esotericas

Manon hand-binds a copy of the publication, and stores it next to a certain Creature Compendium - First Edition from oh so long ago...

"I wonder," Mused an Alchemist as she pored over her husband's work, "On the mathematics of the soul. How much volume of blood is required to constitute a soul in a body? Can one have a partial soul?" She hummed, and took a sip from her mulled wine. "Much to consider." Though spoken only to herself, her comments were heard by a single entity - a stoic automaton, which waited servantlike in the corner. It watched her silently.

In a gold-panelled office... popcorn is popped.

FROM THE NGS: 3 0 0 Y E A R S O F E X C E L L E N C E TRICENTENNIAL GALA & NEW MUSEUM OPENING •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• THE ATRIUM OF THE NEW RITTERSBURG MUSEUM. •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• W R I T T E N B Y M A N O N Y V A I N E V O N V O L K R I C H P U B L I S H E D B Y T H E N O R T H E R N G E O G R A P H I C A L S O C I E T Y O N T H E 1 9 T H O F H O R E N ’ S C A L L I N G , 2 0 6 7 •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• A BELATED BIRTHDAY SCHOLARS ENJOY THE NGS LIBRARY. •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• Thoughts are free and subject to no rule. On them rests the freedom of man, And they tower above the light of nature. Thoughts create a new sky, A new firmament, A new source of energy, From which new arts flow. •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• ALL ARE INVITED TO JOIN the Northern Geographical Society in an evening of mirth and celebration as we honor not only our own 300 years of academic excellence, but also the great changes and transformations that have occurred in the world at large. At our Tricentennial Gala, we will unveil not only a series of special exhibitions centered around the last three centuries, but also the entirety of our brand-new Rittersburg Headquarters, its extensive renovations finally completed. These renovations - on par with a complete reconstruction - could not have been possible without the financial and diplomatic support of citizens like you. In thanks for these community contributions, it is with great pleasure that we at the NGS invite everyone who may wish to attend our gala to join us in our celebrations; be they noble or common, man or elf. Guests are encouraged to dress finely, in colors of green and maroon, but dress code will not be strictly enforced. ITINERARY: 1st– Opening Gathering 2nd– HQ Ribbon-Cutting & Opening Speech 3rd– Special Exhibit Tours 4th– LANDSKAR Live Performance TIME AND LOCATION: Sunday, February 15th, 5:00 PM EST (Or whenever the warclaim ends, if that is after 5:00 PM EST) NGS Rittersburg HQ (Map & Coords below) •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• SIGNED, Her Ladyship, DAME MANON YVAINE VON VOLKRICH, AUTHOR Dame of Arts, Lady of Deguise, Baroness of Guise and Distrugestadt, President of the Northern Geographical Society P U B L I S H E D U N D E R T H E A U T H O R I T Y O F T H E N G S “ A D T E R R A S N O V A S ” •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────•

