Order of the Lost

The Order of the Lost is an ancient order that follows the Way of Mercy, a monastic tradition concerned with aiding those in need. These monks learn to manipulate the life force of others to heal or to bring a swift end as an act of mercy. They actively seek to restore the lost lore of Fragmentia and largely blame the Twelve Champions for the devastation of the Shattering. They lead their lives by the original tenets of the Creators and follow the path laid for them by the Forgotten Idol, Rune--the Golden Protector.

Structure

There are three branches of the Order of the Lost: Seeker, Scribe, or Healer. A Novice's placement into one of these branches is determined by the Master of Mercy and other Masters following the Novice's apprenticeship. Placements are based on the Novice's demonstrated skills in the final test before initiation into the order.
Master of Mercy
The Master of Mercy must be an ultimate master in the Way of Mercy. They are the leader of the Order of the Lost and coordinate the training of Novices, send Seekers on their missions throughout Fragmentia, advise and supervise the work of Scribes, and communicate directly with parties interested in the Order's knowledge. This position may be filled by only one person, though they may seek the advice and assistance of other Masters, Chroniclers, or Physicians in the Order. It is a lifelong position and Masters of Mercy are initiated in a secret ceremony.
Tier 4 [Master, Chronicler, or Physician]
Master
Masters are those who have proved themselves in the Way of Mercy. They are skilled monks who have gone on several expeditions throughout Fragmentia and are masters of all the disciplines. It takes time to become a Master, and it is not a title given lightly. They must prove themselves in three tests before they may be considered for initiation: against a Master, a Chronicler, and a Physician. They are tested on their fighting techniques, their mental and emotional capabilities, and their knowledge of medicine and anatomy. After they have passed each of the tests, they are then presented to the Master of Mercy who makes the final decision.
Masters tend to the disciple and day-to-day activities of Candidates that have found their way to the Cradle of Dreams and they assist in training Novices. They may be sent by the Master of Mercy to either lead excursions or to travel on their own into places throughout Fragmentia that might contain information the order is interested in acquiring. These excursions are typically more dangerous than those that a Seeker may be sent on.
There is one leader amongst the Masters who is considered next in line to become Master of Mercy should anything happen to the current one. This position is known as the Hand of the Master and this position is not lifelong. Changes in who has this title are common, as Masters are often in and out of the Cradle of Dreams. It is mostly an honorary title.
Chronicler
Chroniclers catalogue and analyze all acquisitions that are brought to the Cradle of Dreams. They are well-versed in the languages, histories, and legends of Fragmentia and dedicate their lives to uncovering Fragmentia's lost history and the details surrounding the Shattering. Chroniclers typically specialize in particular subjects, and they must also take on at least one Scribe. They often advise the Master of Mercy on important texts and on what information might be safe to share with the rest of Fragmentia.
Those who wish to become Chroniclers must first maintain their scribeship for at least five years under the guidance of a current Chronicler. After the five years, they are tested in three areas by the Head Chronicler: ancient languages (Primordial, Celestial, and Sylvan), pre-Shattering histories, and one specialized subject of their choosing. If they succeed and have proven themselves in their scribeship, they are initiated to Chronicler.
The Head Chronicler organizes the day-to-day operations of the library and curates the acquisitions at the Cradle of the Dreams. They work closely with the Masters and the Master of Mercy in locating particular items of interest throughout Fragmentia.
Phsyician
Physicians are highly skilled in medicine and alchemy, and they understand the anatomy of many of the races in Fragmentia. They research new techniques of healing and tend to those that travel to the Cradle of Dreams seeking the order's aid. Many Physician also travel across Fragmentia, using the secret techniques of the Way of Mercy to care for those that cannot reach the Cradle.
Physicians must be well-versed in all the forms of medicine, and thus, many Healers remain in that title to continue in a particular specialization. However, those who wish to know all of the disciplines must take an apprenticeship under a current Physician, who tutors and trains them equally between medicine, alchemy, and anatomy. The apprenticeship may last however long the mentor Physician deems is necessary. At the end of the apprenticeship, the Healer is called to successful perform three acts of healing in each discipline. Upon success, they are then initiated to Physician.
The Head Physician takes care of the day-to-day operations of the medical ward at the Cradle of Dreams, organizing shifts and research endeavors.
Tier 3 [Seeker, Scribe, or Healer]
Seeker
Seekers are tasked with going on missions throughout Fragmentia in search of artifacts, texts, and information regarding the Shattering or pre-Shattering. This may mean trascribing texts, refurbishing and rebinding books, or bringing acquisitions back to the Cradle of Dreams. These missions can be dangerous or relate to delicate information, so Seekers must be proficient in all areas of the order, including fighting, transcription and histories, and medicine. Seekers may be attended on missions by Masters, but this is not always the case.
Scribe
Scribes translate and transcribe all acquisitions that come to the Cradle of Dreams. They assist Chroniclers in cataloguing artifacts and serve an scribeship under a Chronicler. Scribes must choose one subject of interest for their scribeship, which they research and write on during their time as a Scribe to eventually be presented before the Head Chronicler. Scribes also attend lectures on languages and histories, all which contribute to their performance at the end of their five year scribeship. Scribes who do not pass their final tests can try again after another year of scribeship.
Healer
Healers may go on to become Physicians, but most stay as healers their whole lives, focusing on a specific discipline of study: medicine, alchemy, or anatomy. They tend to those who seek aid at the Cradle of Dreams, and sometimes travel throughout Fragmentia to help those that they find. Typically, younger Healers have less responsibilities than seasoned ones, and Healers are constantly in the process of learning and researching, relaying new information and techniques to the rest of the order.
Tier 2
Novice
Novices are those who have served their time as a Candidate and have been selected for training by a mentor. While all Novices learn each of the skills needed to become either a Seeker, Scribe, or Healer, their training may become more focused as their specific skills are determined and honed during the process. Mentors are likely to push Novices towards a specific direction.
The Novice apprenticeship lasts two years. At the end of the two years, Novices are brought together for a single initiation night. They are tested in each of the skills they learned in their Novice apprenticeship--fighting techniques, languages and histories, and medicine--and then placed into a particular discipline of the order. Following the tests, those selected for initiation swear the Oath of Mercy beneath the Golden Oak at the center of the Cradle of Dreams, and are then given their lesser Mark of Scribing and Scribes' Pen. Each initiate is given this no matter which discipline they have been placed. Those who do not pass their tests are dismissed from the order.
Tier 1
Candidate
Candidates are those who wish to join the order, though they must first prove themselves before they are accepted for training by one of the Masters. This process may last anywhere from six months to a year. Candidates help with the cooking, cleaning, and maintenance of the Cradle of Dreams, as well as help with any errands given to them by Masters, Chroniclers, or Healers. They are assessed on their attitude and discipline, and must receive a recommendation by a Master, Chronicler, or Physician for consideration to Novice-hood.

