Klonor
17-08-2004, 01:21
Grand Prophet Erwin Multy, Lord of the Order of the Spirit, sat in his chambers and thought to himself. The Faithful has just passed 200 million in number, and All were loyal to the Galactic Spirit. He was the Spirits messenger in Life, so in effect the 200 million were loyal to him. Not bad for a two-bit scam artist.
In fact, it was actually to good for a two-bit scam artist. What he'd originally planned to be nothing more than a ridiculous Cult to be sucked dry and abandoned in a few years had become an actual religion, no longer under his sole control. He couldn't just expose his falshood and disappear like he'd planned. So, he was in a predicament.
The membership was huge, with believers in every Associated System and in every branch of the Government. The rest of the Government wouldn't just ignore it for long, eventually they'd realise it was a threat and take steps to make sure it wasn't used against them. This would include looking into the history of its founder and exposing him as a convicted felon and frequent extortionist.
Grand Prophet Erwin Multy would then be hunted down and strung up by the "Believers". He did not want that. So, he'd need something to make it in the Governments best interest that he remain in power. Threats wouldn't work, 200 million followers was barely even 1/50 of the total Association population and they couldn't do much to damage it. Bribery wouldn't work either, the Duke had all the money he'd ever need. Literally. Power wouldn't work, the Duke, though officially pretty much powerless in the new Government, still commanded the loyalty of practically everybody. So, what could he do?
What about a different kind of power? A more........inspired kind of power?
He was getting old. Well, not really, but he could say he was. He'd need to retire soon. He'd need to appoint a new Messenger of the Galactic Spirit. Somebody to take over after he "Joined the Spirit". Somebody like......the Grand Duke Solomon Klonor.
Yes......yes, that would work. His Followers would have a new Messenger in Life, the Government would be safe from the Order of the Spirit, and Grand Prophet Erwin Multy would finally be able to abandon this God-awful job. He didn't even believe in that damn Galactic Spirit, he was a strict follower of Jove since the day he'd been born (FYI: A similar cult in Deneb several IC centuries ago was founded on the religon of Ancient Rome). But the Galactic Spirit was where the money was, and he'd capitalised. Now, if only he could get in contact with the Duke.........
In fact, it was actually to good for a two-bit scam artist. What he'd originally planned to be nothing more than a ridiculous Cult to be sucked dry and abandoned in a few years had become an actual religion, no longer under his sole control. He couldn't just expose his falshood and disappear like he'd planned. So, he was in a predicament.
The membership was huge, with believers in every Associated System and in every branch of the Government. The rest of the Government wouldn't just ignore it for long, eventually they'd realise it was a threat and take steps to make sure it wasn't used against them. This would include looking into the history of its founder and exposing him as a convicted felon and frequent extortionist.
Grand Prophet Erwin Multy would then be hunted down and strung up by the "Believers". He did not want that. So, he'd need something to make it in the Governments best interest that he remain in power. Threats wouldn't work, 200 million followers was barely even 1/50 of the total Association population and they couldn't do much to damage it. Bribery wouldn't work either, the Duke had all the money he'd ever need. Literally. Power wouldn't work, the Duke, though officially pretty much powerless in the new Government, still commanded the loyalty of practically everybody. So, what could he do?
What about a different kind of power? A more........inspired kind of power?
He was getting old. Well, not really, but he could say he was. He'd need to retire soon. He'd need to appoint a new Messenger of the Galactic Spirit. Somebody to take over after he "Joined the Spirit". Somebody like......the Grand Duke Solomon Klonor.
Yes......yes, that would work. His Followers would have a new Messenger in Life, the Government would be safe from the Order of the Spirit, and Grand Prophet Erwin Multy would finally be able to abandon this God-awful job. He didn't even believe in that damn Galactic Spirit, he was a strict follower of Jove since the day he'd been born (FYI: A similar cult in Deneb several IC centuries ago was founded on the religon of Ancient Rome). But the Galactic Spirit was where the money was, and he'd capitalised. Now, if only he could get in contact with the Duke.........