<div class="floatright"><div align="center"><sup><em>click to enlarge</em></sup></div>(http://i.imgur.com/Nfs1gJo.jpg)<br/><br/>(http://i.imgur.com/IVD81za.jpg)<br/><br/>(http://i.imgur.com/T5A4OSD.png)</div><br/>Headmistress Ravensoul nodded her head curtly, while still holding a trace of that somewhat impish grin,<strong> "I believe you contestant, and it's as far from a disappointment as you could be.  Learning within the accepted boundaries is encouraged.  It's just that you realize that unguided experimentation can be quite risky.  After your entrance examination and barracks placement, once you  are settled and ready, have a page or acolyte bring you to my office.  There aren't many contestants here yet and I have the luxury of a bit more time to spend with those that are already here."</strong><br/><br/>She waved her hand at the silent priest behind them and said,<strong> "Go ahead now, I should check on the other two new arrivals."</strong>With that, she turned and began striding away, her black cloak billowing slightly around her as she moved with grace and purpose.  The male of the two acolytes then stepped up and said, "If you'll follow me contestant?" and led the way inside the building.  It seemed a dimly lit but very clean and elegant building with polished stone floors and walls that spoke of great care.  As the acolyte led the way the male spoke again saying,<strong>"The first thing you should know is that there are three ranks of individuals you'll find here at the temple, all of which are dedicated to your safety, your care, your training, and then your comfort, in that order.  Anything we do is because of our duties to the God Cyril first, and your desires last."</strong><br/><br/>The female acolyte finally spoke up at that point,<strong> "But don't misunderstand him, we do care about your comfort, it's just that what you want may not be in the best interests of your training."</strong><br/><br/>The male of the two looked at the female with a somewhat annoyed glance before continuing,<strong>"As I was saying, there are three ranks of Cyrilites here.  The highest being the full priests,"</strong>He gestured to the silent figure clad in purple robes.  The hood of the robes came down over the face somewhat, but the priest's face should have been visible, yet it wasn't.  There was a magical darkness cast in the hood and it was impossible to see the priest's face.  In fact it was even difficult to tell if the priest was a man or a woman, the shape of the priest's body did little to suggest either, being somewhat lean, yet having no bulge in the chest, and also slightly sloping shoulders and a tapered waist.<strong> "Priests of Cyril come from either gender, but once they don their robes for the day, take very strict vows.  They speak very little and it is impossible to tell which priest you are speaking with.  In fact you should treat all priests as if they were exactly the same, completely similar, as Cyril himself demands."</strong><br/><br/><strong>"Commands,"</strong>said the priest in a voice that was magically warped, sounding neither female nor male, yet at the same time somehow both.<br/><br/>The male acolyte visibly paled at being corrected on a religious matter, and quickly nodded his head.  It was then that the female acolyte spoke,<strong>"Beneath the priests are we alcolytes, we have been accepted into the God's graces and are a part of the order, but are still in training.  We still have much to learn, as my fellow has just proven.  Finally there are the pages.  Often these are slaves or indentured servants, but sometimes are free people of very little wealth who wish to work their way into the church.  A page who shows dedication to Cyril, and has served well, may join the ranks of the acolytes if they are worthy.  Most often you will be interacting with the acolytes or the pages.  You will be able to identify them by a purple waist cord, sash, armband, or collar that they are wearing."</strong><br/><br/>The group stopped very shortly after at an ornately carved wooden door that gleamed with hundreds of years of rubbed oils.<strong> "Good luck contestant,"</strong>the male acolyte said as he pushed open the door and gestured for her to enter.  A small antechamber led into a rather stark room with three other robed judges standing around a waist height table.  The table had two arms on one end with stirrups for feet.<br/><br/>The priest that had followed Pipa into the room intoned in that strangely dual gendered voice,<strong>"Disrobe contestant, and lay upon the table."</strong><br/><br/>A second priest that was standing near the stirrups gestured to them.  She noticed at that moment that even the priest's hands were shrouded in purple silken gloves as explained in an almost exactly same voice to the first,<strong>"Your feet, here."</strong>The four priests then stood around unmoving, watching Pipa.  There was apparently to be no privacy in this room.