Concent of Saunt Edhar

The Concent of Saunt Edhar is a walled mathic complex built around the towering Mynster and its great clock. It comprises several distinct maths and compounds arranged across terraces, meadows, and natural stone, with disciplined routines that structure daily life and periodic contact with the outside world.

First Appearance and Context

The concent is presented as the home of the Decenarian avout during a routine of winding the clock at Provener, with Apert drawing near. At such times, visitors from extramuros may be admitted through the Day Gate and guided to the north nave to observe, while the avout conduct the rite within the chancel. During a Decennial Apert, the belfry signals proceedings with coded ring changes, a prism high atop the starhenge casts first light down the well into the Mynster at sunrise, and distinct weights descend to open the Day, Year, and Decade Gates.

Structure and Features

• The Mynster rises from a planed stone plinth, flanked by crags and compounds. Its four main naves (north, south, east, and west) surround an octagonal chancel screened on all sides. The north nave accommodates visitors; the south nave connects directly to the Centenarian Math; the west nave is used by Unarians; the east is a formal entrance seldom employed.
• The four corner approaches to the chancel serve specific groups: the southwest corner houses the crowded Tenner space of the Decenarian math; the northwest corner links to the Primate’s Compound; the southeast connects to the Thousanders’ crag via a carved stone stair; and the northeastern corner opens toward the Ita quarter beneath the natural cliff and toward tunnels associated with the clock’s works.
• A meadow lies below the Mynster’s plinth, divided by a sixteen‑foot wall from the Hundreders’ side. The Decenarian side has been planted in clover and flowers for bees; along its edge lie dense “tangles” of food plants and a river boundary. A roofed gallery known as the Seven Stairs links the Decenarian buildings to the Mynster’s portal.
• The concent’s clockwork drives ceremonial gates and instruments, including the Year and Decade Gates, lesser orreries, and the starhenge mounted high above. The Day Gate provides controlled ingress for extramuros guests. At the dawn of a new year and decade, distinct weights descend for the Year and Decade Gates while the central weight opens the Day Gate.
• Within the narthex between the Day Gate and the north nave stands a mechanical orrery—part of the concent’s clockwork—that displays the positions of planets and their moons. It is driven from systems maintained beneath the Mynster.

Relationships and Functions

• Multiple maths reside within or adjoin the concent: the Decenarian math (Tenners), the Centenarian Math (Hundreders), Unarians, and the Thousanders on their crag. The Ita tend subterranean mechanisms of the clock and maintain access beneath the Mynster; it is rumored that their system applies subtle corrections to the main clock’s rate. The Primate’s Compound connects directly to the chancel’s northwest corner and is restricted to hierarchs and wardens.
• Contact with extramuros is limited and regulated. Under suitable conditions, visitors may observe from the north nave; the concent may also supply goods such as honey at a market stall outside the Day Gate when circumstances allow.
• The belfry’s ringers employ changes—permutations of tones—as a code to announce auts and other events across the concent, while the movement can also play fixed tunes to chime the hours.
• During Apert and in cold months, the avout of Saunt Edhar stretch the Discipline slightly to wear tire sandals or soft‑soled footwear; this local practice has not drawn punitive action from the Inquisition.

Current Status

The concent is occupied and active, with daily rites at Provener and the clock in steady operation. During a Decennial Apert, the gates open at sunrise under the starhenge’s light as the weights descend, and the belfry coordinates proceedings with ring changes. Visitors—when permitted—are channeled through the Day Gate to the north nave. Internal preparations intensify as Apert approaches and culminate in coordinated rites at sunrise.