The Neo Byzantinian Empire of Stropon

[sebes]

Marvelous story Strech....  the  suspense is killing! 

Anxiously waiting what will happen next.... and what will come out of Pandora's strongbox 

[nedalezz]

Dan Brown, eat your heart! This is riveting stuff!

The story's suspense is top notch. More updates!

[Pat]

Hubert just wonderful and most delighting  I cant wait for the next update

[bat]

Fantastic update there, Strechnitz!! Also looking forward to the next one!

[Slann]

*drool*

*grin*

[Russell]

Again a pleasant update 

You truly have a talent for drama and/or storytelling 

[pipishere]

Ohh....what a thrilling read!! 

[Strechnitz]

Sebes Thanks, what do yóu think will come out of that box?
Nedalezz Thank you, that is a great compliment to make.
Pat Thank you Pat, well the next update is here
Bat Thans Bat!
Slann Need a tissue my friend?
Russel Oh well, what do expect of a dramaqueen like me  LOL
Pipishere Thank you Pip, there will be more action later on.

The poor old woman sweeping the path in front of her measly slum, continued sweeping after she had given Simeon the directions to the St. Marius church. Simeon was only seconds away from disposing of the old but helpful sinner. It was his divine task to rid the world of all impurities. But then his hand clutching the long sleek knife he used for these matters loosened grip. He saw a small plastic Simeonist S hanging from a cheap metal chain around the old woman's neck. She was not a sinner. She was dirty perhaps, but a pure soul which he had to protect in the name of Saint Simeon. He let the knife go and thanked her for her directions. She did not stop her sweeping to respond. Being poor in Nargoon meant that she had a lot to do today to earn a days meal. Besides the Stroponian Lad was dirty and badly dressed, so she expected no single penny as a reward. He was a backpacking student no doubt. Wanting to experience the 'rough' side of life, before he started making a lot of money while doing virtually nothing.


She had noticed in her long destitute life, that in Nargoon at least, all the work was done by Nargoonians. The stroponian Elite sat behind large desks and played tennis or polo. Shot tigers seated high upon elephants as the old kings used to do and stuffed themselves everyday with all kinds of food imaginable. While she, worked 15 hours a day for a bowl of rice and some vegetables. And sometimes, roasted meat which the Simeonist priests handed out on Holy days to the poor. Was it any wonder young Nargoonian men left for the jungle to enlist in the revolutionary brigades? She hoped that Prince Dai Raj was indeed their leader as some people whispered. One day, and she hoped to live long enough to see that day come. One day Francis Dai Raj would head his army seated on a royal white elephant and drive those damned Stroponian Oppressors into the Indian Ocean!!

Including the hypocritical Simeonist priests who told all who would listen that the Europeans are here to help them. That Stroponians  and Nargoonians were all equal in the eyes of God and that they ought to live together in harmony. Well if she looked around her she saw the idle Stroponians being served by Nargoonian servants on their sprawling estates while the Young Nargoonians broke their bones and spirits in the mines and factories. She saw bitter little of that so called harmony.

If Simeon had known her trail of thoughts he may not have been so merciful on her. But he was on his way to the church the voice of the heavens had ordered him to go. Oh weren't the heavens all knowing and all providing? His denims were dirty and his shirt was torn. Even his sunglasses were chipped. He started to attract more attention than was good for his divine task. He was still a mere mortal, a vessel for the Heavens bidding.

He entered the building. It was quite small and apparently belonged to a poor parish seeing that it was void of the usual exuberance in the décor. He fell gratefully on his knees and said a prayer of thanks for the protection the heavens had given him to do his just work amongst the sinners. Tears of gratitude welled up in the corners of his closed eyes. When he had finished he walked to the chapel of the Holy Trinity and saw that a small parcel lay behind the faux-marble painted wooden altar.

He got it and entered a confessional to change in his new clothes. It was completely different from his old attire. A lightly coloured linen suit and white leather shoes instead of his run down sneakers appeared from the parcel. The socks and underwear were made of silk. He had never seen such materials before but liked them immediately. Oh the vanity! He could not remember anything of a possible life prior to the shed.  Along with the clothes came a new cell phone, and a wallet with cash and ID's telling him his name was now Simeon von Speicher, St Amand. There was also a small note telling him that it was the wish of the heavens that he would take a room in the Colonial Hotel and wait there upon further instructions.

A few streets away from the church he saw a few kids burning package materials. He threw his old cloths and phone on the fire and ignored their extruded hands begging for an alm. Since he walked on he did not see the hatred on their faces. In his new splendid attire he looked just like all the other Stroponians who were wealthy but deemed themselves too good to donate some to the needy. If he had seen their faces he would not have known how to interpret there looks anyway. What did he know about the situation in the colonies anyway? Let alone about the world? He knew that he was on earth to do the bidding of the heavens. To destroy sinners and protect the righteous souls, that was sufficient for Simeon.



