I'm not sure about the ending.  Suggestions are welcome.  -_-;; 

-EDG

--

At the back of Laurence's Cathedral, hidden in the shadow of one of the buttresses that line 
the walls, is a door, simple and wooden.  There is a trick to this door that few know: its 
various brass decorations (including the handle) need polish.  In fact, this is the door's Need 
(at level 1); if a creature does it the favor of polishing one of the decorations with a soft 
cloth for one minute, the door will respond to the favor by opening of its own accord.  It is 
to the benefit of those who use this door that the Need is immediately visible to any Lilim who 
sees the door, without the need for any sort of roll.  (There is one other way to work the 
door: it will always open when bidden by the Archangel of the Sword.)

A creature managing to get the door open will find itself facing a hallway, wooden, lined with 
doors, and vaguely medieval in appearance, with a doorway to an open room at the end.  The rare 
creature that not only has access to this door but has been to Hell before may recognize this 
as a replica of one of the residence halls of the Guildhall in Lilith's domain.

Almost invariably, when new Bright Lilim arrive in Heaven, they gravitate to one Superior in 
particular: the Archangel of the Sword.  (There is no documented evidence as to why this trend 
exists, although several Lilim have gone on the record as saying that Laurence is "cuter than 
hell."  Laurence isn't sure how to take that.)  When they do, Laurence initially directs them 
here, to this hall, in order to meet and get to know the other Brights, who often have better 
insight into working for Heaven than anyone else could.

Moliq, the Host's newest Bright Lilim, hurried along in Archangel Laurence's wake as he strode 
through his Cathedral.  The door burst open before him, and Laurence beckoned Moliq through.  
"Go talk to your sisters," he said in a hushed voice.  "I'm sure they have missed you in your 
long absence from grace."  He paused as she stepped through the doorway.  "And Moliq... thank 
you."  He smiled, and the Bright Lilim nearly fainted, then skittered off down the hallway.

"Hello, Brother," said a quiet voice from behind him as the door slid noiselessly shut.  "You 
seem to have quite the collection."

"Brother Vapula," said Laurence, a smile coloring his voice.  "They... come to me.  I do not 
ask for this honor, but neither can I, in my heart of hearts, deny it."  He turned to face the 
Elohite.  "How have you liked your first days in the Eternal City?"

Vapula's skin was clean for the first time in his life, though he still bore traces of the 
scars and tattoos that had blemished his body.  He was dressed in the simple robes of a 
penitent, and his demeanor was very unassuming, although the ashes on his bald head were a 
touch Laurence had not seen in a long time, and Vapula was doing an admirable job of keeping 
them on his smooth scalp.  "It is... a marked difference from the shambolic life I am used to 
living.  I have yet to truly get my bearings."  He looked down.  "Brother Laurence, I have been 
to see Jacob's Ladder."  He laughed self-consciously.  "I have so much yet to learn."

Laurence nodded somberly.  "There is much to learn here.  And.. there is much for us to learn 
as well."

Vapula looked up sharply.  "Anything I can do to help our Lord... but so soon?"

"No, friend," Laurence said, smiling.  "Continue your acclimation.  When you are ready, come 
find us."  He moved off, toward the front of the Cathedral.  "And until you select a Superior, 
I pray that you find yourself comfortable in my home."

Vapula nodded.  As a newborn Elohite, he was still struggling to control his emotions.  It was 
only natural for him to want to serve under the Archangel of the Sword, he felt; after all, 
that one was the man who had sent him on the path to redemption.  But were there other places 
he was needed?

Vapula had resolved to take as much time as he needed to prepare himself for service to the 
Lord and an Archangel when the door opened, and a Bright Lilim stuck her head out.  He 
recognized her at once, of course: Grenic, one of his own Servitors in days gone by.  He had 
thought that she had died - and, irrationally, found a sudden joy in his heart at seeing her 
alive and well.  "My sister?" he asked, for she had not yet seen him.

The Bright Lilim looked toward him.  "Have we met?" she asked.  "I'm afraid I'm still new here.  
You're an... Elohite, correct?"

Was I really that bad at educating my subjects?  "I am."  He stepped closer.  "My name is 
Vapula.  I think we've met."  His eyes twinkled as she stared.

"Oh my... you're..." she stammered, letting the door close behind her.  "They got you to 
redeem?"

Vapula nodded.  "I was... rejected by Hell, and accepted by Heaven.  And having been a Catholic 
anyway, in my saner moments...."  He shrugged.

She nodded slowly, comprehension dawning.  "W... welcome to Heaven, Lord Vapula," she said, but 
Vapula interrupted her before she could continue.

"I am no longer a lord of any sort, my sister," he said quietly.  "Even before the Lord God 
accepted me back into His light, I had renounced that arrogance.  I am a penitent in the house 
of God - nothing more."

The Bright Lilim nodded, understanding slowly dawning.  "I... have taken a new name in the 
service of Heaven," she said carefully.  "I am called Vehia... brother Vapula."

The Elohite smiled.  "Vehia," he said, testing the name out.  "I like it.  Much easier to 
pronounce than Grenic, and friendlier to the palate."

Vehia beamed.  "Vapula... I'm glad to see you again.  I'm sure we'll see each other around, but 
I have to go..."

Vapula chuckled.  "I understand.  It is good to see you as well, sister Vehia.  Be well."