Convents of the Seraphim

Posted: October 17, 2011 | Author: Dennis N. Santana | Filed under: Fluff/Inspiration, Other Systems, RPG, Spirits Of Eden |2 Comments »

Sargasso’s Order of the Seraphim, the only Adelian equivalent to knights or paladins, is composed of five convents within which girls are raised and invested with divine powers, trained in the arts and customs of the Seraphim, as well as general religion, language, arithmetic and culture. Each convent is dedicated to a Saint, a woman character (whether they were real is up for debate, but the Seraphim believe they were) of mythological importance. The Saints weren’t spirits and aren’t worshiped, but they are honored and beloved characters by the Seraphim and serve as guides. Each convent has its own style and customs, and its own specialization. Together, they form the de-facto national military for Sargasso.

In this article we’ll look at each of the convents of the Seraphim, as well as what the convent means for a Seraphim both growing up and once firmly established as one of its ranking members.

Convents And Seraphim Life

Seraphim volunteer to the convents at a young age. A criticism of the Convent system by foreign observers is that a child’s desire to join is taken quite seriously by the convents, and they are often allowed to at a very impressionable age. Most Convents, however, have a quota, and are first-come first-serve as long as the girl in question is healthy and willful enough to make the trip and live away from her family essentially forever. So after a time, all girls will be turned away.

Girls join the convent at ages 9 or 10, and become Cherubim around 2 or 3 years later. Between that time, the convent is a school and home for the girls, giving them schooling in many scholarly subjects, as well as overseeing a diet and exercise schedule that will prepare the girls for the First Investiture, the application of the Freija Procedure that will impart them with the beginnings of their divine strength. For unprepared girls, the ritual can cause lasting harm. While in the convent, the girls who are off-duty do not wear armor, but instead wear long gowns, modest except for the wide neckholes that bare the shoulders. This is said to be symbolic of each Seraphim seeing the burdens the others are carrying on their shoulders.

Once Invested, the Cherubim are trained in the use and upkeep of weapons, armor and a variety of tools, as well as being taught how to handle themselves with dignity and grace even in the most dreadful situations. The people of Sargasso look to Seraphim for reassurance in times of hardship. The Cherubim are taught to treat people with respect, to diffuse stressful situations, and to show kindness and warmth to the injured and the frightened. They are also taught humility and responsibility by being called on to do chores for the convent, such as farming and cooking. Not all Cherubim take these teachings to heart – they are after all flawed mortal beings, not perfect little saints. But they have a reputation for sociability.

Cherubim receive an Acanthus arrowlance, a pistol-size version of the Seraphim’s angelic weapon, as well as a mace and an angelic breastplate. As the Cherubim grows, she will earn more of her armor through conducting herself well in routine patrol and training missions. Only a full decorated Seraphim can wield a sword. Seraphim do not wear helmets, but they do wear magic bands or tiaras that both help them communicate telemetrically, and offer some protection.

At 17-18 the girls become Seraphim, assigned to a squadron. Though some “misfit” squadrons consist of slapdash appointments that didn’t fit anywhere else, most squadrons are formed of women who get along, or who at least show professional courtesy and tolerance to one another. It is not uncommon for there to be some strife among the Seraphim, but if they are incapable of putting it aside, they will not grouped together (and will likely be punished).

Seraphim don’t have golems. They are even more distrustful of such technology than normal folk – as they have seen their sister killed in battle against Angels many times. Instead, Seraphim use specialized Armor that lets them become like Golems. These armors augment their strength, allow them flight, let them into the deep sea, and otherwise enhance their strength, mobility or durability, and let them mount heavier weaponry to field against golems. Using these armors is a skill Seraphim earn after  years of service, and to wield special armor to battle is considered an honor.

Seraphim are encouraged to seek strong bonds and social fulfillment within the convent rather than outside of it. The Cherubim from each recruitment period are accommodated in the same building, three to a room, and these Cherubim are likely to be grouped together and to know one another for the rest of their lives within the convent. Though a Seraphim with a long career of service (one in her mid-30s or early 40s) is allowed to leave if she requests it, most Seraphim remain so for life. As such, they tend to develop romantic or familial bonds within the convent with other Seraphim. Though it is not unknown for Seraphim to fall in love with someone from outside, this can lead to complications.