Hours later dawn broke in the Holy Byzantinian Empire in Europe, many Stroponians flocked to the churches and cathedrals to attend the Holy mass. For those poor wretches who were too old or frail to go to church could follow the televised mass in the great Cathedral of Strechnitz where the Strechnitzian Grand High Prelate Alexander Anastacius preached his weekly dose hellfire and Brimstone to put the fear of God and government into the people. After two hours of verbal thunder his Emminence ended with the following words on the influx of job seeking immigrants that flooded the Empire lately. It had caused some disturbance when it resulted in fights between drunken Proles and immigrants in the Port cities. The phenomenon of immigrants was quite new to Stropon which never encountered these problems when its borders were closed.


Did not our Lord God in the holy Book of Simeon said to welcome the unknown traveller to your house, provide him with shelter! Provide him with food and drink! Provide him with the Warmth of your Harth! Treat him therefore, as if he is your next of kin!!! But do you abide by this axiom? This DIVINE LAW!! Do you not far too often, close your door to the needy strangers? Do you not lock yourself up behind barriers of self centered ness?! And of complacency?! Do you not shut your eyes and hope that those who are lesser fortunate, will vanish if ignored?


No they do not! We are ALL Gods creatures whether one believes it or not. Every day they come! Crawling over the borders through the thicket and Brambles. Stowaways! On trading ships out of the Vice Royalties! Seeking for the benefits of civilisation! To work and toil for an honest earned meal! But do we spare them those few well deserved crumbs of our excessive wealth?  I dare say you do not!  Disgracefully succumbing to the sins of Egoism! Greed! The Loathsome worship of money!!!  The Good Lord and saints look down upon you all with disgust and pain In their infallible hearts!!!


You my children Beware! Beware! Beware not to turn away from all that is good and righteous! Deploy the virtues that the Lord God has instilled in ALL of you! I ALL of you, my children!  Go forth and repent! Repent and make amends for your sins of egoism that will lead to your fall and ever lasting DOOM!! And do not look away for the beggars freezing in the streets. But show them mercy and give them a meal, or clothe them like saint Martin clothed the beggar. Retake your souls from the devil and do charity! For your OWN sake! For GODS sake!

And with these strong worlds the choir ended the Holy Mass with Vivaldi's Hallelujah. While most of the nation felt very guilty, even if they had never seen a beggar or immigrant in their neighbourhood. They finalised their preparations for the traditional Sunday Brunches. His Emminence Alexander Anastacius was driven up to Kayserbürgen palace to hear the Holy Emperors weekly confession.  These confessions were mainly for the record. The old monarch committed little sins apart from a good glass of port and a chocolate too many now and then. His worst sin was usually ogling a very pretty young dame when she made an appearance at court. So usually after 2 or 3 minutes of  confession both gentlemen would partake in a Sunday brunch that would last 2 or 3 hours discussing worldly or more exalted matters.


The Grand High Prelate arrived at Kayserbürgen Palace and  ascended the grand stairs. At the top of the stairs a voice spoke.  "I beg your forgiveness your Eminence, but might I ask your advise, on a matter of conscience and faith?"

To be continued



Strech.

[rooker1]

Strech,
I don't comment here often enough, but your pics and story are awsome.  I really like the story, but somedays I don't feel like reading so much.  So after a week or so I find myself going back a page or so and reading it over. 
Great stuff here.
Robin 

[pipishere]

Another lovely read!! Simeon sure is handsome

[kwakelaar]

I have just been catching up on the story, Persephone 4.....what a clever disguise she has made for herself. 

[bat]

That is a very nice continuation to this story!!
Looking forward to the next one!

[sebes]

Sebes Thanks, what do yóu think will come out of that box?

Hubert, I have no clue! I could be guessing but you seem to amaze and surprise me every time with something new... So I keep my mouth shut and just see what will pop up satisfied:

[Russell]

Bravo, Hubert, you continue to amuse and delight...and to keep my interest!

But I have to admit that I'm tempted to borrow the concept of a sermon from this update to my own MD...

Rickard

[Emperor Stormont]

Another lovely read!! Simeon sure is handsome

OMG I so agree with you Pip, LOL

Joyous to read as always dear Hubert, your updates do make me smile and I am always awaiting the next instalment.......so hurry up, lol

[Pat]

Hubert loved the Update from 1/18 and is there going to be one anytime soon here??? I'm seriously having some major withdrawals from my favorite deviant empire

[Strechnitz]

To all,

I am indeed sorry, that I've neglected to post a message explaining my temporary absence.

Apart from my studies and social life, which leave room for Stropon
My boyfriend and I are redeveloping/flipping a house which is quite fun but also very time intensive. apart from things we do ourselves we have two builders running around who need a steady flow of directions
But they do a terrific job.

But fear not, espescially you dear Pat, Stropon is an eternal empire (although some internal unrest is mounting) and will return very soon for it will never end! (ominous last words? lol), probably next week you will find a new update here.
Because we are almost done with our project house.

Love, and take care,

Strechnitz.

[Pat]

Hubert that is some great news errr scary news but either way awesome lol.... Are you having fun Flippin this house?  [linkie]  that is what counts here as long as you are having fun....

[TheTeaCat]

Hubert

Been a while since I popped in, sorry about that so much to do so litle time, I'm sure you understand.

Fantastic stuff you've done with Stropon and it seems that your RL is no less busy, Hope all works out well
for you in the end. I look forward to seeing where you go with the eagerly awaited update

Regards
Derry

[bat]

Welcome to page 27!

Yes, great news there! Looking forward to the next update...