ITNES I - An Epoch of Change

[Dachs]

Sheesh, calm down, people. I just write a long order set whenever I fight Sheep. Most of it's tactical stuff that das discounts anyway, or digression.

 

[The Strategos]

The Martyrdom of Lucius​

We write to you, dear brothers, an account of the martyrdom of the blessed Lucius, Bishop of Cymru. For, since the Sons of Darkness hate the Light, they attempted to extinguish the Light of Lucius, who was the chief Light in Cymru, not only because of rank, but because of his deeds.

Now, when Owain V was still brenin, he conspired with certain druids in his land. (Now these druids delight only in abominable deeds, which are not fit to be done in the light, but only in the darkness. For when they meet, they gather together naked, with no respect for sex, or age, or kinship. And there they do things that cannot be named, and contact daemons, and make pacts with them by their blood). Now the brenin conspired with these druids, for the Prince of Darkness had seduced him with the promises of power.

And when Lucius heard these things, he burned with a holy anger, for the Sons of Light should have no dealings with the Sons of Darkness. Therefore he preached nothing for ten days except calling for Owain to repent of his evil deeds, hoping that if he did so, Sol may have mercy upon him, but warning him that if he did not, Sol would cast him out of His presence, where there is no Light but only Darkness forever.

But Owain did not repent of his evilness, but became hard in his heart. And hatred burned in his heart towards Lucius, because Lucius had exposed his evil deeds for all men to see. Therefore, he seized Lucius, thinking that by the means of torture, he might get Lucius to repent, and retract what he had said of Owain.

When the soldiers came to seize Lucius, one of the soldiers, by the name of Bran ap Einion, a devout man who feared Sol, sent a message ahead of them to Lucius, warning him that Owain was sending men to seize him. When they heard of this, those who were with Lucius begged him to flee and hide himself. But Lucius rebuked them saying, “Sol’s will be done.” Therefore, when the soldiers came, they found him waiting for them. And the soldiers, seeing who they were sent to capture, were amazed. For Lucius was frail and bent, on account of his great age, yet the brenin had sent his best men, all completely armed, as if they were going out against a strong gang of brigands, to capture him.

Now when the soldiers had arrived, Lucius met them, and bade them rest from their travels, and set food and drink in front of them, for the soldiers had not yet eaten, on account of their rush to capture Lucius. And Lucius begged them leave, that he might have an hour to pray before he left with them. This request was granted, on the condition that Lucius not leave the sight of the soldiers. So Lucius, bowing himself to the east, prayed, not for one hour, but two. For he prayed for everyone that he had ever met, both great and small, illustrious and obscure. And he also prayed for the Church of Sol, and all its ministers whose names he knew, both in Cymru, and in Iceni, and in Gaul. When the soldiers heard his prayers, they were astonished, and some began to repent within themselves, that they had come to seize such a godly and venerable old man. And no man sought to interrupt his prayers, but each man waited quietly until he was finished.

Now when Lucius had finished praying, he went out gently with the soldiers. Now the soldiers had intended to make Lucius walk, but one of the soldiers, convicted by the piety of the bishop, gave him his horse, and he himself walked beside it. And though the soldier was in full armor, and carried still his weapons, and the journey was long, at the end of it he was not tired, nor was he sweating. And all agreed that it was a miracle of Sol, who looked with favor upon the soldier, because he gave his horse to Lucius to ride upon.

Now when they reached their destination they were met by Owain, who tried to persuade Lucius to retract what he had said about him. But Lucius refused, for he loved the Truth more than his life. Therefore, Owain became wroth and threw him in a dungeon, and ordered that he was not to be given food until he had repented. But Sol took care of Lucius so that every morning when Sol rose in the east, Lucius found a loaf of bread and a cup of water. Owain ordered all the guards punished, and put new men in their place, because he thought that it was a guards that was feeding Lucius, but Lucius remained fed every morning, for it was not a guard who was feeding Lucius, but Sol.

Seeing that Lucius starved not, Owain ordered all manners of tortures to be inflicted upon him, thinking that pain might move him. But all the pain could not move Lucius, anymore than kicking at a pebble could move a mountain. For, when the spikes pierced his body, and the flames touched him, he did not cry out, but his face was serene. Therefore, the torturer told Owain that Lucius could not be swayed, for though his bones were exposed to the air, Lucius acted as if he was at a feast of Sol, and no cries came from his lips, but only praises to Sol.

Therefore, at night, Owain had Lucius brought to an execution site, for he feared to do it in the daylight because the people loved Lucius. But the executioner refused to kill Lucius. For though it was dark because of the night, Lucius glowed as if Sol himself was inside of him. Therefore, the executioner, feared to touch one who was so close to Sol. Seeing this, Owain took out his own sword, and ran it through Lucius, so that he died.