Life for the Seraphim isn’t all about battle. Seraphim practice arts, play sports (sometimes against teams from other convents) and olympic-style games, and are allowed as guests of nearby towns and cities to give them some time and experience among the people they protect. They are encouraged to have hobbies and interests, and given time to relax and practice them. Many Seraphim have been great poets or authors, and Seraphim memoirs are a popular genre. Seraphim must grow to be able to handle many different tasks. They are called upon not only to battle, but also as bodyguards for important caravans, expeditions, vessels or dignitaries, as well as carrying out humanitarian efforts after natural disasters.

The Seraphim police themselves, punishing the misbehavior of their own rather than allowing the state to do so. Cherubim often receive punishments befitting children to steer them right, but insubordinate or criminal Seraphim are a grave danger to the whole convent and to Sargasso, and may be incarcerated or even corporally punished.

Each convent has between 2000 and 2500 women, composed of Cherubim, Seraphim, and Seraphim Superior, referred to as “Mother [Name]” by the other Sisters, who are the highest officers of the Convent. Therefore it can be said that there are 10,000 or so Seraphim serving in Sargasso right now.

The Convents And The Queen

Queen Shiripo is the overarching authority of the Sargassan government, and therefore also considered the supreme commander of the Seraphim. In practice, due to Shiripo being so young, the High Priestess of the Sargassan Church, Leidela Sixtus, is the true commander. Leidela is not a Seraphim (for there are plenty of non-Seraphim female clergy in Sargasso), but nonetheless this shrewd woman has the power to call the Convents to action. She can call for specific convents and form specific groups composed of as many Seraphim as she wants, for any task she deems necessary, and she will be answered. Leidela also has the power to take any Seraphim she has her eye on and recruit her to the Royal Guard.

However, the Convents each have some of their own autonomy, and could be considered political islands of their own in the landscape of Sargasso. They take care of threats to their region, and to cooperate with other convents they must reach out diplomatically. These calls are not always answered to the fullest extent that they could be – the Yewandeans could ask for two dozen Saint Abeni Seraphim to help them and receive only two or three. Disagreements and clashes of personality and ideals are possible between the Seraphim, though serious warfare between them has not happened again. All of them remember all too well the last Seraphic war and would not wish that horror upon any of the Sisters.

The Convent of Saint Abeni’s Mercy

We perform the tireless vigil. Before us no pain goes unmended, no evil unpunished.

Specialization: Patrols, ruin delving, fast attacks.

Colors: A deep blue with silver trim.

Symbol: A bird’s talon grasping a sunburst.

Spirit Allies: Sikara. These spirits take the guise of very long-eared humanoids and have the ability to magically transport objects and people from one location to another – though often demand some form of toll for it.

Saint Abeni was said to have been a woman from a very sleepy village. She led a peaceful existence, until one day she saw a guard post in a neighboring village. When she asked about its function, having never seen a guard post before, she returned to her village, and told everyone that they should erect one. Everyone in her village thought themselves too secluded and secure to need a guard post, and so Saint Abeni built the post and crewed it herself. For many years she watched, receiving not a word of thanks, until she spotted a terrible dragon nesting atop the adjacent forest. Were it not for her, the Dragon could have easily swept upon the village whenever it wanted, but her alert allowed the villagers to prepare for its predation.

The Seraphim of Saint Abeni are known for having the most patrol groups. They are located in the northern region of Sargasso, on the border to Emderuer. Unlike most Seraphim convents, fully trained Seraphim as well as the untested Cherubim both serve in patrol groups that routinely canvas the region, seeking any sign of trouble. The young Seraphim serve in patrol groups for many years before being assigned to a “real” Seraphim squad. Some call the Abenian Seraphim overtly stressed, but they would contend that, in fact, having such tight patrols allows them to rest easily and relax. It is never on their watch that tragedy occurs – it is always they who anticipate it. They have nothing to stress about.

Saint Abeni Seraphim have many roles. In battle, Abenian Seraphim are often called upon to strike first and quickly, hitting and running against the enemy. With the aid of the Sikara spirits, they can be teleported into unexpected or exposed enemy positions, and they can strike them quickly and ferociously, prepared for the task by years of quick and efficient patrols. They are very well-rounded in their skills both in and out of battle because of all the things they may encounter while patrolling. They are also often tasked with delving into ruins of the Lost World for relics, and have amassed a collection of things that they refuse to let anyone audit, but which is rumored to contain relics of all the Saints.

