In this world, Magic is Everything. All people, all races, are granted with the power to perform mystical and magical feats via grimories, mystical tomes granted to each and every child on their 15th birthday. Those blessed by the mana can have their names written down in legend.
Shattered Grimoires is the work of the mind(s) of Ardere & Shattered Grimoire's staff. All characters and content are copyright their creators, and may not be replicated without their creators' permission. Black Clover is owned by Yuki Tabata and published by Viz Shonen Jump. All images belong to their original owners. The theme you are currently viewing was made by Eliza of ElizaCodes exclusively for Shattered Grimoires.
Post by Augustus Ravencrest on Jul 10, 2020 1:15:57 GMT -5
[nospaces]
[attr="class","augustimage"]
POW
4
DUR
60
STA
34
SEN
4
CON
60
[break]
HEALTH
100%
MANA SKIN
100%
MANA POOL
100/100
MANA REGEN
35 IC 30 OOC
[break]
WORD COUNT
1201
TOTAL WORD COUNT
1201
TAG
[attr="class","augustscroll"]
Augustus turned his attention towards the clock that had been ringing constantly for the past few minutes. An alarm clock. A dead one. A broken one. The Priest of Raque had grabbed the alarm clock from his night table and had flung it towards one of the open windows of his residence within the church. He would groan out loud as he tried his best to slowly get up. The bed creaked and groaned with him, a sign that the furniture of the church itself was not in the best shape. Though, for the most part, it seemed as though only the Priest’s room was in this state. The rest of the Church itself that he was tasked with was pristine. Raque was a city of riches, of fishermen hauling in huge surpluses every single day. It was not a city of poverty, and the people that lived in Raque were more often than not well off, or at least, had enough money to get by. Work was not in shortage, and the economy within the city was booming. [break][break]
“Mornings…” Augustus groaned, before finally getting up from his position. It was barely dawn, and the hens and roosters have barely even opened their eyes. The Priest of Raque knew the schedule of the whole town by now, having been here for more than a few weeks. It was always the same. The roosters make their appearance, and then the chimneys start to pump the aroma of burning coal. But, what caught Augustus was the aroma of bread being baked by the local bakers. It was always the preferred breakfast of the children, and so Augustus had made it so that the local baker would deliver their freshly made bread each morning. However, today, he would need to let the Deacons and Nuns of the Church deal with breakfast. While he was a hands-on Priest, constantly helping out whenever he could, he was also very much an active nobleman and was constantly on the move. [break][break]
There were a couple of reasons why he was usually gone for a day or three. The first was a mission he was informed of that was endangering the populace of the Clover Kingdom. While the Church of Clover was usually a passive force, there were elements of the Church of Clover that dealt with more than just the doling out of faith. Augustus saw himself as one of the handfuls within the Church of Clover that made to do more than just help keep the faith. In his quest to help the citizens of the Clover Kingdom with their various ailments and problems, he also found himself reinvigorating the faith of the populace towards the Church of Clover. For the common people, to know that there were Church members, priests and the like, that cared for them enough to fight for their safety was a boost to their already strong faith. For Augustus, he found himself carrying on the mantra of cleansing the Clover Kingdom of the corruption that brought misery to the people. And while he was no Magic Knight, and therefore was never assigned and able to join more dangerous missions, he was content to help wherever he can, especially in places where Magic Knights might not have been called upon.[break][break]
Finally feeling the urge, and more so the urgency than anything, Augustus took his first few steps to do his morning ablutions. They were quick and thorough, which then found him quickly grabbing a small piece of bread from this morning’s delivery. He would wave at the few Nuns and Deacons that were already up and about. They were the keeners of the place, though Augustus always found himself thinking that they did it for the children. The nuns and deacons had always doted on the orphans of the place, even before he had been promoted to become the Priest of Raque’s church. There seems to be some sort of connection between the orphaned children and the nuns and deacons. From what Augustus could gather, some of the nuns and deacons, at least the most keen ones, had been orphans before as well. It was a beautiful sight to see, regardless, and he did not get in their way. [break][break]
“Good morning, father.”[break][break]
Augustus nodded towards Sister Lillian, his beaming smile would be a staple to each and every one in the church. “Good morning, sister.” He would start, as he made his way towards where his coat had been hung. Augustus did not truly abide by wearing the proper vestments. Instead, Augustus found himself using his usual attire. What showed him as a Priest, however, was the Church of Clover Sigil that was always found hanging from his neck. No matter what he was wearing, the sigil was always present. He wore it with pride.[break][break]
