Papa Liam

[!] This recruitment poster is plastered in the halls of the Northern Geographic Society. However, it is plausible that others may find loose copies. Notice for the Recruitment of Scholars on a project within the Northern Geographical Society Dr. Elibar'Indor Hilea of the Northern Geographical Society is recruiting collaborators and/or research assistants for a research project covering the supposed enlightenment of Canonist, human societies from 1571 to the present. The intention of this longitudinal archival study is meant to track historical themes in majority human and Canonist nations which imply the transition from conservative tradition to liberal "enlightenment." Proper findings should be able to conclude whether or not there has been a consistent transition away from traditional human values to a more liberalized society, and if such a transition is universal among human Canonist nations. The null hypothesis is that such an enlightenment movement does exist. Findings which negate the hypothesis that an enlightenment movement does exist should have causal reasoning as to why human nations have resisted such an enlightenment. The following trends would support the hypothesis: Transition towards secular legal institutions Power entrusted in democratic institutions Tolerance of magic, non-human residency, and behavior previously considered heretical Increased diplomatic communications with non-human societies Public trust in scientific institutions Longevity of contemporary human societies Recruitment to this project is open to current NGS scholars and external applicants. Applicants are expected to have some familiarity in human history, political theory, or philosophy. Previous publications or research experiences are an asset. Those recruited to the project will assist Dr. Hilea in finding archival data to support or negate the notion that there has been a transition towards the aforementioned values. Research assistants will be expected to peruse old documents, including legislative and cultural texts, and to locate discursive patterns which discuss the themes above. After a complete compilation of documents have been collected and summarized, the research team will then begin identifying historical patterns in human law and culture. Multiple papers may be published as a result of this project. Research assistants will be credited accordingly. Should applicants assist in the drafting of publications, they will be credited as co-authors alongside Dr. Hilea, in order of contributions to the project. Members of the research team will be privy to testimony and letters of recommendation to advance their careers within the NGS or elsewhere. Those interested should contact Dr. Hilea directly.

[!] This missive is posted around academic institutions and public spaces of wealthier, more affluent neighborhoods. SEARCHING FOR BENEFACTORS: Creating a Fellowship Fund for Aspiring Doctoral Students THE CONGRESS OF SCHOLARS 87 S.E. To the academic community and philanthropists of Almaris. . . Over the course of the last twelve years, the Congress of Scholars has successfully created the framework for an international academic organization, tasked with standardizing and networking the scholars of Almaris. With affiliated scholars across three accredited institutions, our hope is to foster academic excellency in all fields of education, and to train budding scholars in research methodology. The function and responsibility most noteworthy to the Congress of Scholars is the doctoral accreditation process, as stipulated in the Charter. This process is reserved for the brightest students who have demonstrated excellence, and wish to dedicate their lives to academic research. Doctoral students pursue degrees in their preferred academic discipline under the mentorship of an accomplished scholar, ultimately writing and defending their thesis to the academic community. Even with several active, accredited academics in our organization (with three other students currently pursuing their doctoral degree), the Congress of Scholars wishes to add more budding researchers to our roster of accredited doctors. Through the implementation of a fellowship -- yet to be named -- the Congress may award a sum of mina to our brightest minds, supporting them financially as they dedicate their lives to academic research. The fellowship is also a mark of prestige, awarded only to rising academics who have demonstrated their research interests in a specific area, and have a proficient understanding of writing conventions, research methodology, and their respective academic discipline. The intention of the fellowship is to provide a financial incentive to the greatest researchers in Almaris, regardless of race, religion, or national origin. We are asking for financial benefactors to fund this fellowship, to foster the birth of a new generation of academics. The number of fellowships and grant size will be determined by how much mina is donated. We are particularly searching for donations from the following bodies: Academic institutions Governments Philanthropists Businesses The fellowship will fund the studies of our brightest student(s) studying in any academic subject: Anthropology History Economics Theology & Religious Studies Geology Philosophy Mathematics And other subjects. Scholars who wish to pursue independent studies in a field with relatively little published research will also be sought. Benefactors receive the following benefits: The honor of contributing to the excellency of academic research in Almaris Access to Congress of Scholars networking and social events A seat on the fellowship's board, and subsequently, a say in the eventual name of the fellowship If you are interested in contributing to the academic advancement of Almaris, please contact Dr. Elibar'Indor, Chair of the Congress of Scholars. (Liam#7649) --- Scientia in Unitate

Elibar nodded. "I could use a new bachelor pad."

