College of Whispers

The College of Whispers is a Bard school and one of the most prominent player of the The Game. The college train bards to use their knowledge and magic to uncover secrets and assist others in their plots, or turn them against them through extortion and threats. They consider both the Zhentarim and the Vexian Crows as their adversaries.

Structure

The college of whispers shares very little about its structure and even less on the individuals it employs. Yet, over the years some of the pieces have been brought to light and the organization has proved to be highly sophisticated and well managed. There appears to a clear hierarchy and key roles, but most of the information gathered about the organization is made up of rumors and half truths.

• Ideal Masters
  The Ideal Masters are mysterious identities that lord over the College of Whispers, controlling every aspect of its operation. They are an enigma to the rest of the players and only those who deal with them even know of their existence. Most individuals who deal with the Masters are deceived and tricked. While there are theories, exactly what is the goal of the Ideal Masters, or their identity, remain unknown.
  • The Inner Circle
    The Inner Circle is the college upper management, it comprised of highest ranks and their members are completely shrouded in mysteries, whispers and rumors.
    • The Loremaster
      The Sage of Lore is in charge of documenting, ascribing and archiving of the college's findings and useful materials. They shift through enormous amounts of intelligence and make sure it is sent to the correct branches.
    • The Producer
      The Producer is the monetary head of the college. They are tasked with the safekeeping and managing of the college's funds and books. They have an unseen hand in almost every action of the college, however pedestrian it might appear.
    • The Director
      The Director makes sure the agents of the college are deployed and operating according to the college agenda and goals. They have two agents directly under their command, to execute their direct will when the need arise.
      • The Left Hand of the Director
        The Left Hand of the Director is an agent selected by Director themselves. They are used to gather intelligence and be the eyes and ears of the Director wherever they are deployed.
      • The Right Hand of the Director
        Shrouded by rumors, the Right Hand of the Director is an agent selected by Director themselves. They are used to eliminate threats and solve problems on behalf of the Director whenever the need arises. it is speculated that the Right Hand is used similarly as the Left Hand, but with much more adverse consequences.
    • The Outer Circle
      The Outer Circle are the agents of the college that work across the Continent. Their usually work in cells with each cell having a leader that reports directly back to the Director.
      • Actors
        Actors is the nickname stuck with ring leaders, as they plan and execute relatively small parts, or acts, of the college's long terms goal, also called the play. They are in charge of small cells report directly to the Outer Circle or to another, more senior, Actor if their size is small enough.
        • Bards
          Each bard of the college is assassinated to an Actor who is in charge of initiating them into the guild and teach them the trade. Bards are not recruited, but apply freely to join, assuming they have the means and knowledge to do so. A bard might be sent to a kings court, a noble's party or even be ordered just to travel the road, appearing to do "their on thing", while unknowingly working in favor of the college. Bards who show great promise, and survive long enough, might become Actors after a while.

History

Throughout the years the college has been a source of influence on the politics of Edora. Most famous is the Twin Assassinations of 750, when the college killed both the Queen of Vintia in her palace and the Arch Priest of the Andorian Church in Ammand in the exact same time. The murder put a stop to the increased tension between the two nations, forcing them into smaller wars of inheritance and halted the plans to lunch another crusade into the Vintian Imperium, an act that would have cost hundreds of thousands of lives from both sides.
Despite their assistance in protecting the peace, many would note that this was done only due to the cause aligning with that of the Ideal Masters and not good will, and while most folk are happy to welcome a bard into their midst, bards of the College of Whispers are notorious to use this to their organization's advantage and not their patron and their own gain. As such, many other bards, such as those from the College of Valor, resent the College of Whispers. For this reason, these bards rarely reveal their true nature unless they must. They typically claim to follow some other college, or keep their true nature secret in order to better infiltrate and exploit royal courts and other settings of power.

Current Date: 2^nd of Latsum, 1572

Con Sussurri e Voci
(In whispers and Rumors)

Founding Date

Unkown

Training Level

Professional

Demonym

Whisperers

Divines

• Bartholomew Lorewise

Notable Members

• Emrys Thelnarthor