The Sǣxenland Situation

Sǣxenland wrote:The humble priest had travelled a long way to get to where he was. The priest had crossed the unpredictable channel. He had fondly hurried through the exquisite Béziquienne countryside. Then with great haste he went through Montresque. The freezing alps did not deter him. He had braved the warring Italian north until he had reached the ultimate sanctuary in Rome. He had come from a small church on the southern coast of Sǣxenland - the only Christian mission in that land. Specifically come from the Catholic mission in Dæþscīre in the Undercyningan of Wēssǣxenní. After talking to some of the officials in the courtyard about his predicament he was brought into a chamber, with elaborate golden façades and ornamentation. In their where the leaders of Christendom. The imperious looking Pope, clad in white. And Cardinals were all clad in red, true to their name. They were all redoubtable, eminent and holy. The priest began.

"I am sorry to interrupt your holy deliberations, my lords, but I am under duress for my flock is under current threat. My name is Émile Grôussard and I am originally from Normandy. In the beautiful French Duchy I joined the priesthood so I could serve God and the Saviour. I have been fascinated with the idea of converting Sǣxenns who inhabit that wild and misty kingdom to the north ever since I endured a raid on the town where I was stationed. I knew these raiders where good men but where deceived by the devil and his agents, the false god Woden, Frēj, Thunor, Tiw and other demons. So I lead a group Of missionaries beyond the Channel into the dark, misty and wild Sǣxenlands where we have found few but loyal converts. Recently, there has been a power shift in Sǣxenland which is not in our favour. The previous King Ælþedric Ælþedricsson who was tolerant of our faith has died. And in his place his preferred successor, his son of the same name, has been killed and replaced by the powerful noble Beowulf Goðwinsson. Now the son of Ælþedric was very pro-Christian, having converted to our faith while in exile in Normandy. Now the new King Beowulf has issued the following command:

Should a man forsake the gods for the words of the wretched missionaries let his countrymen capture him, so his Sheriff may pronounce judgement, and should the guilty unbelievers drown in the channel from whence the words of the Christians came, let his possessions be shared among them the country he betrayed, and his wife and children, should they renounce their faith be sparred and sent to Francia, should they keep their deceitful faith they should be sold to the the highest bidder;

As you can see my flock is in danger. As I left they had already gone into hiding, anticipating the actions of the new king. I beg for help from the Christian word in assisting us against these heathens."

Cybelos wrote:Dire news indeed. How many faithful in the Saexenlands would you say? And how many men strong is this Godwinsson?

*The cardinal signals his aide to bring the weary priest a cup of barley tea, and continues:

As for assistance, I cannot speak for my king, you understand, but if his holiness wills it perhaps we could formally assemble an army of devout men.

In  any case I wish you luck in the utmost, truly.