(OOC: joint post with Meagh)
21st March 2021
23rd Nollag, 40 BA
Sherman, Meagharia
The sun started to rise after news of the death of Ambassador Lajolie had reached Meagharia. Such a tragic event, but it was necessary, Mallette thought to himself, If only she had accepted my offer a couple years ago, but she had it coming. Wishing harm on someone was not something Roch did often, but Lajolie was different. He had sought after her a couple years back. He was only 5 years her elder, so it was well within his right. And she turned him down. Not the other way around. And ever since then, the anger and fire lead him to the Church where he promised her that she would be swayed by his piety. And instead, the blasted bitch was engaged to another woman.
He laughed to himself a little before looking down at his phone. News from the Archbishopric of Eternatus Island. He opened the email with care. He couldn’t let the Meagharians know he was a theist, lest he be murdered in the street. The email read:
“With the recent death of Ambassador Lajolie, the Church of Xaethos is asking all priests to call upon the faithful to form a militia to fight against the corruption of the Royalists, and to preserve Xaethosi values. Evidence suggests that this was a set up from the False One to provoke an attack against the Church. The time for vengeance is now. The time for the Xaethosi banner to rise is now!”
Mallette smiled. He was waiting for this day when he could kill not only the girl who stole Lajolie from him, but the evil Queen who allowed it. He looked down at his phone, and called one of the people he had gotten to know recently in Meagharia.
“Leanan Dorinne here, who might be calling?” Leanan answered the Rekelta brick as he made his way to the edge of the Theist Neighborhood. Since he had feigned good behavior to the Meagharite Heathens he was sometimes allowed outside the slums, so he wanted to talk to a certain Foreigner who had come to his fair city.
“Leanan, I have some amazing news for you.” Roch stated over the phone, “Are you ready to have your boots knocked off?”
“Better than having them eaten through! Lay it on me.” Leanan stood up straighter as he waited for a response.
“I just got probably the best news that I could’ve hoped for! The Archbishop is assembling a militia to fight against the corrupt Royalists. You know, the people the Meagharians worship as their savior because of Eldras?” Roch replied slyly.
“Ah yes, the Jester King! That is absolutely amazing! Tell me my dear Mallette how do my people fit into your Archbishops plan? He is a brilliant man, Sun Kissed even if what you say is true.” Leanan smiled as he imagined the Crusader who could save his people from beyond the sea. Fantastical, maybe, but less than the idea of the Meagharites ruling Milofia had been, and yet here he was.
“Trust me. The Archbishop will help anyone who helps he…him. The way to a theist future is first to support the theists in other nations in their time of need.” Roch remarked. He nearly forgot he had never told Leanan that the Archbishop was a female, but it didn’t matter. All he needed was an audience to listen to him.
“That is unfortunately something the Late Councillors, blessed be their names, never understood sadly. Martyrdom is great, but success against Heathenry is better. We will assist in this crusade however we can, for as long as the Holy Lamps still burn.” instinctively Leanan almost directed his hand toward the sun, but he stopped himself as a Soldier came near. Showing his papers, he quickly continued into the main part of the city.
“Do you think we could rally some people and even recruit them for the cause? I have not learned much of the Holy Lamps in my time here, but I would be willing to speak to the people who would be willing to fight for a Theist world” Roch remarked. He was walking out of the building he was in, being careful not to say anything too loud that would get him in direct trouble.
“We’re still a small group, the places where we get put are crawling with Military Police, but our numbers are growing. I should be able to get you in to talk to our people. I think you would do a brilliant job at convincing the remaining Isolationists. The Word of God must change with the times, and his flame must burn with different Fuels.” Dorinne nodded his head as he spoke, practically whispering into his phone to avoid the stares of the streams of people.
“Text me a time and a place and I’ll be there. For now, I gotta meet with some clients and ‘counsel’ them. Maybe I can get them to come fight with us.” Roch said, making sure not to say anything too loud.
“Midday on the…” Leanan took a moment to remember the proper day in the international calendar. “23rd of March, thats when the Atheists have their day off, so things will be quieter in the Outskirts.”
Roch pondered for a moment, “It’ll work perfectly. I just gotta make a couple calls. I will talk to you later. Do you think your topside visit will allow us to drink together?”
Leanan chuckled, “I think I can find the time for that before my curfew. See you then, my dear Mallette.”
23rd March 2021
25th Nollag 40 BA
Mid-day
Sherman Outskirts
Mattelle did his best to sneak to the slums where the Theists have been living since the civil war. It was hard to get there since the Military Police usually was patrolling the area heavily, but for the day, it seemed as if most of them were not there. He was able to see his friend just up ahead and rushed over to him.
