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| I made this as a 3D model in Sketchup Pro 2019 |
"We watch, and we are always here."
Who are these scholars, the Talamasca? It is easy to be
impressed by their knowledge, mannerisms, lifestyle and immense
wealth. Throughout the Lives of the Mayfair Witches and the
Vampire Chronicles, we see snapshots of their history as seen through
the eyes of witches, vampires and the scholars themselves. The
Talamasca is referenced in the poem that Ancient Evelyn teaches Julien
Mayfair as a girl in his attic hideaway (see
The Poem). They are the scholars that the verse warns about.
Michael Curry embarrasses Aaron Lightner when he points out a link
between the Talamasca's wealth and the fall of the Knights
Templar. The Knights Templar were soldiers of the Church until
the 14th century, when the Church declared them heretics. The
Knights were executed and their vast holdings reclaimed by the Church,
distributed in part to the reigning monarchs, and somehow, a portion
of those holdings also fell into the hands of the Talamasca.
Aaron Lightner's explanation of the Knights Templar as the basis of
the wealth of the Talamasca was meant to convey that the Talamasca had
no part in the destruction of the Knights; only that their left behind
wealth had found a new home.
Centuries later, Marius meets one member of the Talamasca in Venice,
Italy while he is living there with Amadeo, soon to become
Armand. At this time, the scholar is young. Years later,
Marius meets him again when he journeys to the Motherhouse in England,
which is not the mansion occupied by the 20th century scholars but a
remote medieval castle.
It is in the 16th century that we see the Motherhouse in Amsterdam,
where Peter van Abel takes young Deborah after her mother is executed
as a witch.
Throughout this history, members of the Talamasca have quietly tried
to make contact with the vampires and witches they watched, and they
always seemed to be around. 'We Watch and We Are Always Here' is
a very apt motto for them.
The File on the Mayfair Witches is full of references to habits,
speech patterns, preferences, rumors, and the like regarding the
Witches in general and in particular, the Legacy Witches as
individuals. Throughout this extensive file, they are not only
recording observations and learned facts about the family's power as
witches, but also about sightings of Lasher and accounts of his
abilities, if he has any. They are just as interested in Lasher
as a ghost as they are in the family as witches.
What do they do with all of this information besides store it in the
vaults where Rembrandt's painting of Deborah and Armand's artwork are
kept? What purpose does this information serve? It could
serve an important purpose if the information were provided to the
people it concerned, as in the case of Rowan Mayfair, who found more
answers than most people in the dark could ever hope for. Does
this information serve all of mankind by being disseminated all at
once, or does it serve by illuminating the lives of the people whose
paranormal powers have effects on the world around them?
As David Talbot collects stories from fellow vampires, perhaps
someday he will find some meaning in them that he didn't find in the
Talamasca. The Talamasca does not seem to refute or support its
own findings; merely, it serves as a human database of facts and
folklore collected throughout the centuries.
History of the Knights Templar
Catholic Encyclopedia's Knights Templars
Knights Templar ~ A Mini Gallery
