Editing Ardarvia (section)

==A Novitiate's Trial: The House of the Chained Archon==

The House of the Chained Archon has been a focal point of the Ardarvian clergy of Tovain for four centuries. Located on a secluded mountainside, this castle's construction began at the order of an infamous despot who was overthrown by an alliance of various goodly faiths, the church of Ardarvia among them, well before its completion. While most of the members of the alliance took positions of power in order to reestablish order and stability in the region, the Ardarvians claimed the castle alone.

They quickly cleansed it, sanctified the site, and re-purposed it to become the hub of their church in the area. It was renamed to honor the trumpet archon who came to the alliance's aid during the despot's last stand, and as such is dedicated to the strict adherence and respect of the Rule of Law.

The House of the Chained Archon is the destination for new members of Ardarvia's clergy in the Tovain region. Potential novices are warned of what to expect and guided to the castle by confirmed priests. New arrivals are greeted at the courtyard gates, and warned one final time that they are expected to leave their old lives behind for the duration of their trials.

Those willing to go on are allowed entrance into the courtyard, filled with lush gardens and all manner of delights foreign to their eyes. Dallying to look upon them however draws a swift rebuke to set them back on the path to the castle proper.

Within the castles worked stone halls, its tapestries of the endless chains of dominance and subservience stretching from heaven to earth, goddess to angel, immortal to mortal, noble to peasant, the novices begin their new life. All of their possessions are taken away, to be returned to them only when they are ready to leave the castle. They are disrobed and ritually cleansed, their bodies left bare to teach both humility and acceptance of themselves. Their hair is cut off. Alchemical treatments are applied to their scalps to prevent it from growing back without magical or alchemical restoration.

When the novices are prepared, they are presented to a group of low ranking priests in the main hall, before the silver and steel representation of the Iron Maiden herself. Each novice is first approached by a priest who wishes to claim them for the duration of their training. The novice must willingly give himself or herself away, in order for the bond to be officially recognized. Elder priests oversee the ritual, to ensure that both priest and novice speak true to their thoughts and desires.

Once the bond is complete, the novice is collared, their leash in their new master's hand. They are led to their respective priest's quarters after their confirmation as master and slave. For the next year, as the novice's needs are the priest's responsibility, the priest's pleasure and wishes are the novice's. The novice is afforded only what comforts, these being clothing or other luxuries, their master or mistress sees fit to give them. The priest is required to be properly respectful and careful with their charge, however, and there is much oversight to guarantee the novices are well treated. Health needs, for example, are never denied under any circumstances.

During this period, the novice is put through rigorous training, as much for physical pleasure as it is for spiritual growth. Strenuous work in the gardens and halls of the castle, various exotic torments, and the denial of pain or pleasure as their master or mistress decrees. They are taught respect, both for their superiors and kindred, and gifted with humility and perspective on what it truly means to serve.

Those who have , or grow to have, the spiritual strength, are released from their bondage only at the end of the trial. Those who fail to complete the trial, but allow for it, are granted a mark, signifying their attempt at approaching their goddess' glory, and for reassurance that they are still loved, despite their shortcomings.

Those novices that successfully finished their year-long trial, continue to receive further, intense training from the elder priests in the vaulted dungeons beneath the castle. Eventually, their arduous and continuous tests elevate them to the rank of acolyte.

The acolytes are individually confirmed once they are prepared to move on with their training. A small, circular portion of their scalp is alchemically treated to allow hair to grow. They are afforded the attire of initiates, both the clothing and piercings they've earned to show their progress as they continue to learn the ways of their goddess.

The acolytes remain bonded to their master or mistress within the clergy, and remain submissive to them, but now they rank above novices, and are as such afforded some dominance over them, although only that which is granted by their masters. This small amount of power is carefully monitored, to make sure that the acolyte understands the gravity and importance of such a gift. Failure to respect that power and a novice's position draws swift and sharp punishment.

The acolytes duties change to matters slightly less menial. They are now tasked with organizing and guiding novices. They are charged with aiding their masters in training, rewarding, and punishing of any novice assigned to that master. It is not unusual for a priest to have possession of multiple acolytes, as the increased freedoms they are granted means that the master needs focus less on their needs than they would with a new novice in their care.

It is during this period that most acolytes begin to understand which path in the clergy they are best suited for, be it the path of the missionary, ascetic, priest, paladin, or monk.

Once the acolyte has been judged fit to continue with their training, they are granted increased freedom, but also new responsibilities.

They may now leave the castle walls at the side of their master, to do what work must be done in the outside world. They act as assistants and servants as the priests travel to their local centers of worship, to work amongst the people, and to aid those who need it. Their humility, pride, and respect for their station is reinforced in the face of the public's watchful eye, tempered by an understanding that they serve Ardarvia not only for the sake of others as much as their own.

Acolytes outside the castle walls might face more risks, but their safety is the sacred responsibility of their masters, whom are expected not to place their charges into dangerous situations, and face harsh reprimands for failing to live up to that bond of trust.

Eventually, the acolyte has experienced enough to begin confirmation as a full priest in Ardarvia's service. The trials to earn this status are trying, far more so than the ones they have experienced up to this point.

The acolyte and his or her master or mistress are left alone for seven days and nights. During this time, the priest puts their charge through the highest torments and pleasures they can muster, having now learned the limits of their faithful, voluntary slaves.

After the last night and the final lash, the acolyte is released and given two days to heal and recover. The priest or priestess then hands their charge the whip, and declares that the acolyte is now his or her master or mistress, entrusted to do as they see fit.

For seven days and nights, the roles are reversed. The acolyte acts as the master, the priest as the slave. They are closely observed by their elder priests, who watch with care and judge the acolyte's progress. There is a wide range of success. Some acolytes are revealed to be primarily submissive, some primarily dominant, and some even show both aspects of Ardarvia's glory. The test is not to see which of these aspects the acolyte leans to, however, but to ensure that they understand what it means to be a dominant and a submissive, and that they have proper respect and care for both stations in life.

If the acolyte fails, they must start their training anew.

If successful, the acolyte is confirmed as a priest. The master and slave are officially released from their oaths, but free to renew them if they wish it so.

The new priest are then granted their vestments of priesthood, the leather coif of their order, and a whip anointed in Ardarvia's name, and their hair is restored if they wish it so. They are then granted a place of full honor as equals amongst their brothers and sisters, regardless of their preference to serve or dominate.

A new priest is not yet permitted to train new novices so soon after their own confirmation, still lacking the experience needed to be a proper teacher. They are instead tasked with work in the outside world for various years, carrying out the will of the church, and expected to do whatever tasks and deeds they find need doing.

The priest is always welcomed home, however, to find peace or pleasure amongst their brethren for a time before returning to their duties.

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