“I hope you all serve breakfast without too much of a fuss.” Augustus would finally say, “We all know that the children can get very messy sometimes.” They would all chuckle at that. Augustus would nod to himself then, turning away and towards the large double doors of the church. “I will be out for most of the day. I believe the Bishop wanted to see me today in his office here in Raque.” He had received summons from the man just earlier in the week, and had been quite interested to hear what the Bishop had wanted to talk about. His activities were not illegal, and all his actions have been for the continuing and strengthening of the Faith. So it truly intrigued Augustus. “If you need me, please do not hesitate to send a courier to the Bishop’s Office.”[break][break]
With a final wave, the Ravencrest nobleman would leave the church and make his way down towards the main street. [break][break]
The city was yet bustling. The silence was eerie, though the sun had finally peeked through the horizon and he could faintly hear the shouts of the fishermen getting ready to set sail for the day. It was an interesting sight to see Raque this quiet, though it would only last for at least another hour. The smell of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, and Augustus could not help but salivate just a little. He would be tempted to stop by one of his more favourite baker, but stopped himself. He could not afford to be distracted now, though he knew he was still slightly too early. It did not matter. He liked the slow stroll.[break][break]
Turning a corner, Augustus would be face to face with the large Cathedral like structure. It was less of a church nowadays, and more of a satellite office for the Bishop and the Cardinal if they ever visit the city. Augustus would smile to himself, envisioning himself one day setting his own office up inside the building. It was his goal, one of the many he had.[break][break]
Shaking himself from his stupor, Augustus made his way towards the large double doors, before knocking on the wooden structure twice. [break][break]
“Father Augustus here to see the Bishop.” He would announce, hopefully someone was there, present and ready to help him.
Post by Church Of Clover on Jul 15, 2020 22:24:34 GMT -5
It was a holy day within the town of raque for everyone to worship the Spirit of Undine. Within the Cathedral of Raque was were more people would find the winter spirits Cardinal and Bishop whenever they would visit. Not a lot of people would typically head into the Cathedral whenever there wasn’t a service going on. Though, that didn’t stop some from wanting to enter for personal prayers to the great spirit itself. People that did make their way into the building was usually restricted only to the service area, and nowhere else within the building. The Bishop and Cardinal of Undine were very influential people that not everyone within the Kingdom agreed with. Those nonbelievers would usually try their best to make assassination attempts on the holy leaders lives by disguising themselves as normal citizens. That is why the Priests and nuns that watch over the church would restrict the citizens to the service area. But they would make exceptions to a select group of people. When the Front door of the Cathedral opened one of the Priests knew that this man walking in would be one who was an exception. A Priest watched the man enter, and then announce himself as Father Augustus of the Raque Church. The man would have a blessed smile on his face whenever he witnessed Augustus make his way through. “Bless the Spirit of Undine on you welcome here, Father. What brings you here today to one of the few Cathedrals of Clover? Are you wishing to pray to our great spirit, or are you wishing an audience with one of the holy leaders?” He would say as he held both his hands together in front of his chest.
Elsewhere...
The Bishop of the Winter Spirit was making his way towards his office. He would be greeted by a few different Nuns, Deacons, and Priests on his way. All of them would bless the man to the Holy Spirit as he would do the same in return. When he arrived at his office he would take a seat behind his desk to begin his daily duties. While doing so, His personal assistant who guys by the name Aristotle Plato would make his way in. Aristotle has been the personal assistant to two bishops with the current one being his second. The man would walk up to the Bishops desk to begin his duties of going over the daily schedule his holy bishop would do today. “Good day, Father. We have ourselves a busy schedule for the day. You have meetings with different Priests throughout the day. As well as making appearances to bless the citizens of Clover.” Beginning right off the bat without a second of breath. The Bishop would lean back in his chair to listen to what his assistant had to say. “So we have meetings all day today? Then there will be much travel for us to get the furtherest ones done. So, we shall leave here soon. Let me see what all I have here on my desk to do first, my dear boy. I am not getting any younger. Hopefully my time to allow for someone new to take my place will come to us soon.” He would say to Aristotle before beginning looking over his paperwork.
