Post by King Konrad I von Audria on Oct 3, 2015 20:37:02 GMT -8
An article written by Hochmeister Konrad IV von Marshburg, on the apparent 'atrocities' the order is commonly accused of.
It is never a good thing to hear that one's own order, especially one which is sworn to follow a noble code, is accused of atrocious war crimes. From murder, rape, forced conversion and relocation, mindless slaughter, and more, the order has been accused of many things.
It should be noted, however, that the order is composed almost entirely of knights who joined on their own free will. Knights who were raised and educated at fine academies throughout Vessia; Knights who understand the value of family, who understand love, who understand peace and war. Knights who would otherwise be living peaceful lives, governing their lands with good hearts.
Most of my fellow Brothers were veterans of the Phaerocian Wars, or their sons. They knew full well what they'd be getting into. They had seen the brutality of war, the chaos and destruction it spreads.
Wickan radicals have always raided the eastern Vessian Frontier, it is geographically logical. But when some of the Wickans began to adopt Angelism, the Wickans had renewed purposes to raid Vessia. Wickans are known to be extreme radicals, who worship pagan gods, often burning their prisoners to the stake as sacrifices. When they learned their own kind had turned away from their gods, they began to execute them with extreme prejudice. Perhaps it was the thrill of sacrificing us Angelists that led to increased raids in eastern Vessia. Whatever the case, it became more and more frequent, and it was apparent the Wickans were seeking Angelists specifically.
The final straw for myself was when my sister and mother were counted among the casualties.
Enraged, I drew up my closest friends, all Knights of Vessia, and sought the approval of our sovereign, the Emperor. The Emperor, and the High King of Asgeir even, granted me rights to rescue our kin. I drew the support of many more knights and volunteers, even clergymen of Angelism. The purpose of my order was three-pronged:
1. Rescue captured Vessians, Varan, and other Angelists
2. Quell the Wickan Raiding parties plaguing eastern Vessia
3. Maintain order in the pacified areas (preventing future conflicts)
Many villages dot Eastwick, and these were our targets. But first, we needed to deal with main Wickan war party, which had gathered in Arburg, a keep formerly belonging to Vessia. After routing the forces there, I sent my armies east and southeast to the villages. There we rescued scores of captives, returning them to their families back in Vessia and Asgeir, or accepting them into our order. This, of course, drew the ire of many Wickans.
My Brothers suffered heavy casualties part way through the crusade. Wickan skirmishers bolted out of their forests, slaughtering hundreds of men at a time before vanishing back into the woods. These were the same men who raided and pillaged our lands in Vessia. It was obvious these men came from the villages, and so that is where we went. Unfortunately, it is hard to tell who were the murderers. So we rounded them up and bid they confess. When none did, we executed the ones who owned blood-stained weapons first until the others finally did confess. Those who confessed was sent to pacified areas and asked to denounce their radical ways; failure to do so resulted in a merciful death. Many say that practice was harsh, but to free them only warranted another radical attack in the future, and to imprison them only served to torture them further - which is immoral.
As the women and children were often left by their lonesome after such events, they were offered new lands in pacified areas. Those who accepted were given homes and farmland, where they lived in absolute peace under the watchful eye of their Teutonic protectors. They experienced better living conditions, and was allowed to trade with travelers whom they normally would never have. These people were offered the chance to become Angelists, and a vast majority agreed.
As our power and support grew in Eastwick, the Grand Duke finally submitted and surrendered. To ensure his word was law, he openly converted to Angelism. After news of this spread, the Wickans became pacified and the crusade was complete.
Dietrich, my good friend, is another figment of negativity. Dietrich is a necessary evil. Although he is a troubled man who suffers from mental issues, Dietrich has always remained loyal to me, and valued our friendship. While the terrible events he suffered in his past have transformed him into a monster, I believe some part of his good self is still in there. Nevertheless, I reserve Dietrich for the less-than-noble deeds that are required. He is the order's personal executioner, and fulfills his duty when needed. He is also the perfect fighter to send into the fray. I cannot count how many times Dietrich has done the impossible; how many of my Brothers he has saved; how many warbands he has halted. It is in this way that I control my deranged friend, at least until I find a way to cure him of his twisted mentality.
And so when one accuses the Brothers of dastardly crimes, know this: the order exists to serve the greater good; to heal the sick and injured; to care for the orphans of war; to ultimately make the world a better place. If you're against such noble deeds, then quite frankly, you're on the side of evil.
