Frieden und Segen
The Modern Pontiffs
By Dictation of His Holiness, Reverend Jakob Hendrik Ludevar
Scribed by Brother-Curates Jan Pieter Schanserd & Hugo Neri
PREFACE
During my tenure as the Reverend of Hawthe, I have seen many different High Reverends come and go, some of them I have known, some I've never heard of, but one thing is certain. They are all notable persons with exceptional personalities, which oddly enough has never been recorded, until now. This document has been penned to capture the childhood, life and reign of the recent High Reverends. I cherish the idea of a Synod with a history that has been written down, to allow our young Curates and even future Exarchs to read and observe and learn what the past leaders of our Hallowed Synod did right and did not do right. In the hopes that they may make our Sancella flourish in harmony and piety.
During my tenure as the Reverend of Hawthe, I have seen many different High Reverends come and go, some of them I have known, some I've never heard of, but one thing is certain. They are all notable persons with exceptional personalities, which oddly enough has never been recorded, until now. This document has been penned to capture the childhood, life and reign of the recent High Reverends. I cherish the idea of a Synod with a history that has been written down, to allow our young Curates and even future Exarchs to read and observe and learn what the past leaders of our Hallowed Synod did right and did not do right. In the hopes that they may make our Sancella flourish in harmony and piety.
FAUSTUS VII
Exarch Faustus VII "the Unsightly", otherwise known as Varek Jean-Pierre Krier is the first of the modern High Reverends we shall be examining. Varek Krier was born in Brissaud in the year 252AC, December the 12th. While born in Brissaud he was sent to live with his maternal kin, in Tigrunn. He would begin seminary at age four, the child was taught things a Curate should know, but in return, as payment, he performed tasks fitting of one in Seminary.
At age thirteen, the teen was transferred to Castle Virgadulvlas, to serve under the keeps leading Curate, meaning to eventually succeed him. To succeed a Darkwald curate, required Krier to take an oath as a Darkwald hunter and fervently follow the Code of the Great Oak. The teenage Krier officially began his Darkwald-Curate training at age fourteen, where his skills with the sword, crossbow and tongue would be honed to the finest. Reports claim that the Darkwald-Curate first saw combat at age sixteen, a horrific thing for a youth to experience, yet not uncommon in Tigrunn.
Time passed and at age twenty-five, Varek had found himself as the leading Curate at Castle Virgadulvlas. An important and dangerous position, the Curate surely found it a terrifying, yet surely a satisfying job. After a decade, at age thirty-five, the Ministry of Curates believed Varek fit for Reverendship and elevated him to the Reverend of Tigrunn.
After five decades of service in Tigrunn, Varek had, had enough and sent in an application to be granted a seat within the hallowed Synod. To his very own surprise, he was accepted and swiftly moved to the Holy City, as this was his ticket out of the bleak isle. During the first Synodical Council, Varek managed to have himself elected to the seat of High Reverend and Exarch. A conservative man, he took up the name Faustus in honor of the heron Faust of martyrs.
His High Reverency was short and very often simply looked over. It was however an active one, he responded to many proceedings relating to the church. Many Reverends and people found his appearance, mannerism and pale skin, to be very off-putting and weird, which could have been the spark which forced the Exarch to resign, by the young and ambitious Reverends. Which led to a month-long regency. After witnessing the resignation of Cedromar I and the abolishment of the Crown, Varek resigned his seat on the Synod itself and his reverency. Today he serves as a Darkwald-Curate in Tigrunn. Perhaps if his tenure was longer, Exarch Faustus could have been a more noteworthy name in the Modern Pontiffs.
BENEDICT XI
Our second High Reverend is Benedixt XI "the Ordainer" was known as Paolo d'Ortonnaise before his election to the High Reverend seat. Sancella archives reveal that he was born in the year 240AC on November 21st. He was born to a lower noble family in Montania, the family itself wasn't widely known, but was well respected in Montania. The young Paolo showed great intellect and most importantly interest in the Unionist faith. To further his knowledge, they hired various tutors and Curates to prepare young Paolo for Seminary. In contrast to his brother, who was introduced to a militant lifestyle.
