Kingdom of Ashes IC discussion (What if we held a war and *everybody* came?)

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

"Preston is my grandfather... and a man that fights for all of the things I do. Indeed, he does fight with us. Currently, he battles the draconic army that is attacking Hyrwl. He and Dorn both fight there. I have use what limited magic I have to assure him we have arrived safely here but, as of yet, I have not recieved news of his state... I admire him more than any person I have ever met..." Her voice shifts from prideful to quiet and shameful... "They are my only family..."

The boldness returns to Justice voice and she presses on, "He presses the church for reasons that I, too, believe in. Reasons driven by discovers to that will greatly impact the future of the church, and the world..."

Once again, Justice lapses into the childish speed-talking, "And... and... He is so powerful... and his faith is so strong... and it is all for a v-v-very specific reason... and... and... I'm not sure how to say this... b-but.. he and I... well, we believe... we know... that we are of the line of The Apecto himself... the blood of that great man runs in his veins... just as it runs in MY veins, Bishop Carr. It is a gift I do not know what to do with... You are a wise man... you know things... b-big things... important things... but, this this is so big... so important... w-what do I do with it, Bishop?"

 

[The_Universe]

Double Post of DOOM

 

[The_Universe]

"Preston is my grandfather... and a man that fights for all of the things I do. Indeed, he does fight with us. Currently, he battles the draconic army that is attacking Hyrwl. He and Dorn both fight there. I have use what limited magic I have to assure him we have arrived safely here but, as of yet, I have not recieved news of his state... I admire him more than any person I have ever met..." Her voice shifts from prideful to quiet and shameful... "He and L'Aurel are my only family..."

The boldness returns to Justice voice and she presses on, "He presses the church for reasons that I, too, believe in. Reasons driven by discovers to that will greatly impact the future of the church, and the world..."

Once again, Justice lapses into the childish speed-talking, "And... and... He is so powerful... and his faith is so strong... and it is all for a v-v-very specific reason... and... and... I'm not sure how to say this... b-but.. he and I... well, we believe... we know... that we are of the line of The Apecto himself... the blood of that great man runs in his veins... just as it runs in MY veins, Bishop Carr. It is a gift I do not know what to do with... You are a wise man... you know things... b-big things... important things... but, this this is so big... so important... w-what do I do with it, Bishop?"

The Old man's back strightens, as if a steel rod had suddenly replaced his spine. "That...that is RANK HERESY! The Apecto sired no children. Neither of the Chosen of the Light had any living offspring! To claim otherwise could and would rock the very foundations of the church."

He seems to gather himself together, then, regaining some small measure of composure. "If what you say is true, then indeed you might have some of the power of your ancestor...but I would keep this knowledge secret. Some would expect you to demand the church itself as an inheritence. Others would assume that you had access to the 'truth' in ways that normal priests could not fathom. Our order is not like the kingship, to be passed through blood. Instead, we are measured by our dedication, by our wisdom, and by our faith. Your...revelation could change that, if indeed it is true. And not for the better. Do you understand?"

"It should be enough that you know. I ask you not to burden the world, further."

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

The Old man's back strightens, as if a steel rod had suddenly replaced his spine. "That...that is RANK HERESY! The Apecto sired no children. Neither of the Chosen of the Light had any living offspring! To claim otherwise could and would rock the very foundations of the church."

He seems to gather himself together, then, regaining some small measure of composure. "If what you say is true, then indeed you might have some of the power of your ancestor...but I would keep this knowledge secret. Some would expect you to demand the church itself as an inheritence. Others would assume that you had access to the 'truth' in ways that normal priests could not fathom. Our order is not like the kingship, to be passed through blood. Instead, we are measured by our dedication, by our wisdom, and by our faith. Your...revelation could change that, if indeed it is true. And not for the better. Do you understand?"

"It should be enough that you know. I ask you not to burden the world, further."

Shock, disapopintment, rage, and understanding fill Justice's eyes simultaneously. It takes her several long moments to respond.

"Bishop Carr, why would you ask that I keep this a secret? Why would you even think, for one moment, that the world should not know that the seed of the Apecto lives on? What good does it serve other than to maintain the traditions of the church? What means can be achieved by keeping it a secret?

I have great power because of my line. But, I am not suggesting that the wisdom and strength of faith be forsaken for the implementation of kingship. I want to USE my powers, Bishop.... to use them for the good of this entire kingdom... not to create a religious empire for myself. I do not wish to shake the church to death... I simply want to wake it up to mysteries long forgotten.