T H E N G S A N T H O L O G Y A COMPENDIUM OF PAST STUDIES •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• P U B L I S H E D B Y T H E N O R T H E R N G E O G R A P H I C A L S O C I E T Y L A S T U P D A T E D 2 0 6 7 •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• FOREWORD ORIGINALLY PENNED BY FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT CELESTINE HERBERT. UPDATED BY PRESIDENT MANON VOLKRICH AND PRESIDENT-EMERITUS ELIZABETH BRAE-WITTENBACH AS THE CELEBRATION OF THE NGS’s 300th anniversary approaches, the time seems apt to recall the past three centuries of our excellent scholastic work. For over three hundred years, the Northern Geographical Society and its membership have boldly sought to dispel the fog of ignorance by drafting ethnographies, taxidermies, field guides, histories, and biographies for the public to read and enjoy. The goal at the heart of our organization is to better educate the Descendant peoples not only as to their own heritages, but as to those of their neighbors as well. This Anthology is meant to serve as a continually updated compendium, able to be viewed by the public in order to easily access all that we have written as a professional body of scholars and explorers. It is my sincere hope that in publishing this compendium of NGS studies, the peoples of Azuras might be able to learn something new about their own cultures, and those of their neighbors, than had otherwise been passed on to them. •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• ETHNOGRAPHIES & CULTURAL STUDIES DISCLAIMER: CELESTINE HERBERT’S ETHNOGRAPHIES OF THE KINGDOM OF HAENSE AND THE COMMONWEALTH OF KAEDRIN WERE COMMISSIONED BY THE IMPERIAL MINISTRY OF CIVIL AFFAIRS DURING THE 1760S, THUS PREDATING THE FORMATION OF THE NGS. HOWEVER, WE HAVE INCLUDED THEM IN THIS COMPENDIUM AS WE CONSIDER THESE PIECES TO BE KEY PARTS OF THE NGS’S LEGACY, AS THE ACADEMIC ACCLAIM AFFORDED FROM THE PUBLICATION OF THESE STUDIES WOULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO HERBERT’S FOUNDING OF THE NORTHERN GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY IN 1762. Celestine Herbert, 1760: Celestine Herbert, 1761: Alexandria Barbanov, 1772: Celestine Herbert, 1777: Celestine Herbert, 1778: Caspia Veronin, 1784: Edward Napier, 1784: Tanith Vursur, 1786: Stephen Carolus, 1793: Beryl Carrington, 1814: Thomas Napier, 1882: Luis Martin, 1951: Elizabeth Brae, 1969: EXPEDITIONARY STUDIES Celestine Herbert, 1764: Celestine Herbert, 1769: Juan de Lyons, 1772: Celestine Herbert & Tanith Vursur, 1785: Zephyrian, 1928: Zephyrian, 1928: Zephyrian, 1930: Vincente von Volkrich, 1943: Manon von Volkrich, 2051: Agriel Stahl-Elendil & A. Banikan, 2054: Vivienne Maelstrom & Phoebe de Senna, 2064: STUDIES ON WORLD HISTORY Celestine Herbert, 1760: Celestine Herbert, 1761: Alexandria Barbanov, 1772: Celestine Herbert, 1778: Tanith Vursur, 1778: Tanith Vursur, Irena vas Ruthern, & Henrietta Marna, 1778: Edward Napier, 1784: Irena vas Ruthern, 1784: Irena vas Ruthern, 1784: Viktor Kortrevich, 1785: (IN PARTNERSHIP WITH B&K PUBLISHING) Viktor Kortrevich, 1786: (IN PARTNERSHIP WITH B&K PUBLISHING) Irena vas Ruthern, 1790: (IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MARIC VAR RUTHERN) Yuliya Styrne, 1792: (IN PARTNERSHIP WITH J.D. CHAPEL & ASSOCIATES) Dannika Wittenbach, 1793: Alric var Ruthern & Irene vas Ruthern, 1804: Irene vas Ruthern, 1810: Tanith Vursur, 1823: Tanith Vursur, 1825: Klemens Wittenbach, 1928: James Vursur, Elizabeth Brae, & Inny Yuln’aher, 1944: James Vursur & Manon von Volkrich, 1945: James Vursur & Glorier Maiheiuh, 1946: James Vursur, 1990: Erika Kortrevich, 2016: Rothwin Aldor, 2059: STUDIES ON WOMEN Tanith Vursur, Irena vas Ruthern, & Henrietta Marna, 1778: Irena vas Ruthern, 1784: Irena vas Ruthern, 1784: Yuliya Styrne, 1792: (IN PARTNERSHIP WITH J.D. CHAPEL & ASSOCIATES) Erika Kortrevich, 2005: Erika Kortrevich, 2006: Erika Kortrevich, 2007: Erika Kortrevich, 2011: Erika Kortrevich, 2011: STUDIES ON ALCHEMY, BOTANY, NATURALISM, & HERBOLOGY Alexandria Barbanov, 1769: Edward Napier, 1777: (DISCLAIMER: DR. NAPIER’S CONJECTURES ON THE AGE OF THE WORLD ARE ENTIRELY HIS OWN. THEY ARE IN NO WAY REFLECTIVE OF THE GREATER NGS’S VIEWS ON THE MATTER AS AN ORGANIZATION.) Edward Napier, 1830: Manon von Volkrich, 1919: Manon von Volkrich, 1927: Manon von Volkrich, 1931: Manon von Volkrich, 1937: Erika Kortrevich, 2024: Erika Kortrevich, 2034: Manon von Volkrich, 2057: MAPS & CHARTS Abram Stalistena, 1770: C. O. Grapher, 1796: ECONOMICS, RESEARCH METHODS, & MISCELLANEOUS STUDIES Juan de Lyons, 1772: April Vallei’onn, 1801: Elibar’Indor Hilea, 1832: Elibar’Indor Hilea, 1832: Elibar’Indor Hilea, 1875: Thomas Napier, 1875: Elibar’Indor Hilea, 1877: Erika Kortrevich, 2004: •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• P U B L I S H E D U N D E R T H E A U T H O R I T Y O F T H E N G S “ A D T E R R A S N O V A S ” THE VIEWS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THESE DOCUMENTs ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THEIR AUTHOR(S). THE NORTHERN GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY CONTENTS. •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────•

"Oh, most certainly!" Within the gold-draped interior of her office, Manon uncorked a bottle of Petran Red, and poured two glasses in celebration.

The President of the NGS looked over the newly-printed document with a contented smile, and pinned it up on the NGS noticeboard.

