Voco

First Appearance and Context

Voco is described within the mathic world as a named rite used when outside authority seeks mathic expertise. In a witnessed instance at the Concent of Saunt Edhar, distinctive bell changes—different from those used for Eliger—summoned the community to the Mynster. The Primate formally convened the assembly and read a traditional formula before calling a specific avout by name and chapter. The named avout answered in a set litany, and the Centenarian cohort sang a rare hymn of mourning and farewell.

Roles/Actions and Affiliations

• Nature of the rite: Voco is an Aut by which an individual Avout is formally called out from a math to carry out praxic work requested by the Saecular Power.
• Conduct of the aut: Distinctive bell changes summon all avout; there is no prior notice of whose name will be called. The Primate delivers the call, and the named person answers in a brief litany.
• Farewell: The community treats it as a mourning‑and‑farewell moment; in the observed case, a five‑part hymn of mourning and farewell was sung as the Evoked stood before the chancel in the Mynster.
• Departure and escort: The departure follows immediately. In one observed instance, representatives of the Inquisition escorted the Evoked from the Mynster to depart extramuros; an aerocraft collected him shortly afterward and carried him away to senior secular authorities.
• Perceptions and beliefs: Some avout hold that the Ita convey or receive directives related to such actions; this is recorded as community belief or inference rather than confirmed practice.
• Community speculation: At Saunt Edhar, some avout have asserted that a specific Evocation and disciplinary trouble involving Fraa Orolo were connected; within the concent this is discussed as conjecture rather than established fact.

Relationships

• Saecular Power: External authority that can request and receive avout expertise via Voco.
• Primate and hierarchs: The Primate officiates the call; hierarchs coordinate the service.
• Inquisition: Officials may attend and provide escort for the Evoked’s immediate departure.
• Avout and orders: Voco removes a member from their chapter for outside service, and those remaining mourn the loss as final.

Descriptions/Characteristics

• Terminology: The occurrence is called an “Evocation,” and the person is said to be “Evoked.”
• Rarity and tone: Within living memory it is rare; hymnals must be located and parts re‑found when needed. The mood is solemn and final from the community’s point of view.
• Form and setting: Marked by bells, formal words, and a response in litany; conducted in the community’s central hall, the Mynster.
• Bell signatures and distinction: Voco is heralded by a recognizable pattern of bell changes; at Saunt Edhar, avout can distinguish these from the pattern used for Anathem. After the bells, there is a short assembly interval before the Convocation.
• Pre‑aut atmosphere: Immediately before a Voco, hierarch courts and upper levels can become crowded yet hushed as staff and avout prepare to assemble.
• Colloquial usage: Within the concent, people often speak of “a Voco” to mean an Evocation.

Current Status/Location

Voco is an active, standing rite. A recent instance at Saunt Edhar proceeded as described above and concluded with the Evoked departing under escort, after which ordinary observances resumed within the concent. In another gathering at the same concent, some anticipated a Voco but the bells instead announced Anathem, underscoring that each aut has its own distinct bell pattern.