Post by Augustus Ravencrest on Jul 16, 2020 2:02:13 GMT -5
[nospaces]
[attr="class","augustimage"]
POW
4
DUR
60
STA
34
SEN
4
CON
60
[break]
HEALTH
100%
MANA SKIN
100%
MANA POOL
100/100
MANA REGEN
35 IC 30 OOC
[break]
WORD COUNT
1230
TOTAL WORD COUNT
2431
TAG
[attr="class","augustscroll"]
Augustus would smile at the Priest that greeted him. It seems as though that the Cathedral was now in full swing. Of course, how could it not be. The duties of the Church of Clover never slept, after all. Even Augustus knew that as part of the Church of Clover, specifically being tasked with the caretaking of the church in Raque, as its Priest and head. It had been a daunting task at first, yet Augustus persevered. He had made sure that the orphans of the church itself were fed, that the supplies needed were met, and that the other Priests, Nuns, and even the Deacons were able to do their duties unimpeded. He had wanted to create a space where the Church of Clover can truly flourish, and he did that not only through action, but through encouraging each and every single person within the church itself to do better. He could still remember talking to each and every single Deacon and Nun within the church of Raque. He had wanted to get to know them more, making sure that they were comfortable with this change in leadership within the church of Raque, and that he was not imposing on them. He also made sure to note each of their goals and aspirations, and made sure to help them achieve those goals as best as he could. Of course, the biggest portion of his time, aside from gallivanting around the Clover Kingdom helping its citizens through various missions, were the children, the orphans. The children had been his largest concern, making sure that they were well fed, and that they had proper clothes and were going to school without any sort of disadvantage. A bright future starts with a healthy childhood, after all, and Augustus was determined to make sure that the children under his care would succeed in their future lives outside of the orphanage. He was setting them up for success.[break][break]
“May Undine bless you as well, father.” Augustus would respond to the priest that had answered the Cathedral doors. “I am here to pay respects to the Great Spirits, as well as visit the Bishop.” He continued, “I had been invited a few days ago, and should be expected.” Augustus smiled and bowed at the man in reverence. While Augustus was a Priest, he was sure that this man was likely his senior in many ways. Though, front he looks of it, the man himself saw little action outside of the double doors of a church. He was as pale as a pig, and looked to be less fit. Augustus, on the contrary, was built fairly muscular in terms of composition, and was barrel chested. Augustus supposed there was a reason why Priests most times stayed as Priests their whole lives. Dedication to the church was one thing, it was dedicating oneself above and beyond just the church that gave a Priest a far better chance of advancing within the Church of Clover. Of course, not everyone is like Augustus, who had busied himself helping the common people outside of his church duties. He had heard, however, that the current Cardinal that presided over the Great Spirit Undine was once and still is a great healer of renown. The other Cardinals were also mages of great respect and renown, and did not earn their positions for nothing. [break][break]
“Father, if you would be so kind, do you mind escorting me to the prayer booths? I would like to pay my respects to the Great Spirit Undine on this auspicious day, at least until the Bishop is ready to see me.” Augustus finally as the Priest, who smiled kindly at Augustus. There was no reason to deny the young Priest of Raque the ability to pray within his own city’s Cathedral, after all. No reason at all.[break][break]
“Of course, father. Please, do come in.”[break][break]
The priest motioned for Augustus to come in, and he obliged. [break][break]
The cathedral itself was a wonder. It’s walls and pillars were adorned with beautiful gold inlays. While the ceiling had been painted to depict the Great Spirit Undine defeating what seemed to be the darkness. It was a common theme, wherein a Great Spirit would be painted as defeating some sort of primordial enemy, commemorating their strength. Augustus would stare at the ceiling for a moment, before the priest would cough.[break][break]
“Ah yes, is it your first time in here? I suppose we do close this Cathedral during regular days. Well, this art was commissioned years upon years ago during the first Cardinal of Winter ruled. It is a monumental piece, celebrating the triumph of good against evil, and has been a staple decoration within this Cathedral.”[break][break]
The Priest would explain the piece, and Augustus would only nod in reply. “It is beautiful, father.”[break][break]
He was then led to a prayer booth, where Augustus took his spot, kneeling on the the bench’s padded ledge. He would close his eyes, and imagine himself in a meditative state. It felt better this way, and truly, he felt more connected to the Great Spirit Undine when he was at peace with himself. Combat had been a staple part of his life, not only as a Deacon, but also as a Priest of Raque. Helping the citizens of the Clover Kingdom had involved combat situations, and it had not been as easy to deal with humans who were desperate compared to mana beasts. The latter, he saw his ability to cleanse the Clover Kingdom of foul entities under the name of the Church of Clover. The former was harder, and he had always tried to extend a helping hand when he was able to. Everything, however, would come crashing down when he finally settled in for the night. Fear and guilt. It weighed on him. So, in a meditative state, he could focus his mind and slowly sort through his thoughts, while praying to the Great Spirit Undine for guidance.[break][break]
“Piety.” Augustus would whisper to himself. Piety kept him sane. To put his faith in the Great Spirit Undine, to let her guide his actions in cleansing the Clover Kingdom of the corrupt mana that had been plaguing it. His piety helped him carry the burden, and to wash away the guilt of not being able to help everybody. His piety was his shield against forces that might corrupt him and his faith. His piety was the source of his strength, his inner strength, the one that tells him to keep fighting, even when the road seems too rough. His piety would save him in his distress.[break][break]
Augustus would not know just how long he had been praying within the prayer booth. For the most part, when he was in this state, he would block out every single noise apart from his breathing. His mind would be focused on his thoughts, and in visualizing his conversation with the Great Spirit Undine. A prayer, not for himself, but for the people of the Clover Kingdom. It was never for himself. There was nothing he wanted or needed. All of his prayers always went to everyone else besides him. He was just that kind of man.[break][break]
Soon, however, he would be called by the Bishop. He had an appointment to see the man, after all, though for what, he did not know. Only the Bishop would know of it.
