The current stance of the Light Church of Travance in regards to Dark Clergy

Child Razael,

I do not use the terms father and brother lightly as they are terms that command respect and your actions bating all three of my brothers does not command that.

The Wild Mage community has taken years to gain the trust of Travance but we still are expected to attend a confession every feast even if we were Tortured Souls or Templars. We continue to confess to prove that we want to be apart of the community of Travance. Because we abide by the laws of Travance and the Laws of the King.

My dearest Brother Colin, The Church of Light does not want a blood bath of citizens. I have never believed in the murder of dark clergy on the base of their faith, because beliefs can be changed through peaceful measures. And I will always look for a peaceful solution before breaking the law of Gaia and murdering someone. BUT believe me, IF a member of Dark Clergy breaks the law by following their tenants of their god – murder, torture, necromancy or corruption- the Church of Light will follow Valos’s and the Kings Law.

Do not look at our stance as passive or weak. We are tending to flocks who are broken, beaten and have seen more death in the past months then many of us have seen in our lifetimes. Home lands have been wiped off the map and families are broken. Travance is accepting refugees at an alarming rate and now is not the time to fight among ourselves. Now is the time for us to band together to welcome weary travelers and help them get their lives together. Travance is strong. Some of the strongest people I have ever known have been here. We have encountered a number of unspeakable evils that not even the Gods of Dark knew what to do with.

Child Razel, I accept your challenge of inquisition. I have nothing to hide from you, my brothers, or my Goddess. But know I expect you to take a confession either right before or right after, with the questions of my choice.

Not to overstep the bounds of nobility,

I know for a fact using prayers has been legal. Whether or not it will continue to be so in the coming months is apt to change. Ultimately, when the law is redacted, I strongly believe that there will be a cease and desist order given to those who are practicing and preaching during the time that the law is enabled. Effectively, in a time in which and if which the King decides to re-enact the laws of the land banning the worship of dark gods then I will simply stop dispensing the prayers of Agaura, and cease acting in worship within Travance proper as I have always done, and as I will continue to do regardless of the situation.

The way you choose to live your life, has nothing to do with the baptism you receive. A Valosian's will to serve justice, does not define him as a Valosian, but only a just person. The pride an Agauran takes in slaughtering an enemy, is not illegal unless it is done explicitly for the purpose of paying homage to Agaura. I will continue being the person I am and nothing will change.

In the event that the King does indeed ban the worship of Agaura again, then I will put down the mantle of priest once more in the proper in service of King and Country. Until that day though, I will use the short window of time that I have to voice that the Church of Darkness can be beneficial to these lands. If we do permit balance in this world, and if we can prove that we can exist under this pact peacefully then there is no reason for the King not to honor our request for religious freedom.

It is up to the town itself, and the society itself to make a decision:

1) Go back to the old way things were, forgive those who came forward during the period of legality, then reinstate the laws. Give people the option to change their behaviors, then observe as the Barony does high risk targets.

2) Keep things as they are, by petitioning the King to keep things as they are now. This is on the people of the town to step up and enforce the Balance. People need to decide, if the words of the Gods themselves are worth fighting for on both ends.

3) The town tries to execute the people who practiced freely during the short period of time it was available. All out war breaks out. People die. End of discussion. You cannot ask someone to fight by your side for the sole purpose of stabbing them in the back to kill two birds with one stone later.

Father Razael Seiryn

My reaction to your rebuttal will vary depending upon what you specifically mean by prayers. Do you relate prayers to the worship of gods or do you mention prayers in reference to rotting someone's tongue out?

I believe what the good father was referring to the divine spells we used in our capacity to combat the infernal legions,i suppose i must feel sorry for the poor demons since for the sake of an arguement that they are now "people" when i rotted and shattered their limbs or severed their mortal coils to keep travancian casualties down

Once again I see nothing but petty people arguing over Gods and all I can do is chuckle. You see this is what keeps Travance as a town completely vulnerable to the attacks of whoever the hell wishes to come in and put the boot to our arses. We are at each others throats over who someone else can worship and who they can't. Just like how mages can practice their ways, but I can't take heads as trophies. You see the Dark worshipers see the Light as bad and vice versa. Just as some of the more "civilized" people in town see me as a monster for wanting my trophies. All of you should pray to whatever god you chose that you wake up each morning and that the rest of the day has glory to offer you, not caring what others are doing. Live for yourself, protect those you care for, take many trophies.

Signed With Honor,
Jack Dimms.

To the new arrivals offering opinions of faith,

I need to restate that I have nothing but respect for the clergy of light. I have absolutely no reason to dislike them in any fashion. I've mentioned this several times, but what it comes down to is: You are either incapable of existing within a civilized society or you are not. Those who are incapable of living within the social contracts of Travance deserve whatever punishment that Justice would allow. Those who are capable of living within the confines of the social contract and are able to support Travance should do so.

I have posted my belief in Agaura elsewhere and how my father taught me to worship for those who haven't examined it, I suggest you do to understand the Church that I represent. The new world and new times seek new ways of worship. The gods have changed their way of doing things, they have made this extremely clear with their presence as of late. Just understand, that I will not sit by and allow those who wish only for the same rights as any other person in this nation to be beaten down or murdered because life was no so fortunate as to hand them a loving Andorran family.

People are prepared to fight and defend themselves, but now I have been selected to speak for the voiceless. There are countless parishioners whom come to me in disguises or send me missives sharing opinions and stories to be shared with the world, that they might be understood. I go so far as to direct people to approach me anonymously in the event that I confessed or tortured that I am unable to betray those who have instilled their hopes of freedom in my dream.

Right now, the primary concern of all those in my care:

What guarantee of safety do we have when the ban on dark worship is reinstated that this will not end in another witch hunt?

If Travance decides to use the blessings and the lives of the Dark Gods' and followers to defeat Xualla, and are discarded or hunted immediately afterwards I can only imagine it will end in all out war. It will be another Apollo on an even larger scale. We are all working to prevent this from happening.

All I know is, if people are persecuted, hunted, or murdered in retribution for this period of Armistice, Contemplation, and Discussion of Morality on either side; We will never have another situation where we can cooperate again. Then what happens next time a situation like Xualla which requires a joint effort arises?

Father Razael Seiryn