Year 1 - Autumn - Benedict
The settlement’s newest resident is one Clarissa Benedict, the new priest. She never knew her parents, and was raised by nuns before eventually joining the Circle of Shelds, a female order of soilder-nurses dedicated to the faith.
Her promotion to local priesthood was partially movitated by fatigue from the constant travel. Here in Driftwood, she gets her own place to live provided by the church! It’s a pretty good deal.
She’s less enthused about the whole “tending to her parish” thing. Providing a friendly ear, preaching, helping people… Clarissa isn’t really that much of a people person and prefers a simple, quiet life where she won’t be bothered. Driftwood’s just a small settlement, though, isn’t it? Surely the residents won’t be too much trouble.
The people of Driftwood will pay tithes directly to her, and she can put those funds towards public good. (At least, that’s the theory…)
A small parsonage, for the village priest. I tried to go with roughly yeoman-level furnishings, although the priest has access to books and other skill-building items!
Clarissa’s first day on the job! I’m using the Peteran Pulpit cloned from the law career reward, so that she can actually earn money from preaching. With this and the tithes, she should make quite a decent income!
Jillian Dowrick is the very first person to arrive for the service. Somehow I can totally see her being the religious type, haha.
Once she’s home from a hard day’s work, Clarissa is looking forward to some rest and quiet contemplation. But Esther Bouldre shows up, claiming to be recently back from the dead and seeking guidance.
Clarissa assures her that Naemis can be mysterious in who she chooses to bless with a second chance at life, and advices her not to waste the oppotunity.
Alone at last…
Clarissa needed water for a bath, so I sent her to the communal well to collect some water and meet more of the locals. It was here I first realised Clarissa is very much not the kind-hearted and community-oriented oriented preist I had originally envisioned. She is not impressed with the people of Driftwood so far.
Some more meetings with the locals. Nigel Bouldre, who she met at the well before, wants to ask for advice about honouring his family or following his own desires. Clarissa can sympathise - growing up without a family she’s never been pressured to marry. And just as well, since she prefers the company of women… a tidbit she chooses not to divulge.
Meanwhile, Hannah Shepherd keeps trying to complain to her about some peasant who broke her heart, or something? Clarissa wasn’t really listening. She’s not one for gossip.
Jillian Dowrick is by far the most tolerable person in the parish, so far. Very devoted to the faith! Apparently she’s expecting a daughter of hers to get married this season, and asks if they can hold the wedding at the church.
The little idol is part of the Sun & Moon metalsmithing set and I got so excited when I realised sims would autonomously pray to it! I gotta put some of these in the church itself.
Another day of preaching and arguing with the attendees. I’ve decided I’ll need to give more sims proper formalwear, it’d be fun to see them dressed up nicely for church :)
Primrose stops by, and seems to decide she’s going to help out with the gardning at the parsonage. I used to think she was kind of a spoiled brat, but she’s done a lot of this sort of thing lately! Maybe the experience of losing her mother and her first love has changed her.
She gets distracted quickly though, playing with Nigel in the leaf pile. The two of them have formed a bit of an unlikely friendship when I’ve not been playing them! Primrose is always swooning over him, but he’s both a peasant and wholy uninterested in her. Which maybe makes him feel like a safe person? I dunno, but I’m here for it, it’s a cute friendship.
And the Benedict round ends with a little snow and star-gazing, winter well on its way! I was reading Mortia’s Dallubach this week and really liked seeing the townsfolk wearing hoods and cloaks in the winter, so I’ve been adding them to some of the Driftwood sims. Everyone’s going to look nice and cosy in the cold weather :)
