Reincarnated as a random race, of course I got goblin.

Chapter 52 - Recap: The Church

"May I ask how you learned of this?" Brother Crym asks nervously. The Trusted considers for a moment. Letting him know would technically be breach of protocol, but if he has experience with how the Monarch is personality wise, he might be able to correlate the recent events better than himself. 

"A few weeks ago, an unknown monster, most likely the Monarch, entered the Spring Keep in Harmek. Somehow, the Divine Spring was fouled, and one person chimerified. The monster then aided the guards of the keep in killing the chimera before taking off with the Oracle." The Trusted pauses for a moment, taking in Cryms expression before continuing.

"It mentioned that a village was without an Acolyte, and the villagers there say a 'Millibelle Voidreiser'; who claimed to be a Healer, cured the village of the disease that was affecting nearly all of them before restoring the Church and slaying a Nightcrawler."

Crym nods slowly. "That sounds like her- er, the Monarch. I spent little time with them, but they seemed... quite human in their way of thinking." He takes a sip of the mug Gleda had brought him during his recounting. "So, Trusted, what will be my punishment?" His expression turns serious.

"That is up to the High-Priest of Parshura. As a Trusted of the Harmekian branch, I carry no power to issue punishment." The Trusted gets up. "I will leave tomorrow, but for now I assume I can make use of your hospitality?" Crym nods, hesitantly. The Trusted has no reason to ask, it is expected that Crym provide food and shelter to any visiting Acolyte. 

"Good. I'll retire for today, I have quite a bit of paperwork to go through." He performs the gesture associated with the All-Mother before leaving.

A Week Later
Great Temple of Harmek
As witnessed by the Divine

"High-Priest, you stand here today because of your crimes against the Tenets of the Church" A white-robed priestess, her face obscured by a sheet of white cloth, speaks with an authoritative voice that reaches the whole room. 

Before her, shackles on his hands and feet, stands the dishonored High-Priest of Harmek. His normally reddish complexion is now ashen, beads of nervous sweat upon his forehead. The chains rattle slightly as he trembles at the thought of what's to come.

"Because of your greed, a village was nearly lost as it was unable to provide the ridiculous tithes you demanded of them to even supply an Acolyte to tend the Church, leaving them without an Acolyte for over forty years." A murmur spreads through the crowd gathered to witness the Banishing of the former High-Priest.

"As a result, the Church was desecrated, and its Blessing lost. However, because of the benevolence of the Great Monarch, it restored the Church and slew the monster that was stalking the villagers from the shadows." Several people are hushed as they exclaim in surprise.

The events at Spring Keep have so far not been revealed to the public, as it would also reveal the plans the Kingdom has to Summon a Hero, so for now, the Great Monarch is hailed as a savior, and not an Oracle-kidnapper. 

The priestess takes a theatrical pause, her expression unreadable behind the thick white cloth covering her face. It moves slightly as she breathes. "Degh- Please! If I had known! I-" The former High-Priest takes a step forward as he issues a pathetic cry for mercy. "High-Priest, speak another word, or take another step before this ceremony is complete, your shackles will not come off when we let you go." The priestess warns.

The Church has no power to execute someone. Even if he was to attack the priestess right in front of everyone, the Acolytes could do nothing but call the city guards as the Tenets forbid taking the life of a humanoid, even in self defense. 

The priestess ignores his trembling as she continues the ceremony. "As Grand-Priestess, I hereby Banish you for your crimes. May the Divine decide your Fate." She raises her hands, and a bright white light spills forth from her palms. It behaves more like a liquid floating in the air, and undulates towards the former High-Priest. 

He whimpers and shakes, fighting the urge to try to flee knowing it would only make things worse for him. The light makes contact with him, quickly enveloping him. It feels like being submerged in water, comfortably warm. He relaxes slightly, observing the aura that now covers him.

If the aura stays white before fading, it means he is innocent of the crimes he is being Banished for, and the ritual fails. He dares to look at the Grand-Priestess, a smirk forming on his face, "See? It's staying white!" is what he wants to tell her, but his words catch in his throat as the pure white aura is stained with flecks of gray, then black.

Like mold growing on white bread, the flecks grow and join together rapidly, completely overtaking the brilliant white the aura once was, leaving him covered in an inky black aura that makes him look like a drawing come to life. 

*High-Priest of Harmek, Octavio Silthaven, has been found guilty by the Divine. Banishment successful.*

The Voice of the World announces to all present. As the black aura fades, sounds of revulsion come from the crowd. Nothing about his looks has changed, but everyone feels a sudden hatred towards his existence. The Grand-Priestess approaches him, even she feels the effect of the Title, and would rather throw him to the crowd as is, but protocol demands he is freed and given a head start.

"You have an hour to get as far away from this place as possible. Once the bell tolls, the countdown starts." She tells him trough gritted teeth as she undoes his shackles. 

'Dooon'

He runs for his life. Through empty streets, through the open gates, ignoring the angry jeers of the guards, into the Wilds.

'Dooon'

With the second toll of the Temple bell, the former High-Priest drops to his knees, his heart unable to keep up with the stress and physical labor of fleeing the city. With his last coherent thought, he curses the Great Monarch, who brought his misdeeds to light. If he ever got another chance, he would hunt it down.

Even the scavengers who take no issue with putrid flesh avoid his corpse, the Banishment instilling dislike into even them.