Culture

The Order of the Lost believes that it was the Twelve Champions who caused the Shattering, and thus, it is their fault the devastation that was wrought upon Fragmentia, including the extreme loss of life and reshaping of the continent. Since the Champions were once mortals, the Order of the Lost attribute to the problems amongst them to a decline in perspective and compassion that overtook many of the Champions in their ascension from mortality to godhood. 
Due to these views, the order has remained largely reclusive, conducting their work in secret or obscurity to attract less attention. The tribes of the Forest of Dreams worship Lorena, one of the Champions, and have not taken kindly to the order's view of the pantheon. Many of the tribes have become weary of the order, though they still often go to them for medicine and healing. 
In larger Fragmentia, the order is known in more academic circles than mainstream politics. The order maintains connections in the Archivists of Acadia and scholars at the Museum of Nova in Concorde. These educational organizations often make deals with the order for mutual acquisitions of information. At the Museum of Nova in particular, they do not address the order's views on the Twelve Champions, though they are in direct opposition to those of the Assembly of Concorde. Instead, they have come to a compromise to keep religion out of the equation as much as possible, especially given the order's ties to Rune, one of the Forgotten Idols and lesser deities outlawed for worship in the Valley of Nova.
The Order of the Lost is also well-known for taking in orphans and wanderers. It has become something of a sanctuary for those who seek belonging in the world and almost all who find their way to the Cradle of Dreams stay. Many in the order consider one another family and do everything they can to protect each other.

Public Agenda

The Order of the Lost believes in compassion and mercy above all else. They do not wish to see the suffering of others and they do whatever they can to protect and aid those who need it most. They follow the divine goals of Rune to protect the natural cycle of all life and to end the needless suffering of those in pain.
The order is especially interested in artifacts, text, and information from the Shattering and pre-Shattering, which they study and analyze in an attempt to put together a timeline of events that led to the Shattering itself. It is their hope that by understanding what truly happened, they can prevent it from ever happening again in the future. They believe that the small miracles of mercy they bring to Fragmentia will also aid in the future of bringing compassion back into the hearts of people.

Assets

The Cradle of Dreams
The order has resided at the Cradle of Dreams since its establishment at the end of the war between the Incendies and the Brises in 229 FP. Located not far off from the Brise tribe, the Cradle of Dreams is a massive structure hidden within the Forest of Dreams. It was once the home of a pre-Shattering elven civilization who built the castle-like structure from white marbel and stone. Due to its size, the ruin survived the Shattering, though has become slightly overrun and overgrown by the encrouching forest.
At the center of the Cradle sits the Golden Oak, a sacred tree of Rune with leaves of pure gold. It is believed to be the site that Rune protected the wood elves from the Shattering, though this is largely disputed by the wood elves themselves who believe Lorena was their savior. 
The Cradle is the base of operations for the entire Order of the Lost. It consists of a massive library, training grounds, and quaters for all members of the order. Despite its size, the Forest of Dreams obscures it from most prying eyes and only those who know its location have ease of finding it, though wanderers seem to be lead toward it as well.

Noteable Figures

Master Keya Mornmist Master of Mercy. Elven woman and the current Master of Mercy. She has held the title for the last ten years.
Chronicler Umrac Tazkris Head Chronicler. Dragonborn man from the Acadia Range who defected from the Archivists of Acadia and joined the Order of the Lost. He still maintains some contact with the Archivists, however. He has been the Head Chronicler for nearly thirty years.
Master April Sunspear Hand of the Master. Human woman and second in line to becoming the Master of Mercy, which was rather controversial at the time. April specializes in swift killing, rather than healing. She has been Hand of the Master for two years.
Physician Elen Vana Head Physician. Elven man and the Head Physician. He has been in the position for twenty years.
Zekiel Seeker. Tiefling man and newly initiated Seeker.

In Compassion, there is Strength.

Founding Date

229 FP

Type

Religious, Monastic Order

Demonym

The Lost

Leader

Keya Mornmist

Leader Title

Master of Mercy

Deities

• Rune
• The Creators

Location

The Cradle of Dreams