JOINING THE PRIESTHOOD

[John Ivory 4546]

 

TO JOIN THE PRIESTHOOD OF THE CANONIST CHURCH

c. 1724

 

You find yourself on the outskirts of the Golden City, the heartland jewel of humanity. The morning sun has risen, the starting bell for travelers everywhere, and they file in and out of the gates of the Old Wall. Staying back for a moment to stare, perhaps in a dayhaze, you notice a group of clergymen decked in their cassocks as they are. There it is, you say to yourself: I’ve made it.

 

Entering through the gates in the train of the clergymen, you realize that Ves has gone through great changes since you last made the trip from whatever corner of the world you rose up from. The soldiers wear burgundy uniforms, the colors of the Caer Bann mercenary company, first brought into the city by the Prince-Procurate Hadrian; much of the decadent eccentricities of the Republic have been lost, clerics of all types taking their place. 

 

Your baggage train takes a right at the Old Wall, heading for a short time down Roger Road, before making another right and down once more through another gate in the Old Wall. Out towards the suburbs, a noticeable decay is seen; long abandoned houses, the occasional rat, streets overgrown with nettle and vine. Regardless, the train of clergymen continue on until they hit Alfred Avenue, and making a left.

 

The trip lasts but a short walk before you reach a court. At once, the contrast between this house and the rest is made; it is lit with warming fire and torch, and people- mostly priests- come to and fro. The clergyman’s baggage train stops, and you decide that this is the address which you had sought after.

 

Approaching the building, you find a plaque outside its front door, which reads:

 

HAAS RESIDENCE

DIOCESE OF VILLAVIA

BEQUEATHED UPON THE ASCENSION OF DANIEL VI

1720

 

With the assurance that this is indeed the end of your trip, you enter through the front door. 

 

Immediately, you are taken aback by how cramped it is; the air is stuffy, and a clerk works the desk of the parlor which situates itself at the front of the building. It’s clear this was once a residential home, and the diocese has made no further attempt to remodel it away from those specifications.

 

The clerk raises his head away from the piles of paperwork, adjusting his glasses to make out your person under damp torchlight: what a sorry sight to see, after your miles of journey! You croak out that you’re here to take the vows, and the clerk issues forth an exhausted sigh. Another one.

 

Very well, you wretched refuse of the world, let’s hear it then, the clerk says, turning his chair at an angle. He grabs a free piece of parchment from the relatively clean side of his desk, and the pen, and its trusty companion the inkwell. He lightly dips the tip of the feather, before slapping it to the page, leaving a dark smudge. Thus begins your interview.

 

---

 

Well, what’s your name?

(ANSWER)

Aye. And from whence do you hail?

(ANSWER)

Alright, alright, that’s a fine place this time of season. How many years have you lived?

(ANSWER)

Got it. Your ethnicity, good man? I can’t make it out.

(ANSWER)

Mmm. I never would have expected it. Are you literate?

(ANSWER)

Good, that won’t hurt you. Do you have a wife at home, or children?

(ANSWER)

They call Sixtus the Third ‘the Lewd’ for having two bastards. Don’t be like him. Have you got anything against taking oaths?

(ANSWER)

You’re all set. I’ll have this filed away to the Prelate at once. He’s up the mountain inside Varoche Palace. Short trip.

 

---

 

At that, your interview finishes. You take a few minutes to awkwardly peruse the shelves, before the clerk sends you back from whence you came, out through the front doors, and another poor soul takes your place.

As you leave, it's still morning. You release an exasperated sigh, hoping that your intense dread of every wasted day soon comes to an end. Shuffling your way out of the decrepit suburbs of Ves, you find yourself at the Bird and the Bard. If you take to drinking, you would sit yourself at the counter, and order a glass of Aeldenic red from the patron Lithren. It’s dark and dusty inside the tavern, and you struggle to make out her countenance: is she really a bird?

[Lukariatias 524]

Well, what’s your name?

