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Public News Post #6551

The Basilica Chrysalis

Written by: Raajin Lucoster, Skilled Infernal
Date: Thursday, August 31st, 2000
Addressed to: Everyone


To the leaders of the Basilica Chrysalis, and the Guilds which represent them:

This missive serves two purposes: To officially correct some misconceptions, and to extend the proverbial branch of olive.

Within a span of time covering roughly the last 15 years, much has been presumed concerning the motivations of those who oppose the actions of the Basilica Chrysalis and its members. I am here to speak solely for the Iron Citadel upon this subject.

The Iron Citadel subscribes to the collective methodology commonly (though often inaccurately) referred to simply as "Evil". The Iron Citadel works for a better Sapience, a Sapience free from the unbridled tyranny of those who seek to impose their various systems of belief upon others. The Iron Citadel believes that the key to achievement of this goal lies within the military superiority of the Capable over the Unworthy -- often referred to in religious tomes as the "Strong" and the "Weak", respectively (note that in this context the term "Weak" has nothing to do with physical might, prowess in war, or skill at arms -- rather, it refers to the character, intellect, and morality of a being). The Iron Citadel follows its own beliefs with strict discipline, yet neither requests nor attempts to require that the rest of Sapience subscribe to our system of beliefs, being confident that in time, all shall see the the simple truths of our tenets.

Thus, tis not the ideals of the Basilica with which the Iron Citadel finds quarrel. In fact, it is ironic to note that the Ultimate Goal of the Iron Citadel (see above) is not far removed from the goal which the Basilica claims to pursue. The Basilica, however, presents an interesting irony: It claims that kindness, mercy, forgiveness, and other effeminate values are the proper means to achieve this end... yet many of its members are most well-known for frequently exercising values which are quite the opposite of kindness, mercy, forgiveness, etc.

The Basilica is welcome to her beliefs, and welcome to follow them... UNTIL such a time as her beliefs become an excuse for attempting to deny the Iron Citadel the right to follow HER own beliefs. And this has been the case for the whole of my own life, and my perceptions of the histories which I have perused. The Basilica attempts to slay my men for killing "innocents". The Basilica attempts to slay my men for destroying these "shrines", which are frequently erected without permission of the residents, and even more frequently used to attack my men. And what does the Basilica gain by this? Does she succeed in converting myself or my men to her ideals? Nay. She gains only a determined enemy, and succeeds only in besmirching her own Honour, and making a mockery of her own professed ideals.

The Iron Citadel finds the moral goals of the Basilica laudable. The Iron Citadel finds the Basilica's plan for achieving these intentions to be foolish and naive. The Iron Citadel finds the general conduct of the vast majority of the individual members of the Basilica (and most of their few allies) to be deplorable.

Yet the idealistic goals were once so noble... One wonders where such an organization goes astray. The answer to that question is beyond my ability to provide. Yet perhaps there is something that I *can* provide.

Despite recent atmospheric changes which have caused buckets to decay under all conditions, and despite Rurin's decision to market the higher-quality and bulk-quantity of his buckets in Shallam... The Iron Citadel has succeeded in mobilizing both her internal resources, and the resources of the city of Ashtan to the point at which the Basilica once more finds herself struggling to maintain *any* "shrines" outside of the city walls of Shallam.

On a daily basis, the Basilica expends the blood, time, energy and resources of her congregation to fight an undeclared war which she cannot win.

And while I cannot offer the Basilica respite from *all* of the enemies which she has made in her attempts to force her beliefs upon others, I *can* offer respite from one such enemy.

It is with this in mind that I end this lengthy epistle with the following call: As Master of the Iron Citadel, I hereby invite the leaders of the Basilica Chysalis, the Paladin's Guild of Shallam, and the Priest's Guild of Shallam to the negotiating table.


-- R. Lucoster, Master of the Iron Citadel

Penned by my hand on the 20th of Chronos, in the year 256 AF.


