Vatican City, September 01, 1905
Pope Urban IX and Holy Roman Emperor Franz Ferdinand formally received a visit from Witch Finder General Sykes at the Vatican with a formal state dinner, reception and awards ceremony. The Vatican granted the Witch Finder General the Papal rank of Marquis, the function of Envoy on Matters of Diabolic and Vampiric Infestation as well as the award of Order of the Golden Spur “in recognition for his devotion to the defense of Mankind against the Unclean and Unholy”.
Arrival and Reception
Witch Finder General Sykes was accompanied by a small, heavily armed entourage including former members of L’Accion Catholica of Los Angeles, Hiver New Agonyclites and sailors from his ship Zarya. Traveling under papers from both the Vatican and Austria Hungary, he appears to have gate to Austria Hungary with a Vatican escort before traveling there. All aspects of his reception were consistent with one held for a recognized monarch or head of state and the fetes and honors were extensive including the formal recording of the names of all of those traveling with him by the Vatican and a special Mass. Sykes carried a briefcase which he kept handcuffed to him until after meeting with the Pope and Holy Roman Emperor.
Political Ramifications
Witch Finder General Sykes is listed as a fugitive from the Empire of New York and had been operating as a religious privateer. Formal titles from the Vatican radically elevate his status on the international stage and give him diplomatic credentials. In addition, the actions of the Vatican clearly advance Pope Urban IX’s new Church Militant agenda. The Vatican has both a formal Holy Roman Emperor and a recognized force against what are view as “hostile and diabolic forces”. While a formal crusade against Ceauşescu Romania has not been declared, Witch Finder General Sykes is on record as personally declaring war on that nation prior to his reception and a number of countries supporting Pope Urban IX have access to sailing vessels of various tech levels.Witch Finder General Sykes was unavailable for comment.
