The Silent Sisters of Llydaw
Structure
The Silent Sisters of Llydaw operate largely independently of the Southern Church, although they officially proclaim to be a part of it. A complex structure of 3 increasingly strenuous "mysteries" lies at the center of the Sect.
The Whispers of the Skuilh-Dour are the initiates of the order and the most public face of the order.
The Silenced are the priestesses of the Order, highly placed for their devotion
The Tacita is the innermost and highest echelon of the order.
At the head of the Order is the Bearer of Silence, a white-haired woman of unknown age or race, serving as the high-priestess of the Llydaw, directing actions with a complex series of hand signals. She is assisted by a circle of the 8 Larunda, specially selected from the Tacita for this role.
Public Agenda
The Llydaw are a religious cult/secret society dedicated to Ganymede the Water Bearer, Goddess of the Southern Church, taking on a particularly macabre view of her role in the sacred mysteries. They have dedicated themselves entirely to the eradication of magic and Faerie from Bedoaur and are well known as particularly fanatical in their pursuit of this goal.
Assets
The Llydaw have gained a surprising fortune of gold, books and lands, often granted to them by nobles who deliver their daughters into their "care." They control a number of abbeys, called Silenciums, throughout Bedouar, from Landreger in the North to the Golden Sea in the South. They have amassed powerful knowledge of alchemical process, collecting vast libraries of books, equipment and compounds.
History
The Llydaw attribute their origins to the Tearing of the Great Veil, although some Church Scholars place their actual founding several hundred years later during the second bleed around 540 SI. The Llydaw see their fortunes rise and fall with the wax and wane of Bleed, acting as a counter to these magical events.
The alleged founding of the Order came as Conan Meriadoc, High King of Breizh conquered Armorica following the Tear, fleeing the Fae incursion of Albia. Upon capturing the region, the King ordered the local men slaughtered, the tongues of the women ripped out to prevent them from using magic, ostensibly to prevent the spread of the Bleed. The region became known as Bro-Llydaw, the half-silent lands. The Silent Sisters continue this tradition, a zero tolerance policy against the use of the Arkane.
Church Scholars, however, attribute the foundation of the order to the Second Bleed during the Reign of King Nevenoe I around 540 SI, a political pushback against the Fae-sympathies of the High King, the Odet Raids of the Marie-Morgane and the beginnings of the Formorrian invasion of Naoned. During the next 200 years, increased Faerie activity resulting from the Bleed only served to intensify the Sisters until the Conquest of Sidhe Albia by Duke Gwilherm II of Normandi in 764 SI.
The Sisters fell into relative obscurity, slowly spreading outside of Breizh into Akitania, Gallia and Logres, until the beginning of the Third Bleed in the Reign of Konstanza I around 900 SI, where they began to again take a more active role in the public eye, growing in power once more, maintaining momentum even as the Bleed lessens, taking an active part in the Albigensian Crusade in Tolosa and Arle.
Mythology & Lore
The Llydaw base their theology on a unique interpretation of the Avesta Mithraeum, specifically the role of Ganymede the Water Bearer. Citing several collections of the tale in which the goddess of the waters is a silent partner to Mithras the Sunbringer, they claim this is evidence of her refusal to corrupt herself with the use of magic and seek to emulate her in this regard with zealous fanaticism.
Tenets of Faith
For the most part, the Llydaw follows the Faith of the Four, with the exception of their interpretation on the role of the goddess Ganymede, whom they consider to be completely silent.
The tenants of the Llydaw are as follows:
All magic is the corrupting influence of Azhi Dahaka and must be rejected, fully and unequivocally.
Faerie is the realm of Ahriman the Deceiver, a place of lies and darkness masquerading as life and light.
Women are especially corruptible by magic and therefore must reject it aggressively.
Women should be Silent to reject magic.
Ethics
The Vow of Silence among the whispers cannot be broken, upon pain of becoming the silenced "prematurely" and placed into "contemplation." This mandate exists even in private and the Silent Sisters take great steps to find those who break their vows.
The use of the Arkane, including minor uses of Glamour, is the ultimate sin and is punishable by death, an execution in which molten iron is poured down the throat of the offender.
in contrast, the Sisters are encouraged to encourage those outside their order to hold to the same precepts, and are rewarded for "silencing" Arkane users, such as Boermerzh who do not share their aversion to magic. This can range from public humiliation and directed beating to murder, depending on severity. Few are willing to directly cross a group of Llydaw exerting this privilege.
The Llydaw are expected to maintain the other tenants of Ganymede in addition to these, and open hospitals, hospices and poor houses, with the only requirement that those using the services must remain silent or be expelled from the premises.
Priesthood
The Priesthood of Llydaw is comprised of 3 tiers or "mysteries", each more intense than the last.
The First mystery, the Whispers of the Skuilh-Dour make up the majority of the sect and operate in much the same way as most nuns or monks of the Faithful, sequestered to research or perform silent prayers. As Whispers, initiates take a vow of silence, performing their duties without sound or speech. Often, these members are made up of self-hating Boermerzh or Milliget who believe their condition is punishment from the Four for past sins or weakness of faith. Others are the daughters, sisters or wives of powerful nobles who seek to remove them from their social or political lives.
When an initiate achieves the second mystery, either through enlightenment or the breaking of their vow, they are brought, not always willingly, into the second mystery, where their tongues are cut out of their mouths. These are then dipped in liquid silver and hung around the Silenced neck on a small chain. Those who achieved enlightenment then become the priestesses of the Order and are given more responsibility. Those who did not are forced to drink mixtures of sweet-smelling chemicals which renders them largely placid, placed to do mundane tasks or merely left to sit and gaze absently in abbeys, barely capable of maintaining basic functions on their own, existing in a state called "The Contemplation."
The Tacita is the innermost and highest echelon of the order, the most exclusive of the priestesses. Upon being selected, these undergo the process to become Ironbloods, utterly devoid of magic.
At the head of the Order is the Bearer of Silence, a white-haired woman of unknown age or race, serving as the high-priestess of the Llydaw, directing actions with a complex series of hand signals. She is assisted by a circle of the 8 Larunda, specially selected from the Tacita for this role.
Political Influence & Intrigue
The Llydaw are a powerful sect in the Western Realms, especially in Breizh, Akitainia and Tolosa, areas largely affected by the Bleed where they have gained a following among radical members of the Faithful and enemies of Faerie. They target Boermerzh and Milliget who actively promote the use of the Arkane or friendly relations with the creatures of Faerie, especially outspoken nobles.
The Silent Sisters are more than willing to take on the role of spies and assassins against those they feel are heretical, and have gained a reputation as an expensive, but efficient provider of these services.
Silence is Freedom
Founding Date
540 SI
Type
Religious, Cult
Alternative Names
The Silent Sisters
Demonym
The Llydaw
Parent Organization
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