Our Lady of Mysteries Abbey

INSIDE THE ABBEY

GROUND FLOOR. The ground floor of the Abbey proper is fairly dark and gloomy, owing to the fact that there are no windows on this level,e result of the Abbey’s original history as a military fortification. The first floors of the Guest House and the Infirmary do have windows, but they are small, and commonly kept shuttered except in the warmest months.

THE GUEST HOUSE: The laws of hospitality are very important to those of the Armelite Order. The Rule of Patriarch Armel expressly requires a house for guests which is separate from the monastery so as to cause the monks therein the least amount of disruption. The Guest House of the Abbey of Our Lady of Mysteries is a simple one story structure, connected to the Abbey by a narrow corridor leading to the Refectory. Guests are not normally allowed past the entry to this corridor, but the corridor allows the monks to stay warm in the cold winter months as they provide for their visitors. The Guest House consists of a common room, where meals are taken, and where the poorer guests sleep, as well as a number of simple rooms where guests of importance sleep. A stable is provided for guests against the western wall of the Guest House. Guests within the Clergy do not normally stay at the Guest House, but are instead offered one of the rooms for such visitors on the second floor of the Abbey.

THE ENTRY HALL: This room was the defensive bailey of the original fortress. It is now filled with various works of religious art, either manufactured by past monks of the Abbey, or contributed by wealthy patrons. Statues of various saints (there are 9 dedicated to Saint Caroline) are placed in such a way as to hide the kill-holes and arrow slots that reveal the room’s original purpose.

THE TOWER OF CONTEMPLATION: The Abbey’s founder, Sèverine Chardin, ordered the construction of this odd tower. Her intentions for the tower are not entirely known. She was well versed in astronomy, however, and had an extensive collection from the classic philosophers on the subject. It is assumed by most that she intended the tower to be a place from which she could observe the heavens. Unfortunately, she died eight years before its completion. Below the tower is an extensive series of catacombs: the famed Library of Mysteries.

THE REFECTORY: This floor of the Abbey contains the refectory, where the monks take their meals, share daily prayers, and engage in the various industries that support the Abbey. The Lavatory, where the monks wash their feet and hands just before meals, is located to the left of the main entry door.

THE KITCHEN: Just off the Refectory is the Abbey’s main kitchen. Here the meals for the monks and guests of the Abbey are prepared. The kitchen is placed conveniently near the stairs to the Abbey’s cellars.

THE NOVICE CLOISTER & REFECTORY: New initiates to the Abbey are kept away from the other brethren and guests until they have “tried their spirits if they be of God.” The term of a novice’s separation from the rest of the Abbey usually lasts around a year, at which time they take their vows and join their brethren. The Novice Cloister is both a refectory, where meals are taken and labors performed, and a place where the novices sleep. The novices even have their own kitchen, where they take turns preparing their own meals under the watchful eyes of the Novice Master. At present, there are only four novices residing here.

COURTYARD/GARDEN: The courtyard of the Bastion du Borlet, once an open area where warriors trained, has been converted to a much more peaceful use through the hard work of several generations of monks. The area is now a well maintained garden, where useful herbs are grown, and vegetables of various types are cultivated. The enclosure walls help to protect the sensitive plants from the biting winds. In the center of the courtyard is a well, which is the primary source of water for the Abbey. The courtyard is often used as an almonry during the warmer months of the year.

THE MILL HOUSE/BOAT HOUSE: Unconnected to the Abbey itself, the Mill House is located between the river Lot and the steep hill upon which the Abbey stands. The building is kept above the flood line of the river by a supporting structure of wooden pillars. Both the Mill House and the connected Boat House are partially set into the stone of the hill behind them. The large wheel projecting from the Mill House into the river provides the force for grinding wheat, while the Boat House and the small dock allow the grain to be easily moved along the river.

THE INFIRMARY: This simple stone building is where the sick and injured are treated. The Abbey’s Infirmarian sleeps in this building with his assistant. Following common practice, the Infirmary is separate from the main compound to avoid the spread of “ill humors.”

