Foundation of Cîteaux Abbey
A small group of monks, led by Abbot Robert, begins constructing the first buildings of Cîteaux Abbey in a secluded Burgundian forest, marking the foundation of a new monastic order dedicated to refor
Setting
A clearing in the dense Burgundian forest near Cîteaux, France, where a small group of monks has begun constructing the first buildings of what will become Cîteaux Abbey. The site is marked by freshly cut timber and simple wooden structures rising amidst the ancient trees.
Characters
Abbot Robert
primary
A gaunt man in his late 50s with deep-set eyes that burn with quiet intensity. His face is lined from years of asceticism, framed by a neatly trimmed gray beard. His hands, clasped in prayer or gesturing while speaking, show prominent veins and calluses from manual labor.
Brother Alberic
primary
A gaunt man in his late 50s with deep-set gray eyes that burn with quiet intensity. His tonsured scalp shows sun-spotted skin stretched tight over sharp bones, and his hands - permanently stained with ink from manuscript work - bear the thickened knuckles of arthritis. His posture remains rigid despite the pain, a walking staff always at his side.
Novice
secondary
A slender young man in his late teens with a freshly shaved tonsure, his pale skin still bearing the flush of recent exertion. His large, earnest eyes are framed by dark lashes, and his hands—though calloused from recent labor—still retain some of their youthful softness.
Carpenter Monk
secondary
A middle-aged man with a wiry but strong build, his shoulders slightly hunched from years of labor. His hands are rough and calloused, and his face bears faint scars from woodworking accidents. His brown hair is short and streaked with gray, and he has a close-cropped beard. His deep-set eyes show a quiet focus.
Donor Knight
background
A middle-aged nobleman of sturdy build, standing at average height with a weathered face marked by years of outdoor living. His dark brown hair is streaked with grey, kept neatly trimmed above his ears in the Norman style. A thick beard frames his square jaw, and his piercing blue eyes survey the scene with quiet intensity. His hands, resting on the pommel of his sword, bear the callouses of a lifelong warrior.
Dialog
Abbot Robert
Ecce locus quem benedixit Dominus... Behold this place which the Lord has blessed, brethren. Here shall we plant the vineyard of the Lord with the sweat of our brows.
Brother Alberic
The choir stalls must face east - sicut scriptum est 'Orietur in tenebris lux tua' - but these foundation posts are two fingers too wide.
Novice
Brother Alberic, si licet... might we not leave the trees standing thus? As living columns to remind us of God's first temple?
Abbot Robert
Non, fili mi. We must hew away all worldly beauty that we may find the beauty of poverty. As David sang in the wilderness...
Brother Alberic
The Rule requires twelve feet between dormitory beds - no more for pride, no less for decency. Measure twice, novice.
Novice
Deo gratias! But Brother... how shall we sing the offices when winter comes and this clearing fills with snow?
Abbot Robert
Then shall our chants rise like the three children from Nebuchadnezzar's furnace - purer for the trial.