Brothers and Sisters,
Fellow sons and daughters of Noah,

Standing on a hill before the gathered nobility of Armenia, Palomides Jaguar looks across the expecting faces.
The anticipation had been mounting since the provisions were distributed at dawn.

Slowly he steps forward taking a moment to nod and give a confident smile to his most trusted advisor.
Sparapet Athanasius Pernath and he had been deciding this moment for nearly a half a year.

Turning to nod at the Lady Graywolf he also smiles.
She had been there ever since the first when Ser Vukodav had sent Palo to bring her.
The bond was not a passionate one, but it was fitting for two who shared such a long history.

Looking back he allowed the silence that had gathered to go for only a moment more.
A mark to the solemnity of the endeavor.

Children of Noah! Brothers and Sisters of Christ Love!
We begin our journey to free the lands of the Bible where the disciples of Christ taught!

A small murmur of quickly mouthed hallelujah's and praise God rolled like a jubilant wave through the gathering.

One of the places of greatest teaching was the lands of Antioch. That is the city known as the first Patriarchy of Peter.
The most dedicated disciple of Christ had founded the first full community of Christian faithful there. Mostly formed from the gentiles who lived there and a few even of the Hebrews. Sons and daughters of Jacob.
When he had completed the task given by our Lord and Savior he left to establish Christ's Gospel in the heart of Rome. The mightiest earthly power the world knew in his day! A pagan nation of idolators and heathens! One that persecuted Christ's faithful wherever they could.

A pause looking at the growing wonderment on many of the faces before him.

Today Antioch is again a place of lawlessness and the faithful weep for the world they live in now.
I would have us rescue our brothers and sisters. We will reclaim and renew the teachings of Christ in that wilderness!

A shout of .."Amen".. rang from many of those gathered....

Amen indeed.....As God Wills.....We do not go in Pride.

We go in certainty. Certainty that we have the ability to awaken the Word and the Will once again in the lands where it once lived and breathed!
We go in glorious song and in confidence! Weapons will be tied and not caressed. Prayer will be the work we look first upon. Not spilling of blood.

A few heads turned with questioning glances.....a sliver of fear....All wise men know fear....they just deal with it.

However.....we will be ready if others come upon us with black intent.

The mood relaxed again...

Because they may feel threatened by our march for this Holy cause, we must avoid risking conflict with our Akritan and Syrian neighbors! They have been honorable brothers to us.

Our relations with both have had some past conflict already, but as the histories go we have all existed beside each other in peace. Peace as the Savior had called us to do.
We should all like to see that continue.

Though I refuse to allow any to interfere while we break the hold of lawlessness that exists in Antioch today.
Our path will is one that is chosen to not bring us to open war while we attend our Holy cause.

Bringing HOPE to Antioch ...where we will bring order and peace to the wildness that exists there now.

Loud cheers raise and weapons strike shields in joyful agreement.....

Kneel with me now as I pray for the joy and peace in your hearts.
Come and let us, as one family, pray before we depart.

At this Palomides knelt down, upon one knee and signed himself with the cross ..... Giving a nod to the priest present wondering if it was the holy Bishop Arsen, or if he had selected another to perform the blessing over the beginning of this journey of relief.