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Post by zurajai on Sept 13, 2014 16:44:38 GMT
At all times of the year Chief Priest Staas will allow dignitaries from Vassal-Kingdoms to bring petitions to him on all matters involving faith and the state. Though not overly lavish, the dignitaries are treated with the respect afforded to them by their station, court being held in Karmozijn Kerk and are expected to abide by it's rules:
- Dignitaries must make their cases promptly and one at a time. If one hesitates too long or interrupts before the Chief Prest has replied to the previous dignitary, their petition will be automatically rejected.
- The Chief Priest's decision to accept or reject a petition is final, unless the dignitary declares an appeal to the Vaekir. Such appeals can be a lengthy process though Vaekir Koen has expressed his pleasure in solving such disputes when needed.
- Heinous or heretical petitions may result in explusion from the Court for any number of years, and the Chief Priest may report such petitions to the Vaekir.
- The Chief Priest may call any meetings to close when he sees fit as there is more business to attend to then just simply listening to petitions.
- The Chief Priest appreciates not being flooded with dignitaries. He will look more favorably on a kingdom whose representative he hasn't seen in a long time than one who bothers him every single year.
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Post by ravigen on Sept 18, 2014 18:51:52 GMT
Near the end of the season, Prince Jolinar Sefti traveled to Karmozijn Kerk to request an audience with the Chief Priest, having sent a letter in advance of his approach. He had desired to see the center of Vaekir power for as long as he could remember but only now having reached his 75th year was he allowed to make the journey.
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Post by zurajai on Sept 18, 2014 18:59:17 GMT
Prince Jolinar Sefti was welcomed into Karmozijn Kerk with open arms, the Temple-City a bustle with robed priests wearing varying degrees of red to denote position within the hierarchy: even a few of the famed Tovenaar could be seen going about their duties, using their skill at magic to alter the very fabric of the city around them with great towers taller than anything a northman had ever seen being raised to the heavens. The Prince was allowed his time to enjoy the scenery but was slowly and persistently guided to the Chief Priest's palatial estate by his Guardsmen minders. The petitions line was luckily nonexistent for the moment so the Prince was rushed inside.
"Prince Jolinar Sefti," calmly called Chief Priest Staas as he turned from the bookshelf he had occupied himself at, "I heard you had entered our fine city. What can this humble Priest do for you?"
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Post by ravigen on Sept 18, 2014 19:06:58 GMT
Jolinar smiles and bows formally to the Chief Priest, maintaining the dignity and formal respect he had ingrained into him since childhood. His journey through the city had been amazing and only reinforced his belief that he was doing what was best for his people by doing his part to serve the Aed and Sefti.
"My deepest gratitude for seeing me so quickly sir, I come as an ambassador of my people, we have heard the Vaekir's call for temples to be built and I would like to receive permission to construct one in the capital this upcoming year."
Getting his father to agree to the construction had been a nightmarishly long effort but Jolinar was convinced it would work and did not give up imploring the man until he relented. |
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Post by zurajai on Sept 18, 2014 19:10:07 GMT
"Your request is, of course, granted," intoned the Chief Priest as he turned with a smile, closing the book he had been perusing as he returned the bow, "It pleases me to see your people embracing Aed openly and fervently. Know the the Vaekir will hear of your actions and will be most delighted to receive such news. Now, unless there is anything else, I welcome you to explore the city to your heart's content. I must be ready for any other petitioners who might arrive."
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Post by talis on Sept 18, 2014 19:10:27 GMT
Gormith of House Wargchase grunted as he hefted his gun from his shoulder, allowing the Vaekirate guards to inspect it as a courtesy. The ancient, bronze-plated cannon still shone in the light. His compatriots followed suite, eager to be through and about the city now that they had arrived at their destination. Gormith envied them their relaxation, but he had further duties to attend to. He had the honor of requesting the Vaekirate's approval for the first temple of Aed in Thundercrown, a testament to the growing faith of his people and a replacement for the makeshift shrines erected on street corners.
