Overview
Vitcoona is a world filled to the brim with magic, and someone has to care for the objects that create and sustain that magic. The Pylon Keepers fill this function. Pylons aren't necessarily gargantuan crystals humming with magical energy. Sometimes, they are more subdued things. Other times, a Pylon is merely a location with no actual object to observe. For the Pylon Keepers, the distinctions between the different forms Pylons take is of little consequence. They are wholly devoted to the care and further propagation of Pylons.
Duties
Pylon Keepers perform three duties: they protect vulnerable Pylons; they nurture Pylons to increase their strength; and they purify a Pylon to ensure it continues to function as normal. All three of these tasks run in tandem with one another. While different members may focus on one of these tasks over others, all Pylon Keepers work to achieve all three of these objectives concurrently.
Protecting
Pylon Keepers work to protect all Pylons, but there are certain types of Pylons that are vulnerable to desecration or even destruction. Either of these states would be catastrophic for the immediate area, thus the Pylon Keepers work constantly to ensure the Pylons exact locations and natures remain hidden. The Pylon Keepers will give special attention to those who mean to harm Pylons. Such special attention normally results in certain shadowy assets being deployed to neutralize threats to the Pylons.
Nurturing
Pylon Keepers fortify a Pylon under their care. They will foster life around the Pylon. Doing so causes Mana to be generated in greater concentrations and a greater concentration of Mana will result in a stronger Pylon. Pylons grow through a series of phases as they gain and lose access to concentrated Mana. Pylon Keepers do what they can to maintain a consistent and steady increase in Mana around the Pylon.
Balancing
Pylon Keepers with sufficient experience will take on the daunting and infinite task of balancing a Pylon. This task involves removing any Toxic Mana that gets drawn into the Pylon. The extraction of Toxic Mana is a grueling process and carries with it the risk of sickening or even killing the extractor. This risk is assumed by those who have the experience necessary to guard themselves from the affects of Toxic Mana.
The other side of balancing a Pylon involves taking the raw Mana drawn into the Pylon and refining it into a more concentrated form. Mana frequently carries with it an elemental charge, and Pylon balancing requires that complimentary Elements are drawn together. Opposing Elements must be placed a good distance from each other to keep the Pylons energies from growing unstable or muddy.
Relations with Governments
In the cases where Pylons are formed in or around cities, Pylon Keepers will send an emissary to the seat of power. The goal of the emissaries is to ensure the civilization doesn't poison the Pylon beyond the abilities of its Keepers to purify. It is vitally important that the Pylon Keepers are able to keep a Pylon balanced when it is near or even within the confines of a city. While cities frequently power a Pylon, it is quite rare for them to encompass one. Pylon Keepers have found that it is more difficult to maintain a Pylon's balance the closer it is to a city. The size of a city also plays a large role in how much work the city generates for the Pylon Keepers nearby.
Eligible Species
Generally, Pylon Keepers are members of the Silliicey race. Other common supporting races are the Elemental races: Nymphs, Dryads, Pterarmorian, etc. As a rule of thumb, any species that is proficient in one or more Elements of Mana will be able to sustain a Pylon.
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