Lumnis Espira Guilds
Shrine Guard
The Pillars of the Shrine Guard
“We serve the city.”
Headquarters - The Fulcrum:
The Shrine Guard's headquarters, known as The Fulcrum, is strategically located in the heart of Shrine, on the Fifth Tier. This central location allows them to effectively oversee the city and respond swiftly to any incidents.
Role in Protecting the Vault:
A primary responsibility of the Shrine Guard is to protect the Vault, a crucial and possibly secretive facility within Shrine. The nature of the Vault – whether it's a repository of valuable artifacts, a treasury, or a storehouse of forbidden knowledge – adds to the importance of their role.
Overlooking the Pit:
The Shrine Guard's command over the Pit, a significant area or feature within Shrine, signifies their extensive control and surveillance capabilities. This vantage point not only serves as a strategic advantage but also symbolizes their overarching presence in the city.
Funding through Tier Contributions:
Supported by mandatory contributions from each tier, the Shrine Guard’s influence and operational effectiveness vary across tiers, leading to perceptions of favoritism and unequal protection.
Reputation for Harsh Interrogation Techniques:
Known for employing brutal interrogation methods, the Shrine Guard's reputation is marked by fear and intimidation, particularly regarding their treatment of detainees and suspects.
Allegations of Harassment towards New Arrivals:
Reports of targeted harassment towards new arrivals to Shrine by the Shrine Guard are common, contributing to a climate of fear and suspicion among newcomers.
Internal Justifications:
The Guard's extreme methods are internally rationalized as necessary for the stability of Shrine and the protection of its critical assets, like the Vault and the Pit.
Public Image and Perception:
While some residents view the Shrine Guard as essential protectors, their notorious tactics and heavy-handed approach have fostered a growing sense of dread and animosity among the populace.
Efforts at Reform and Accountability:
Moves to reform the Guard and hold them accountable are often met with internal resistance, indicating a deep-seated culture of impunity and resistance to external scrutiny.
Training and Indoctrination:
Their training focuses on creating absolute loyalty and desensitization to violence, ensuring members carry out orders without moral conflict.
Impact on Legal Proceedings:
As the primary legal authority, the Shrine Guard’s methods and decisions heavily influence the city's legal system, often leading to outcomes driven by coercion and fear.
Role in Political Maneuvering:
The Guard's influence permeates the political landscape of Shrine, with their control and influence extending into various aspects of city governance.
General Guardsmen Ranks and Structure:
Guard Commander: The overall leader of the Shrine Guard, commanding both the Inquisitor branch and the general guardsmen.
Shield Captain: Each of the 8 tiers of the city has a Shield Captain who oversees the security and operational duties within their respective tier.
Ward Captain: Commanding the 24 watch towers around the city, each Ward Captain is responsible for the surveillance, defense, and immediate response duties in their tower's area.
Tower Sentries (Guardian Corporals): Serving under each Ward Captain are two dozen Tower Sentries, who are Guardian Corporals. They handle crucial tasks such as patrolling, surveillance, and maintaining order in and around their watch towers.
Sentinels: The foundational members of the Shrine Guard, Sentinels are the rank-and-file soldiers. They are responsible for carrying out the day-to-day duties of patrolling, enforcing laws, and maintaining peace throughout Shrine. They form the backbone of the Guard's presence in the city, often being the first line of defense and the most visible symbol of authority to the citizens.
Inquisitor Branch Ranks:
Chief Inquisitor: The top authority in the Inquisitor branch, overseeing all investigative and intelligence operations, and directly reporting to the Guard Commander.
Inquisitor Arbiter: Senior officers who supervise complex investigations and adjudicate intricate cases. They also mentor and guide Arbiter-Adeptus and Adeptus inquisitors.
Arbiter-Adeptus: Mid-level inquisitors responsible for handling significant investigations and assisting Arbiters in more complex inquiries.
Adeptus: Active field inquisitors conducting the bulk of investigative work, gathering intelligence, and carrying out field interrogations.
Inquisitor Scribe: Entry-level inquisitors, primarily responsible for record-keeping, intelligence gathering, and assisting in basic investigations under the guidance of more experienced inquisitors.
Alignmentos Metrisei Spectheama (AMS) Guild
The Ascari Tower
AMS Guild Command Structure:
Arcanarch:
The supreme leader of the AMS Guild, holding the highest authority in all matters of telemancy and governance.
Prime-Mystarch:
Senior leader of the Mystarchs. Responsible for all activities outside of Shrine.
Mystarch:
Senior officials directly under the Arcanarch, responsible for overseeing major guild operations and strategic decisions.
Aetherarch:
Key figures in the guild hierarchy, tasked with managing the advanced aspects of telemancy and handling complex missions.
Lucidarch:
Mid-level leaders, focusing on the training and development of junior Metrisei and the implementation of guild policies.
Specthron:
Entry-level commanders, responsible for day-to-day activities, basic training, and maintaining order within the guild.
Vigilance and Control:
Within the Ascari Tower, lies the Heart of Monitoring, a sophisticated and sacred chamber at the core of the AMS Guild's operations. Here, a select group of Metrisei, known as the Custodians of the Veil, working tirelessly in rotating shifts, the Monitors are ensuring constant vigilance over the comings and goings within Shrine. This selected group, answerable directly to the higher echelons of the AMS Guild, possesses the unique ability to detect the 'telemantic fingerprint' left by every Metrisei who uses their powers to traverse the ether. The responsibilities of the Custodians of the Veil include:
Tracking: Utilizing advanced telemantic artifacts and rituals, they can trace the origin, destination, and path of every Aetheric Bridge opened within Shrine's vicinity. This allows them to monitor movements for security purposes and gather intelligence.
