The Quiet Hands Codex
“Within these pages lies not the art of war, but the promise of life, the vow of hands that heal, hearts that endure, and mercy that will not falter.”The Quiet Hands Codex is the foundational doctrine of the Bartolara Healers Guild, written by Clararton Bartolara herself during the early days of the guild’s formation. It serves as both a philosophical guide and a code of conduct for all healers, detailing the guild’s unwavering principles of nonviolence, neutrality, and mercy. The Codex teaches that a healer’s hands must remain “quiet,” meaning free from violence and acts of harm, used only for mending, soothing, and preserving life. It emphasizes the sacred duty to treat all who are wounded, regardless of their allegiance, past deeds, or beliefs, and forbids the guild from taking sides in any conflict. It also outlines the proper conduct of healers in times of war, their responsibility to maintain the Mercy Accords, and the importance of preserving and sharing knowledge through the Archive Of Pains. Over time, the Codex has become both a spiritual and practical text, often carried by senior healers as a symbol of their oath. It is studied by all initiates before they can become Hands Of Mercy.
Appearance
The Quiet Hands Codex is a masterfully crafted tome that reflects both the sacredness of its teachings and the enduring legacy of Clararton Bartolara. The original manuscript, housed within the Archive of Pains, is a large, rectangular book measuring approximately 14 inches tall, 10 inches wide, and 3 inches thick, with over 500 vellum pages of handwritten script. Its pages are made from calfskin parchment, carefully treated to a creamy white hue with a faint golden sheen when caught in the light. Each page is edged in silver leaf, symbolizing purity and clarity of purpose. The cover is bound in deep azure leather, dyed with rare plant-based pigments and reinforced with thin, hammered plates of Arcane Silver, said to have been blessed by clerics of Alacrita during its creation. An embossed white hand, the guild’s symbol, is imprinted into the center of the cover, outlined with threads of silver and pearl inlay. Subtle runes of protection, etched so finely they are nearly invisible, line the inner spine, preserving the Codex against time, fire, and decay. The binding is stitched with silver thread and capped with metal corner-guards to protect its structure. When opened, the book carries a faint herbal fragrance, a mixture of pressed flowers and alchemical oils used by the guild to preserve it. The text itself is penned in rich black ink, with certain passages, prayers, and tenets illuminated in crimson and gold. Chapter headings are adorned with delicate illustrations of open hands, olive branches, and healing symbols, while key verses feature miniature paintings of Clararton and other early healers.Purpose
The purpose of The Quiet Hands Codex is to define and uphold the guiding philosophy of the Bartolara Healers Guild, ensuring that all members remain steadfast in their mission of compassion, neutrality, and healing. It serves as both a moral compass and a practical handbook, teaching healers to preserve life without judgment or violence, to honor the sanctity of every living being, and to remain a source of hope in a dark and war-torn world.
The Codex also unifies the guild by providing a shared set of values and practices, instructing its members on how to navigate the complexities of war, suffering, and politics while remaining true to their calling. In essence, it is a sacred oath turned into living words, a reminder that their hands exist only to heal, never to harm.
Document Structure
Clauses
The Quiet Hands Codex is divided into four main sections, each reflecting a core aspect of the Bartolara Healers Guild’s philosophy and practice:
Section 1. The Oath Of The Open Palm:
This section contains the guild’s sacred oath, sworn by all initiates upon joining. It defines their vow of nonviolence, neutrality, and unconditional compassion. It is written as a series of short, poetic verses meant to be recited during ceremonies, reminding healers of their calling.
Section 2. The Principles Of Mercy:
This portion outlines the seven core tenets of the guild, including the mandate to heal all without judgment, the rejection of violence, and the sanctity of sanctuary. It also addresses the healer’s moral duty to protect life, avoid greed, and uphold trust between all peoples.
Section 3. The Practices Of Healing:
A practical compendium of curative knowledge, this section details techniques for treating wounds, crafting salves and poultices, curing diseases, and using divine or arcane healing safely. It includes foundational lessons on field triage, crisis management, and the use of protective wards and calming rituals.
Section 4. The Path Of The Healer:
This final section provides guidance for personal conduct, encouraging healers to live with humility, patience, and courage. It includes teachings on mental resilience, meditative practices, and how to face suffering without being consumed by it. It also explains the guild’s approach to diplomacy, the Mercy Accords, and maintaining neutrality in times of war.
Publication Status
A copy of the codex is given to each initiate Palm Seeker, in the Bartolara Healers Guild, with all past and present members having their own copies. Additionally, copies have been historically given to certain libraries, organizations, leaders, and healers throughout the lands.
