would be sent to others who needed to hear of this arrival. Nell had explicitly stated that courtesy was to be shown to the delegation for they were not under arrest, but security was as high as usual. So, she paced to pass the time, the skirts of the neat grey suit rustling slightly and occasionally Nell fiddled with the laced cuffs of her blouse, or tugged at the hem of the fitted jacket. Nervous? A little. Optimistic, yes. She had to be. Positive thinking was the only way to see one's way through such a meeting, she decided. Yet still she fidgeted.

[Milo L'Evienne]

Having been brought word that the delegation from Diana would soon arrive, Milo left his own offices in the palace and made way to the appointed room where the meeting would be held. Dressed in black trousers, a white shirt with white cravat sans frills, he’d thrown over all a plum colored morning coat and matching waistcoat. One ring on his right hand, silver set with a large sapphire, his hair was bound and goatee neatly trimmed. Sir James and Sir Aaron trailed in his wake.

Reaching the appointed destination, he stepped inside and spied Nell at her pacing, a small and sympathetic grin marking his expression as he sought her gaze and joined her near the windows. ”It’s a beautiful brightening love,” he remarked with a glance out the window. ”A good sign.”

[Ogabe K'tinga]

The third member of the little party to arrive was the lithe katta, the longest-tenured member of the Imperial Government save the Regent himself, toeclaws clicking lightly upon the marble floors as he wended through the halls of power with practiced ease. At last reaching the outer office, he spied the ever present shadows of Milo and caught a glimpse of the nattily-attired man himself as he slipped through the door. Giving a soft seraa to the Rosemen, Ogabe slid in behind them before the door could latch itself shut. The slender cheetari paused a moment, allowing his eyes to adjust to the new lighting conditions, as well as performing a brief survey of the room and its contents. finding only the necessary furnishings and the brace of L'Eviennes, he slowly approached, rounded ears cathcing words surely meant for only a wife.

A quick mind pondered briefly the thought of a joke, but decided that any humor found in his words would likely not be outweighed by the foul mood that misunderstanding said humor might cause, and so thought better of it. "Omen or not, Excellencies, I just hope we don't all walk out of here with pounding headaches." he stated flatly, knowing that the only thing to engender even stronger emotions than politics was religion.

Ironically enough, the lithe wilderkatta had no clue regading Jodus' heritage, though in truth it really did not matter to Ogabe. Whether or not the converse were to be true, that remained to be seen. The dappled Judicator was likewise prepared, a slender leather folio under his left arm carrying, as always, the Articles of Imperium, as well as every Herald article pertaining to the crisis at hand, as well as everything the Viceregent had thoughtfully provided. The summer months had been kind of late, temperatures warm enough to allow Ogabe to dress in far lighter attire which didn't rumple his fur nearly as much. A light silk shirt dyed the color of the sky went with unbleached cotton trousers, a waistcoat of white and gold brocade keeping the outfit from being too informal for such an auspicious gathering.

"Any idea when Jodus is going to arrive?" he asked by way of small talk.

[Shorty]

Down the hall, the Imperial couple could hear the approach of the delegation from the Church of Faith. Sir Dimitri, the noble dwarf, stood at the head of the small party. Though it lacked numbers, it was apparent that Sir Dimitri surrounded himself with the Church's brightest.

An elderly dark-skinned human female garbed in the outfit of a Cardinal of the Church of Faith. Her silver hair was worn short and walked to the right of Sir Dimitri. To his left a young, vibrant male halfling walked, he wore glasses and had a very scholarly look to him. He wore the robes of a monk.

Sir Dimitri bowed to everyone.

"Serale, serale. Blessings be on to everyone, your excellencies,"
He said sincerly. "I am Sir Dimitri- Captain of the Archprelatine Guard. I am attended by Cardinal Aillana of Candaceburg, Brother Bellabold... One of our brightest scholars in our Church Courts... He has been part of many Quaestios."

"So, have our guests arrived?"

[Thoth]

Jodus carriage arrived at the gates of the palace. As the guards steped forward they saw and aged Dorian looking at them. "I am Praesul Prelatus Jodus." One of the priest handed over the visa's of all memebers of the party to prove who they were. "I am to meet with the Regent."

[Milo L'Evienne]

ooc: plan’s been for Nellie to run this little shindig, but I think we can get this show on the road all the same.

”Then it wouldn’t be an official meeting would it my friend?” Milo asked of headaches, a grin and a wink at Nell before drawing away from the window in anticipation of all the usual suspects arriving soon. As for that being impending, he was just about to say as much when Sir Dimitri entered with his small entourage. ”Good brightening Sir Dimitri,” he said with a smile of greeting for the man he’d met a few times previous before addressing the rest. ”Cardinal Aillana, Brother Bellabold. And word has it that our guests’ carriage has passed Forum gates so they should be joining us shortly. Let us hope all goes well.”

