Karla Cemtory

Archpriest Karla Cemtory

Karla Cemtory was born in an ordinary peasant family in a small countryside town, Ischrich-at-Varga. She is the fifth of nine children and often takes care of the younger one, while the parents and older siblings worked in the field. She learned to read at a very early age and reads to youngsters. The most available things to read were church books so she grows up very religious. The priest in the local church noticed her and took her as the church's neophyte. The girl felt like she now has a purpose in serving her God. In the small, but pretty, church library, she found inspiring books, like lives of saints and feats of holy knights, that made her dream boldly. The priest realised her potential and did the needful.

1. Biography

1.1. Birth and early life

Karla Cemtory was born on 15.09.1981 in the family of Kurdil and Layla Cemtory, peasants and field workers. She is the fifth child and the first girl, sister of four older brothers. Later, her mother delivered four more children - two boys and two girls. As in most rural towns, the extended family was around, so there always was a closer or more distant relative to take care of her. When she grew enough, she was put in charge of her younger siblings. She learned to read and often read to youngsters, and even to illiterate adults. The most accessible and spread books were the Church's ones, so they influenced the worldview of the young girl and she was growing very religious. The priest in the town's church noticed her devotion and when she was around 10 invited her as a neophyte. She had felt truly honoured and accept with no hesitations.

1.2. Church neophyte

Karla didn't find her new duties and responsibilities hard at all. Instead, she felt like at last she has a purpose in her service to God. But the small, but pretty church library she valued most. There amongst the godly lives of the saints, feats of the holy knights, and hallow pilgrimages, the girl found true inspiration and made her dream boldly. The priest observed her carefully and saw her potential for great deeds. So he did the needful and contacted an old comrade of his. The town soon after was visited by a party of Orde of Purity. Their leader, the high priestess Margredè Volgr, approached Karla and asked her if she wants to become a priestess of the Order. The young girl was beside herself with happiness and immediately accepted. She felt like a heroine in a book - it was much like the story of Exarch Ardina Golovoda, her favourite historic figure. Karla was sent to pack her belongings and prepare for travel. The high priestess and the local priest withdrew briefly to discuss their own matters. Early the next day they all departed for the party's home monastery.

1.2. The Trial

The monastery wasn't exactly what Karla expected. Her first few days were free, so she spent them getting familiar with the monastery and the people who call it come. Then she was introduced to the bishop, grandpa Nikodim, for a long talk. The beginning of the next season was far away, so right now the monastery wasn't recruiting. The bishop could and would make an exception if she impressed him but that wasn't an easy feat. In fact, Karla was brought here by a signal for a very promising young girl who can become a great priestess. And because of a personal favour, made by someone to someone else. Karla felt a little cheated, but agreed. Since she had no practical training, she was assigned to a volunteer who had to prepare her. Margred Volgr, the high priestess who brought her here, stepped in and took the task. The girl quickly learns the basics and even some advanced things. She even joined a few acolyte practices where she really showed her great potential.
On the day of the trial, Karla entered the training yard completely calm and concentrated. Initially, she had to show her knowledge and devotion to the Aurial, something that was quite easy for her. Then she had to demonstrate some healing prayers and blessings, and that was the point when the trial little slipped out of control. A poorly selected curse, cast by an exhausted and unfocused priest misses the target, ricocheted and hit several unprepared spectators, causing a commotion. Karla was aware of the trial schedule and she quickly decided that the event wasn't part of it. Instead of panicking, she go pissed by the interruption. She perfectly knew her skills are insufficient to treat the victims, so she started shouting orders to the trainees, standing nearby. Her calm voice, commanding tone and clear commands quickly brought the commotion and chaos under control. The trial was declared completed and she successfully passed it. The final result was pronounced right there - immediately, with no delay or further hesitation: Karla Cemtory could join the acolytes, or even the apprentices if she had such desire. She was given a few days for thinking.
The day, following the trial, she was summoned to the bishop's office. Their second personal meeting was quite different, as she was shown true respect. Grandpa Nikodim formally congratulated her on her success on the trial and invited her to join the ranks of monastery students, either as an acolyte or apprentice. Informally, they had a much longer and frank conversation. Grandpa Nikodim openly told her he will be glad to have such a naturally gifted leader in his monastery and would teach her to everything they could. However, they had very little to offer compared to her natural abilities and she soon would overpass her teachers. The bishop offered to send her to another bigger and better monastery, where she was to be trained properly. It was a hard choice to make, and Karla needed time to decide. In the end, she opted to stay for a year or two as an acolyte and then make the decision.

