The Church of Qyrvagg/Apologetics

Amekal's Doctrinal Explanation

Well, I suppose now is as good a time as ever to give a bit of a lesson, then.

As I believe you all know, Qyrvagg is the God of War and Battle. He is the supreme deity in Qyrvaggism, and beneath him are 2 others, Sartan and Eshen-Hosral. Sartan is the Demi-God of Virtuous Courage, of honor. Eshen-Hosral is the Demi-God of armies, of actual militarism. Beneath these demi-Gods are two different groups. The Avatars, and the Prophets. There are two Avatars: Tialok, the Phoenix Guardian, and Solecos, the Annointer of the Prophets. On equal level with the Avatars are the Prophets. The Prophets are led by the most recent incarnation of Prophesy, currently the THIRD, being me. Beneath the Prophets is the High Council, which is the Grand Priest(Bethany), the Master of the Holy Hosts(Baiko), and the Treasurer(Gwinny). Beneath them are the rest of the Elders, the High Priests(Ralph, Marc, and Neocron), and the Arch Priests(Krager, Herkan).

We believe that war is preferential to peace, for that is what Qyrvagg has shown the Prophets in their visions. In war, humanity is refined, or destroyed. War brings out the best in us, and the worst. It is when all is lost and hope is gone that virtue or vice becomes highlighted. That is when heroes fulfill their purpose, and cowards fulfill theirs. Metaphysical victory for the true hero, betrayal and death for the coward.

Qyrvaggism states that war is better than peace, combat better than beaurocracy. Naturally, traders and beaurocrats are necessary for the proper functioning of a realm.

I will send this in several messages, to make it easier to read. The next shall come shortly.

Now, I shall elaborate on several specific points of doctrine.

War is meant to be waged in full ferocity and might. Qyrvaggism supports full and open warfare. That means espionage, assassination, conventional battles, and looting. WITH ONE EXCEPTION- Murder of the peasentry and torching of food supplies. It is wrong to starve the innocent peasentry, unless it is a realm which openly hates the realm which supports Qyrvaggism(when both sides support Qyrvaggism, or both do not support Qyrvaggism, Qyrvaggism supports the war itself, neither side specifically). We will steal tax gold, knife opponents, incite rebellions, fight in open combat, level fortifications, but we will not massacre innocents.

Duels are an honorable practice, to be encouraged and done freely. In times of war, much consideration must be put into duels, for it could immobilize much-needed troops. In times of peace, duels are often the only way to give glory to Qyrvagg through combat.

War is not a last resort. War is to be waged readily and joyfully, though not suicidally or stupidly. Remember: war is preferential to peace.

Traders and beaurocrats are necessary. They are not professions to be longed for, they are not proffessions Qyrvagg endorses. But they are necessary for the effective functioning of a realm. Administration is a necessity.

War should never be waged in hate. As soon as you hate your foes, you are doing wrong deeds. For in hating foes, you have destroyed whatever virtue you may have found in combat. Hate is the enemy of wrath. We do not hate our foes. We fight for the joy of combat, for the danger, for the test, for the glory of Qyrvagg. We do not fight for hatred or animosity's sake. Respect your foes. Congradulate them on their victories, participate in the banter of battle. Never hate your enemies. Defeat and slay your enemies, but do not hate them. Lay them low, and offer mercy.

Qyrvagg's powers are not limited to warlike practices. We do not know the full extent of Qyrvagg's powers, for he has not shown us. It is known that, in rare and extreme cases, Qyrvagg can raise the dead. We do not know his full power.

There must be no ulterior motives. One must not be a follower of Qyrvagg so that one may win battles. One fight battles, and thus become a follower of Qyrvagg. Seeking power and miracles is wrongdoing. Faith must be for the sake of devotion to Qyrvagg and the virtues of battle, nothing else shall suffice.

The virtues of battle are, in order of importance, loyalty, courage, honor, strength, obedience, and fellowship. Loyalty is how we serve humanity and Qyrvagg, through unswerving devotion. Loyalty is dangerous, and requires courage to be effective. Courage without honor is empty and meaningless. Honor without strength of arm and heart cannot feed courage. Strength without obedient direction goes to waste, and shall never enforce honor. Obedience cannot be found without fellowship and community.

