Calyptra

*'Certain knowledge cannot be learnt by any entity below the rank of Know - outside the covenant of the Watchman's Tree. The enforcement of this rule is Calyptra. The three who enforce it are Calyptra also.'*
 *'The Three and The Three: St Chiavi Manuscript'*

**The Calyptra** is a triad of Hours associated closely with the Chancel, Janus, and the Watchman's Tree. They are responsible for enforcing the law which forbids certain knowledge outside of the Libraries of the Watchman's Tree to be learned by any being that has yet to solve the Stag Door's Riddle.

## The Flowers of the Watchman's Tree

The Calyptra are often referred to as the "Flowers of the Watchman's Tree" which are white, black, and red in color.

The Black Flower is the Velvet. It is associated with Moon, is described as 'the night unwounded' and as a doom or geas. It appears to be the concept of keeping secret knowledge from being spoken of, lest it be revealed.

The Red Flower is the Mare-in-the-Tree. It is associated with Forge, and is described as 'the fire fuelled by truth' and as 'the temptation of suffering'. It appears to be the concept of destroying any record of secret knowledge, to ensure that it is not discovered by those who lack the right to it.

The White Flower is is associated with Winter and is described as 'the silence that is given' and 'the death of wisdom'. The identity of the Hour associated with the White Flower isn't explicitly confirmed, but a lot of indirect evidence points towards the Madrugad It could be the concept of forgetting secret knowledge, ensuring that it cannot be used or spread further.

The Flowers of the Watchman's Tree are also described collectively as "Paper, Ink, Flame", "blood, soot, and snow", and as "Night, Dawn, Eclipse".

## Relationships

* **The Watchman:** The Calyptra both works closely with and is in conflict with the Watchman over the Covenant of the Watchman's Tree. They enforce the covenant, but they would destroy the Watchman's Tree if they could. If the Watchman could destroy the Calyptra, he might.
* **The Chancel and Janus:** there are contradictory claims that the Hours of the Calyptra are elected by either Janus or the Chancel. One source is explicitly stated to have been censored by the Church, so the claim that Janus elects Calyptra is probably closer to the truth.
* **The House of Lethe:** one phrasing of the Iron Chain states that the purpose of oath is to avoid the attention of the Chancel and **Calyptra**.

## Real-World References

The word "Calyptra" likely comes from from the Greek “kalyptein” meaning “to cover," which would be fitting for a triad of Hours responsible for hiding forbidden knowledge from mortals. It may also be a reference to the Calyptra moth, also known as the vampire moth.

## Theories and Questions

* The identity of the White Flower of the Calyptra is probably the Madrugad.
	+ Three of the titles of the Flowers are "Night, Dawn, Eclipse." Night is almost certainly referring to the Black Flower. If Dawn refers to the White Flower, then the Madrugad's close associations with dawn make her a very likely candidate.
	+ The Madrugad is described as an Hour who "quells and quiets" which fits with the description of the White Flower as 'the silence that is given'.
* Given the Calyptra's role as enforcers of Law, it's particularly weird that the triad would include a God-from-Nowhere like the Mare.

## Sources

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The Three and the Three (Chiavi Manuscript)
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Three and the Three (Kerisham Manuscript)
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 White, the First Flower
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Black, the First Flower
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Red, the First Flower
6. ↑ Commit Edicts Inviolable to Preservation
7. ↑ The Black Book of Brittany
8. ↑ Commit Edicts Inviolable to Horomachistry
9. ↑ The Red Book of Brittany
10. ↑ The White Book of Brittany
11. ↑ Quell Witchworm Contamination
12. ↑ Journal of Thomas Dewulf
13. ↑ The Three and The Three (Vatican Manuscript)
14. ↑ The Iron Vault
15. ↑ We call upon the Madrugad, who quells and quiets