It is never a good thing to hear that one's own order, especially one which is sworn to follow a noble code, is accused of atrocious war crimes. From murder, rape, forced conversion and relocation, mindless slaughter, and more, the order has been accused of many things.
It should be noted, however, that the order is composed almost entirely of knights who joined on their own free will. Knights who were raised and educated at fine academies throughout Vessia; Knights who understand the value of family, who understand love, who understand peace and war. Knights who would otherwise be living peaceful lives, governing their lands with good hearts.
Most of my fellow Brothers were veterans of the Phaerocian Wars, or their sons. They knew full well what they'd be getting into. They had seen the brutality of war, the chaos and destruction it spreads.
Wickan radicals have always raided the eastern Vessian Frontier, it is geographically logical. But when some of the Wickans began to adopt Angelism, the Wickans had renewed purposes to raid Vessia. Wickans are known to be extreme radicals, who worship pagan gods, often burning their prisoners to the stake as sacrifices. When they learned their own kind had turned away from their gods, they began to execute them with extreme prejudice. Perhaps it was the thrill of sacrificing us Angelists that led to increased raids in eastern Vessia. Whatever the case, it became more and more frequent, and it was apparent the Wickans were seeking Angelists specifically.
The final straw for myself was when my sister and mother were counted among the casualties.
Enraged, I drew up my closest friends, all Knights of Vessia, and sought the approval of our sovereign, the Emperor. The Emperor, and the High King of Asgeir even, granted me rights to rescue our kin. I drew the support of many more knights and volunteers, even clergymen of Angelism. The purpose of my order was three-pronged:
1. Rescue captured Vessians, Varan, and other Angelists
2. Quell the Wickan Raiding parties plaguing eastern Vessia
3. Maintain order in the pacified areas (preventing future conflicts)
Many villages dot Eastwick, and these were our targets. But first, we needed to deal with main Wickan war party, which had gathered in Arburg, a keep formerly belonging to Vessia. After routing the forces there, I sent my armies east and southeast to the villages. There we rescued scores of captives, returning them to their families back in Vessia and Asgeir, or accepting them into our order. This, of course, drew the ire of many Wickans.
My Brothers suffered heavy casualties part way through the crusade. Wickan skirmishers bolted out of their forests, slaughtering hundreds of men at a time before vanishing back into the woods. These were the same men who raided and pillaged our lands in Vessia. It was obvious these men came from the villages, and so that is where we went. Unfortunately, it is hard to tell who were the murderers. So we rounded them up and bid they confess. When none did, we executed the ones who owned blood-stained weapons first until the others finally did confess. Those who confessed was sent to pacified areas and asked to denounce their radical ways; failure to do so resulted in a merciful death. Many say that practice was harsh, but to free them only warranted another radical attack in the future, and to imprison them only served to torture them further - which is immoral.
As the women and children were often left by their lonesome after such events, they were offered new lands in pacified areas. Those who accepted were given homes and farmland, where they lived in absolute peace under the watchful eye of their Teutonic protectors. They experienced better living conditions, and was allowed to trade with travelers whom they normally would never have. These people were offered the chance to become Angelists, and a vast majority agreed.
As our power and support grew in Eastwick, the Grand Duke finally submitted and surrendered. To ensure his word was law, he openly converted to Angelism. After news of this spread, the Wickans became pacified and the crusade was complete.
Dietrich, my good friend, is another figment of negativity. Dietrich is a necessary evil. Although he is a troubled man who suffers from mental issues, Dietrich has always remained loyal to me, and valued our friendship. While the terrible events he suffered in his past have transformed him into a monster, I believe some part of his good self is still in there. Nevertheless, I reserve Dietrich for the less-than-noble deeds that are required. He is the order's personal executioner, and fulfills his duty when needed. He is also the perfect fighter to send into the fray. I cannot count how many times Dietrich has done the impossible; how many of my Brothers he has saved; how many warbands he has halted. It is in this way that I control my deranged friend, at least until I find a way to cure him of his twisted mentality.
And so when one accuses the Brothers of dastardly crimes, know this: the order exists to serve the greater good; to heal the sick and injured; to care for the orphans of war; to ultimately make the world a better place. If you're against such noble deeds, then quite frankly, you're on the side of evil.