Simon Croth

Simon Croth is a Breton priest.

Though he was elected Archbishop of Glorinel in 3E 285, he did not meet the age requirement and would not take the office until the following year.

Summary
Though not born with absolute riches, Croth came from rather affluent beginnings. His father was part the gentry of the capital; a jeweller belonging to the Guild of Goldsmiths. His mother was independently wealthy, owing both to a well-placed marriage and wise lending. As his parents’ third child, Simon’s career in the Temple seemed a sure thing. His brother would inherit his father’s business and mother’s debtors while his sister was already showing magical ability.

Simon’s father Antoine already held, albeit distantly, connections in the Temple. His great-uncle’s brother-in-law was the Prelate of Phynaster and his fourth cousin was a Curate. These links existed only by a stretch, of course. They proved enough, however, to find Simon very early friends in the Temple. At ten, he was sent into the personal trust of the Prelate of Phynaster, Marc Bouchard, becoming an oblate.

No more than a year after his temple education began, Croth had memorised a number of texts. Report of his ability reached Antoine, who proudly declared that the Divines had given him a son destined for sainthood. There was some exaggeration to encourage more donations from the Croths, but there was no lie: the boy was proving to be a prodigy.

When he turned fifteen, Bouchard recommended Simon for a university. Antoine agreed to fund the large part of his son’s studies, sending him to read theology. Though he remained a student for ten years, Croth became a deacon the day he turned twenty. Four years later, he was ordained as a priest by the Archbishop with the Prelate of Phynaster as his sponsor.

Croth took a very active role in the Temple, at first assigned to a lower building and then the cathedral above. He was tasked with the distribution of alms in the capital in 3E 272, replacing a rather more corrupt predecessor found embezzling. When Prince Charles married Princess Kintyra in 3E 275, Simon petitioned that he should enter direct courtly service. His request was granted and Croth became Septim princess’ chaplain in Glorinel.

Now at court regularly, Croth was exposed to much of the politics of the realm. He was also now an immediate witness to the particular licentiousness of the Prince - a thing known but rarely spoken about. Though he did much to console Princess Kintyra, Simon could neither reach nor repair Prince Charles. When Charles drunkenly barged into the hall where the priest had been leading Kintyra and her household in prayer, Simon’s view of the Prince was altogether soured. Prince Charles died three years later in 3E 278.

Simon remained Kintyra’s chaplain until 3E 282. On his deathbed, Bouchard indicated his wish for Croth to succeed him - something granted by the Archbishop Thomas Garnay. Though in truth he desired to remain at court, Simon accepted his appointment with enthusiasm.

For the next three years, the new Prelate of Phynaster did much to improve the teaching capabilities of the Temple. He required those priests within his purview to pass formal testing on their understanding of the faith - something not unique to him but certainly not official policy. Simon also led the Temple into greater cooperation with the Magisterium alongside the Prelate of Julianos, seeking to bring closer together the two great institutions of knowledge.

In quick succession to his appointment as Prelate, Simon was elected Archbishop in 3E 285 despite being some months off the minimum age requirement for the office. Election to a bishopric so soon after appointment to prelacy was not unprecedented, though it was certainly uncommon. Simon was a popular choice and, though he was now some years out of her service, he was aided in part by Kintyra Septim.