The Silent Ones

Deep in the STUB - Raveni Jungle is a unique order that venerates STUB - The Keeper.
These priests and priestesses believe that all creatures are born knowing the languages of the others, The Ur-language. At birth, creatures can speak with and understand the languages of all plants and animals, as well as those of all sentient species. The Silent Ones believe that most plants and animals retain this capability as they mature. Sentient creatures, on the other hand, lose the ability as they mature. Most sentient creatures become aware of the pending loss of understanding around the same time they develop a sense of self-identity. As their minds begin to understand the difference, for example, between the end of one's hand and the crib, sentient creatures become aware of distinctions. Perhaps a bird outside the window or a plant inside an infant's room is the first to tell them of the pending loss. Perhaps it's the breeze itself that carries the tragic news. Infants don't always cry because they need to be changed or because they are teething. The most heart-felt cries come from those who have learned the truth: as they mature, they will forget how to understand other living things. According to The Silent Ones' credo, forgetting this ability is accompanied by forgetting the ability ever existed. For most sentient creatures, the ability to understand the rest of the world quickly fades as teeth develop and as the infants begin to express themselves to older sentient creatures in rudimentary language. The Silent Ones never recorded whether they believe this early language skill represented an ur-language or just an innate polyglot nature
Nine hundred years ago, select priests and priestesses of The Keeper withdrew from society and formed The Silent Ones. They believe that if they eschew all forms of language then they will regain the ability they lost as infants and be able to understand all languages.
They established a stronghold in the middle of the Raveni Jungle. The location may have been chosen for its proximity to a large number of plant and animal species. The group set up tents before selecting one member by lot. XIBLI, a male gnome, was the first chosen. His job was to recruit builders from the closest town of MEMBERG to construct a stronghold for the remaining Silent Ones, as well as a dwelling for himself. He also recruited servants and laborers to remain at the stronghold and clear areas for crops. These laborers would remain at the SILENT STRONGHOLD to create anything the Silent Ones, Xibli, or the workforce might need.
When he grew old, Xibli reached out to other worshipers of The Keeper to find his replacement. To this day, Xibli is the title given to a priest(ess) of The Keeper who watches over the stronghold.
While Xibli built and organized the settlement, the remaining Silent Ones began a meditative practice to look inwards. They wandered throughout the jungle, listening.
Once the stronghold was complete, The Silent Ones moved in, closing the door behind them. Xibli had created a stronghold with multiple private spaces, including small cells for The Silent Ones to sleep in. This prevents the accidental communication between The Silent Ones. The stronghold has no roof so the priests and priestesses may listen to nature.
When the stronghold door was closed, Xibli had an entry building constructed that joined with the door. The stronghold's workers would leave provisions inside the small building, making sure the door to the inside of the Stronghold remained closed and closing the door to the outside when they were finished. Early on, Xibli left construction tools in the entry so that each Silent One could create a door from their cell to the jungle to further explore the languages of nature.
It is forbidden for those who support the stronghold to enter via any door.
The Silent Ones do not speak to each other. Written language is not allowed. Gestures are not allowed. The Silent Ones live a solitary existence, all but ignoring the presence of the others.
No one knows how word spreads of what the Silent Ones are attempting. Perhaps it was a worker or one of the Xibli's. But some outside the stronghold know of the Silent Ones, particularly among those who follow The Keeper. In each generation, perhaps a dozen pilgrims make their way to the jungle seeking to join the Silent Ones. The Xibli does not question their motives but allows all access.
Some Silent Ones exit from their cells into the jungle and are never seen again. Perhaps they have achieved the goal of understanding. Perhaps they gave up on their quest and wandered into the jungle to die or to seek other civilization. All that is known is that if a Silent One leaves, they vanish, leaving no trace. If they do rejoin civilization, they never mention their past ... or the immense sorrow of acknowledging what was lost cannot be regained.

Type

Religious, Holy Order

Location

STUB - Raveni Jungle