Penitus Monks¶
"Brother Jacob of the Penitus at Alcaster Abbey." — the clergy's example of a monk's title (S321)
The Penitus Monks are the monastic branch of the Sancturi Clergy: a combat-trained order that keeps the Vigils of every Sancturi settlement, makes the church's holy objects, and lends its brothers and sisters to the rest of the clergy as bodyguards, messengers and mediators. "Penitus Monks operate from numerous monasteries across the empire and frontier. While the majority of monks remain cloistered in their monastery, many also travel between monasteries and interact with the outside world. All Penitus Monks are trained extensively in the art of combat and warfare" (S321).
Also called: the Penitus.
Organisation¶
"The Penitus Monks are headed by Order Principates, which report to the Qeokrati and Emperor" (S321). The order's ranks are short: the Penitus Principate at its head, an Abbot over each monastery, the Brothers and Sisters, and the Initiates, Junior and Senior. It has no regional leaders and no company leads (S321). "Every temple has a Vigil (Penitus)" among its wings (S321).
"Penitus Monks wear full white robes, trimmed in black and gold according to rank and order. They remain hooded at all times except in combat" (S321).
Roles¶
"Some of the most well known roles for Penitus Monks include" (S321):
- "Oversight and management of all Vigils (obelisks which manage Mithis). Monks which perform this role are often Clerics, Warriors or Runecasters."
- "Crafting, including Praexic Incense and many other holy objects including thuribles, Praexic Cloth, Praedaem Talismans, etc. Monks which perform this role are normally specialized crafters."
- "Temporary bodyguards for other Clergy. Monks which perform this role are often Warriors or Runecasters."
- "Diplomats, Messengers and Mediators. Monks which perform this role are often Clerics, Warriors or Runecasters."
The Vigils¶
A Vigil is an obelisk of many Mithis objects melted into one and carved with runes of isolation, "generally five-sided in honor of the Five Gods of the Sancturi", around which commoners make blood sacrifices at five small altars; without "Runecasters or Sancturi priests to maintain the runes, the area will quickly hollow" (S325, S146). The Vigils themselves are described on their own page.
Praestic powder¶
The red powder that glows near tainted Mithis, burned as incense at gates and churches and painted on faces to reveal the taint, is "harvested by Sancturi Monks" and its supply "closely controlled by Sancturi Clerics" (S325, S146). The rune-ink notes name the harvesters: Praestic ink is "made from a Sancturi Holy substance (Praestic Powder) harvested by Penitus Monks. The powder is bright red colored and it is commonly combined with holy water and some other additives to make ink" (S230). How the powder is made, from bone in the handful of Praestic Monasteries, is described under Praestus and Hollow Magic.
Monks in the campaign¶
At the Great Library of Altandon, seized and purged by the Sages, "two Penitus Monks are presently investigating" the monks who escaped through a hidden portal: "One a Runepriest (Sister Yamana), the other a Telekinetic Runeblade Warrior (Brother Hiroie - Spellbreaker)" (S190; see Spellbreakers). In occupied Altandon the clergy also counted "Abbot Fugoro of the Penitus at Tennerau Abbey", and the city's Temple of Rakkar is marked "Vigil & Monks" (S189). Yamana, Hiroie and Fugoro are described under Minor Figures of the Sancturi Imperium. Alcaster Abbey, home of the clergy's example Brother Jacob, is listed on the Sancturi Empire page.
Gap
No source names a Penitus Principate, says how many monasteries the order keeps, whether the Praestic Monasteries are Penitus houses, or what the order's name means.