The Black Mercies

Summary

The Black Mercies police the use of Exiled magic, healing magic in particular. They are an arm of the The Council of Landezon, officially headquartered in Miricdal but with their largest mission in Draksineon's capital city, Sabellis - specifically the Crossed Swords District. The organization's current head is Examiner Nerais Vai.

by Midjourney

Above: Examiner Nerais Vai

Origin

The Plague Years (1212-1112) showed Rela the devastating power of healing magic which had, up until this period's beginning, been issued to the public through The White Mercies, a magical organization and offshoot of the Council of Landezon. Unbeknownst to the Mercies in their early tenure, the healing gifts they'd gained from the The Circle of Tyril had slowly infused poison into the population. Once knowledge of this became widespread - the tragically high death count serving as clearest evidence - blowback against mages grew severe. The White Mercies disbanded and all arcane healing was banned outright. Those who continued to practice it became outlaws overnight.
Years passed, and society found its balance as trust was re-established between mages and mundanes. Finally, the Council was able to establish a formal bulwark against the Exiled threat: so were the Black Mercies born. Founded on compassion as their ironic namesakes were, the Black Mercies differed from their predecessors in that their sworn enemies were those who defy the laws of magic and of man, not the abstract foes of malady and death. The organization's sigil illustrates this contrast by juxtaposing two symbols: the outward bloom of Charity, and the interior glyph, an ancient sign representing the sun and Vengeance.

A Mercy's Mission

The duty of a Mercy is a sad one. Much of the work must begin by ferreting out common people who turned to forbidden magic because they or someone they love happened to be desperately ill. While technically criminals - mundane and arcane laws alike disallow magical healing - these individuals have motives that are at least easy to sympathize with. A Mercy’s training stresses compassion in the face of this reality, but also helps to strengthen one’s resolve so that empathy does not become weakness. The basic mantra: Ensuring that people do NOT have access to this dangerous technology is ultimately a kindness.
It is always a special test of character when a Mercy uncovers family or friends that dare to transgress the boundaries…

by Midjourney

Above: The Mercies investigate suspected contraband.

Indoctrination and Hierarchy

Candidates for the Mercies hail from a wide range of backgrounds, and may possess magical GIfts, or not. All must have some special skills or have distinguished themselves in some way for the Mercies to take interest. Potentials are largely vetted by individual Traditions, and there are few spaces for others outside of one wishing to sign up. As no formal process exists for application, getting in without a Council reference requires dogged persistence, and perhaps a flair for the dramatic in order to get noticed.
Once through the door, a yearlong training is undertaken which entails rigorous physical training, and a thorough education on the Exiled Tradition and other specific foes (see 'Known Enemies' section below). This learning is viewed as specialization, as a certain level of professional ability must exist prior to it. It does not teach basics.
Due to the diversity of candidate backgrounds, training can have a greatly egalitarian sense to it, and friendships are made across divides that might normally be unfordable. There are few other forums where mundanes collaborate with arcane types towards a common goal on such equal footing.
As soon as graduation day comes around, one falls into a strict hierarchy, however.
There are four key roles within the organization:

• #1 - Agents are the Mercies' basic operational units. They perform a wide range of functions and execute the commands of any superior. Intelligencers are specialized agents charged with gathering information and/or infiltrating enemy ranks.


• #2 - Questers are agents who've gained enough experience to lead missions. They assume control over their own team of agents, and are fully responsible for their conduct during short-term assignments.


• #3 - Interrogators trade in intelligence. Orders received by Questers issue from the information they gather and interpret. Interrogators also work out strategic directions of the institution within the political sphere, as the Mercies must respond to kings and queens just as surely as to cloaked villains. (For details, see 'The Crown Cabinet' below.)


• #4 - The Examiner oversees all operations and communicates principally with Interrogators. His or her word goes unquestioned by all other Mercies. Although the Examiner is a senior political figure whose input is heavily weighted, he/she officially reports to the Council of Landezon and must ultimately carry out any directives received from there without delay.

