Order of the Eight

The Order of the Eight is a holy order dedicated to seeking out lost relics, and if possible, bringing them safely back to the confines of their museums so that the beauty of Corellon may be experienced by all. The three branches -- Reclaimers, Seekers, and Regulators -- work to find magical artifacts, long lost ruins, or ancient works of art. The Order sees the Archeart's influence in all such things, and believes their beauty should be shared with the world.
In addition, the Order of the Eight works to oversee the use of arcane magic across Astoria, diligently watching for any abuse of such magics, and relentlessly pursuing those who would seek to do so.

Structure

The Order of the Eight consists of three main branches: the Reclaimers, the Seekers, and the Regulators.

The Reclaimers

The Reclaimers are tasked with hunting down any lost relics and returning them to the safekeeping of the Order. This is the only branch in the Order with permission to seek out and retrieve the relics, though this task frequently pairs them with the Regulators in pursuit of this goal. The Reclaimers are led by an Inheritor, who answers only to the Highlord.

The Seekers

The Seekers are tasked with gathering rumors and information on any known relics and their whereabouts, and also maintaining a record of the relics currently within the Order's possession. They are prohibited from pursuing any of their leads themselves, however, as that is the purview of the Reclaimers. The Seekers are led by a High Curator, who answers only to the Highlord.

The Regulators

The Regulators are the military branch of the Order. These members are tasked with hunting down and apprehending or destroying any individuals or organizations that display abuse of arcane magic. This can include abuse of any lost relics, and as such, Regulators are often paired with Reclaimers on retrieval missions, to ensure safe and successful completion of those missions. The Regulators are led by a Knight-Vigilant, who answers only to the Highlord.

The Highlord

The Highlord oversees all three branches of the Order of the Eight, and is elected to the position via a vote, with every member of the Order receiving a voice in the selection process. Once elected, however, the Highlord holds complete control of every aspect of the Order's business.

Culture

The Order of the Eight's mission and purpose are well-known throughout Astoria, as are the quality (and strictness) of their museums. Order members are commonly seen conversing with the public, either answering questions about a new exhibit or even following up on a potential lead. They are sometimes jokingly spoken about as the "arcane bogeymen," who will swoop down on anyone who tries to practice the arcane arts, however the majority of the public understand that basic practice in the arcane falls well short of the Order's definition of arcane abuse. While there are always exceptions to the rule, most members of the Order are very eager to speak to the public, especially if the topic involves a piece in the Order's collection.

The Order of the Eight and The Cobalt Soul have a friendly relationship with each other, and any lost tomes or texts found by the Order end up in the hands of the monks of The Cobalt Soul eventually (though usually after an extended period of time on display in an Order museum).

Among themselves, Order members usually refer to one another as "brother" or "sister," embracing the sense of unity and family the Order brings them. Superiors are either referred to as Sir or Ma'am, or by the rank they hold, such as Highlord or Knight-Commander.

Public Agenda

The Order of the Eight does charge a small fee for entrance into its museums. Actual price varies between locations, but is usually no more than a silver. All proceeds benefit the continued work of the Order to locate and reclaim more artifacts to share with the world.

Worship

Aside from their regular duties and responsibilities, each member of the Order of the Eight worships in their own way. Many who find themselves adept in a particular trade or skill will continue to work in that medium in their downtime, knowing that the Archeart smiles on those who seek art in their work. Some who find themselves particularly skilled will offer to teach those interested in following in their footsteps. The Regulators, for example, hold regular lessons in basic hand-to-hand combat or self-defense, teaching others a small fraction of the flowing, almost graceful forms they use in their everyday work.

What was lost must be found; what is found must be kept; what is kept must be protected.

Type

Religious, Holy Order

Alternative Names

Church of Corellon (colloquialism)

Leader

Jolara Escalon

Leader Title

Highlord

Subsidiary Organizations

• Sons of Larethian

Divines

• Corellon

Branches
Reclaimers
Seekers
Regulators