Re: The Destroyer
In reply to Jason Sinclair (msg # 861):
As per tradition, Trejo moved up to stand behind Jason on his left. Simon continued. "This is the short version of the ceremony. Normally you'd get a day to prepare, learn the deeds of the Templar who's sword you will be receiving. There would be pomp and ceremony. Cake and cookies after. But we've got bigger fish to fry, so I'm dispensing with that.
"Templar Trejo mentioned that you have already laid hands upon someone to heal them. This is extraordinary. But then, we live in times that are far from normal. Perhaps the saints are already working through you, I have no special insight on this now.
"Now I ask you, Jason Sullivan Sinclair, to swear to uphold the Vow of Poverty. Templars are the righteous fists of the new world. It is our duty to cleanse the land by might, and by example. With our might, we destroy the foul things of this earth, both human and otherwise. By our example, we show others that terror must not be tolerated. The destroyers of peace must be fought, and only those who are willing to partake in this battle shall enjoy the leadership of the Templars. One cannot battle evil with might if he is intent only on gathering material things. Neither can a proper example be set for those others who join our fight against evil. For these reasons we shun material things."
"We shun wealth. We shun greed. We shun gathering more than a person needs to survive and to fight. Do you, Jason Sinclair, swear this vow of poverty?"
"Ours is a pious order. Those who join our ranks have proven themselves to other brothers and sisters. They have weathered the storm of evil and triumphed. And they have made great sacrifices.
"For those sacrifices, we are rewarded with Holy strength. We ask not where these powers come from, and we do not worship its source. But we do praise and remember the men and women who fought the powers of darkness before our time. These are the Saints, and we owe them for their struggles against the darkness."
"Do you, Jason Sullivan Sinclair, swear to uphold the virtues of the Saints?"
"Despite the divine presence in our lives, occasionally even Templars must fall from grace. Some become disillusioned, falling prey to the sometimes overwhelming power of evil in this world. Some are wily tricksters to begin with, and somehow manage to fool their mentors, and even the Grand Master. Such is the power of evil in this age.
"When Templars embrace the darkness, when they break the Vow of Poverty, when they shelter the undeserving, when they fail to protect the righteous, when they prove themselves beyond redemption, it is our sad duty to cleanse their memories in blood. Traitors are to be slain and their bodies left to the scavengers. Their swords are to be returned here, to this Hall of Heroes, and cleansed of their taint by the Grand Master.
"Should you encounter such a traitor in your wanderings, Jason Sinclair, it is your duty to slay him or her. Know too that should you turn from the path of virtue, your brothers and sisters will hunt you down as well.
Do you, Jason Sullivan Sinclair, swear this Oath of Blood?"
"Our deeds are the stuff of legend, but that is not why we perform them. We do not struggle merely to have our names hallowed until the end of time. Yet we pay homage to those who have gone before by remembering their names and their deeds.
"Jason Sullivan Sinclair, you are to be given the sword of Templar Muhammad "Chance" Ka'im Basara. Honour his memory."
From behind Jason, Trejo stepped forward and presented to him the ancient broadsword that the Posse recovered from the Cathedral of Bone within Wichita's Ghost storm. It belonged to the Templar that that had tried to defeat the Anti-Bishop, and failed. They had wrested it from the servant of Evil known as the Anti-Bishop.
"You'd tell Chance's story here, but we can get to that later."
Using his left hand, Simon presented Jason with the white tabard that was folded over his sword arm. He continued, "This is the sword of Muhammad "Chance" Ka'im Basara. It is my honor to bestow it unto you, Jason Sullivan Sinclair. May you do service to its memory.
"I also present to you this tabard. The mark upon it is the Maltese Cross, an ancient symbol of our order. You will not worship it, and you will not use it for personal gain. You will wear it as a sign that you are one of the leaders of the new world. One of the few who will punish the wicked and protect the good so that the future of all humanity will not end this way again.
"There is no greater challenge in this ruined world than joining our order. You will endure many hardships. You will sacrifice all for the good of many. You will turn your back on the unworthy. And you will most likely suffer a painful death for your efforts.
"But know that it is the sacrifice of heroes that will build a new world, one in which men and women are free from the oppression and horror of the present and the bleak omens of the future."
Finally, he gripped his sword in both hands and tapped Jason on one shoulder, then the other.
"Arise and turn and face your comrades, Jason Sullivan Sinclair. For you are now a Templar."
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:19, Fri 05 Apr 2013.