“Cassian Colborn."

Aye. And from whence do you hail?

“The Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, originally. These days, my home is split between Ves, and Llyria."

Alright, alright, that’s a fine place this time of season. How many years have you lived?

“A lot."

Got it. Your ethnicity, good man? I can’t make it out.

“Highlander, a northerner."

Mmm. I never would have expected it. Are you literate?

“Absolutely."

Good, that won’t hurt you. Do you have a wife at home, or children?

“My wife has passed, and my children are long gone, gone somewhere."

They call Sixtus the Third ‘the Lewd’ for having two bastards. Don’t be like him. Have you got anything against taking oaths?

“I’ve taken plenty, and I never break them."

You’re all set. I’ll have this filed away to the Prelate at once. He’s a sleepy cardinal, about to hit his centennial. Give him a few days

[John Ivory 4546]

Just now, Lukariatias said:

Well, what’s your name?

“Cassian Colborn."

Aye. And from whence do you hail?

“The Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, originally. These days, my home is split between Ves, and Llyria."

Alright, alright, that’s a fine place this time of season. How many years have you lived?

“A lot."

Got it. Your ethnicity, good man? I can’t make it out.

“Highlander, a northerner."

Mmm. I never would have expected it. Are you literate?

“Absolutely."

Good, that won’t hurt you. Do you have a wife at home, or children?

“My wife has passed, and my children are long gone, gone somewhere."

They call Sixtus the Third ‘the Lewd’ for having two bastards. Don’t be like him. Have you got anything against taking oaths?

“I’ve taken plenty, and I never break them."

You’re all set. I’ll have this filed away to the Prelate at once. He’s a sleepy cardinal, about to hit his centennial. Give him a few days

 

The clerk in his wise nature sends this one packing to Bishop Lochlan, at least until Llyria grants a chapel!

(Herathus, @Herathus, or Herathus#6850)

[trinn 5140]

An illiterate wood elf stumbles into the wrong building, the pagan idols and symbolisms prevalent upon her figure. 

[frill 2277]

Well, what’s your name?

“Ide Haraccus."

Aye. And from whence do you hail?

“The Far South."

Alright, alright, that’s a fine place this time of season. How many years have you lived?

“Forty.. forty something."

Got it. Your ethnicity, good man? I can’t make it out.

“One of those far-folk."

Mmm. I never would have expected it. Are you literate?

“I would like to say so."

Good, that won’t hurt you. Do you have a wife at home, or children?

“My fiancée had passed over a year ago now. No bastards sired."

They call Sixtus the Third ‘the Lewd’ for having two bastards. Don’t be like him. Have you got anything against taking oaths?

“No. Nothing against them. I would prefer something cloistered."

You’re all set. I’ll have this filed away to the Prelate at once. He’s a sleepy cardinal, about to hit his centennial. Give him a few days.

[osumanduas 1442]

 

 

After ambling towards the clerk with the proper mood music in tow; the ginger youth tired after a long journey had then recited his answers before the decrepit administrator in near unison; very eager to get it over with.

 

“My name is Casimir, I come from Lochlorn. My skin be quite pale; for autumn I yearn.

I can read real good, my mommy told me I could, and I ain’t got no whelps to my name.

 

As for my word, whatever it’s worth. If it’s broken I’m yours to do as you like. Can even bury me quick, however you see fit.

 

Now oh please, can oy frickin’ leave?”

 

You’re all set. I’ll have this filed away to the Prelate at once. He’s a sleepy cardinal, about to hit his centennial. Give him a few days.

Casimir did then nod in return; stringing his lute over his shoulder and shoving off to find a stiff drink and lodgings.

[mateolog 1623]

Well, what’s your name?

 

“Armergin Keint of Blackden "

 

Aye. And from whence do you hail?

 

“The road is my home"

 

Alright, alright, that’s a fine place this time of season. How many years have you lived?

