FOUND: Old Article Detailing Church Election

StrangeWulf13 · Post by **StrangeWulf13** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 11:03 am

Report from Interdimensional Exploration Committee on Artifacts Recovered Near Base Camp:

After eliminating the threat of a local wild beast, which bore remarkable similarity to the descriptions of dragons in our own world (full details available in previous report), we began to investigate the surrounding countryside. This world appears to be underdeveloped, in a technological period similar to our dark or middle ages. The small village we found was almost completely destroyed, and totally deserted. Only charred corpses remained, some human and some animal. We regret to confirm the deaths of Captain Packard and his team. We identified those we could and sent the rest home for examination. A few of the villagers may have been included; it was impossible to tell them apart.

After some searching we turned up many simple artifacts pointing to middle age European technology and culture. This is only partially encouraging, as although the populace should not be a threat, we will have to deal with much superstition and curious eyes. Our operation may be exposed quickly if we do not manage to hide or disguise it soon.

Among the artifacts, the most interesting were some documents apparently left behind when the beast attacked, found in what was supposed to be the mayor or local Lord's manor. It was a bit small, but obviously more well off than the surrounding huts. The most interesting one seemed to be some kind of report indicating the election of a new Universalist Church leader. We're uncertain of the details, and our translation is dubious at best, but we believe this is the most accurate account of what lies within:

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To Lord Gerald of the High Plains,

We bring most urgent news. A new [Pope] has been selected. It has been five long days of voting and deliberation, but finally white smoke pours from the Sacred Chimney, and the world is at rest. It is everyone's sincere hope that this new [Pope] shall lead the world's faithful, guiding them firmly with the Holy Wisdom bestowed upon the leader of the Universalist church. He will soon be off after his Coronation to see to the elimination of every witch and wizard in all villages within our lands, visiting the worst areas personally to encourage the faithful.

There are even rumors he may be organizing a formidible army to track down and eliminate the last of the accursed Ring Tailed People (unusual term similar to Celtish; best translation; suggest further investigation). There is much talk of how we have allowed the enemies of God to flourish in our current lapse of judgement, and that now is the time to drive them out and bring them to justice, by the power of Almighty God. We here in Henbrook have even heard tales of large crucifixes being made in order to counter the vile magic of the wicked, capable of dispelling even the largest of enchantments. (Our fears are confirmed; it is obvious the superstition here goes all the way up to the highest points of power, both in government and the local religion.)

It is our sincere hope that our new [Pope] will lead us into a new age of Enlightenment, no longer hiding in fear of the great beasts Satan has placed on the earth (reference to dragons? or more terrifying things?), and the wicked finally driven to the depths of hell where they belong, including those filthy witch rats and their masters (seems to refer to previous mention of "ring tailed folk", who are believed to be the servents of "witches" and "wizards"). We pray this age comes soon.

With high regard, and well wishes,

Lord Thomas of Henbrook

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The coincidence is quite startling, as our own major church is currently choosing their own leader, which is why we felt it appropriate to use the term "Pope" to refer to theirs. These Universalists sound a good deal like the Catholic church in the middle ages, but far more superstitious and probably full of corruption in many areas. I only hope we do not encounter them, though we do seem to be in an area once controlled by a group of their "faithful", which explains the church we found. Why this letter would be in the Lord's manor and not the local priest's office, we cannot say.

The age of the document in question is also uncertain. We can barely decipher the date, and although it seems a similar calendar to our own, we have no way of knowing the current date here. That will have to wait until some of our team can manage to infiltrate the local villages and gather more intel. Our best scouts are preparing to make their way to Henbrook, which we suspect is to the southeast, and learn more about this world.

It is our sincerest hope that more of these "beasts of Satan" are not prowling around. The one we encountered suggests they are indeed very dangerous. Which explains our request for reinforcements. Please send them when you can; we dare not risk more exploration without sufficient firepower.

END OF REPORT.

LoneWolf23k · Post by **LoneWolf23k** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 1:01 pm

O-k....

Can someone explain to me what the point of this is?

Kerry Skydancer · Post by **Kerry Skydancer** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 1:31 pm

StarGate / Questorverse crossover, mayhaps? That's a what, though, not a why...

Madmoonie · Post by **Madmoonie** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 2:44 pm

I thought it was supposed to be a article....I am confused.

GrayTiger · Post by **GrayTiger** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 6:16 pm

Appears like the potential start of a new RPG to me.

Starfury · Post by **Starfury** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 9:19 pm

Looks more like a (lord help us...) Star Trek Next Generation crossover ("Deaths of Captain Packard (btw, its Picard) and his team"). Yeesh.

StrangeWulf13 · Post by **StrangeWulf13** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 10:25 pm

Just a humorous bit of fanfiction meant to poke fun at the choosing of a new Pope. I know that the Questorverse's Universalist church is the equivilent of our Catholic one (as Ralph designed it to be), and since I saw a video of black smoke coming from that famous chimney in Italy, I kinda felt like writing something in parallel, kinda like a parody. =P 'Course, it's a good thing I kept listening to that broadcast, 'cause black smoke just means they had an inconclusive vote. White means there's a new Pope.

It's meant to be humorous and nothing more. As for a "crossover", I just made that Interdimensional Exploration Committee up as a way to realistically present the article in "our world" so to speak. If you don't get it, that's okay, it's not that important. =P Wouldn't want anyone stressing out over a little joke. Mine don't always work anyway.

Just remember, it's only a bit of fiction; you should really just relax.

Starfury · Post by **Starfury** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 10:53 pm

I thought it was well done. But I figured Packard was a simple mis-spelling of Picard, and I can get a little type-A on spelling/pronouncing names right.

