Piarres
From FiranMUX
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Contents |
Overview
Piarres is a kindly, looking man--even for the sharpness of his features. Quick with a comforting pat or an empathetic nod and even a hearty laugh, he's one that seems comfortable no matter his surroundings or company. With nimble fingers and strong arms, he tends to gesture expansively when he's talking about something that excites or angers him.
Piarres's passion is kept under the surface. He is not a highly emotive man, nor is he easily provoked. But he would do anything for the temple and for his family and he finds it most unfortunate that his terrible reputation disallows him from being all he would to the Rianavalus. He is very practical and scholarly in more of a cause and effect way than a theoretical way. Although very intelligent, he has little patience for blather or theories. The nature of evil interests him far less than "how do we fix the problem of evil in ourselves?" He believes in action. If he is very old and has lived a very troubled life, he believes that this tempers him in his new high position - he does not, like certain other priests (he is sure), believe that he invented religion.
Background
I never wanted to move to Anarinuell. I was happy in Arinzi. The worst thing I had to worry about was my father's remarriage to that Eagle artist, Nalinuela. Or that I might lose my inheritance to those half-Eagle spawn of hers. Protecting her weighed so heavily on me, I hated her so much - I hated the idea of her so much. Why? Because I wanted my family to be free from sin, and everything she represented was sin, and I would never be able to get rid of her. Perhaps worse - she represented the usurpation of my place. While she lived, while her sons lived, there was always that threat. I would no longer be Head of House and her tainted line would become the dominant one of the house.
Oh, it was so long ago. I remember respecting Clan Leader Rodellos's idea that Anarinuell, the "city of sin," needed our influence, but I was afraid that the decadence would get into us. That we'd start sinning. That's my talent, you see. I've always known I'm not perfect. I've always known that I can fall - that everyone could fall.
But I couldn't have guessed how far. I lost my Head of House position. I lost my inheritance. I lost two of my daughters - and one was a saint, Zutiv bless her, she was a saint, but the other died on the Stone of Redemption, a heretic and a criminal. Omnesti. She was my greatest failure.
I have nearly lost my frock. I have nearly lost my life. My failures have stopped just short of those two. And look at me now. I have seen the face of sin. I have worn the face of sin. I know what it tastes like. I know why the Hydran clan gives into pride, because I have worn pride like a cloak over my robes. I know why the Hydran clan gives into greed, because I have hoarded gold in my heart. I know why the Hydran clan gives into weakness, because weakness can look like compassion. Weakness can look like love. And you never realize your mistake until it destroys you.
I have been a man whose name has been whispered like a curse through the streets. I am still such a man! I am the High Priest of Zutiv and still they remember me as the wretched father, the fool, the traitor. They do not understand that this is precisely why I should stand where I stand. It's no longer, "What does a locksmith know about preachin'?" It's "what does an old man who's led a disaster of a life know about preaching?" To which I say, "Everything."
The city of sin has harmed the Hydran clan more than we ever could have expected. Corruption is rife and even the temple has been so plagued by filth that Zutiv withdrew his presence. The city of sin has gotten to us, gotten in our hearts, but I cannot think that we should not be here. My new wife has borne me a son. I have been given this position. Perhaps I am forgiven.
And even if not, the path ahead is clear. I am old, but not so old yet. This clan, this temple, will shine cleansing through the darkness if we are but willing to sacrifice the parts of us that Zutiv cannot abide. And I am willing. While I have breath left in my body, I am willing. And if I can purge myself, there is not a Hydran or Gold Dragon alive that can't follow me. And they will follow. I will insist on it, whether they want it or not.
Ranks & Offices
- High Priest of the True Temple
Family Life
Parents
Penar: Piarres is calm. Piarres is diplomatic. Penar was this man of the land, a gruff soldier who loved adventure. Had terrible taste in women. Maybe had bad judgment in other ways, too.
Janaruela: A wonderful woman. Why did Father remarry again?
Nalinuela: Piarres's hatred toward his stepmother has eased as they've both gotten older, but she's an Eagle woman to her core and he somewhat dreads the prospect of someday putting her under inquisition. The family doesn't need more scandal. Still. She seems to be behaving in her mellowed age.
Siblings
Claudia: Piarres's troubling younger sister, who went through husbands like dirty towels in her younger years. Piarres knows people think rather poorly of her, but defended her when she was young and defends her now.
Benetto: Half-brother. Seems like he has his head on straight, but is probably evil.
Symeon: Half-brother. Certainly evil and worthless.
Marriage
Selva: A good woman. Alas, due to Nalinuela's wicked curse, could only bear daughters, all five of them, before her death.