The Comprehensive Guide to Academic Research By Dr. Elibar’Indor Hilea Northern Geographic Society Press 81 S.E. Almaris is currently in the genesis of an academic renaissance, a rebirth in scholarly thinking and infrastructure which has redefined the livelihoods of those inclined to conduct academic research. With the recent birth and revival of multiple Almarian academic institutions – the Northern Geographic Society, the Vortician Society of Scholars & Artisans, the Arcanic Celian Academy, and the Vienne Institute – the second era marks a transition towards the formalization of academia and an increase in those pursuing scholarly endeavors. I write the preamble to this guide as the Chairman and founder of the Congress of Scholars, acknowledging that our recent success has been attributed to the academic works of our accredited doctoral members. With the recent influx of doctoral students and submissions for the Celestine Herbert Award, I have taken it upon myself to write a basic guide to conduct academic writing in an effort to demystify research. This guide is available to the common layman, but is intended for use by doctoral students in the Congress of Scholars. Objectives of Academic Research: Structure of Research Articles: Research Methodologies:

Elibar presents the paper to his colleagues. "The Congress of Scholars has little Orenian publications under our auspice, and hardly any Orenian scholars in our ranks. Perhaps these gentlemen would be fine candidates for doctoral status."

ACCEPTING DOCTORAL STUDENTS The Congress of Scholars 81 S.E. The Congress of Scholars is currently accepting candidates for doctoral research in history, economics, anthropology, mathematics, literature, linguistics, sociology and any potential academic field. Per the Congress of Scholars' prior missives, the purpose of doctoral research is to commit one's life to academia, pushing the boundaries of descendent knowledge past its current limits. Doctoral training prepares one to become a professional researcher, writer, investigator and teacher in their selected field. Only truly gifted individuals will excel in such an environment; doctoral training involves reading academic literature and writing a rigorous thesis answering a niche research question. If pushing the boundaries of knowledge and synthesizing novel research appeals to you, then consider becoming a doctoral candidate. Doctoral status grants one the agency to facilitate their own academic research through the Congress, eligibility for Congressional research funding, and the ability to organize events within the Congress. Successful candidates also receive the title of "Dr." for life. Candidates are expected to reach out to one of our currently accredited doctors to act as a supervisor who will guide them through the doctoral process. As a result, there is no standardized application for doctoral prospects. The decision to accept a candidate is left to the discretion of the potential supervisor, as they are not obligated to accept any particular applicant as their student. Doctors in the Congress of Scholars excel in the fields of history, anthropology, political science, economics, biology and research methodology. If your academic and research interests are beyond the scope of the Congress' capacity, you may be suited for the independent accreditation pathway (read below). Our currently accredited doctors are: Dr. Edward Napier of the Northern Geographic Society; Naturalism, Adunian History Dr. Elibar'Indor Hilea of the Vortician Society; Economics, Research Methodology Dr. Elizabeth Brae-Wittenbach of the Northern Geographic Society; Political Science, Anthropology Dr. Elizaveta Ulyana of the Northern Geographic Society; Biology Dr. Renae Athri'onn of the Celian Academy; Arcanic Studies Dr. Viction Trito of the Vortician Society; Almarian History, Cultural Studies Doctoral candidates may pursue their training under the auspice of their supervisor's academic institution. Our currently accredited institutions are: Northern Geographic Society, headquartered in Karosgrad Vortician Society of Scholars and Artisans, headquartered in Talon's Port Arcanic Celian Academy, headquartered in Celia'nor Alternatively, candidates who demonstrate academic and research proficiency may pursue independent doctoral studies. This pathway is well suited for those investigating academic disciplines outside the purview of the Congress' currently accredited supervisors. Those who pursue independent candidacy will still have oversight from the Congress, but will not be given academic instruction or guidance; rather, the Congress will simply assure that the candidate's research is of a high caliber. Those interested in independent doctoral studies should contact Dr. Elibar'Indor Hilea, the Chair of the Congress of Scholars, directly. (Liam#7649) Per the Charter of the Congress of Scholars, candidates are expected to accquire the following skills upon receiving their doctoral degree: Mastery of the theoretical knowledge in their selected academic discipline Proficiency in research methodology appropriate to the candidate's discipline Proficiency in academic writing Production of several small academic articles, per the discretion of the candidate's supervisor Production of a proper doctoral thesis, to be defended before a committee of scholars Those with further inquiries should reach out to Chairman Dr. Elibar'Indor (Liam#7649).

