High Mother Niamh Halliwell

Father Garland

The Lord opened his sanctuary to me in 707. I had been given the three keys and when that door opened in front of me I had never been so astounded. That the Lord had been so generous as to open up this library of such knowledge to me, I could have stayed forever. I learnt such wonders that night. My Lord truly blessed me.

I am old now and I give to you this key. Keep it safe. It is your token to a greater place, a greater fountain of knowledge than any in this realm.

The other keys have been sent to other worthy scholars. Pass yours to an honest heir. Let them pass it on to their chosen heir in turn.

Reunite the three when next the call comes.

May Rolbor bless you and yours.

High Mother Niamh Halliwell

Challenges

Every day we inevitably face them. They may be small and easily surmountable, like getting a loaf down from the highest shelf, to those that appear nigh on impossible to overcome. One of the greatest challenges we may face, however, is admitting and facing them in the first place.

I ask you all to consider, however, the teachings of Lord Rolbor in regard to knowledge and where, perhaps, the best source of it is often to be found. Is it where we have faced the mundane, the known and easily surmountable? Or the extraordinary, unknown and adverse? In our successes or failures? Through both, we gain an understanding of our limits but only through one the extent of them. Through both, we gain an understanding of strengths but only through one the true capacity of them.

What we face, of course, must always be considered wisely. Facing a challenge that is more reckless than worthwhile must not be faced solely for knowledge’s sake. If, however, wisdom does not weigh them as reckless then why not? We may overcome our fears, pride, laziness or so much more and stand to gain knowledge through our success or failure – superb!!

Where there is a challenge to be faced see not your fears and potential failings, but in the Light of Lord Rolbor the knowledge it may bring.

Where we have failed, dwell not in self-pity and regret of the past, but how we may use the knowledge gained from it to overcome the challenges of tomorrow.

Praise be to Lord Rolbor!

Peni Baker,
Mother devoted, supplicant priestess of Lord Rolbor.

A Vision of the God Mutilator

by Primate Molly Kingston-Simms

After 7 days and 7 nights of praying…
I awoke and found myself outside a huge hall that stretched onwards into the distance almost as far as the eye could see. Its huge golden arches surrounded a doorway that would allow the Titans themselves to enter, I pushed gently and the doors swung open with ease.

Ahead of me was a set of steps that rose to a platform that neared the roof and on that platform, I could see the edge of a mighty banqueting table. I could see food piled high upon the table and wine was flowing down the steps in a waterfall of shining liquid.

I began to ascend, knowing that my fate awaited me at the head of the table, my feet begin to feel tacky sticking in the red wine that flowed from the table. A thought crossed my mind, the Crystalis, perhaps Lord Rolbor would grant me with his most Holy boon. As I rose to the top of the platform a foul stench assaulted my senses, the food piled high was rotting, flies blew across it in such thick clouds that I could barely see the other side of the table. Suddenly my feeling of being at peace in the Halls of my Lord turned to anxiety as I knew this place was now truly unholy.

Figures sat in state at the far end of the table, a huge platter was sitting in front of the gargantuan form siting in state at its head. I passed a total of twelve figures all slumped, dead, their blood flowed from them as if every vein were tapped. At the tables head was a dark form and I knew the form of my own destruction, the dark form I knew to be the God Mutilator and the only way he could be here was if Lord Rolbor had abandoned his own halls.

I looked at the slumped figures once again, all were missing their right eyes and suddenly I began to recognise them, Madeline of Crowa, Fox of Tralda, the Defenders of every Faith including the dark gods.

The figure at the end of the table spoke, “WON’T YOU ACCEPT MY HOSPITALITY?” and lifted the lid from his platter, a roasted beast of some description sat atop of the silver platter, he broke off a leg and offered it to me, something fell from it and clattered to the floor and began to noisily clatter upon every step on its way down to the ground, it looked like the Crystalis and I realised this figure offered me part of my own Lord…

My right eye started welling up, I thought I was beginning to cry, but it was a red mist that began to fill my vision and pain began to shoot through my skull. I fell to my knees and looked up at another figure who now stood at the side of the Dark One, he wore purple and although I could not see him clearly I knew that he was a companion that once I trusted, in his hands he held a bowl.

The bowl was filled with eyes…the purple-clad figure asked, “My Lord, something to help you see more clearly?”

The figure waved his hand over the bowl, “LET ME SEE, THE EYES ARE THE WINDOWS OF THE SOUL, WHO PLANS MY DOWNFALL NOW?” and plucked an eye from the bowl. “NO I SHALL WAIT FOR MOLLYS…”

The pain became unbearable, I fell into unconsciousness looking at the figure of the betrayer, I knew him, I am sure of it.

I awoke in my chambers, shaking and afraid, and after a couple of days I prayed again for direction and I was simply answered… “The Mourning Prince comes and he can fulfill his wishes”

And then my Lord fell silent.

