Overview
The monks of the Cicradean o'Conn are the men and women on the front line in the war on Madness. While the priests of the church tend to the daily lives of men and women in the cities, the monks are relegated to the wilderness, their communities closed and their fights nearly endless. Their contact with Madness blooms causes deformity and delusions and those who become too infected are sacrificed for the cause.
The Nine Sects
All monks begin their religious life as novices. The life of a novice is one of hard labor and intense study. Most monks who enter their novitiate do so at a monastery that is dedicated to one of the nine sects of the Monastic Order and so their Dedication has already been determined. For those monks who enter their novitiate at the Connovar Monastery, however, the first nine months are spent devoting a month of service each to the nine sects, learning about their ways and philosophies. The sects are divided into three groups, based on the kind of rigor they practice; that is, whether they prefer to fight madness physically, mentally or spiritually. One the novice knows what his predisposition is in regard to rigor, she spends the final three months of her novitiate studying and working with those three sects. At the end of the year, the novice declares his choice and enters the Ritual of Dedication.
The nine sects, arranged by Rigor are:
Mental Rigor
- The Elspin
Focus: Self
Color: Yellow
Adjective: Elspin
- The Gennerites
Focus: External
Color: Blue
Adjective: Gennerite
- The Ophoi
Focus: Abstract
Color: Grey
Adjective: Ophic
Physical Rigor
- The Dagforians
Focus: Self
Color: Red
Adjective: Dagforian
- The Neshi
Focus: External
Color: Brown
Adjective: Neshi
- The Anuthor
Focus: Abstract
Color: White
Adjective: Annuthoran
Spiritual Rigor
- The Fanthan
Focus: Self
Color: Orange
Adjective: Fanthan
- The Tarnesh
Focus: External
Color: Green
Adjective: Tarnic
- The Soraph
Focus: Abstract
Color: Black
Adjective: Soraphic
In addition to being defined by their focus on Rigor, each sect is further categorized by its focus: abstract, personal and external. The Soraph, Anuthor and Ophoi each have an abstract or 'pure' focus. The Fanthan, Dagforians and Elspin focus their rigors on personal development to combat Madness. The Tarnesh, Neshi and Gennerites focus on how their work affects the world around them.
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Monastic Rank
All monks begin monastic life as a novice, a rank which they hold for one year. These men and women are the lowest ranked members of any monastery.
The vast majority of monastics maintain the simple rank of monk, designated with the title 'brother' or 'sister'.
Above the rank of monk are the deans and, traditionally, there are three at each monastery. At Connovar monastery, there are three for each sect, 27 in total.
Above the deans are the Priors. The Prior is in charge of the daily needs of the monks themselves in a given monastery and there is one in each, with the exception of Connovar Monastery where there is one for each sect, nine in total. At Connovar, the Prior oversees her entire sect.
Every monastery is run by an Abbot. While the Prior oversees the daily life of the monks, the Abbot runs the monastery itself and dictates its overarching policies and tactics for combating madness. At Connovar Monastery, like other monasteries, there is only a single Abbot.
In addition the the ranks listed above, there are, for each sect, special officers that generally rank above the deans and below the priors. More specific information can be found on the pages relative to the individual sects.
Monastic Jobs
Though the primary work of a monk is focused on his rigor, all monks must contribute to the overall success and well-being of the monastery. To the extent that it is practicable, monks are assigned jobs that are suited to their experience, skill sets and general physical health. Those monks with no practical skills are trained for monastic sustenance jobs in an apprentice/mentor arrangement. The following jobs are commonplace in monasteries throughout Indraig:
Farmer
Gardener
Animal Handler
Miller
Baker
Fowl Keeper
Brewer
Physician
Herbalist
Barber/Surgeon
Cooper
Carpenter
Potter
Cook
Scribe
Cantor
Lector
Cellarer
Blacksmith
Tinker
Carter
Daily Schedule
All monks of the Monastery gather together three times a day: for breakfast, dinner and evening prayer. Lunch is taken at a monk's leisure from cold fruits, breads and meats provided by the kitchens. For the remainder of the day, a monk may do as she pleases, dedicating herself to the rigor of her sect and its focus. Additionally, the leadership of a particular sect may impose other required activities such as group rituals and meetings.
