Crafthole Vicarage in Copperdale

(Year 232, Spring) Church of Similius, representing the stately religion of Mazaloom kingdom, has 5 parishes. Each parish covers multiple districts, and one Priest serving the parish church, will normally reside a vicarage owned by the church. In Copperdale we find the only parish where the vicarage and the parish church are both located on the same address; the Crafthole Vicarage.

And today we'll focus less on the church (the stone build on the right), but more on the priest's household as we get an exclusive look inside the life of a Priest's family.

Most vicarages focus on some farming, mainly in order to stay self sufficient. The Priest is paid by the Church of Similius, but because the religious focus is not to own or consume more than strictly needed, the wage is only enough to cover the most necessary bills. The family stays at the vicarage for free, but will of course need to pay their bills, just like everybody else. Growing some food helps with all that.

At Crafthole Vicarage the Porportoza household grows food, keep chickens and a couple goats. There is also a small stable but currently they have no horse. There is a gardener unit, which is a separate house suitable for gardeners or a retired Priest, even. Those living there will assist with the work on the farm in general. At the moment this extra house is not occupied (it was intended as a rental unit before unit limitations ticked in).

The charming outdoors area, between the church, the Priest's house and the Gardener's house, is always busy. Priest Ezais de Porportoza (59) and his wife Josetta (House of Sworth) (43) have three children: Son Tamillo (6), and dauhters Amine (9) and Jossa (4).

Head of the house, Priest Ezais de Porportoza (59) focuses mainly on serving the Crafthole parish, but whenever he finds time he will meditate and practice his singing or research and debate skills.

The house feels rather spacious, but that is because the rooms are hardly filled with anything beyond the essentials. The church owns the estate including most of the furniture. Each household will normally only add clutter or personal items - those that can be dragged from the personal inventory. When moving out, those inventories might be filled, but anything else must be left behind for the next Priest.

Normally a Priest's widow will marry to the next Priest. Priests will often come from the Monastery of Similius, located at the Windenburg Isle up north in Region 1. They will often marry daughters or widows from the other parishes, and the High Priest, serving at the Windenburg parish, will control it all with the help from the Board.

This day Priest Ezais has a visitor, Monk Havtor (47), who is the brother of Priest Ezais' wife. He grew up in the Gardener house of this vicarage. The dining room wall is decorated with portraits of former priests of this parish.

Josetta considers herself a blessed woman. Her only duty is to assist her husband. She cooks and cleans, raises their children, tends the garden and farm animals, and she assists on serving the church by baking for the weekly church coffee or knitting lottery prizes. While Priest Ezais is meditating for hours, Josetta hardly finds time to sit down. Two toddlers in the household hardly helps. 

Tamillo (6) and Jossa (4). Today is Tamillo's birthday!

This household was blessed with all three children inheriting green eyes! Green eyes is recommended (but not required) to become a Monk or Priest, and you can not become the High Priest unless you have green eyes. So, green eyes definitely comes with some status!

Tamillo is the only son, and he will most likely be sent to the Monastery once he reaches 15. His sisters will be a little more free, but at least one of them should expect becoming a future Priest's wife. Green eyed daughters are expected to raise green eyed sons to serve the church, being a Priest's wife or not, so while they are still fertile they will normally dress and live according to traditions.

Living room decorations are few at the vicarage. They might add some clutter crafted by the kids.

The oldest daughter, Amine, likes to play the piano. One day her parents might suggest that she also learns to play the pipe organ.

On this day there is a small celebration coming up! Tamillo grows up to a child and will start school. Being a Priest's son you won't expect any gifts, because gifts would easily be something you could live without. But there is a cake, and also a couple guests!

Tamillo to the left, sister Amine to the right.

Josetta's brother, Monk Havtor, was already introduced. The red haired woman standing in the background is Politician Aronica (de Porportoza) Pepperstone (58). She is the sister of Priest Ezais, married to former President Laurent Pepperstone. Aronica and Laurent have no children, so there was already talk about Jossa, the toddler of this house, moving to be raised by the Pepperstone couple in San Sequoia. Some arrangements need to be dealt with, though.

Closing up with a picture of the very interesting rock formation at Copperdale. 

I could not find the history and myth about this rock might be. It obviously has a name - but what? And how did the huge rock end up there? Did a giant throw that rock, or has it any religious meaning? It is located next to the vicarage - a true myth would of course be interesting.