Subtle levels within these ranks are recognized informally. Everybody knows who the real VIPs are, without need of title.
Unless revoked, a Mercy's membership in the order and all its various privileges are granted on a lifelong basis, regardless of how long she chooses to serve. Be this as it may, Council recruits tend not to see the Mercies as an enduring commitment but rather as a means to gather experience "in the field" before settling down to contemplate more pressing arcane concerns. This is truer of Berythians, who consider the rigours of life under the Mercies distractions to their quest for The Fount of All. Only a handful of trained mages opt to take on full vows in order to face the Exiled threat head-on. Despite their exquisitely eremetic tradition, Nurhetics are oddly prevolent among them, as their abilities of disguise, illusion, and enchantment make them natural spies.
Non-magical members of the Mercies can bristle at how often mages are promoted over more senior mundane personnel. Most mages rise to the rank of Interrogator within 3 to 5 years, whereas 10 is the average term to ascend to that station for others, and the Examiner's role is always filled by a trained wizard. The "inside perspective" a mage possesses into the mind of the enemy is always the going rationale for these appointments, but it stings, as mundane members almost inevitably devote more years of their life and shed more of their blood for the cause than their counterparts. There is no question that relations between the two groups remain greatly amicable most of the time, though mundane Mercies share a view of themselves as the backbone of the operation - those that get things done through their hard work and grit, rather than some power granted at birth.

The Choir

The Mercies maintain an internal fleet of intelligencers to keep their collective ear to the ground for suspicious happenings but rely, perhaps more heavily, on a loosely organized group of local informants valued for the wide net they cast, known informally as "the Choir". Members of the Choir come from all walks of life and each has his or her own private reasons for volunteering information. Regionally-based Mercy overseers called Choirmasters collect and relay the most relevant news up the chain of command.
Sifting the chaff from the wheat the Choir delivers is an arduous process, given that most of what comes through their channels turns out to be rumours, tall tales, or outright misdirection. Precious time and resources are regularly sunk into some promising story about a necromancer hiding out in the hills, only to have the informant later prove to be the "necromancer's" angry neighbour. The Mercies also pay for seemingly worthwhile information, a fact which can inspire embellishment, and, thus, complications of another kind. Situations which call for diplomacy muck up the gears even further, such as when a noble of repute stands accused of dark sorcery. Even where such allegations are true, arriving at the heart of the matter begs endless tiptoeing to avoid ruffling the wrong feathers.
As these examples make clear, an abundance of care, caution, and wisdom, along with a tolerance for vast frustration, are central to any Mercy's skill set. However, despite these many twists and turns, the Choir delivers no shortage of legitimate leads to follow up on. As the next section illustrates, different protocols are put in place depending on what a given investigation reveals.

Crime & Punishment

Mundanes who seek out practitioners of Exiled magic are dealt with according to state law, and the Council of Landezon holds jurisdiction over its own members who dare cross the line. The Black Mercies fill a critical gap for those in between, acting as judge, jury, and - if need be - executioner for the Ban's most common violators: formally untrained but well-meaning people with a talent for magic who resort to restricted means in a misguided attempt to be helpful.
Once someone like this is apprehended, the Mercies assess the strength of their Gift, as more powerful vessels amplify the destructive potential of Exiled magic. A Damage Index is determined, and after other evidence is weighed the offender is slotted into one of four categories of severity, with different penalties obtaining to each level.
Level 1 regulations pertain to those with relatively weak Gifts found guilty of only a very few infractions. These souls more often than not are passed off to a local magistrate for punishment, though the Mercies keep close tabs on them following their release. Level 2 offenders show stronger Gifts and are forced to undergo a "re-education" program with the Mercies before they can be set free. As the true goal here is to harness talent, some foundation in magical theory is provided in this training, to explain exactly how Exiled magic is harmful, and a fair number of participants move on from here to seek legitimate Apprenticeship within an established Tradition. Level 1 and 2 are considered two sides of the same coin, in terms of grievousness.
Level 3 punishments are reserved for those whose practice of Exiled magic appears more systematic - where, knowingly and willingly, healing services have been offered over a period of time, often in exchange for goods. Level 3 offenders frequently have connections to the necromantic underworld, which many try to leverage in exchange for a lighter sentence. There is no escaping incarceration, however. Minimum terms in the Mercies' jails start at five years. Investigating Level 3 crimes and above can be taxing due to the number of people potentially affected by the wizard's magic which must be tracked down, and possibly tried.
Level 4 criminals have used Exiled magic not only consciously, but maliciously, and are by definition active figures in the arcane underworld. While not Exiled mages per se (these must be handed over swiftly to the Council), Level 4 cases always prove to have conspired with such fiends in acquiring and/or distributing contraband spell materials, sometimes across a large network. Many are would-be dark wizards who are in truth mere puppets of The Hex, manipulators par excellence. Some show the potential for remediation, but most do not. The sentence for unrepentant practitioners is unvaryingly death, carried out in a highly public place to form a cautionary example.