Post by Church Of Clover on Jul 25, 2020 1:13:49 GMT -5
The Auxiliary Bishop, Alexander Von Shurke, would be waiting for Augustus once he exited the booth. He would be dressed in similar vestments as the bishop would be and appear to be smiling in a familiar yet still equally concerning smile as he outstretched his right hand in greeting.
”Father Ravencrest, it is a pleasure to see you, I hope that your many paths that have led you here were fruitful, we’ve been keeping an eye on your progress and the Bishop would like a word. So if you will follow me, we shall go to see him now. Alexander finished, already turning to leave towards the Bishop’s office. The man was not one to waste words.
Alexander was a smug man and saw that Augustus, while a good man in his own right...his familial ties and his methods were seen by the church as excessive sometimes, though for the Bishop, it was actually seen as a great strength for the church and as such a need for change was coming and the Bishop knew exactly who to bring in.
Alexander would go to the back of the cathedral and then to the great staircase that appeared to be heavily used even with it being decorated with some of the finest materials available. Silk and dark oak, teal velvet and brass fittings...it looked more like a royals house than a place where church officials gathered. Once he climbed the staircase he would go to the left and then take another left to travel along a walkway filled with doors to the right. Behind those doors were records and rooms for the staff of the church. The bishops door was at the end and overlooked the grand hall where the people would gather for service. It truly was a marvel.
Once Alexander got to the door as long as Augustus still followed he would stop the man at the door before going into the Bishop’s office. The talking was low and after a few moments a deeper and much more pronounced voice beckoned the father into the room as the Auxiliary Bishop stood to the Bishop’s side and looked at Augustus with that same smug grin.
Post by Augustus Ravencrest on Jul 26, 2020 1:59:22 GMT -5
[nospaces]
[attr="class","augustimage"]
POW
4
DUR
60
STA
34
SEN
4
CON
60
[break]
HEALTH
100%
MANA SKIN
100%
MANA POOL
100/100
MANA REGEN
35 IC 30 OOC
[break]
WORD COUNT
1241
TOTAL WORD COUNT
3672
TAG
[attr="class","augustscroll"]
Augustus would look towards the priest that had been awaiting him. No, not a priest. From his vestments, he must be of at least a bishop in rank. Though, Augustus did not recognize the man by just a quick glance. Then, he found himself remembering some of the Auxiliary Bishops that worked with the Church of Clover. The men and women who served with the Bishops of their territory. Augustus was less familiar with those men and women, having never worked within the Church of Clover’s own offices and parishes. Instead, Augustus spent most of his time doing outreach work. He completed missions in the name of the Church of Clover, gave aid to the poor and the sick and the needy. He was a man of action, working with the people and alongside them. A public figure, instead of one who sat in the Church’s halls praying and giving masses. [break][break]
He would shake his head. [break][break]
He supposed he was the outlandish one. Augustus knew that there were quite a number of people within the Church of Clover that did not like how he operated. How could they? Augustus was breaking the mold of the Church of Clover by basically doing things that was not required or even expected of him to do so. He constantly found himself questioning as to why the Priests of the Church of Clover did not do more to help the citizens of the Clover Kingdom? They had the means. They had the time. Some of the churches even had the monetary means to help the citizens of Clover. Yet, they chose to either ignore the need of the populace, or just simply do not care enough to go out of their respective churches to do something about it. It irked Augustus to no end, though he made sure not to show his displeasing thoughts through his facial expressions as he was greeted by this Auxiliary Bishop. [break][break]
