School of Mensis

Lore & Background

The School of Mensis emerged from a desire to understand the source of the Old Blood beyond its medicinal properties. They theorized that the blood was a conduit to the Great Ones, specifically those associated with the Moon and the Stars. Their research facility became a sanctuary for experiments that blurred the line between man and beast, utilizing Pthumerian technology and rituals found in ancient ruins. As their studies progressed, the scholars began hearing voices from beyond the veil of reality. This contact drove them into madness, causing physical mutations that mirrored the entities they worshipped. The facility itself became a labyrinth of horror, filled with transformed researchers who wandered aimlessly or attacked intruders on instinct. Their legacy is one of hubris, showing how the pursuit of enlightenment can lead to total destruction when the cost is sanity and soul.

In Their Own Story

The gaslight flickered as Dr. Varrick adjusted his spectacles, the ink on his parchment glowing faintly blue. The whispers had grown louder since he entered the lower levels of the facility. He looked at his hands; they were trembling, fingernails elongating into sharp claws against his will. 'We are close,' he muttered to the empty room, though shadows moved in the corners that did not belong to any man. The door burst open, but no one stood there—only the moonlight poured through, cold and heavy as water. Varrick smiled, his jaw cracking open wider than any human should allow. He was finally ready to speak their language.

Reader's Guide

The School of Mensis represents a dark chapter within the Healing Church's history, focusing on forbidden cosmic research rather than public healing. Hunters encounter their remnants primarily in the Old Hunters expansion, specifically within the depths of the Mensis Research Facility located near the Lower Wetlands. Unlike standard church hunters, these scholars have long since succumbed to the influence of the Great Ones they sought to contact. They appear as corrupted beasts, often retaining vestiges of their academic attire while twisted by blood and madness. Their goal was to bridge the gap between humanity and the stars, a pursuit that ended in catastrophe. For the player, this faction serves as an environmental narrative warning against unchecked curiosity. Engaging them requires caution, as they wield both magical abilities and physical aggression born from transformation. Understanding their presence helps piece together the tragedy of the Old Hunters, revealing how even those who sought to save humanity can become its greatest monsters when driven by hubris.

Did You Know?

• Members of this faction are identifiable by unique academic uniforms that can be equipped as armor.
• Their research facility is a key location found exclusively within the Old Hunters DLC expansion.
• Many scholars in this group were transformed into enemies known as Scholars of the First Sin.
• The School's obsession with the Stars links them to the broader mystery of the Moon Presence.