Once the child reached his teens, his fourteenth year, he entered Seminary in Basta, quite a journey from Montania for a mere youth. Like every other student in Basta studying Unionism knowing the creeds and the history the dozen Herons was paramount, this of course was not the only subject. By age twenty-one, the ambitious Paolo was ordained a Curate and began his missionary assignment.
His first real adventure began in the Drachenwald Baronies where he made an exceptional effort in promoting ideals of unity and faith during a time of economic and military strain at the time. It was at this time he was made aware of the clergy in Vixhall and Loiree. It was in the Chrysant aggression the young Curate truly showed his colors, he was assigned as a Curate to the Regalian forces, tasked with providing pastoral, spiritual and emotional support. Records show that the Curate d'Ortonnaise was visibly anxious, as his brother was also with the Regalian forces. D'Ortonnaise saw combat three times, where he, a delicate man experienced the horror of war, which naturally changed the man.
As we all know, the Chrysant war didn't last forever. Paolo immediately returned home to take part in his brother's marriage. This marriage formed the d'Ortonnaise family, which maneuvered itself into the politics of the Holy City. Later in the same year Paolo was raised to Reverend and was awarded the Loiree-Vixhall Verwaltung, the very same he met so many years ago.
As a Reverend of the Sancella, his station became more comfortable, but heavy with paperwork. And he certainly wrote, he wrote of the effects of war and various theological disputes he observed. His most notable contest was with the Priscelle schism. While suspicious of the Schism he attempted to mend it, even when he believed it to be disruptive and harmful.
In the year 303AC, his brother, who had sparked the d'Ortonnaise family, had fallen in the battle of Curag Fields. This event threw Paolo into a great depression, where he would drink excess amounts of alcohol. In 305 however, he was approached by his niece Adrienne, who was more or less the public face of the family invited him to join her in the Holy City to represent the family in the Synod.
Later in the same year, Paolo was elected High Reverend and Exarch of the Synod, picking the name Benedict XI for himself. Very early in his reign, he pledged that sorcerers could find salvation with the guidance of the faith, but those who did not come forth were branded heretics. Nothing unheard of, but it promised something for the aberrant, a brighter future along with the Spirit. Periodically Benedict XI, would release statements regarding various religious matters. He was biased towards his own house; d'Ortonnaise. Once offering a service to the house without even informing the rest of the Synod. The High Reverend would go on a hiatus in his familial region, and upon his return he and all his supporters were ejected from the Synod and succeeded by Claude du Pont. While many in the past have thought so, the Hallowed High Reverency is not an infallible. Today the former High Reverend is suspected to reside in the d'Ortonnaise lands or somewhere in Ithania.
BALTHAZAR IV
The third and probably most notable High Reverend, Claude-Henri Antoine du Pont, or rather Claude du Pont, as he was more commonly known, he is perhaps also our youngest contender, only twenty-seven when elected. He chose the name Balthasar IV, to honor and respect the lawmakers of the empire, promising to lead by diligence and to expand the laws of the Unionist Divine. He has been dubbed 'the young', for obvious reasons.
Du Pont was born in fall in the year 279 AC. In Château de la Saint-Auberlin, the du Pont palace located somewhere in the outskirts of Cressile, West Brixoid. His parents were Gregor and Claudia du Pont, two wealthy aristocrats who had earned their fortune through mining valuable gold and jewels. Gregor was a strict father and thus as the firstborn, Claude-Henri was a priority. When Claude failed to meet his father's expectations he was sent to Calemberg at age twelve, to study in the Seminary. Placing his eldest son into Seminary eliminated him from any sort of inheritance.
Naturally as any boy in seminary does, they tend to the senior Reverends and are taught the basics of Unionism. Eventually instilling into them humility. While participating in seminary, the young Claude adopted the Imperial culture publically, the exact time is unknown, but a minor addition to our biography.
When the boy became a man, he was known to be open, talkative. By using what influence he had, Claude was quickly elevated to Reverend. He was assigned the verwaltung in Pays Sud, the majority of the population consisting mainly of Ithanians, who had migrated there during the Gem Boom in the third century. The region itself is famed for its jewelry crafters and brocade weaving. Being located in a region with mostly Ithanians must've angered the young reverend, yet despite his discontent, he carried on with his duties for fourteen years, in obscurity. It was during these years Claude picked up weightlifting and boxing. Most who knew the High Reverend have noticed, he was no small man.