“Auxiliary Bishop, Alexander Von Shurke.” Augustus would bow as he was greeted by the man. Augustus knew from an early age that respect towards any one went a long way later down the line. Of course, it did not guarantee good graces, but at least it was good enough to hopefully get started on the right foot. As the Auxiliary Bishop spoke of his own progress, and was unsure whether to be scared for his own career within the Church of Clover, or if he should be happy. He knew that his own actions had rubbed others the wrong way. Maybe it had been because it showed the others just how much a Priest can truly achieve if they had actually stepped out of their comfort zone within the church that they worked at. There was a reason why every single church employed Nuns and Deacons, after all. Priests and Priestesses had more than enough spare time to dedicate themselves to other things in life. It was a fact, and a lot of the Priests and Priestesses would not acknowledge it. Instead, they hid within their own parishes, making it seems as though that they had been swamped by their parish duties. Augustus would call them lies, yet, he was not one to confront such things. The Church of Clover, after all, was an old organization. It had existed since before Augustus’ birth, and most likely a very long time after his own death. [break][break]
“Yes, yes, please lead the way.” He would gesture as Augustus made his move to follow the man. Von Schurke. He did not know the surname of the Auxiliary Bishop well. At least, not well enough. Was it a nobleman’s last name? It feels like it. The repository of lesser nobility was something Augustus himself did not keep himself updated with. There was a time when he made sure to know all the names of the nobility. The days when he made sure to make connections without those in the upper nobility. Even the Silvas had been one of those whom he had extended a hand of truce and friendship. It had been a sad day for Augustus himself when he had been rejected by that specific family. His advances towards them, courting their favour within the Royal Court, turned to nothing but ash. As a Ravencrest, a part of the Upper Nobility, it had been his prerogative to unite the families towards a common goal. At the end of the day, the plan had failed. Their differences had been too deep, at least for the Silvas it was. However, the Von Schurke name did not ring a bell for Augustus. There was a likelihood that they were not active within the Royal Courts, and within the Noble Region’s circles. Quite a lot of lesser nobility usually try to stay away from the hard politics within the Royal Capital itself. Understandably so, since some of the other upper nobility families can be quite hawk-ish in their nature. [break][break]
Augustus would be led through the hallways towards a grand staircase. It was reminiscent of a large manor’s grand staircase, and, in fact, it probably was modeled after it. There was an opulence to the place, palatial in its interior decorations. It showcased the true nature of the Church of Clover, the richness it held within its bowels. Of course, there was a reason for these. They were relics of the past. Donations from upper nobility, and even those from the lesser nobility. This was a product of multiple generations of faith, passed down without any type of resistance. [break][break]
As they kept moving, Augustus could see just how much wealth the Church of Clover truly have accumulated. He wondered whether this was what it was all for. Their masses, their missions, and their daily offerings. Was it all for sustaining this amount of wealth. It could not be. Not entirely. The Bishops, and most likely the Cardinals, lived in great standards. After all, they were the leaders of the Church. Much like the Vice Captains and Captains of the Magic Knights, these men and women were looked up to by the common people to guide them spiritually. They were the shepherds of men and women, the voice of the Great Spirits. He supposed that they could live in a bit more opulence. Though, at the end of the day, Augustus viewed these as unnecessary. And truly, could be used to help the populace. [break][break]
The place, however, felt like a maze to the man. Too many corridors. Too many turns. Too many doors. Augustus knew he could not complain. His own estate, the familial home of the Ravencrest family, was the same, if not larger. Augustus supposed he just did not expect this place to be as big as it was, and a lot of the space used privately. The Cathedral, to Augustus, was always the grand holy center, and therefore held nothing like this. The building was definitely larger than what he had first imagined it to be. [break][break]
Finally, they stopped by a door. Augustus would let the Auxiliary enter first, hearing the light discussion that was happening inside. He would not pry. He had no reason to, after all. For Augustus, this was something of a customary meeting with the Bishop Sheever. [break][break]
And then he was called in. Augustus would thank the Auxiliary Bishop, nodding before going in. He would miss the smirk of the man, and instead focus on the task at hand. The Bishop awaited.
