Mucenic

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Located on Tarthos, far south of Kar Alabrek, Mucenic is a secluded monastery used as the spiritual home of the Disciples of Ragnos.

Overview

Amongst the population of nearly 22,000, few in Markosian City and Kar Alabrek are aware of the true status of Mucenic. They see it as only a quiet, secluded religious haunt for monks to live out their days in, studying and praying. These people therefore blindly serve their employers, the Disciples themselves, without the slightest inkling of their true status. Mucenic has a single planetary shield generator installed that covers only parts of the town. The shield generator is only activated during times of emergency to hide the true nature of the installation; thus Mucenic suffers from whatever bad weather the planet throws at it, and has even adapted this into the prayer habits of the Disciples. The more pious members of the Disciples will venture outdoors during the harsh winter and pray in the snow, feeling that only through bodily pain and suffering can they truly understand the words and legacy of Marka Ragnos.

Description

The Grounds

Mucenic consists of a small town, in the centre of which is a segregated settlement of humble-looking houses surrounding an ancient temple, small in stature, that is believed to have been created by Urias Orian in the distant past. Under the guise of religious study, Mucenic is the true seat of spiritual power on Tarthos. From here, the Disciples of Ragnos are able to exert their religious authority over Kar Alabrek and Markosian City through the influence of their doctrine.

The grounds of Mucenic are dotted with tall, dark trees, their bark twisted and warped by the Force energy that has seeped into the very soil of the area. Overhanging branches caress the roofs of the houses and brush against the walls of the temple. Dirt paths wind through the trees and between each house, feeding into a wide path lined by nondescript stone pillars that leads up to the double doors of the temple. The entire compound is enclosed by low walls that do not obscure the view of the surrounding countryside; Mucenic is defended by ancient rituals, possibly woven by Urias Orian when he created the temple, and has little need for physical defences such as walls.

The interior of the temple at Mucenic.

The Temple

The corridors of the temple at Mucenic are decorated in a highly ornate style that sometimes disturbs the eye; occasionally, corners will go through more dimensions than would be possible, and filigreed stone will twist into disturbing patterns. The very stone seems to ooze with the Dark Side energy poured into the creation of the temple.

The great double doors at the entrance lead directly into the main hall of the temple, a long, wide room filled with benches. At the far end of the room, under the gaze of two long windows, a large platform is the location for the rituals carried out by the Disciples. An altar shaped like a semicircle and cut from obsidian is decorated with squares of rich red cloth, with items of ritual significance for the Disciples placed reverently upon it.

On either side of the main hall, long residential wings are the location of the small cells in which the Disciples are placed; the Solifugae and the Noctosalutae are given tiny, barren cells while those who have achieved the rank of Scion or Progeny are given larger, more luxuriant quarters to reflect their status. The quarters of the Anguis and the Tigrist are located on the floor above these residential wings; the Anguis' quarters are on the western side of the temple, while the Tigrist's are on the eastern.

A host of other rooms, including training chambers, meditation chambers and a modest library, are located behind the main hall. The books in the library are primarily concerned with the works of Marka Ragnos and the writings of the Maleficarum of the Disciples, Trevarus Caerick.

Life at Mucenic

Life at the monastery is curiously double-sided; those members of the Disciples who travel to Mucenic spend their time either studying the words of Marka Ragnos for enlightenment and engaging in the rituals held by the Disciples, or in continuing to train their martial and mental skills as they did while ensconced in Alabrek Castle. As such, any hypothetical visitor to the monastery (although visitors are strongly discouraged) would witness members of the Disciples in one room praying to Marka Ragnos, while in the next room they would witness members of the Disciples sparring both with their fists, with weapons and with the Force.

Each Disciple chooses their own routine at Mucenic; they have the option of seeking to communicate with Marka Ragnos through the spiritual aspect of combat training, or through prayer, fasting and meditation.

Trivia

• The name Mucenic and a brief description of the location existed on the Tarthos Wiki page. It was expanded upon by Manji Keibatsu Sadow in the current incarnation of the Disciples of Ragnos to provide a fictional location for the Disciples and to help build a more complete picture of how the Disciples work.
• Inspiration for the structure and layout of Mucenic comes from the structure of medieval European monasteries and abbeys.