#74 The Ecumenical Synod of the Sanguine Rose
“Welcome,” cried the Hermit of Barfunweltz as the organ finished its introit, “to the first Ecumenical Synod of the Sanguine Rose!" If he had not long ago plucked out his own eyes, they would have been gleaming with spiritual enthusiasm. "Verily, there is hope in the Way of the Rose!” For the Hermit, this was a dream come true: around him was gathered an eclectic selection of clerics from almost every denomination of the Rose. Where the laity had thus far failed, the clergy had succeeded.
The Hermit himself had of course founded of the Reformed Society and was, as ever, accompanied by the frail old Revivalist. The flesh-eating ghouls of the Raptured Court of the False Messiah, were represented by the Baby-Eating Archbishop of Barfunweltz himself, attended by his Chaplain and Verger. Also present were the ghostly forms of the clergy of the Procession of the Foolish Martyrs which ever accompanied the Empty Hearse: the Guardian of Souls known as the Preacher had also brought the Baptist, the Prelate and the Presbyter.
Most exhilarating for the Hermit was the presence of Viktor Bract, attendant of the King of Thorns and chosen priest of Elohiim the Ineffable, Servant of the Great Necromancer, Lord of the Night, Warden of Gulaab, Primogenitor of the Cinquefoil, Saviour of Angels, Lord of Hosts, and Terror of Barfunweltz. Believing Elohiim to be the newly-discovered Fifth Petal of the Rose, the Hermit had insisted on giving this highly-favoured necromancer the title 'Archimandrite'. (For his part, Archimandrite Bract seemed a little bemused, but had been ordered to play along by his Lord.)
"My brothers and sisters!" he cried to the assembled deathmages, flesh-eaters, and mordants, "Let us pray together!"
* * *
From the deep shadows, Our Lady of the Rose watched the gathering of clergy. The representatives of her Procession had all, in life, been clergy of the Society of the Sanguine Rose, but in death their eyes had been open to the terrible truth of their deception. Nonetheless, she had instructed the Preacher, Prelate, Baptist and Presbyter to attend this foolish 'Synod' for the other deluded clergy had no idea they were unbelievers, and she had her own agenda to pursue.
As the assorted clergy-wizards joined in their delusional prayers and foolish rituals, they inadvertently began to create powerful magical precipitations. Such uncontrolled spells could well have attracted the attention of unwanted Chaos entities, but as their enchantments formed, Olynder secretly directed and moulded them by her own sorcerous powers. One after another, the arcane energies coalesced into independent manifestations: fearsome Endless Spells.
 |
| Cartilagenous (Prismatic) Palisade |
 |
| Soulsnare Graspers (Shackles) |
 |
| Purple Scream (Sun) of Shyish |
 |
| Suffocating Gravetide |
 |
| Quickening Skullswarm (Emerald Lifeswarm) |
 |
| Magog's (Ravenak's) Gnashing Jaws |
 |
| Horrorghast |
 |
| The Burning Head |
 |
| Cup of Fellowship (Chalice of Ushoran): a previously answered prayer of the Raptured Court |
* * *
The assembled priests had quickly been roused into a religious frenzy of shouted prayers and ecstatic speech, encouraged in particular by the charismatic clergy of the Raptured Court. Suddenly, one voice boomed over the cacophony of worship: "Behold!" cried the Archbishop, "Our prayers are answered!"
Before and around the gathered clerics a number of strange, mystical forms were taking shape: heads of raging monsters, a swarm of skulls, a tidal wave of gravesoil, a skeletal barrier, grasping corpse arms, a screaming sun...
The assembled clergy of the Sanguine Rose were, for a brief moment united in wonder, their voices rising in a crescendo of praise. Yet no sooner had they appeared than the Endless Spells started to drift away, off to haunt the vast cemetery of Barfunweltz.
Cries of dismay followed the departing 'answered prayers'. Within minutes the factions of the Rose were all blaming one another for a lack of faith, or heresy, or liturgical imprecision, or doctrinal aberration. The united fellowship of the first Ecumenical Synod of the Sanguine Rose had been powerful but, perhaps inevitably, very short-lived.
Our Lady of the Rose looked on serenely. Behind her veil she may even have been smiling.
 | |
|
I've always enjoyed kit-bashing and scratch-building models, so when I saw the 2021 General's Handbook included the new rules for the generic endless spells I decided to set myself the challenge of home-making my own version of every one of them. The narrative above is an attempt to explain their presence in my collection. At the time of posting this I'm halfway through my challenge, but I'll add the rest retrospectively as I finish them. I'm more happy with some of the results than others, but it's all fun. We'll come up with some house rules to make sure they all get to see the table top...
Comments
Post a Comment