Sometime in January in the year 306 AC, was Claude asked by his brother to come to the Regalian capital. He quickly entered the Synod political scene and was soon elevated to the high office. He was considered a very active High Reverend and outgoing one, he enjoyed participating in the many noble balls and common festivals. As High Reverend, he released many statements and proclamations, for example he excommunicated many nobles and commoners and even immortalized the Montagaard name by canonizing Charles Monatagaard. Often a very overlooked event is that Theomars Gauntlet was recovered under his tenure. While the Gauntlet is hidden safely at the Unionist Divine repository, there is one event High Reverend Balthazar can be remembered forever for. Essentially the young Reverend mended the Vultarian and Etosian schism only mere months into 306AC, reforming what was once known as the Sancella of Union into the Unionist Divine. However many if not all his legislation has been revoked. Which many to this day seem to forget. But as with most great men, they seem to always fall too early, one. In the summer of 306AC, only a few months after the mending of the schism was the High Reverend assassinated by the discontent Avanthar within the Regalian Capital. Only to reappear before the Synod months later, something which angered many of the presiding Reverends.
REGINALD DU PONT
After much discussion within the Hallowed halls of the Synod, Reginald Du Pont was elected as the High Reverend of the Unionist Divine. Oft considered to be the little brother of Claude Du Pont, as his reign lacked the same activity. In his speech for the office, he promised to take action against the non-Human migrants who had so foolishly made an attack on the High Reverend of the Unionist Divine. Seemingly determined to lessen the distance to paradise. When he was elected to High Reverend he never picked a pontifical name, something unheard of, he has been nicknamed the unready.
While Reginald's parent's names were never recorded for some reason, his birthplace was Saint-Auberlin sur le Pont, a town in Cressille. He was born in the year 278AC, again we only know which year. He was raised by his mother and relatives nearby. His father dutifully served the Empire as a soldier across the known world, and so it is presumed that the two barely knew each other. As Reginald showed no interest in the military, his father decided to send him to the local Curate, Father Charles.
Reginald and Charles bonded closely, even though the two weren't related they considered each other family. The clergyman, Charles, taught Reginald about Unionism, the feats of the past Emperors and Herons, and also many other things important to the clergy. When the boy reached the proper age, he was sent off to Basta to participate in Seminary. Here he learned humility, as he was an aristocrat forced to tend to ancient Reverends, in turn for knowledge.
In Seminary his knowledge of the world expanded dramatically. His views on Unionism changed, for the better and all dark thoughts were eradicated, so he could serve the Spirit without question. After graduating from Seminary at age twenty-one, it is unclear what he did but it is assumed he went out with a group of Curates and performed his missionary duties until he was ordained the Reverend of Brissaud.
Shortly after the death of Exarch Balthazar IV, Reginald rose to become the High Reverend, his name bolstering him, many believed him to be perfect for the job. He promised much, and fulfilled some of his goals. For one he re-established the Order of the Guiding eye, and placed it under Reverend Klaus Kehlen's capable leadership. He also persecuted jacobin houses three infamous houses namely Viduggla, Haageving and Ardelan. Each for their own deeds, but jacobin nonetheless.
His reign however was cut short as he suddenly disappeared without warning during the Sanguine Surge. He is believed to have been killed by the Sanguine, as he and everything holy was considered a threat to their existence. Personally, I believe that if his reign was longer he would have been a very memorable High Reverend, and not Claude Du Pont's imitation.
VOLCKAMAR III
Our fifth High Reverend that we shall be examining is Leufroy Louis de Vixe de la Mont Bertu d'Goss. An Ithanian born in the year 257AC to the d'Goss family in Mont Bertu. A well-mannered and formal man, Leufroy believed in diplomacy and law. Unlike many Ithanians the d'Goss family were supporters of the now King Gosselin, and so Leufroy was educated in the superiority of men. He was the eldest in his house, he had two younger brothers.