He nodded to the guard as they finished their customary inspection and yanked on his mule's harness, least the beast decide that the two strongboxes it carried were too heavy. If he succeeded in getting the Vaekir's permission the name of his house would rise further, and perhaps his father would earn the next seat on the elder council. So were the duties of a son.
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Post by zurajai on Sept 18, 2014 19:17:08 GMT
Gormith was only given the slightest of inspections with the Vaekirate Guard having been aware of the arrival for some time. Gormith, unsurprisingly, was not the first Orc of the Firetooth to come to Karmozijn Kerk: their love of firearms was no new surprise for the Guardsmen. Knowing that Orcs were not ones for pomp and circumstance the Guard directed Gormith straight to the Palatial estate and inside where he was welcomed inside.
"Gormith of House Wargchase," called out the Chief Priest as he stood from his chair, offering a bow and a smile, "I have heard you would be gracing us with your presence. Son of the Firetooth, what can I do to make your journey a successful one?"
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Post by talis on Sept 18, 2014 19:26:21 GMT
Gormith bowed at the waist. No Firetooth would bend knee to any sovereign, but his gesture was one of highest respect among his people. "Thank you for the audience, your holiness. As you know, my people have chosen to follow the True Path and worship the true god Aed. I come to request your permission to build a temple to Aed in our capital of Thundercrown. Aed's followers are numerous there, and what small shrines and places of worship we have are overflowing with faithful. We would like to build a place fit for the worship of Aed, as a testament to our devotion and to impress what heathens still remain among us."
He gestured a pair of his assistants forward. The stepped up, placing a pair of strongboxes before the Chief Priest. "As proof of our devotion, I have brought a gift of gold to assist in the construction of the new Mission. I hope you will find it acceptable." The two chests were opened, revealing an abundance of gold survaek-minted coins (10 Gold).
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Post by zurajai on Sept 18, 2014 19:32:57 GMT
Staas listened to Gormith's quick description of his people's actions and their dire need for a true place of worship with the benevolence akin to that of a loving grandfather showing brightly on his face. The way the Orcs of the Firetooth had embraced Aed was nothing short of empowering and the Chief Priest couldn't help but show a smile. This, of course, only widened further with the generous gift of gold to help fund the new Mission under construction on the Souther coast, many leagues away from the Firetooth.
"You have my blessing in the construction of this Temple," intoned Staas as he pressed his hands together in a customary symbol of praise towards Aed, "And this magnanimous gift shall not be forgotten. Yours is a people to make Aed proud, Gormith Wargchaser, never forget this. You have the thanks of myself and that of His Holiness, Vaekir Koen himself. You are welcome in this city anytime."
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Post by aznboi on Sept 20, 2014 2:54:11 GMT
"Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa, hey, yeah, what?" Beni knuckled his way along the streets, pausing to get his bearings and absently picking his nose as he peered around. Passersby skirted around the goblin as he muttered to himself, and Beni leered at them for good measure, baring pointed, shark-like teeth at them. The southern shore goblins had slightly different physiques than their mainland cousins, it was true, but Beni had filed most of his teeth himself. He picked a bit of fish bone out from between them, squinting with filmy eyes. "Gotta go all the way, all the way, down to Kar-Moh-Zij-Ninny Kerk Kerk Kerk, what?"
Oh! There it was. Beni hobbled along towards the great temple, humming tunelessly to himself. He leered at the guards as he passed through, tapping the crudely carved wooden badge on his chest. "Official business, see?" he said, snickering. "Ho-Fish-All." As a gesture of good faith, Beni decided to trade his fish knife for the guard's helmet, and pressed the rusted old blade into the perplexed human's hand as he clambered over the human's chest and plucked the plumed helmet off his head.
"Whoa, hey, hey, nice," said Beni, adjusting the straps. It was far too big for him, and hung lopsided on his skull, but Beni rather liked it.
