The Grey Archive

The Silver Fork tavern was unlikely to have any silver on the premises. A dimly lit estjust past the eastern docks, it wasn't somewhere Alistair would ordinarily have a drink, but not much about that day's circumstance had been ordinary. The errand from the Association to drop off some research documentation at the Academy had turned into a snafu of the highest order once it was discovered that the documentation had been replaced with a useless forgery...
The man at the bar seemed to recognize him, and wordlessly gestured for Alistair to step into a small backroom. A hooded figure was sitting at the table, nursing a foul-smelling beer in front of a tallow candle. Alistair sat across from them and waited.
The figure looked up and spoke in a muffled voice. "Alistair Girault, Archmagus of the Association. I greet you."
Alistair was nonplussed. "I would return that greeting, except I don't know your name. If you would?"
They blinked. "Unlikely. Names once linked to faces and voices have power, and such information rarely comes for free." They placed a satchel on the table and spilled out its contents. The research notes on magical communicators was present, as well as some documentation Alistair did not recognize. The figure folded their arms.
"A mistake was made, and in a gesture of good faith, the Master Archivist would see these documents returned to the custody of the Wizard's Association." They pushed the paperwork over; Alistair made no move. "Those responsible for said mistake wish to convey their deepest apologies."
"And you are sure about that? That there is no cost or trap for me, no debt that will come to bear if I lay a finger on those papers?" Alistair did his best to sound calm, but the Greys of their Archive held a dangerous reputation; he could blast and burn his way out of the tavern, but if the rumors were true, doing such a thing would be a great way to have a future meal poisoned. "I'll confess that I am unfamiliar with the precise rules of this endeavor, but, as you just said, these things aren't free."
The hooded figure shook their head. "No favors are being traded here. The Master Archivist wishes these documents returned, and here they are. Though I would encourage you to not leave this file in environs such as these."
The wizard sighed and folded the papers into his satchel. "Well, I would say thank you, but I'm not sure if I'm getting the better deal here. Is your business concluded with me, then?"
"No. One last topic of discussion." The figure leaned forward and held a sealed envelope to the candlelight. "There are great events afoot in Etoile, and the Master Archivist wishes to inquire as to your interest in perhaps tilting the course of events." The envelope was pressed to the table. "Another offer in good faith. Should you decline, you will not see us again."
Alistair paused. This was deeply unexpected. "Tell the Master Archivist that I do not have the skills or abilities that they believe I have. You named me as Archmagus, but frankly, I'm still just a country boy from Low Timbers. Whatever you lot are doing in the Capital, I would prefer not to know."
The figure closed their eyes and breathed deeply. "A preference to not know is both unintellectual and anathema to our cause." They tucked the envelope away and stood to leave. "Nevertheless, your time is appreciated."

Structure

The Grey Archive is organized into two principal roles - the Researchers, who infiltrate and steal information and knowledge, and the Archivists, who collate, learn, and sell their knowledge. The leaders of each role, the Head Researcher and the Master Archivist, are the dual leaders of the Grey Archives, who make principal decisions as to what knowledge to gather and who to sell the knowledge to.

Culture

The Grey Archive, being a secretive intelligence organization, believe that all power and wealth is derived from a knowledge gap, i.e. those that are the most powerful and wealthiest in a society became that way because they knew more about things than other people. As such, they value all knowledge as contributing to their pursuit of power, and recruit among the intelligentsia. Among their ranks are highly trained Power engineers, scientific researchers from The Academy of Etoile, a few wizards dedicated to the research of magecraft, as well as socialites and practitioners of the esoteric.
A former Archivist, quoted anonymously in the Principality Standard, noted ruefully, "If the people of the Archive were as dedicated to mechanical Power as they were to their idea of political Power, we'd all be living in ships soaring through the clouds."

Public Agenda

The Grey Archive is not a public instituion, only being spoken of in rumors and in light conversation at dinner parties. The average person has only a vague idea of their role as information brokers. The wealthy are informed to keep their paperwork and important information secure from thieves, or, alternately, are provided the opportunity to purchase information at value.

Assets

The Grey Archive maintains a single storeroom, somewhere in the Principality of Etoile (suspected to be in the Etoile Capital City city proper), holding a trove of priceless documents retrieved, copied, or stolen from all across Saibh. The documentation, however, is only a secondary source of information to the Archivists themselves, who rigorously memorize the information retrieved for future use and sale.

History

None know the precise history of the Grey Archive, but they have existed since at least the year 590, when Researchers of the Archive were caught stealing war planning documents in the Kafteros Holy Realm and were burned alive by the then nine year old Cyvar Tun, The Lord of Ashes. They have been a constant presence in the underground of the Principality of Etoile, with new Power designs stolen, incriminating documents mysteriously appearing on public signboards, and members of the nobility experiencing rapid descents (and rises) in their fortunes.
The Magistrates have attempted for years to suppress the Grey Archive and its activities, but their presence is simply too beneficial for too many parties. To the young and ambitious, working for the Grey Archive is both exciting in its illictness and well compensated, if the pledge is in a position of knowledge. To the powerful and competitive, being able to bring down a rival for the mere investment of some coin is too valuable a capacity to see disappear. Their code of secrecy is such that, despite decades of work to identify who the Master Archivist even is, the Magistrates are simply none the wiser.
The only serious threat to the existence of the Grey Archive was when the First Princeps discovered that an adjutant was a Researcher, leaking documents to the Archive, not long after The War of Unification. Under extreme torture, several Archive cells in the Capital were uncovered and destroyed, though many suspect that some of the victims were been innocent of association; only an intervention by Nairie Solitus stemmed the bloodshed. Since then, the Archive has avoided direct interference with the high level affairs of the Principality.

We Will Know

Founding Date

At the latest, 590

Demonym

Greys