 

“thirty eight "

 

Got it. Your ethnicity, good man? I can’t make it out.

 

“corelander."

 

Mmm. I never would have expected it. Are you literate?

 

“yea I am also a bard"

 

Good, that won’t hurt you. Do you have a wife at home, or children?

 

" not that I know of"

 

They call Sixtus the Third ‘the Lewd’ for having two bastards. Don’t be like him. Have you got anything against taking oaths?

 

“depends on the oath "

 

You’re all set. I’ll have this filed away to the Prelate at once. He’s a sleepy cardinal, about to hit his centennial. Give him a few days.

[Icarnus 1669]

 

 

An employed corps of construction workers labored over the arduous stretch of Loches – now the Barony of Renzfeld; a particular figure taking the helm of operations, bellowing orders about the site. Towards the camp trudged a sh** trodden courier, waiving about a leather bag whilst approaching.

 

”Lord Tharkozic, I bear newth from the Vesnian realm, the Pontifical Chamberlain Thimon Bathrid thent me.”

 

Adrian strode forth, ripping the bag from the courier’s neck, “Give it here you ill-spoken ****.”

 

From within the satchel he produced a rough parchment, sealed with the crested signification of the High Pontiff. Pondering over the contents, he took ample time in discerning properly the meaning of the missive. 

 

”To provide eligible men devout to GOD and his precepts, something something of a Sarkoz man of the cloth.” Adrian muttered, peering upwards as he extended the lettering to his brother Peter. “Well then. It seems you will go, or you will find someone suitable.”

 

@Beamon4 @Hunwald

 

 

 

[John Ivory 4546]

2 hours ago, Trinn said:

An illiterate wood elf stumbles into the wrong building, the pagan idols and symbolisms prevalent upon her figure. 

 

The young clerk, tired by his labors, blinks in confusion as the foreigner barges in. ”The tavern’s by the square! Certainly you’ve the wrong address!”

 

2 hours ago, frill said:

Well, what’s your name?

“Ide Haraccus."

Aye. And from whence do you hail?

“The Far South."

Alright, alright, that’s a fine place this time of season. How many years have you lived?

“Forty.. forty something."

Got it. Your ethnicity, good man? I can’t make it out.

“One of those far-folk."

Mmm. I never would have expected it. Are you literate?

“I would like to say so."

Good, that won’t hurt you. Do you have a wife at home, or children?

“My fiancée had passed over a year ago now. No bastards sired."

They call Sixtus the Third ‘the Lewd’ for having two bastards. Don’t be like him. Have you got anything against taking oaths?

“No. Nothing against them. I would prefer something cloistered."

You’re all set. I’ll have this filed away to the Prelate at once. He’s a sleepy cardinal, about to hit his centennial. Give him a few days.

 

After sending the elf out, and taking down Ide’s name, the cleric’s eyes widen with surprise. He rises from his seat, giving a quick salute and a bow of the head to the prince. ”P-Prince Haraccus!? Forgive my ignorance, your serenity, I did not see your face. Are you not a prince? Are you sure about this?” With consternation, the clerk hesitantly sits down, taking Ide’s information as any other applicant. He sends this one off to the High Pontiff himself!

 

2 hours ago, WACKO said:

 

 

After ambling towards the clerk with the proper mood music in tow; the ginger youth tired after a long journey had then recited his answers before the decrepit administrator in near unison; very eager to get it over with.

 

“My name is Casimir, I come from Lochlorn. My skin be quite pale; for autumn I yearn.

I can read real good, my mommy told me I could, and I ain’t got no whelps to my name.

 

As for my word, whatever it’s worth. If it’s broken I’m yours to do as you like. Can even bury me quick, however you see fit.

 

Now oh please, can oy frickin’ leave?”

 

You’re all set. I’ll have this filed away to the Prelate at once. He’s a sleepy cardinal, about to hit his centennial. Give him a few days.