What I have is not a burden. It is a gift."

 

[The_Universe]

Shock, disapopintment, rage, and understanding fill Justice's eyes simultaneously. It takes her several long moments to respond.

"Bishop Carr, why would you ask that I keep this a secret? Why would you even think, for one moment, that the world should not know that the seed of the Apecto lives on? What good does it serve other than to maintain the traditions of the church? What means can be achieved by keeping it a secret?

I have great power because of my line. But, I am not suggesting that the wisdom and strength of faith be forsaken for the implementation of kingship. I want to USE my powers, Bishop.... to use them for the good of this entire kingdom... not to create a religious empire for myself. I do not wish to shake the church to death... I simply want to wake it up to mysteries long forgotten.

What I have is not a burden. It is a gift."

"You misunderstand completely. I ask you what can be gained by the revelation, other than the DESTRUCTION of the order dedicated to the man whom you believe is your ancestor? Surely you cannot believe that there would be only one child who claims the blood you do? Surely, you can see that the church cannot be based on heritage! It is a matter of FAITH, not BLOOD. You would make it so, but the church is not a kingdom to be held by a Holy King...it is a ideal, to be preserved by those who believe.

"By all means, use your power. None of us could prevent you, anyway...but remember that your blood may afford you more responsibility, even as it fails to give you privilege among the Called. The mysteries you speak of are mysteries, so far as I am aware, that are irrelevent to the Faith. Tell me, Justice--what do you expect to gain? Perhaps there is something that I simply cannot see. Live as you are called to live, and use everything that the Light has given you to be His Hand...but do not seek glory for an accident of birth. You are a hero because you have chosen to become one, whether it seems so or not.

"Your power, whatever it is, IS a gift...but it is not that that worries me. Do you understand?"

 

[The_Universe]

"You misunderstand completely. I ask you what can be gained by the revelation, other than the DESTRUCTION of the order dedicated to the man whom you believe is your ancestor? Surely you cannot believe that there would be only one child who claims the blood you do? Surely, you can see that the church cannot be based on heritage! It is a matter of FAITH, not BLOOD. You would make it so, but the church is not a kingdom to be held by a Holy King...it is a ideal, to be preserved by those who believe.

"By all means, use your power. None of us could prevent you, anyway...but remember that your blood may afford you more responsibility, even as it fails to give you privilege among the Called. The mysteries you speak of are mysteries, so far as I am aware, that are irrelevent to the Faith. Tell me, Justice--what do you expect to gain? Perhaps there is something that I simply cannot see. Live as you are called to live, and use everything that the Light has given you to be His Hand...but do not seek glory for an accident of birth. You are a hero because you have chosen to become one, whether it seems so or not.

"Your power, whatever it is, IS a gift...but it is not that that worries me. Do you understand?"

But, important though this is, surely it is not all that you have questions about? Truly you cannot believe that your destiny can be so easily contained within a question of heritage? I would help where and how I can...but I must know where."

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

Erruptions

But, important though this is, surely it is not all that you have questions about? Truly you cannot believe that your destiny can be so easily contained within a question of heritage? I would help where and how I can...but I must know where."

"You push my heritage aside like it is a shameful thing, Bishop. You act as if it has no significance... but, there must be some importance behind it. Afterall, if I am the 'Daughter of Sun and Shadow' as the Oracle says, there must be something more to it."

Anger flushes her cheeks. "It cannot just be a dark secret... I cannot sit it aside... my heritage MEANS something, Carr. I NEED your help in determining what that meaning IS! I have been called! ... and, my blood has SOMETHING to do with it. It must! If it doesn't, what grand quest am I called upon? And, more importantly, WHY am I called? I did not ask for this! If I could cast it aside, I would. But, here it is!"

Suddenly, Justice dropps to her knees from her chair, drawing her sword at the same time. Driving it into the ground, as if in prayer to a makeshift cross, white light explodes from her blade. The floor rumbles and the floor shakes as holy light fills the room.

Then, silence.

Long minutes pass before Justice looks up to the Bishop. Tears stain her teenage face. A deep, forced whisper parts her lips:

"Tell me my blood has no significance, Bishop Carr, and you deny the truth--you deny the obvious. I need guidance. I need information... about the past and the future. I am called. But, sometimes, I have no idea what I am called to do. I KNOW it has something to do with my blood. And that is where you come in.