In his youth Leufroy showed great interest in scholastic affairs, naturally teachers were hired and the child was taught many things an heir should know, he was a diligent child. His father would attempt to impart onto him the rulership of the spirit. However, he decided that he did not wish to inherit his Father's titles, instead he went to Seminary in the Calemberger Dom. Once he graduated he began his missionary duties, which lasted only for a couple of years and he was elevated to Reverend. He returned to Mont Bertu, his home, to lead his new Verwaltung. He excelled in the judicial and diplomatic duties to his liege d'Gosselin. For many years, he served house d'Gosselin until he joined the Synod in the Capital of Regalia. He moved to the Holy Capital and helped his own house and house d'Gosselin, which his own family had sworn fealty and owed most of their success to.
Sources: character pages and golden bulls
Exarch Faustus VII "the Unsightly", otherwise known as Varek Jean-Pierre Krier is the first of the modern High Reverends we shall be examining. Varek Krier was born in Brissaud in the year 252AC, December the 12th. While born in Brissaud he was sent to live with his maternal kin, in Tigrunn. He would begin seminary at age four, the child was taught things a Curate should know, but in return, as payment, he performed tasks fitting of one in Seminary.
At age thirteen, the teen was transferred to Castle Virgadulvlas, to serve under the keeps leading Curate, meaning to eventually succeed him. To succeed a Darkwald curate, required Krier to take an oath as a Darkwald hunter and fervently follow the Code of the Great Oak. The teenage Krier officially began his Darkwald-Curate training at age fourteen, where his skills with the sword, crossbow and tongue would be honed to the finest. Reports claim that the Darkwald-Curate first saw combat at age sixteen, a horrific thing for a youth to experience, yet not uncommon in Tigrunn.
Time passed and at age twenty-five, Varek had found himself as the leading Curate at Castle Virgadulvlas. An important and dangerous position, the Curate surely found it a terrifying, yet surely a satisfying job. After a decade, at age thirty-five, the Ministry of Curates believed Varek fit for Reverendship and elevated him to the Reverend of Tigrunn.
After five decades of service in Tigrunn, Varek had, had enough and sent in an application to be granted a seat within the hallowed Synod. To his very own surprise, he was accepted and swiftly moved to the Holy City, as this was his ticket out of the bleak isle. During the first Synodical Council, Varek managed to have himself elected to the seat of High Reverend and Exarch. A conservative man, he took up the name Faustus in honor of the heron Faust of martyrs.
His High Reverency was short and very often simply looked over. It was however an active one, he responded to many proceedings relating to the church. Many Reverends and people found his appearance, mannerism and pale skin, to be very off-putting and weird, which could have been the spark which forced the Exarch to resign, by the young and ambitious Reverends. Which led to a month-long regency. After witnessing the resignation of Cedromar I and the abolishment of the Crown, Varek resigned his seat on the Synod itself and his reverency. Today he serves as a Darkwald-Curate in Tigrunn. Perhaps if his tenure was longer, Exarch Faustus could have been a more noteworthy name in the Modern Pontiffs.
BENEDICT XI
Our second High Reverend is Benedixt XI "the Ordainer" was known as Paolo d'Ortonnaise before his election to the High Reverend seat. Sancella archives reveal that he was born in the year 240AC on November 21st. He was born to a lower noble family in Montania, the family itself wasn't widely known, but was well respected in Montania. The young Paolo showed great intellect and most importantly interest in the Unionist faith. To further his knowledge, they hired various tutors and Curates to prepare young Paolo for Seminary. In contrast to his brother, who was introduced to a militant lifestyle.
Once the child reached his teens, his fourteenth year, he entered Seminary in Basta, quite a journey from Montania for a mere youth. Like every other student in Basta studying Unionism knowing the creeds and the history the dozen Herons was paramount, this of course was not the only subject. By age twenty-one, the ambitious Paolo was ordained a Curate and began his missionary assignment.
His first real adventure began in the Drachenwald Baronies where he made an exceptional effort in promoting ideals of unity and faith during a time of economic and military strain at the time. It was at this time he was made aware of the clergy in Vixhall and Loiree. It was in the Chrysant aggression the young Curate truly showed his colors, he was assigned as a Curate to the Regalian forces, tasked with providing pastoral, spiritual and emotional support. Records show that the Curate d'Ortonnaise was visibly anxious, as his brother was also with the Regalian forces. D'Ortonnaise saw combat three times, where he, a delicate man experienced the horror of war, which naturally changed the man.