Casimir did then nod in return; stringing his lute over his shoulder and shoving off to find a stiff drink and lodgings.

 

The clerk sends this boisterous young one off to Archbishop Siguard! Let the cold tame him.

(Ave_Imperium, @Imperium, or Ave_imperium#4314)

 

1 hour ago, ✗ ≬ ≬ ♏αɟεoℓog ≬ ≬ ✗ said:

Well, what’s your name?

 

“Armergin Keint of Blackden "

 

Aye. And from whence do you hail?

 

“The road is my home"

 

Alright, alright, that’s a fine place this time of season. How many years have you lived?

 

“thirty eight "

 

Got it. Your ethnicity, good man? I can’t make it out.

 

“corelander."

 

Mmm. I never would have expected it. Are you literate?

 

“yea I am also a bard"

 

Good, that won’t hurt you. Do you have a wife at home, or children?

 

" not that I know of"

 

They call Sixtus the Third ‘the Lewd’ for having two bastards. Don’t be like him. Have you got anything against taking oaths?

 

“depends on the oath "

 

You’re all set. I’ll have this filed away to the Prelate at once. He’s a sleepy cardinal, about to hit his centennial. Give him a few days.

 

Rising from his desk and rushing for the fireplace, the cleric reaches for a poker. He brandishes it, swinging for the cretinous fiend! ”Out, I say! Out with you!”

[WuHanXianShi14 0]

3 hours ago, Trinn said:

 

Artimec guides shoedemon home.

[Neon123 126]

Well, what’s your name?

Arthur Hulme

 

Aye. And from whence do you hail?

Helena, HOE

 

Alright, alright, that’s a fine place this time of season. How many years have you lived?

Twenty-Seven

 

Got it. Your ethnicity, good man? I can’t make it out.

Farfolk

 

Mmm. I never would have expected it. Are you literate?

Indeed, I have written for the newspaper.

 

Good, that won’t hurt you. Do you have a wife at home, or children?

No, I have no family.

T

hey call Sixtus the Third ‘the Lewd’ for having two bastards. Don’t be like him. Have you got anything against taking oaths?

Providing they are given in the light of the Lord, no.

 

You’re all set. I’ll have this filed away to the Prelate at once. He’s a sleepy cardinal, about to hit his centennial. Give him a few days.

 

*Arthur nods, before rising from his chair and making way to his warm lodgings and crisp ale.*

[The King Of The Moon 7016]

Well, what’s your name?

“John Jrent”

Aye. And from whence do you hail?

“Ves, Castle Caer Bann and wherever Father Dion and other Owynists go I try to follow, milord.”

Alright, alright, that’s a fine place this time of season. How many years have you lived?

“Seventeen”

Got it. Your ethnicity, good man? I can’t make it out.

“Highlander, descended from exalted Horen.”

Mmm. I never would have expected it. Are you literate?

“Yes sir!”

Good, that won’t hurt you. Do you have a wife at home, or children?

“No, milord.” The virgin sighs.

They call Sixtus the Third ‘the Lewd’ for having two bastards. Don’t be like him. Have you got anything against taking oaths?

“Not at all sir.”

You’re all set. I’ll have this filed away to the Prelate at once. He’s a sleepy cardinal, about to hit his centennial. Give him a few days.

[John Ivory 4546]

19 hours ago, Neon123 said:

Well, what’s your name?

Arthur Hulme

 

Aye. And from whence do you hail?

Helena, HOE

 

Alright, alright, that’s a fine place this time of season. How many years have you lived?

Twenty-Seven

 

Got it. Your ethnicity, good man? I can’t make it out.

Farfolk

 

Mmm. I never would have expected it. Are you literate?

Indeed, I have written for the newspaper.

 

Good, that won’t hurt you. Do you have a wife at home, or children?

No, I have no family.

T

hey call Sixtus the Third ‘the Lewd’ for having two bastards. Don’t be like him. Have you got anything against taking oaths?

