Reliquary, The

Structure

The organization is divided into three divisions, each serving a specific role: Investigators, Guardians, and Arcanologists, (colloquially known as Seekers, Shielders, and Scholars).

Investigators work to locate and retrieve magical artifacts, either from their current owners or from ruins. Although many are highly accomplished tomb raiders or thieves, they consider petty larceny beneath their calling.

Protecting the collected relics are the Guardians. While a few venture out into the world, most are stationed at the Citadel. The Guardians are simply a police force, there to ensure thieves do not plunder the Citadel’s treasure vaults.

Arcanologists are sages, scholars, and archivists, devoted to unlocking the secret of artifact creation. They spend their days in musty libraries researching snippets of ancient lore or try to recreate relics (with little success so far!). Most remain in the Citadel for their full careers, those some venture out into the world, especially if they are studying a specific location latent with magic.

Public Agenda

The art of constructing relics--that is, permanent magical items--is a mystery to modern mages and priests alike. All known relics were created no later than the 6th century CE, and many date a thousand years before that. In a bid to prevent existing relics from being used to gain power (and in order to study them to perhaps unlock the secrets of their creation), a group of High Mages founded the Reliquary, an organization dedicated to locating, studying, and protecting permanent magic artifacts. The organization seeks out, retrieves, and stores only permanent relics. It has no interest in alchemical devices, nor in the compounds of hedge magic, which are considered scientific or chemical mixtures rather than truly arcane.

Members of the Reliquary are charged with retrieving relics and information pertaining to relics. While sometimes this means breaking into a noble’s castle, more often than not it means an expedition into a long-forgotten, trap-filled tomb.

Assets

GM INFORMATION: THE CITADEL The Citadel serves as the headquarters of the Reliquary. Located on the slopes of the Jagged Peaks, the fortress appears as little more than a small castle of antiquated design. In truth, the fortress extends far beneath the mountain. The upper castle contains mainly living quarters of the soldiers and servants, kitchens, and mundane stores. A visitor would not think it any different from a typical castle of old. On the lower levels, reached only by hidden staircases, are libraries, laboratories, and vaults housing a plethora of magical relics. The deeper one goes, the more powerful the relics stored there become. Naturally, the guardians, both mundane and magical, also become more powerful. Numerous glyphs, as well as more mundane traps, protect all of the vaults. In addition, members of the Guardians of the Arcane, the militant arm of the Reliquary, constantly patrol the corridors. It is believed that the vaults are thief proof, and certainly no thief has ever boasted of cracking the security. This isn’t to say none have tried; only that none have succeeded (most do not survive the attempt). Access to the vaults is strictly limited, and only senior Arcanologists have ready access. To protect these sages from would-be thieves, and ensure none get the idea of selling artifacts, a bodyguard of two to four Guardians always accompanies them.

Founding Date

250 Pre-C

Type

Information Network

Alternative Names

Lorekeepers

Demonym

Keepers

Location

Keep of Lore

Related Ranks & Titles

• Triumvirate Deans of the Reliquary

Controlled Territories

• Keep of Lore