The Order of Old Yrrthera

The Order of Old Yrrthera, a clandestine group operating within the shadowed corridors of Yrdde, seeks to unravel the mysteries of the old-world, their whispers echoing amongst the remnants of a past humanity long forgotten. Bound by a shared reverence for the knowledge and artifacts belonging to the peoples that came before, they operate with a blend of scholarly rigor and fanatical obsession.

History

The Order’s origins can be traced back to a chance discovery deep within what seemed to be an ancient library hidden beneath the roots of an island far to the north. A group of scholars, fascinated by the ancient texts they'd unearthed, found more than just faded words and crumbling pages; they stumbled upon a hidden chamber, sealed with ancient runes and filled with strange, pulsating sigils.
Inside this room was a single pristine slate of mirrored metal. Many slates that resembled this artifact had been found, they were a common sight in old-world ruins and were typically tossed aside as they were little more than pretty stone, but this one was unique. Whatever magic these relics once contained was still alive in this one. Runes glowed upon its surface, moving and changing at even the slightest touch, and strange images flickered seemingly at random.
The Order of Old Yrrthera was born in those dimly lit chambers, as the scholars realized that this artifact was something important, something that could not just be handed off to Imperial authorities and lost within the Emperor's personal archives. They smuggled the relic out of the digsite at great risk, and built their first secret meeting hall to protect it. As time went on they found more valuable items, each equally strange and incomprehensible, and their numbers grew with it. One day the strange language these relics bore would be translated and the secrets of the old-world would finally be understood.

Structure

Circles of Knowledge

The Order is made up of several smaller groups called "Circles". They are small, autonomous groups spread across Yrdde, each dedicated to a specific aspect of old-world research - linguistic deciphering, technological analysis, magical artifact study, and the potentially dangerous task of retrieving relics from unexplored ruins. The individual groups rarely interact, as by design they know as little about each other as possible. A single member, chosen for loyalty and skill, is usually sent with all gathered knowledge once a year to a secure location where the recorded information is collated and left for the archivists to sift through.

The Archivists

At the heart of the Order lies a central body of knowledge overseen by The Archivists - a secretive group of elders who guide the Order's goals, curate the recovered information, and safeguard the most powerful and dangerous artifacts within hidden vaults located in unknown locations.

Communication

The Order meets infrequently, usually in secret locations marked with subtly placed symbols known only to members. They employ a blend of traditional ciphers, dead drop locations, and even trained messenger birds that carry coded messages to maintain secrecy and avoid detection. Originally such secrecy was seen as a sort of game, created and built upon by some of the more restless wealthy members early on in the order's history, but with the Imperial crackdown on artifact trade, it has become an essential part of their existence.

Membership

The Order actively seeks individuals who demonstrate both an intense fascination with the Old-World and a keen intellect capable of contributing to their research. They observe scholars, adventurers, and explorers, watching for telltale signs of intellectual curiosity, a penchant for secrecy, and, perhaps most importantly, a hint of loneliness that might suggest a willingness to embrace a hidden community.
Once a potential recruit is identified, they are subtly approached - a cryptic note left at their doorstep, a whispered phrase uttered by a stranger in a crowded market, or a seemingly random encounter with an individual who drops clues leading to a hidden meeting place.
If the recruit accepts the invitation, they undergo a vetting process, a series of veiled questions and subtle tests that probe their character, their willingness to keep secrets, and their dedication to knowledge. Those deemed worthy are then offered the opportunity to join the Order, taking an oath of secrecy, loyalty, and a commitment to protect the legacy of the old-world.

Type

Secret, Brotherhood

Related Myths

• The Old-World