FROM THE NGS: H O M E C O M I N G & A U C T I O N A RETURN TO TRADITION & A SCHOLASTIC RENAISSANCE •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• THE PRESIDENT’S DESK. •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• W R I T T E N B Y M A N O N Y V A I N E V O N V O L K R I C H P U B L I S H E D B Y T H E N O R T H E R N G E O G R A P H I C A L S O C I E T Y O N T H E 1 1 T H O F S U N ' S S M I L E , 2 0 6 4 •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• TO NEW BEGINNINGS AN NGS EXPLORER AT WORK. LONG HAVE THE HALLS OF the Northern Geographical Society, mankind’s oldest academic institution, lain dormant, its spirit of scholasticism and exploration nary a glimmer in the dark skies of the wider world, the landscapes of academia barren and untouched. But our scholars have begun the spring plough, and the fields of Mankind will be sown with knowledge once more. As our body of scholarship and membership grows, so too must our image of the Society itself - and so must our museums. It is thus that the NGS announces the official location of its new Azuras Headquarters - only a decade or so later than originally intended. In a time of worldwide change and reconstruction, we have seen fit to return to our roots, the very soil from which the NGS grew some three centuries ago: the fertile ground of the Imperial heartlands. The keen-eyed among you will have spotted a little notice outside the grounds of the former Rittersburg Mage’s College, and it is there that the NGS will take up its new housing, and continue to grow in corpus and spirit - but those Petrans who have come to use and appreciate our local facilities must fear not. Our roots may be in the Empire, but our branches have long wrapped themselves around the Petran heart, and our Petran museum will remain as open and well-maintained as ever, under the careful stewardship of our Chief Ambassador and the manager of all our international affairs, President-Emeritus Elizabeth Brae-Wittenbach. Once renovations are complete, the NGS membership will enjoy brand-new, exquisite facilities, including members-only housing, a state-of-the-art Alchemy laboratory and telescope, and access to communal living and dining spaces. The HQ museum and library will, as ever, remain open to the public, as will our yearly meetings. In addition, a few special events are upcoming on the NGS docket, including a charity auction to help fund the extensive renovations required to clear the new building of the remnants of its previous occupation. Attendees will be able to bid in minas on the following prizes, as well as some others that may be amended onto this post in the coming weeks. The greatest donors, whether they donate minas directly or purchase auction items, will have their names memorialized on our new building! [ OOC: I will edit this post with more info + auction items as they’re added. ] [ Auction date, Sunday Jan. 25, 5:00 pm EST / 10:00 pm GMT ] [ Auction will be held in the new NGS HQ in Rittersburg, (1166, 66, -1020) ] [1x] Custom hat or accessory (figura) Offered by myself Starting bid, 100 mina [1x] Custom automaton pet, tool, or prosthetic Offered by myself Starting bid, 200 mina [1x] Custom outfit Offered by Lady Morwenna Erendhrim [Sarahbarah] Starting bid, 250 mina [1x] Custom portrait artwork Offered by Lady Erika Kortrevich [Toffee2k] Starting bid, 500 mina The NGS is open to all, regardless of class, education level, or race, and it prizes itself on its intellectual diversity and independence. If exploration, scholarship, or library science are of any interest, please consider stopping by one of our weekly meetings, and consider taking a peek at our Society Flyer. [ OOC: Discord link at the bottom of the flyer. ] •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• SIGNED, Her Ladyship, DAME MANON YVAINE VON VOLKRICH, AUTHOR Dame of Arts, Lady of Deguise, Baroness of Guise and Distrugestadt, President of the Northern Geographical Society Her Imperial Highness, VALENTINA OF ASTURIAS, PATRON Crown Princess of the Empire of Man, Queen-Consort of Burgundy, Lady Chamberlain, Duchess-Consort of Grense, Baroness of Montero and Lady of Asturias Her Ladyship, ELIZABETH BRAE-WITTENBACH, PATRON Lady of Du Loc, Knight of the Petrine Order, President-Emeritus & Chief Ambassador of the Northern Geographical Society Mayor, GENNAD VAR VIGO, PATRON Mayor of Rittersburg P U B L I S H E D U N D E R T H E A U T H O R I T Y O F T H E N G S “ A D T E R R A S N O V A S ” •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────•

The President of the Northern Geographical Society skimmed through the paper, with an eye less for its contents, and more for its style, character, and quality. She let out a pleased hum, and added it to a file on her desk.

A certain Alchemist thinks she ought to pay her Uncle Jeffrey a visit.

i'm a lil late because i was taking a break from my computer but here is a nonexhaustive list of some of the ppl i'm grateful for @sarahbarah@Moenah@Melpomenne@garentoft for being some of my earliest friends in haense back when i (and manon) were weird little goobers with no idea what we were doing. most of you are too busy with your grown up adult lives these days to rp much, but i adore you all still. your warmth & welcome was so so appreciated, as was your fantastic roleplay @frankdhand @critteri love you both to bits, and you are some of the kindest and best rpers ive ever had the privilege of rping with. al corn and fabian will forever be stuck in my memory <33 @myochii@Koodini@prophetisms@krispeechips@Toffee@Frawlic@dev_clarki truly couldn't ask for a better group of students/surrogate children/apprentices/sycophants/grandbabies than you all. your passion and joy and whimsy has brought me through some really tough times <3 i love u all @LatverianExpressi think we've put in over 100 hrs on our scuffed movie nights atp. more xfiles soon. @Irenei adore you and everything you do. i feel like we're ships passing in the night, i think it's been almost a year since i've properly rped with you, but it feels like ur always right around the corner. there will always be raccoons at deguise bc of you. so much love <3333 @Dyl@Cally@Maiyuna grab bag of folks i rarely talk to oocly, and yet who im always running into irp and doing awesome stuff with. u guys are the best @BoneChive@RoamingRonin@Gajaretroactively make me a midnight son pls @xo31congrats on the blacklist @wardyni'm sorry for dragging you into this nightmare of a server. tell jude i miss her

