A Pulpit Ordained

**Date Completed:** Ongoing
**Previous Role-Play**: **Users Involved:** User:Katokonia
**Setting:** Marakk
**Marakkians Involved**:
* Vanilla Rosalie
* Saga Soten (Mentioned)
* Barker
* Lilias Vaila
* Rowan Blair
* Century Jahso

**Svargans Involved**:
* Saturn Rezka
* Paris Anastasia
* Takara Asai
* Wisp-11
* Saleiiya

**Other Characters Involved**
* Aurora Haumea
* Aurora Eris (Mentioned)

**Metrics**: A Pulpit Ordained/Metrics

## **It's Called Fundamentalist Realism**

"Thank you all for arriving at a brisk pace, your next mission will be effective immediately."

Barker, Lilias Vaila, and Rowan Blair had just returned from a rather lengthy mission that had lasted over the course of the past few days. It had seen them operating in Fellertown, making sure that one of the mob bosses there had an...understanding regarding their place. They had been acting up, not following the order and rules of the Akthos Church, and thus the three had been sent to remind him of the social hierarchy that existed within this nation of Marakk. The three had just returned, though had already been called for a new mission. finding themselves currently kneeling at the foot of a large throne. Here sat Vanilla Rosalie, the Jay of Cheshire Cliffs, and the current High Exarch of the Church of Akthos. While both of these titles were officially recognized as they were, what was currently kept in the dark was that Rosalie was currently campaigning in a secret war against the current king of Marakk, Saga Soten, in a struggle to gain dominion for the church over the state in the power-balance between the two entities. With her position as a Jay, it has become extremely hard for any investigations to go underway officially as such would indicate treachery, and the king Soten currently fears that were he do officially declare Rosalie an antagonist of the state, it would result in a bloody civil war as many devout followers of the Akthos Faith might find themselves aligned with the church over their nation, and potentially other Jays might find themselves aligned with Rosalie for other reasons as well, reasons which she has been keen to provide in recent times in her attempts towards expansion. Recently, she has developed a special unit within the Warrior Monks known as the Inquisitors, with whom she has delegated operations that borderline treason and illegality, though obviously keeping them secret in their entirety. It was within this group that Barker, Vaila, and Blair belonged, and it was for this reason that they now found themselves at Rosalie's beck and call. Barker responded to his lady's comment,

"Yes my lady, we are ready and at your disposal."

"Very good Barker, know that I do not leave loyal subjects unrewarded. I'm sure you remember quite well the mob boss that you just recently...persuaded into compliance. Unfortunately, it would seem that this change of heart from the fool hasn't gone unnoticed, and I have received word that another mob boss, that fool's brother, has begun collecting arms. It is under suspicion that these weapons may be intended for use against us, however in any case they display defiance, and thus they must be...dispersed. You understand, correct?"

"We understand my lady, where would you like us to go?" Barker responded, his head half-bowed, with Vaila and Blair facing the ground completely, postured in a perfect kneel that displayed both submission, and readiness to serve.

"I'm blessed to have subordinates like you three," Rosalie remarked, letting out a soft chuckle at her choice of words, "You will be travelling to Selten's Grove. That bastard Armani has been keeping quite the hands-off approach to his lordship, though I suppose him and Gerald both find themselves plagued with these cursed mafia. The brother of your former target's name is Jahso the Wren. He's the Boss of the Passeri Family, though as far as the groups on Koska go, his family's size isn't too large comparatively. I would like you to negotiate first, however should he prove defiant, then you have my permission to do what you need to do to get that armory shut down." Rosalia raised her voice slightly, though maintained the nobility in her tone before her voice softened once more, "Though of course, don't let yourselves be caught. In the event that you are...well...you know what to do." Rosalia smiled ominously, though the three didn't budge at her words.

"It shall be done, my lady." Barker said dutifully, as Rosalie responded swiftly, clapping her hands together softly, "Good! You may take your leave, if there is anything you need for the mission, it's yours. Now go, I have other business to attend to."