Known Enemies

The Exiled Tradition is the single most powerful and best organized foe the Mercies have. However, devotees of The Hex and other Exiled groups hatch and steer the brunt of their plots from afar, preferring the security of the Autumn Yield or more southerly magic zones to direct infiltration into Council-controlled territory for the reason that northern mages are poorly adapted to conditions there. Exiled types still slither about Rela, but the Mercies tangle for the most part with a handful of notable, and quite dangerous, intermediaries.
Who, one might ask, could be so bold - and/or foolhardy - as to get in bed with the Hex? Look no further than The Castlemoons. Based out of Galori, this influential crime syndicate is the primary dealer of Exiled "goods", such as spell materials, alchemical formulae and equipment, and forbidden writings of and on Khajuro, founder of the Exiled Tradition. The Hex seeks to expand knowledge of their Master and appreciation for his inimitable works for essentially religious reasons, but for the Castlemoons, pure profit motive prevails. The above baubles are all small things that can be transported across borders with relative ease, and Castlemoon felons are more than happy to risk smuggling this contraband in exchange for the lavish prizes its originators offer. The Black Mercies in Rela are constantly vexed by how crafty and resourceful the Castlemoons prove to be; however many operations they manage to shut down, more just keep popping up. The mob does pay its hirelings exceptionally well, which certainly helps on the recruitment front.

Above: Fis Malhitu, one of two leaders of the Castlemoons crime family.

The Castlemoons deal with the Iron Ring and the Ghost Dogs, counterparts on the respective continents of Arlok and Delhiza. Depending on where a Mercy chapterhouse is situated, one of these three organizations provides the major headache. All groups are chiefly mundane-led, but magically talented folk are actively courted into their ranks wherever possible. And top dollar (or appropriate currency...) is always offered for formally trained mages, as defectors from Council Traditions are as rare as they are powerful. The Mercies must therefore reckon with some amount of arcane pushback. Things would be much more straightforward if they did not.
This monolithic triad employs or otherwise makes use of smaller criminal organizations which are less well funded and easier to confront. Names vary by locale, but otherwise one is very like any other. Magicians are exceedingly uncommon members as local gangs simply cannot afford their price tag.
The Mercies also contend with a small number of magical circles operating outside of Council sanction, the most obnoxious of which is The Servants of Darkness. Best described as a motley crew of Hex-wannabes, the Servants would remain a laughable oddity if not for their all-consuming obsession with deadly magic, and equally tremendous ignorance regarding its basic workings. The Servants are one of the Castlemoons' most reliable clients, and the fact that they seem able to afford the latter's gouging prices implies that at least a few members are well-heeled. The group's currently small membership is the only reason why the Servants have not yet taken aggressive action against the Mercies, whom they bear considerable malice towards and seek to thwart at any opportunity. However, as their numbers grow, so, too, their ambition...

