Abbey of St. Jasmine of the Stars
An abbey on Sharsenne, known for its excellent cider.
History
The first buildings were erected by a mission headed by Sister Jasmine Foster and her three sisters, part of the order of St Jasmine of the Stars, in 162 BA, about three years after the world was opened to Pelted/human visitors and settlers by the Chatcaava. Originally located near the town of Dilly, the mission's purpose was to aid women and children, and enable the safe flight of refugees from injustice. A wooden structure (one building, with a shed), it burned down (exact date) later, and was rebuilt in its new location, where it has been since.
The first mission included the following people:
- Sister Jasmine Foster (heading the mission)
- Sister Narcisa de la Joya, artist
- Sister Xiomara de la Joya, artist
- Sister Romilla Lorenzo, calligrapher and historian
The trees that are notable in shrouding the abbey by the time of the war were planted initially by Jasmine Foster, after she rebuilt the mission. ("We'll do it for keeps this time, out of stone.")
- Note here about early Eldritch involvement in the abbey.
Chatcaavan War
At the time of the Chatcaavan War, the Abbey was around 318 years old, and was on its 22nd Jasmine. (All the abbesses are named Jasmine.) [1] The abbesses tend to turn over quickly, due to the dangers of their mission.
Where Laniis Baker, Na'er, Lisinthir Nase Galare, Sediryl Nuera Galare, and Amber Seni Galare met.
- Note here about Amber coming here while searching for Beth.
- Note here about the abbey helping Whole Galactic Charities with the Chatcaavan harem flight.
Appearance
Original
A modest pair of wooden buildings rising out of the grasses, with a curving arc of trees shading the corral for a handful of beasts. It sat on a short ridge (barely qualifying as an elevation in the grasslands). The buildings were constructed of ruddy lumber, and had an antechamber and was partitioned into several difference spaces by means of raised or lowered floors and lattice arches. A breakfast room was created in one of these niches by a semicircular bench built into the outside wall of the room under several long windows.[2] The mission had a kitchen, a laundry room, bathing and eating areas, and a chapel. The extra building was half carpetry shop and half cider press. There was a small garden on the opposite side of the buildings from the animal pen.[3]
A single tree grew in eyeshot: "from the tree there was no seeing the slight deep where the ridge deepened on its way to Dilly, and it left the eye nowhere to look." The first Jasmine wanted to plant her orchard near that tree,[3] but it was found to be an unsuitable location by subsequent abbesses, who planted elsewhere.
There are caves under the main building, which the sisters used for cell-like dormitories: two corridors separated by a central ladder, with guests on one side and the sisters on the other (that corridor being blocked by a door). Past the sisters' dorm, the corridor empties into the catacombs, with an underground pool and a cellar for supplies.[2]
Modern
A stone building with a steeple surrounded by many smaller buildings and overrun with children, adults, geese and chickens and things more alien than either but occupying the same niche. Rough-hewn stones, farm animals, the world shut out--"beneath the bustle there was a serenity, the way a noisy stream could still tranquilize the person drowsing alongside it in the sun." [1]
It's tucked into the lee of a wood, and "had a structure that could have come from his homeworld’s earliest architecture, with a dome of solid stone supported by thick walls and flat buttresses." Has catacombs. [4]
There is one computer in the entire abbey, embedded in the abbot’s room upstairs. [5]
Customs
Servants of the Abbey
While anyone can serve at the abbey, the sisters are required to be part of the Order. All the people who work at the abbey wear plain brown robes with cowls. Initially only women could serve in the order, but by the modern period, males can join a (separate but related brother) order and be assigned to the abbey.
Because of Seledor's involvement with the abbey, the Eldritch were granted a special role with them, one to which they can return at any time if they want to volunteer. When Amber speaks of being a 'caretaker' to Na'er and Laniis[6], he is serving in this capacity.
Food
- amazing cider
- hard white cheese, honeycomb, dense brown bread
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Amulet Rampant, Chapter 7
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Zafiil, Volume 2, Chapter 3
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Zafiil, Volume 2, Chapter 4
- ↑ Only the Open, Chapter 2
- ↑ Only the Open, Chapter 4
- ↑ Amulet Rampant, Chapter 7