Record of Painting CDLXXVIII, 1532
Today a new curiosity was brought to us. Found in a damaged home, it was surrounded by unholy markings. Two men found in the home were taken and punished righteously. The item, a painting, is said to be a doorway to another place. Myself and Brother Edar will take charge of it.
- Jabez
The men confessed that they helped a known heretic, Amos Valerius. They created the object together. Then he touched its face with his hands, and he entered within the painting and they sealed him inside.
I prayed over the item for hours but I did not feel God's presence within it. I then brushed it with holy water. Edar did the same and we donned our communal robes in preparation. Father Maadiah then blessed us and we began our work.
Edar touched it first. On its face he placed his hands and then he began to melt within. Then he disappeared, and the painting remained unchanged. I followed him. There was no pain entering.
When I opened my eyes once more I saw that we had entered into the painted world. All was colorful and bright. The nature surrounding us was much larger than us. All movements felt unnatural, as if we were walking slowly to balance against a strong wind at our backs. As I looked around myself I saw Brother Edar standing with me, and behind us both was a towering tree. At its base were two handprints, each one of our sizes.
We both turned to the tree and placed our hands on the prints. With that we were taken back and returned to the Abbey. I fell to my knees and began gagging. I was sickened by the place. Edar complained of a headache and took to bed. I know that place was made in the absence of God and his love. Mankind should not take to making lands as if they were the Lord. I knew that we must return to find Valerius and have him retire from that place.
- Jabez
Before we returned to the unclean place both Brother Edar and I rested and prepared for three days and nights. Edar had been overtaken by his head pain for the full night following our first entrance, but he is now feeling strong again.
We underwent our blessings and entered the painting once more. This time we were prepared to venture out to find Valerius. We entered by the towering trees again and began down the path.
Edar and I walked the path for three hours before finding the signs of Valerius. We found footprints that had been left by a lake in the sand. It appeared as if he left the lake after a time and retreated into the forest. At this time my head was beginning to throb from the sickening colors so we sat to rest. The animals by the lake behaved almost like animals, but Edar and I could tell it was but a sick imitation of the natural world. After my head cleared we continued on.
We walked for a time down the second footpath. Through the tall trees we found a clearing, and in the middle was Valerius. He was sitting on the ground cross-legged, his head bowed and hands folded. We approached him and spoke aloud.
"Valerius, what is this place?" Edar asked him.
Valerius answered, "A place where I can live and love in the eyes of the Lord without the judgement of man."
"Do not rejoice. This place is without God, Valerius." Edar said. "Return home."
"I can not return from here. You know not of this place or how the Lord's love fills my heart. Leave me." Valerius replied.
"We shall return again Valerius. To be in this place is dishonorable, as written in Leviticus. You know this within your heart."
We left Valerius sitting in the field to think on our words. We returned to the tall trees and back to the Abbey. In a short time we shall find him again to convince him further.
- Jabez
We prepared and returned to the painted world once more. Though we searched near and far we could not find trace of Valerius. We found others however. Each had come to be within the confines of this place. These citizens lived on the land, each wandering in sin through the landscapes. None would heed the word of the Lord as we taught it.
We continued to enter the painting many times in search of Valerius, to end this sinful display. Time seemed to move faster within the painting compared to our world. Each time Edar and I entered the trees had grown taller and the townsfolk had aged greatly. We found that Valerius had visited each citizen that we met, but none would tell us where he was in their misguided love for him. They said that our persistence caused Valerius many great torments.
- Jabez
We entered the painting's world again, and though I fell ill from it we continued. Edar and I entered a cluster of shelters to spread the word of the Lord, and to teach the people of uncleanliness. The people turned to us and they said "If you wish to learn why we love this place so, come to the Church." And so we followed them.
We walked through the trees to a stunning white church. The bells rang out above us as we approached, and all the people followed us. I could feel my sickness banished as we stepped inside. Within the church was a beautiful painting of Jesus, that which grace I had never before been blessed to see. I approached the altar and fell to my knees in prayer. Then Valerius spoke out from behind us.