As we all know, the Chrysant war didn't last forever. Paolo immediately returned home to take part in his brother's marriage. This marriage formed the d'Ortonnaise family, which maneuvered itself into the politics of the Holy City. Later in the same year Paolo was raised to Reverend and was awarded the Loiree-Vixhall Verwaltung, the very same he met so many years ago.
As a Reverend of the Sancella, his station became more comfortable, but heavy with paperwork. And he certainly wrote, he wrote of the effects of war and various theological disputes he observed. His most notable contest was with the Priscelle schism. While suspicious of the Schism he attempted to mend it, even when he believed it to be disruptive and harmful.
In the year 303AC, his brother, who had sparked the d'Ortonnaise family, had fallen in the battle of Curag Fields. This event threw Paolo into a great depression, where he would drink excess amounts of alcohol. In 305 however, he was approached by his niece Adrienne, who was more or less the public face of the family invited him to join her in the Holy City to represent the family in the Synod.
Later in the same year, Paolo was elected High Reverend and Exarch of the Synod, picking the name Benedict XI for himself. Very early in his reign, he pledged that sorcerers could find salvation with the guidance of the faith, but those who did not come forth were branded heretics. Nothing unheard of, but it promised something for the aberrant, a brighter future along with the Spirit. Periodically Benedict XI, would release statements regarding various religious matters. He was biased towards his own house; d'Ortonnaise. Once offering a service to the house without even informing the rest of the Synod. The High Reverend would go on a hiatus in his familial region, and upon his return he and all his supporters were ejected from the Synod and succeeded by Claude du Pont. While many in the past have thought so, the Hallowed High Reverency is not an infallible. Today the former High Reverend is suspected to reside in the d'Ortonnaise lands or somewhere in Ithania.
BALTHAZAR IV
The third and probably most notable High Reverend, Claude-Henri Antoine du Pont, or rather Claude du Pont, as he was more commonly known, he is perhaps also our youngest contender, only twenty-seven when elected. He chose the name Balthasar IV, to honor and respect the lawmakers of the empire, promising to lead by diligence and to expand the laws of the Unionist Divine. He has been dubbed 'the young', for obvious reasons.
Du Pont was born in fall in the year 279 AC. In Château de la Saint-Auberlin, the du Pont palace located somewhere in the outskirts of Cressile, West Brixoid. His parents were Gregor and Claudia du Pont, two wealthy aristocrats who had earned their fortune through mining valuable gold and jewels. Gregor was a strict father and thus as the firstborn, Claude-Henri was a priority. When Claude failed to meet his father's expectations he was sent to Calemberg at age twelve, to study in the Seminary. Placing his eldest son into Seminary eliminated him from any sort of inheritance.
Naturally as any boy in seminary does, they tend to the senior Reverends and are taught the basics of Unionism. Eventually instilling into them humility. While participating in seminary, the young Claude adopted the Imperial culture publically, the exact time is unknown, but a minor addition to our biography.
When the boy became a man, he was known to be open, talkative. By using what influence he had, Claude was quickly elevated to Reverend. He was assigned the verwaltung in Pays Sud, the majority of the population consisting mainly of Ithanians, who had migrated there during the Gem Boom in the third century. The region itself is famed for its jewelry crafters and brocade weaving. Being located in a region with mostly Ithanians must've angered the young reverend, yet despite his discontent, he carried on with his duties for fourteen years, in obscurity. It was during these years Claude picked up weightlifting and boxing. Most who knew the High Reverend have noticed, he was no small man.