Gate Regulation: They possess the authority to close or open Aetheric Bridges, a power crucial for maintaining the stability and safety of Shrine. This regulation is essential to prevent unauthorized travel or potential threats from other realms.
Assistance and Intervention: In times of crisis or when a Metrisei is in distress, the Custodians can extend immediate assistance, either by stabilizing compromised Aetheric Bridges or providing guidance to lost or endangered Metrisei.
Archival Record-Keeping: They meticulously document every use of telemantic travel, creating a comprehensive archive that serves as both a historical record and a tool for analyzing patterns or anomalies in portal usage.
Reporting: Any abnormalities in telemantic activities are immediately reported to the Mystarchs for investigation.
"To master the creation of an Aetheric Bridge, one must delve into the profound art of tuning the energies - the very essence of the cosmos that vibrates within and around us. Imagine these energies as intricate strings of a cosmic harp, each resonating with the hidden melodies of existence. Our task as Metrisei is to listen intently, to attune our senses to these subtle frequencies, and gently coax them into an alignment.
The act of opening a Alignment demands a harmony of mind and spirit, an alignment of internal energies with the external ebb and flow of the universe. With each movement of our hands and each incantation, we draw upon these energies, weaving them into a lattice that pierces through the veil of reality.
It is a delicate balance, like capturing the essence of a dream without awakening. Precision is key, for each Bridge we craft is a passage, a gateway that holds within it the potential for discovery and, equally, the risk of the unfathomable.
Thus, remember, the art of an Aetheric Bridge is not just a display of our control over the ether, but a demonstration of our understanding, our respect for the boundless energies that we channel. It is our sacred duty to tread this path with caution and reverence."
— The First Ascari, Ascar Ascari
Perched atop the uppermost tier of Shrine is the enigmatic structure known as The Ascari Tower. The Alignmentos Metrisei Spectheama Guild, or AMS, emerges as the undisputed epicenter of telemantic arts. Within its twisting spires that pierce the skyline, these Metrisei, once mere acolytes, now command the mystical legacy stolen from Lucinda, the devoured god. Their powers, a blend of divine grace and arcane knowledge, were born from their people's original sin—a burden they are destined to bear.
Here, in the heart of The Ascari Tower, the air hums with the latent power of otherworldly forces, each floor resonating with the deep, sacred knowledge passed down through generations of Metrisei. The Tower itself, a relic of a bygone civilization and a symbol of the AMS's unyielding power, serves as both sanctuary and academy for those who walk its hallowed halls, dedicated to mastering the art of bending the very fabric of reality.
In this bastion of mystical prowess, the AMS Guild not only trains its members in the intricate art of creating Aetheric Bridges but also upholds a guardianship over the secrets of telemancy, ensuring that the curse of Lucinda—a relentless hunger for more power—is wielded with wisdom and restraint.
Nomothetic Ktirio
Of Nature & Legacy
Role in Medicine and Society:
The NK guild plays a crucial role in developing new medicines from the flora of Shrine and the Wilds, gaining respect for their contributions to health and ecological understanding.
Surgical Skills and Medical Proficiency:
They are renowned for their advanced surgical skills and medicinal knowledge, utilizing their comprehensive understanding of human anatomy and natural remedies.
Hierarchy and Academic Structure:
The guild operates within a structured academic hierarchy, from novices to elders, with each member contributing to the collective knowledge about Shrine and the Wilds.
Cultural Practices and Rituals:
They hold ceremonies that reflect their deep respect for nature and the unique balance between the urban life of Shrine and the wild nature of the surrounding areas.
Ethical Considerations and Diplomacy:
Their research methods and findings often lead to ethical discussions, especially concerning the treatment of the Wilds and its creatures. The guild engages in diplomatic efforts to harmonize Shrine's urban development with the surrounding natural world.
Architecture Reflecting a Harmony of Environments:
The guild’s headquarters in Shrine is designed to mirror the harmony they seek between urban development and natural beauty, featuring elements that represent both the city and the Wilds.
Confidential Knowledge and Historical Studies:
They maintain extensive, sometimes confidential, archives and studies on the history, ecology, and biological diversity of Shrine and the Wilds, used to inform decisions and policies.
Philosophy and Purpose:
The guild is deeply committed to understanding and preserving the natural world through rigorous academic study, particularly focused on the ecosystems and dynamics of Shrine and the Wilds.
Enhanced Study through Natural Substances:
Members use specific mushrooms and plants to enhance cognitive functions and awareness, aiding their research and understanding of the intricate balance in Shrine and the Wilds.
Expertise in Mycology and Botany:
With extensive knowledge in mycology and botany, the guild specializes in studying the unique flora of Shrine and the Wilds, researching their properties for medicinal and practical applications.
Research on the Wilds and Humanoid Creatures:
Dedicated teams conduct in-depth field studies in the Wilds, gathering data on the humanoid creatures and their interactions with the environment, aiming to devise strategies for coexistence with Shrine.
Guild’s Library and Laboratories:
Their headquarters houses a vast collection of ecological, historical, and botanical studies related to Shrine and the Wilds, as well as state-of-the-art laboratories for experimental research.
Role in Medicine and Society:
The guild plays a crucial role in developing new medicines from the flora of Shrine and the Wilds, gaining respect for their contributions to health and ecological understanding.