He sniffed, smelled a familiar scent, and giggled in delight. "Hey, yo, wazzup, Chief?" he said, waving at the Chief Priest as he came into view. "Hey, hey, yo, whoa! Staas, right? Staaaaaas. We wanna a build a tem-pill, Staaaaas. Love Aed, mm-hmm. I 'cepted the love an' trutha Aed in my heart, mm-hmm. Aed Aed Aed, love love love." Beni meant it, too. Aed was his lucky god: without fail, every day that he had prayed to Aed, Beni hadn't died. Damn convincing religion, it was. "Gonna build him a big house. Give him lotsa fish. Lotsa and lotsa fish. Whaddya say, huh, Chief? Huh? Can we?"
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Post by zurajai on Sept 20, 2014 4:37:46 GMT
Chief Priest opened his eyes wide, startled as he turned over his shoulder to look for the loud and abrasive voice calling out to him. A moment of confusion overcame him as he started out at nothing, only to look down and see the goblin speaking unto him. A queer grin flashes across his face as he is finally met by one of the famed goblins living in the ruins of Lucente. He gives a quick bow as he closes the ledger he previously had been writing in, handing it off to his scribe next to him (a look of sheer surprise on his face) before turning to the goblin.
"Hello, little Goblin . . . " he said, an amused grin growing wider on his face, "I have heard of the faith your people hold in your hearts for Aed. That you have heard my call to build Temples unto Aed proves this, I think . . . I would not dream stop you. I'm sure Aed will delight in the fish you offer to him."
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Post by ravigen on Sept 22, 2014 15:15:15 GMT
In the late fall of the year a small party made their way to Karmozijn Kerk, they quickly identified themselves at the gate as representatives of the Kingdom of Sefti, and requested a meeting with the Chief Priest, citing it as urgent.
Once beyond the gate, the rest of the party lagged behind while a solitary figure, cloaked in heavy robes proceeded to the meeting with the Chief Priest. The lone figure waited until in the relative safety of Staas before lowering the hood, revealing the Queen herself.
"Chief Priest Staas, it is a pleasure to meet you in person, if only it were under better circumstances." |
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Post by zurajai on Sept 22, 2014 15:24:39 GMT
Chief Priest Staas had been busying himself with work at a small table away from his seat on the dais, scribbling quietly into a tome of his own authorship. A guard had rushed in and bowed before the Queen had arrived to make him aware of her presence, Staas setting his quill back into the pot of ink before standing and turning towards the door, arms cross. His previously calm demeanor was replaced with one of sadness, the news of Jolinar's death having reached Karmozijn Kerk a month ago: to relive that moment when he had first been made aware of the situation was displeasing indeed. His bow was low and mournful when Queen Athinea arrived.
"As it is a pleasure for me as well. You are correct in your assessment, of course: these sad times have left me wanting for such things. Jolinar was a pious member of the faithful and your father was well known throughout these halls, even if he never had the chance to bless them with his presence. What is it, might I ask, that you have come here for beyond my condolences?"
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Post by ravigen on Sept 22, 2014 15:30:44 GMT
Athinea sighed, being here was reminding her of Jolinar more and more, she remembered how happy he'd been when he came back from the first visit, he was practically bouncing on his feet from excitement, he'd been so young and now he was dead.
"Their deaths were not accidental, Cadoc had them both murdered, we have the proof required but our sources say that Cerdigon has already sent a representative to the Vizier, most likely to spin some false story to justify going to war for Sefti's crown."
From her heavy robes she pulled a set of documents, the letters they'd decoded from the traitor, offering them to Staas.
"I do not know what the Vaekir can do to help but we are desperate, if Cerdigon's representative can convince the Vizier to justify their invasion then countless people will die on both sides of the conflict."
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Post by zurajai on Sept 22, 2014 15:43:21 GMT
"I had heard rumors that it was no accident," intoned Staas as he turned and stepped up to his seat, simply leaning on it for support, "And if this is true than it is the Vaekirate that must rise to stop it. Show me this proof so that I may send it unto His Holiness, the Vaekir and he may decide the greatest course of action. I believe the Conclave will be called for such a matter."
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