Clerical duties (David)

[Preston Salabim]

"Salutations. I presume that you will be my forward?"

He'd lift a brow. Was this version of him not responsible for the card?

[David B.]

"Ah..."

He laughed.

"Rozalin. I have to say....her becoming so close a compatriot was surprising to me."

[Preston Salabim]

"I did not expect it either. But she has proven to be my most trusted companion. I'm sorry if you never got to work with her in your own timeline."

Maybe things would have been different if he had.

[David B.]

"I didn't know who she was before coming here, no. And I also don't want you to expect that I spent all my time watch you, either. I have seen glimpses, and done what was had to in order to create the objects you'll need when I'm gone. Like the catalog."

The card.

"I deposited much of my personality and experience into it, so even if I'm not here I can give advice as though I were. It will serve you well, I think."

[Preston Salabim]

"So where do we go from here? What comes next?"

[David B.]

"You need to pick someone to lead the council that will rule in your stead. And....after that, I will desposit the Hearthstone."

Into him, obviously.

[Preston Salabim]

"In the catalog, you suggested Draven was a good person, one I should lean on. This may be such a moment then."

[David B.]

He nodded.

"Make sure you trust him, before making that choice, and have a back up. His family ruled before I did, so they might try to convince him it's an opportunity. But as an individual, he is the one of the four with the brightest heart."

[Preston Salabim]

"I have not had a chance to get to know him, let alone trust him. And it sounds like I have little time to do so to make a choice."

[David B.]

He shrugged.

"This is true, and untrue. Our laws state the one with the stone is our leader. Once I give this to you....you'll technically rule 260. You can get to know him directly following the festival, talk to him and learn as much as you can
before handing over the reigns."

He sighed.

"I can't say I'll miss the politics."

[Preston Salabim]

"I wonder if it would not be better to simply have advisors rather than a council. It would eliminate the risk of them not ceding power. Or the questions of when exactly am I to be more than a figurehead."

[David B.]

He waved off the worry.

"The only people you have to contend with are the other clerics. I chose them, because they are the most physically and politically powerful people in our city. I believe they can work together in such a way as to compliment you. The other nobles and the rest of the civilian populace will accept you point blank. Putting a council in control is also not unheard of- I did it once, ten years ago, for several months. But I had a dear friend who led them, and it made the transition back much easier."

He shrugged.

"All I suggest....is that you get to know the four, and find the one you believe will most likely give up their power on your return. Anyone who refuses understands you will have the right to challenge them for the throne, to prove you are more capable than they."

[Preston Salabim]

He would inhale slowly taking it in and weighing it.

"I fully intend to get to know all of the Clerics. I am pleased that will not need to change."

So much for first impressions.

[David B.]

He nodded.

"As for the heartstone...."

He brought a hand down.....and pulled it out of his body slowly. It hissed as it came out, smoke lifting from his stomach. He sighed as he pulled it out fully, the stone about the size of a softball.

"Come forward."

[Preston Salabim]

He'd slowly come forward.