Post by Church Of Clover on Jul 27, 2020 21:36:59 GMT -5
Sheever looked upon Augustus and smiled as the Auxiliary Bishop left the two of them alone as per the Bishops orders. Once they were alone Sheever opened a book, it looked old and large for his size. He cast his hand out as the windows and door instantly covered with wool as the man stood up and walked to the front of his desk before letting out a deep sigh of relief. “that’s better…”. He said as he stretched a moment. ”so...Augustus, the reason I have called you here today to the church is quite simple and there is no use beating around the bush. I am retiring from my position, my watch is coming to an end and the church is in need of a replacement...the reason I am wanting you is because of the work you do. You are trustworthy and you care about the people of the church...not just the church. Your unorthodox methods of gathering resources and your willingness to get your hands dirty means that other parts of the church may look into recruiting you for their own means...instead I want you to make the church a better place, from the inside out.”. The little speech may sound weird but did the bishop just admit that there was some ulterior motive existing in the church?
Post by Augustus Ravencrest on Jul 28, 2020 1:19:00 GMT -5
[nospaces]
[attr="class","augustimage"]
POW
4
DUR
60
STA
34
SEN
4
CON
60
[break]
HEALTH
100%
MANA SKIN
100%
MANA POOL
100/100
MANA REGEN
35 IC 30 OOC
[break]
WORD COUNT
1011
TOTAL WORD COUNT
4683
TAG
[attr="class","augustscroll"]
Augustus entered the room to reveal the elderly gentleman known only to most of the priests and priestesses under the Winter Bishop as Bishop Sheever. He seemed to be an amicable man, who did not seem to exude any type of superiority complex. Augustus himself had not wanted to comment on the man that had brought him here. Auxiliary Bishop Alexander Von Shurke seemed to be the model type of those he had encountered recently within the upper echelons of the Church of Clover. There was some sort of superiority about the man, and it was not just limited to him alone. There were countless others, those close to the Bishops, and more so when they were much closer to the Cardinals. The men and women working in those unspecified positions of power more often than not craved the power themselves. In effect, they try to siphon a portion of the powers of their superiors by showing off that they were working closely to them. Leeches, in other words. Augustus was not one to entertain those kinds of people, nor those kinds of desires. He supposed that his upbringing was something that made sure that he did not crave such things. As a nobleman that is a part of the upper nobility, Augustus knew power and prestige more than most. He was, after all, considered Royalty in some cases. The power he wielded was matched only by those born within the same tier of nobility, and of those in the Royal Family itself. Therefore, power was something he need not hoard. Augustus supposed that this was why he was more open to actually helping the common people and serving without looking for anything in return. [break][break]
That, and the fact that he was working for the good of the Ravencrest family.[break][break]
Augustus was a man who wanted to achieve. At least, he wanted to achieve something that is both noble in cause, and something that helps his family in some shape or form. He had been, after all, made to be the man who would propel the influence of his family towards new heights. He had done well when he was within the Royal Court. Too well, he might add. This was besides the fact that he had been unable to pull in the support of the Silva Family no matter how much he had tried. That was his only failure, something he could never forgive himself for. But, of course, the life within the Royal Court was not something that he had wanted to do forever. As a politician, a courtier, he was the charismatic man whom everyone can depend on when it came to the common good of the people. Yet, it had been draining him. At the end of the day, his spirituality had been his absolution. The Church of Clover was where he decided to do his good with. As a member of the Church of Clover, he could not only inspire and help shape the future of the orphaned children, but also make sure that the common people within his diocese are well taken care of both spiritually and when they need any aid. The Church of Clover, for him, was supposed to be the Bastion of Good. And he aimed to be one of its pillars.[break][break]
When the Bishop finally finished his spell. Wool magic. Curious. He then felt much more relieved for some odd reason. There was not much to be said about Bishop Sheever, and so Augustus never truly knew the man much, aside from his position and his apparent calm demeanour, fit to be the Bishop of the Great Spirit Undine. [break][break]
He would then listen to the Bishop’s spiel. Augustus was a good listener, making sure to keep tabs of everything that was said, and reran it twice over in his head. The news, however, shocked him. Retirement? And him as a successor? Augustus was a man who was aiming for the top, and had not been slacking, yet he had been unsure whether he would make it to Bishophood within a few years. Yet, Bishop Sheever seemed to have been eyeing him for some times now. At least, eyeing his successes as not only a Priest, but also throughout his career going around the Clover Kingdom and helping out with missions wherever he could. He was not out for the money nor the fame. Rather, he had wanted to make a mark for these people who were desperate for help, but could not be afforded Magic Knights assistance. [break][break]
“I…I am honoured, Bishop.” Augustus would bow low, giving the man the respect he truly deserved. He paused for a moment, trying to muse out his response. One thing that caught his attention throughout the old man’s spiel. Other parts of the Church. Recruitment. They all sounded so off for the man. “But, truly, are my action worth the promotion for Bishophood? I am a man of means. Wealthy. Influential. I am sure that this might turn some heads.” He shook his head, “Not that I do not want this opportunity, Bishop. I just...I suppose I am just a little overwhelmed at the moment.” Augustus would slowly turn his attention back towards the old man, before asking the question that had been bugging him.[break][break]
“Bishop. You said something about the other parts of the church. For their own means?” Augustus was not privy to any other parts of the Church. He supposed that there were three other Bishops, and of course the worshippers of the three other Great Spirits. If the Bishop was meaning that, then it would become clear to Augustus without too much of an explanation. However, if it was something more. Something that he had not known, then Augustus would listen attentively if the Bishop Sheever would explain it to him. [break][break]
He was all ears. Augustus would make sure to be as attentive as possible. He was fairly new to the politics within the Church of Clover, and this was his chance to learn its intricacies, if there were any.
