Abstergo

Forgotten Facts Rediscovered

Most people accepted the story they were given about the Peren, because it held together. Some did not. These fallen faithful uncovered not just a story, but undeniable facts about the Peren.

Contrary to common belief, the Peren were not merely ‘bred’ into existence. While the Mól did employ selective breeding to reinforce specific traits, the creation of a race demanded a more intricate process. The Mól, still renowned as the greatest alchemists of all time, surpassed mere breeding. They could brew evolution, infuse creativity, and bottle tradition. In Erôth, they birthed a number of races that surpassed those naturally evolved. Among these, the Peren stood as nearly their masterpiece and a source of pride.

During the reign of the Mól empire, the people now known as Peren (Taal for ‘Immortality’) were originally referred to as Abstergo. More accurately, they constituted the Abstergo line, an evolutionary lineage of successive improvements. Today’s Peren would correspond to Abstergo 8s, 9s, and even 10s, each specimen uniquely designed with its own strengths.

The Abstergo

Comprised of distinct iterations, the Abstergo represent a meticulously crafted lineage of beings created by the Mól during the height of the empire. Abstergo one through seven remain elusive and may never resurface. The eighth, ninth and tenth are known. Whether the line continued past them was never written down.

Abstergo VIII

The Abstergo 8s epitomize perfect servitude. Radiating a pleasant aura, their industrious nature and innate susceptibility to manipulation make them ideal companions. Whether in domestic settings or fulfilling more specialized tasks, these beings are a seamless blend of amiability and efficiency.

Abstergo IX

As for the Abstergo 9s, they ascend to the role of perfect commanders. Exuding inspiration, they possess strategic minds honed for leadership and a commendable prowess in combat. Their command extends beyond mere authority, as they become the cornerstone of tactical brilliance and motivational strength within the hierarchy.

Abstergo X

The Abstergo 10s transcend the qualities of their predecessors. While retaining charisma, their exceptional ability lies in their profound attention to intricate details. They perceive the world as an intricate puzzle, and solving puzzles becomes their forte. Beyond this, they achieve a feat that fulfills the deepest desires of the Mól: shaping the world without reliance on magic or alchemy. They also discovered prowess as capable leaders, and that contributed to the downfall of their masters and the entire Mól empire.

Campaign Updates

Almost nobody alive is an Abstergo. The line ran for centuries and then the empire fell, and seven hundred years of ordinary descent since have mixed the iterations past telling apart. What that produced is the Peren: people whose Abstergo blood is real and thoroughly impure, which is to say people. A bloodline kept clean enough across seven centuries to call someone a true Abstergo is vanishingly rare, and being told you are one is closer to an accusation than a compliment.

The party has met exactly one. Octavia, who ruled the hidden town of Vigil until she was murdered, was Peren, Abstergo 9: a perfect commander, in a walled town that wanted one (S4E51–E52).

Lineage and training are separate questions. Clan Barzûl of the Mól took Abstergo 9s and trained them to lead armies, so a person may be both an Abstergo by blood and Barzûl-made by schooling, and the two facts do not compete.