The Order of St. Laisrén

The Order of St. Laisrén is a group of scholars, investigators, and mercenaries dedicated to researching and containing otherworldly threats in Eire.

The Order was founded following the death of St. Laisrén mac Nad Froích in the 6th century.  St. Laisrén worked closely with his brother King Oengus to strengthen Christianity in Munster. As its first Christian King, he faced strong opposition from the druids and their otherworldly allies. Laisrén found success researching and bargaining with the faerie folk. They were then able to identify and remove the greatest threats.

For centuries, the Order of St. Laisrén has continued in their patron's example. They seek to understand the Otherworld to protect Christians. Since the arrival of the Celtic Twilight, the Order has moved away from its roots. They are more openly hostile to all faerie folk. Bargaining is no longer an option. More members now think of themselves as hunters than investigators.
# Denizens
## Abbot Gobrian
Abbot Gobrian is an upstart. He is younger than his predecessor by more than half. His doctrine has turned the Order on its head. Gobrian has recalled all ongoing investigations and expeditions to the Otherworld. Instead, he works closely with *The Oath of the High Cross* to recruit Christian lords. Those unwilling to support the Church find St. Laisrén's agents driving benevolent spirits from their lands.

The Abbot is an intense man. He engages deeply with whatever is at hand. He debates with unyielding focus. He interrogates with terrifying persistence. He jokes with impeccable timing. He recognizes everyone in the Order by sight. Those showing the most promise he promoted from investigator to inquisitor.  When completely alone, Gobrian confides in his companion maven, an Ollamh Sí named Seired.

**Level 20**
**Essence**: 8 **Destiny**: 6
**Active talents**: *Bull Rush*, *Duty to Fight* (x2), *Nether Touch* (x2), *Rebuke Evil*, *Slash the Air*, *Strike of Bereavement*
**Social talents**: *Accuse*, *Break-Down* (x2), *Fuelled by Agony*, *Publicly Humiliate*, *Sense of Motives*, *Verbal Manipulation* (x2)
**Passive powers**: *Bond with Maven* (x2), *Dance of Feathers*, *Dance of the Flagellant* (x2), *Holy Vision*, *Nature's Child*, *Strong Faith*
**Skills**: *Escape*, *Lore Fey*, *Oaths*, *Prayer*, *The Sight*, *Silent Tongue*, *Speak in Tongues*, *Survival Otherworld*
## Róich
Róich is a Gancanagh who has no qualms turning on his own people. He has a knack for uncovering and capturing Sidhe that have infiltrated mortal courts. His strategy is exactly what one would expect of a Gancanagh: seduce the women of the court and learn their secrets. He frankly does not care one way or another about the duty's of his role. Róich's membership in the order provides him cover to privately "interrogate" courtiers. Between that, the excuse to travel, and not being killed, Róich is content with his arrangement.

**Level 14**
**Essence**: 6 **Destiny**: 4
**Active talents**: *Battle Dance*, *Control Opponent* (x2), *Mental Assault* (x2), *Backstab*
**Social talents**: *Shameless Flattery*, *Seduce*, *Reveal a Half-truth* (x2), *Verbal Manipulation*
**Passive powers**: *Cauldron of Poetry*, *Fox's Tongue* (x2), *Otherworldly Beauty* (x2)
**Skills**: *Lore of Common Folk*, *Lore Fey* (x2), *Perform* (x2), *Read and Write*
# Sites
## Daimhinis
The island of Daimhinis (pronounced "Devinish") in Lough Erne has a quaint abbey. From the lake and island, there is nothing to distinguish this monastery from the dozens of others dotting the Emerald Isle. Hidden just below the scriptorium, though, is a network of catacombs abuzz with the Order's business. Here missions are planned and directives issued. Artifacts are collected and researched. Members are trained, equipped, and healed. Four chambers alone are dedicated to an arcane library. All that is known about the hidden and unseelie is written somewhere in this archive.
## Faerie Prisons
The Order has learned three things when holding Faerie prisoners:
1. Keep them well above ground;
2. Keep them away from water;
3. Keep them away from each other.
As such, they have adopted to using round-towers to keep beings who are too knowledgeable or powerful to be executed. These round towers are innocuous; they are a standard feature of all monasteries, prison or not. Those towers with a prisoner lock them in the top floor. Each faerie is bound by a ritual as unique as the faerie itself.
## Salthouses
Salt is the Order's most precious resource. While not as powerful as iron, salt provides protection in a pinch. A large sack can ward an entire castle that would otherwise require a wagonload of horseshoes. The Order has a network of salthouses to maintain their enormous demand.