Sometime in January in the year 306 AC, was Claude asked by his brother to come to the Regalian capital. He quickly entered the Synod political scene and was soon elevated to the high office. He was considered a very active High Reverend and outgoing one, he enjoyed participating in the many noble balls and common festivals. As High Reverend, he released many statements and proclamations, for example he excommunicated many nobles and commoners and even immortalized the Montagaard name by canonizing Charles Monatagaard. Often a very overlooked event is that Theomars Gauntlet was recovered under his tenure. While the Gauntlet is hidden safely at the Unionist Divine repository, there is one event High Reverend Balthazar can be remembered forever for. Essentially the young Reverend mended the Vultarian and Etosian schism only mere months into 306AC, reforming what was once known as the Sancella of Union into the Unionist Divine. However many if not all his legislation has been revoked. Which many to this day seem to forget. But as with most great men, they seem to always fall too early, one. In the summer of 306AC, only a few months after the mending of the schism was the High Reverend assassinated by the discontent Avanthar within the Regalian Capital. Only to reappear before the Synod months later, something which angered many of the presiding Reverends.
REGINALD DU PONT
After much discussion within the Hallowed halls of the Synod, Reginald Du Pont was elected as the High Reverend of the Unionist Divine. Oft considered to be the little brother of Claude Du Pont, as his reign lacked the same activity. In his speech for the office, he promised to take action against the non-Human migrants who had so foolishly made an attack on the High Reverend of the Unionist Divine. Seemingly determined to lessen the distance to paradise. When he was elected to High Reverend he never picked a pontifical name, something unheard of, he has been nicknamed the unready.
While Reginald's parent's names were never recorded for some reason, his birthplace was Saint-Auberlin sur le Pont, a town in Cressille. He was born in the year 278AC, again we only know which year. He was raised by his mother and relatives nearby. His father dutifully served the Empire as a soldier across the known world, and so it is presumed that the two barely knew each other. As Reginald showed no interest in the military, his father decided to send him to the local Curate, Father Charles.
Reginald and Charles bonded closely, even though the two weren't related they considered each other family. The clergyman, Charles, taught Reginald about Unionism, the feats of the past Emperors and Herons, and also many other things important to the clergy. When the boy reached the proper age, he was sent off to Basta to participate in Seminary. Here he learned humility, as he was an aristocrat forced to tend to ancient Reverends, in turn for knowledge.
In Seminary his knowledge of the world expanded dramatically. His views on Unionism changed, for the better and all dark thoughts were eradicated, so he could serve the Spirit without question. After graduating from Seminary at age twenty-one, it is unclear what he did but it is assumed he went out with a group of Curates and performed his missionary duties until he was ordained the Reverend of Brissaud.
Shortly after the death of Exarch Balthazar IV, Reginald rose to become the High Reverend, his name bolstering him, many believed him to be perfect for the job. He promised much, and fulfilled some of his goals. For one he re-established the Order of the Guiding eye, and placed it under Reverend Klaus Kehlen's capable leadership. He also persecuted jacobin houses three infamous houses namely Viduggla, Haageving and Ardelan. Each for their own deeds, but jacobin nonetheless.
His reign however was cut short as he suddenly disappeared without warning during the Sanguine Surge. He is believed to have been killed by the Sanguine, as he and everything holy was considered a threat to their existence. Personally, I believe that if his reign was longer he would have been a very memorable High Reverend, and not Claude Du Pont's imitation.
VOLCKAMAR III
Our fifth High Reverend that we shall be examining is Leufroy Louis de Vixe de la Mont Bertu d'Goss. An Ithanian born in the year 257AC to the d'Goss family in Mont Bertu. A well-mannered and formal man, Leufroy believed in diplomacy and law. Unlike many Ithanians the d'Goss family were supporters of the now King Gosselin, and so Leufroy was educated in the superiority of men. He was the eldest in his house, he had two younger brothers.
In his youth Leufroy showed great interest in scholastic affairs, naturally teachers were hired and the child was taught many things an heir should know, he was a diligent child. His father would attempt to impart onto him the rulership of the spirit. However, he decided that he did not wish to inherit his Father's titles, instead he went to Seminary in the Calemberger Dom. Once he graduated he began his missionary duties, which lasted only for a couple of years and he was elevated to Reverend. He returned to Mont Bertu, his home, to lead his new Verwaltung. He excelled in the judicial and diplomatic duties to his liege d'Gosselin. For many years, he served house d'Gosselin until he joined the Synod in the Capital of Regalia. He moved to the Holy Capital and helped his own house and house d'Gosselin, which his own family had sworn fealty and owed most of their success to.
Sources: character pages and golden bulls
