Collectors of Skolm
Dedicated to the God of books and memories, the Collectors of Skolm are dedicated to not only expanding and preserving knowledge, but expanding what can be remembered and held within the mind.
Mythology & Lore
The Collectors believe that Skilm was integral to the work of The Six Sisters and the creation of mortal, sentient life. Their lives would not be possible without the inclusion of memory, and it seems that even new life, created by Phoenicia, has some form of memory, even just to recognize their parents. In the eternal debate, they believe that Darnahl's creation of Dreams was derived from memories. Varissa, First of Six Sisters, Goddess of Learning, could not have created such without also having a means to remember.
The creation of Books is believed by the Collectors have come immediately alongside the work of Hjanda, Fifth of Six Sisters. She created and governs tools, and a book, a scroll, even a symbol written note, is a very specific tool.
Political Influence & Intrigue
Collectors are generally respected in their communities, although they are rarely common. The nature of their holy task often puts them close to positions of power, where wealth is plenty enough for people to have the time to learn to read and write, and where such works can be stored in a specific location for such a purpose. This has caused problems at times in unpopular regimes, where the Collectors are thought to have cozied up to the corrupt for their own benefit, though this scarcely true.
In terms of working with other faiths, the Collectors are frequent collaborators with priests and clerics of Varissa. The agents of the Goddess of Learning often find that the written word is best means by which to learn as well as to teach, and so schools will often be dedicated to both gods.
In terms of working with other faiths, the Collectors are frequent collaborators with priests and clerics of Varissa. The agents of the Goddess of Learning often find that the written word is best means by which to learn as well as to teach, and so schools will often be dedicated to both gods.
Sects
Their Patron God, Skolm, has never given guidance as to what books or material should be preserved, and what should not. The Collectors are likely better for it, as he is admittedly dismissive towards the works of most mortals, past and present. As such, it's left up to personal opinion and influential ideology as to what is preserved, or not.
With that internal dysfunction and lack of clear vision, The Collectors have become a factional bunch. The two more common denominations or schools of thought are the Archivists and the Curators.
The former believe that their responsibility is to preserve as much material as possible, regardless of known importance or opinion. They argue that one can't possibly know or guess what future value a document may have. There may be another Galathan's March to War out there in the world, that needs someone to see it and help share it. They would argue that according to faith, The Scholars Repose is said to have a copy of every piece of text ever written, and that they should follow in this holy image. Curators, by contrast, believe that they are not in the role of doing the work of their God for him. It would be utterly impossible for them to collect everything, and that as a matter of practicality, for the documents to be useful to mortals, who don't have an eternity to peruse them, discretion of what is permitted and rejected is required. In their eyes, their responsibility is to their fellow mortals, to find the best way to use the aspects that Skolm has given them, and one must do that with a specific goal in mind. One of the more interesting groups among the Collectors are The Libertine Librarians. This fringe group is often thought to be a more extreme perspective of the Archivists, but those who speak with them would know better. They have a more targeted approach, trying to preserve the texts that others in the world are actively trying to censor or eradicate from the world. This can include political texts thought to be treasonous, scrolls of sacriligeous religious material, or scandalous and immature smut, and more. More often, they are thought to be perverts, collectors of only the last material. The Archivists and Curators are not quick to correct this perception, even among those who know better. The Libertines seem immune to this judgement, knowing that their reward will come in time, when a text thought to be long since destroyed is rediscovered because of their efforts. Their responsibility, as they see it, is to the future.
The former believe that their responsibility is to preserve as much material as possible, regardless of known importance or opinion. They argue that one can't possibly know or guess what future value a document may have. There may be another Galathan's March to War out there in the world, that needs someone to see it and help share it. They would argue that according to faith, The Scholars Repose is said to have a copy of every piece of text ever written, and that they should follow in this holy image. Curators, by contrast, believe that they are not in the role of doing the work of their God for him. It would be utterly impossible for them to collect everything, and that as a matter of practicality, for the documents to be useful to mortals, who don't have an eternity to peruse them, discretion of what is permitted and rejected is required. In their eyes, their responsibility is to their fellow mortals, to find the best way to use the aspects that Skolm has given them, and one must do that with a specific goal in mind. One of the more interesting groups among the Collectors are The Libertine Librarians. This fringe group is often thought to be a more extreme perspective of the Archivists, but those who speak with them would know better. They have a more targeted approach, trying to preserve the texts that others in the world are actively trying to censor or eradicate from the world. This can include political texts thought to be treasonous, scrolls of sacriligeous religious material, or scandalous and immature smut, and more. More often, they are thought to be perverts, collectors of only the last material. The Archivists and Curators are not quick to correct this perception, even among those who know better. The Libertines seem immune to this judgement, knowing that their reward will come in time, when a text thought to be long since destroyed is rediscovered because of their efforts. Their responsibility, as they see it, is to the future.
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