Priest Benjaminus had his Investiture

(Year 233, Spring) Church of Similius is Mazaloom kingdom's stately religion, organized into 5 parishes. Last year was the last for Mr Christoph de Buttercups to serve the Tredony parish, as his request to retire due to high age was accepted by the church's board. His successor was announced this Winter, and yesterday it was time for his investiture. 

The new priest is Benjamin Rosa (66). He has served at the Windenburg Monastery for 35 years, probably dreaming of this day. Priests are recruited from the Monks, but not all will ever get a chance to serve a parish.

Left to right: Mr Christoph de Buttercups, High Priest Ansgar Profedius, and new Priest, Mr Benjamin Rosa.

The investiture of a Priest is mostly a local event involving the parish. It's not like when the High Priest has his investiture with a lot more fuzz and propaganda. There were a few empty seat at the little chapel of Tartosa yesterday, but several guests had found time to attend. It is no doubt important for making a new Priest feel welcome.

Photos were taken, first of the High Priest of Church of Similius posing with both the leaving and arriving, old and new Priest. Mr Buttercups had no longer a robe, but was still quite recognizable as he had not taken the time to get his hair cut. New Priest Benjamin had nt had the time to save up hair for the characteristic hairdo that all priests of the church are expected to use, but he was of course excused. It's quite normal that the typical style is not there immediately.

Then there was another group wanting their photo with the new Priest. The region's highest ranked nobility, Count de Tredony, better known as Prince Jerome. The man to the right is the current Tredony Councilor, Laurent Pepperstone - yes, our former President Pepperstone.

Finally, Priest Benjamin insisted on a picture of him with his two sibling.

Siblings: Agiles Rosa, Mr Benjamin and Jade R. Lobster.

The 3 siblings grew up in Ciudad Enamorada, where Agiles Rosa still resides at the family property. Sister Jade Rosa moved all the way to Windenburg, and so did Mr Benjamin - joining the monastery.

After the ceremony and following cake with a few welcome speeches by locals, it's back to work. Mr Benjamin moved into the new Vicarage in Tartosa. On the wall there are portraits of the previous priests, he will be the 5th and his photo will be taken as soon as he can grow his hair.

All the 5 vicarages have a similar collection of portraits. They also have a large framed household photo, but Mr Benjamin is currently the only household member. He never had a girlfriend as monks are not allowed to see women, but as a Priest he is suddenly expected to have a family. Priests children often marry into other priest families, but of course not always. Benjamin is expected to contribute, anyway. This blue robe is only meant temporarily - married priests wear a brown robe. Is the color of his robe meant to push him into a marriage, the sooner the better? It might be nice sharing this place with someone, anyway.

Right now he has work to do. First he must refresh his Thanatology skills, he learned some at the Monastery, but there seems to be new ways of understanding most of it now that he has lived longer and experienced more.

He is in charge of weddings and funerals in the parish. And of course the chapel and the graveyard. To be able offering his services, like the funeral, he depends on knowing the people of this parish, especially the elders. To host a funereal he must know the deceased person - either before or after death. It gets much easier if he know them while they are alive, though. So, on his priority list is visiting as many households as he can. He will start here in Tartosa, then move on to Tredony, and finally try to greet elder residents of Del Sol Valley. He is the Prierst for them all.

Meeting the Count and Countess was much easier than  he expected, probably because they already greeted him at the investiture. Their son and main heir, Lord Nicham de Luminoso, was easy to talk with, too. He has a brother who is even younger, and probably not in need of a funeral service soon, anyway. No nose up in the sky, here, but thinking of it - priests are actually seen as the lower level of Aristocracy, he is even entitled Mister. It's a job thing, his children will not be bothered with similar titles as they will (probably) not be born into a formal House.

Lord Nicham, Countess Bequeenie, Mr Benjamin and Prince Jerome.

Then it was a lot harder getting a word with their Butler, an elderly woman named Thebe. How do you tell a Countess that you actually stopped by to greet their Servant? You just don't. So, Mr Benjamin will need to look out for the woman later.

Back home at the vicarage, he took a moment to inspect the garden. This place was used to grow grapes and make nectars, maybe he could take up that business again? Not professionally, of course, but maybe a bottle of good nectar could be a good prize at the next lottery?

He is planning to visit the neighboring parishes by traveling to Ravenwood and to his brother in Ciudad Enamorada. Perhaps a quick trip to Gloomville, too. The other priests can certainly give him some advice.

Coming directly from the Monastery also means he starts with empty pockets. The former Priest left behind two plumbob cut gems, one green and one red. It is tradition that a new Priest sells those two cut gems to have a little starter money. Mr Benjamin got §640 that way, but he must find ways to get some income in the long run. He will stay here for minimum two decades before he can retire.

Canned food? Fishing? Nectars? Only Time will tell...