Bestiary

The Order of Saint Joan is not so much a “subdivision” of the Society as an autonomous Order that acts in concert with the Society of Leopold. The Order recognizes the authority of the Society and the Inquisitor-General, but maintains its own hierarchy. Members of the Order may work within standard Society Cenacula, but they rarely rise about the position of Councilor. None are ever promoted within the Society to the rank of Abbé or above. The Order maintains its own Cenacula, called Convents.

The Order of Saint Joan is led by the Abbess of Chartres, who defers to the Inquisitor-General in most matters of policy. The Order’s Convents do not welcome men, including Inquisitors, anywhere beyond specified guest areas. No one outside the Order has ever visited the Convent of Chartres. The Abbess either speaks through her assistants from offices outside the Convent proper, or leaves the Convent to call upon people.

None of the Order’s members who have worked within the Society’s ranks ever show evidence of Theurgic study, but there are some rumors that the Convent of Chartres has a number

of powerful Theurgists in its midst. There are many rumors about the elusive Order, and none have yet to be proven.

Historically, the Office of the Censor has never trusted the Order of Saint Joan, which has repeatedly refused offers to fully merge with the Society. That strain has reached a breaking point with the rise of Inquisitor-General Bauer. The Office of the Censor submitted a list of members from the Order who were to report to Rome for questioning. The Order never complied, Convents have closed their doors, and all communication from Chartres has ceased.

The silence is chilled. The tension crackles. There are rumors that Inquisitor-General Bauer and the Abbess of Chartres have some sort of personal quarrel between them. Inquisitors the world over wearily wait to see what will happen next.

While some Inquisitors remain generalists, many find intellectual support and mutual ideology in a sect. Historically, the Society of Leopold has allowed, even encouraged, diversity within its ranks. That encouragement died with Monsignor Amelio Vittore. Now the sects clamor and maneuver for the favor of their new, frightening Inquisitor-General.