RP From the Holy Land
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In the year 1500 AD an earthquake struck the Kingdom of Jerusalem. This earthquake caused much thought amongst the people who thought that perhaps God was punishing them for separating from the Cathari. However the King would have none of this foolishness and set his holy men to meditating and praying, and his scientists and philosophers to staring at skulls deep in thought to discern the true cause of the problem.
In short order a missive was sent, and read in all the cities, hamlets and isolated hermitages of the Kingdom.
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People of Jersusalem, Orthodox Catholics everywhere, peace and benedictions be upon you.
As you may or may not be aware a moderate earthquake struck Jerusalem in the wee hours of the morning on the fourteenth day of the month of may, in this the 1500th year of our Lord Jesus Christ. I tasked the Patriarch and the holy monks of the Church and also my scientists to discern the cause of this calamity and they have found an answer. Now despite some suggestions that the monolith was displeased and shook the earth in unholy rage at our glory, the answer Im afraid is much more disturbing.
All reports indicate that the persistance of the religion of the false prophet, and the erroneous cathar faith amongst a good number of the people of this land, this Holy land where OUR LORD walked and was crucified and where the faith both originated and was preserved and brought back to light in recent years, has angered the Lord our God. The scientists, have discerned that the blessings of heaven on our brothers Milan, who despite being so far removed from the Holy City have managed to purge their lands of heretics and heathens where we have not indicate that our faith indeed is favoured of God and the religion of truth, as compared to those traitors who would suggest that the punishment was due to separation from the Cathari. The monks and the patriarch furthermore point out that scripture tells of punishments on those who turn their back on God, and that punishment for such malfeance falls on the righteous and unrighteous alike in the lands where apostates and heretics reside. The persistance of the false prophets followers and the Cathari in this place can only be detestable to God to have brought such a punishment upon this Kingdom where the true religion was born and ressurected, and which Christ our Saviour himself trod with his holy feet.
As such I extort any muslim or cathar with a shred of loyalty to the state to convert to the true faith, Orthodox Catholicism. I furthermore extort the faithful, both clerical and lay to work greater efforts for the conversion of souls to the truth so that the obstinate may be converted in mind and heart to Christ. For in converting the heathen, and showing the way to our brothers in charity and in accordance with the gospels the blessings of God may fall upon as as they have Milan. For indeed as the shadow of Satan and his thralls weakens in this most holy land banished by light, the graces of God will bountifully fall upon us, and strengthen us in our evangelical task to spread the gospel unto the uttermost ends of the Earth.
- King Baldwin of Jerusalem.
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The King also took a number of other measures to repair the damage done, including ordering the annexation of the surrounding empty lands to provide work for the men made homeless by the earthquake and with an eye to peacefully incorporating the economic potential of the surrounding lands to future missionary initiatives and construction projects. The remainder of state income was put to rebuilding the infrastructure damaged by the earthquake, including the port at Eilat at the tip of the Gulf of Aqaba and rebuilding damaged scriptoria in the the town of Acre.
The King also took the initiative during this period of making first engagement with the Egyptians, where there is a substantial Orthodox Catholic community in the hope of ensuring the protection of that community from the mob violence that has afflicted them. He also proposed a trading treaty with distant Kolkata and with blessed Milan, with the hope that it would re-establish the ancient spice trading route lost in the red death and substantially cut the length of the trading route between Europe, Asia and East Africa by establishing a secure route through the Holy Land linking east and west in commerce.