BOOK TWO : VOLUME 6 BODY, BLOOD & SOUL •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• THE SUNLIT LABORATORY OF THE LADY ALCHEMY. •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• W R I T T E N B Y M A N O N Y V A I N E V O N V O L K R I C H P U B L I S H E D B Y T H E N O R T H E R N G E O G R A P H I C A L S O C I E T Y O N T H E 1 6 T H O F G O D F R E Y ' S T R I U M P H , 2 0 5 7 •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• Hello again. I’ve missed you. While I consider my career in Alchemical writing to be largely concluded, recent discussions on the nature of the body have reignited my inspiration, and I bring you, after over a century of silence, another issue of From The Office of the Alchemist. Today’s topic is the self and the soul - in particular, the aspects of the self, their functions, and the physical housing of the soul. I shall not belabor this introduction any more than necessary. LET US BEGIN. ── • 𖥠 • ── IT IS CRITICAL IN the understanding of Alchemical philosophy to understand the self. The Alchemical philosopher’s goal, after all, is transformation of the self, but as yet the self has not been thoroughly defined, and, similarly - fundamental to that definition is the ever-ambiguous nature of the soul. We shall endeavour to give both form in the following work. The self can be understood as the combination of the mortal Spheres - the Emotional and the Material - and the soul. So it is that our personal notions of our self may shift as any of these three elements undergo change; puberty, injury, loss, love, magic, and religion all affect our idea of our selves. I will not be fully elaborating on the concepts of the Spheres, the Emotional, or the Material in this work - they are discussed in Vol. 2.1 While some of the notions are outdated, and will be addressed later, the core concepts remain present in my work. The Emotional self is the internal, abstracted self - the mind, emotion, and other means of processing stimuli. This sphere of the self is shaped by the nonphysical experience - the thoughts and feelings, the instincts, and so on. These abstract systems are managed and represented by physical organs - in this case, the brain and the heart. The brain is the physical housing for the conscious experience - thought, analysis, memory, calculation, and design, for example. These processes are (generally) under our control, and are conscious and deliberate. We are aware of them as they happen. Unlike those of the brain, the processes housed in the heart are the unconscious ones - instinctive reactions, emotions, artistic tastes, and empathy to name a few. These are the abstract processes over which we have very little control, and sometimes are not even immediately aware are occurring. Both the workings of the mind and the heart are informed by sensory data from the Material body. They are, fundamentally, centers of data processing. Both conscious and unconscious processing are instrumental to living a fulfilled life, and a natural imbalance between the two is often the cause of stagnation in research, career, or life satisfaction. The Material self, then, includes the organs of both data-gathering and and change-making. It is where physical feeling occurs - pain, pleasure, hunger, thirst, exhaustion, and energy to name a few. It serves two fundamental, but related, purposes: the first, to gather information about the world via the sensory organs and send it to the brain and heart. The second, to take commands from the brain and heart and enact those commands on itself and on the world.2 The Material > Emotional > Material pathway will be familiar to those who have read my earlier work as being comparable to the pathway of material Alchemy, in which the Alchemist takes a reagent (Material), extracts the Symbols (Emotional) from it, and uses those Symbols to create a new potion (Material.) In this way, the process of Alchemy can be considered an extension of the process of life itself. But what connects these two systems, you ask? What binds the Emotional and Material bodies together, and allows for their rapid communication? Why - the blood, of course! The blood is responsible for dispersing caloric and respiratory energy to the muscles, as well as carrying sensory information to the brain and heart, and relaying their commands back to the body. The blood is driven by many forces, but in particular it is pushed by the regular beating of the heart. Moments of stress, requiring rapid and intense decision-making are therefore known to increase the heart rate, as messages between the Emotional and Material must be carried back and forth at a faster rate. All of this is, if not common knowledge, at least easy enough to extrapolate. But I wish to make a further argument about the nature of the blood - that it is the organ that houses the immortal soul. ── • 𖥠 • ── MANKIND HAS LONG DEBATED where the soul resides within the body. Most commonly, scholars feel that the soul is one with the mind, and indeed that was my conception of it as described in my earlier work. However, after further study into various forms of false, soulless life, including those of machine automata, clay homunculi, and other such creations, soulless entities are fully capable of analysis and conscious thought - so the mind can not be the same as the soul. Nevertheless the soul is certainly more strongly linked to the Emotional self than to the Material self, (the particular reasons for which are known to Alchemists and unimportant for laymen,) so it must still be tightly bound to the Emotional systems of the body. It is for this reason that I believe the soul to be housed in the bloodstream, the only system with a presence throughout the entire body, and without which we immediately die. My primary support of this belief is the notorious painful effect of Aurum on the blood of those with tainted or damaged souls. In this way, because of its unique effects, the Aurum must be coming into contact with the soul in these instances, and it comes into contact with the blood - thus, the soul and the blood are in some way bound together. Similarly, it is known that parents pass on their blood to their children, and the blood of both parents is combined in the child, even though the child’s flesh is otherwise unique and new. Similarly, children of parents with certain types of damage to their souls may bear similar stains on their own, particularly well known in the cases of the Cursed Children. Even in instances lacking any soul-taint, children are known to inherit personality and mannerisms from their parents - even those who have been separated from their parents at birth - and so these quirks of the soul must have been passed on via the sharing of blood. The ramifications of this possible theory, the soul’s tie to the blood, are many, but I shall for the moment leave them unwritten and instead invite you to ponder on them yourselves. There are as well many other points to be made in arguing this idea, but these shall suffice for now, for the sake of brevity. While I can not prove for a fact - and I am certain that is by God’s deliberate design - this tie between soul and blood, it seems the most logical and sound argument for the housing of the soul I have seen thus far, and in my decades of experimenting with this theory, I have yet to find any convincing evidence to the contrary. That said, I do welcome conversation and debate on the topic, and I hope those of you reading this will consider sharing your own ideas with the world. ── • 𖥠 • ── 1. Dame Manon Yvaine von Volkrich: From The Office of the Alchemist vol. 2: A Foray Into Alchemical Philosophy; 1919. Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska. [LINK] 2. Imbalance in the Material body is even more common than imbalance in the Emotional body, but is easily solved via careful balancing of the diet, which will be elaborated on in a soon-to-follow publication. •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• Her Ladyship, DAME MANON YVAINE VON VOLKRICH Dame of Arts, Lady of Deguise, Baroness of Guise and Distrugestadt, President of the Northern Geographical Society P U B L I S H E D U N D E R T H E A U T H O R I T Y O F T H E N G S “ A D T E R R A S N O V A S ” THE VIEWS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS DOCUMENT ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF ITS AUTHOR(S). THE NORTHERN GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY CONTENTS. •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• EX OFFICINA ALCHYMISTAE