((Forum formatting is not optimal for transferring google docs. You can access the original document here.)) Charter of the Congress of Scholars Detailing the Mission, Function and Duties of the Congress of Scholars “Scientia in Unitate” 80 S.E. Preamble The Congress of Scholars is an international forum of scholars which crosses institutional barriers. The board is composed of institutional leaders in academia who organize academic events, programs, and standards to formalize academics and ensure that a new generation of scholars can more effectively share their works and learn from one another. The Congress is not a single university, college, or academic society; it is a neutral arbiter of academic affairs with a mandate to create a community of scholars. The Second Age has marked a dramatic shift in contemporary global cultural attitudes. Following the departure from Arcas, the denizens of Almaris seem to have experienced a scholarly renaissance. The expansion of formal academic institutions in recent decades has created a hospitable space for those who seek to synthesize new knowledge merely for knowledge’s sake. There now exists the capacity to facilitate an international community of scholars who are motivated by nothing more than the accumulation, creation, and publication of knowledge; albeit, a small community. Nonetheless, an apparently small size of dedicated scholars in Almaris is the precise reason that a universal forum should exist to create a more intimate environment for academics who wish to see academia blossom. Mission Statement The mandate of the Congress of Scholars is to foster the next generation of researchers, academics and scholars. The Congress has three primary objectives; to facilitate networking events between scholars of all affiliations, to accredit degree-granting academic institutions, and formalize the process for awarding doctoral credentials. These objectives are not meant to hinder the activities of academic institutions – rather, they are meant to provide support for the next generation of scholars. The motto of the Congress shall be “Scientia in Unitate,” the Flexian phrase for “Knowledge in Unity.” This motto summarizes the benefits of fostering collaboration and cooperation between scholars in different institutions and disciplines, and emphasizes that working together yields mutually beneficial results for all parties. Governance The bureaucracy of the Congress exists to organize academic activities and meetings. The Congressional board is made up of one representative from each accredited institution, as well as one Chairman appointed by a majority vote to facilitate congressional activities in a neutral fashion. The board represents the institutional interests of all academic guilds and may vote to make institutional changes to the Congress, binding to all accredited institutions. Board Members are appointed by the chief executive authority of their respective institution, and the chief executive authority reserves the right to appoint themselves as a Board Member. The Chair is elected by a majority vote of the current Board Members. The Chair may be a scholar associated with an academic institution, but may not be the institution’s chief executive authority. The Chair serves until departure or removal by a majority vote of the Congress. Board Members reserves the subsequent powers: To bring forth any motions to the board regarding the activities of the Congress of Scholars, to vote on any motions presented by other members, and to call for a meeting of the board when they deem fit. The Chair reserves the subsequent powers: To facilitate the agenda of board meetings, to moderate discussions during board meetings, to record the votes on any presented motions, to represent the general interests of the Congress of Scholars to any third party, and to process applications for institutional accreditation, as detailed by the Charter. Accreditation of Academic Institutions Accreditation of academic institutions is intended to identify those institutions which are active members in the scholarly community. Accreditation is also critical to participation with the Congress, as accredited institutions will appoint a representative to the board. The credentials are designed to be unrestrictive to ensure that all academic institutions, no matter their size, have access to the same opportunities and resources. Accredited institutions will be eligible to receive any conditional funding possessed by the Congress of Scholars. Conditional funding will not discriminate between institutions. Institutions must meet three basic requirements to attain and maintain accreditation: The establishment of a permanent, physical facility. The institution in question must have at least one identifiable campus. Membership of one or more doctoral degree-holders. At least one member of the institution must possess a doctoral degree as verified by the Congress of Scholars. Continued dedication to academic research. The institution in question must maintain a public academic presence. Doctoral Accreditation One useful function of the Congress is verifying the status of degree-holding scholars who have undergone the most rigorous academic training. Those who hold doctoral degrees have not only mastered their subject area, but have also created a novel and substantive piece of academic literature which has made an original contribution to their field. The doctorate signifies that the individual is capable of conducting original research and incorporating prior literature into their works. The doctoral degree certifies professors