Lamplighter Society

An international association of scholars, sages, diviners, and others interested in sharing knowledge.

An international order of scholars dedicated to preserving and sharing knowledge, the Lamplighters also operate teams of Seekers on often clandestine missions.
Originally academics who fled the early days of the Empire of Halaan more than a thousand years ago. The underground railroad out of the Empire established by the early Lamplighter Society brought vast amounts of knowledge and magic south to the lands of the Southern Covenant.
Today the Lamplighter Society is known across the continent for their centuries-long dedication to the preservation and dissemination of knowledge. It is also commonly assumed that they are keepers of long-lost secrets and powerful magics — knowledge wisely hidden from the world at large.

The Great Libraries

The Lamplighter Society maintains five Great Libraries across the South. Each library aims to house the sum total of knowledge in the world. They are always failing. Each Great Library contains a large number of the Avowed, as well as a garrison of soldiers and several units of Seekers. The five Great Libraries are in the cities of:

• Arisa (Arcanocracy of Mazrendaram),
• Indrasen (Kingdom of Nymera),
• Nishima (Kingdom of Fealand),
• Tanatra(Republic of Tanatra)
• Theryn (Kingdom of Haleska).

Each Great Library also contains a large and well-appointed temple dedicated to the Celestial Twins, Basheira and Oryaan. Basheira is the goddess of art, artisans, games, magic, music, and strategy. Her sister Oryaan is the goddess of dreams, learning, magic, memory, prophecy, scholars, secrets, and the stars.

The Avowed

The resident scholars who maintain the Great Libraries are known as the Avowed. The Avowed are led by a group of their order who ascends the ranks on a meritocratic basis. The Avowed swear themselves to protect the Library and the contents of its halls.
The Keeper of Tomes is the highest-ranking member of the order. In all practical applications, their word is considered law in the Great Libraries.
The Keeper is served by the First Reader, who tirelessly works to obtain new books, scrolls, and other pieces to add to the libraries' collections. The First Reader is served by the eight Great Readers of each Library - learned sages considered to be the premier authority in their selected field of study and research.

The Seekers

The Seekers of the Light are a clandestine, quasi-military arm of the Lamplighter Society. Seekers can be rogue warrior-academics, excommunicated clerics, orphan mercenaries, librarian-operatives and others who wouldn’t otherwise be noticed or missed. Some units work in the shadows, while others are more open about their activities. Indeed, more than a few Seekers have become famous heroes over the centuries.

Type

Guild, Professional