Trackers: Faded Heroes of the Evenacht

Trackers came from the backlands, the outlands. They trained with local witches who had little intimate knowledge of Touch and warriors who thought a sword could Redeem a Candidate. They were rough, unpolished, and unsuitable for the strenuous and sacred job they laid claim to.

~ Æshren Gerant, founder of the Hallowed Collective

Research:

Trackers: Faded Heroes of the Evenacht

by our surprised scholar, Yvazhera

In this Research Document:

all images by Shanda Nelson
unless otherwise stated

Who were Trackers?

I came upon references to beings who 'tracked down essences' while conducting research on the history of the Finders for Archivist Meracillis. I had no idea they existed, and since I'm the curious sort, I dug into old volumes on the ancient Evenacht and the founding of the Hallowed Collective.
Essentially, trackers were what Finders are today--beings who Redeem the punished ghosts sitting in the Fields of the UnRedeemed.
Modern Finders select a Candidate from the Condemned and take them on a journey to recover their sundered essences. After recovering all the essences, the Finder knits them back together in a ceremony called the Recollection. The ghost is then allowed into the evening lands proper, where they may achieve the promise of the Evenacht.
Trackers basically did the same thing, only they accomplished it using different methodologies, some of which went against Finder teachings.

I'm under the impression Gerant greatly disliked trackers. Numerous reasons were given, including:

• trackers were not limited to ghostly faelareign. I'm certain this is what Gerant found most offensive. He believes only ghosts should Redeem ghosts. But my research indicated that living beings from around the Evenacht participated in Redemptions, and were quite successful at them


• trackers completed Redemptions for money. Again, Gerant found this offensive, but considering how many modern Finders do the same thing, I think his dislike is a bit shallow


• trackers used physical weapons as much as magic to battle their way through enemies and to essences. Gerant, of course, is a big proponent of Touch-only (which, if a tracker were living, would be an impossibility. Touch is the magic of ghosts)


• most trackers received training from other trackers in the use of physical weapons, and, if they had the capacity, training in spellcasting from beings called clearthinkers (witches, to Gerant)


• instead of a formalized Redemption, trackers "followed their noses". They relied more on the link between the Condemned and their sundered essences to lead them to the hiding places, rather than research into gossip, local news, and such, to find references to an essence


• trackers completed Redemptions in groups, rather than as a duet adventure (Finder and Condemned

I find it disturbing all mentions of the trackers are left out of Finder study materials. I realize Gerant's disdain has much to do with this, but some of the references I found to trackers battling Evenacht creatures and essence guardians could be quite helpful to modern Finders.
Gerant disapproves of physical weapons for most Redemptions because we are ghosts, but the trackers' success against many guardians using them should change minds. If a sword or spear saves a Finder from meeting the Final Death, why not use them?

Warpedgalerie, Adobe Stock Images
Tracker

The End of Trackers

From what I have gathered, many famous ancient beings of the Evenacht were trackers. Battles with essence guardians became legends. Their names, their feats, are now buried under years of sand because the Hallowed Collective did not appreciate the competition. I want to know more about Windridden Sacji, The Club, The Woebringer, Tor Gellain the Spitbound. They sound interesting and did a great service for the Evenacht.
But, as with all beings that bump up against the Hallowed Collective, they disappeared. Trackers remained very active until Gerant founded the Grail and the Collective started conducting their own Redemptions 12,000 years previous. At this time, he cut off access to the Fields by stationing guards around the Fields, which prevented trackers from conducting Redemptions. Some snuck in to retrieve a Candidate, but most found other work.
They had a resurgence between 9000 and 8000 years previous. Then Imparik began singing his songs about the Nectar and the Collective. He convinced so many ghosts to join the Finders, that they overwhelmed tracker numbers. That was the final death knell for the profession.
Basically, the Finders had enough personnel to patrol the Fields, and they punished any trackers they discovered within. Ghosts found themselves Condemnend and the living found themselves dead.

There are times when I dislike being a Finder--and this is one of them.
I see no harm in having as many as possible complete Redemptions. The Fields overflow with the UnRedeemed, far more than the Finders have the capacity to help. Why not allow others to work alongside us?
Gerant takes his charge from Death and Darkness seriously. He claims the Hallowed Collective is the one and only ghostly caretaker. I think he's wrong, and I know others think so, too. I've heard about the Clastics, who find the Collective's leadership uninspiring.

There are whispers, that Lorgan joined them. That's why he's not around anymore. Maybe I should follow his lead.