Order of the Deathly Silence

Following no leader the Order are made up of Christians from the local population of Aachen. They are generally mechants and lower levels of Nobility. They have equal say in anything to do with the Order and are able to bring their wealth to help the Order. Usually one member will lead the rest in silent meditation. They are randomly chosen and the only one allowed to speak during it.

The Order is not officially attached to the Roman Catholic church. They practice the tenants of this faith, but have their own additional beliefs.

They believe that only by meditation can they get closer to God, and and each other. Speaking, especially during meditation, is banned except for the person leading the meditation and even then it has to be in religious contexts & able to help the participants.

All are treated as equals while in the Order's building. Women are also equal in the eyes of the Order.

Each member is expected to help with the upkeep Order buildings and silence about the Order from anyone else especially the Church. They are viewed as heretical by the Church so they keep it from the Church Hierarchy in the offchance they are excommunicated. This keeps them from talking to any political or social groups where it could cause them being targeted by those who see them as a potential threat.

They usually check out potential new recruits before offering them if they want to join.

The Order looks to commune with God directly. By meditating on certain verses from the Bible they hope to come closer to God, and able to gain boons by doing so. These can be extended lives, luck in business, protection for oneself or others, or to see the future to name but a few. They teach that there should only be done for the general good of themselves, and others close to themselves. They try to also do it to benefit the Church & local society.

They sometimes use Divination spells too and because of this they don't like to inform the Church due to the restrictions in magic and fortune telling. The Order is seen by those who know of them that no-one knows exactly how they came up with the idea of meditation, although it seems that it is likely from caravans that travelled from the Indian sub-continent.

As part of their belief, they think that by concentrating on death, it will help to focus the mind. Also, with thoughts of their own mortality and the quietness of the grave that will help to avoid unnecessary intrusions when meditating.

The Order has a hidden chamber deep under Aachen. Originally it was used by an ancient chamber used by mages of the First Men during the Hyperborean Age. The members banded together with sufficient money to have the entrance fully reopened and hidden from view. There they had workers from well outside Aachen to update the chamber and bring in furniture to be used.

With contacts in the Church, they managed to get items used by the Roman Catholic Church. From there they can carry out their meditation ceremonies with the trappings in the Roman Catholic rites. It helps them feel closer to Mother Church.

A small chamber has been built to one side to allow for those who want to, to stay overnight or to hide if need be.

Started on 17th July 802 A.D. by a group of unnamed people high up in Aachen society. It seems to have come about by those who were sick of the deaths caused by the Saxon Wars and wanted a way to commune with God while thinking of the mortality of death.

So far, nothing much has been mentioned by them as it has only existed for a maximum of roughly 3 to 4 months.