There. A summary of our doctrines.

Now I shall tell you of our history.

It all began long, long ago, at the battle of Nem-e-Kabu. There, a mighty warrior named Sartan ascended to the level of deity, for his bravery in combat. He became the 4th God in the Pantheon of Ibladesh.

But what the Ibladeshian priests did not record are the others elevated. Each one of their Gods has an entire pantheon of demi-Gods. Sartans were Qyrvagg, his younger brother and shield bearer, Eshen, and Hosral.

A while later, Ibladeshian missionaries ventured to the Far East Island, and founded a realm called Sartania, which was devoted to the God of War: Sartan. But it became corrupt. Its Pontifex, Gheros, was a pacifist and money-launderer. Its general/duke was a de facto dictator, and inneffective. Its banker was silent, its people weak-minded and undevoted to Sartan.

It was in this land of spiritual depravity that hireshmont was cast ashore, literally, as a child. he was raised in the temple courts. When he came of age, his noble status was discovered. Having always been a devout follower of Sartan, he was fanatically devoted to Sartanianism, to the Sartanian Sect. But he was quickly dissilusioned and became angry, for the Sartanian government did not adhere to Sartan's doctrines. Then, Hireshmont's mind was taken by Qyrvagg to view a mighty deed.

The souls of the few, though valiant, followers of Qyrvagg(we have not found them all yet. SOmewhere, out there, are secret QYrvaggians, others like us. I believe the Path of the Great Dragon may be like that) took up arms against the numerous and weak souls of Sartan's followers. In the great battle of Hakan-del-Zir, Sartan was overthrown. Eshen and Hosral became one, Eshen-Hosral, and Qyrvagg Ascended to the role of God.

I will continue in the next message.

When Hireshmont saw this, he began to gather followers to reinstate Sartan to his role as God of War. He formed a secret denomination of the Sartanian Sect, called the True Sartanians. He tried to explain to Gheros and others what had happenned, they did not believe him. Sartan abandoned the land, and abandoned Hireshmont.

Baiko, I'm sure you remember that. You remember the Trials, or at least the early parts of them. You remember how Hireshmont stayed behind to defend the faith.

After days of sleepless debate, Hireshmont demolished Sartanian theology, and outlined the basics of Qyrvaggism. He tried to get caught by Sartanian troops, he even let assassins assault him. But the Sartanians bungled the whole affair. 200 troops policing a small townsland couldnt catch one rogue Prophet, even with 2 days of searching. Two assassins failed, one accidently stabbed herself.

Hireshmont took that as a sign from Qyrvagg to flee, so he fled. Before he did, he laid a curse upon Pontifex Gheros. He proclaimed that she would fall from her position on the winter equinox, by the vengeance of QYrvagg.

IT CAME TRUE(OOC- I almost died laughing when it did come true!). On the winter equinox, or within a few days of it, Gheros was found guilty of money laundering, to the tune of 200-300 gold per week, sent to a secret family account. She was removed from office.

The judge, Sparticus, aided in maing the former Marshall, Sito, the new Pontifex. Sparticus was just, and sympathized with the True Sartanians. Sito did as well. QYrvagg blesses those who do not despise his name.

Anyways... after Hireshmont fled to Oligarch in the East Continent, Qyrvagg sought a new Prophet. He found one. Another member of my family, Hridrion, who was only 13, and dwelt in Valentia. But Hridrion was stricken by a snake soon after recieving the role of Prophet. SO Qyrvagg called me from the Barony of Makar, and I went to Valentia.

Baiko had been saving money in Lasanar, and she brought that cash to valentia. We intended to found the Church there, and found another sympathizer, by the name of billy. Together the Temple would be made.

But billy was a duplicitous traitor. He became power hungry, and frame us as traitors. The megalomaniacal King Kokomaro had us banned for heresy(thats 2 prophets sent into exile because of heresy!), and for attempted rebellion. Okay, so we were heretics. But we were not rebels.

We trekked south. AFter weeks of trekking through Fronen, Melhed, and Avalon, we arrived here in Riombara. We quickly set to work constructing the Temple, in Irombro. Duke Marc became our first patron.

Bolkenia was the next location. Bethany aided greatly, and helped implement QYrvaggism into a complete, institutionalized religion. The rest, well... look around you.