Walter's trip to Rome.

**Roxas** · April 13, 2012, 04:45 AM

It had taken Walter almost a month of weary sailing and putting up with some quite torrid weather and conditions before the vessel he had taken a ride on had finally reached the center of the Church's glorious authority; he somehow wondered if he would do anything for money, for why would someone as lowly as him be allowed an audience with one of the most influential figures in the known world, the Holy Pope himself. He sweated as he tried to find his way through the bustling streets, only knowing a little of the local language and culture as he took his time in scouring the city until he unknowingly came upon the focal point of Christianity itself bar the Holy lands, the Pope's holy Cathedral in Rome. He hastily prepared his letter from 'King' William, knowing that he would need some concrete proof of his identity and his reasoning for travelling all this way. When he had ensured himself that everything would be alright, he set off to arrange an audience...

**Carl von Döbeln** · April 13, 2012, 05:26 AM

An audience was, on the fifth day, eventually granted...

**Roxas** · April 13, 2012, 06:13 AM

Walter had been meticulously been racking his brain and reading as many scholarly books as he could lay his stained hands upon, preparing himself as much as possible for the meeting; wiping the sweat from his brows and shaking off his nerves of being in such a grand and overwhelming place, Walter entered the room he would be having the audience in, awestruck by it's magnificence and the amount of holy objects littered around the room as he flung bowed in humble respect for the man.

"Your eminence; I am but your humble servant sent from Lord William Neville of the House Neville, situated in England. He asks that I explain to thee the dire political instability and situation currently festering within the realm and causing our grand nation to slowly fall apart."

He gulped, he hoped he had made a decent first impression as he was rather intimidated by his holiness's staring gaze, none of his shadowy training had prepared him for something like this, the thought of messing up and being excommunicated made him shiver and wince slightly, it was clear to see that he was but a young child who was still maturing in the world and was not used to such pressuring situations such as this. This had caused him to drift into silence for an awkward period, himself suddenly noticing and hoping he had not caused offense;

"I'm do deeply apologize, I think the grand scale of this place got to me. As I was saying prior to my abrupt and rude pause, I have been told to ask for your gracious support in recognizing Lord William's claim to the Crown of England, for we are in dire need of a ruler in this time of death and kin-slaying. There is but no other claimants besides the son of the treacherous Lord Perceval; surely you can see that if he was given the throne instability would still remain through the peerage, not everyone would look fondly towards such a King and we would yet again remain in the murky waters of civil war and assassinations. I your humble servant ask that you consider the request of acknowledging the claim of My Lord; this will prevent the upcoming conflict which these other claimants and other rebellious elements are so geared towards bringing to the land and we will once again have a flourishing kingdom. We must not allow any more deaths than there have already been, surely you must see that if thee does not act swiftly there will be an impending period of God's children mercilessly killing each other."

Walter nervously gulped, hoping he had done enough.

**Carl von Döbeln** · April 13, 2012, 06:24 AM

William Neville has no valid claim to the throne of England.

Pope Gregory said. He had been informed of the english political situation by the last king, Richard...

Thus, I can not acknowledge his 'claim'. The son of Lord Perceval is the rightful king, there is no question about this fact. He may be the son of a traitor, but a child does not inherit the sins of his father, not in the eyes of God.

**Roxas** · April 13, 2012, 06:48 AM

"That may be so; however I must stress the fact that the people will not be as wise on the matter and there could be terrible uprisings and public doubt over the Royal family and the Crown if such a dubious family were to retake the crown. God would not wish for more conflict; it would not be feasible to allow the boy to take the throne without their being bloodshed."

Walter paused; he was used to stubborn people and was hoping he would be able to show his holiness that there was only one logical way to sate the problem.

"You must understand that for the time being, there must be some sort of law and order and there needs to be someone with a strong support of the people and the power to keep the realm stable under their rule. This boy may have the support of some, but that does not mean he has the support of the whole nation. As for your saying that he does not inherit the sins of his father; let me remind you of a passage from the holy bible my eminence if I may."

Walter said so in latin; since it was a sin to do it in any other language.

14-18 ‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’

Walter also was bemused that the church supported the fact that the Normans had a legitimate claim to England in the first place.

"May I also say that the young boy stems from a Norman blood-line; not one of Saxon heritage that had the claim to the crown of England. There was no legitimate claim for the Normans to seize the crown in the first place. So therefore there is little choice for any of us but to choose someone who is strong enough to maintain the peace and prevent any civil unrest to take to the throne, something which the young Percival cannot since his whole family carries the sins of his father."

OOC: Hehe. ^_^ .

**Carl von Döbeln** · April 13, 2012, 07:01 AM

When last I looked, I, not Walter, was the Bishop of Rome and the leader of the church. Do not seek to lecture me.

Gregory said, and wine was brought forward...

Duke Richard had a proper claim to the english throne, for King Edward had named him his successor. Now, this boy, wheter he is saxon or norman, is the rightful king. If your master wishes to avoid bloodshed and open revolt, he should, if he is so powerful and beloved by the people as you claim, take the young boy's side and protect his right to the throne. The young boy is a Lionheart, and the true king. This man, Lord Neville, shall never carry the white papal banner, and shall never be recognized as king. If he does not support and aid the true heir to the crown, he shall be condemned!

The pope shouted, banging his fist against the wooden table that stood infront of him...

**Roxas** · April 13, 2012, 07:13 AM

Walter sighed, it seemed in all his infinite wisdom, the Pope was just a mere puppet of the greedy squabbling nobles which made up the various nations of Europe. He decided not to press any further, since it would only end in him attempting to remove the old fool. Graciously thanking for the audience and leaving in a swift manner.