Because they protect many key trade routes into Sargasso from Andaliel and Emderuer, the Abenian Seraphim make many mercantile contacts. Veteran Abenian Seraphim can namedrop such-and-such merchant whose life they saved, or call a favor from Lord and Lady this-or-that as a result of a particularly daring rescue. Other Seraphim see the Saint Abeni Seraphim as capable, though sometimes a bit overconfident or flighty, or even as thieves with a love of shiny treasures. Regardless, they tend to get along well with any kind of Seraphim, and are more relaxed and “common.”

The Convent of Saint Yewande’s Love

It takes a special heart to smile upon a broken body, and assure it that it will mend.

Specialization: Disaster relief, healthcare services.

Colors: A light and relaxing green with white trim.

Symbol: A hand reaching out to an herb leaf, within a circle.

Spirit Allies: Kigogo. These sleepy humanoid spirits seemingly have a dandruff problem, but the dust coming from their long, messy hair is actually like a pollen that calms and anesthetizes people.

Saint Yewande is commonly credited as being the first physician in Sargasso’s history. While most villages had some kind of medicine-person, Saint Yewande was the first to travel between multiple villages and really practice her talents without distraction. From her, the Yewandean Seraphim learn that regardless of how much you may disdain a person, or how little interest you might have in them, if you want to heal them you must affect a kind of love for the patient. The Yewandean Seraphim, like their Saint, are focused upon medicine, and the improvement of health and the mortal body. It is they who devised the current diet and exercises that Cherubim undergo in every convent. They are located near the center of Sargasso.

The Yewande Seraphim, like all Seraphim, must do battle. But they rarely carry swords, and the arrowlance bolts that they fire are blunted. They tend to focus on a battlefield support role, and disdain killing. Hasn’t enough killing already been done? They are not pacificists – this flawed world will not allow them to be – but they feel that an enemy can be disabled in innumerable ways, that a body can be stopped, subdued without having to snuff out its existence entirely.

Among Seraphim, the Yewandean women are often somewhat mistrusted. They think: when it comes down to it, will the Sisters of Yewande kill to protect my life, or fight to spare the enemy? Nonetheless, among the people they are some of the most beloved of the Seraphim for their kindness, empathy, and the gentle touch with which they treat any illness. They seek cures for diseases and curses, mend bones and flesh. It is no coincidence that they are located within the heartland, the central regions that are the breadbasket of Sargasso. They keep crops and farmers healthy and the nation going.

The Convent of Saint Dakara’s Will

We are the unbreakable wall, against the endless storm of madness from the wastes.

Specialization: Border defense, holding defensive lines.

Colors: A plain polished silver, the unpainted color of angelic steel.

Symbol: A shield, cracked in the middle but deflecting a sword nonetheless.

Spirit Allies: Gamba. These spirits’ true forms are unknown, as they are always silent and solemn and wearing very heavy suits of plate armor, that obscure all of their features. There may be nothing in the armor.

Saint Dakara is widely considered to be the first Paladin. Adelians did not really have such a title for anyone until the formation of the Seraphim order, but looking back upon their history the Seraphim selected Saint Dakara as the first example of what the Seraphim were all about. She was an honorable figure, and with the trust vested in her by her fellow villagers she would help them to solve disputes and prosecute crimes. Saint Dakara would die in the opening stages of the Intolerable War, protecting a village from maurading Aptoan irregulars. However, before her death, she made sure the villagers had time to flee. And so the Dakaran Seraphim, located along the eastern border of Sargasso, continue her legacy.

The Dakaran convent is situated along the border to Noshiki, and is the first line of defense against the horrors that seep out of that wasteland. Ravening undead beasts, strange aberrant monsters, men and women driven mad and twisted, and even their own fallen Sisters – the Dakaran Seraphim are the bulwark against these and more. Life along the border is harder than it is on most Seraphim, and the Dakaran have the least comforts and least free time to spend on poetry or sports or romancing fellow Seraphim. In recent years it has even been a little difficult to find Cherubim who can handle the training required to keep the borderland vigil. Dakaran Seraphim train the hardest and suffer the most – but sheer willpower keeps them going. They are the wall: chipped at, battered against, but standing since time immemorial, protecting the innocent.

Like their Saint, the Dakaran women are the most trusted of the Seraphim among other Seraphim. The hardened women of the border know no reasons to lie, and have no time or patience for the caprices of common folk. So in mixed companies, their fellow Sisters will look to them to settle disputes rationally and fairly, and to provide level-headed opinions. However, they are said to make the worst leaders, since they are inflexible and somewhat abrasive.

