The Church of Qyrvagg/Visions

Visions of the Prophets

Hireshmont, the Great Prophet

• The Battle of Ascension, Hakan-del-Zir
  • The moon rose in the north, the sun in the south. The Fields of Zir were burning, burning, burning. Sartan wept. And he was sore wroth. His eyes burnt with rage, hate, and pain. He blew on his mighty Horn, Calephas, and the Souls of His Flock came to his side. They were armed well, prepared to do battle against their foe. Their phantom-forms were translucent, light filtered through. The Soulhost of Sartan was ready. Gheros, Sparticus, Rikku, Vash, White Assassin, all the False Sartanians, and many of Ibladesh, and others, all gathered round.
  • Across the field I saw a second host. At its front stood proudly a man. I knew his name was Qyrvagg. My soul stood with him. His Soulhost was not so large as Sartan's, nor so well equipped. But in their eyes was bloodlust and war. These Souls knew what it meant to be a True Sartanian, an Acolyte of Qyrvagg. Qyrvagg turned to me and spoke. "You must record all you see this day. I shall scorch it in your heart with my flaming wrath. I shall cut it in your mind with my red blade. You are my Prophet, my instrument on the Earth."
  • Then Battle was met. The two Soulhosts collided. After horus of the fiercest fighting ever in the Heavens or on Earth, Qyrvagg stood over Sartan. The Elder had been subjected by the Younger. Sartan was cast down.
  • Then Qyrvagg turned to me and spoke, telling me his desire for a warlike Church. For true belief. I remember not his exact words. But I have recorded all the meaning of the conversation we had in the Tome of War.

• The Trial and Escape
  • Six beings stood before me. There was Gheros, the Fallen Pontifex of the Fallen God. There was Sparticus the Just, Haruspex Maximus of the Fallen God. There were the combined Souls of my accusers. There was Qyrvagg and Sartan. And there was Baiko, my friend and ally.
  • The Being that bore Gheros' likeness stepped forward and spoke, saying, "I am Impudence and Obstinance. I am Vice and Failure. I am Lost Hope and Forsaken Dream. I am Heresy and Hypocrosy. I accuse you, Prophet of Qyrvagg, of bearing false witness to Sartan.
  • I replied, "I have born no false witness. I have spoken only that which Qyrvagg would desire. And, because Sartan is subjugated to Qyrvagg, it is Sartan's Will as well.
  • Then Sparticus the Just stepped forth and spoke. "I am equality and fairness. I am merciless and loyal I have duty to fulfill. By the will of Sartan as spoken by the Pontifex Gheros, I condemn you to the death of a dog, by torture and execution."
  • I replied, "I name you Just, for such is my fate. By the laws of this Fallen Realm I deserve death. You have held true to your duty, I comend you. Ever shall you be known in the annls of the Church as a friend."
  • The Souls of the False Sartanians then spoke. "We are Nemesis. We are the misled Mass that follows. We condemn you, for such is the decree of Gheros, or Mind-Master."
  • I replied, "I forgive you for your betrayal of this Realm, your Religion, and me. You know not what you do, your mind is governed by Gheros alone, not yourself.
  • Then Qyrvagg and Sartan spoke together, saying, "We see our strong servant. Take the fate you have been offered. Defend the True Faith and Die by the hand of Sparticus the Just, as ordered by Gheros the Fallen Pontifex."
  • I nodded and wept.
  • Then Baiko spoke, "What of us? What of the remaining flock of Qyrvagg?"
  • Qyrvagg replied, "Go to Valentia, it shall be your next home. Seek there battle, bring Glory to my Name.
  • The next part of the vision I do not well remember. It came in pieces during my attempt to be caught and executed by Sartanian forces. At long last, Qyrvagg spoke to me again.
  • Hireshmont, First Prophet, Loyal Servant, Friend of Qyrvagg. Fly this land! Five days have you lingered, waiting for just execution. The officials have failed. Fly to Oligarch. There will you find War and Battle, Glory to Me, the God of Battle!

