Speaking of Minecraft

As previously mentioned, St. John Notch has been rescued via the use of a level editor. The details were that I recreated the level with the same seed, then copied and pasted the cathedral and surrounding grounds into the new version, then rebuilt the missing portion. The Crafting Murloc also joined me to help complete it.

Here's the restored portion of the cathedral. Note gold tabernacle.

Since it's east-facing, like all churches worth their salt, the sunrise shows through the window.

An outside view of the window.

A few other things: the pulpit is now less-awkwardly placed.

There is a baptismal font at the entrance, where it should be, because it is through the waters of baptism that we enter the Church.

I can't remember if I showed the Notre Dame-inspired rose windows at the ends of the wings.

View from the choir loft, which really is the best place to be.

The cathedral now also has a catacombs.

Directly under the main altar:

There's a subterranean chapel where Mass is offered every day for the souls of the faithful departed.

The catacombs of smaller side rooms where the kings and bishops are buried.

And under the wings, are larger crypts for the priests and noblemen.

New on the outside, the dome has been upgraded to gold.

An aerial view of the traditional cross-shape architecture of the cathedral.

We also have flying buttresses, complete with gargoyles.

The bell towers were heightened.

And a fountain was placed in front.

The roofers came by and upgraded the roof material.

"Hey, I gotta fresh batch of netherbrick, straight from the hell dimension. Where do you want I should put it?"

There's a grotto off to one side.

With a waterfall near it.

Behind the cathedral is a path for the Stations of the Cross.

There's also a cemetery outside.

Headstones mark the graves of the faithful departed.

Larger crypts are for benefactors and influential families.

Most of the crypts are smaller.

But one in particular is larger than the rest.

This one has an under-the-beneath, with a room at the end, separated from the rest by wrought iron bars.

In here lies the body of Griswold the Gruesome. He was a tyrant who assassinated the rightful king and usurped the throne, then violently put down any who rebelled.

For 30 years, he ruthlessly ruled the land, oppressing the people, waging bloody war after bloody war with the surrounding kingdoms, overrunning the smaller sovereigns, decimating their populations and adding their treasure to his coffers. Into any town that resisted him, he would send his troops to slaughter all the men, and abduct the women for his harem.

Over the years, numerous resistances rose up in his own kingdom, but they were always violently suppressed. More covert tactics were sometimes employed, and assassins would be sent to kill him. There are at least three known poisoning attempts. Each time, enough poison to kill an ox was put into his food, and each time, he lived. The parties behind the attempted tyrannicides were always found and their mutilated bodies would be put on display for all to see.

When he finally overextended his army, greedily entering into an ill-advised war with a nation much stronger than his own, a revolt broke out amongst the people, over the latest round of taxes levied to support his war effort. They overran the castle, stabbed him through the heart, dragged his body to the highest tower, and cast him to the ground below. When the mob climbed back down, they found a pool of blood... but no body.

Six days later, Griswold returned, leading a contingent of his death squad, back from the front lines. They rode into the city, swords aflame, beheading all those involved in storming the castle, and lighting their homes on fire, women and children still inside. He returned to his castle, and retook his throne.

His next reign was even bloodier than the first. Each day, he would offer a virgin sacrifice, and drink her blood. All males 14 and above were conscripted into his army. All females 12 and above were either forced into hard labor making devious and perverse instruments for his war, or forced to accompany the army as slave girls.

As bloody as his second reign was, so it was also mercifully short. After a mere 100 days, his armies had completely collapsed, and the opposing nation besieged his capital. Riots broke out in the streets, as even his death squads were unable to maintain order, or keep the regular soldiers in line. After three days of rioting and burning of the city, the mob once more overpowered his castle guard and stormed his throne room. This time, they quartered him and beheaded him.

The besieging army finally broke through the gates to find a city rejoicing. Flower petals were showered upon the invading army, and they were escorted by the people to the castle, where their commanders were offered the finest feast that they had ever had. The royal treasury was raided, and what remained of Griswolds once-vast riches were given to the invaders, as payment for saving the nation.

St. John Notch was re-consecrated, a Mass of thanksgiving was offered, and in the catacombs, a separate Mass was prayed for the dead of the conquering army—the first Masses to be offered in the cathedral in nearly 30 years, since the beginning of Griswold's reign. (Griswold had very early in his reign closed the cathedral and forced the bishop and priests underground. The cathedral itself was used for everything from a brothel, to a slaughterhouse for dissidents, to the kings private torture chambers. When his troops first came to seize the grounds, the clergy fled, leaving the blessed sacrament behind, to be desecrated by Griswold. Only one brave acolyte stayed behind to guard the eucharist. When the troops battered open the doors, he consumed all the sacred hosts that remained in the tabernacle, lest they fall into evil hands. For his bravery, he was run through by the tyrant-king's soldiers, although his remains were collected by the priests who had abandoned him. His body now lies in the altar of the subterranean chapel, where numerous miraculous healings have taken place.)

In the middle of the thanksgiving Mass, the doors to the cathedral were flung open and Griswold strolled in, a foul odor emitting from his pustulent and decomposing flesh. Crude stitches kept his arms and legs attached to his body, and he carried his head under one army. He yelled curses and oaths at all present, and vowed his revenge.

He was immediately beset upon by all there, and carried from the church, where he was thrown in a bonfire and his body burned. An unearthly scream, punctuated by more curses and vows of revenge were heard by all who witnessed it, and lasted for hours, until the bonfire burned to nothing and all that was left were his charred bones.

At this point, the people were terrified, noting that he seemingly could not be killed. Wondering what to do to prevent him from returning once more, the idea dawned upon them to bury his body on holy ground, where the demons feared to enter and repossess his corpse. He was taken to an unused crypt on the cathedral grounds, his body placed in a tomb of obsidian, fused shut into one single piece that could not open. The heads of two saints, who had been martyred by Griswold, were placed atop the tomb, to keep eternal watch over him. Two torches were lit, and although the crypt was sealed with iron bars that could not be opened, the torches still burn to this day.

The heads are of Saints Columbkille and Ariadne, a brother and sister. Saint Columbkille was a young priest who, in the early days of Griswold's first reign, denounced him by all that was holy. In retaliation, Griswold had Columbkille arrested and tortured. When Columbkille would not recant his denunciations, Griswold arrested his entire family. Columbkille was forced to watch their torture. Each of his family forsook the faith, and blasphemed under torture, save his sister Ariadne, who refused, despite the most diabolical pains they could inflict upon her. When she would not yield, Griswold attempted to force himself upon her. However, no earthly force could overpower Ariadne, who had sworn a vow of chastity. When the king found that he could not take her by force, he slit her throat, in front of Columbkille, then beheaded the latter.

Their bodies were burned, and their heads thrust upon pikes, as a warning. However, the underground faithful stole the heads during the night, and kept the relics of the two saints.

Directly above the tomb of Griswold, nothing will grow, save one withered and sickly rose bush.

There are two popular interpretations amongst the people over this sign. Some say it represents the spark of life still faintly burning in Griswolds bones, and that he still has not been killed. They suggest that he shall yet return, more powerful and ruthless than even during his second reign.

Others say it represents his soul in purgatory, and the spark of divine grace in his heart. They suggest that he, perhaps, repented as he burnt to death upon the pyre and this shows the infinite mercy of God—that even the foulest and most evil person can be redeemed. They say that on the last day, a single rose will blossom from the bush, representing his attainment of heaven.