Biosphere and Man Committee
It is believed that from the crash of the Arc Ship to today the exobiologists in the survivors set out to do the best they could to catalog the life and natural systems of this planet. It is believed even as the technology began to fail there was a loose organization of these biologists communicating and recording their findings. The science discovered in those early years set up the colonies of survivors to prosper, and not cause an ecological disaster. However as the electronic media began to fade and fail much of this was transferred to writing.
This philosophical school continues on but with now a focus on being a conduit for the energies of the natural world. These philosophers study the wild array of the native life on this planet, and the alien life introduced to it and how both have adapted, evolved and how that balance is maintained.
The Biospherians usually have a complex outside the city with its own defensive walls to keep the curious out and other things in. The complex will have various zoo like areas for studying animals, wild, foreign, domestic, alien, mutant, etc. They may have a farm or pasture area for domesticated animals and gardens for studying various plants and trees. The oldest examples of their complexes may have domed and glazed areas. The community relies on the biospherians to help in time of crop failures, pests and vermin, monsters dens and mutants. they also teach farmers how to fix problems, improve the soil or use different methods.
Structure
The Man and Biosphere Committee is a ponderous beurocrasy made up of many layers of clerics, deans, and rotating organization of committees and chairs.
At the local level the MABC complex is usually an abby or enclosed castle with walled lands and fields. Typically these fields grow local plants and there are pens for various kinds of animals in the abby. The lowest level are the Keepers, lay people who tend to all of the animals and fields. From these keepers some are raised to managers who oversee the keepers and are responsible for specific aspects of the abby. Above this level are the Field clerics who have some philisophical magic training. there are various grades of Field Clerics but the top of these are the Heads of Research. The heads of research are assigned to regional committees who are lead by Deans.
The Deans become more concerned with the running of the organization and less with research and the outside community. The deans form committes that form bigger committies which are ultimately lead by the MABC control committee. This 23 person board is a global organization that is headquartered in the Ayhoran city of Deshra.
Culture
The public perception of the MABC is that they are bookish nature nuts who spend a long time in the wilderness with beasts and monsters. The Field Clerics are the arm that the public is most likely to meet, either at a farm teaching animal husbandry or better farming techniques. They are are also know as brave monster hunters.
Within the order the different committies and heiarchies can be siloed but they all have the driving need to understand the nature of the planet and it flora and fauna.
Public Agenda
The MABC goal is to safeguard civilized settlements from unpredictable nature, and protect nature from the ravages of civilization.
Assets
Within Each MABC abby compound there are laboratories, apothocaries, alchemical laboratories, libraries, and record halls. Each abby serves as a local HQ for field researchers so they have equipment and supplies to outfit expeditions. The abby may have between 20 to 200 lay people depending on the size of the compound and the kinds of animal and plants they have there to study. Larger abbies have classrooms for training new clerics. Abby's are generally self sufficeint and well run.
History
The date of 2000 A for the founding is an approximation, it existed for at least a few centuries before, keeping isolated outposts in communication as the dark ages settled in around them. It is believed these scientists kept biological studies and history preserved by transfering it to print and copying it by hand as technology failed.
As society frayed and became less civilized the abby's became ripe targets for raids. These scientists learn to us their knowledge to plant poisonous plants to slow invaders, train different beasts and monsters for defence and driving off attackers.
The biggest change came with the discovery of philosophical magic this spread from the new headquarters in Deshra. Following the trade routes to the various cities and their MABC facilities the practice grew. MABC was one of the later to adopt philisophical magic as it was not initially trusted by they heirarchy.
Ethics
The Abby is concerned with the health of the natural commity around the abby and the region.
Their main tenants are as follows:
- Nature is all present, and should be considered in all actions and thoughts
- People are a part of nature and can live in harmony with it
- Monsters and Beasts of nature want to live in balance, understand the imbalance to solve it.
- Cyphers and technology can mimic nature and need to be controlled or removed.
- Nature is the ultimate technology
Priesthood
The Clerics that practice Philosophical Magic typically make up the Field Cleric brigades. The robes and vestments of these clerics are utilitarian traveling clothes with a symbol on the arms. The upper eschellons of the heirachy are typically in robes and vestments that reflect their area of study; biology, zoology, botany, etc.
Granted Divine Powers
Have access to Nature Domain spells predominantly.
Political Influence & Intrigue
There is a lot of academic politics and Abby's play an important political role in the region controlled by a city.
Getting above the Field Cleric role takes a lot of political savy bouyed by research and accomplishments.
Field Clerics are regarded as trusted community members especially in farms and pioneer settlements.
Founding Date
2000 A
Type
Religious, Deanery
Alternative Names
Naturalists
Demonym
MABC
Leader Title
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