1.3. The Apprenticeship

Karla joined the acolytes in the middle of the season but quickly caught up with the rest. The girl was advancing so rapidly, so before the end of the season, she was offered to pick a master and become his or her personal apprentice. Karla simply declined. She finished her first and only season as an acolyte and passed her exams with full points and excellent grades. Then she asked Margredè, her best friend in the monastery if she wanted her as an apprentice, but the high priestess turned down the offer. She was feeling her abilities inferior to young girl's, and directed her to another priestess - the arch priestess Beathrix . Karla served two years under her and then finally took the difficult decision to make the next step. The rumours of her natural talent had already reached some of the other monasteries and she had received some invitations to continue her apprenticeship there, for a journeymanship, or even for the ordained priestess. She had some intense consultations with Margredè, Beathrix and Grandpa Nikodim, before choosing where to go. The most tempting came from a monastery of Capitol Guard Ring. The arch priest of the monastery inside the ruins of the ancient capital, "Exarch Ardina the Hallow" was intrigued by her. He invited her for a talk and then maybe for an apprentice. Karla was really impressed and was filled with deep revere. The monastery had a superb reputation and was famous for its excellent graduates. And was very well known for its harsh training program. And for the high mortality rate of the students. In the end, she accepted this invitation.

1.4. Gatehouse Monastery

Grandpa Nikodim organized a small send-off party and dispatched a team to accompany her on the long journey. It took the group a few weeks to reach the monastery as they had to stop a few times to get rid of some nasty creatures or abnormalities that terrorize or bother the peasants. In the fifth week, they reached the Gatehouse Monastery - the ancientest of the Ring and its first headquarter. They were welcomed as dearest guests and immediately a feast in their honour was thrown. Alonho, the Arch priest of "Exarch Ardina", quickly arrived and started with questions while the celebration was still going on. Karla answered everything he asked. Early in the morning, following the feast, she was subjected to a series of practical tests, with increasing difficulty. Even tired from a long journey, with an insufficient amount of sleep, and head heavy with strong spirits, she managed to pass the trials with ease.
The results may not impress Alonho much, but he appreciated her efforts and offer her apprenticeship and training in his monastery. He stressed that the monastery is in the middle of enemy territory and it is constantly under attack. Laziness and lack of effort are not tolerated, and anyone and everyone are under permanent alert. Alonho pointed out that the apprentices in "Exarch Ardina" Monastery aren't like in the other monasteries. They were trained to solve problems, usually by force, and they acted more like a military unit than a clerical one. Karla interrupted him and just accepted. She couldn't care less about obstacles and difficulties. She was already living her fairy tale - she had stepped on the spiritual way, her heroine walked, she had joined the same Order, she had been invited to the very same faction, and now she would study in the monastery, named after her heroine. For an ordinary peasant girl, this was more than anything she ever believed could happen to her. On the very next day Karla took her farewell with the party and followed the Arch priest to her monastery.

1.5. "Exarch Ardina the Hallow"

The only safe passages to the Inner monastery were via ley-lines, so Karla for the first time in her life used one. She just stepped into total darkness under a large stone arch and found herself into colourfull mixture of sparking and crackling energies. And then she appeared under another arch, completely identical to the frist, in small stone room. The room was absolutlely bare with only three things there beside Karla - the mentioned arch, the heavy wooden door in the wall, two metres from the arch, and a fully geared heavy knight. She hadn't much time for observation, because she was gentle pushed from behind and Alonho appeared under the arch. Still, she just stood and watching the empty room. The initial shock dispersed quickly and the archipriest took her for a walk through the monastery. "Exarch Ardina" was quite different from the past two she visited and matched better the concept she had in her imagination. She was given a bed and a locker in one of the dormitories, and a schedule with her tasks then left alone. Early next morning she was introduced to her duties and the true apprenticeship began. At the dawn each morning she had to report before the Archpriest where she received her daily tasks. Along with them, Karla had some other duties like chores, drills, attending classes, and training, she also had to find time for self-education in a chosen discipline. The intensity, load, and stress had put the girl under immense pressure, forcing her to surpass her limits.

