The Cleric: A humoristic tale of moderate adventure with a dash of romance

God made man in his image and it was good . . . sort of. The Cleric follows Ian, a young man filled with so much curiosity that his home town conspired to send him on a path of self-discovery, preferably a long one that didn’t lead back home. Along the way, Ian meets a seductive witch, a con-wizard, an obnoxious magical creature, and a large man with an enormous sword. Ian cheerfully leads this band of misfits into a satirization of the world we think we know. Each step leads the party closer to an ultimate prize which, with luck, will horribly kill the would-be hero of the story. Colorful characters fill this whimsical farce, from King Teshi, ruler of Evilania, to Mr. Shrumpkin who carries a personal grudge against language. The story unfolds in a style similar to Terry Pratchett’s Discworld. That is, it takes whatever’s not bolted down and runs with it. However, unlike Discworld, this one is built properly round and may be considered an outline God used for creating the Earth we live on today. The story serves as a way to take a satirical look at our world. Life, love, good and evil; nothing is spared. So while the characters discover romance, fight necromancers, or discuss the options of home decor, you may find parallels to subjects we often take way too serious. In order to help with this process, God (first name Gerald) has provided remarks at the beginning of each major section. This commentary provides insight on the story that follows it. So grab your pack and draw your blade . . . on second thought, put the blade away. That’s really dangerous. Then head out on this amazing adventure which mixes action, romance, self-discovery, explosive statuary, mushrooms, and much more.