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| Action Id: 1944 | Crisis: | Participants: Orazio(RIP), Selene, Delia, Preston, Aureth, Avary, Thena and Terese | |
| Status: Resolved | Submitted: April 5, 2018, 9:07 p.m. | Public: True | GM: Puffin |
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Silver: 100000 Economic Resources: 500 Military Resources: 500 Social Resources: 500 Action Points: 277 |
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Action by Orazio(RIP)
Orazio is Concerned about the taking in of Prodigal Houses in the Oathlands - the Oathlands is a large political and military supporter of the Church, and a weakening of the Faith there will translate directly into a further weakening of the Church's power and influence in the Compact. Thus, it is important that these new Houses become supporters of the Faith, even if some of them retain their provincial traditions and respect for local spirits.
So he's gathering up resources and people to make a major missionary push for the newly inducted shamanic-leaning houses under the Oathlands banner, particularly Greenmarch and Rivenshari. The idea is to bring them in closer to the cultural mores of the Compact, and encourage conversions to the Faith. The goal is not to stamp out shamanism by force, but rather to present the Faith as a superior option, utilizing its larger resources, organizational support, and services, as well as a doctrine of gods who do not ask for bargains and who love their people without reservation. The Church will /not/ claim or promote miracles - but it brings Knights of Solace to guard the roads, Templars to guard holy places, Scholars to teach people to read and write and bring knowledge of trade and crafting techniques, disciples of Gild to bring charity and food and shelter, disciples of Lagoma to bring healing arts, disciples of Jayus to bring beauty and art and public buildings, disciples of Mangata to bring feasting and the fruits of the vine, and so on and so forth.
In order to remain sensitive to local concerns, Orazio will be abusing the lack of a Legate of Creation and seeking out godsworn who have experience and good reputations working with the Northlands and tagging them for Seraph posts in parishes throughout the Prodigal Oathlands, with the understanding that their focus is to build good relationships with the locals and welcome them into the Faith with open arms, while not insulting their current beliefs.
It is hopeful that this will pay dividends not just in integrating the Prodigals into the Compact and the Faith, but also in making it harder for any agitators to operate...and if it results in an upswing of tithing, well, that's a bonus!
And in order to see that it's done right, he's going himself to do a tour of the provinces, meet with the people, and make it clear to local and Church forces that this a priority of his. He'll meet with people, listen to their concerns, their fears of the Compact, their hopes for being members of the Compact, and answer questions they have about the Faith and the gods, as well as listen to their conceptions of their local shamanic paths. Wherever possible, he will encourage people to think of friendly spirits as doing the work of the gods, and worthy of the respect owed to servants of the gods, but not necessarily worship as equals. He will also warn against purveyors of frauds, cons, and chicanery, be they claiming power on the side of the gods /or/ the spirits, and bring Scholars who have studied legerdemain tricks and cons, showing people how they work and how to test such claims as much as they can. He will introduce the sacraments and Canticles wherever he goes, with some of the best singers in the Church, and basically just try to be a role model for the Church.
Action by Terese
Terese will be working with Preston to assist with training sessions and the recruitment for the Templars. She will also take time out to speak with both lords and commoners alike with the utmost courtesy to listen and learn about their beliefs in order to engage them in turn and steer them towards discussion of the Pantheon of the Faith. In addition, as a Valardin she feels that it is important to weave into her discussions not only her own beliefs of Faith but those of honor and chivalry for those that are new to the fealty. She will often personalize her talks of making the world a better place and to protect and defend the innocent.
Action by Thena
While Thena sends a contingent of Solace knights to help guide and protect the party, she also gives orders to increase overall Solace presence in the lands they are traveling through, in order to show the tribes the benefits of the Faith on a practical as well as theological basis. They will have a first-hand look at the Knights of Solace protecting the goods and travelers of the Faithful, working with their healers, etc.
Action by Aureth
Aureth will be putting his studies as a propagandist and his natural charm to good use here as an agent of the Faith, primarily leveraging his populist leanings. The message he espouses is pretty simple: our faith can be your faith, Death made all your souls, and there's no reason your shamanism can't coexist with our divinity. As a salesman, Aureth knows how to get down to brass tacks and reduce the message into simple, memorable phrases that can later seep into the public consciousness, and when he's on his best behavior, he doesn't even have to blow up at anyone for being stupid and/or wrong (even if, well, obviously they are).