Off at the gates, Jodus’ carriage was met by a number of liveried guards, professional and solicitous in every way but always mindful of security. Having expected such an arrival though, visas were quickly checked, the carriage directed to a circular drive, and on reaching it, all escorted through the main doors of the palace once security measures had been seen to. Once the group had entered into the large reception hall they were met by a pair of footmen dressed in palace livery who then escorted them through the palace. It was quite a stroll, through long and wide halls hung with portraits and lit by gleaming chandeliers suspended from high gilded ceilings, up grand staircases and across bridges that provided a bird’s eye view of courtyards below.

Eventually reaching the level that housed a number of offices, another journey through a labyrinth of halls eventually brought the group to the offices of the lady Vicegerent, where footmen knocked once for leave to enter, then showed Judos and his group into the room. Glancing up at the entrance, Milo offered all a welcome smile and came to greet the aged dorin. ”Welcome sir, all of you to the Imperial Palace. I trust your journey was a pleasant one and without mishap? I am Milo L’Evienne sir.”

[Ogabe K'tinga]

A gentle, dark-humored snort was the reply to the truism voiced by the Regent, the men too well-matched in that department at times. "Indeed." he said back, before falling quiet for a bit. He made his pleasantries with the delegation from the Church of the Faith, remembering Dimitri's face from somewhere he couldn't quite recall, probably in company with the now former Archprelatess.

The wait was just this side of interminable, the tension palpable within the office as the last piece in the board slowly wended his way through the Imperial Forum. At last the stage was set, Jodus et al passing through the last door and into the room. Ogabe, for his part, raised an eyebrow just barely, his experience with the devout within dorin society hardly painting the picture of serenity or tolerance. Usually they showed their devotion with the sword, rather than the words of peace. No matter he thought, knowing full well that stereotypes always had exceptions.

[Thoth]

The Praesul Prelatus Jodus left his guards at the carriage and only administrative assistants came with him. One of them helped the elderly Dorian as they were lead through the halls of the palace. Jodus body may have been starting to fail but his eyes and mind were ever as active. He noted the guards but said nothing. The paths through the palace turned out to be laborus for the dorian as he attempted to keep a steady pass. Only once did he have to pause when climbing a series of stairs.

When he was presented before the Regent the Dorian bowed his head showing every sign of respected that was demanded of the position of Regent of the Empire. The two other assistants, one human, and the other a medonian elf also gave their respects towards Regent. "Serale your Imperial Excellency." the dorain said in a strangly strong voices. "I am glade to meet with you."

[Shorty]

The Church of Faith delegation looked upon the visitors with stern looks. Sir Dimitri bowed and mumbled a "how do you do?" However the trio of the Church members looked less than estatic with this meeting, but they remained polite for the sake of politics. As in any schism a lot of harsh things were said, and some slights never to be forgotten.

Servants of the Gods they were, the Church of Faith was comprised of mortal beings.

"Yes, where are we to meet your excellency?" Sir Dimitri asked Milo, wishing to get this meeting started.

[Milo L'Evienne]

Well, this was going to be interesting, Milo thought while introductions were conducted and a certain amount of tension enjoyed a particular amount of undercurrent. Understandable perhaps, but with luck all would behave themselves, given they were all gathered here to smooth a path forward, not rehash previous hostilities. Frankly, he could do without another spirited meet behind closed doors. ”We’ll be meeting here in the lady Vicegerent’s office if no one objects?” he said with a smile in response to Sir Dimitri’s question and with a gesture of his hand towards the large table, added, ”Shall we?”

Once all were seated, Nell’s secretary, the bespectacled Oscar Lustig made the rounds with a pitcher of cool water or pot of steaming tea, asking each attendee their preference and seeing to it before quietly departing. Milo, armed with a tumbler of water and a stack of parchments in front of him provided earlier by Nell, waited a moment before speaking while everyone settled themselves.

”Now we all know why we’ve gathered here of course and I hope that all can agree that a spirit of cooperation and mutual care for the spiritual needs of the Empire’s citizens should be our focus,” he said with a smile for all present. ”In light of that, for the purpose of officially clarifying this brightening's agenda before we begin, I would respectfully ask of all those present to refer to the proclamation recently put forth in the Herald, of which you will each find a copy in front of you.” Waiting while all present had ample opportunity to refresh their memories, Milo turned to those in attendance who represented the Church of the Sacred Three. ”Do you, for the sake of further discussion and in addition to your previous correspondence with my own offices, formally recognize the Imperial proclamations set forth in this release?”

[Thoth]

The elderly Dorian listened to the Regents request for approval to what they were doing. His faces was expressionless as he watched the regent. His body was aging, but light with in his eyes was another story. He didn't even bother to read it he had it memorized. "We reconize the proclomation." The Dorian remained emotionless as he answered it.