A salthouse is nothing more than a coastal home with an oversized fireplace.  Laborers collect seawater and boil it down. Such places have existed for centuries. But there are hints when a salthouse is Order-run. The work never ceases. The traders coming and going look more like soldiers. No new firewood or turf ever arrives. The workers look... unnatural.

There are no mortals here at all. Enslaved faeries run this place. Bound by holy rites and iron bands, these poor sods have forgotten who and what they are. They recall only the purpose their masters mandate. Unless a way is found to subvert the ritual, these lost creatures fear nothing more than the Otherworldly. And they will defend this place to their last breath.
# Magic Items
After St. Laisrén's pilgrimage to Rome, he returned with several relics and dedicated the remainder of his life to making Daimhinis the Irish Rome. Though his dream was never achieved, that reliquary provided the seeds for the Order's founding. With the return of King Sitric in Ath Cliath, Daimhinis's collection has doubled in size. Members of the Order work tirelessly to protect relics and artifacts from Viking hands.
## Soiscél Molaisse
This is a small box made from bronze and wood. The outside is decorated with a horned creature performing eight distinct monkly duties. This is the 11th of the 12 relics in St. Finnian's Broken Reliquary.

Upon opening, the wielder may choose a supernatural target within 4 hexes and inflict Possession +1 \[Counter S\]. The target remains under the effect until the box is opened again. The wielder may direct the usage of the rune only if the target is within far. Otherwise, the rune is used to move the Possessed target closer to the relic.
## St. Clement's Toe
This was bestowed to St. Laisrén by the pope himself. The Holy Father hoped it would make a strong start to the collection and provide Laisrén safe passage home.

The wielder of this relic gains 2 ranks in the Swim skill. In addition, they always know the direction to the nearest dry land while in a body of water.
## Faerie Jam
Only a fool would eat food from the Otherworld. Over the centuries, the Order has had its share of fools. The ever-diligent scribes observed their unwise peers. While none would profess mastery over such forbidden ingredients, techniques for the common faerie dishes are well-established. Faerie jam distills the forgetful nature of the mists into a sweet pulp.

Consuming faerie jam inflicts Drunk 3 \[Counter P\].  Regardless of whether the condition is Countered, the consumer has a day-long case of amnesia. They remember their abilities and specialized knowledge, but who they are, and how they came to that knowledge is beyond their grasp. They gain +1 Mental PF and +6 Social Defense against Questions. However, they are more susceptible to suggestion and suffer -3 Social Defense against Compel attacks.
# Plot Hooks
- Ciarmac the Younger needs a guide for his quest into Tir na nAill. He needs to find the right creature and its summoning ritual. Ciarmac hires the dwellers to smuggle him in and out of Daimhinis.
- The spring at Cam Eas ran dry the same day the Order finished a local investigation. The investigators dug into and salted a nearby faerie fort. The faeries have powerful connections to the land, and the Order knows it. What can be done to restore the spring?
- For his service to Christendom, the Order rewards the Abbot-King of southern Munster an enslaved Co-walker. How was such a creature ensorcelled? What nefarious deeds will the spirit be sent on? Can the Dwellers free the creature before it arrives?