Servitor

Context and first mention

During the ongoing Convox at the Concent of Saunt Tredegarh, speakers describe being assigned as “servitors.” In this usage, servitors are avout tasked with assisting at a messal (small formal dinner) and paired with a senior doyn whom they attend throughout the meal and discussion.

Duties and practice

• Arrive ahead of time at the hosting Dowment or chapter‑house to help prepare the meal in the messallan’s kitchen.
• When the eventide bells ring, doyns take their seats and servitors bring out the food.
• Stand behind their doyn during the discussion when not moving plates.
• Attend to small courtesies on request, such as providing a warm, damp face‑cloth before dinner and tending the doyn’s napkin if they rise.
• Each messallan’s kitchen cooks fourteen servings (seven for diners and seven for staff, including the servitors).
• Servitors are expected to follow the conversation; at some tables they may be invited to contribute briefly.
• Signaling and coordination (observed at one house): a velvet pull beneath each doyn’s place routes by ribbon to a bellboard in the kitchen so a doyn can summon their servitor; separately, labeled rope‑ends in the kitchen allow staff to tug a dedicated line that discreetly calls a specific servitor back from the dining room.
• Audio to the kitchen: at Avrachon’s table a one‑way sound feed carried the table’s dialog into the kitchen so courses could be paced while staff followed the discussion.
• Local custom: regulars at that house describe a tradition of servitors “voting with their feet” (withdrawing to the kitchen) if a dialog turns dull or off‑track; doyns are expected to notice.
• Mixed participation: during some messals that seat Sæcular or sect guests, a non‑avout assistant may act as that guest’s servitor at table; hosts there stated that cooking was handled by house staff and avout, not extras.
• Adaptation: servitors accommodate their doyn’s needs and practices, including handling special service or separate dishes when required.

Pairing and progression

• Each servitor is paired with a doyn (senior mentor/host) for a given messal.
• Assignments are set as part of one’s place in the Convox and may be announced directly by senior figures.
• Over time, former servitors may themselves act as doyns and receive servitors of their own.
• Placements among different messals or dowments can shift with hierarchs’ decisions.

Associations

• The role is described specifically at Tredegarh during the Convox and appears tied to that concent’s messal system and facilities.
• The term “doyn” is used for senior participants at table; during the Convox some Sæcular officials attending Tredegarh’s messals are also referred to as doyns.
• Named venues include themed messals such as the Plurality of Worlds messal hosted at Avrachon’s Dowment.

Notes

• “Servitor” here denotes a functional duty at meals, not a distinct order or hierarchy.