Pomera has placed its own stamp on religion in general, a slightly different take from the deity-centric worship common everywhere (including here).  It’s considered acceptable and normal here for a temple to be devoted more to a specific ideal or virtue (or set of closely related virtues) than a specific deity.  In these cases, the temple is often named not for a deity but for a historical holy figure (a saint, that is) who personifies this ideal.  St. Abner’s is devoted to the ideal of redemption, the cause of bringing bad people around to the cause of good.  They are closely bound to the Order of the Reformed, the society of ex-evil headquartered in distant Fidelis.  The symbol of the Order of Reformed, the winged, coiled trumpet (supposedly sounding the Clarion Call of Heaven), is prominent here.  The current leader of the St. Abner, Brother Marnely, is not a member.  This is a technicality: to be a member of the Order of the Reformed, one must have been evil first, or otherwise a serious wrongdoer, to be reformed.  If you’ve always been on the side of Good, there’s no room for reformation!

The compound consists of several buildings surrounding a small churchyard.  The yard is used mostly as a place of instruction in Useful Trades, and has gardens, chicken coops, a small grazing area, a sculpture garden and adjacent work area, and a small farm.  The output is small- the focus is on using these things for instruction to give the reformed a new life.  The main buildings surrounding it are the temple itself, the dormitory (home to the clerics and staff as well as those “students” who are not serving prison sentences), the School of Redemption which serves as the “front office” for the institution, and the crypts, which form one wall despite the closeness of the North Graveyard.

As Greater Auxene goes, it’s old.  Not as old as the original buildings in Old Town, but 150 years, which is something for this region.  It’s built of dull red brick, sandstone embellishments, with pale orange slate shingles on the roofs.  The main doors to both the temple and the school are usually open.  The school doors are the ones used to access the interior of compound.  You can see through into the yard.  Though the compound is walled (to prevent unnecessary temptation of students in a currently delicate state of mind, they say), is not meant to be a prison.  It’s closed at night and when there are prisoners attending training.  On the carved stone lintels above both main doors there are rows of stone statues of fierce looking creatures that go from demonic looking to angelic, from left to right.

Brother Marnely is teaching his last class of the day- for prisoners, who are marched out in a line when they are done, escorted by a trio of guards from the prison across the street.  The guards wear tabards similar to what the Constables have, but looking much more worn and faded.  They are also wearing heavy padded armor.  The prisoners look tired.

He herds them out and sees them off… to the prison across the street, with a friendly wave and words of encouragement.

He has a sweet, “everything’s just fine and I like you”  voice that can be, depending, either comforting and reassuring or very disturbing.

Marnely sighs with his prisoners gone for the day, and greets his visitors.

“I’ve heard of the Viceroy’s new experiment with the law,” he says.  “I’m sure you’ll bring a new perspective to it, and you’ll be a great credit to Pomera.  Would you like to come in?  Have tea?  I like a cup of tea after work, don’t you?”

This message was deleted by the player at 21:47, Wed 17 Mar 2021.

Kovani surveyed the scene, watching intently as Marnely concluded his lesson. The concept of ‘reform’ was somewhat new to Kovani, where he grew up it was simple; if you did something wrong you got punished, if you did something very wrong they removed your head to remind you not to do it again. But the idea that you could teach people not to be bad? Curious...

When Marnely addressed him, he responded politely. “Good day to you, Brother Marnely, I am Constable Kovani u Vatri but please just call me Kovani if you wish. Yes, tea would be most welcome, thank you. Piping hot, no milk if you please, with honey and lemon juice if you have it, or as it comes if not.”

He stepped forward and removed his helmet, sweeping back his long flowing hair, then followed Marnely.

Kovani and Arthur are invited in to Brother Marnely's simple office, and served tea, in a very comfortable looking office.  The furniture has an old, simple, sturdy, and... pleasant... look to it.  Pillows with embroidered casings (farm animals) and a picture on the wall that shows a happy, wholesome looking city street scene.  The kind that generally doesn't happen, except in wealthy areas where people can keep the unhappy and unwholesome stuff out of sight.

"I am so happy that you are here!" Brother Marnely says without the slightest hint of sarcasm or hyperbole.

"You see... Auxene is such a big, confusing place, a lot of people lose their way, and they don't know quite what to do.  They get into trouble.  They become misguided and misled.  I try so hard to help them find the right path but it's a daily challenge and I can only help the ones who are brought to me."

A large man comes in to the office.  With some professional work, he would certainly qualify as the "rugged, brawny and handsome" type, but at the moment this bear of a man looks more scruffy, unkempt, and very confused.

"No stayovers, they've all gone home," the big man reports.  "Ohh, tea... do I like tea?"

"You do like tea, Bronc, and I will fix you a cup if you join us," the priest says.  He makes introductions.  "Gentlemen of the constabulary, this is Vaguely Bronc, who... well in some ways I was too late.  I think he was the victim of some mad warlock's magic.  He's not entirely the same as he once was."

"No one ever is," Bronc says as he sits down.  When Marnely gives him his tea, he stares intently into the cup, far longer than anyone might consider normal.

"I am looking for a good place he can fit in.  He's caused trouble in the past..."

"Broke some things," Bronc says.

"But I don't think it was his fault, really.  Just bad circumstances.  There are many people like... well there's no one else really like Vaguely Bronc, but many others forced into bad habits by circumstances.  Hopefully we can all work together and help a lot of people."

"And catch these bad circumstances," Vaguely Bronc says, still looking in his tea.

Kovani sipped his hot tea, enjoying the scalding heat. He greeted Bronc formally and listened to Marnely. When the man paused he spoke up.  “We all have a past. It is what we choose to do with our future that is of most interest.”

He took another sip of his tea, then glanced at Arthur before returning his gaze to Brother Marnely. “So, what... skills does Mr Bronc possess and how do you think they might be best... employed.” He tried to pick his words carefully, unsure of what Bronc might be capable of.

"That's an interesting question," Brother Marnely replies.  "Well of course, he's very strong.  Not specifically trained in anything, as far as I know... you know, sometimes, when you're that strong... it substitutes for actual training in many ways."

He speaks in hesitant but sincere voice, the kind that hints, but wait, there's more!

Marnely sighs.  "Sometimes he sees things that aren't there.  But... based on some, err, incidents in the past, I've concluded that at least some of these things really are there.  At least, for him.  Or maybe for everyone.  Otherworldly things.  Once he ate a raisin scone no one else could see.  But then he.. umm... belched.. and I could smell the scone!  And sometimes he makes the most fascinating observations.  Things that can be seen, but no one bothered and no one noticed.  And yet he can overlook the most obvious things!

"But, I'm certainly not going to conduct experiments on him.  He's easily confused and misled, and we've both found that he's most comfortable with very simple things."