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Public News Post #6551

The Basilica Chrysalis

Written by: Raajin Lucoster, Skilled Infernal
Date: Thursday, August 31st, 2000
Addressed to: Everyone


To the leaders of the Basilica Chrysalis, and the Guilds which represent them:

This missive serves two purposes: To officially correct some misconceptions, and to extend the proverbial branch of olive.

Within a span of time covering roughly the last 15 years, much has been presumed concerning the motivations of those who oppose the actions of the Basilica Chrysalis and its members. I am here to speak solely for the Iron Citadel upon this subject.

The Iron Citadel subscribes to the collective methodology commonly (though often inaccurately) referred to simply as "Evil". The Iron Citadel works for a better Sapience, a Sapience free from the unbridled tyranny of those who seek to impose their various systems of belief upon others. The Iron Citadel believes that the key to achievement of this goal lies within the military superiority of the Capable over the Unworthy -- often referred to in religious tomes as the "Strong" and the "Weak", respectively (note that in this context the term "Weak" has nothing to do with physical might, prowess in war, or skill at arms -- rather, it refers to the character, intellect, and morality of a being). The Iron Citadel follows its own beliefs with strict discipline, yet neither requests nor attempts to require that the rest of Sapience subscribe to our system of beliefs, being confident that in time, all shall see the the simple truths of our tenets.

Thus, tis not the ideals of the Basilica with which the Iron Citadel finds quarrel. In fact, it is ironic to note that the Ultimate Goal of the Iron Citadel (see above) is not far removed from the goal which the Basilica claims to pursue. The Basilica, however, presents an interesting irony: It claims that kindness, mercy, forgiveness, and other effeminate values are the proper means to achieve this end... yet many of its members are most well-known for frequently exercising values which are quite the opposite of kindness, mercy, forgiveness, etc.

The Basilica is welcome to her beliefs, and welcome to follow them... UNTIL such a time as her beliefs become an excuse for attempting to deny the Iron Citadel the right to follow HER own beliefs. And this has been the case for the whole of my own life, and my perceptions of the histories which I have perused. The Basilica attempts to slay my men for killing "innocents". The Basilica attempts to slay my men for destroying these "shrines", which are frequently erected without permission of the residents, and even more frequently used to attack my men. And what does the Basilica gain by this? Does she succeed in converting myself or my men to her ideals? Nay. She gains only a determined enemy, and succeeds only in besmirching her own Honour, and making a mockery of her own professed ideals.

The Iron Citadel finds the moral goals of the Basilica laudable. The Iron Citadel finds the Basilica's plan for achieving these intentions to be foolish and naive. The Iron Citadel finds the general conduct of the vast majority of the individual members of the Basilica (and most of their few allies) to be deplorable.

Yet the idealistic goals were once so noble... One wonders where such an organization goes astray. The answer to that question is beyond my ability to provide. Yet perhaps there is something that I *can* provide.

Despite recent atmospheric changes which have caused buckets to decay under all conditions, and despite Rurin's decision to market the higher-quality and bulk-quantity of his buckets in Shallam... The Iron Citadel has succeeded in mobilizing both her internal resources, and the resources of the city of Ashtan to the point at which the Basilica once more finds herself struggling to maintain *any* "shrines" outside of the city walls of Shallam.

On a daily basis, the Basilica expends the blood, time, energy and resources of her congregation to fight an undeclared war which she cannot win.

And while I cannot offer the Basilica respite from *all* of the enemies which she has made in her attempts to force her beliefs upon others, I *can* offer respite from one such enemy.

It is with this in mind that I end this lengthy epistle with the following call: As Master of the Iron Citadel, I hereby invite the leaders of the Basilica Chysalis, the Paladin's Guild of Shallam, and the Priest's Guild of Shallam to the negotiating table.


-- R. Lucoster, Master of the Iron Citadel

Penned by my hand on the 20th of Chronos, in the year 256 AF.


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