"Yes my lady." Barked answered, as he stood up and turned away. As he began to walk, the moment he passed Vaila and Blair they too stood up and turned to follow him in perfect unison, as they exited the room, which led into a hallway. The moment the door closed behind them and they had taken a few steps away, Vaila stretched out violently, one of her arms hitting Blair in the face,

"Woo! We got ourselves a fun one! ...I think. Hey Barker, is this a fun one?" Vaila asked, though before receiving a response from Barker she received a punch to the face from Blair, who was yawning and looking away from Vaila as she did this.

A flash of anger sparked onto Vaila's face, "What the hell was that about Blair? You tryna start somethin'?"

Blair looked back nonchalantly, replying, "Oh? Is something wrong Vaila?" A slight grin appeared on the corner of her mouth.

"You know what you fuckin'..." Vaila began, as she walked closer to Blair, as if ready to pick a fight.

"Can you two shut up for a moment so I can think." Barker called up to them, him standing a few inches shorter than the two.

They reluctantly fell back to their starting positions, both with arms crossed.

"What is it Barker?" Blair asked curiously, eyeing the man.

Barker stopped walking abruptly, prompting the two girls behind him to halt as well. They both looked at him curiously and confused, as if anticipating some sort of announcement or news from him. Barker turned around to look at Vaila, and then at Blair, before stating plainly,

"We're walking in the wrong direction."

## **This Time to a REAL Nation**

"It's crazy, I know, but hear me out. So you have something you want to do right? And I'm bored enough to put a room to sleep right now, so what do ya say you let me come?"

Haumea was leaning on the desk of Saturn Rezka, begging to go on one of his sanctioned adventures that she had seen so many of her friends going on in the past few days. She hadn't told Eris that she was here and trying to get in some fun, but sometimes living in the moment is how things have to be.

"C'mon, you said it has to do with some sorta revolution right? I've worked with revs before, I know my stuff!" She persuaded, though Rezka's visor was unmoving, his elbows on the table and his chin resting upon his standing arms.

"If it matters, I wouldn't mind having her come along."

Rezka tilted his head slightly to observe the source of the words, spying that it had been Takara Asai who had spoken them.

"See? It's not like I can't handle myself either, you know that! Just this once, pretty please?" Haumea pleaded, making big puppy dog eyes towards Rezka, though he didn't seem to care about the added effects.

"Hmmm...." He thought to himself for some moments before acknowledging, "I don't doubt your ability to handle yourself, though I do question slightly your mannerisms in a setting such as this."

"How about we make this easier and just give a little impromptu quiz?"

Rezka turned to this voice now, it being seated in a comfortable chair to his left.

"On what...exactly?" Rezka asked, his voice slightly more expressive then before, as Paris Anastasia, the one who had offered the suggestion, explained,

"Well if it's a matter of how she'd do in a mission like this, let's just give her a miniature version of the affinity test. Ok I'll start immediately. Haumea was it? Please answer truthfully and to the best of your ability!' Anastasia said, not even waiting to hear Rezka's input on the matter.

Haumea nodded her head happily, "Sounds great Ms. Paris!"

"Aww you're such a darling," Anastasia mused, before she began her quiz,

"Ok. You're watching TV when suddenly the screen shuts off and your room starts shaking. What do you do?"

"Umm..." Haumea thought to herself aloud, "May I ask what kind of house I'm in?" She asked first to clarify.

"No." Anastasia responded simply, as Asai could be felt holding in a slight giggle to Haumea's side.

"Ok. Well if it's only shaking a little bit, I'd probably first go to my window and take a look outside to see if anything visible was wrong, if not I'd probably look around suspiciously at everything but not do all too much. If it's shaking a lot, I'd rush to grab all my treasured things if I had the opportunity to, though if it looks like I couldn't I'd try and figure out the safest place to be." Haumea responded, letting out a short breath of air after she finished answering.

"I see I see, is there a reason why you didn't open the window the second time?" Anastasia inquired, as she crossed her legs.

"The window? Oh, I guess I didn't mention it since I did the first time, but I probably would have looked outside in the second case as well." Haumea replied, somewhat confused by the question.