Hridrion, the Lost Prophet

• First Incarnation of the Prophets
  • I awoke, startled, from my sleep. Before me lay a gray sword, with a black sash wrapped about its blade. It lay at the foot of my bed, which glowed like diamondflame.
  • A great panther, also black, but with a gray streak along his side, and claws that also blazed in orange heat, strode to my doorway, which blackened and crumbled as he approached.
  • "I am Solecos, messenger of the Lord of Hosts, the God of War and Battle, the Ascended God, Qyrvagg. I am his servant, as you are."
  • I watched in awe as the panther rose on its hind legs, and clasped the sword between its paws. The black cloth stayed wrapped around the blade. The panther tossed the weapon to me, and I caught it.
  • I cried out in pain, for it seered my hand. But I held onto it even so.
  • "Hridrion Vellos, you are to take your brother's place. He has fulfilled his service to Qyrvagg, now is your time. You shall be the second prophet of Qyrvagg. Fare thee well"
  • I held the sword as it cooled in my hand, and fell back asleep.

• Doom of Chance
  • 'A great green serpent rose before me. I saw the Panther of Qyrvagg standing opposite it, and the sword, in my hand, before me.
  • The panther lept at the serpent, even as it struck at me. I felt a sharp pain in my wrist, just before the panther rent a hole in the serpent's sider.

This is all that Hridrion managed to write before he died of a sudden and fatal disease.

Amekal, the Grand Prophet

• Second Incarnation of the Prophets
  • I awoke, startled and bewildered, from my sleep. Before me lay a gray sword, like what Hridrion had described in his letters, with a black sash wrapped about its blade. It lay at the foot of my bed, which glowed like diamondflame. Also there was a skull wrapped in an orange sash, like unto that worn by Baiko.
  • A great panther, also black, but with a gray streak along his side, and claws that also blazed in orange heat, strode to my doorway, which blackened and crumbled as he approached. The dream seemed much akin to Hridrion's.
  • "I am Solecos, Annointer of Prophets of the Lord of Hosts, the God of War and Battle, the Ascended God, Qyrvagg. I am his servant and friend, as you are. Your relative Hridrion had great misfortune, but you shall not suffer the same fate, for Qyrvagg himself guards you, you are his friend."
  • I watched in awe as the panther rose on its hind legs, and clasped the sword between its paws. The black cloth stayed wrapped around the blade. The panther tossed the weapon to me, and I caught it.
  • I cried out in pain, for it seered my hand. But I held onto it even so. When I looked at my hand, I saw a small scorch mark of the sword's crossguard, never to be removed.
  • "Hireshmont Vellos, you are to take your reltive's place. He has fulfilled his service to Qyrvagg, now is your time. You shall be the third prophet of Qyrvagg. Fare thee well, long shall be your time in service to Qyrvagg."
  • I held the sword as it cooled in my hand, and fell back asleep, deeply moved by these dreams.

• Call to Valentia
  • Before me was a great ship in an icy bay that I knew well. It was the harbor at Sale, in the Barony of Makar, where I have been serving Qyrvagg and the Barony.
  • The ship bore the banner of an axe and a sword, a viking ship. But its sails were black with gray stripes, its captain wore blazing orange. An omen, I must depart for Valentia, where to take up Hridrion's mantle.

• The Temple
  • It stood four hundred feet high, and each side was 600 feet long, it had three sides, with a triangular flat top. The side facing the sun's rise was orange. The other sides were black, and the top was gray.
  • Wide steps went up each side, and statues of great warriors from days gone by lined the walk.
  • A great fire burned at the top, and the banner of Qyrvagg, a gray sword and black background, whipped in the wind. Each of the statues bore a pennant to their realm, and to Qyrvagg.
  • When I came to the top of the stairs, I saw three figures awaiting me there.
  • The first was that of Solecos, in all his splendor. The second was Qyrvagg, arrayed in full battle regalia. The third was a tall man, bearing a banner of a great sun, and who's tunic was emblazoned half orange, half light green, with a great R on it.
  • Qyrvagg turned to me and spoke:
  • "Amekal Vellos, my Third Prophet. Valentia shall not be my home forever. Seek a new home, that Solecos will lead you to. When you have found that home, seek ye this man," Qyrvagg motioned to the man, who stood as still as a statue, "When you have found him, you have found where my Temple shall be made."

