Ita

First Appearance and Context

The Ita are referenced by avout as a group that handles practical arrangements within the math. When an extramuros artisan sought to observe proceedings, he was told he would be sent to the Ita, who would show him where to go. Within the concent’s central complex, the Ita have a dedicated portal into the chancel of the Mynster.

Description and Role

At this concent, the northeastern corner of the Mynster is reserved for the Ita. Their portal opens directly into a covered quarter described as a “covered slum,” which lies between that side of the Mynster and the natural stone cliff that, in that zone, forms the concent’s outer wall. A tunnel is said to give them access to the subterranean workings of the clock; this detail is reported as common lore and not officially confirmed. It is the Ita’s business to clean and inspect the gear‑trains, shafts, and escapements that run up into the chronochasm and through the pillars of the Præsidium, maintaining the machinery that drives the great dials and other couplings. To non‑Ita, the only regularly visible part of this system in the chancel is a central hub with four capstan‑like poles used during Provener to wind the clock; the rest of the workings remain in areas under Ita care.

Relationships and Functions

• Embedded within the concent’s core and directly adjacent to the Mynster, the Ita’s quarters connect them to the clockworks centered on the Præsidium.
• They operate alongside other mathic offices and orders but focus on maintenance and logistics rather than enforcement or liturgical leadership.
• Their practical coordination includes directing outsiders and artisans during public moments like Provener, when the clock is prominently in use and observed.

Current Status

Active within the concent: the Ita maintain the clock’s mechanisms and remain the point of contact for practical, on‑the‑ground arrangements (e.g., directing where permitted visitors should go). Some aspects of their subterranean access are reported as tradition or folklore rather than formally described.