Voco

First Appearance and Context

Within the mathic world, Voco is the named rite used when outside authority seeks mathic expertise. In witnessed practice at Saunt Edhar, distinctive bell changes gathered the community in the Mynster; an officiant 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, the community sang a hymn of mourning and farewell, and departure followed immediately.

Concept and Description

Voco is an Aut by which the Sæcular Power calls a named avout out of a math for praxic work. It is rare and solemn, and within the walls it is treated as final from the community’s point of view. Commonly a single person is named, though on rare occasions many names may be read in one service. The call is delivered in formal words; the Evoked responds in brief liturgy and departs at once. Attendance by the Inquisition is situational—some services have included Inquisitors and escort, others have not.

Use in Current Discourse

In recent discussion among avout preparing to travel extramuros, Voco was contrasted with other arrangements. As explained there, Voco “breaks the Discipline” in that the Evoked goes forth alone and does not return; by contrast, when many are called together to assemble elsewhere (sometimes termed a Convox), they can travel as a group and preserve the Discipline within their Peregrin cohort. Another summary offered was: Peregrin begins and ends at a math. These statements reflect speakers’ understanding in the moment and are recorded here as their interpretation rather than universal rule. In the same vein, one account notes that after a Thousander’s Voco, the fraas and suurs of his community sang with extraordinary intensity—underscoring how the rite is experienced as a mournful, final departure.

Related Concepts and Affiliations

• Aut: the class of formal rites that includes Voco.
• Sæcular Power: the outside authority that issues calls via Voco.
• Avout: members named by the rite to go out for praxic work.
• Inquisition: oversight body that may attend or escort, depending on circumstance.
• Peregrin: status and practice of avout traveling in the worldly realm while striving to keep the Discipline’s spirit.

Current Status

Voco remains an active, standing rite. Both single‑name and multi‑name services are attested at Saunt Edhar. In the present situation, a large calling led Evoked avout to depart promptly and organize onward travel; where many leave together, they endeavor to preserve elements of the Discipline by moving in groups and pairing experience across cohorts.