Foundation of Cîteaux Abbey
A group of monks, led by Abbot Robert, is establishing Cîteaux Abbey, marking the birth of the Cistercian Order. They are clearing land, building simple structures, and dedicating themselves to a life
Setting
A clearing in the dense Burgundian forest, where a small group of monks has begun constructing the first buildings of Cîteaux Abbey. The site is marked by freshly cut timber, simple wooden structures, and a crude chapel made of rough-hewn stone.
Characters
Abbot Robert
primary
A man in his late 50s, with a gaunt face marked by years of asceticism, deep-set piercing eyes that convey both wisdom and intensity, and a tall, slightly stooped frame from years of prayer and labor. His hands are calloused from manual work, yet delicate when handling sacred texts.
Brother Stephen
secondary
A middle-aged monk with a wiry build, sun-weathered skin, and deep-set eyes that reflect years of labor and contemplation. His hands are rough from manual work, and his gait is steady but slightly bowed from years of physical toil.
Novice
secondary
A young man in his late teens or early twenties, slender and slightly awkward in his movements, with a freshly tonsured head and large, earnest eyes. His hands bear the faint callouses of recent manual labor, but his posture lacks the disciplined bearing of the older monks.
Woodcutter
background
A burly man in his late 30s, with a muscular build developed from years of hard labor. His face is weathered from exposure to the elements, with deep-set eyes and a thick, unkempt beard. His hands are rough and calloused, with dirt ingrained under the nails from handling timber.
Dialog
Abbot Robert
Hoc loco, fratres, fundamenta iacimus non solum lapidum sed animarum – here we lay foundations not of stone alone, but of souls.
Brother Stephen
The eastern beam wants another hand's breadth to true. Novice, fetch the mallet.
Novice
Domine! I mean... yes Brother Stephen! But first may I... the abbot said we should...
Abbot Robert
Labora et ora, my son. The mallet serves God as surely as the psalter when wielded with devotion.
Brother Stephen
Oak shrinks as it dries. We'll want these joints tighter than a miser's purse.
Novice
Like the... um... the joints of the righteous? As in Psalm...
Abbot Robert
Sic Deus vult – thus God wills it. This wilderness shall blossom like the rose of Sharon.