The Convent of Saint Kayin’s Grace

This choice lies forever out of our hands: will we be made to employ the voice that makes even Seraphim swoon and flush, or the angelic dagger that cuts the cloak of deceit to tatters?

Specialization: Diplomacy, Investigation.

Colors: A royal purple with gold trim.

Symbol: A fist over a wind-swept flag.

Spirit Allies: Tambe. These creatures resemble small multicolored piglets, except without noses. They are kept as pets for their helpful ability to discern the emotions of people they are around, changing color accordingly.

One of the few Saints not just honored by the Seraphim, but also by the population at large, Saint Kayin was said to be a fisherwoman who fished a leviathan out of the sea. The leviathan was about to eat her, and her village for her transgressions, but she sang the same lullaby she sang to children in her village, and the creature returned to sleep. Kayinite Seraphim learn the value of words from this story and how even the simplest and humblest of skills can be used to solve a problem.

Located on the edge of the Western Sea, the Convent of Saint Kayin’s Grace is the home to the Seraphim who keep alive the humble art of Diplomacy for the convents and Sargasso at large. While all Seraphim are taught how to handle discourse to some extent, the Kayinite Seraphim make an art of it. They are often sent as delegates to other Nations to help diffuse situations. Part of Diplomacy is being able to speak on even footing. The Seraphim understand that this is not always possible in the games of politics, thrones and congresses that they are forced to play, so they also train their women to root out intrigues, discern lies, and investigate foul play. Once all the lies are exposed, the Seraphim can then speak from a position of power.

The Convent of Saint Kayin also focuses on infiltration and asymmetrical warfare in battle. All convents have scouts and infiltrators and counter-snipers, and other special groups of this kind – but none as well trained as the Kayinites, and no convent has as many. Kayin Seraphim travel often, and see more of the world than other Seraphim. Among the other Seraphim, they are thought of as graceful and lovely flowers that may hold a bevy of thorns. Can these Sisters be trusted not to have intrigues of their own in play, when they are taught so well how to speak and how play such games? Could they be seeking glory and advancement with the Crown and the Superiors, while the rest of the Sisters are merely upholding their duty?

The Convent of Saint Sanaa’s Cunning

History is a painful subject to study. But it is even more horrible to completely forget it.

Specialization: Scholasticism, Indirect Warfare.

Colors: A light brown with yellow for trim.

Symbol: A book spread open to reveal an eye within.

Spirit Allies: Akili. These dusty-colored little humanoid spirits amble through libraries, alphabetizing books. They cannot talk normally – they can only answer questions with factual answers found in their library.

Saint Sanaa was a great storyteller of the southern region of Sargasso, to whom many great poetry and scripture is ascribed. The record-keeping Convent of Saint Sanaa was dedicated to her and maintains the collected lore of Sargasso (save for the detailed histories and records of the other convents, which they have their own History-Keepers to guard – such are the politics among them). Their Convent is one of the few completely open to the public (or at least some of it is open to the public) because it houses the vastest collection of books and scrolls in Sargasso (not the world – at least not yet, anyway), and is widely used by academia.

The Sanaaite Seraphim place special attention to scholarly learning and special tactics. Their Cherubim are trained to analyze situations, and to always consider the most efficient and safest ways of defeating the enemy. They are some of the few Seraphim who employ dedicated Artillery cannons, rather than simply affixing a long gun to a heavy suit of armor. For them, if you can fight without brushing close to your opponent, there should be no reason not to.

The Saint Sanaa Seraphim also have the best telemeters, and given circumstances related to the Seraphic war, also have the only truly serviceable divination specialists among the Seraphim. However, they do not possess the powerful third eye that their fallen Sisters took with them to Noshiki, and their predictions are imperfect. They are, however, the best the Seraphim have right now. As for their telemetry, they are experts in magical communication and can send messages to anywhere in the world, as well as create elaborate illusory holograms and holo-messages, albeit both are taxing spells to cast.

Among the other Seraphim, the Saint Sanaa Seraphim are looked to for their intelligence and planning ability. They are not to be crossed or insulted – it is a meme among the Seraphim that the Saanite sisters are gossip-mongers who know too much about everybody, and if made angry, will easily humiliate whoever spurred them to action. Still, they are Sisters you can count on to find a way around or out of a situation if things grow too dangerous for conventional tactics.

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