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Long ago, Earthmother was a young, wild Priest, yearning to help others. She was not skilled enough for that Holiest of Callings, Resurrection -- it was still beyond her reach. Sure, she could heal others, even supplement their mana supplies, but when experience is scarce, teaming is even scarcer. EM walked the world alone, adventuring and growing slowly, slowly.
Then, the Gods took a look at the Priesthood of Cianna. They were unhappy with the strength that had been bestowed upon these holy fighters, as were many mortal denizens of the Realms. The Gods consulted, weighed the balance on the Great Scales, and made appropriate changes to bring the mighty Guild to a level of power that the other Guilds could live with. The Gods were not malicious... the Priesthood (and the Clerics in it) were *GOOD*, and the Gods wished them no ill-will. Still, the Priests could not be favored. So, compromise was made, and even though some power had been taken away, the Gods granted a new Power to the Clerics. What was lost in combat, was given back... and this gift was destined to change the face of the world forever.
After the great changes, Earthmother struggled briefly in combat, until she learned how to work within the changes. She discovered the new gift, as well... The Gods had granted mid-level Priests the ability to 'feather' heavy armors, thus making them MUCH lighter.
EM was ELATED! At long last, something she could do *for* the other mortals! Something she could do that didn't involve following people around, only healing, and feeling rather useless! The cry "FEATHERS FOR ALL AT NEWBIE STAND!!!" rang out across the Realms. The initial response went something like this: "Feathers? Bah! Serpent Warriors/Vikings/Monks/Devil Worshippers have no need of Priestly frippery!"
The young Priest was crushed. This spell was GOOD! If only people would *try* it, they would LOVE it! EM solicited advice from the greatest of her Guildmates, the legendary Flp. Her quiet suggestion was to be persistent. So Earthmother went around begging the Knights, known for their generosity, to just *try* this out. One of the main sticking points was the fact that to feather an armor, the Priest has to hold it in his or her hands. This act involves *enormous* trust, because of course, the Priest in question might not give it back! Earthmother earned the trust of the Knights, and soon, nearly all members of this equipment-reliant guild were coming to her to lighten their daily sets of equipment.
Other guilds began to take notice. For some reason, Knight and Priest money runs seemed faster, more lucrative, and more killing was being done. And why was Earthmother *still* hollering on about "Feathers for all at Newbie!" ? One by one, those individuals who trusted Earthmother would hand her all their armor, and she would hand it back piece by piece, lighter....and "Feathered." Serpents and DW's still balked at wearing armor that was obviously marked with a Priest's touch, but the Serpents especially are an eq-dependant lot, and most eventually came around to the concept of Feathered equipment, especially since the addition to their carry capacity was generally 1 or 2 levels.
Earthmother worked day and night to encourage others to utilize the Priesthood's new services. She was *so* thrilled to be able to help others on a daily basis that she strived to spread Cianna's Light to every mortal in the Realms. This involved building personal relationships with each person, building trust with each person, and circumventing eons of Guild v. Guild animosity.
Over years, all Priests became sought after not just for their Resurrective powers. Only the highest ranking Priests could do that, anyhow, but almost every non-newbie Priest could feather. This helped to viably integrate the Priests into the daily game, because equipment is not saved, and everyone must equip daily. Feathers became imperative to many non-Priests, and Priests now had a skill that could be traded for other Guilds' skills, such as the Viking Tiwar rune and Knightly armor adjustments.
Earthmother discovered and then taught other Priests faster ways to feather and return equipment to others so that the trust barrier would not be broken. Day by day, feathers became a more integral part of individual mortals' play.
The Priests have never forgotten the generosity of the Gods of Balance. Even though this spell has changed what was originally conceived at the carry capacity maximum for individual mortals, the Gods have smiled upon it, and left it in play. Earthmother was *not* the only Priest to work hard to integrate this spell into everyone's daily use, but she was a very active Priest at the time of its institution. She built her reputation on this skill: she's known to be helpful, generous, and fast....all the things a fully grown Priest should be. There is a stronger sense of Guild-to-Guild community, and even generalized animosity is put aside daily: nobody wants to hear that a Guild War has suddenly been called, and they are without their Feathers! Feathers are a daily way to maximize one's potential, and with Priests around who are willing to share this 'wealth', well... even the most hardened Serpent or DW can justify 'using those foolish Priests.'
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