Post by Church Of Clover on Aug 9, 2020 12:25:41 GMT -5
Alexander was dumbfounded but otherwise as nonchalant as he could be, walking off to do his own things and report to...someone else, Alexander Von Shurke was a man of action after all.
Sheever listened to Augustus’ concerns and smiled as he voiced them, after all...a man that would accept a position as powerful as that without any reservations was...power hungry or in over his head and Sheever knew that the Ravencrest man in front of him was neither. ”Take your time with your decision, I have already prepared the necessary documents for handing over my office and have sent them to the main church and also have them locked away in a magical lockbox here...I know you have to make arrangements with your church before taking higher office. As for your other question...The church at its core is...corrupt. There are factions vying for control...It is something I discovered but do not trust many with my knowledge...I know they work with the kingdom on a different level than the Magic Knights…” Sheever sighed, he knew that the kingdom was a mess, but they all worked for a greater good...didn’t they?
”Regardless...the church works for the good of the people even if there are a few bad eggs. You are not the one to be a hero and try to snuff these factions out, but if it happens...it happens. Just make sure when you decide that you keep your friends close and your enemies...always under surveillance. The will of the spirits will guide Clover to prosperity, but first we need to pave the way...the daemons are a force to be reckoned with and the intel that we have received from those in the Magic Knights...yes we receive some information...everyone has spies...We ALL must be vigilant and stop them before we are to root out any other problems. We have a key to stopping them in this very church, but...only I know where it is.” He said as he looked at Augustus after revealing this information to him...what would he think?
Post by Augustus Ravencrest on Aug 9, 2020 19:47:34 GMT -5
[nospaces]
[attr="class","augustimage"]
POW
4
DUR
60
STA
34
SEN
4
CON
60
[break]
HEALTH
100%
MANA SKIN
100%
MANA POOL
100/100
MANA REGEN
35 IC 30 OOC
[break]
WORD COUNT
454
TOTAL WORD COUNT
5137
TAG
[attr="class","augustscroll"]
Augustus paused for a moment. [break][break]
Corruption. That was not a new word for the Priest of Raque. Corruption was not something that the nobleman was unfamiliar with. The Royal Court was full of corruption in and of itself. Backroom deals were common for noble families trying to get the best deal from each other. Noble families were often the most corrupt of the population, making their moves as though they players within a chess game. Wanting to one up another. Wanting to be better than the rest. Augustus was sure that his own family had its own history of corruption. Well hidden, of course, but it was there. Greased palms. Actions that were brushed aside. Those were the hallmarks of the nobility. Of course, not all noble families were like that. Some were less corrupt than others. Some even had a clean record. But, at the end of the day, it was a reality. He supposed it was the reason why he was not surprised as he should have been, being told that there was corruption within the Church of Clover. [break][break]
“I…” The trust that the Bishop, retiring now, place in him was almost admirable. He felt that he owed the man something. Loyalty? Possibly. The Bishop Sheever was one of the more amiable Bishops, and possibly one of the most humble of the upper echelon members of the Church of Clover. “Thank you for your trust. I will hold onto my vow, and continue to serve the Church of Clover loyally. For the Clover Kingdom. For its people. And most especially, under the Will of the Great Spirits. I will continue my current path, and forge a brighter future for the Church of Clover, and all of the Clover Kingdom’s citizens.” He lowered himself into a small bow of respect and gratitude for the man. [break][break]
“Though you speak of these dangers. Factions.” Augustus started, unsure how to continue yet did so anyway. “To prepare myself for this role, will you at least introduce me to them? Tell me of their origins. Of their purpose. Of those whom you believe to be in league with this so-called other faction.” He shook his head. “To stray from the path of enlightenment is something that cannot be forgiven, even for the members of the Church.” There was conviction in his voice. “If you would deign to entertain my request, I would like to be prepared. To know one’s enemy is imperative, at least for someone like me who is coming in purblind.” [break][break]
He hoped that the Bishop would assent to his request for more information. The more he knew now, the better he would be prepared as he took the mantle as the next Winter Bishop.