• The Gifting of the Weapons
  • I stood at the top of the Grand Temple, looking down through the shaft into the ritual room, onto the altar. The whole congregation was gathered there, nobles and peasents, soldiers and workers.
  • I saw myself on the altar, speeking, passionate about something. Suddenly, soldeirs bearing a crest I did not recognize rushed into the Temple. Weapons were drawn by all, fighting ensued. In hours, the overwhelming numbers of the soldiers crushed the few Qyrvaggians, and the Grand Temple was burnt to the groun.
  • Then I looked in front of me, and I saw Solecos, the Annointer of the Prophets.
  • "Prophet of Qyrvagg, hear my words, which are from Qyrvagg," he began.
  • "This catastrophy shall ensue, if you do not take the gifts that are given to you. To prevent this, I give three gifts. The first, is the gift of a new protector. Your sign shall be not only the blade, but also the phoenix, which shall be as a beacon and defender in times of need. Thus, my servant, Tialok, shall come to defend you in secret. The phoenix is the first gift, and is entrusted to the Priesthood."
  • "The second gift is the Staff of the Phoenix. This is a weapon which I give to the Prophets, to be given to whomever guides my Church and leads the flock. Let it be as guidance to you. A light in darkness, a strength in need. Should it fall into the hands of those not pure in my sight, all is lost for my Church. The staff is the second gift, and is entrusted to the Prophets."
  • "The third gift is no less important. It is the Flamebanner. Let this standard blaze forth over the ranks of my hosts, let it shine as death to its foes. This banner is not of cloth and dye, but light and heat, of fire. Let it touch not the Earth, for it shall scorch the ground you tread upon, and be lost. Carry it always into battle, to show that Qyrvagg is with Hist Hosts, in Victory and Defeat. The banner is the third gift, and is entrusted to the Master of the Holy Hosts."
  • Then Solecos was gone, and I knew no more, until I found myself standing upon the altar, in the Grand Temple, with everyone else gone on various duties and errands. I wrote down all that I have seen. These are the words of Qyrvagg.

• The New Temple
  • Solecos came to me, striding between the horses of my Riders. He bore himself strongly, for he had news of great import.
  • "Amekal Vellos, Servant of Qyrvagg, Third Prophet, Keeper of the Grand Temple, Wielder of the Phoenix Staff, Friend of Battle."
  • "I, Solecos, come with this message! You must tear down the Grand Temple in Irombro! Stone by stone, you must remove it! The ground must remain bare! You must empty its coffers and armories!"
  • "But I have provided an even greater gift! The land of Bolkenia shall be your new home! Go there, and build a Temple even greater than before, to the same designs! Bethany, Countess of Bolkenia, shall be your friend, for I have made her my Grand Priest, annointed like Baiko!"
  • "This do in the name of Qyrvagg, that you shall see the Phoenix!"

Visions of the Grand Priests

Bethany Darkwaggler, Grand Priest of the Foundation

• The New Temple
  • I too had a vision before I built the temple. In fact, it's what inspired me to build the temple. It was no where near as grand as the visions the Prophet Amekal has.
  • I was in a field, surrounded by battle. At the end of the battle I was the only one left alive. Then the Solecos the Panther walked up to me. She told me that the followers of Qyrvagg would never fear death and battle, then all those that had died rised again.
  • She then told me a little of the religion and told me to get in contact with Amekal. She told me that Qyrvagg needed a temple and that Amekal knew how it must be constructed. I then awoke.
  • My second in command, Amanda, looked like a ghost. She told me that I was having seizures and the physicans did not know what was wrong with me. I then immediately sent my scribe to meet with Amekal and everything Solecos told me he did as well. I then had the temple built, with each stone being dragged from the Guild, The Church of Qyrvagg. And that is the beginings of the religion.