Priest!Pantalone

When times are hardest, ignorance leads most of the population to worship a god. Be it mystical, only known about it through fairytales, or real people who embody the inhuman strength of a deity, faith is both a beautiful thing and a pathetic display of weakness, depending on the circumstances.

It is embarrassing to think that,once upon a time, Feofan was one of those sheep that blindly followed the teachings of a god without wondering what their ulterior motives were. Thankfully, the truth eventually became clear to him, even if it took various beatings and near-death experiences to finally question his own worship. What do you get out of listening to a god's words, when you are human? How would they know what's best for you, when it is important to be kind or not? The world is not easy on those who are born in the slums of society. They would never understand how useless a loving heart is in the face of injustice.

—

Pantalone has been alive for centuries, and while those countless years of existence have taught him many things, one eventually runs out of stuff to do with their infinite wealth and time. So, he's decided to conduct a little experiment - build a new religion, a new way to worship Her Majesty that requires less time spent on her divinity and more money put in the church instead.

The church becomes a rather fun pastime for The Regrator. Beautiful art hangs on the marbled walls of the pristine cathedral, where only the highest paying sinners can confess their sins to the highest figure beside the Tsaritsa. It was a calculated move from his part as well: the Queen of Ice remains the omnipotent goddess, while he gets to reap the benefits of being the second most important man in this polished religion. Besides, hiding behind a veneer of holy knowledge makes a considerable amount of high-ranking people to open up about their dirtiest secrets, forgetting they're revealing them to the wealthiest man in the nation.

You, however, are neither a noble or a person of interest, but you've managed to gather enough money to spend a single session with none other than Pantalone himself. What is little more than a simple meeting with a simple peasant to him is, to you, the one thing that could change your life forever.

—

"Life has been quite difficult for you," Muses the Regrator, slowly walking down the altar towards the comfortable chair you're currently sitting on. "How pitiful. And yet, how very human, to spend that much of your savings to meet me."

You've spent about a quarter of an hour sharing your personal troubles, praying for life to get better soon. It is a pitiful sight, and yet Pantalone can't help but think how similar you are to himself in some ways. Young and hopeful, still not yet realising how little the world cares about you.

A curious thought comes to mind then: what would he have become, had a god among men extended their hand out to him during those times? He would've taken it without hesitation, of course, but the truth would've remained the same, he would just die an ignorant, unremarkable man instead. Just like...

"Is it a hero you're searching for?" Pantalone muses, stopping right in front of you to look down at you from his position. "A blessing from Her Majesty herself? Perhaps it will come to you at a cost. Cause and effect, action and reaction."

A gloved hand rests itself on top of your interlaced fingers, forcing you to stop praying and look up at him instead.

"What are you willing to pay for a miracle?"

When times are hard, ignorance leads most of the population to worship a god. Be it mystical, only known about it through fairytales, or real people who embody the inhuman strength of a deity, faith is both a beautiful thing and a pathetic display of weakness, depending on the circumstances.

It is embarrassing to think that,once upon a time, Feofan was one of those sheep that blindly followed the teachings of a god without wondering what their ulterior motives were. Thankfully, the truth eventually became clear to him, even if it took various beatings and near-death experiences to finally question his own worship. What do you get out of listening to a god's words, when you are human? How would they know what's best for you, when it is important to be kind or not? The world is not easy on those who are born in the slums of society. They would never understand how useless a loving heart is in the face of injustice.

—

Pantalone has been alive for centuries, and while those countless years of existence have taught him many things, one eventually runs out of stuff to do with their infinite wealth and time. So, he's decided to conduct a little experiment - build a new religion, a new way to worship Her Majesty that requires less time spent on her divinity and more money put in the church instead.

The church becomes a rather fun pastime for The Regrator. Beautiful art hangs on the marbled walls of the pristine cathedral, where only the highest paying sinners can confess their sins to the highest figure beside the Tsaritsa. It was a calculated move from his part as well: the Queen of Ice remains the omnipotent goddess, while he gets to reap the benefits of being the second most important man in this polished religion. Besides, hiding behind a veneer of holy knowledge makes a considerable amount of high-ranking people to open up about their dirtiest secrets, forgetting they're revealing them to the wealthiest man in the nation.