Centenarians

The Centenarians—also called the Hundreders—are a cohort within the mathic world associated with a centennial cycle of Apert. Within the Concent of Saunt Edhar, they maintain their own math across a meadow and wall from the Decenarian community and are accorded dedicated space in the Mynster.

First Appearance and Context

The Centenarians are first referenced during a discussion in the New Library where Fraa Orolo, with Fraa Erasmas present, notes that avout “on the other side of the wall” who open only once per century would know certain technologies by different names. They are also situated in scenes around the Mynster: their Centenarian Math lies across a meadow from the Decenarian math, divided by a sixteen‑foot stone wall. A past grass fire on the Decenarian side was described as having sent sparks toward the Centenarians’ side of the wall.

Description and Role

• Names and usage: “Centenarians” is the formal designation; “Hundreders” is used informally in nearby speech.
• Concent setting: Their half of the shared meadow is used for raising livestock. The south nave of the Mynster is reserved for them and is described as much larger than their numbers require; they can reach it directly by crossing their side of the meadow.
• Practices and cadence: They are associated with a centennial opening, which, in contrast to shorter‑cycle avout, contributes to differences in terminology and tradition.

Relationships and Functions

• Neighbor relations: Their math stands adjacent to the Decenarian community across a walled meadow, marking them as nearby but sequestered neighbors.
• Within the mathic world: Mentioned alongside other cohorts such as the Millenarians; the contrast in opening cycles is used to illustrate how vocabulary can diverge across cohorts.
• Institutional standing: The reservation of the south nave acknowledges a formal place for the Centenarians within the concent’s shared rites and spaces.

Current Status

To date, the Centenarians have been referenced and situated by location and practice, but no individual members have been named. Their community remains behind its own wall with access to its reserved nave; interactions are indirect and observed from neighboring maths.