Archive Sign
The Signs
The marking's meanings themselves aren't terribly complex, but they're not meant to be. At least, not for those in the Archive. Rather, they're meant to be subtle, nondescript, and easy to miss while conveying what building an Archivist should go to. Most that are marked are, at base, a safe haven for any Archivist that might need help. The manner of help they might find would depend on what sort of building they've found themselves.
Used to designate buildings that are bases for Departments. This includes housing for Archivists that work in Departments, but generally refers to a large front where a Department is based out of and stores most of the Archive's supplies and information for the area. It falls under the jurisdiction of a Master Archivist. They are buildings such as stores, places of service like restaraunts, or large warehouses that won't draw suspicion depending on the location.
Used to designate a Field Archivist drop off spot. These buildings can be just about anything : homes, places of business, market stalls in public markets, or even carriages or wagons. A Field Archivist usually knows the location of the drop off spot and, so long as the sign is not closed, they know it is safe to deposit their material, research, or supplies.
This simple design is carved on Archivists homes. If that is the only function of the building. It's to mark safe houses, so Archivists might recognize one another in the world.
This usually indicates that a business or building is owned by either a Master or Senior Archivist, and that it is Archive friendly. These are more frequently found in larger cities, on taverns and inns, where Archivists will look for places that will seem safer and Archive approved.
There are a lot of reasons that a building will no longer be viable for the Archivists to be used. Whether it's closed, the owner has moved on, or it's been raided by someone or a group with conflicting interests, this symbol will be scrawled over the others. The intent is to clearly mar the previous, but with intent and in a precise fashion, so that it can't be mistaken as wear and tear or it can easily be indentified if someone else has messed with it.
The Archive leaves these markings somewhere on the door or front of a building, usually someplace low so they are not immediately noticable. But if someone knows what they're looking for, if they're pointed in a direction or a street, then the various Signs will note what a building is and if it's the sort an Archivist might be looking for.
Used By:
The ArchiveSecrecy
In an organization as big and expansive as the Archive, it can be difficult to maintain the hidden meaning of the Signs. Thus, they are an aggressively protected secret. Not to say they've never been exploited, but the Archive isn't an organization to cross lightly. Though the Archive highly prizes information, they hoard it and do not willingly part with whatever they've collected without payment in some form or fashion.In addition to the commonly known signs, each Master and Senior Archivist usually creates a couple known only to those in their sphere of influence.
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