“Good Day my dear Mallette, please step into my home, we’ll be going from there to the meeting place.” He pointed toward a small Wooden shack next to the gravel road, and then rushed inside.
Roch rushed into the little house, “Thank you kind sir. How many do we have gathered?”
“There should be around 50 down there. 75 if we really managed to get the word out.” As he spoke he grabbed a small lamp that was sitting on a wooden crate next to the cot that was his only other item of furniture. Then he pushed the crate aside, revealing a hole with a ladder propped against it. “After you my dear Mallette, I will close the hatch.”
Roch started going down the ladder, “75 people is a lot, you know. Maybe after this speech, we may be able to get more of the apathetic people from Meagharia to join us if they see the fervor in our eyes and the passion in our words.”
Leanan began his descent, pulling the crate back over the hole, leaving only the light of the Lantern to guide them. “I admire your spirit my dear Mallette, but sadly the people of this island have lost their way. It is hard to find those willing to fight even here. There are some who pretend to be Atheists, but how would we find them? I do not know.” They arrived at the floor of the Tunnel, and Leanan pulled Mallette along to the meeting place.
Mallette continued, “The light of God works in mysterious ways. Maybe it is waiting to be lit by the right words.”
Leanan quirked his eyebrow and nodded. “Your tongue is gold my friend. For now we gather kindling, but soon the forests will burn with faith. As Lantaz burned long ago, with the same flame that I carry in this very lamp.”
“By whatever light I can preach by is the light that will be burning.” Roch commented, “Lantaz burned, but Alksearia doesn’t have to. It can still follow the good light.”
“The light of Milof shines on all my friend. It is a question of those who embrace him. That light will shine brighter with men like your Archbishop by our side.” As Leanan finished his sentence they entered a large chamber, seats arrayed in front of a small stage, with lamps on sticks lining them, filling the whole room with a golden light. “Would you like to start now, or should I make the introduction?”
“Make the introduction first, and then I shall preach.”
Leanan made the Sacred Gesture, then walked upon the stage and began to speak. “Good Day to all of you. For too long we have debated over what we must do. Should we maintain the isolationism which ended the reign of the Holy Council? Or shall we embrace our spiritual brothers, against the Reign of the Atheists! Today I have brought a man from Alksearia, who will speak to you on how our faiths are more alike with one another, than with the Atheistic Scourge that now rules us, and how the Theists of the world must work together to fight off ruination! I present to you, Roch Mallette!” The crowd applauded, but a small portion in the back was silent, skeptical, as Leanan ceded the stage.
Roch Mallette stepped onto the stage and went straight for the middle of the stage. He looked upon the crowd in front of him and started, “Thank you for hosting me here. The Light of God is shining on all of us today. As some of you may know, I am from Alksearia on a mission. I was tasked by the Archbishop of the Church of Xaethos to enlighten the people of Meagharia once again as they have turned away from the light of God. He told me that we need to be ready to fight against the corrupt governments that have turned away from their Theist roots. Alksearia is one of those great nations. It was once the shining beacon of Theism in Arcturia, but ever since the rise of the Jester King and the False Queen, Alksearia has been turning away from the Light. But not any longer, you see brothers, the Archbishop is calling for anyone and everyone to come help him destroy the false Alksearia and to construct a new Theist Alksearia in its place. The Archbishop is calling for those who seek to spread the wonderful news of Xaethos and of the Light to the world! The time is now! The time to spread the Light is here! Turn away from isolationism and embrace the Crusade! Embrace spreading the Light across Urth, and one day, we will be able to bring the Light back to Meagharia!”
The Crowd applauded, but the tone of it seemed to be more thoughtful. Discussions began among them, sometimes heated but usually cooling down rather quickly. The Oldest among them seemed to have the worst outlook, with the youngest among them being more enthusiastic for this strange new preacher. But throughout the crowd’s reverie one word seemed to fly from their lips the most often. Díoltas. Revenge. After several minutes the crowd seemed to come to a conclusion, and the vast majority of the crowd gave a second more enthusiastic applause.
Leanan turned to Roch, “I think that is a good sign my dear Mallette, you have been very successful tonight, I did not think Old Aife would ever be clapping to such a speech.”
Mallette smiled, “You guys are too kind. It is not by my words that we will be fighting, but by the words of Theists world wide so that they may see that the Era of Theism is not over ,and is in fact, coming back! I have contacts within the Church that can help get you guys out of here and into Alksearia. But I need a little bit of time. I promise I’ll try to see you guys as much as I can. And remember, if you can get anyone else to help join our ranks, the Light of God and even Xaethos himself will bless you.”
The applause this time was much more definite, with some cries of excitement from the crowd. And that essential word kept ringing out from the crowd.
Díoltas!