OOC:

•───────────•❄•───────────• •───────────•❄•───────────• [!] A FLYER FINDS ITSELF IN THE HANDS OF ALL THOSE WITH JOY IN THEIR HEARTS, DISTRIBUTED BY COVER OF NIGHT ACROSS AZURAS. ANY WHO WISH TO MAY ROLEPLAY HAVING FOUND THIS MISSIVE. •───────────•❄•───────────• The holidays dawn clear and bright, Northernmost star shines true at night. You pure of heart with souls of light, My message heed and letter write! Make your request, one gift for each, And when your letter does me reach, In my shop, wonders I will make, But hear this first, lest you mistake: The good child finds fine gifts they get, The bad child unwraps only woe. So children please be at your best, Don't misbehave, I'll always know! – The North Star ❄ (Direct letters to The North Star. Please include your name, age, and directions to your place of residence in the letter. Parents may assist younger children if needed.) •───────────•❄•───────────• [!] ATTACHED TO EACH FLYER WAS A BLANK POSTCARD, THE MAILING ADDRESS ALREADY PENCILLED IN... •───────────•❄•───────────• OOC: [ IMPORTANT! ] Send letters to my first slot, Manon (IGN esotericas), or in the comments on this post, if you decorated a card! PLEASE include IGNS and RP street addresses, so I know where to deliver gifts to! I'm aware that it's a bit early for Christmas RP for many people, but I'd like to give people time to think about what they want, and give myself plenty of time to make lots of items. Gifts will be delivered sometime after Dec. 15 and before Christmas. Feel free to request multiple things if you want to give me options, but I will only be making one item per OOC player. Bonus points if you fill out the postcard as your persona would, and send me that! Letters MUST be sent on or before December 15th. Some things that will get you put on the extra-nice list: Providing details about color / style / etc. preferences Filling out the postcard in-character Taking your time to think about what you want Asking for creative or unusual things Being a good child and doing what your parents tell you Spreading whimsy and holiday cheer Some things that will get you put on the naughty list: Sending multiple letters from different personas Lying about your persona’s age to get a gift Asking for things your persona doesn’t know exist Being bad child and being mean to your siblings Spreading evil and holiday gloom •───────────•❄•───────────•

"A wonderful addition to the NGS collection," Manon affirmed, pinning the report up to the corresponding location on her map of Azuras.

