**The Congery is group of "Imagers"-men, assembled by King Joyse in Orison (some there by there own will, some not) who constuct mirrors in attempt to view alternate parts of their world, other worlds and other dimensions. Mirrors, in Mordant's world, do not behave like ours-they do not reflect, they let you see what going on in other places and act as portals of translation. What is tranlation? Well, here is where the science gets tricky...Is it only the creator of the mirror who can reach through the mirror to the otherside (like Geraden popping into our world and pulling Terisa into Mordant)? Are chants and invocations needed? Can others work with the same mirror? Can you translate things into a mirror and make them stay there? What can you bring through the mirrors to where you are? Is there a good reason from imaging at all-like translating water for drought and food during famine? Is it dependant on what degree of "imaging" experience you have-or can just anyone do it? What was King Joyse's real purpose in creating the Congery? And the "science" is much, much more complex than that!
**So, let us travel to the dungeons of Orison where mirrors are made, augeries are cast and the Congery convienes. Almost everything in Mordant's Need is done with "smoke and mirrors" let's explore the basics--mirrors, Masters and Arch Imagers--and who's who and who's not...and confront the real peril of the books as stated by Geraden to Terisan on p. 24 of The Mirror of Her Dreams:
...Somewhere in the realm--somewhere where we can't find them--there are renegade Imagers, Masters of mirrors, and they're opening their glasses more and more to every kind of horror and foulness. They're experimenting on Mordant, trying to find in their mirrors those attacks and evils which will be most virulent to the peace, stability, and life King Joyse forged in his prime. And these Masters seem to have no fear of the chaos that comes from unleasing powers that cannot be controlled