Church of Humanity/New Year Fête 1012

Roleplay from Arch Cleric Jor Tanos, Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic and Most Holy Church of Humanity

Message sent to Everyone in Bescanon

The sounds of hooves and marching feet echoed across the streets of Bescanon's towns and the well worn roads leading north to the Holy City. The procession of Faithful of the North, be they Templars, Paladins, Clerics, and commoners, was led by the Arch Cleric of the Church of Humanity himself. Soon they would arrive in the city and as the sun began to set, they would begin the celebration in earnest.

Arch Cleric Jor Tanos, Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic and Most Holy Church of Humanity

Roleplay from Arch Cleric Jor Tanos, Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic and Most Holy Church of Humanity

Message sent to Everyone in Perdan City

The sounds of hooves and feet, both armored and unarmed, echoed across the plains and hills of Perdan, joined by the sounds of hymns being sung and devotions being chanted as the throngs of the Faithful from the North made their way to the gates of the Holy City. The Arch Cleric himself, clad in simple white robes as he rode a golden stallion, led the procession that still stretched across the roads into Troyes as the followers of the Church of Humanity eagerly went to offer their praise and worship. The Holy Father had dispatched a large sum of gold to the city beforehand and as he entered the city and the craftsmen were eagerly working on renovating the temple itself and improving the temple grounds. A single tower was being constructed, in the shape of a four pointed star, in the cathedral's main plaza. From there the Arch Cleric would address the crowd. For now, however, he moved on to the temple itself so as to prepare himself for the celebrations to begin when the sun begins to fall in the west that very evening. Jor Tanos dismounted his steed, his once reddish hair now mostly silver in color. Before entering the Basilica he turned to the crowd that was already beginning to gather and called out, "Blessings of the Divine be upon you all! Confess your sins, lighten your hearts, and remember we are all Her children!"

Arch Cleric Jor Tanos, Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic and Most Holy Church of Humanity

Roleplay from Arch Cleric Jor Tanos

Message sent to Everyone in Perdan City

Set within the Basilica of Divina Pantocrator's plaza was a solitary wooden tower clad in stone tiles that matched the facade of the most important cathedral in the entire Church of Humanity. Shaped like a four pointed star, its base was well protected by Templar Sergeants from each Eastralian See. It represented the unity of the Church and its devotion to the Divine. A pulpit was built into the southern point, etched into the stone and overlooking the fathered Faithful. At that pulpit stood the Arch Cleric of the Church of Humanity, wearing his gold and silver robes, capped with his miter and wielding his sunstone-capped staff of office. Jor Tanos raised his hands to silence the crowd. With well over 500,000 Faithful in Eastralis there was quite a mixture of cultures present. His voice resounded across the throng, the booming clarity devised by the foremost engineers in the world who so perfectly designed the walled courtyard to have perfect acoustics. "Ecclesiae! Faithful of the Divine! We join together to honor the bond we share. Faithfully, triumphantly, and joyfully we offer up our voices in praise to the Divine! "As one people, no matter our heritage, we say farewell to the old year and greet the next with invigoration! For it shall be the Ecclesiae who spare the Future of these great lands and those beyond the vast seas!" The aging cleric smiled down at the assembled followers of the Church. "For we are the chosen of the Divine, Her children, While we may argue and fight as children do, when our family is threatened it is then we unite! Just as we did against the Church of Ibladesh! Just as we did against the heathens of Fontan and their Flowist cult! Yes, there may be wars between the realms of men and Faithful, but when called I trust every one of you will rise to defend Holy Church. For it is our sense of honor and duty that sets us apart from so many others. "The sun has begun to set in the west. A new day comes in the east. Remember, Ecclesiae, that together we shape this future. Now, enjoy the celebrations! May the Divine bless you all!"