1.6. The Deaconship

Three months after becoming an apprentice, Karla was ordained as a deacon. It took out some of the dullest chores but brought other responsibilities. She continued to be a personal assistant of the Archpriest but also received some assistant duties like resupplying classrooms, helping or even substituting lectors during classes, overseeing training practices and other similar tasks. The new deacon still was managing to fulfil all of her responsibilities, but they were exhausting her very much. Often Karla was so overburdened that she went to bed crushed, and even some nights couldn't reach it and fell asleep on the floor. Lucky for her, she had made friends with other students, and they took care of her. She became extremely close friends with Sydra erd Bruce, and because of her, her younger brothers - Nastor and Morelay. Their father, baron Sadborz erd Bruce, was the prefect-purifier of another monastery of the Ring and rarely saw his children and never tended to help them. Karla formally knew him and even saw him several times in person, but she was too busy. Sir Sadborz also was too distanced and reserved at the time, so they didn't get closer until years later.
Karla, as a deacon, had the right to participate in expeditions in the ruins of Captial city, so when the Archpriest called for a cleansing operation, she enlisted among the first volunteers. She was allowed. The mission's command released all accepted participants from much of their usual chores and tasks. Instead, they underwent additional training and preparation. Karla's natural leadership skills shined bright then, and the high clergy noticed them. They took no visible actions but silently formed a hidden sub-unit under her command. The unit was still formally under her supervisor's command, but she was in charge. During the training, it passed unnoticed, but when the party departed and engaged the enemies, it became visible. The command used Karla's squad as a "Flying squad" and usually dispatched it to patch leaks in the front. The team managed to achieve great success during the operation. After it ended, all the members received decorations and medals. The Karla was decorated not by the monastery's bishop but by the Exarch herself. There was also a short vacation for all who survived.
Karla used hers to think over her life and decisions. Her life closely resembled the life of her role model Exarch Ardina Golovoda. But there were also differences - the ancient heroine had mastered attacking and damaging spells, while Karla had more into healing spells and blessings. Both proved to be excellent leaders (even if Karla still had much less experience), but there was a difference. The Exarch was a frontline commander, unlike the young deacon who prefered to be second-line support with an overview over the entire battlefield. Ardina had been an individualist, but Karla had her trusted comrades. The list went on and on. Before Karla reached its end, she was already happy and satisfied. She had followed herself and had become a worthy member of the Order but not someone else's copy, nor she blindly repeats alien steps. Karla found additional motivation and confidence in herself. After her vacation ended and she returned to her duties, the changes in herself became visible to all.

1.7. Priesthood

Not long after that, another surprise awaited her - the Clergy council ordained Karla as a full-fledged priestess. The priesthood collegium accepted her with open arms and included her in the schedule of patrols. She soon grew in the tactical structure and often served as an advisor or a squad leader, or even as part of the command staff. She was honoured by the command and loved by her fellows. But not all were pleased, so there was resentment against her rapid rise. Karla started challenging or accepting challenges from anyone. Before the Clergy council interveined, she had already defeated the vast majority of malcontents. The rest couldn't do anything other than shut up. Karla once again concentrated on her duties and learning. The new role somehow distanced her from her friends, but she tried her best to keep in touch. Sometimes the priestess even volunteered for chores (as an ordained priestess, Karla didn't have to do them) only to spend time with the erd Bruce family. Initially, Sydra had sulked, but later she started to appreciate the helping hands. Besides the help with work, the priestess assisted her friend with learning and practice so the deacon could be ordained soon.
The skills Karla had shown got her another assignment. The Gatehouse monastery had suffered a devastating assault with many casualties. They required immediately help with manpower, supplements and medicine. Strong leadership would also be of great help, so she was a logical choice for the task force. For the second time, Karla travelled via lay-lines. Now it was much less shocking, and she was ready for battle instantly after arriving. Luckily, there was no danger, and Karla appeared in a calm environment. The task force of "Exarch Ardina" had arrived first. They made contact with the local members of the Order and then evaluated the situation. The condition in the monastery wasn't too harsh, but the attacks continued to deplete its defence capabilities. Karla and all other priests immediately started healing, while the Knights reinforced the front gate and started masonry. The besieging creatures launched a reckless attack immediately after they had noticed arriving of the reinforcements. Karla had to abandon the care for the injured and join the fight. Initially, locals accepted her in distrust - a priestess was too young, but she quickly was able to change their opinions. The ability of her shields to absorb and adsorb damage surpasses those of some of the Highpriests. Her healing spells and blessing were also impressive. Her help to repel the attack was significant, and this didn't pass unseen, but most important were her orders and command. They helped with the rapid evacuation of the wounded and injured. The defenders repelled the attack and could await arriving of the remaining reinforcements. When the expeditionary forces from all other monasteries arrived, they launched a counterattack to destroy the enemies. Joint task forces of all monasteries quickly defeated the threat.
After she helped secure the monastery, Karla had a choice. She either could stay here and help restore "Gatehouse monastery", or she could return with others to "Exarch Ardina". She chose the first. Initially, many opposed the ideas of the young priestess, but her charisma and leadership soon prevailed. Many highly ranked clerics had died in the initial assault and followed desperate defence, so the Clergy council of the monastery was incomplete. Surprisingly, there weren't many candidates to fulfil vacant positions. Some even suggested her for Archpriest, but she declined before someone could ever say she was unprepared. Still, along with the formal order of her transfer, she received a note of her promotion to a high priest.

