Siblings of Meneset

> Quote from roleplay
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> Palor, The Siblings of Meneset

The **Siblings of Meneset**, also known as the **Children of the Meneset**, the **Truthsayers**, and most often simply as **Palor** or **Malor**, male and female respectively, are an order of intellectuals (scholars, healers, and other learned peoples) in the Five Kingdoms.

Focusing on scientific knowledge and disdaining faith in magic, in the present day the Siblings of Meneset has largely eclipsed the older Alchemists' Guild, which claims to possess arcane magical knowledge, but whose number, power, and abilities have waned over the centuries.

The Siblings of Meneset are a secular organization, not a religious order, though they do swear sacred oaths to follow the duties and restrictions of their office, as well as believe in a hidden deity that will come to sweep the lands and solve the problems of the world, known as the Hasard Khal.

The sigil of the Siblings is a golden key, linked together to twelve others by the key-bump.

## History

The siblings of Meneset began as a symposium of scholars and priests in Graybridge during the early reign of House Blackhand. Known then only as "Creneerians books", they were led by Prince Creneer the "Studious" the mentally handicapped older brother of King Nurnenor Blackhand. After Creneerians death, the king gave these learned men land within the city that would eventually become the Citadel, laying the foundations for the Siblings of Meneset.

## Function and duties

Almost every castle and noble family in Soothereos, no matter how small, has a on hand Palor Meneset to teach the lord's children, give him counsel, and attend to medical and educational needs. The lords of the Five Kingdoms are also reliant on their ability to send long distance communiques using trained messenger ravens, which they are responsible for tending in a castle's rookery. The sibling branch, the Malor Meneset, serve as the resident medical expert at a castle, responsible for everything from setting broken bones, assisting childbirth, and knowledge of medicinal herbs and potions to aid fevers and internal illnesses. In addition, Palor Meneset also observe changes in the weather to watch for shifting of the seasons.

The Siblings of Meneset are expected to eschew their familial background and political allegiances. They drop their family name when they join the order. They are assigned to serve at castles and holdfasts throughout the Five Kingdoms and are bound by their vows to serve whoever holds the castle in which they reside, regardless of changes in lordship. It is not considered a breach of their vows if a Sibling of Meneset advises the current lord of their castle in military matters to defeat their enemies, but if their lord is defeated by his enemies and possession of the castle officially changes hands, the Sibling of Meneset is expected to serve his new lord.

The Siblings of Meneset is an egalitarian institution whose members must ignore their past family and political ties, give up their right to inheritance, and take an oath of celibacy. Thus, younger sons or bastard sons are often made to join the siblings, so as not to interfere with the inheritance of firstborn and/or legitimate sons.

Malor Meneset, unlike their counterpart, focus on the healing and medical nature of the body. They instead opt for a wholistic and natural approach to medicine and bodily upkeep, understanding vital pressure points to tell about the body's current state. Unlike the Silent Sisters, the Malor Meneset only deal with the living, and take no part in the dying.

## Organization

The headquarters of the Siblings of Meneset is the Citadel, a complex devoted to higher learning, which is located in the city of Graybridge in the Northeast of Atholnar. New initiates are trained at the Citadel, and upon finishing their studies, gain the title of "Palor/Malor 'name' " and are assigned to serve at a castle or town in Soothereos. The entire order is ruled over by the Conclave, the council of Reverend Fathers and Reverend Mothers—the highest and most powerful of the siblings—, who reside in the Citadel.

The "Father/Mother Palor/Malor" is considered the most senior member of the siblings, and is its personal representative to the king of the Haven Crown. The Father/Mother Palor/Malor is elected by the Conclave, but resides in Casterly Rock in Throes Peak, to personally advise the king and serve on the Council of Thorns. Only the Conclave may select the Father/Mother Palor/Malor and while the King or Right Sworn may dismiss the Father/Mother Palor/Malor from the council, they cannot strip him of his title.

## Traditions

Siblings of Meneset wear a chain of keys around their necks composed of various metals to signify their personal expertise. Siblings personally forge each link themselves. Each link indicates a different field of study. There are many recognized fields each with a different representative metal. Siblings are expected to wear their chains at all times, even when sleeping.

Known metals and corresponding fields of study include:

### General metals:

* Hollow steel - "the higher mysteries" (i.e. magic)
* Gold - money and accounting

### Palor Meneset Metals:

* Copper - history
* Black iron - ravenry
* Bronze - astronomy
* Electrum - astrology
* Iron - warcraft
* Pale steel - smithing
* Steel - construction

### Malor Meneset Metals:

* Silver - medicine and healing
* Lead - poison