The Crown Cabinet

This small but important wing of the Mercies manages diplomatic relations with the ruling classes. It is staffed exclusively by Interrogators, many of whom are selected on account of their noble birth, both because they understand the games that royals play, and because such standing makes them much more easily accepted in this world. The Cabinet's primary function is to advise state leaders of operations proposed in their territory, and to negotiate specific terms to enable these missions to go forward. Where such plans are top secret and proceed without a noble's initial blessing, they handle the apologies. Nations under Council Stewardship must agree to certain provisions which sidestep many of these predictable hassles.

Community Outreach

Not everything the Mercies do revolves around chasing down villains. A major part of their mission is to prevent crimes from happening before they even start. They use two key tactics to this end: public education on the dangers of Exiled magic, and active investment in the healthcare system (such as it exists in this historical epoch).
Education means many things, though most didactic measures are directed at an illiterate population given that they form the majority, and that it's crucial as many people as possible grasp the nature of the Exiled threat. Yearly dramas like the "Tale of the Plague" serve as blunt (and somewhat gory) illustrations of healing's dark side, and remind people to steer clear of it. The Mercies also work with the Church of the Ascended to mobilize religious narratives in support of this same message, in myriad ways. Various feast days and even weekly services incorporate prayers and admonitions on the theme.
Because the Mercies restrict the people from having a potent means of healing, there are many bad feelings about their order to go around, and, at various points in time, the Mercies crises of image have even grown severe enough to see riots and rebellions arise.
To mitigate such destructive impulses, but also out of genuine altruism, the order came to emerge as patrons of the medical arts, establishing funding for individual practitioners and even constructing a number of hospitals around Rela. This role was chiefly a product of interaction with Draksineon's new rulers under Eannelk Occupation (707-598), as the previously ascendant Drakoyan lords acknowledged without question the need for stern measures. Northern conquerors, however, liked the Mercies' vigilance less, feeling it impinged upon their simpler and freer ways of life, and convinced the group that the citizenry might accept their involvement better after a few notable gestures of goodwill. The organization thus began to cultivate a relationship with the Sabellis College of Physicians then, and to this day maintains an extensive network of natural healers, chirugeons, and alchemists.

Reputation in Society

Their constant surveillance of the population and restriction of healing hardly make the Mercies seem a friendly bunch, but thankfully, most in society acknowledge the need for the service they provide. Their street presence is much more front and center than other magical organizations - a way to make their motto, "Vigilant", an indisputable truth for both allies and adversaries. Common people are well used to the sight of black-robed figures with the white flower patch striding through the streets, and most feel the safer for it.

by Midjourney

Most, but not all...
Some oddly tenacious theories abound amongst a section of the population that the Mercies are behind a number of dark conspiracies...or at the very least, unwitting puppets of some grander and more nefarious power who is. The most enduring and popular of these is that healing magic actually works but is being withheld maliciously from the commoners that need it most. Such rumours arise quite naturally from the context of the Mercies work, but it's almost certain Exiled sources are responsible for stoking them as well. It would be easy to write these fabrications off, but, as discussed in the above section, public opinion can make a huge difference in the Mercies' basic ability to do their jobs, so they do what they can to respond to such allegations with a dose of good humour and patience.
In society's upper echelons, the Mercies are well integrated. The Crown Cabinet is personally familiar with most of the nobles across the hemisphere who matter, and blue bloods view cooperation with the Mercies as a way to curry favour with the higher-ups on the Council (for whatever reason one might have to do so). Few nobles openly oppose the Mercies' plans, especially those enjoying Council Stewardship, in fear of having that protection revoked. However, the further West one travels in Rela, the more support for the Mercies slips away. The Kingdom of Miesz is splintered in two on the issue, with citizens West of Hunar believing the Mercies to be just another attempt by the Drakoya and other central Relan nations to impose their will on their once-great people. Accordingly, the order has found it hard to gain a foothold in the West, and there is more Exiled activity there because of it. Further afield: Nobles of nations of the Southern Hemisphere, where Exiled sorcerors swarm, dislike the Mercies because they're always on missions that penetrate unwantedly into their affairs. A very few have managed to strike politically advantageous bargains with the group, and hate them slightly less.

MOTTO: "VIGILANT"