FROM THE NGS A FIRST FORAY INTO THE AZURIAN WILDERNESS •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• THE FROZEN SCENE. •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• W R I T T E N B Y M A N O N Y V A I N E V O N D I S T R U G E R E P U B L I S H E D B Y T H E N O R T H E R N G E O G R A P H I C A L S O C I E T Y O N T H E 9 T H O F S U N ’ S S M I L E , 2 0 5 1 •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• “Before us stretched an endless span of grey sea, the scattered pockmarks of icebergs upon it, and looming above this flat unmoving surface, great spears of frozen seawater reached toward the heavens as if wrested from the waves themselves. Trapped in these spires and swells of ice were the ruins of myriad sailing vessels, their crews and cargo long-departed.” 𖥠 “My compatriots and I, fortified against the cold and geared for mountain-climbing, advanced across the bobbing icebergs toward the ships. The scene that unfolded before us was unlike anything we had ever seen, the frozen image of a long-forgotten battle preserved perfectly in ice.” – Excerpts from the diary of the President. •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• In the far northeast of our new home of Azuras lays a forgotten naval disaster, an army of ships stuck forever in the thick of a chaotic fight against an unknown enemy. In the interest of studying the many mysteries of this new continent, the scholars of the NGS took to the snow and ice in search of answers to the many questions to be found in this scene. I myself was accompanied by Dr. A. Banikan as historical consultant, Ser Aviel Helfgott as protection, Kato Oro as field artist, and Archmage Arthur as magical support. Our journey began on the westernmost edge of the scene, which I had initially spotted while hunting for Athin in the Norlandic hinterlands. THE JOURNEY NORTHWARD. Six three-masted vessels were strewn about the frozen cliffs and surrounding iceberg field as if thrown about by some great force, and a few were trapped within glaciers at impossible angles, which would have required a nigh-instantaneous freezing of the ice that held them. Though some of the surrounding glaciers were certainly naturally eroded, our historians agreed that the ice that trapped the ships was no doubt magical in origin, so sharp and fierce were the spikes, and so defined was the curve of a wave frozen mid-crest. Our scholars were however unable to determine the precise origin or function of these vessels. The one ship we were able to explore in full depth lacked any sort of crest or insignia, and we could find no trace of either cargo or cannon on board, nor in the surrounding waters. Dr. Banikan did suggest that these ships were of more modern make, however, proposing a general date of between the 18th and 20th centuries, perhaps originating from an early Petrine or Empire offshoot. “AND SO DEFINED WAS THE CURVE OF A WAVE FROZEN MID-CREST.” No sign at all remains of those who once crewed these ships, and our scholars were simply left to wonder at what might have caused their imprisonment in the first place. Considering the proposed magical origin, Archmage Arthur suggested either an Ice-Dragon or an Aengudaemonic force as being capable of such tremendous scale of magic. We also discussed the possibility of a storm, but concluded this was unlikely, given the remarkable preservation of the ships. Almost all of them were entirely preserved in full, undamaged except for expected decay caused by prolonged exposure to moisture. THE FLAGSHIP. Our journey over ice and snow took us eastward through the scene, where we spotted a seventh ship set high atop a glacier, its anchor hanging down above the ocean. It was balanced carefully atop a stony arch, its blood-red flag still flying in the icy winds. We concluded, in the words of Dr. Banikan: This one would tell us what we needed to know. The climb up the cliff was arduous, fierce winds battering us and deathly cold sea waiting below, but the scene when we reached the top was equally desolate. Like the others, this ship was stripped of all crests, insignias, and cargo, no bunks were below its decks. Whether these were stripped by later looters, or whether whatever caused this tragedy removed any hope of identification, we may never know, but one thing is certain: this ship was left here as a message. A warning to any who might consider enraging this great force, to think again. AN UNFINISHED TALE. With no bodies to bury, and no more threads to pull, our scholars soon retreated from the preserved memorial, minds heavy with new questions. What power could cause such devastation? Who were its frozen victims? And, most importantly, WOULD IT RETURN? •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• Her Ladyship, DAME MANON YVAINE VON DISTRUGERE, AUTHOR & EXPEDITION LEADER Dame of Arts, Lady of Deguise, Baroness of Guise and Distrugestadt, President of the Northern Geographical Society P U B L I S H E D U N D E R T H E A U T H O R I T Y O F T H E N G S “ A D T E R R A S N O V A S ” THE VIEWS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS DOCUMENT ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF ITS AUTHOR(S). THE NORTHERN GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY CONTENTS. •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────•

