Steel Empire
Constance Council 1

Nearly a month had passed since Ludolf made his public condemnation of the Church, and by that time, thousands of copies of his manifesto had spread throughout the German-speaking region, priests, bishops, and the Church, and nobles alike flocked to his goal of sharing their support for him. What began as a local heretic as considered by the church quickly consumed the German world and burned like wildfire. The Catholic Church is in crisis; both the Papacy in Avignon and the Vatican have publicly declared the Ludolf Reformation an extension of the Heresy of Berengar, which the Vatican has long sought to counter to its growing influence.

Gaining the support of the Cursed Berengar as the Church called it really helped Ludolf's cause given that many German nobles were personally sympathetic to his suffering. However, now that a properly ordained priest has publicly endorsed his idea has begun to spread throughout Austria, the idea was quickly accepted openly by many who sought to end the Church's influence over secular affairs.

It did not take long for the Church to convene a council on this issue, and several other issues plaguing the Catholic church today, such was the reconciliation of the Papacy and the present affairs of the Teutonic Order which they had thoroughly completed, provoking the Orthodox church with their Rus' Crusades.

A group of Cardinals, Bishops, and two men, both declared themselves true Popes sitting in a chapel located within the Bisophric of Constance, a region within the Holy Roman Empire, the, and what would be considered part of the Kingdom of Germany. A large group of men are currently in a heated debate, first on the issue of Heresy Berengar, which is now spreading rapidly throughout the German world, if something is not done immediately, he said, then even if they managed to successfully repel and destroy Berengar. Cursed and powerful, they would still not be able to completely destroy this heretic.

Pope Simeon II, officially recognized as the Vatican Pope, argued with his companion from Avignon, known as Pope Avilius III. Simeon was the first to speak of the Berengar heresy, which began to become a serious problem for everyone in the room.

“If we do not end this heresy while it is still in its infancy, it will probably destroy the Church as a whole! Clearly, we must not only obtain the orders of the Crusades, but also the pious nobles of every Christian kingdom to march in. The territory most affected by this blasphemy, he said, and put all these heretics to the sword!"

Avilius, on the other hand, inevitably scoffed at this idea; it was ridiculous to think that they could make the whole Christian Order invade Germany; the German nobility would not simply allow foreign troops into their lands to slaughter their people. If anything, it would unite the German states and prevent the impending civil war, which the Church desperately wants to take advantage of the Chaos and gain more power and influence. Therefore, the other so-called Pope in the room could not help but deny the former.

"Tell me, Simeon, how do you plan to distinguish believers from heretics?"

Simeon did not hesitate to give his opinion and boldly declared to be heard by the entire room.

"God will know!"

In the end the voice of reason came to the very charismatic Cardinal who suggested to them all a more diplomatic approach.

"Have any of you really tried to reason with the man we call the Cursed Berengar? Clearly, the man was a learned individual with a vast knowledge of scripture. Seeing how before Ludolf even made his accusations against us, Berengar had translated the Bible accurately.into German and began distributing it, along with his own interpretation in a series of pamphlets."

Both Simeon and Avilius shook their heads; in fact, if anything, Simeon was guilty of perpetually escalating the conflict; now, it is, he was already familiar with how Berengar reacted to anyone trying to use their authority on him, and clearly, it had a negative result. Therefore, the cardinal continued his speech and blamed the Vatican Pope.

"Simeon, if you take a moment to reflect on this issue, you will realize that if you do not support Lambert's efforts to eliminate his older brother and strengthen the legacy, which is Berengar's right, you will realize that if you do not support Lambert's efforts to eliminate his older brother and strengthen the legacy, which is Berengar's right, then none of this will happen! Any time you try to force your way on a legitimately appointed Regent, it blows up in your face! A mere young man has outwitted you in every single thing you conspired against him! Who says he won't outwit and defeat you once more when you invade his land with the Teutonic Order?"

After being reviled and accurately by a Cardinal under his command, Pope Simeon II lowered his head shamefully for all bishops and cardinals to see. What the Cardinal said is true. However, he would be damned if he did not ask Berengar to pay for the continuous humiliation he had suffered, including the one that had just happened here in the Constance Council.

As such, Simeon could not help but protest the idea that the omnipotent Church should negotiate with the lowly Viscounty Regent.

"I refuse, as the representative of God on this Earth, I will not bow my head to the lowly Viscount or his cursed son acting as Regent in his place! I'll get satisfaction for this perverted young man's angry act!"

With that, the Council of Constance was divided on how to proceed with the Berengar heresy issue; some wanted to invade the affected lands and slaughter everyone living in them. Some wanted to negotiate with Berengar to see if he would stop his anti-regime propaganda and some secretly sided with Berengar and the points he and Ludolf made. If anything, Simeon's reaction to everything, proves that Berengar was right. However, they were too afraid to voice their concerns and, therefore, remained silent. These Bishops and Cardinals who agreed with Berengar and Ludolf would be the backbone of the German Reformation. For now, the Council continues, there are many topics to discuss, and they have yet to conclude how to proceed with Berengar and his views.