Post by Church Of Clover on Aug 18, 2020 16:05:32 GMT -5
Sheever looked at this young priest, in order for him to do his job he would need to know about these dangers and problems going forward, however...just introducing him to the ones he knows are a part of other factions would be...a miscalculation. He simply smiled and walked to him and gave him a key, it was made of a peculiar metal...something that was not of any of the known rare ores inside Clover.
”I cannot do that my child, you know as well as I do that in some circles, to introduce a new face amongst the old...would be detrimental. However this key has everything I have in the form of notes and diaries that will offer you aid in your conquest.” He said as he handed it to him, making him hold it in his palms as he looked the young priest in the eye. ”Alexander is the one I know of that functions as the eyes of our church...he has seen all sides, but his knowledge is tightly guarded and the only piece of advice I can give to you is to seek out his father...Jorah Von Shurke.” He says as he cancels his magic, the room slowly returns to normal as he looks at Augustus with a warm smile. ”I will most likely never get to see you take office, because of these factions, but the place for that...is located here.” He said as he went to the wall and pointed to a place on the map. It was located in Soshi, his finger pointed to a tavern the “Trolls Maid”. He did not say another word about it as his demeanor changed. It could be gleaned that the room was being watched. He waited on Augustus to catch on. ”So you will take office at the beginning of the next week, and Alexander will help you get settled in. Does this give you enough time?”
Post by Augustus Ravencrest on Aug 19, 2020 1:36:58 GMT -5
[nospaces]
[attr="class","augustimage"]
POW
4
DUR
60
STA
34
SEN
4
CON
60
[break]
HEALTH
100%
MANA SKIN
100%
MANA POOL
100/100
MANA REGEN
35 IC 30 OOC
[break]
WORD COUNT
444
TOTAL WORD COUNT
5581
TAG
[attr="class","augustscroll"]
Augustus accepted the gifted key. He kept it immediately, not daring to look at it for even a slightest moment. All of the secrecy that was involved alarmed Augustus, but he would not back down. His conviction for change within the Church of Clover was still at the forefront. To serve not only the Church and the Clover Kingdom, but to also the people, that was his goal. His piety is only tempered by his tenet to reach out to the people first, instead of staying within the confines of his own church. [break][break]
He was a man of action, and this was most likely the reason why the Bishop entrusted him with this. [break][break]
He would listen then. The Bishop would not reveal anything to him, and if Augustus were being honest, he could not blame the man. The secrets. The backdoor deals. Whatever these may be, they seemed to be quite troubling. Yet, would that stop Augustus from doing his duty? [break][break]
No.[break][break]
“Jorah von Shurke…” Augustus nodded, before the wool magic was dispelled. That was his signal that the meeting was over. The Dark mage would nod, “Yes, of course. A week should be enough to prepare everything, and make sure that there is a new Priest or Priestess to take over Raque’s church.” He could already see his line-up for replacements. There were a few devout followers of Undine within his own diocese, though at the end of the day, it will not be an easy choice. [break][break]
The Troll’s Maid.[break][break]
Sushi, it seems, will be his next stop sometime after becoming Bishop. He vowed to get to the bottom of this, and then make his own moves depending on what he might uncover. [break][break]
Augustus then stood up, and bowed. A respect that he seldom showed to others save those he felt a deep regard of. [break][break]
“Thank you, once again, Bishop. I hope to serve the Church well, and to be a successor worthy of your name.” The Priest of Raque turned to the door, “I take my leave. There is much to prepare for, and I’m sure the children back at the orphanage would be quite sad to see me leave.” He would shake his head in mirth, “I suppose some treats from the bakery would allay them.” [break][break]
If the Bishop had nothing else to say, Augustus would leave the office and the Cathedral. There was much to consider now, and more to do. The Church of Clover was not what it all seemed to be, and truly, Augustus knew that he was diving into the deep end head first. He needed to prepare himself for the worst, and hope for the best.
