The Order of St. Theresa

St. Theresa

No one knows who St. Theresa is or was, or if she even really exists. Even the Left Hand and Left Eye, the two leading members of the Order, have contact with her through several layers. Her personal guards, the Carmelites, guard not her but her most potent secrets, kept in a journal sealed in wax and kept at the bottom of a secret well. Click St. Theresa only if you wish to have spoilers about if she exists and if so, who she is.

Arcanum

Rules

There are many complex rules for Theresans, but the main three are

1. Unless ordered otherwise, observe only. This is about getting information for those who will act.
2. Protect the information you gather with your life. Give only to those designated as acceptable.
3. Our purpose runs counter to the empires* of the world, chiefly Srisia, and their agent/puppet states. We do not work with them.

Traitors will have no hiding place from the Order.

* Generally speaking, this refers to Agikaan, Baradin, Couronne Epee, Deseria, Dhun, Endruin, Furich Amol, Krevzuk, Mwyr Aeld, Srisia, Stolzen, Tenzanai, Tromlui, Urayme, and other imperialist or fascist countries or powerful monarchies who are actively seeking world domination.

Secrets

Mysteries

Religion

Membership

Asset

People who are useful to the Order but who do not know they are connected to it. Some rare few may suspect, but most do not even know the Order exists. These are sometimes recruited to be actual members eventually. Others are just friends of the Order, and others still are simply people to be watched and spoken to now and again.

Broker

People who are aware of the existence of the Order and are able to connect others to them. They are only the most trusted non-members possible. They tend to have innocuous positions in socieity, usually something like a small merchant, a friendly beggar, a journalist, a minor functionary... someone who works with information, even if indirectly. They have no more than one secret.

Client

For someone to be a client, they must be steered by a broker toward an agent, who will assess them. The potential client will almost always have no idea they are even a potential client until the agent speaks to them, and even then, they will likely never know the name of the Order or the people they are working with. Those rare ones who do usually know because they were or are involved with the Order somehow, or they are of such importance the Order deems it necessary to inform them. Oftentimes, clients become or are assets, given a journal to communicate questions and information because they are involved in something the Theresans wish to know about.

Payment

The primary payment for service from the Order is information, but sometimes, a potential client is tested by being asked for something important to them to see if they are serious about their need.

Observer

The most basic member of the Order is an observer, one who simply keeps an eye on things in their life and reports it back to the Order. They carry journals that are almost always simply used to log observations. They are often members of government, law enforcement, major businesses, a journalist, a scholar, a student, a servant, or other positions in society that allow them to observe significant events. They have at most three, at least one secret.

Agent

Agents are usually observers who are given permission to make contact with clients. They are chosen for their ability to read people and discern the value of their information. They will always have a few secrets.

Theresan

A full-fledged Theresan is an arcanist. They are often someone you would never expect. They have many secrets and insights into many mysteries. They often have specific tasks given them by the Left Hand or Left Eye, such as watching a specific person, finding a specific answer, or killing a specific person. They are spies, assassins, thieves, information brokers, smugglers, metapols, seers, psionicists, enneads, shadowweavers, and so on. Any occupation skilled at gathering information, clandestine work, or assessing information. They are elite.

Ahumada

One who answers questions. The ahumada dwell in the Library of St. Theresa and watch the receiving journals, ready to answer questions when one comes in, if they deem it worthy of responding to or if they have the answer. They are the ultimate information brokers.

Contemplative

One who contemplates the secrets, studies, analyzes, and keeps the Library. These are the researchers in the Library of St. Theresa, and they often train agents, Theresans, observers, ahumada, and other members of the Order.

Carmelite

Personal guards of St. Theresa herself. They are assassins who have the power of deletion. There are always seven of them, and they are recruited from every facet of the Order, even the assets and clients, if they seem skilled enough to be a Carmlite. They are never men (cis or trans).

Left Eye

Highest ranking observer. The Left Eye lives in the Library and sits in the observatory, where they use the legendary Arcane Telescope, which shows them the secrets of the universe and beyond. They coordinate the observers, ahumada, and contemplatives.

Left Hand

Highest ranking Theresan. The Left Hand coordinates all of the Theresans, agents, and Carmelites. They are the most elite of assassins and spies. They are second only to St. Theresa herself.

Runner

Runners are special kinds of resistance fighters in oppressive countries who use Runner Sign to communicate and generally engage in acts of sabotage, espionage, and information couriering. They are essentially all assets activated by Runner Sign.

Individuals

The only notable character from previous games, other than St. Theresa herself, who was in the order was William Riverwalker, Runner 8, now deceased.

Inventory

Journals

The Library of St. Theresa

Veils

Telescopes

Weapons

Daggers

Rifles

Darts and Stars

Slings

Skills

Stats

Founded	Age of Legends, First Shem
Founder	St. Theresa, Runner Zero, the Listener
Symbol	It is said that a member of the Order of St. Theresa will recognize other members automatically
Purpose	Spies and channels of information for the good organizations, keepers of secrets for the Runners
Leader	St. Theresa
History	St. Theresa was a half Drow, half Faery information broker in Galdun during the age of legends. It is rumored she was once a lover of Samuel Jericho. When the Wild Hunt got a little warm for her, she fled to the Summer Country, and expanded her operations to helping the forces of good throughout Shem. During this time, she built a network of spies to gather and channel information for her. This network is the Order of St. Theresa.
Notable members	St. Theresa, the Listener; General Makeko (deceased), Age of Empires; William Riverwalker (deceased), Runner 8, former Champion of Silence; Kanal (deceased)
Rules	As laid down by Theresa herself 1) "OBSERVE ONLY. There are other people to engage the enemy, and they need our information far more than they need our interferance." 2) "Information you gather must be protected WITH YOUR LIFE and given only to your handler, your client, your ward, or me, depending on the mission." (During her early days in Galdun, this one was not in effect. It was written specifically for the Order.) 3) "We do not take jobs for the dark churches, the Srisians, or any representatives thereof, and if I find you have, you will have no hiding place from me."
Alliances	Order of the Crysanthemum, the Runners, the Grinning Men, the Church of Silence
Footnotes