Fraticelli

Description: The Fraticelli, or "Little Brothers" were first formed from the following gained by St Francis of Asissi when he rejected his former life as the heir to a rich Italian family and forsake all wealth to live simply in the countryside and build a church. Despite their ideas being similar to the rejectionist beliefs of other sects that were deemed heretical (as an obvious challenge to the social order), the Franciscans were approved by the Pope, Innocent III. This was due to the obvious piety of the Fraticelli and more importantly, their disarmingly complete and humble obedience to both the local Archbishop and the Pope. Caesarius of Speyer was the first German Provincial of the order and worked hard to gain the Fraticelli lands near the headwaters of the Rhine and Danube to the west of Bavaria. The harsh demands of the stress St Francis placed on the particular vow of absolute poverty and the demand to adopt a humble station in the world has led to ongoing splits, sects and conflicts within the brotherhood reflecting the tensions between acting as a religious order and part of the church hierarchy and and living out St Francis' example.

In Germany, the Brothers have both traditional closed monasteries separate from the world and wandering Friars in distinctive Grey habits. Both branches of the German order are noted for the presence of many particularly zealous adherents. The Grey Friars are often often directly compared to the Dominicans who are like them a new mendicant order noted for their dedication and obedience to the Church. Just as St Francis was famed for his love of gods creation and completely at home in nature, the Grey Friars are wholly at home on the dusty roads between towns and on the forest trails and lonely passes. Their practice of an "authentic" and austere brand of Christianity, along with their zeal, makes them powerful speakers which sometimes garner great followings of their own.

St Claire of Assisi was part of the Franciscans right from their earliest days and there are many Franciscan nuns and hermitess'. The simple life of egalitarian poverty a lesser focus (compared to the Dominicans) on education, though not always strictly observed in the monasteries, does provide many opportunities for of more humble station in the Franciscans.

Skills: Theology, Persuasion, Linguistics or Perception, Fieldcraft, Philtrology.

Secret Masteries

Little Brothers (Fieldcraft (Survival) Mastery) The Friar has so dedicated himself to the simple life in imitation of the early Apostles, that she is able to completely disarm religious or secular authorities with her simplicity and piety gaining +5 on all Persuasion (Influence) rolls when attempting to be allowed, along with their companions, to travel and preach freely.

All creatures great and small (Fieldcraft (Survival) Grand Mastery) Inspired by the legendary closeness of St Francis to even the smallest creatures in Gods creation, the Friar is able to use their powers of persuasion to subdue the angriest beast or insects. If they succeed as a persuasion roll at a hard (15) difficulty, any wild beast or insect (this does not include an infernal beast or one under magical domination), no matter how hungry, will cease all aggression against the Friar and her companions and let them leave freely.