Sanctilaminium Ambrosii
The Sanctilaminium Ambrosii is a Lateran nomadic abbey that went missing for more than six decades.
Background
Ambrosii was once an Iberian-Lateran joint project that acts as a diplomatic symbol between the two nations along with Laterano's desire to spread its religion to foreigners. Its construction was finished in the year 1011 and was later handed over to Iberia's control even though much of its clerics are of Lateran origin.[1] Originally, the abbey's sole purpose was to study religious scriptures and ceremonial practices under the guidance of its clergy. In the meantime, it was served as an armory that trained both Laterans and Iberians in explosives and projectiles, hence spreading firearm culture to the Iberians.[2]
However, in the year 1038, the Profound Silence struck the Iberian coastlines, and the abbey's previous abbot had just passed away due to illness, whose position was later succeeded by Stefano Torregrossa. The Inquisition (formerly the Church of Iberia) ordered the Lateran clerics to hand over the abbey to utilize it as a coastal fortress against the Seaborn, but Stefano stubbornly refused due to religious belief.[2] As a consequence, the abbey was broken free from Iberia's control. Much of its clerics had headed back to Laterano earlier, including Iberian ones, and the abbey's function was left abandoned.
But along its path back to Laterano, the abbey went off its usual route after an attempt to evade an upcoming Catastrophe. It ran out of fuel in the process and was left stranded in the barrenlands. Hence, its status is considered missing in Lateran official records. To survive the harsh environment, the residents tried to cultivate on the infertile land. The abbey also had to defend on their own from wild animals and bandit groups. In the third year, they were then forced to indoor cultivation with the aid of Clément Dubois as sandstorm ruined a nearby forest, and they planted their crops in its abandoned hall.[3]
Things started to change ten years ago (Terran year 1089). Holst Tyfindale, who is now Gerald, brought a group of Sarkaz mercenaries to escape from the devastating civil war in Kazdel. The group were forced to make contact with the abbey as they ran out of food and weapons. At first, the residents were reluctant of their presence to a point that that they at one time, separated their shared areas, but survival instincts eventually bound them together tightly. The two sides put down their disdains and slowly treated them as a part of the abbey. As a sign of their gratitude, Gerald and his men were willing to serve as guardians for the abbey from bandit harassment.[4] Even though Stefano knew it was a violation of the Lateran Church, he prioritized on showing kindness to the homeless by sheltering the Sarkaz.
In October 1099, the abbey could no longer sustain its population from an upcoming winter, so they sent a distress call to Lateran diplomats represented by Lemuen and Oren Argiolas. However, the presence of the Sarkaz alert the diplomats, and Stefano refused to abandon the Sarkaz residents. In the meantime, Stefano also hid two suspicious figures: Aulus from the Church of the Deep and Arturia the heinous fugitive. So, he had them put under custody, which prompted the Curia to dispatch Saint Federico, Spuria, and Richele. However, Oren escaped and threatened to harm the local Sarkaz by sending reinforcement from the Lateran armies which further complicated the already worsening situation.
In the aftermath, Laterano managed to retrieve the abbey, and it was scheduled to fully return to Laterano by next year's spring. Only 153 people were found alive there. Most of them were brought back to Laterano by the officials who will help them adjust a new life there, whereas the thirty-nine Sarkaz residents were allowed to depart from Ambrosii peacefully out of the cost of Gerald's suicide.[5]
Notable people
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- Delfina☠: Also known as "Fina", she was a solemn Sankta girl who was Fortuna's friend, noted for her apathy towards Latrans due to how they can't bring the Sarkaz residents with them. However, during a discussion she had with Fortuna, the later accidentally shot her with her patron sidearm, killing her in the process.[6]
- Eileen☠: A Sarkaz mercenary who was one of Gerald's partners, described as an "outcast" among the residents. She liked the view of the abbey's flowers, and the sound of the bell ringing was said to put her heart at ease. However, she would pass away due to her injuries following an unknown incident.[2][7]
Gallery
The facade (i.e. front hall) of the Ambrosii
A shantytown in front of the Ambrosii
Ditto, at night
An alley in the Ambrosii's shantytown
Ditto, at night
A chapel in the Ambrosii
A sacrarium in the Ambrosii
Ditto, ruined after a fire
A hallway in the Ambrosii
Ditto, at night
A cellar in the Ambrosii
A bedroom in the Ambrosii
People
A male Sankta inhabitant of the Ambrosii
Ditto, sporting a black shirt
A female Sankta inhabitant of the Ambrosii
Ditto, with black short hair
A male Sarkaz inhabitant of the Ambrosii
Ditto, with a black bandana
A female Sarkaz inhabitant of the Ambrosii
Ditto
Etymology
- Sanctilaminium is a portmanteau of two Latin words, sanctus ("holy") and Laminium, the latter of which is the name of an oppidum (fortified city) in Roman Hispania (Iberian Peninsula).
- Ambrosii refers to Saint Ambrose, the Bishop of Milan.