and researchers throughout Almaris as full members of the Congress. The Congress of Scholars accredits only the academic doctoral degree. Medicinal degrees, professional degrees, craftsman certifications, magical certifications and academic degrees of less rigor fall to the discretion of individual institutions. Those who receive a doctoral degree reserve the following rights; Lifetime membership in the Congress of Scholars, lest expunged due to revealed plagiarism or academic dishonesty, The title of “Doctor” (Dr.) for life, And the right to mentor doctoral candidates at their discretion. Doctoral candidates are expected to possess the following skills upon receiving their doctorate; Mastery of the theories and core literature within their academic discipline, Proficient understanding of research methodology appropriate to their discipline, Critical thinking and writing abilities to incorporate into their academic work, And the production of an at-length academic thesis which makes a substantial contribution to their field. The process of granting doctoral degrees is as follows; Doctoral candidates must identify a current doctorate to act as their mentor and supervisor. Current doctorates maintain full agency in their decision to accept or reject new doctoral candidates. It is expected that doctoral candidates will receive rigorous academic training from their mentors during the “training phase.” This includes educating the mentee on research methodology, proper academic literacy skills and core concepts of the discipline. During the “training phase,” the specific aspects of academic training fall upon the individual mentor and their affiliated academic institution. However, it is generally expected that all doctoral candidates master the above skill sets and produce smaller academic publications to demonstrate their progression. When the candidate has completed training, they will be expected to complete their doctoral thesis/dissertation. This is a lengthy piece of academic literature which makes a significant contribution to their field. Dissertations must present a novel research question, a clear methodology to address this question, and any results yielded from their research. Although their prior publications may not make use of proper citations, the dissertation is expected to employ an acceptable citation style (such as VSSA or NGSC). Upon completion, the student may submit their thesis to their supervisor. The supervisor is then tasked with creating a thesis committee of three degree-holding scholars to critique and judge the thesis. The supervisor may suffice as one committee member, and committee members may hail from the affiliated institution or others. The thesis must come either to the conclusion to accept the thesis, at which point the doctoral candidate receives their doctoral degree, or to reject the thesis, wherein the candidate will have the chance to make sufficient edits and resubmit their dissertation at a later date. Those who hold a doctoral degree may opt to omit themselves of institutional membership, instead acting as “independent scholars.” Independent scholars maintain the ability to mentor students and participate in Congressional events, but are not represented on the board. The Congress of Scholars verifies the following types of doctoral degrees, all of whom would receive the title of “Doctor” (Dr.); PhD, derived from the Flexian philosophiae doctor. Holders of this degree have undergone the doctoral accreditation process in full. EpF, derived from the Flexian ex post facto. These are doctoral degrees of equal status to the PhD, but have been awarded to scholars with sufficient academic publications prior to the establishment of the Congress. Posthumous PhD, awarded as recognition of deceased scholars deemed to have made a significant contribution to their field during life. Awarding of the posthumous doctorates must be brought to the board as a motion. Honorary PhD, awarded as recognition of an individual’s academic contributions outside of the academic world. The honorary PhD cannot be used as appropriate academic credentials. Awarding of the honorary doctorates must be brought to the board as a motion. Networking In-person networking events between scholars are of utmost importance. Correspondence through letters are fruitful in sharing brief theories, but to truly interact with the intellectual work of others, a regular gathering of scholars is most effective. The Congress is responsible for the organization of academic forums wherein scholars are eligible to present influential studies with their peers and meet scholars from other institutions. The Congress may also provide logistical assistance with smaller conferences initiated by other academic institutions or individuals. Participation, of course, is not limited to those with advanced degrees, but simply those who have recently made scholarly contributions to their field. Archival Duties The Congress of Scholars is tasked with proper record-keeping, and may expand its archival functions at the discretion of the board. The Congress will maintain an organized and public record of current and past doctorates. The Congress will maintain an organized and public record of current and past accredited academic institutions. Amendments to the Charter This document may be amended by the following processes; 3/4ths majority vote of Board Members on a proposed motion, or Simple majority vote of a referendum among all current PhD and EpF holders. To amend this document through referendum, 50% of all current doctorates must agree to the proposed measure.