"This is our Church. We have built it with our hands."
"It is magnificent." I said.
"This place is beautiful, and if you let me I will show it to you." Valerius replied.
Then we walked together to a window in the church. Through it I could see the mountains high above, and from them flowing waters of a river cascaded into the lake. Valerius took us outside to a rocky path and we walked up the mountain together. We stopped to rest in the shade of a tree. We sat together and looked out at the landscape below. The sun shone through the clouds in radiant beams, dancing on the forest floor. The river caught the light in brilliant colors.
Valerius turned to us and said "Do you see? It is hallowed here."
Edar answered "I see this place and its glittering promises. But this place was not made by the Lord."
"Do you not know why I built this place? Why I could not stay in Rome?" Valerius replied. "I was to be hung."
"And your charges were well proven, as was your complicity." Edar said.
Valerius hung and shook his head, shedding a tear. "To stay was to die. My beloved did not wish for that."
Edar replied, "To die for your crimes. Now you have built a place to sin freely and wrestle the sacred scripture to your own meaning."
Valerius said "I have built a place to worship and love one another in peace. Is this so evil?"
Edar answered, "You ran from the justice of the Church and denied the laws of Christendom. Now you are here, and have defiled this land with your relations."
Valerius did not reply.
Edar and I left Valerius and returned from the mountain to pass by the church once more. We stopped and I prayed for Valerius. Then we walked to the tall trees and returned to the Abbey.
I feel myself torn. This place is not of the Father, by whom all things were made, but of man. It sprouts from unnatural powers. Could a place so graceful not be a gift from God? Or am I being tempted by the allure of sin? To stay in a place made from unsanctified powers must be to be unclean, is it not?
- Jabez
I talked to Father Maadiah of my concerns. He discussed with me at length about Valerius and his troubles, and the reasons for his anathema from Rome. The Brothers would not stand to let Valerius live in this place, and would sooner carry out his final sentence. I left feeling no less conflicted. I will speak to Brother Edar and convince him to let Valerius confess, and give him the opportunity to be forgiven for his past crimes in the Lord's eyes. I see no other way to guide Valerius safely.
- Jabez
A time later we entered the world on a starlit night, and began our search once more. We found Valerius sitting with a man by the lake. He had aged greatly. As we approached, Valerius stood to face us.
"Why have you returned?" Valerius asked.
"Because this life is sinful Valerius. To live like this is to be bastardized in the eyes of God. This place is unclean." Edar answered.
"How could a place so full of love and beauty be unblessed in the eyes of the Lord?" Valerius replied. "There is nothing but peace in this world made in His vision. We are harming none in being here together."
To this Edar said "For you to have such enjoyment in this makes it all the worse. You are sinning against your own body. I bewail that you do not see the shame in this."
"Edar, I tell you truthfully, the Lord's pure love flows through this world. By His word that binds this place I can not leave." Valerius replied.
Edar answered "Not only your body but your soul is disgraced by this place, and this uncleanliness must be driven out."
Valerius said "I have wandered and loved in this world for years. I have grown and helped those around me and been at peace. Why will you not let us rest in our innocent passion and worship?"
Edar replied, "It is our duty, for this place is unholy. Return with us to confess and face your crimes, and we will never again enter this place. Refuse and we will have no choice but to destroy it."
To this Valerius looked to his companion and they exchanged a lengthy embrace. Then Valerius returned to the towering tree with us. He placed his hand on its surface first and faded away. We did the same and returned to the Abbey. When I opened my eyes once more Valerius was not there. At once Edar and I attempted to return into the paintings world, but our efforts were left unanswered. To all our touches the painting remained still, and we could not return.
The painting is now barren of the powers it had possessed. It can be found on the eastern wall of the Abbey.
I mourn for Valerius. I did not know the ramifications we set forth.
- Jabez