StrangeWulf13 · Post by **StrangeWulf13** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 11:35 pm

I just had a conversation with the recently deceased Captain Packard. He is quite furious that anyone would confuse him with that "bald, skinny, French h*-bag of a captain", and that he prefers to think of himself closer to Captain Kirk.

I tell ya, US Marines make the most irritable ghosts...

RHJunior · Post by **RHJunior** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 11:37 pm

OF note: the crucifixes the letter refers to are a widget adopted by the Universalist church---- wards similar to the ones in the MillFolk's home, enlarged and modified to resemble/pass for crucifixes. They require no lux to create, and are useful for disrupting minor luxcraft They do have limits, though--- skilled mages can work around the disruption. And after a certain point simply increasing their size does nothing for their effectiveness.

Consequently, the results of the sort of Witch Hunt the "new pope" is instituting in the above letter is to merely sweep up the weak, careless, or less skilled mages that accumulate from time to time in the lower classes--- people with stuff in the "bend a spoon" range, or young ones who have a smidge of talent they havent learned to use.

Also note: no rac conan anywhere, ever, willingly served a human wizard.

StrangeWulf13 · Post by **StrangeWulf13** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 11:54 pm

Not like that's gonna stop the idiots from lumping them in with the rest of the "wicked".

Ahhhhh... nothing like making light of some fanatic's beliefs by letting him ramble on about its great and glorious achievements, not to mention the "new age" they're going to bring about...

Me, I hope this "Pope" gets fried trying to "clean up" one of the more powerful mages.

Crispy Holy Father anyone?

(note: no offense meant to Catholics as a whole; just having fun with some Questorverse trivia)

Aurrin · Post by **Aurrin** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 9:48 am

RHJunior wrote:Also note: no rac conan anywhere, ever, willingly served a human wizard.

Can we infer from that, then that 99.999% of all humans in the Questorverse are more or less evil? (or at the very least hate the rac'conans?)

LoneWolf23k · Post by **LoneWolf23k** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 2:19 pm

Aurrin wrote:
RHJunior wrote:Also note: no rac conan anywhere, ever, willingly served a human wizard.
Can we infer from that, then that 99.999% of all humans in the Questorverse are more or less evil? (or at the very least hate the rac'conans?)

I don't think so. It was a human who converted the Rac'conan to worship of Yeshu, after all.

Madmoonie · Post by **Madmoonie** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 6:53 pm

Come on, have a little faith in the human race...I'm not the only one surely?

LoneWolf23k · Post by **LoneWolf23k** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 8:32 pm

Madmoonie wrote:Come on, have a little faith in the human race...I'm not the only one surely?

No, you're not. While I acknowledge that our species has some real rotten apples in it, I also and heartened to see that there are many good people in the world, as well. For every Adolph Hitler, Charles Manson and Osama Bin Ladin, there is also a Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi trying to make it a better place.

Humanity is neither completly evil, nor completly good. That's why we have to make an effort to be good. But it's an effort we can succeed in making if we try.

RHJunior · Post by **RHJunior** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 10:57 pm

It's not that Questorverse humans are all EVIL. It's that, as a whole, the relationship between the Rac Conan and Human race has been... very rocky, to put it mildly.

The Rac Cona Daimh spend much of their history as an itinerant race, much in the manner of the Jews before the reinstatement of Israel, or the Gypsies of Europe.... some clans would move from area to area by caravan, gypsy style: others had sail-propelled luftships which housed their entire families--- and which afforded a quick escape when things got ugly. Others stuck to houseboats and rafts... it was quite a plethora of subcultures.

However, being like Gypsies, they eventually accumulated some of the less savory bits of the reputation of Gypsies--- even in "friendly" communities and countries they were regarded with suspicion, as being disreputable, untrustworthy, light-fingered, wanton.... and it wasn't always undeserved, either. Despite the influence of the Sojourner faith that was gaining numbers and influence in their society, more than a few took on an "us vs. them" attitude, and exploited humans, dwarves, goblins and others at opportunity. More than a few were in the Fakir movement... sometimes a caravan or raft-flotilla would come to a new territory, only to discover that others of their kind had been there before, tried to set themselves up as priests or gods, and been run off by angry villagers or intervening priests... or other mages.
They eventually policed this trend out of their own, but ill will was already sown.

Still, even the disreputable among the Rac Cona Daimh are far less to blame than those in power who considered them lawful prey. Humans, being (with the exception of the rare human Wizard) among the least prolific in luxcraft, were consequently more likely to hunt them, either out of fear, envy or greed.

SolidusRaccoon · Post by **SolidusRaccoon** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 6:39 am

Humans are damaged goods, fallen into sin. We are born into it, we are evil by our vaery nature. Only through Christ can we find redemption.

Madmoonie · Post by **Madmoonie** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 2:58 pm

(Sigh) One light offhand comment and everyone goes nuts

....I didn't mean it as a serious opinion or any commentary on humanity. I know there are good people, I know several myself. But I also know a couple of cynics that are rather pessimistic and someone made a somewhat pessimistic statement in the thread and I made a lighthearted comment in response. I know humans are fallen. JESUS is so loving, HE saved all of us. HE even saved me and that I find that very cool. You know, GOD is on our side and through HIM, we can all do some great and wonderful things.

(Starts singing quietly) JESUS loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong, they are sweet but HE is strong. Yes, JESUS loves me. Yes, JESUS loves me. Yes, JESUS loves me, the Bible tells me so.

(gives a small wave) Have a good evening everyone. GOD bless you.

CasVeg · Post by **CasVeg** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 3:06 pm

Madmoonie wrote:(Sigh) One light offhand comment and everyone goes nuts....

I think it's too late for any of us to go nuts. We're all mad here.