The Celestine Herbert Award Sponsored by the Congress of Scholars “Scientia in Unitate” 80 S.E. Award Description The Celestine Herbert Award (CHA) recognizes an individual research publication which has made a significant contribution to scholarly literature in recent years. The award is named after Celestine Herbert, the prophetic anthropologist, ethnographer, explorer and founder of the Northern Geographic Society. Herbert’s publications have always challenged the boundaries and limitations of academic theories and knowledge, making novel contributions to the scholarly world. In the spirit of Celestine Herbert, this award aspires to uphold her legacy by recognizing scholars who publish rigorous, insightful and original research. Submission Criteria The award will be granted under the following conditions; Publications in all academic disciplines are considered for the award. The CHA will be granted once every five Saint’s years, announced at the Congress of Scholar’s regular conventions. The Congress of Scholars will accept submissions of publications on a rolling basis, and reserves the right to recognize a public article as the winner of the award that may not have been submitted directly. Preference will be given to contemporary research which has been published in the last five Saint’s years preceding the granting of the award. If the article has more than one author, the CHA will be awarded to all authors of the publication, provided that all authors made substantial contributions to the article. The CHA Evaluation Committee shall be composed of the Chair of the Congress of Scholars and two appointed adjudicators. No members of the committee shall be eligible for that year’s award. Evaluation Members of the committee may suggest which submissions to evaluate for proper CHA candidacy. Following deliberations, all members of the committee must vote on a single publication to grant the award. Committee members should evaluate submissions on the following criteria; Rigidity: The submissions should present a degree of academic rigor. The publication should present a clear research question, methodology, and results. Submissions should reference prior academic literature to support their findings. Although not required, it would be favorable that studies make use of a proper citation style, such as VSSA or NGSC. Novelty: The article examines a viewpoint or aspect of the research topic that has not been thoroughly examined in prior academic literature. Research presents the original perspectives and findings of the author(s). Inquiry: The publication challenges the current limits of academia or critically examines existing academic literature. Authors should not be afraid to challenge dominant theories in their academic discipline. Note on the CHA’85 The first endowment of the CHA shall take place in 85 S.E. at the Congress of Scholar’s regular conference (details TBA). Submissions for the CHA’85 may be sent to Pro Tem Chair Elibar’Indor. Academic articles may have already been published or may be published specifically as a contender for the CHA. The members of the CHA’85 Evaluation Committee shall be; Dr. Elibar’Indor Hilea, Pro Tem Chairman of the Congress of Scholars Dr. Elizabeth Brae-Wittenbach, Vice President of the Northern Geographic Society Dr. Viction Trito, Grandmaster of the Vortician Society of Scholars and Artisans Signed, Dr. Elibar’Indor Hilea, Pro Tem Chair of the Board

