The temple chimes echoed throughout the monastery. Tolling bells woke
the followers far before the rising rays of the sun. Today they would do
something they had not done in many generations. The ritual of knowledge
was to be held today. Great clamoring among the priests and worshippers
filled the temple and holy grounds. The finest of robes were to be donned,
and the holiest of relics were to be displayed. The younger ones could
hardly contain themselves as they scuttled past the more revered and aged.
All but one priestess. She had been silent and collected all morn.
Preparing for this day would be no different than any other. Rising to take
her place at the tables and halls, she fitted herself with her silken robes
and silver circlet as she has for the past eighteen years of her life. She
could not remember any time when the church was not her home and the
priests not her family. Solemn and unwavering she completed her daily tasks
without so much gossip as the others. Sacred rituals brought change. With
change came sorrow and pain. She knew this, she was afraid.
The sun rose high over the chapel, casting it's radiant light down through the beautiful stained glass murals. Fractured light glittered and shone hues of color, illuminating the room. Hundreds of them gathered from all across the land for today. Priests and holy men met and greeted one another. Acolytes and alter men chattered about the proceedings to come. Robes of silk flowed as each quickly found their place among their brothers and sisters. Then the ceremony began. The elders cut all formalities and quickly began the lottery. Suddenly all fell silent as each person began to realize the utmost seriousness and importance of this ritual. Name cards of finely crafted gold were poured into a cauldron. Each card held the name of a attendant of the ceremony. Stirring the cauldron with his staff, the elder reached into the pool of gold and grasped one name card. "Mina, Mina Haspellion." The elder priest called out over the silence clasping the small golden name card in his hand. A young priestess stepped foreword. Separating herself from the crowd, she stood silently. The noon sun through the window brought her silken robes to radiate with a warm glow and caused her silver circlet to shine brilliantly. Her short amber hair caught the sun in each strand. Slowly, shakily she made her way to the elder. Silently before him she waited as he chanted for her protection. "You are to leave these walls, never to return to us." The elder spoke to her and the gathering. "Banishment?!" Mina thought, barely able to believe her own ears. What could she have done to deserve such a fate? "You are no longer one of us, bound to one temple or one god. Your life shall continue as a priestess, but not as you were. Now you have been chosen to be a wanderer. A gatherer and keeper of all religious truths. Learn all you can and live as you believe to see fit." The elder reached behind the caldron and produced a backpack. "Take this with you and gather any personal effects you may have collected during your time with us. As of this day henceforth the church can no longer protect you from the truths of the world." The elder spoke softly but with great force as he slowly led Mina back down the aisle. "We will aide you however and wherever we can. You will leave tomorrow, and tonight we will feast in your name." The elder continued. Mina soon found herself alone in the chapel. She had not noticed the silent departure of the others. Her mind raced with fear and confusion. She could not remember how long she had been standing there alone. She couldn't remember how long ago she had started to cry.
The rest of the day passed quickly. What little she had hardly filled the bag. As a farewell gift, the church gave her a good sized bag of gold to help her on her way. Coins the likes she had never seen before. "Coins of the realm." Brother Gered explained them to her with great gusto. Mina quickly learned well of the barter system and of costs and money. Other gifts ranged from trinkets and rember-me's to clothes and cookware. She soon found her bag full and was soon on her way with the forceful hand of the church pushing her in the "right" direction.
"Are we doing the right thing?" Father Reiad asked Father Derin as he watched from his study window as Mina departed from the main gates. "She's only a child. There are so many things that we cannot warn her of, or protect her from." He watched as she turned down the northern road and slowly faded from sight. "We can only wait and pray. Her first trial may break her. I am afraid to say she seems to be heading to Sailion. Whether she knows it or not, I cannot say. May Fharlanghn give you guidance Mina." Father Derin said sadly as he also watched her go. "You always knew she was different, father Reiad. She was never completely like the rest of us. You knew she would be leaving us today. Didn't you?" Father Derin spoke solemnly as he turned to leave. "I knew in my heart, but I prayed this would never happen, as I pray she never finds out." Father Reiad walked to his desk and looked over some aged parchment that held little meaning anymore. "As I Pray you never do, Father Derin." Father Reiad added to himself as he sat down to continue his work.
The sun rose high over the chapel, casting it's radiant light down through the beautiful stained glass murals. Fractured light glittered and shone hues of color, illuminating the room. Hundreds of them gathered from all across the land for today. Priests and holy men met and greeted one another. Acolytes and alter men chattered about the proceedings to come. Robes of silk flowed as each quickly found their place among their brothers and sisters. Then the ceremony began. The elders cut all formalities and quickly began the lottery. Suddenly all fell silent as each person began to realize the utmost seriousness and importance of this ritual. Name cards of finely crafted gold were poured into a cauldron. Each card held the name of a attendant of the ceremony. Stirring the cauldron with his staff, the elder reached into the pool of gold and grasped one name card. "Mina, Mina Haspellion." The elder priest called out over the silence clasping the small golden name card in his hand. A young priestess stepped foreword. Separating herself from the crowd, she stood silently. The noon sun through the window brought her silken robes to radiate with a warm glow and caused her silver circlet to shine brilliantly. Her short amber hair caught the sun in each strand. Slowly, shakily she made her way to the elder. Silently before him she waited as he chanted for her protection. "You are to leave these walls, never to return to us." The elder spoke to her and the gathering. "Banishment?!" Mina thought, barely able to believe her own ears. What could she have done to deserve such a fate? "You are no longer one of us, bound to one temple or one god. Your life shall continue as a priestess, but not as you were. Now you have been chosen to be a wanderer. A gatherer and keeper of all religious truths. Learn all you can and live as you believe to see fit." The elder reached behind the caldron and produced a backpack. "Take this with you and gather any personal effects you may have collected during your time with us. As of this day henceforth the church can no longer protect you from the truths of the world." The elder spoke softly but with great force as he slowly led Mina back down the aisle. "We will aide you however and wherever we can. You will leave tomorrow, and tonight we will feast in your name." The elder continued. Mina soon found herself alone in the chapel. She had not noticed the silent departure of the others. Her mind raced with fear and confusion. She could not remember how long she had been standing there alone. She couldn't remember how long ago she had started to cry.
The rest of the day passed quickly. What little she had hardly filled the bag. As a farewell gift, the church gave her a good sized bag of gold to help her on her way. Coins the likes she had never seen before. "Coins of the realm." Brother Gered explained them to her with great gusto. Mina quickly learned well of the barter system and of costs and money. Other gifts ranged from trinkets and rember-me's to clothes and cookware. She soon found her bag full and was soon on her way with the forceful hand of the church pushing her in the "right" direction.
"Are we doing the right thing?" Father Reiad asked Father Derin as he watched from his study window as Mina departed from the main gates. "She's only a child. There are so many things that we cannot warn her of, or protect her from." He watched as she turned down the northern road and slowly faded from sight. "We can only wait and pray. Her first trial may break her. I am afraid to say she seems to be heading to Sailion. Whether she knows it or not, I cannot say. May Fharlanghn give you guidance Mina." Father Derin said sadly as he also watched her go. "You always knew she was different, father Reiad. She was never completely like the rest of us. You knew she would be leaving us today. Didn't you?" Father Derin spoke solemnly as he turned to leave. "I knew in my heart, but I prayed this would never happen, as I pray she never finds out." Father Reiad walked to his desk and looked over some aged parchment that held little meaning anymore. "As I Pray you never do, Father Derin." Father Reiad added to himself as he sat down to continue his work.
