They brought her food: mouth-watering berries, yellow cheese and tender lamb.
They brought her other temptations: a beautiful and virile young man, soft and
elegant clothing. They brought her poetry and art, sang songs and danced.
“No,” said Anuth. “To each of these things, no.”
—The Torovar, “Anuth’s Denials”
Rigor: Physical
Focus: Abstract
Color: White
Adjective: Annuthoran
Overview
The Anuthor (followers of Anuth) are ascetics. It is their belief that the denial of excess and luxury prepares the body, mind and soul for the revelations of Order, and that all non-essentials (be they materials, thoughts, practices or emotions) distract from one's ability to see the innate order in the world. They are often thought of as masochistic by outsiders, and even other monks consider them quite severe, but nearly everyone respects them for the ferocity of their commitment.
Structure
The Anuthor take up whatever jobs are necessary for the self-sufficiency of their monasteries, but consider their true work meditation and contemplation of Order. In truth, Anuthoran monks need very little beyond water, shelter and a meager amount of food. Even shelter can be extremely rudimentary; a few Anuthoran monasteries are nothing more than crude lean-to camps in the wilderness. Indeed, even in communities where there is comfortable shelter, Anuthoran monks are known to seek out patches of thorns in which to meditate, or hilltops in the sun during the hottest hours of the day.
Politics, to the Anuthor, are largely unnecessary, though they do recognize that someone has to make decisions about the world that no one else wants to consider. Rank is considered a temptation and a distraction, therefor it is only given to those who are believed to be the strongest and most resistant to its lures. All monks participate in the selection of all ranks. Deans are chosen from the body of the Anuthor, three in total. The Prior is chosen from among the three Deans or the Scourge (see below), and, provided she has remained strong, the Prior takes the position of Abbot upon the death of the existing Abbot. In this way, the strongest monks are tested with greater and greater temptation of power. Those that successfully pass through the gauntlet of ranks unscathed are viewed with great reverence by their brethren.
The Anuthor special office is the 'Scourge'. He ranks just above the Deans and is selected from their number. The Scourge provides a service to the other Annuthor monks; assigning those who seek him out forms of penance when they feel they have been too tempted by madness.
Special Vow
In addition to the traditional vows of obedience and poverty, Annuthoran monks make a vow of chastity.
Rituals
(to be determined)