CHAPEL: This building is the crowning achievement of Our Lady of Mysteries Abbey, requiring 39 years to build (811-840). Construction of the Chapel’s bell tower began in the year 890 AD, and was only completed three years ago. The south-eastern end contains the entrance to the passagio dei. The Chapel is quite beautiful, with a simple vaulted ceiling. At the far end of the Chapel, past the alter platform, are the Statuary Towers. The northernmost tower contains a statue of Aruna, while the southern tower contains a statue of the Abbey’s patron Paladin, Saint Presagia. These statues were crafted by brother Nathanial in 936, and were completed only two years before his death in 941. Nathanial was considered by many to have been a master artisan, though almost all of his work was for the Abbey.

SECOND FLOOR

DORMITORY CLOISTER: Within this area the monks of the Abbey take their rest in solitude. When originally built, the Dormitory was designed to hold twenty monks, with each monk assigned his own cubicle. The rapid growth of the Abbey in the previous century forced the sharing of cubicles, a practice which continues to this day. Numbers have been on the decline for the last 40 years, however, so some of the senior brothers are again allowed their own cubicle. At present, there are 28 brethren residing in the Dormitory.

SCRIPTORIUM: Here is the workroom where the monks copy and translate books and scrolls for the Library, sometimes simply making backup copies to be sent to other abbeys and churches to safeguard the information against loss.

PRIOR’S OFFICE & DOMICILE: Within his office, Prior Caedmon , conducts the day-to-day business of running the Abbey. Though larger than the space allocated to most monks, Prior Caedmon's quarters are simple and have no exceptional decor.

GUEST ROOMS: These rooms are reserved for guests of the Abbey who have taken vows (the vows of a Pentic monk or priest). Such status allows them to take their rest within the Abbey proper. Guests who have not taken formal vows normally stay in the Guest House or the Infirmary. When not in use, these rooms are sometimes used for short-term storage.

THE TOWER OF CONTEMPLATION: The second floor of the tower is used by the monks of the Abbey as a place for study and contemplation. There are a number of desks and several kneeling benches for contemplative prayer.

THE CHAPEL BALCONY: This section of the Chapel is reserved for guests of distinction (nobles, Church officials, etc.). As such, it sees few visitors. Nevertheless, it is kept in excellent repair by the monks of the Abbey. Stairs along the wall on this level lead to the bell tower.The ropes from the tower hang down to the balcony level, allowing the bell-ringer to sound the bells without ascending the tower.

UPPER TOWER FLOORS

THE TOWER OF CONTEMPLATION: The uppermost floor (just below the “battlements” at the top of the tower) is the domicile of the Abbey’s aged librarian, Nicolas. His room is mostly filled with books and scrolls, and usually is kept in quite a clutter. The battlements above this (accessible by ladder) are open to the elements, with a gorgeous view of the surrounding area. It is said that on certain nights one can see much farther from the tower-top than is natural.
THE CHAPEL BELL TOWER: This level holds the bells of the Chapel, and is normally only accessed for maintenance and repair (the bells are rung using the ropes on the Chapel Balcony). There are two bells: The greater bell and the lesser bell. The lesser bell is rung a number of times each day to call the brethren to prayer. The greater bell is rung to commemorate holy days or events of religious significance. In the event of an invasion or other threat to the people of the region, both bells can be rung in tandem to sound the alarm.

STATUARY TOWERS: These towers rise nearly to the same height as the Tower of Contemplation (the tallest structure in the Abbey). While the two statues at the base of the towers face into the Chapel, two larger statues look outward from the Chapel at its uppermost level. Like their smaller counter-parts below, the southern statue is of Saint Presagia, while the northern one is of Saint Caroline. Both are the work of Brother Nathanial. The two upper statues are earlier works. They lack the detailing of the lower statues, since they were only intended to be viewed from the ground below. Access to the upper statue level is only possible via an arrow ladder that ascends each of the towers from the ground floor.

THE CELLARS

THE ABBEY STORAGE ROOMS (FODDSTUFFS and SUPPLIES): The monks of the Abbey store food and supplies in the largest room of the Abbey Cellars. This room and its contents are under the strict control of the Abbey’s Cellarer, Brother Childeric. The farther room is the common room for the Conversi, ("those who speak"), the Volgare who staff the Abbey and work the fields.