Action by Selene
Selene will lead a small Whisper contingent at the Legate's request, providing social niceties and diplomatic services to accompany his religious work. She has some experience dealing with the shav'arvani from a prior contract under House Redrain, and will focus her efforts accordingly, ie particularly in focusing first on Whisper hospitality via the Gild, Lagoma and Magnata-related food/drink/supply offerings that the Church is making as she found great success with this in the prior mission (where medical supplies were the first step in winning them over). From there she can work on building social rapport, resolving differences, helping develop friendship and cultural understanding, helping the Jayus representatives with artistic outreach, and so forth. Of course she will do it all with a carefully measured sense of Whisper style- not so gaudy as to put off the locals, but enough to impress upon them the prosperity of the Compact.
Action by Delia
Delia will be helping Selene with diplomatic efforts in this mission. Delia's main focus will be spreading good cheer and convincing others of the good points the Compact and Church possesses. She will also inquire about the differences in the cultures in a light hearted and gentle manner and attempt to help soothe any differences and concerns while trying to influence opinions in favor of the Compact and Church. She will use her upbeat demeanor to put people at ease, sway opinions, and help raise spirits as best she can.
Action by Avary
Avary will be working with the other members of the Faith to speak to the Oathlanders, including the Greenmarch and Rivenshari families. She will listen to their concerns and will gently encourage conversions to the Faith. Speaking to them as an understanding Archlector, instead of preaching, listening to their questions about the Faith and their goals will do a lot more than trying to shove words down their throat. She will discuss the law of the lands with them, and discuss justice and the Sentinel, hopefully giving them something to think about.
Action by Preston
Preston and the Templars will be along, not just to provide security to the group but also to offer training to the locals in the fighting styles of the Templars/Compact, where heavy armour might be somewhat more unfamiliar to some of the prodigals, alongside mounted tactics so beloved by the Oathlands. He will be taking advantage of these training sessions to try and recruit prodigal house members and their common folk to join the Templars as disciples, replenish some of their stock. But more than that, Preston will be taking time to sit down and talk to the local traditional Oathlander lords who have a concern about the prodigals and try to listen and explain to them the virtues of having these new neighbours. Rather than warriors who they had to die to fight before, now they will stand at their side, in their place on the borders of the Oathlands, and risk their lives to safeguard the Oathlands lords - who are now further to the interior of the Oathlands, no longer border lords. Better an ally who will die for you. And of course, he will point to any recruits amongst the prodigals of an example, that we are taking them over, they are not infesting us.
Result
On the whole, the mission unites. Many Prodigals reaffirm their commitment to the Faith of the Pantheon, though they honestly admit they are not leaving their shamanistic ways behind, merely augmenting them. But the missionary trip is a solid step toward understanding and outreach. And then the Seraph of Sanctum makes a public statement about it.
"Word has reached us here in Sanctum of the missionary trip led by Father Orazio from Arx. This sort of missionary outreach is precisely the sort of thing we would expect the Legate of Concepts to do and as such, we are extremely pleased to hear of its outstanding success. The Oathlands are the Heart of the Faith, and while there have been many changes and new faces settling in our lands of late, it is heartening that they have embraced the Faith with open and honest hearts. Rivenshari in particular is to be lauded for their honesty and integrity - two qualities we greatly prize. To that end, and with the great success of the missionary trip in mind, I would extend an offer of hospitality to those involved in this trip, to visit Sanctum and refresh themselves here before their long journey home."
"And yet it falls to me to address other, darker rumors. It has not escaped my attention that there were those leaders, both among the Prodigals and even some from ancient Oathland houses, who decided that this mission was for dark purposes. Indeed, there were those who counseled a path of deception. Of lies. I do not know from what source these rumors came, but it only benefits our enemies when we are divided from within by those who would sow mistrust of the Faith. I thus charge High Lord Edain and the Voices of Valardin to root out these enemies among us who would see us divided, who would spread lies and calumny against representatives of the Faith. And I charge all those who fell for such a ruse to repent, to right their hearts and their course with regard to the Faith, and to aid High Lord Edain in his charge to cleanse the Heart of Valardin."
"May the Gods be with us all."
The Faith delegation of missionaries handles themselves with kindness and tact. They don't force conversion at swordpoint, rather they engage with respect and thoughtfulness, reaching out to those raised in a shamanistic society and help them integrate further with the Compact. Their approach is appreciated by both Prodigals and Orthodox alike; taking proactive steps to reach out and help integrate diplomatically is seen as a step in the right direction. And while they aren't abandoning the spirits in droves, more and more Prodigals are coming to a better understanding of the Faith and incorporating worship of the Pantheon in their daily lives.