"Ok, second question. There are two neighboring nations that are in a constant state of fear of one another. One is represented with the color blue, and one is represented by red. Each nation has a minority that is represented by green, this same minority making up exactly 25% of each respective nation's population, with the rest of each nation being entirely either blue or red respectively. The greens on both sides share the same identity with each other. Should they deserve, or pursue, becoming their own entity astray from the red and blue? Answer with a yes or no."

Haumea's brain dizzied for a bit, as she neither fully understood the context nor reason for the question, and didn't entirely see how it related to what she was trying to do at all, "Uhh...probably not..." She said aloud, then re-affirming, "No."

Anastasia looked at her curiously, but didn't ask for a reason as to why,

"Well in that case this third one will be the only one left in this particular circumstance..." She began, as two people walked into the room through the front door to Rezka's office. It was Saleiiya, the secretary of Saturn Rezka and COO of Phanta Borea, who seemed to be showing the way for the second individual who had arrived. It was Wisp-11, a Scopa, and member of the Phantasma Brigade's Phantom Embrace squad. She had a flustered look on her face, as she walked into the room sheepishly, interrupting Anastasia's question, who looked over at the entry, and saying quietly,

"U-um...I apologize for my tardiness...I-I-...got lost." She said with her head down, as Asai laughed a bit, Anastasia with a warm smile, with Anastasia making a dismissive wave and saying, "Oh don't you worry about it, we're not finished yet anyways. We're quizzing Haumea here to see if we should let her go on a mission with you!"

Haumea waved awkwardly, as Wisp-11 looked over and bowed her head slightly with an equally awkward smile, as she looked to Anastasia as if saying she were now listening. Before Anastasia continued, however, Saleiiya spoke up first, channeling her voice towards Rezka,

"This is where you've been?? You had a meeting scheduled with the Empra Twins for TWO MINUTES AGO. You said this briefing would be done by now, but I guess me finding Wisp-11 was already a bad sign in itself. Do you want me to cancel the appointment? Or will you be ready to go, NOW?" She said in a winded breath, breaking any semblance of formality with her boss as she scolded him.

Rezka stood up from his chair, placing his hands on his desk, "You heard Saleiiya, please make this quick." He said towards Anastasia who held a sly grin,

"And let you do business without me? As if!" She laughed, before waving her own comment aside,

"Right now Haumea, this is an easy one. What's one thing you wish you had that you don't? Please don't say this mission"

Haumea thought to herself for a moment. She was actually ready to say "this mission" just for the persuasion factor, but now she figured she might as well think of what she actually wanted. She placed her thoughts on what was her current desire, responding with a smile, "Honestly, an adventure."

Anastasia smiled at her response, before looking over to Rezka, "So? Did she pass?"

Rezka, surprisingly, shook his head. "Unfortunately it would seem that you, Haumea, are not suited for the role that you would play here. However, I do believe I have something else that could qualify as adventure for you. Come with me." Rezka directed towards Haumea, whose smile was wavering, then looking over to Anastasia, "Anastasia, show the two operatives their objective. You may use my personal transportation if you need it, otherwise please exit when you are ready." Rezka concluded, as he walked over to an impatient Saleiiya, who was tapping her foot at a pace almost untraceable. He turned around and looked at Haumea who was still standing in her spot, "Are you coming?" He asked, as Haumea looked at him in surprise.

"Oh, now? Sure!" She said, her interest returning slightly, as she hopped over to Rezka and Saleiiya, who then proceeded to hurry out of the room, leaving Anastasia, Asai, and Wisp alone.

"Well let's not tarry here too long, wouldn't want to find ourselves in a pit of snakes. Let's take the long way and head off through the front door, I'll give a short run-through of the mission as we walk, since Wisp here wasn't here for the first bit..." Anastasia mocked playfully, winking as she stood up dramatically and walked towards the door. Asai followed her, her stride being refined in it's own right, and she walked with purpose. Wisp-11 scratched her head nervously at the comment, laughing awkwardly as she followed the two to, and out, of the door. Beyond was a set of five elevators, and Anastasia took the liberty of pressing one of the buttons to call one over.

"