CONVERSI COMMON HALL (WINE and CHEESE ROOM): This large room is the kitchen and eating hall for the Conversi. There are two slots in the north wall into Brother Humbert's chamber, the upper one through which meals and empty dishes and the lower one for chamber pots to empty night soil.

THE CHAPEL STORAGE ROOMS: The storage rooms under the Chapel contain various items important to the sacraments of Adoration. As such, they are under the charge of Brother Arnaud, the Abbey’s Sacrist.

BROTHER HUMBERT'S CHAMBERS (THE RELIC VAULT): This locked chamber is the residence of Humbert of Champicourt, the sacrist of the Abbey's sacred items and the guardian of the Star Tablets. He is an elderly knight (apparent age 81) who has been guarding the Tablets since 676.

THE VAULT OF SAINT PRESAGIA: Within this locked and guarded vault resides the great relic of the Abbey’s patron, the Star Tablets. The tablets projected a 6:1 time differential in a 3-meter radius, which explains Humbert's extreme long life and coincidentally helps preserve the other relics of the Abbey sacristy. Another item of interest the Vault contains is LE JOURNAL DE DAME GISELE-“The Journal of Dame Gisele.” In Lalange, by Gisele of the l'Ordre Fantome, 703 CE. Simple leather-bound journal. Details the author’s battle to bind a lloigor "dragon" in an alpine valley not far from the Abbey. Unique work; no copies known to exist. No sanity loss, Occult +3 percentiles, average of one week to study and comprehend. Spells: Ritual of Incatenare (Chaining).
CRAFT ROOM (MORTUARIES): These two rooms are where the Conversi have workbenches for crafting clothes and leather work. One also stores several musical instruments, as the Conversi are wont to play music communally at the end of the day. Sometimes their eerily beautiful music can be heard wafting up into the upper floors of the Abbey.

WARRENS: These small chambers are the personal rooms of the Conversi. There are currently 15 of these Volgare workers that reside here, both male and female.

THE LIBRARY

Hidden below the tower of Contemplation is the Abbey's famed library. The books are stashed in a maze of tunnels no more than six feet high and four feet wide, kept in armoriums built into the walls. The Abbey of Our Lady of Mysteries provides an excellent retreat for scholars and collectors of rare texts, as it is one of the few monasteries of the era to possess a full library. Some of the volumes stored therein are quite old, and some contain dangerous knowledge. These tomes are stored in locked armoria, to which only brother Nicholas has the key.
IMPERMISSUS SYLLABA -- “Forbidden Verse.” In Lingua Santa, Collected by Marcus Petronius, 440 CE. Collection of horrific tales in metered verse. Pages are loosely bound. Translated from the earlier works of various authors. One of only two copies known to still exist. Average of two weeks to study and comprehend. Spells: none. [brbr] SECRET DU ROYAUME D'ESPRIT ET AU DELÀ DE -- “Secrets of the Spirit Realm and Beyond.”In Lalange, by Chlodomer de Minot, 775 CE. Bound in dark leather of unknown origin. Unique work; no copies known Average of three weeks to study and comprehend. Spells: none.

Purpose / Function

Built as the seat of authority of Thane Sigolène de Borlet, placed to guard against monster incursions from the Oelno Forest.

Alterations

The Tower of Contemplation was a 7th century CE addition, while the attached Church of Our Lady of Mysteries was not added until the 9th century when it was turned into an abbey. At that time, many interior rooms were divided off, especially for monks' cells.

Architecture

The keep is very clearly built in the Carolingian style, with cunning stonework beyond the skill of current architects. The Church is a cruck frame, half-timbered hall with plaster walls and a thatched roof

History

• Constructed as the Bastion du Borlet between 539 and 547 CE by Thane Sigolène du Borlet.
• The Borlet family ruled generationally from the keep until 702 CE when Presagia du Borlet was translated into the Paladin of Oracles and Seers.
• The Bastion continued as the headquarters of l'Order Fantôme until it was converted to Our Lady of Mysteries Abbey in 810 CE.

Alternative Names

Bastion du Borlet, Borlet Keep

Type

Abbey

Owning Organization

Church of the Holy Pentatheon

Related Report (Secondary Locations)

• Session 4: The Broken Ring Report