The Ministry
The mysterious organization known only as the “Ministry” has long been associated with the legendary Iron Library and the Kingdom of Angesh before it fell to the orcish tribes and a large portion claimed as part of KaraKorum.
However, despite the Ministry’s well-known activities as inquisitors during the reign of King Jerun De Caprio, rumors about the Ministry suggest they were in existence well before they were the "Ministry of Education" for Angesh and curators of the Iron Library.
Structure
Members of the Ministry have since its inception, delved deep into the arcane mysteries of transformation with the intent to reshape the prime material plane to understand, and perhaps manipulate, the fabric of the planes. Since its inception, the order has refined and invented new and insidious formulas that combine rituals with alchemical processes to further this goal. However, their methods to many would be considered immoral or at times outright evil by any culture. To try to prevent interference, they remain in the shadows of the lands. This is primarily done through the use of freelancers when possible.
Freelance hires
Freelancers are hired for specific tasks. Assignments to a given freelancer are often very specific and rather mundane. This is so that no single task or assignment alone could raise any sort of alarm with a local government or wizarding community. However, collectively, a series of assignments could be the components to perform a dangerous ritual that could impact innocent lives. Most freelancers are mercenaries, hired for their skill as enforcers or to protect recovered items brought back for the Ministry. The mercenaries are paid a handsome sum for their work and their silence. Those freelancers that ask too many questions or are too free with stories about their exploits find themselves hired for a "special task" where they would eventually discover they are to be used as the subject of the Ministry's next experiment into the planar unknown. Aside from freelancers, the bulk of the members are alchemists, necromancers, and mages that specialize in transmogrification or dimensional energies. Many of these members are also intelligent undead or mages that have been polymorphed or transformed into bizarre, even mind-bending creatures, such as shapeshifting intelligent plant-folk.Tiered ranks
Other than the Freelancers, there are the Tiered Ranks. These are the member ranks of the actual Ministry. Because of the secrecy surrounding the Ministry's ultimate goal, each tier is compartmentalized. In theory, this enables each tier to better focus on their assigned goals for the Ministry. Archivist The lowest rank and the most common. They are corrupt spellcasters bent on gathering and studying as much arcane knowledge as they can. Inquisitor Inquisitors have the most dangerous role. Always looking for threats to the Ministry from within its own ranks or from external forces, Ministry Inquisitors are a lethal combination of magic, alchemy, and skill, making them uncanny assassins. Transmogrifer The main research and experimentation arm of the Ministry are the transmogrifers. Highly skilled arcane practitioners who study the nature of magic, extra-planar creatures and the planes themselves. First Alchemist The leader of the Ministry is the First Alchemist. This is the single person responsible for collecting and advancing the Ministry's research into altering the planes. A person with this rank also is responsible for directing and managing the efforts of the Ministry as a whole, with advice from the Council of Nine.History
8950 years before the Iron Library Calendar was formed, a rogue sorcerer unwittingly was tricked into opening a portal to the plane of the Outlands. A contingent of Foul Hosts attempted to surge through. The attempted invasion at what would become the heart of the Black Mire ultimately failed. In the aftermath, a group of arcane researchers set out to find a way to defend against incursions from the Foul Host. Nine in all from one bloodborne sorcerer, three wizards to five alchemists took up the search. Their search lasted the better part of a year until they discovered a lost arcane laboratory that once belonged to the Foul Host. The Nine, now called the "First Council" by the Ministry, set to work decoding what they could out of the ancient ruin. Through this, the Nine realized that the best way to stop the Foul Host was to 'lock' the extra-planar realm known as the Outlands forever. This set the Ministry's initial goals. Across the centuries, the Ministry has tried repeatedly to establish an order, a system, where they could create nine of the greatest arcane practitioners of that generation. Those nine arcane practitioners would then be able to alter the arcane planar laws of nature to seal Outland. The Ministry nearly succeeded in this goal but was thwarted when the Elven Magi War decimated the countryside, polymorphing some places and people permanently with their Arcane Engines. This nearly devastated the Ministry, leaving it to rebuild in secret over the long centuries. The second attempt was during the time of the Thassailon Republic. However, the nine that were selected were not strong enough for the task and chose their own path. They formed the Runelord Order, then ultimately killed the members of the order to fuel their own spells of change. The spell was incomplete and the Nine Runelords failed and vanished into history. However, again, the Ministry was decimated from the Thassailon Inquisition directed by the Runelord Order. On the third attempt, closer to the current day, the Ministry allied with the de Caprio bloodline when the latter took and claimed the Iron Throne in Dublinshire, establishing the kingdom of Angesh. This came to an end when a band of adventurers allied with an orc warlord by aiding the warlord into invading the Dublinshire forces. With the kingdom of Angesh gone, the Ministry has faded into the shadows once more.
Type
Secret, Brotherhood
Alternative Names
Ministry of Education, Brotherhood of the Flask
Related Ranks & Titles
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