But there was a nobleman beside Owain, by the name of Llywelyn ap Howel. Now prior to this time Llywelyn had been a loyal subject of Owain. But when Owain killed Lucius with his own hands, Llywelyn spoke and said, “Cursed are you, Owain, for you have lifted your hands against the anointed of Sol. Therefore, Sol will cut you off, and your line from the throne, and when you die, your bones will be fought over by dogs, for no man will bury you.” Now this he spoke, not of himself, but it was a prophecy from Sol. After speaking these things, Llywelyn fled to his own lands, where he pondered the things which he had seen.

But Owain had the body of Lucius burned, and his ashes thrown into a river, for he was afraid of even the bones of Lucius, fearing that they had some power against him on account of the prophecy that Llywelyn gave. But the people, when they had heard what Owain had done, grew angry and the whole country turned against him.

Since, then, you requested that we would make you aware of what really took place, I, Caius have written these things to you, who was myself present for these things. And that is why Sol received vengeance against Owain, as you have heard, because of the deeds which he had done against his servant. But even until this day, the people meet at the place where Lucius died, in order to remember him. And there are many reports of miracles occurring there. Now let us therefore stand strong, as children of the Light, remembering those who have already finished their course, and seeking to walk like them, even like the blessed servant of Sol, Lucius.

 

[Imago]

Orders finally finished, and sent.

And as for the order length discussion, if one sends more than one PM, that does not mean increased chances of victory in ITNES. I should know. For my first turn, I sent two PMs of orders, and just look at the results. That said, however, this turn I sent three PMs of orders.

 

[Kal'thzar]

I have a hard time pumping out 1.5 PM's...and that usually has good effects, I can't think of more detail to add, apart from being too cautious, and adding too many IF's. Of course, that meanst the mod does bad things, as your forces slowly inch forward.

 

[Dachs]

And as for the order length discussion, if one sends more than one PM, that does not mean increased chances of victory in ITNES. I should know. For my first turn, I sent two PMs of orders, and just look at the results. That said, however, this turn I sent three PMs of orders.

My length is mainly taken up by the several cases for various invasions and enemy plans (basically Kal'thzar's IF statements), and the extremely high level of detail I attempt in intelligence and military operations. It paid off for me last turn at least - 2 PMs, and 20,000 men managed to hold off 70,000+ in full accordance with my strategy.

This is, however, developing into spam. Stop, plz.

 

[Kal'thzar]

My length is mainly taken up by the several cases for various invasions and enemy plans (basically Kal'thzar's IF statements), and the extremely high level of detail I attempt in intelligence and military operations. It paid off for me last turn at least - 2 PMs, and 20,000 men managed to hold off 70,000+ in full accordance with my strategy.

or take it to the while we wait thread.

 

[Symphony D.]

3 PMs? Thats so much.... too much. I feel sorry for das.

OOC: Amateurs. Anything under four is fine. Capulet's record was eight. And what Dachs said about spam.

Still waiting on a response from Azale. Orders when I wake up (before the deadline, clearly).

 

[tossi]

orders sent!

 

[Azale]

SENDING ORDERS! Finally got to my comp!

 

[Birdjaguar]

Orders sent.

 

[silver 2039]

Das I pmed you?

 

[Lord_Iggy]

My orders are sent.

 

[LittleBoots]

Dropping Norge for various reasons, namely time constraints. Lurking for the moment

 

[Insane_Panda]

*&$#^!

Your PM box is full. I will email you the crappy orders which I have, but I PLEAD you to accept them late tomorrow, so I can get something of worth in.

 

[Insane_Panda]

Sent. Hope they reached you, my comp is acting funny.

 

[Symphony D.]

Similar to the above. Barely three pages in Word; I must be slipping.

 

[das]

Das I pmed you?

You did...

PM box purified. Things are looking quite interesting already... For the record, that (you'll see what) was much earlier than I had expected!

EDIT: Incidentally, did I mention the horrific tortures reserved in Hell for the people who don't add treaties to their orders?

 

[Symphony D.]

EDIT: Incidentally, did I mention the horrific tortures reserved in Hell for the people who don't add treaties to their orders?

I know that the agreements I indicated had no specific treaty posts and were all backroom, with the necessary data supplied, so I'll enjoy my time in Purgatory.

 

[Sheep]

The only treaty I have is with Olmerica das and I have included the actual orders required of me by the treaty in my orders...

 

[das]

What about the land transfers? Am I supposed to remember everything around here?