A RENEWED INTRODUCTION TO EST. 1762 •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• P U B L I S H E D B Y T H E N O R T H E R N G E O G R A P H I C A L S O C I E T Y O N T H E 7 T H O F T O B I A S ’ S B O U N T Y , 2 0 5 1 •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• WHAT IS THE NGS? FOUNDED BY CELESTINE HERBERT IN 1762, the Northern Geographical Society (NGS) is a highly prestigious, international scholastic organization made up of anthropologists, historians, naturalists, cartographers, and many other varieties of scholars and adventurers alike. We are dedicated to the creation and diffusement of knowledge of all kinds through the upkeep of museums around the world and the undertaking of expeditions to expand Mankind’s ever-growing horizons. We support a chain of museums and libraries across the continent with the goal of eventually establishing one in every major nation. Currently, the NGS is taking residence in its Petran branch, but our official headquarters will be under construction very soon. The institutions we maintain serve to educate the public on a variety of different topics in the fields of culture, history, and naturalism across the land, as well as to inspire a love of knowledge and exploration in the hearts of all. The operations of the NGS transcend state borders, and our Society takes great pride in the academic, ethnic, and cultural diversity of our membership. Our museums are all operated by professionals with impeccable credentials in their areas of expertise, and we take great pride in both our independence as an organization and in our reputation as an unbiased academic society of the utmost integrity. NGS members are always seeking to understand the world around them in greater detail, and to push beyond the boundaries of the familiar world into the mysterious reaches of the unknown. •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• A LITTLE WHO’S-WHO MANON YVAINE VON DISTRUGERE 6TH PRESIDENT OF THE NGS. EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP: THE PRESIDENT THE PRESIDENT OF THE NGS is the supreme leader and chief executive of the Society. They are elected for life to become leader of the Celestial Trust until death, retirement, or impeachment to administer the museums, personnel, and expeditionary endeavors of the organization with the utmost integrity and perseverance. The Presidency has been filled by Manon Yvaine von Distrugere @esotericas, a revered scholar, philosopher, and Alchemist. She oversees all of the organization’s global operations and executive functions from our upcoming HQ. THE VICE PRESIDENT The Vice President of the NGS exists to assist the President in their endeavors, seeing to the administrative functions of the various museums and branches within the Society on their behalf and standing in the President’s stead whenever they might not be available. The position of Vice President is held by Vincente von Distrugere @LatverianExpress. THE CELESTIAL TRUST The Celestial Trust serves as the governing board of the Northern Geographical Society, made up of dignified individuals who have proven themselves to be capable scholars and explorers alike. It is their duty to answer the call to adventure if requested to do so by the President, to approve of external arrangements made with other organizations or foreign governments, to suggest new events or activities that the Society might engage in, and to approve the President’s nomination of new Celestial Trustees. The Celestial Trust also plays a key role in the selection of our organization’s President. During the selection of a President of the Northern Geographical Society, the sitting President (or the Vice President if deceased) will nominate one or two members of the Celestial Trust to succeed them, and the Celestial Trust will select the President from this pool by means of a two-thirds majority vote. In order to gain admission to the Celestial Trust, an individual must prove themselves worthy enough to receive a nomination from the President. This can be done either through noteworthy achievements done outside of the NGS or through multiple years of service as a member of one of the Society’s divisions. THE FOUR DIVISIONS: DIVISION CHIEFS THE DIVISION CHIEFS OF THE NGS are veterans of the Society who are extremely skilled in their respective focus areas. They are charged with giving direction to and coordinating the members of the Society in their endeavors. These include: CHIEF OF RESEARCH The Research Division of the NGS is dedicated to the drafting and collection of historical, natural, and anthropological studies to be put on display in the various museum branches of our Society. The Chief of Research is charged with coordinating all ongoing research endeavors, brainstorming new cooperative academic projects, and endeavoring to set goals for this branch of the NGS on a regular basis. While most researchers tend to focus on writing their own projects, the Chief of Research helps them to strive toward accomplishing their goals using the Society’s many resources. The position of Chief of Research is currently unoccupied. CAPTAIN OF THE EXPLORATION CORPS Members of the Exploration Corps of the NGS are dedicated to delving into the unknown. Be it an unexplored geographical region, the dangerous lair of a beast, or a little visited foreign culture, these brave adventurers strive to document the unknown and obtain cultural and historical artifacts on our organization’s behalf. These fearless adventurers are not your average grave robbers. They are trained, sensitive professionals who are as sharp of wit as they are in their exploratory skills. The Captain of the Exploration Corps is tasked with coordinating adventures and all exploratory endeavors on behalf of the whole Society. They regularly brief the membership on strange new lands which need to be investigated and lead expeditions into the unknown. Traditionally, they also make sure that NGS personnel are trained in such a way so as to be able to defend themselves and overcome dangerous situations while working in the field. The position of Captain of the Exploration Corps is held by Vincente von Distrugere. CHIEF AMBASSADOR Our Diplomacy Division includes tour guides, public liaisons, and event planners who strive to maintain a lively atmosphere within the museums which the NGS maintains. These agents are organized by the Chief Ambassador who is tasked with managing outreach, advertising, and international negotiations for the NGS, including the loans of unique artifacts for special exhibits, charters for local museums, and the hosting of collaborative events between the NGS and other bodies. The position of Chief Ambassador is held by Adirnien Narthadis @Maiyun. CHIEF ARCHIVIST The Archives division is the newest of the four, but nevertheless exceedingly crucial. NGS Archivists purchase books, organize libraries, design museum exhibits, and otherwise keep the NGS Archives, libraries, and museums around the world running as smoothly as possible. The Chief Archivist is responsible for leading the maintenance, organization, and propagation of the Society’s libraries and museums. They are charged with the upkeep of the NGS HQ and the management of librarians, tour guides, exhibit creators, and local museum curators. The position of Chief Archivist is currently unoccupied. •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER WHILE WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE in our status as an academic organization characterized by impartiality and integrity, the Northern Geographical Society also considers itself to be a tightly knit family. We care very greatly for the members of our Society, and we as explorers, academics, and adventurers work together in tight collaboration so that the mission and vision of the NGS might be realized. There are a number of different ways of getting involved with the Northern Geographical Society, easily suiting whatever amount of time and effort a person wishes to dedicate to our organization. Our members range from volunteer tour guides to world renowned academics, warriors, and philosophers, and we at the NGS value a wide variety of skill sets and employ them all in the pursuit of our mission. Non-members are welcome to participate in our yearly meetings [Sundays, 4:30 PM EST at NGS HQ] and are often invited to attend our events, but full membership to the NGS is obtained via the completion of a tailored quest given by a member of NGS leadership (that being the President, Vice President, or a Division Chief.) Aspiring members are advised to attend at least one standard Society meeting before requesting a quest, but NGS leadership may be approached at any time to solicit quests. Members may join any or all of the three divisions of the NGS at their leisure, though division-related activities are open to all members of the Society. [ JOIN DISCORD SERVER ] Inquiries may be directed to the following persons at this time: Manon Yvaine von Distrugere [IGN: esotericas] Vincente von Distrugere [IGN: latverianexpress] Ardirnien Narthadis [IGN: maiyun] Cardinal James Vursur [IGN: wholesome_thomas] If you wish to support the NGS in other ways, by donating minas, land, books, artifacts, or some other form of aid, you may again inquire with the persons listed above. Substantial donations will be thanked with the title of Benefactor in our museums, and will earn our eternal gratitude. •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────• Her Ladyship, DAME MANON YVAINE VON DISTRUGERE, AUTHOR Dame of Arts, Lady of Deguise, Baroness of Guise and Distrugestadt, President of the Northern Geographical Society P U B L I S H E D U N D E R T H E A U T H O R I T Y O F T H E N G S “ A D T E R R A S N O V A S ” •─────────────────•𖥠•─────────────────•

