Role

Chapter 4

Several years had passed, and Aobe's training was almost complete. The Lord
had grown old, and Aobe had been performing most of his duties at the castle
independently. Suddenly, the Lord passed away in his bedroom. He did not have
the chance to ennoble Aobe, and it was unclear what to do next. However, the
Lord had already taken care of this, and soon after his death, a delegation
from the Phoenix Brigade arrived at the stronghold, which included a cleric of
the Jaguar cult.

The ennoblement ceremony of Aobe has begun.

First, Aobe spent 48 hours alone in a chapel, praying and fasting. During this
time, the ceremony leaders submerged Lord's armor in a small pond in the
nearby grove, leaving only the helmet. Aobe received ceremonial clothing: a
linen shirt, a scarlet tunic, silk stockings, leather shoes with silver
decorations, and a gold mantle embroidered with images of phoenixes and
jaguars. When his confinement was over, he went to the pond, fully immersed
himself in the consecrated water, emerged, and let his clothes dry in the sun.

Official persons awaited him as he knelt on one knee on the velvet carpet,
placed his hand on the Lord's helmet lying on the table, and recited the Oath
of Ennoblement:
---
I, Aobe of Aubade, do hereby pledge to honor the strictures of this sacred
heritage and promise by my faith to be loyal to the Brigade Of Phoenix and
Holy Church of Jaguar, maintaining my devotion against all persons without
deception or forethought. Further, I vow to promote and uphold the principles
of fealty, courtesy, honesty, valor, honor, and dedication and to solemnly and
faithfully follow the edicts of my Brotherhood of Steel and my Lady Baerinika.
I take this pledge freely, without coercion or expectation of reward, sworn by
my hand on this saintly relic and in blessed memory of those who have given
their lives to this noble cause.
---

The cleric approached him, handed him the helmet, and said, "Rise, Aobe. Now
you are a dedicated paladin!"