A report upon the destruction of the “Band of Greed” in the year 635.

By Sergeant Fletcher, mercenary and scribe.

The recent actions against the bandit group known as the Band of Greed has seen the destruction of several small, but heavily armed encampments to the East of the City of Brisel.

Over the past year, the forces in Brisel, led by the Defender of the Faith of Rolbor, have isolated and destroyed several more of these groups, although the main group remains with the Bandit leader, Silas Geld, in an old abandoned fort near the Whitespar Mountains.

However, on the 12th Thawing 635, a Holy Day of Rolbor – The First Milk – the Defender of the Faith gathered the faithful of Rolbor and the Seven, as well as mercenaries, physicians, knights and even mages. This small army split into three groups and advanced towards the stronghold of the Band of Greed.

Despite being harried by patrols and warbands of heretics, the Crusade of Rolbor, as some have called it, gained the initiative and stormed the stronghold. During the action, the Defender of the Faith met the Bandit Leader, Silas Geld, and a mighty duel did ensue.

The Defender was protected by his Faith in Lord Rolbor, who had shower gifts upon his follower, whereas the heretic Geld was wearing, and had drunk the fruits of his thieving and banditry. It was an even fight, and as the day drew on, neither gained the upper hand until several heretics attempted to interrupt the duel. Before they were stopped, they had cruelly cut out the leg from the Defender. Seizing his chance, Geld ran forward, only to be gutted upon the Defender’s blade.

With this, many of the heretics fought with an unholy fury, and where destroyed. Some were captured, tried and convicted. They burn as a warning to those who would go against the Seven.

With this victory, the Defender of the Faith received praise, not only from the rulers of Brisel, with monies and gold which he gave to the poor, but from Rolbor – a mighty shield with which to protect his flock.

And so ended the Plague of Greed, which had swarmed across the lands of Avonshire for over a year. Thus ends the report from one who was there.

Sergeant Fletcher, Mercenary and Scribe.

A Perspective on the Day of the Communion

It is hard to find suitable words to express this – none seem to hit the mark and doubtless ever will.

On the day before the Communion I was announced and anointed as our Paragon and from that moment I felt a difference, change. Free of perhaps some of the social inhibitions I had before – released from them and consequently had an increased eagerness to talk, to include and enjoy the company and celebrations around. That night I slept more peacefully than I ever have.

The day of the Communion – I cannot recall and truly describe the feelings and perspectives of that time but I will try my utmost. I felt as one, entirely infused with the essence and being of our Lord. I thought, perceived and spoke to those around in terms of ‘Peni Baker-Rolbor’ and ‘We’ as one.

‘We’ struggled almost to perceive mortal concerns. The passage of time and all around seemed so different. Every life before me seemed so fleeting and yet, at once, a force enduring. In hindsight the closest words I can find to describe such are: perceiving legacies. The knowledge, wisdom, example, impact we leave that continues to interact and effect others still. When they had been realised and used to the benefit of all. Where they had not and how such legacies maybe realised and bring benefit still. Our lives are so fleeting but our influence endures.

All and everybody around seemed so connected, potentially and actually, in more ways now than I can comprehend. Such connections, ‘lines of potential’, that run between us all. A profound sense of understanding what maybe achieved when such connections are formed and strengthened in concern of the next and all. The extent of the magnificent prosperity that maybe realised when we think not alone but as one in terms of these. When that potential had been realised, and not, and maybe realised still. The extent of this was wonderous indeed.

The events of the Communion itself I will not document here but when such passed I felt the presence of our Lord leave me – although a legacy of that time remains with me still it is but an echo , blessed indeed, compared to the magnitude of before. I have found myself unable to describe the feelings of the day in many ways, confusing many individuals indeed when I have tried. To look back at the words written above to offer my perspective on them now, however (please do contact me if at any point you have a question or wish to discuss any of this).

No individual stands alone. We all exist as a society, a community. Although the impact of our presence, decisions and actions are not always obvious to us they are present still. We live and exist so connected that in exclusion or disregard of the next, and our impact upon them, we are all affected. Selfish regard and focus, exclusion, serves not the prosperity of one or all.

Like a phenomenally complicated and interwoven net – sometimes the smallest snag, act of repair, pull, weakened or strengthened knot can have massive consequences. We each and all play an important part in achieving a truly bounteous catch that is there waiting to be realised. Every moment is an opportunity to realise this potential – not just immediately but as part of enduring legacy also. Every individual as part of the same.

Understanding
Hospitality
Welcome
Knowledge
Opportunity
Kindness
Celebration
Lessons
Friendship
Hard-Work
Example
Prosperity
Unity and inclusion
Diversity and acceptance
Generosity
Fair-Trade
Wisdom
Diplomacy
Potential
And much much more.

Praise be to Lord Rolbor!

For Faith,

Peni