The Abbot is a priest of the Sun god in Vala, supreme religious and political authority of his region, known only by his office, who returned on foot after fifteen years lost in the mists.
Description
Half-aristocratic in bearing, he is tonsured and wears a pallium and white robes “a little dirty at the bottom” from walking, with “a tremendous holy symbol” of the Sun god on his chest. He carries powerful rings and other magic items with illegible names, and smells of lavender oils.
History
His retinue was lost in the mists fifteen years ago; he too “got lost in time” while trying to reach the north. He reappears in person in the village, though he usually governs by messenger raven and delegates.
His return was awaited in messianic terms: “when the Abbot comes, he shall redeem and restore our people”. He is to be Grand Master when he restores his order, recorded as the cienticidores of Pelor de Ámona.
Means of rule
- Deadlines. His raven carries written deadlines that bind even those far away: thirty days to find the tablets of chaos, counted from the raven sent two weeks earlier. Elsewhere three days remain, while a prisoner serves eighteen days of observation.
- Guards. He sends young inquisitors “as a spearhead” to the provinces as local authorities, to protect his interests and purify villages. A messenger “tempted and even corrupted my sent guards”, the same who guarded Silas.
- Supplies. From his preparations he hands out potions, rings, scrolls and cloaks. He is the known source of the company’s disruption maces. He “seems to have a weakness for young girls”.
He also prophesies: his message «elix Tragedia engelix / Los espero» (“elix Tragedy engelix / I await you”) proved a self-fulfilling prophecy. Legitimacy depends on him (“Must we wait for the Abbot to hold a trial?”).
Conflicting accounts
- Those who saw him arrive in the village say “He has no armor, no”; another account gives him armor and “flexion magic”.
Open questions
- How do the thirty days, the three days and the prisoner’s eighteen days relate?
- The order’s name and its link to Pelor de Ámona are garbled; his items are unidentified.
- How did he survive fifteen years in the mists, and why return now? Where is his seat?
- Did he make the disruption maces or only distribute them? Who, if anyone, commands him?