Editing Rosine (section)

==Notes==

Equip: 1700s

You own a riding horse, a mule, a pavillion, a retainer and escort.

Rosin will have an escort, a man[or woman] at arms, trained to ride. She also has a retainer, a servant come maid, always female.

Rosine's escort Oswin:
STR 12 CON 12 POW 7 DEX 6 CHA 12
SIZ 16 INT 10

Rosine's maid Ydene:
STR 10 CON 11 POW 12 DEX 10 CHA 18
SIZ 11 INT 9



The Flame of Temperance.

A female monastic (?) order to which Rosine belongs - Drifter, tell me if it's okay

Some six centuries ago, the Church of the Child of Light was rife with ecstatic worship. In this climate, the monk and visionary Abelard of Tine wrote his Treatise on Temperance. In this, he expounded the worth of moderation, meditative prayer and introspection. In particular, he explained how the virtue of Temperance was one of Mankind's greatest shields against the Great Evil. He recognised that men in particular were vulnerable and so it was women who must reign in man's impulses and her own. By remaining pure and unwed until a considerably later age than was customary, they would be able to reflect upon desire and gain mastery of it. When the time came to wed, they would be able to instil in their own children the virtue of Temperance.

The idea was adopted, at first as doctrine, and quickly swept across the lands of the Child. For the first time, women were given control of their destinies. Yet, as with all revolutionary ideas, it led to disaster in some instances and was eventually abandoned as doctrine, though it has affected society deeply.

Today, the most visible mark left by the Treatise is the Flame of Temperance, a holy order almost whose members are almost exclusively women. The order is (naturally) moderate, with varying degrees of commitment required of its members. All members take vows of chastity, among others, but these are renewed (or not) annually. The Flame is typically represented as the flame of a candle - desires are recognised and may even be nourished in small ways, but are not allowed to take hold.

In practical terms, the organisation serves several roles for girls or women in different situations, and society's social hierarchy is reflected in this:

Orphans. As the Flame of Temperance explicitly adopts a maternal and sagacious stance (and is not short on resources), it is an obvious repository for unwanted children. Many of these girl will remain in the order, effectively as servants, for life.

The Afflicted. People not of sound mind are usually considered to have succumbed to some remnant of the Great Evil. Within the order, such people are kept under a particular strict regimen, in order to purify their souls of past misdeeds.

Bastard Daughters. A man's own intemperance is usually overlooked when he seeks to place a bastard daughter within the Order, as he will be asked to pay a substantial stipend for the upkeep of his offspring.

Nobility. Women of great means who wish to seek their own way in the world will happily take the vows for several years so as to keep suitors from calling. Noblewomen who might lay claim to great inheritances may also adopt this measure as a sign that they will not, at least while their vows last for the present year, act upon this. This is Rosine's situation.