Nerzovd, Bards and Spirit Warriors
When the Moragai were wiped out by the Wyvern Riders, that infamous organization failed to completely eliminate them to the last man. What was left were the apprentices, those who had not yet achieved full Moragai status authorized and trained to create and use a Mind Sword. Those apprentices were then left to their own devices, to find their way in the world without the guidance and wisdom of their leaders. Some, the oldest and closest to ending their apprenticeship, bonded together. Realizing that there was strength in numbers, they completed their training as best they could and stayed together.
Over the years, they realized that their masters had been selective in allowing people into their ranks. All Moragai had certain psychic abilities in common, specifically telepathy (the ability to read thoughts), psychokinesis (the ability to manipulate the physical world) and extra sensory perception (the ability to perceive things beyond the limitations of physical senses). They started including those with abilities beyond these three into their ranks, training them to the best of their ability. As their numbers grew, they had to organize and created different orders within the greater Nerzovd organization based upon ability. Over the years, their understanding of the entirety of psychic ability grew to perhaps the most comprehensive outside of the Mixtali or Jiorti.
The orders they created are: Merloft, Kozhol, Haelokt, Moershakt, Moerghant (who bear the most resemblance to the Moragai), Bahkt and Zholft (who bear the most resemblance to the Doeneik). Unlike either the Moragai or Doeneik, they have no technique that is unique to their order. Perhaps because of this they are not widely known by the general public.
One of the least understood concepts is that of the Manitou. These spirits are felt keenly and interact freely with the people of Geis. As has already been discussed, those who have the greatest understanding are the Midewin but there are others who also gain benefit from a close relationship to these non-physical children of the Creator. There are others who utilize these primal forces; least seen and understood are the Spirit Warriors while the most common is the order of Bards. They gain certain abilities from the Manitou of Music that are not unlike magic. Lesser than the Midewin, they still use their Manitou-granted abilities to great affect for the benefit of the world as a whole. In theory anyway. The mainstay of the Bardic order is the Bardic Cant, a sort of symbol and sound language that exists on a primal, elemental level. Like music has keys of whole and half tone steps, the Cant also encompasses concepts. As a sharp and a flat are the same tone approached from a different perspective, so too are the different Keys. The Keys of the Bardic Cant are Light/Dark, Sound/Silence, Make/Break, Time/Motion, Life/Death and Knowledge/Emotion. Bards can use the Cant to communicate with each other either in writing, through music or vocal communication. To utilize the Cant for spell-like effects requires sound so a Bard must be able to sing, speak or use an instrument in order to call upon the power of the Cant. Even tapping fingers to produce different tones would enable a Bard to do use the Cant. The Cant is considered by Midewin and Bards to be the language of the Manitou and with it, a Bard can perform great feats including physically entering the Spirit World, although with all things dealing with the Manitou, understanding is key to doing. As benefiting those who devote their lives to the Manitou of Music, the entire world of the Bard is expressed in musical terms. They are travelers; comfortable in the wild and in the cities as they bring their Music to the world.
By contrast the Spirit Warriors are those who have so devoted themselves to a single Manitou that the Spirit will empower them with their power temporarily. This can involve a physical transformation, but such occurrences are rare. Far more frequently, the transfusion of power does not physically alter the Spirit Warrior but they take on aspects of the Manitou they have devoted to. In all cases increases in strength, speed and vitality are seen. Sometimes other attributes are seen such as the ability to manipulate an element or see in the dark or breathe water or fly. Spirit Warriors are found in all cultures but apparently there is no organization of Spirit Warriors. Each finds their way to their devotion by a different path. The relationship between the Manitou and their Warrior is unique for each such bond. The same Manitou often have more than one adherent, each with differing benefits to their relationship.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Geis Basics: Timeline - Age of Dreams: Organizations part 3
Mimge, Hawthorne Agents and House Agents
There had always been those who moved between villages, towns, farms, ranches and cities bringing with them news of the world beyond. They are scholar warriors who remember history and tell stories that keep it alive for the people of the world. At some point after the defeat of the Kol Draahl, a number of these who were considered masters codified what would be accepted behavior for those engaging in these activities. A formal training regimen was created for apprentices to learn the tales and trade. A person must approach a Mimge and petition for admittance into the group. The Mimge then tests their knowledge and personality. Above all else, a Mimge must be willing to tell the truth of history as much as is known. Stories must be memorized to reflect the reality of what happened so that tragedies won't repeat. Any editorializing is quickly squashed; the Mimge feel the weight of the duty they've imposed upon themselves. They are to remain true to history, including and especially the ugly parts of it. That is of paramount importance.
Over the years, after the disappearance of the Doeneik, a man named Hawthorne who possessed incredible power and skill at teleportation. He formed an organization of information gatherers known as his agents. All were given an item of jewelry they could use to pass information on to the man himself. In exchange, they could petition for information from him. All was done at a price. Hawthorne and his Agents soon became walking libraries of information, much of it secrets. The organization lasted several decades, beyond the duration of a normal human lifespan, so it is assumed that Hawthorne died and someone else took over the organization. Some believe the bard Madigan had become the leader, but there is no evidence to support this theory. Shortly before the death of the Emperor of Anterre, largely considered the end of the Age of Dreams, Hawthorne's Agents disappeared. None know how it is the organization died away but as always theories abound. When an organization's stock and trade are secrets, often of a deadly nature, that are for sale to the highest bidder it is only a matter of time before the wrong secrets are learned. The most popular theory is that they ran afoul of the Characedo. If the Characedo actually exist.
