The Order of Sanct Creopbaina thought that the government of Östlaed would become and/or be a full theocratic government within Östlaed, meaning very little input and delegation from the Thanes and the military. Their initial success with getting the Thanes to agree to a theocratic government meant, well they thought at least, that they would be in ultimate control. A monk of the Order as the head of the realm? A faithful, successful monk in a long family line of monks? There was no question. However, they seriously underestimated the political, military, and economic power of the Thanes. Also, they underestimated how many wealthy individuals - wealthy Östrons - would relocate to Acholm, in particular after the establishment of Acholmshire. These factors influenced the Anwealda Mark Accynnafon far more than they originally envisioned. This drift from strict Theocracy contributed to the following events.

Master Peter Barrow of the Imperial monastery wrote a series of books in the early 500s concerning the need for a more fervent faith and fear in the almighty Creeper and its spirit. These works were very influential, helping to unite the faith even more across the Empire. These works were also well received within the Laghiman Church of the Reformed Creeper, and led to an increasingly close relationship between Laghima and Östlaed. Ideas exchanged between the heads of the LCRC and the OSC on matters of faith on a regular basis with the establishment of protected maritime trade routes connecting the Imperial Sea and the Ivangetop Sea. During this great exchange of ideals, some followers felt that sharing statements of faith with what they previously saw as a heretic Creeperism violated their religious ideals and religious identity.

This distrust spread to certain elements of the Order - mostly Brothers of the interior tribes, not yet annexed by Östlaed. This group of Creeper monks put out their own book in the year 501 extolling positions of isolation, extreme nationalism, and calls for a return to strict Creeper worship. Long ago the Östron people lost their militant strict obedience to Creeperism, and had transformed the faith into more of a cultural ritual involving many drinking holidays, and even regular drunkenness during the weekly service. These fundamentalist monks wanted a return to strict control of the behaviors of those who belonged to the Östron faith. Surprisingly, many people were empathetic to these ideas, but by no means the majority. However, a significant minority even in coastal villages like Acholm and Gourdham began to identify with this new fundamentalist form of Östron Creeperism.

The head of the Monastery in Acholm, Artair Berghand, voyaged east of Östlaed to meet with some of these fundamentalist brothers of the Order in 502. He spent several months with these individuals, and fell into their influence. They urged him to keep quiet upon his return to Acholm - they had a master plan.

~oOo~

Mark Accynnafon II, the oldest son of the ruler of Östlaed, began his training as a monk quite early. At the age of 12, he started his studies at the Acholm monastery. Typically this doesn't happen until 16, however, at the age of 16 Mark II had advanced so far in his education, and in his religious passion that he was inducted as the youngest monk the Order of Sanct Creopbaina. Praised was his instruction under Master Artair Berghand. Young Mark II could speak multiple languages important to the faith - Gwaeilgen, Old Dwarvish, and Proto-Östronish. He was a master in the art of making monastic ale. Strange to his father, however, was his obedience to the old behavioral guidelines. Anwealda Mark Accynnafon wasn't quite worried about the Fundamentalist Creeperism too much, at least not enough to be suspect of this behavior from his son. Even if he did think anything of it, he surely chalked it up to young, juvenile infatuation with the religion.

Master Artair Berghand knew otherwise.

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Ealdorman Cerdic Beoden Accynnafon of Östlond
Runner Up of the Glas Claddach Boat Building Competition
Minister of Justice