After weeks of systematic observation, I want to compile what we know about the governing/religious institution in Ethel. I've been calling it "the Church" for convenience, but that's probably not accurate. Let me share what I've learned.
What We See
The robed figures are everywhere in the central district. Tall, moving with purpose, wearing flowing garments that obscure their forms. Some wear masks; others have hoods that shadow their faces. They enter and exit the great buildings constantly.
They seem to have ranks or roles. Some wear simpler robes and do visible work - maintaining temples, arranging ritual objects. Others wear more elaborate garments and seem to hold authority - other figures defer to them, make way for them.
What Inhabitants Say
Based on survey responses (thank you everyone who's been participating), the locals call them:
- "The Keepers" (most common)
- "The Tenders"
- "Those who watch"
- "The masked ones" (informal, possibly disrespectful?)
When asked what they do, common answers include:
- "They tend to matters" (vague)
- "They keep the festivals" (suggests they organize/enable festivals)
- "They walk the deep paths" (intriguing - what are deep paths?)
- "They speak to the sea" (???)
What They Won't Discuss
The Keepers themselves don't talk to us. I've tried multiple approaches - polite questions, formal requests, simply standing nearby hoping to overhear. Nothing. They seem to perceive us but choose not to engage, like we're beneath notice or outside their sphere of concern.
Lower-ranking attendants will answer basic questions but seem genuinely unable to explain the larger structure. They know their own duties but not the full picture. One temple attendant told me, "I prepare the vessels. What fills them is not my knowing."
My Theories
The Church/Keepers are maintaining Ethel itself, not just governing it. The festivals aren't just celebrations - they're some kind of maintenance cycle. The Keepers' rituals are infrastructure work.
There's knowledge being deliberately restricted. The higher ranks know things they don't share with lower ranks or with ordinary citizens. This isn't just bureaucracy - it's structured secrecy.
"Deep paths" might refer to the tunnels. Martin's observations about tunnel entrances around the city fit with this. The Keepers might have something to do with regulating tunnel access.
Open Questions
- What exactly are they "keeping"? The city? Something inside the city?
- Why won't they engage with us specifically? Are we too insubstantial, or is there a policy against it?
- What's the relationship between the central Church and the smaller temples Charlotte mentioned?
- What happens inside the great buildings that we can't enter?
Please add your own observations. The more data we have, the better chance we have of understanding this.