1.8. High Priestess

Karla had an entirely new set of responsibilities and duties with the new position in the new place. Because of her leadership skills, she had to supervise and manage the repopulation of the monastery's hierarchy. The main hospital of the monastery had better usage for her superb healing skills than sending her with patrols. There she could help more people to make a full recovery. She insisted the sacramental and knighthood apprentices must know how to give first aid on the battlefield, so she was tasked with their training along with one of the priesthood apprentices. Karla once more started to feel completely exhausted, but now her friends weren't there to help. She couldn't make real friends in this monastery, only little closer colleagues. She was all alone.
The visit of another monastery changed this. The dormant nightmare in the Leshtavda Swamp began to wake up, and the local monastery sent parties to seek aid from the Order. Bishop Blyor was in charge of the party to the Gatehouse monastery. She and Karla liked each other just from the first sign.
The visit from another monastery changed this. The party from the so-called Swamp monastery came to seek aid. The Ring sent a large expeditionary force to help, and High priestess Karla was included. The Clergy council put her in charge of the priesthood unit of Gatehouse monastery, so she was in close contact with the leader of Swamp monastery's party - bishop Blyor. The two women found much in common and quickly became friends. When the expeditionary force arrived in the Swamp monastery, most others were already there. The rest arrived shortly after, so the expedition could begin. Bishop Blyor and her right hand - the sworn holy knight Saalan - were in charge, even though there were highly ranked individuals.
Leshtavda Swamp was unfriendly, and the troubles began soon after the first troops entered it. A wave of horrid abominations emerged from the nearby pond and fiercely attacked. The Order's forces were surprised but managed to give an adequate response and repel the attack. The abominations then quickly abandoned the skirmish and withdrew into the depth of the pond. The monstrosities used the same tactic repeatedly, but the troops expected it and easily repelled the attacks. Leshtavda stopped attacking, and all became quiet, a deafening quiet. Then the screams of banshees rent the silence. Later, other wraiths joined the fight, followed by corpses and all kinds of undead. The warriors managed to hold the line, but the priesthood had the most effort. Karla once more formed a "flying squad" and helped all along the front. She and her unit shined bright in the combat. But not only healed by herself, but she was also able to manage and organize most of the other healers.
After this first big battle, Leshtavda calmed down for a while. There were three more big battles before the troops withdrew. The command considered the campaign for strategic success. They looked at the majority of the threat as pacified for now.But there were also many casualties, even high-ranked ones. Two Arch priests, five Holy knights, a Cardinal, and even one Dominus stayed forever in the Swamp. The Order couldn't retrieve all the bodies, so some of them joined the damned in Leshtavda.

1.9. Arch Priest

Karla received an offer to fulfil one of two vacant Arch priest positions, and this time she accepted. Her new friend Blyor also received a promotion, and now she was Cardinal. The two women started planning profound changes in the Order and slowly gathered followers. As an Arch priestess, Karla supervised three different monasteries and slowly is pushing her ideas into them. Her fame as an excellent leader and prominent healer helped a lot in the process.

Current Location

New Gloufur

Species

Homo Sapiens Sapiens

Ethnicity

Imperial

Date of Birth

13.09

Year of Birth

1981 AL 25 Years old

Birthplace

Ischrich-at-Varga

Gender

Female

Belief/Deity

Aurial The Father

Aligned Organization

The Purifiers

Other Affiliations

• Capitol Guard Ring
• Order of Purity