30 Days of Mythic Sites of the Roman Tribunal

Pannoch's Depository

In the thriving market of the city of Milan there are several large storehouses. One of which few ever enters. The storehouse is all but empty, its shelves are only filled with dirty and blood stained rags. The storehouse is the occasional secret meeting place for a heretical movement thought to be stamped out by the Papacy and the Milanese’s citizens. The depository has an Infernal Aura of 4.

In 1057, a preacher and deacon named Arialdo arrived in Milan. He began preaching and chastised the city’s clergy - in particular the archbishop, Guido da Velate, who was away in Germany. Arialdo disapproved of the Milanese’s clerics' custom of marrying and the practice of simony. The Papacy was soon involved, though Arialdo had already stirred up the Milanese to such an extent the city was rioting. The riots wanted reform but it became self evident that Arialdo had no control of them - as his own associate was attacked and killed during a confrontation.

The rioters and Arialdo became dubbed the Pataria (“Rag-pickers”) for their ragged or unkempt behaviour. Arialdo had to flee to Rome. There, the Papacy was sympathetic to his cause and sent him back with two envoys. Both of which would themselves later be popes, and one sainthood. These representative of the See of St. Peter could not quell the violence however. A new pope came into office and Guido became excommunicated. Guido was able to use this to fuel the city's hatred towards the violent Pataria. Ariald was again chased out of the city, and then assassinated, in 1066. Ten months after the assassination, his perfectly preserved body was found in lake Maggiore. It was carried to Milan, and by 1067 he was canonised as a saint and martyr.

Witnessing the miracle the city was sure of the righteousness of Arialdo and Guido was forced out of the city. Guido resigned though the issue of his successor would too be excommunicated in 1074. The Pataria movement would be declared heretical and in 1075 would finally die down.

The Pataria movement and the conflict that preceded and followed it was the effort of the demon Pannoch the Rag Pince, a Vessels of Iniquity. Through careful manipulations and temptations he was able to cause the riot and violence which ruled the city for 20 years - daming many souls to hell meanwhile. It’s believed that Guido da Velate had pledged his soul to him. Since then Pannoch has kept low, involving himself in Milan’s textile trade. Pannoch has made a deal with a merchant who owns the storehouse, and through him formed a cult of new pataria. Whatever Pannoch is planning next for the Milanese will surely be even more ruinous.

For statistics for Pannoch, use a modified form of Golab, Foe of the Seraphim from RoP:I, page 70. Pannoch’s Obsession is “Distrust of spiritual leaders”. His current human form is that of a thin merchant, wearing ill fitting clothes.

Story Seed: Ragged Theft
A part of Pannoch's new plan involves the despoiling of Saint Arialdo relics, kept in the church of St. Ambrose. His method of this is quite blunt: growing the new Pataria and continually suggesting that they must recover their founders’ relics from the city’s corrupt clergy. When he believes his cult is large and strong enough, he intends to have them break into the church and steal the saint bone. This will greatly boost the cult's confidence as well, enabling them to become rasher and more sinful. He expects violence and persecution to follow in wake of the theft. PC’s might be made aware of Pannoch's plan though St. Arialdo or St. Ambrose, or their emissary.