Arch Cleric Jor Tanos

Roleplay from Chaplain Viktor Nebehn

Message sent to Everyone in Perdan City

After the sermon from the Arch Cleric, Father Viktor left the Temple but not after discussing and blessing various members of the Faithful. Dressed in his white robes with a white oak staff capped with a carved dove, the eldest of the two sides of the Nebehn family stood on the steps and looked up at the stars. "Hm. A clear night. How beautiful. By my count, we will be moving into the New Year soon. Brother Alaron.. I pray for ye. I hope the corruption that I have heard of has passed and you have redeemed yourself on the Blighted Isle. Maybe too, it is time for I to repent. Not for my sins, but for how I have treated my cousins in the past. Malos - the Grand Cleric of the Far East. Ravier, Paladin of Humanity. We are united this night, even if we are scattered across the continents." Viktor took a walk down the steps into the throng of Faithful and began to talk and mingle, knowing that soon the world would turn and a new year would begin. "Divine be praised!"

Chaplain Viktor Nebehn

Roleplay from Knight Templar Cassandra Foxglove

Message sent to Everyone in Perdan City

The great gathering of the faithful in Perdan was unlike anything Cassandra had ever seen. There was a feeling of joy in the city. Those pilgrims who were not in the temple were filling the streets, with crowds being entertained by acrobats, jesters, and others who had come to the city seeking to make a few coins from the celebration. Away from the main crush of people she could see those unfortunates who were touched by illness or other infirmities staying in the shadows. She had seen them on the roads leading to Perdan. They were drawn by the hope that undertaking such a great journey might see the Divine bless them with a cure, or at least ease their pain. Cassandra took a few coins from her purse and had her servants give them to the poor souls. She was not known for her generosity to peasants, but the spirit of the day seemed to have lightened her mood. As she looked over the crowds, she was interested to see a nobleman who appeared to be dressed in the fashion of a Sirionite. A herald leaned in and identified the noble as the Count of Braga. Divine be praised that one of the faithful now ruled the lands of Braga that had been blighted for so long by the taint of the Flow of the Balance. Cassandra wondered how the Church of Humanity had been welcomed across the border in Sirion, and how it might spread. It was strangely pleasing to see a Sirionite here, united with the rest of them in the true faith.

Knight Templar Cassandra Foxglove

Roleplay from Knight Templar Armstrong Ironsides, Paladin-Commander of the Order of Sacred Battle

Message sent to Everyone in Perdan City

Grandmaster Armstrong stood before his troop of Paladins. Armoured and robed, they presented a clean and fearsome sight. Coloured white and yellow, colours reflecting the Royal Guard of Westmoor, but also the signature colours of the Church's militant division. The Order of Sacred Battle roared at Armstrongs signal. "Paladins! We celebrate the turn of the new year. May glories past resonate and may glories to come immortalize! Glory be to the Church!"

Knight Templar Armstrong Ironsides, Paladin-Commander of the Order of Sacred Battle

Roleplay from Aspirant Ubin cIipt, Tithing Believer

Message sent to Everyone in Perdan City

After travelling far and wide, Ubin had come to Perdan to celebrate his faith from his old heritage. Ubin had amassed a lot of debt over the years of being in a realm with very little nobles sharing his faith, over 200 gold. Ubin came during the most holy of times to proclaim his faith is still strong and intact, even though he had fought against his brothers many times. Ubin wishes everyone who shares his faith a happy new year, and hopes everyone stays prosperous and healthy. He comes alone making a pilgrimage only with a bit of gold his horse and his scribe to celebrate in this grand festival and to possibly raise his standing in his faith by hoping to swear the Oath of Faith.