Lyssa: A good woman. Their marriage is not one that people will write romantic histories about, but it is amicable, if at times quite distant on his busy high priest part, and she bore him a son, Zatian, which surely means she is Zutiv-blessed.
Children
Irina: Sainted daughter, brought back from death by Zutiv in a rough childbirth, had white hair ever after. Married to Rasmus, which was truly terrible, but she did much good even married to him, midwiving for other mothers. Another rough childbirth took her life.
Dantana: What a wicked, rebellious girl she was. She slept around, had her children taken away from her due to neglect, but her somewhat more recent marriage to Panisto seems to have settled her. She has her children back now and Piarres has some hope her decency will last.
Omnesti: Made Dantana look like the spitting image of Irina. Wanted to be a warrior. Left the clan. Ended up killed on the Stone of Redemption for a terrible, stupid crime and Piarres will never forgive himself for how she turned out.
Yapra: Oh Yapra, briefly nobility, and now just another Gold Dragon. Piarres is sorry for her, but a little bit irritated she only relied on him for money and otherwise relied on others to try to regain her station . . . well, not that he could have done much, but still. He would do anything for his daughter, after all.
Aleria: His youngest daughter, married to Seriss, which ended up being rather unfortunate. He is not sure if she has forgiven him yet for not being there for her when she was hurting so badly.
Adriel: Quiet, troubled boy, will doubtless grow up to be an incredible warrior-scholar. Adopted.
Zatian: Piarres's first son of his body and the pride of his life.
Accomplishments
Becoming High Priest
Piarres is not quite certain how and why this happened and suspects it was largely "seniority" plus "he sure does a lot of weddings." But he's not objecting much. He intends to Fix the Temple before he dies or is displaced, in more ways than one.
Becoming an Inadvertant Ambassador to the Nekaht
Well. Zutiv must have chosen him and Zateen for this task, as what exactly are the odds that he and the young man would be in Zin's temple at the same time with these other people -- well, he does not know why Zutiv used Zin's temple, but Zutiv has his reasons for everything. It is unfortunate he could not go again and it is unfortunate that the Nekaht apparently got some bad impressions of monotheism from his actions, but he figures he did rather well. He was quite proud of some of his communicative hand gestures.
Having a Son
Yay!
Performing Many, Many Ceremonies
Yay!
Not Having Died As a Result of His Many, Many Scandals
Yay!
Enemies
Rasmus: A foul falsity of a priest, heavy-handed and whore-frequenting. Married Piarres's daughter, too. Oh, Piarres hates him with the flames of a thousand campfires at the front. Although one supposes they ought to work together, their current ranks being what they are.
Allies
Elachi: The young First of Warriors is the perfect example, in Piarres's mind, of what the new Hydran ought to be. Passionate, brave, and faithful, Elachi has both the intelligence and the will to be great, and he is already a legend within the clan and out. Piarres admires him and worries for him, for the serious young man suffers grand self-doubt despite his heroicism and has slipped a bit in recent years. Piarres has faith he will yet out-do himself, however.
Malatan: Elachi's younger brother and an excellent priest, family oriented and gentle. Perhaps too gentle. Piarres sometimes worries he hasn't set a terrific example for the younger generation, but Malatan's sheer intellect and competence eases him. Some priests will be more scholar than warrior, Piarres among them.
Rinzik: The younger brother (if by marriage, rather than blood) of Malatan and Elachi. Quiet, but very bright and very willing to help Piarres with more secular matters as well as priestly ones.
Zateen: Piarres found an off-putting chillness in this young man, but saw him as the son he never could have. His death deeply upset Piarres and he named his birth son after him.
Amenik: Difficult to refer to Amenik as anything so slight as an ally, but Piarres's appreciates his Clan Leader's capacity to rule and his open ear.
Scandals
These, alas, may be just a handful.
Supporting Sabinus
Sabinus made some statement or the other just before everything blew up on the Sabinus and Akinita front. The entire Religious Council went "Oh no, no, no," but Piarres went "Oh yes!" He was alone in doing so. Emphatically alone. (This was apparently quite a big deal. Would that I had more details.)
Inability to Keep Head of House Position
Piarres apparently had a bad habit of offending proxies and Clan Leaders and all in all being unable to get his act together. Alas, such foolishness precludes staying Head of House.
Supporting Gadiste in a Coup
Piarres would like to note that Gadiste threatened his life if he did not support him in his bid to take over the Hydran throne. But he notes so with shame. He made a speech declaring the True Temple was behind Gadiste's ascendancy, which High Priest Javier rather said "no" about. Piarres was charged with treason and conspiracy and escaped execution only by pleading quarter.
Having Really Naughty Daughters
Dantana and Omnesti were rather troublesome girls and Omnesti did do that kidnapping thing and get executed. He is very sorry about her behavior.