As had been mentioned earlier, a constant throughout history are the Noble Houses. Noble Houses have a need to ensure their holdings, passing information, conducting investigations and generally acting in their best interests. They do this through their Agents. Unlike Hawthorne agents, an Agent of a Noble House has the backing of the Noble House they serve. This will provide them with equipment and authority as they need in order to carry out their duties. Some Agents are legal representatives to Court. Some are spies. Some are saboteurs or mercenary soldiers or even assassins. Each House handles their Agents independently. What is known that each House has them fulfilling various roles as they see fit. They have and continue to shape the world in accordance with the wishes of the Patriarch or Matriarch. They are fiercely loyal to the House, often this is a psychic or magical compulsion. Those who betray such oaths rarely live, even should they somehow get around the compulsion for the full power of the betrayed House will fall down upon them. Every House has secrets. It is the role of the Agent to protect them.
A note about Noble Houses and Agents; this sort of Nobility is based off certain conspiracy theories and history. European lines of nobility cross national boundaries. I took that idea and crossbred it with concepts like the Illuminati to come up with these Agents. Mimge are essentially House Agents without a Noble house; they serve history and humanity (here meaning all sentient beings) which puts them at odds with House Agents. In many ways, this is a shadow war that is constantly being fought with the House Agents striving to control the flow of information to favor themselves and the Mimge fighting to keep it pure and truthful. Agents and Mimge are spies, assassins and special forces operatives. Theirs is a dark, dangerous world that exist within the confines of polite society. The general populace is aware of Mimge only as storytellers and unaware of Agents other than Emissaries.
Hawthorne was a man trying to buck the system. He thought he could create an organization that ran counter to the Mimge, who work to keep the Houses from absolute rule over the 'little folk' and the Houses by manipulating the information flow. The Hawthorne Agents were almost certainly wiped out by a combination of Houses, likely by hiring the Characedo but that is a tale yet to be revealed.
There had always been those who moved between villages, towns, farms, ranches and cities bringing with them news of the world beyond. They are scholar warriors who remember history and tell stories that keep it alive for the people of the world. At some point after the defeat of the Kol Draahl, a number of these who were considered masters codified what would be accepted behavior for those engaging in these activities. A formal training regimen was created for apprentices to learn the tales and trade. A person must approach a Mimge and petition for admittance into the group. The Mimge then tests their knowledge and personality. Above all else, a Mimge must be willing to tell the truth of history as much as is known. Stories must be memorized to reflect the reality of what happened so that tragedies won't repeat. Any editorializing is quickly squashed; the Mimge feel the weight of the duty they've imposed upon themselves. They are to remain true to history, including and especially the ugly parts of it. That is of paramount importance.
Over the years, after the disappearance of the Doeneik, a man named Hawthorne who possessed incredible power and skill at teleportation. He formed an organization of information gatherers known as his agents. All were given an item of jewelry they could use to pass information on to the man himself. In exchange, they could petition for information from him. All was done at a price. Hawthorne and his Agents soon became walking libraries of information, much of it secrets. The organization lasted several decades, beyond the duration of a normal human lifespan, so it is assumed that Hawthorne died and someone else took over the organization. Some believe the bard Madigan had become the leader, but there is no evidence to support this theory. Shortly before the death of the Emperor of Anterre, largely considered the end of the Age of Dreams, Hawthorne's Agents disappeared. None know how it is the organization died away but as always theories abound. When an organization's stock and trade are secrets, often of a deadly nature, that are for sale to the highest bidder it is only a matter of time before the wrong secrets are learned. The most popular theory is that they ran afoul of the Characedo. If the Characedo actually exist.
As had been mentioned earlier, a constant throughout history are the Noble Houses. Noble Houses have a need to ensure their holdings, passing information, conducting investigations and generally acting in their best interests. They do this through their Agents. Unlike Hawthorne agents, an Agent of a Noble House has the backing of the Noble House they serve. This will provide them with equipment and authority as they need in order to carry out their duties. Some Agents are legal representatives to Court. Some are spies. Some are saboteurs or mercenary soldiers or even assassins. Each House handles their Agents independently. What is known that each House has them fulfilling various roles as they see fit. They have and continue to shape the world in accordance with the wishes of the Patriarch or Matriarch. They are fiercely loyal to the House, often this is a psychic or magical compulsion. Those who betray such oaths rarely live, even should they somehow get around the compulsion for the full power of the betrayed House will fall down upon them. Every House has secrets. It is the role of the Agent to protect them.
A note about Noble Houses and Agents; this sort of Nobility is based off certain conspiracy theories and history. European lines of nobility cross national boundaries. I took that idea and crossbred it with concepts like the Illuminati to come up with these Agents. Mimge are essentially House Agents without a Noble house; they serve history and humanity (here meaning all sentient beings) which puts them at odds with House Agents. In many ways, this is a shadow war that is constantly being fought with the House Agents striving to control the flow of information to favor themselves and the Mimge fighting to keep it pure and truthful. Agents and Mimge are spies, assassins and special forces operatives. Theirs is a dark, dangerous world that exist within the confines of polite society. The general populace is aware of Mimge only as storytellers and unaware of Agents other than Emissaries.
Hawthorne was a man trying to buck the system. He thought he could create an organization that ran counter to the Mimge, who work to keep the Houses from absolute rule over the 'little folk' and the Houses by manipulating the information flow. The Hawthorne Agents were almost certainly wiped out by a combination of Houses, likely by hiring the Characedo but that is a tale yet to be revealed.
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