Talomancy Fall

[MonMarty]

Before departing from the ports in Calder, the Lothar Order held one last attempt to sway the Calder Oligrarchs in supporting their march. Nikola Boskovic and Catherine Vaedra were present in an attempt to sway the Oligarchs of the major families to flip the regional policy of mage-treatment from Dathomir Circle to Hallowed Order. This succeeded to a degree - the Oligarchs were concerned for their bottom line if they were to try and kill off all the Mages, revealing that some Mages had already been induced into the industrial sector in the region, serving as fire heaters of forges or wind pushers for windmills and so forth. So, instead of staying Dathomir, the Oligarchs agreed to flip to the Ostwald Circle, and drew up plans to register Mage-Guild houses.

In the final soiree where the Oligarchs were supposed to make a decision, Nikola Boskovic attempted to discover more about Parzival Ravenstad's reasoning for joining with the Lothar Order. Sure enough, Parzival Ravenstad alluded to an event in the past where his own daughter was somehow seduced by an Occult, an Occult of House Kade, though the name Philip did not occur anywhere on the Kade family lineage, as far as Nikola Boskovic knew. And then there were two Nikola Boskovics. As another Nikola Boskovic walked up to Nikola Boskovic standing by Parzival Ravenstad, and then Clovis Boskovic walked up, and then Catherine Vaedra, and then all hell broke loose as the Lothar realized there was an infiltrant in their midst. All three Boskovics and Catherine Vaedra made it home to Regalia before anyone came to blows, but the situation spooked the Oligarchs so much that they ejected the Lothar Order without pledging their support, who nonetheless moved on to Regalia, having failed to secure the support of Calderliga and von Drachenburg, but securing the support of the Genevaud Cantons and Osteiermark, thus making the Lothar Order about half as powerful as they had hoped.

When the Lothar Order arrived in the city of Regalia, they quickly all dispersed after landing on the harbors, avoiding traveling in one large group (being very well aware of the magic terror-bombings that had occurred in the city not a few months earlier), so their arrival was met with very little fanfare. The groups all re-assembled in front of the Imperial Palace, to petition an official audience with "whomsoever represents the vacancy of the Crown in this troubling time". After two days of waiting, camped out in front of the Imperial Palace, Imperial Guards marched out, disarmed all those present while confining any Lothar Knights who were Talomancers or Marken, and letting through the nobility and leadership into the higher halls to meet with the regency council of: Prince Frederick, Prince Dominic, Princess Noor, Princess Amalia, Prince Justinian, Prince Willem-Friso, and Prince Constantine.

What exactly was discussed at the meeting was unclear, as it occurred in the palace ballroom behind closed doors, but the legal ramifications would be significant, and touch a very large part of the Empire's population. The College of Princes (at least the ones present), issued the "Bill of Rectification", which upon its declaration, would instantly nullify the "Kleine Rechnung". For those unaware what the latter bill was: It was a religious dictat which allowed unrestricted religious freedom in the Regalian Empire, under the provision that the Emperor was acknowledged as superior secular entity with sovereign right to rule the world. The Bill of Rectification would "correct an over-zealous attempt at all-inclusion".

The Bill of Rectification would have the following stipulations:

• Dogmatic Unionism was once again confirmed as the only valid State Religion, with Evintarian and Emended Unionism confirmed as "less preferential, but acceptable alternatives". This meant little from a legal angle, and was mostly a performative proclamation, except for government offices. The College of Princes would henceforth refuse to accept high level government officials of non-Unionist denominational status.
• Any and all forms of Ordial Cultism were banned, declared anti-state Heresies. Ordial Cultism worship was henceforth defined under "High Law", and burning heretics of Ordial Cultism on the pyre was permitted under State Law. All Ordial Cultists were given a week to settle their conscience and repent to any other permissible religion, or face the inquisition.
• Any and all forms of Void Worship were banned, declared anti-state Heresies. Void Worship was henceforth defined under "High Law", and burning heretics of Void Worship on the pyre was permitted under State Law. All Void Worshipers were given a week to settle their conscience and repent to any other permissible religion, or face the inquisition.
• Private ownership of the Dragon Temple was revoked and impounded by the State. This meant that what is known as "Dragon Worshipers" were not permitted to perform religious ceremonies, gather, socialize, or generally loiter at the Dragon Temple on punishment of trespassing law. The Dragon Temple was converted to a ruin/park. Dragon Worship remained otherwise unaffected.
• Aesir Worship in the Old Gods Faith was banned, and the Aesir Temple closed. This meant that any acknowledgement of Aesir as gods, or profession of worship was a violation of State Law, though not as severe as Void/Ordial Worship. Old Gods faithful were still protected from the burning pyre, and if caught violating this law, would receive a beating or publish lashing at most.
• Asaredu and Baskarr were confirmed as tertiary religions of the Empire, and nothing changed for them legally. Their temples remained open and accessible to the faithful, and none of their Gods were outlawed.
• Estellon and Estelsoor worship remained entirely legal, after heavy lobbying by a supposedly hysterical Shelia-Manon and despondent Princess Leona to have a ban of Estellon and Estelsoor struck from the record before final publication of the Bill.
• Esra was not confirmed as a valid religion, but a life philosophy, similar to the Allar All-Truth. Though, the conceptual idea of "creating a god" was strictly outlawed as Heresy in the Empire at large. Esra worshipers were allowed to worship Esra Alwatta, but had to henceforth be known as Technocrats who worshiped the idea of technology instead of a made machine god.
• Evintarian Unionism saw the banning of Amandaros, Yvasi, and Kithemon worship, with Imperial agents quickly rushing out to the Evintarian Temples in Regalian and Atolia to confiscate conduits for Kithemon's statue, and Amandaros masks which were vaulted in the Imperial Palace. Worship of these idols would fall under the same punishment as Old Gods worshiping Aesir. The Patriarchate of Aetosil immediately announced they had no intention of abiding by this distinction, and made some frantic proclamation that "Frederick surely was compelled by the wicked tongues of Dogmatic hard-liners at the Palace to take a stance against his fellow Evintarian Gods", because they could not explain why he would sign a document to nullify other Gods of the pantheon.