✩ A MESSAGE ✩ •─────────────────────•✦•─────────────────────• BEING, BY NATURE OF ITS NAME AND WRITING, A BRIEF MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE NGS CONCERNING TRAVEL PLANS AND A DESIRE FOR RECRUITMENT. •───•✩•───• Though it is not in my nature, I will attempt to be brief. Any soul who has seen the turning of enough years will know in their soul that Man is a wandering race, a homeless species, eternally forbidden habitat or home. We are all of us nomads, parents and children walking different roads in different lands in different worlds. Or, perhaps, sailing different seas, as we prepare to do now. I will not belabor Man’s upcoming departure from Aevos, it is no secret to any of us. With our uncertain future, however, comes a well of new knowledge, new energy, new passion - and a well that must be harnessed by the bright and the able. To all those who already consider themselves members of the NGS: We will depart from the docks of Chambery when the time comes, aboard the many ships that sit unused in its port. They are sound and many, and will hold all those in need. •───•✩•───• TO THE REST OF YOU: I extend an arm of welcome to any who might consider themselves adventurers, philosophers, scholars, cartographers, artists, warriors, explorers, healers, alchemists, or students of any art of the body and mind. The Northern Geographical Society needs you. Your talents, no matter what they are, are needed, and will be needed all the more when we step foot in whatever new world awaits us. Our hearth is warm, our hearts are merry, and our minds are sharp. The halls of the NGS welcome explorers of all creeds and kinds, so long as they have good nature, love of learning, and a desire for purpose. The Society is at the cusp of a rebirth. Any with a good head on their shoulders and the boldness to join us may well have a hand in shaping our bright future. Consider dropping in. You might find what you’re looking for. [ Sundays, 4:30 PM EST ] [ Currently at Deguise (1800, 120, 330) ] [ Transition map meeting location TBD ] [ Discord ] •─────────────────────•✦•─────────────────────• Signed, Dame, MANON YVAINE VON DISTRUGERE The Star Lord, Dame of Arts, Lady of Deguise, Baroness of Distrugestadt, President of the Northern Geographical Society •─────────────────────•✦•─────────────────────• •─────────────────────•✦•─────────────────────• ✩ RISE! AWAKE! SEEK THE GREAT TEACHERS, AND ATTEND! ✩

ok so when are u fixing vaults

Madame M, Proprietor of the North Star Company considers filing a copyright infringement lawsuit. She then remembers that copyright does not exist in this world, and also that she's retired. Oh well.