Providing they are given in the light of the Lord, no.

 

You’re all set. I’ll have this filed away to the Prelate at once. He’s a sleepy cardinal, about to hit his centennial. Give him a few days.

 

*Arthur nods, before rising from his chair and making way to his warm lodgings and crisp ale.*

 

“A Helenan! About time!” The clerk approves of the interview, sending the transcripts off to Cardinal Vsenk (LoLzboi, @LoLzboi, or LoLzboi#4696), Bishop DuPont (key_of_solomon, @Ambduscias, or hunter#6957), and Cardinal St. Theodosius (_Bueno, @NordLord, or Zed#4474). 

 

7 hours ago, The King Of The Moon said:

Well, what’s your name?

“John Jrent”

Aye. And from whence do you hail?

“Ves, Castle Caer Bann and wherever Father Dion and other Owynists go I try to follow, milord.”

Alright, alright, that’s a fine place this time of season. How many years have you lived?

“Seventeen”

Got it. Your ethnicity, good man? I can’t make it out.

“Highlander, descended from exalted Horen.”

Mmm. I never would have expected it. Are you literate?

“Yes sir!”

Good, that won’t hurt you. Do you have a wife at home, or children?

“No, milord.” The virgin sighs.

They call Sixtus the Third ‘the Lewd’ for having two bastards. Don’t be like him. Have you got anything against taking oaths?

“Not at all sir.”

You’re all set. I’ll have this filed away to the Prelate at once. He’s a sleepy cardinal, about to hit his centennial. Give him a few days.

 

The clerk sends the Jrent’s transcript off to Bishop O’Malley for further instruction. (Herathus, @Herathus, or Herathus#6850). 

[Kvasir 1121]

Well, what’s your name?

Paul Thorley, m’lord.

Aye. And from whence do you hail?

Courland.

Alright, alright, that’s a fine place this time of season. How many years have you lived?

Fifteen summers.

Got it. Your ethnicity, good man? I can’t make it out.

Heartlander, sir. 

Mmm. I never would have expected it. Are you literate?

Somewhat... I know some of my letters and some of my numbers.

Good, that won’t hurt you. Do you have a wife at home, or children?

I have a family back at home in Courland, they sent me off here, m’lord. 

They call Sixtus the Third ‘the Lewd’ for having two bastards. Don’t be like him. Have you got anything against taking oaths?

What does lewd mean...? The boy mutters under his breath. No, I have nothing against oaths, sir!

You’re all set. I’ll have this filed away to the Prelate at once. He’s a sleepy cardinal, about to hit his centennial. Give him a few days.

[John Ivory 4546]

39 minutes ago, JasperJohn said:

Well, what’s your name?

Paul Thorley, m’lord.

Aye. And from whence do you hail?

Courland.

Alright, alright, that’s a fine place this time of season. How many years have you lived?

Fifteen summers.

Got it. Your ethnicity, good man? I can’t make it out.

Heartlander, sir. 

Mmm. I never would have expected it. Are you literate?

Somewhat... I know some of my letters and some of my numbers.

Good, that won’t hurt you. Do you have a wife at home, or children?

I have a family back at home in Courland, they sent me off here, m’lord. 

They call Sixtus the Third ‘the Lewd’ for having two bastards. Don’t be like him. Have you got anything against taking oaths?

What does lewd mean...? The boy mutters under his breath. No, I have nothing against oaths, sir!

You’re all set. I’ll have this filed away to the Prelate at once. He’s a sleepy cardinal, about to hit his centennial. Give him a few days.

 

”A Courlander!” The clerk exclaims as he writes, taking the time to then examine the boy as he mentions his age. “Fifteen? And literate? Ah, that’s good enough – age of reason, and all. I assume you’ll do just fine. Tell you what, I hear Courland’s been needing a priest! You’re off to Helena, then!” (LoLzboi, @LoLzboi, or LoLzboi#4696)