It was too soon to see how the various minorities of the Empire would react. Reactions were expected from:

• The Old Gods worshipers, who always hated the Empire for impeding on their freedom of worship.
• The Qadir who no doubt would not like being told to reframe their religion.
• The Evintarian Unionists who had a third of their Gods declared illegal.

 

[PaladinoGui]

"I love this Empire."
Said a certain Teledden, for the first time in his life, unironically.

 

[AlienDark12]

Somewhere southeast of the Archipelago, a rugged appearing man, midnight dark long hair- sprinkled with white strands that flowed down a scruffy beard and mustache- approached one of the papers detailing the incident.

"In the cinders and the ash left behind, may the Empire be rid of their infection."

Riftan Vaedra tucked his features beneath a large hat, and drifted back to his duties. The audible sound of his boots, doused in blood, clicking as he done so.

 

[bahmboozled]

Inevitably, the bill finds its way to the Cahal. Each of her faces spun clockwise and counterclockwise numerous times, before landing on an expression: a thin smile perched on the lips.
Evermore the favour they hold to the Empire for having saved the Va'sil Trees from certain extinction, and now giving pardon to their faith, as the Cahal remarks.

 

[MippyMoo]

A low growl rises in the throat of one Alexeios, and his fists clench.

"This is the state of things, with the Everwatcher's spirit no longer present in the Crown."

 

[Winterless]

"I really always hated that temple. Maybe it'll be given a renovation, before it inevitably returns to our hands." remarked a certain Augur.

 

[bwmwags3]

The Feka-Asha looked over the changes and hummed, "Not what I was expecting…it's uncertain given His Imperial Holiness remains lost from us even as we pray for his return. But while the edict cannot carry the Vessel's word it's the law, let us hope this shall allow us good intentioned to help Void worshippers and Dimensional worshippers onto the path of freedom and just conduct as Regalians.

Conversion by the sword sits bad with me but I shall do my duty as my father will in the Daendroque. Let us see if we can't turn this possible tragedy into something good for the Great Way."

He said praying to Vess for guidance, so he might save those who could be saved and know how to walk forward. Before giving a prayer to his Patron, that he might help others find paths to Divine Blessings or legal magic.

 

[leafnosedbat]

In distant Etosil, two figures, one in the vestments of a Celate, the other the armor of a soldier, sit on the rotting bench of a dusty temple before a mosaic of Yvasi. The taller figure clutches a copy of the Princes' decree in a fleshless hand, tight grip the only betrayal of her judgment. She mutters in a language not meant for the living. The flame-headed figure only shrugs.

 

[FatDumplingGrace]

A certain now Witch Archon milled in her new home, sipping a cup of tea. On hearing that both Ordial Cultism and Void Cultism was banned in the state, now under high treason - a smile curved in her lips. Seeing the Temple seized however, was less thrilling. But, she thought, a nice state park does sound pretty good, and they had always needed new spots to meet. With a careful hand and adjustment of her witches hat, she put the paper down and scratched a finger on her Sunbird's neck.

 

[LordArs3nalXYT]

Buried deep in his work in an older section of the city, the Ailor weapon smith would be taking out his frustration on the metal he was now hammering out. Having read the notice, he fueled it into the strength needed to hammer to metal out. "This cannot stand. I will not stand for this.....my allies....friends....gah..." He raised his eyes to an older suit that had once served him well, now it stood dormant against the wall. "Worry not old friend. I still have a use for you." Damian returned to his work and continued to sweep over designs and measurements. "I will put you back together. If any of my friends or allies fall to them. I will make them remember the name, War Monger."

 

[TheHitchHyker]

A woman rests at the counter in her coffee shop, reading the paper. Her expression is one of stoicism, but she mumbles. The porcelain that covered her face vibrated in subtle frustration.

"Those purists can do what they want. It'll all be undone in time."

She takes a sip of her kaffee, the drink running down her decayed tongue, she folds the paper and sets it aside. But she would not question her faith today, she knew better.

She murmured to herself in Ithanian, "Ainsi aux tyrans." and looked to the door, she had customers.

 

[Jalapeno690]

"I really always hated that temple. Maybe it'll be given a renovation, before it inevitably returns to our hands." remarked a certain Augur.

Click to shrink...

Wow