[Milo L'Evienne]

”Very well. Thank you sir,” Milo replied quietly with a nod, while his personal assistant Ada Stromb – who’d quietly joined them during the course of the conversation with a nod of greeting to all – scribed the minutes of the meeting at a small table nearby. Clearly this would not be a discussion replete with joviality, nor had it been intended to or even thought should be. No doubt a somber mood, at the least, would prevail. Too many feathers had been ruffled previously, too many stances flown back and forth for there not to remain an air of tense uncertainty. But such was the nature of things, in hopes of smoothing a path forward, and smoothing over old grudges as well were it possible. He’d once, as a public defender, run mediation brightenings free to the public where he mediated any number of disagreements. Troubled marriages, squabbling neighbors, family or friends at odds, often compensated nonetheless by jugs of moonshine, baked goods or the occasional barnyard animal to be turned loose on the lawn of the Governor's Palace. This, the mother of all mediation brightenings he thought with a quiet glance at Sir Dimitri, Nell and Ogabe to allow time for input should they wish it.

Once any had said what they might, he turned to the next topic on the agenda and after a swallow from the tumbler of water Oscar had provided him, he continued while turning his attention back to the Dorin, neither accusatory nor confrontational in tone. ”I wonder if I might ask sir, that you share with us aside of this now recognition, the policies of the Church of the Sacred Three as they have been, and the reason why it was deemed necessary to create a church separate from the Church of the Faith in order to spread these particular doctrines."

[Thoth]

The dorin was to say the least disapointed. He wondered if the Regent had even bothered to see what they were about. The Praesul Prelatus Jodus had wondered from the time he had first read the article if the regent hand't sided with the Church of Faith just because it was the older insitution. It appeared there might be some support to that statement.

"The reasons that have driven us are two fold. First is doctrinal. The doctrine of the church is that The Sacred Three are the only Gods that are to be worshiped. The other Aetherians are to be honored in their feilds. Caramelya during the harvest, and at times of birth, but the ones to whom our average daily prayers are is to one of the Three. Planetars are not to be worshiped as they are not gods and while they may have good intents they are not worthy of mortal worship."

The elderly Dorian paused for a moment. Then tension in the air was getting to the aged Dorian. "More importantly then the Planetars, is the Aeternians. The Daemons of Aeternia aren't just sitting on their butts enjoying the scenery they are actively trying to steal the world from the Gods, and to destroy the Goodness in the world. We must stop that. If we can redeem the fallen then praise be given to the Sacred Three. If not then we must stop their progress, and not sit and pray for it to stop."

"The last large doctrinal issue is that of the Dark races." The Dorian paused. "On this one we were still debating, some say they can't be redemed but they are a small voice that is usually ignored. What has been agreed upon is that the dark races should be given a chance to prove themself, and that unquestioned trust is not the way to go."

Jodus paused and coughed before contiuning. "The second cadegory has to do with the church organization. The Archprelatess Aerienne Sarista is also an issue." He paused. "I have known her for a long time and worked with her many times in the past. She is a nice person individualy and tries to be good, but in the end she is a tyrant. Just because something is good, doesn't mean the world is ready for it, or it is even possible. She rams it down peoples throats regardless of the consequences. Her actions have lead the church to the brink of collapse. For over three era's now the Church of Faith, which despite its religious overtones still has a bureacracy, and could rival the state in paper work, has run on a staff that couldn't even run a city. Since the Schism she has tried to run the church by her self. Its verging on collapse because of this. Yet she sits their blind to this all trying to preach goodness, but not ignoring the critical apsects. Preaching does nothing. It keeps your sancity intact and keeps you untouched by the world, but it also prevents you from affecting the world. "

He paused and looked the Regent in the eyes. "In the end our desision to create a new church was based on the fact no one was taking our complaints seriously. We would have liked resolve it with out the split, but as you can see it took this to be heard." The Dorians eyes held resolved.

OOC: Aeri 'punishment' has some rumors in Diana, but nothing offical can be confirmed. So the CoF and the CoST don't know.

[Shorty]

"...And heard you've been, and here we are sir." Sir Dmitri, the gravel voiced dwarf glared from his squinty eyes. "And since you recognize the Regent's proclamation, you must see the illegality of your actions- regardless of whether you feel them just or not. Donations and tithes from your rebellious churches are owed the Church of the Faith- but let us not nitpick. That you have gotten this far has shown the Regent's deep sympathy for all his subjects. Count yourself lucky that such a man sits upon the throne and you all weren't hunted down and arrested.

"You bemoan the offices of the Church of Faith, but let me ask you- how can you run an Empire spanning institution without bureaucracy? Are we to lead it through prayers and positive feelings? Hmph, remember that that although the Church addresses our populations spirtual well-being, we also need to be serious in how to get things done. This takes coordination, this takes overhead.

"Also remember it was not the Archprelatess that brought this Church to the edge, it was this schism!" Sir Dimitri said in a huff. "We would accept reunification if the ringleaders of your scheme, your Church of the Sacred Three's highest citizens defend their actions before a Quaestio, the Church Court. THat is my recommendation your excellency."