Sisterhood of the Knot

'The rites of the Sisterhood of the Triple Knot, which include certain mysteries of the dwellers in the Wood behind the World.'
'Tridesma Hiera'

The Sisterhood of the Knot was an occult organization largely governed by women, coming into existence at some point in ancient antiquity in Phrygia, which would become Turkey by the 1920s. It's described as "arcane-contemplative order that existed in all Histories, but in some was very powerful indeed". The Sisterhood revered the Hours called the Red Grail, the Ring-Yew, and the Horned Axe. Their symbol was a triple knot. Despite being called “The Sisterhood”, the organization entertained a number of male members, the most notable being Saint Tryphon and Saint Respicius.

History

The Sisterhood of the Knot traces their origins back to a pact formed between the Red Grail, the Ring-Yew, and the Horned Axe. The Horned Axe was the last surviving god-from-stone, whose siblings were killed and replaced by the new Hours, including the Red Grail, during the Lithomachy. As restitution for these acts, the Red Grail sacrificed one of her Names, who also loved the Ring-Yew. This Name became the Thunderskin, ascending through Peacock Door, and likely marked an end to hostilities between the Horned Axe and the other Hours. The three goddesses involved in the sacrifice went on to become the center of the Sisterhood's worship, though the Thunderskin is often acknowledge alongside them.

The Sisterhood, along with the Church of the Unconquered Sun, mounted a defense of the European continent against the invading armies of the Sovereigns of the Leashed Flame in the War of the Roads. It was known to have at least two named fighting forces at their command: the Martyr-Soldiers and the Imperishable Legions (however it's possible that latter are the forces of the Unconquered Sun). The Sisterhood suffered a defeat of some kind at the hands of the Sovereigns of the Leashed Flame, as alluded to by “the Burning of the Martyrs”.

The exact fate of the Sisterhood at large following the War of the Roads is unknown, but it is possible they dissolved as the Church of the Unconquered Sun did in the years following the Intercalate. Yet, the Congregation of St. Felix appears to hold a shrine to the Sisterhood still, with symbols of the Hours they worship.

Known Members

The Sisterhood also revered certain adepts within its ranks as “Saints”. It is unknown what criteria qualified sainthood within the Sisterhood, as canonization was granted to a successful Grail-ascendant, a Burgeoning Risen, and a heretic who venerated the Watchman.

• Saint Tryphon was originally a man, and performed rites in dedication to the Red Grail and the Mother of Ants to become Long. Also central to his ascension was his achievement of status as Know, learning the Invocation Thiatic, and consuming the flesh of the living and the dead. When the player meets her, Tryphon has taken the form of a woman, which either implies that Grail-Long can shapeshift, or either her involvement with the Sisterhood or the ascension itself resulted in a gender-change.

• Saint Nympha was “not born, but cultivated”, and inhabited the corpse of a sinner to enable that sinner’s penance. This lends credence to the idea that Saint Nympha was, in fact, a Burgeoning Risen.

• Saint Respicius was a heretic who pursued ascension under the guidance of the Watchman, rather than any of the Hours the Sisterhood typically honored. He was a saint of an organization called the “True Sisterhood” by Waznei, author of The Rose of Waznei. His ascension was put to a premature end when the larger Sisterhood tracked down Respicius and strangled him.

• Black Elie was matriarch of the Sisterhood’s branch in Damascus. She was imprisoned by Roman emperor Didius Julianus, presumably sometime during his short reign in 193 CE. Elie was the devising hand behind a number of protective rites that would guard against Worms, and possibly even the return of the Blackbone and the Giribrago.. She later was disgraced and ascended as a Nectar-Long, briefly becoming a member of the Obliviates.

Other Notes

• The Sisterhood of the Knot reflects elements of triple deity worship, which appears in a variety of religious practices in history. The three Hours that the Sisterhood venerate can specifically be read as representations for the standard female archetypes of the maiden, mother, and crone. This may be linked to the veneration of the Horned-Axe, which is a reference to the ancient Minoan culture (which was matriarchal, revered double-headed axes, and was associated with labyrinths (and the mysteries of finding one's way through them)).
• The "Knot" in the Sisterhood's name probably refers to the Gordian Knot. Gordium was the capital of Phrygia, and is associated with the Red Grail.
• St. Tryphon is the real Christian saint of Phrygian origin (thus his connection with the Red Grail). Even more, he formerly shared his day of celebration with certain St. Respicius and St. Nympha, about which much less is known.
• The monks of the Fermier Abbey seem to revere the Ring-Yew, and perform an acts of detestation towards the Red Grail. This may indicate that peace between the Sisterhood Trinity was an uneasy one with the Horned-Axe and the Malachite holding resentment towards the Red Grail.