Starbound Lorekeepers Syndicate
The Starbound Lorekeepers Syndicate (SLS) is a collective of spacefaring individuals in the Rapide Frontier with a common goal of finding, collecting, protecting, dispersing, or destroying historical artifacts and knowledge from the Crystal Spheres and the spaces between them.
Structure
Though originally small enough that Rushari personally oversaw all members of the Syndicate, a more formalized membership system eventually emerged, with each subsequent level offering more resources and access to more of the SLS's archived knowledge. The four ranks are:
Volunteer: The lowest rank given to newcomers that have yet to discover knowledge worth archiving from expeditions.
Novice: A member who has completed at least one expedition.
Lorekeeper: A member bestowed the title by Rushari after a show of dedication to the pursuit of learning and spreading knowledge. This is where most of the Syndicate's membership is and is considered by many to be when someone becomes a true part of the SLS.
Archivist: A member who is trusted with the custodianship of the organization's vast knowledge, artifacts, and historical records. Archivists serve as the guardians of the syndicate's collection and are tasked with cataloging, classifying, and safeguarding every piece of knowledge acquired by the SLS, ensuring that it remains accessible to Lorekeepers. While Archivists wield considerable influence within the syndicate, they do not hold formal authority over their fellow members. Instead, they are seen as guides and mentors, offering their expertise and guidance to those who seek.
Above the Archivists is Rushari, who holds no formal title but is recognized by all as the unquestioned head of the Syndicate.
In order to join the Starbound Lorekeepers, one must be invited by a standing Lorekeeper or Archivist.
Culture
The Starbound Sndicate doesn't enforce cooperation or uniformity among its members. Each member of the syndicate brings their own distinct goals, aspirations, and motivations. Some join the Starbound Lorekeepers for glory while others seek the thrill of exploration and discovery or see the pursuit of knowledge as a sacred calling. This diversity of opinion and thought is considered to be a strength for the Syndicate, which can advance its cause of seeking knowledge through individual or group expeditions of scholars or by having artisans, engineers, or diplomats support the Starbound Lorekeepers by building relationships or crafting new items worthy of study.
The Starbound Lorekeepers keep close relationships with many dirtbound institutions of knowledge, such as the Temple of Thoth in Nilespace or the Church of the High Priestess in Arcanaspace. These allow the Syndicate to share knowledge and also extend invitations of membership to trusted and already vetted contacts.
Assets
The primary headquarters of the SLS is located somewhere in Mindspace, though its exact location isn't common knowledge. Nonetheless, it's said to be a place full of knowledge and magical artifacts available for the Syndicate's members to study.
The SLS also maintains a few sattelite bases in the most populous crystal spheres in the Rapide Frontier, such as Nilespace, Arcanaspace, and Pillarspace. These bases, referred to as workshops, vary wildly in form and function, sometimes built into existing locations, formed in pocket dimensions, hidden away in magic forests, and more.
History
In 1444, the Starbound Lorekeepers Syndicate was founded by the shardmind Rushari, a Thought Builder of her people dedicated to locating the missing pieces of the Living Gate. Rushari believed that her people would have a better chance of finding the lost pieces of the Gate if they could work with the myriad of races scattered throughout Wildspace.
Initial attempts to work with others saw little success, as non-shardminds were not overly motivated without some kind of incentive, and so Rushari offered her own collected knowledge and findings as payment. This worked, as adventurers, scholars, adventurers and other curious individuals offered to join the Syndicate, which in turn added to the organization's collective knoweldge pool and resources. While Rushari's goal remained the location of the shards of the Living Gate, the Syndicate had grown into an astral hub for various people throughout the Rapide Frontier seeking a better understanding of their own section of the universe.
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