Please Don't call me a death cleric

Hello, readers! We are here today with a priestess from the death clerics! Their order is mysterious and surrounded by rumor so with the boats getting ready to leave in a few months we figured we would have a chat with one of their own who are going to be on the maiden voyage!

Q Sister Earthsworn, tell us, just as an introduction, do you enjoy your job?

A Thanks for having me Carl. Please don't call me a death cleric. You sneer when you say it and your tone implies it as a slur. I love my job, and it's a necessary part of the end of life just as a midwife is to the start of it. I'm honored people let us help their loved ones on their final journey in this world, no matter what that their specific customs are.

Interesting take on it, but it seems that most people view your order as morbid. Now, we don't mean to offend but it will take a bit of work to change that common colloquialism. We want to help educate our readers in this interview!
Q Which leads to our next question, why did you join your Order, we heard it happened very young.

A I was very young, I was twelve when I knew that it's what my life path was. and joined seminary just before thirteen. I saw the Black Bird. People talk about religious experiences but there are plenty of documentations of those. Mine was my own, and as personal to me as all those others were to those people. He was beautiful, and I never had any doubts of my path. And to jump ahead of you, no I will not answer any questions about Him, it is not my place.

Well that's no fun! I'm sure the readers would love to hear a clerics first hand account of one of the gods. But twelve is very young, so many girls that age don't even know what they want to wear that day, let alone what they want to wear for their entire life. Black suits you, though. Onto the next question though, in regards to your age.

Q How did your parents feel about it? I'm sure they had plans for you.

A They did have plans for me. I come from candlemakers, and I would have been the eighth generation of them. It came as quite a shock to them when I said they needed to work on another daughter. They laughed and told me they got lucky the first time. Our city passes property matrimonially and I would not have been able to run the business when they retire in my line of work. They were morose. Things settled naturally after some time though. I do have a little sister, now. She's lovely.

I'm sure all the parents reading this surely felt their pain, every parent hopes to see their progeny with their own families as they grow. Candlemaking sounds like a very involved industry. I'm sure you recall some of it, and I'm sure the readers are curious!

Q Can you tell them some interesting facts about candles?

A Well, I'm not a fan of the cold, and candles need to be kept cold. My families warehouses are in the caves they were first built in buy my ancestors. There are candles made with whale blubber and some with beeswax. Both have different uses based on burn time, smoke production, light clarity, scent, and workability. 

That's so interesting! I'm sure everyone will appreciate the craftsmanship in that. We want to pivot back to the Order next.

Q Tell us your feelings about the upcoming explorations, and your role in them.

A My feelings are mostly excited. Naturally there is the small element of fear, but I am not the only cleric on the voyage, there will be a Brother of Singesetr onboard my assigned ship as well, in addition to all of the skilled sailors and the most competent captains. I am hopeful, and joyous, more than anything. I know in my soul we will find land free from the Fading.

Your optimism is a testament to your people, humans always were perceived as such! The readers know I am a Grokon, and am not as sunnily dispositioned. 

Q Can you tell us what usually fills your days, before all this sailing talk came about that it, surely it is different now but we want to let the readers know what a normal day looks like for a member of your Order.

A The events of the day usually depend on outside events. We wake, and pray before breakfast. After we eat if there is no family who needs attending to then we care for the gardens and herds at the monastery. We clean after lunch. It is a simple and fulfilling existence. If someone has passed, all of our energies are focused there. We have to take care of the worldly matters, according to the persons customs. Since it was mentioned specifically we also have Grokon clerics, to assist the families in the passing of your kin. After worldly matters are also spiritual matters that are attended to. We don't tend to give sermons the way those clergy of the Mother and the Father tend to, our different roles work well in their places.

Wow, how very interesting!

Q When you say worldly matters, what do you mean?

A I know you're fishing for something dark and dramatic for your article, Carl. Theres nothing of it though. I mean the funeral, and families wants for their loved ones body. Don't try to twist stuff up like laundry. Everyone comes to us eventually, as will you and I too. 

Well that's one hell of an end to our meeting I think. I don't want to disappoint my readers but if you're not going to give me something juicy then I guess I will go back to my lamb chops! Thank you for this chat Sister Earthsworn, I am sure the readers are going to enjoy your frankness, if nothing else.