Aspirant Ubin cIipt, Tithing Believer

Roleplay from Grand Cleric Vicarius Benedictus Tanos, Pontiff of the Curacy of Eastralis

Message sent to Everyone in Perdan City

Benedictus laid his hands on the common woman and her child, invoking the names of the Saints as he uttered a prayer to the Divine so as to bless the pair. While festivities continued for peasant and noble alike, the Grand Cleric Vicarius focused on hearing the confessions and pleadings of the attendants, offering prayers, blessings and guidance when needed. Like many of the clerics who were in attendance, he made sure to preach whenever possible to as many as he could, to spread the good will and faith in the Divine that was still in the air. Clad in a simple white cassock, identifying him as a cleric of the Divine if not his status as a senior member of the Ecclesiarchy, Benedictus Tanos made his way through the Faithful, greeting those he recognized with a happy smile and offering prayers for those he did not recognize. Eventually he stumbled across Lance Hagakure and waved to the man, carefully approaching. "Ah! Counsellor Externus! It is good to see you again. How fairs the Azure See? I trust your trek to these lands was a safe one. I hear you have been having issues with the damned Flowist remnants in those parts still." The steadily-aging priest noticed another noble out of the corner of his eye, raising a hand in greeting to Ubin cIipt, Count of Braga and a Tithing Believer. Merely an aspirant in the Church, he was unusual in that he was the only noble follower of the Faith within the realms of the continent's only republic. A republic whose nobility practiced human slavery. A republic that had one leading family that promised to rape human women on the altars of the Church and burn down its temples with the peasantry and deacons inside. Still, Benedictus had no ill feeling towards the individual in attendance. After all, he never actually met the man before.

Grand Cleric Vicarius Benedictus Tanos, Pontiff of the Curacy of Eastralis

Roleplay from Aspirant Ubin cIipt, Tithing Believer

Message sent to Everyone in Perdan City

Ubin was busy celebrating the festivities in the grand city of Perdan when he spotted a priest of the Church of Humanity. Suddenly, he feels a sense of overflowing faith and righteousness. Ubin approaches the priest wanting to know how he can become a stronger part of the church. Ubin: I wish to become a full member of the Church of Humanity, could you help me out? Priest: Yes, you would want to speak to a higher priest and he will direct you to what you need to do. There is one now, he pointed to Benedictus Tanos, who was walking by. Ubin thanked the priest and approached Benedictus. Ubin: I traveled from a land far away in the realm of Sirion, my name Ubin of the CIipt family, and I am the count of Braga, formally the count of Osslamar. I wish to become a full member of the Church. Benedictus: Ah, yes I have seen you around wondering how Sirion treats, a man of your faith, especially with your duke being who he is. To become a full member of Holy Church, one of the Oathsworn, one must of course swear the Oath of Faith. By doing so, one swears to be humble and courteous, to defend the Church and its followers, learn from the doctrines of the Church, and obey the Tenets and other articles of Faith. Ubin: Sirion is well, though sometimes my allegiance has come into question, as long as I am not slandering the name of Sirion, I am allowed to practice my faith in peace. I feel as Church and state can be separate and so I may be a member of the Church while being apart of Sirion. I would like to take the Oath of Faith. Benedictus: Alright, please then repeat the following, "I, Ubin CIipt, do solemnly swear to follow the Code of Chivalry and make Honour my guide for action. I swear to be loyal of hands and mouth, and serve every man as best I may. I shall seek the fellowship of good men; hearken to their words and remember them. I shall be humble and courteous wherever I go, boasting not nor talking overmuch, neither be dumb altogether. I shall defend the Church, learn from all that the Church teaches, and shall observe all its directions." Ubin: I, Ubin CIipt, do solemnly swear to follow the Code of Chivalry and make Honour my guide for action. I swear to be loyal of hands and mouth, and serve every man as best I may. I shall seek the fellowship of good men; hearken to their words and remember them. I shall be humble and courteous wherever I go, boasting not nor talking overmuch, neither be dumb altogether. I shall defend the Church, learn from all that the Church teaches, and shall observe all its directions. Benedictus: Thank you the Church will now take some time to review yourself and we will get back to you with our final decision. Ubin leaves the Priest feeling better about himself and his journey in faith as he himself is getting older in age. He feels it may be time to settle down and become less of a once great warrior, to more of a simple man of diplomacy and religion.

Aspirant Ubin cIipt, Tithing Believer