In all your studies, have you read nothing of Children of the Apecto? Have you heard nothing of the Daughter of Sun and Shadow? I must know... if I am to answer my call, I must know."

 

[The_Universe]

"You push my heritage aside like it is a shameful thing, Bishop. You act as if it has no significance... but, there must be some importance behind it. Afterall, if I am the 'Daughter of Sun and Shadow' as the Oracle says, there must be something more to it."

Anger flushes her cheeks. "It cannot just be a dark secret... I cannot sit it aside... my heritage MEANS something, Carr. I NEED your help in determining what that meaning IS! I have been called! ... and, my blood has SOMETHING to do with it. It must! If it doesn't, what grand quest am I called upon? And, more importantly, WHY am I called? I did not ask for this! If I could cast it aside, I would. But, here it is!"

Suddenly, Justice dropps to her knees from her chair, drawing her sword at the same time. Driving it into the ground, as if in prayer to a makeshift cross, white light explodes from her blade. The floor rumbles and the floor shakes as holy light fills the room.

Then, silence.

Long minutes pass before Justice looks up to the Bishop. Tears stain her teenage face. A deep, forced whisper parts her lips:

"Tell me my blood has no significance, Bishop Carr, and you deny the truth--you deny the obvious. I need guidance. I need information... about the past and the future. I am called. But, sometimes, I have no idea what I am called to do. I KNOW it has something to do with my blood. And that is where you come in.

In all your studies, have you read nothing of Children of the Apecto? Have you heard nothing of the Daughter of Sun and Shadow? I must know... if I am to answer my call, I must know."

Mistress Fairweather! Calm yourself!

I have no doubt of your...considerable...power. Yet, I can say honestly that the writings of our order speak little if at all of the children of the Called. Though I might doubt your claim at Apectan blood, I can hardly deny your calling.

The Apecto himself is called the Son of Sun and Shadow...and if this prophecy refers to you, than indeed it would seem to tie you to the father of this order. But what else would have me tell you? I can no more sum up all my knowledge for you than you could, for me. If you seek after knowledge, seek. It is not a path I can walk for you...though I would and could guide you, I cannot read your mind to know what answers you seek.

Sun and Shadow is mentioned, but only referring to the Apecto, or his fallen brother who was seduced my Tiamat herself into dark, unending service.

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

Mistress Fairweather! Calm yourself!

I have no doubt of your...considerable...power. Yet, I can say honestly that the writings of our order speak little if at all of the children of the Called. Though I might doubt your claim at Apectan blood, I can hardly deny your calling.

The Apecto himself is called the Son of Sun and Shadow...and if this prophecy refers to you, than indeed it would seem to tie you to the father of this order. But what else would have me tell you? I can no more sum up all my knowledge for you than you could, for me. If you seek after knowledge, seek. It is not a path I can walk for you...though I would and could guide you, I cannot read your mind to know what answers you seek.

Sun and Shadow is mentioned, but only referring to the Apecto, or his fallen brother who was seduced my Tiamat herself into dark, unending service.

Eyes fixed on her knees, Justice whispers to herself, "Son of Sun and Shadow... ohhh! All those phrophicies! ... Light! I will never have all the knowledge desire or all the answers I seek! I cannot even find the quest.... wait..."

Looking up from her slumped position, Justice squeaks, "... Brother?"

 

[The_Universe]

The Bishop closes his eyes, as if concentrating. After a moment, he recites, "And in the darkness he struck down Arten Zas, one of the vassals of the Black Dragon Lord, who was Zanic, his brother."

"Though the meanings of this passage have been debated for centuries, the prevailing thought is that the Last Bishop of Aon, and the Sun's Shadow had two sons, and that this Zanic, also known as Arten Zas, was the Apecto's brother. Although we have few details of his birth, even in the holy texts, it is far from impossible that the Bishop and his wife could have had 2 sons."

"As for more about this Arten Zas/Zanic Apecto, he is mentioned again in several of the histories that would have been contemporaneous with the Apecto's life. Apparently a high ranking member of the Kinawis, a secret society that was co-opted early on by Mordred the Black to heal the sundered throne, and set himself as Emperor, once more. He worked closely with the High Alder Greyclaws of Oceanus to bring that very thing to pass...it was only the actions of his brother that stopped him."

"In some of the more mythic tales (probably co-opted from earlier myths), just as the Apecto was the Chosen of the Light, Zanic was the chosen of Darkness. In these tales, it is often whispered that he was seduced into evil by Tiamat, herself..."