Historical Details
Background
The Quiet Hands Codex was composed by Clararton Bartolara during the early years of the Bartolara Healers Guild, intended to preserve her vision of a healing order untouched by the brutality and politics of the world. Written after years of witnessing the horrors of war and the suffering of plague victims, Clararton sought to create a doctrine that would ensure healers would never become tools of violence or conquest.
The Codex was inspired by her devotion to Alacrita, Goddess of Life and Healing, but its teachings extend beyond any single faith, making it a unifying text for healers of diverse backgrounds. Clararton spent over a decade refining the Codex, drawing on her own experiences as a battlefield medic, her teachings from various healing organizations, and the practical wisdom of midwives, herbalists, and clerics she met throughout her journeys.
The original manuscript was said to be handwritten on vellum, bound with silver thread, and blessed in a ritual that called upon the deities of Alacrita, Alegria, and Ozryel, ensuring that the words would remain unaltered by time or corruption. It now resides in the Archive Of Pains, guarded as both a sacred relic and a guidebook for every generation of healers.
History
The Quiet Hands Codex was written in the decades following the founding of the Bartolara Healers Guild, as a means of preserving Clararton Bartolara’s teachings and uniting healers under a single, enduring philosophy. After years of tending to the wounded on battlefields and in plague-stricken lands, Clararton saw the need for a doctrine that would not only teach practical healing but also protect the guild’s neutrality and nonviolent ideals in a world rife with war.
The Codex was compiled from Clararton’s personal writings, field notes, and reflections on her service with groups like the Sisters Of Sorrow and the Matrons of Life. It was finalized shortly before the construction of Bartolara’s first dedicated healing hall and became a required text for all who joined the guild. Over the centuries, the Codex has been meticulously copied and distributed among chapters of the guild, though the original silver-bound manuscript remains in the Archive of Pains within the Free City of Bartolara.
Despite its age, the Codex has remained unchanged. Attempts to rewrite or “update” it have always been rejected by the guild’s leaders, who see its words as timeless guidance. Legends claim that during times of great moral crisis, passages from the Codex seem to “speak” to the healer reading them, as though Clararton’s spirit or the will of Alacrita lingers within its pages.
Public Reaction
The public reaction to the Quiet Hands Codex has long been one of respect, reverence, and curiosity, even among those who do not follow the Bartolara Healers Guild. Many view the Codex as a beacon of hope in a violent and unforgiving world, admiring its unwavering commitment to healing all without prejudice. Travelers, soldiers, and common folk alike often speak of the Codex with a kind of awe, seeing it as more than just a book, it is a symbol of mercy’s resilience in times of despair.
Among scholars and clergy, the Codex is regarded as both a practical medical guide and a spiritual text, inspiring discussions on morality, neutrality, and the sanctity of life. Some temples have even incorporated parts of its teachings into their own rituals, particularly its emphasis on compassion and the value of all lives.
However, not all reactions are purely positive. Warlords, mercenaries, and certain rulers often view the Codex as an inconvenience or even a threat, believing its ideals interfere with the harsh necessities of war. A few have tried to pressure the guild to take sides, only to find its healers immovable in their devotion to neutrality.
Despite these tensions, the Quiet Hands Codex enjoys widespread admiration among the common people, who see the Bartolara healers as living embodiments of its words, selfless, unarmed, and unyielding in their compassion.
Legacy
The legacy of the Quiet Hands Codex is one of enduring compassion and unwavering principles that have shaped the identity of the Bartolara Healers Guild for generations. Its teachings have outlived wars, plagues, and political upheavals, standing as a timeless manifesto of mercy in a brutal and chaotic world. The Codex’s insistence on nonviolence, neutrality, and the sanctity of life has earned the guild unparalleled trust among commoners and soldiers alike, making its emblem, a white open palm on blue, a universal symbol of sanctuary.
Beyond the guild, the Codex has influenced healers, clerics, and even rulers who seek to temper cruelty with compassion. Its words are studied not only for their guidance in healing practices but also for their philosophy, which challenges the prevailing belief that survival depends solely on strength and dominance. Many temples, especially those devoted to Alacrita, Alegria, and Ozryel, regard it as a sacred text of wisdom, while common folk see it as a promise that someone, somewhere, will care for them without judgment.
Even in regions where violence reigns, the legacy of the Quiet Hands Codex lives on in whispered tales of Bartolara healers walking unarmed into battlefields, saving lives on both sides and leaving behind a message more powerful than any weapon: that mercy endures, even when the world has forgotten it.
“The Quiet Hands Codex is the soul of the Bartolara Healers Guild, a living vow that mercy, not might, is the truest strength.”
Medium
Vellum / Skin
Authoring Date
568 to 575 A.S.
Authors
Signatories (Organizations)
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