Faction of Rilumir
Region of Influence: Rilumir, and elsewhere in Myzelis.Symbol: Each Order within the Conclave uses its own symbology.
The Enigma Conclave is a scholarly organization dedicated to the preservation of knowledge, and providing anyone access to information for a fair price.
Base of Operations
The Enigma Conclave is thoroughly decentralized, with dozens of Orders led by their own Star-Guides operating mostly independently. Each Order typically has around a hundred members traveling together at once, who bring with them the collections of lore they are renowned for. As the Conclave originated out of the Dirmek culture of Rilumir, the majority travel upon the backs of massive Yurtesh “Village-Walker” golems designed to both house and defend them.History of the Enigma Conclave
The Enigma Conclave was founded in 10,710 BAI, during the Age of Clarity of the Mortal Era. Ordak Pargali, first Khagan of the Dirmek, set aside his position of status to found the Enigma Conclave when the Dirmek discovered the leylines of Rilumir could be maintained to allow other peoples to settle the region. Knowing that they would need guidance but not wanting to impose his own people’s politics or culture, he established the Conclave.Goals of the Enigma Conclave
The Orders of the Enigma Conclave travel around the world collecting knowledge of all topics they can find, with the ultimate goal of being a repository anyone can tap into. They view their work as “Dispelling the Enigmas of Life.” The costs for their services are primarily to keep their operations afloat and to cover damage to items and safety risks, but also for expertise. Only the most powerful lore, such as advanced arcana and tomes concerning specific Outsiders, is priced as to be prohibitive, and the buyer must be cleared by Guides of the Order.Leaders of the Enigma Conclave
While organizationally no Star-Guide is above another, the most respected and esteemed among their number when the Conclave is gathered are Imren Ozgun, the Goliath Star-Guide of the Order of Parlamasi’s Embrace, and Saban Ekinji, the Orc Star-Guide of the Order of Belirtisi.Membership and Structure
The Conclave is split between numerous Orders that each go by their own names. To the outside world, the most commonly-met Conclave members are of the Seeker rank, and so the uninitiated often refer to the organization as a whole as “Seekers.” People and areas that view them unkindly might deride a Conclave member as a counter of mundane items (“Grain-Counter”) or a collector of boring tales (“Story-Droner”). Robes of Conclave members are embroidered with constellation designs that their travels have followed, and as most members of an Order travel together, they tend to share patterns. Some Orders also coordinate colors or geometric motifs. There are no inherent visual distinctions in rank as the Conclave sees all of their members as fellow learners, just in different stages of scholarship.Becoming a member of the Enigma Conclave
The Conclave believes everyone can aspire to know more, and so is fairly open to new members if they are willing to stick with the Conclave’s mobile and rigorous lifestyle. If the Star-Guide believes a would-be member can last, they will speak the Aspirant’s Tenets and receive a simple but somewhat long text to make a copy of. (A Player Character member of the Conclave would want to get in touch with a Guide of their Order if they had needs, as the rank in the order most able to provide assistance while having enough authority to do so. Guides and Star-Guides are suited to acting as patrons to a player character or party.)Tenets
Members of the Conclave are expected to follow the Aspirant’s Tenets: “I will strive to uphold the sanctity of knowledge, I will never through action or inaction cause un-catalogued lore to be destroyed, I will support the efforts of fellow scholars within reason, I will recognize the Enigma and Dispel it, My actions will not conspire to harm another Conclave member.”Organization
The upper ranks of the Conclave all lend themselves as mentors to those whose paths they cross. A traveling Seeker on their quest might offer sage advice on the road to a passerby, or stop in a locale for a few days to try to teach something before moving on. Star-Guides are usually only found with their Order’s caravan, Guides are either with the caravan or out leading groups of newer Seekers on their quests, and Seekers have reason to travel anywhere depending on the nature of their thesis.Ranks and Responsibilities
The ranks of the Enigma Conclave, as well as their duties and benefits, are as follows:- Aspirant - It is the duty of Aspirants to study rhetoric, observation methods, and the importance of recognizing the biases of an account. They also take up minor scribal duties for the Conclave, producing copies of the copies of existing works. To become an Aspirant, you must swear an oath to a Star-Guide, called the Aspirant’s Tenets. An Aspirant can expect to have the costs of any writing materials un-related to Conclave work halved, basic living accommodations provided, and access to the mundane sections of their Star-Guide’s collection.
- Postulant - Once an Aspirant has fully and accurately copied or translated a text, they are eligible to become a Postulant. It is their duty to produce copies of original texts, and to recognize an enigma that they will one day seek. To that end, they are to postulate a thesis, and refine it to be defended to other members of the Conclave. A Postulant has deeper access to their Star-Guide’s collection, including lore tomes that are themselves magical in nature, and can acquire the materials of a Scholar’s Pack for free.
- Seeker - A Postulant who has had their enigma thesis examined and vetted as worthy by at least three higher members of the Conclave becomes a Seeker, whose goal is to venture into the world to collect data to test their thesis and bring back a conclusion. A Seeker is provided funding for their quest, either monetary or a relevant magic item, and can acquire the materials of a Dungeoneer’s Pack for free.
- Guide - Seekers who have completed three or more quests, or whose actions as determined by the Star-Guide have exceptionally upheld the Aspirant’s Tenets, may choose to earn the title of Guide. It is the critical responsibility of Guides to provide assistance, both in the library and in the field, to other members of the Conclave. A Guide must do everything in their power to not lead their fellows astray, and to protect them from any harm that might ensue. Fortified in both mind and body, Guides are afforded complete access to their Star-Guide’s collection, have the costs of any writing materials completely waived, and receive a discount on magical spell components.
- Star-Guide - Among the Guides of a Conclave Order, one is elected from amongst their peers to serve as the Star-Guide. Typically chosen for their wisdom and level-headed decision making, it is the responsibility of the Star-Guide to delegate the resources and overall direction of the Conclave Order in their care. The election of a Star-Guide is between all active Seekers and Guides of an Order, and can be called for at any time.
The Enigma Conclave Elsewhere in Myzelis
Outside of Rilumir, the Enigma Conclave’s mission is unchanged, however their methods and members are adaptive to the new region. Organizationally, several Orders work together so that the efforts of each can be reliably transmitted back to the others in Rilumir. While ideally the Orders delegate functions equally between knowledge acquisition, translation/comprehension, and transmission back home, it is possible for a hierarchy to develop where one Order begins to control the others in the area because of having favored connections with the locals. On a more individual basis, people with particular skill in cartography, communications magic, diplomacy, and linguistics are preferred for aspiring and returning Order members, and dictate project and funding priority. The approach of the Conclave deviates from holding all knowledge as important more towards practical knowledge being the most important, flavoring the kind of expertise and lore they can provide, as well as the interests of locals in the new regions. In terms of physical presentation, the largest departure from their Rilumic roots might be going without the great Yurtesh golems if it would be a liability in the region culturally, logistically, or even strategically. Doing without their primary transportation necessitates either acquiring a large amount of pack beasts from the locals and finding a way to maintain them, or becoming more sedentary. Adapting to a sedentary lifestyle might enforce a more rigid hierarchy as the shifting constellations would no longer serve as identifiers for their robes. It also shapes their relationships with particular local regimes, possibly causing them to abandon some or all of their apolitical nature.
Founding Date
Founded in 10,710 BAI, during the Age of Clarity of the Mortal Era
Demonym
The Conclave is split between numerous Orders that each go by their own names. To the outside world, the most commonly-met Conclave members are of the Seeker rank, and so the uninitiated often refer to the organization as a whole as “Seekers."
Location
Notable Members