[!] Dr. Indor peruses the flier before sending a missive back to the clan. "To Clan Dezokh-Nur, I am delighted to extend a provisional offer of membership within the Congress of Scholars to your clan. As an umbrella organization for all academic societies in Almaris, we believe that Clan Dezokh-Nur would benefit from mutual collaboration with our fellow member institutions, such as the Northern Geographic Society, the Vortician Society of Scholars and Artisans, the Celian Academy and the University of Vaelya. Your summits sound fairly similar to our own academic conferences. By no doubt, having Clan Dezokh-Nur sit on our board would yield mutual benefits. Please do contact me to discuss further, I can be reached by aviary or in the Karosgrad museum." Best, Dr. Elibar'Indor

Elibar screams and growls and moans and cries after trying to find this wagon.

A Study on Modern Numismatics: Polarizing Impacts of Domestic Currencies on Markets in Almaris Dr. Elibar’Indor Hilea Doctor of Political Economy Master of Research for the VSSA & Affiliated Research with the NGS Northern Geographic Society Press Published 79 S.E. ABSTRACT Since the arrival of settlers in Almaris, production of the mina has been stagnant. Prior literature suggests that the Cloud Temple monks have decreased mina production, prompting national treasuries to create domestic currencies in their respective nations. However, the creation of domestic currencies have the potential to create a politically polarized climate in their host nations. This article details the history of numismatics in descendant nations, the economic motivations to transition away from the use of commodity currencies, and the alienating effects of domestic currency reliance. Note that this study uses the VSSA citation style. INTRODUCTION For as long as recorded economic literature spans, it is generally implied that the dominant currency has been the mina. The mina has been a convenient form of trade between individuals since its initial production by Cloud Temple monks. Governments, merchants and consumers alike are thought to have favored the mina as a commodity currency, one which is backed by the inherent value of the materials used in production. No matter the economic state of the realm, actors in the economy did not have to worry about the value of the mina in their bank accounts, as its value was backed by inherent worth; the worth of their coin would not fluctuate, even if the real prices of commodities did. These traits defined the mina by three critical properties: universality, accessibility, and abundance. The mina as a commodity currency thus provides denizens with the ability to use the mina as a means of exchange across nations (universality), the acknowledgement of minae at nearly every banking institution (accessibility), and the sheer amount of mina available in the money supply, as it was produced by a central minting authority rather than individual governments (abundance). The abundance of minae is a trait especially enticing the state treasuries as they would not have to invest materials or labor costs into the production of a domestically minted currency. Exceptions to this rule have existed throughout history, such as the series of Halfling societies which instead opted for trade through barter, but the mina remained the dominant currency in nearly all major descendent societies. However, the arrival to Almaris has been accompanied by a decrease in the amount of mina available to the general public. It may very well be that Almaris is a continent lacking and devoid of the necessary natural minerals used in the production of the mina. Although it is unclear what the physical coin is minted from, other industries have experienced stagnation in natural resources. The eastern Almaris economic crash of the 1860’s was credited to the depletion of precious minerals in the Komnenos mines of Oren (Ana, 1865). The production of jewelry and beauty products which made use of these precious resources became challenging, just as we may assume the production of minae did due to a scarcity in the necessary minerals used in production. Without declassification of the mina production process from the monks, it is impossible to make a definitive deduction, though there is obviously a plausible foundation for correlation. However, the rhetoric of state treasuries implies that the reasons for creating domestic currencies is also tied to politics that are distrustful of foreign societies and currencies. Nonetheless, the scarcity in mina did begin to spur a wave of domestic fiat currencies in Almaris to replace the mina. These currencies differ from minae in that they are minted by a particular government, backed by the monetary authority of the issuer rather than the intrinsic value of the materials used in production. From Haelun’or to Haense to Uruguan, nations have begun the production of fiat currencies to replace the mina, assuming agency of their own economies. The success of these domestic currencies continues to be a topic of discussion and warrants further research, though the political effects remain completely unexamined in current academic literature. Rather, this study intends to analyze the political origins and influences of domestic fiat currencies on their consumers. How can domestic currencies alienate nations from international markets? HISTORY OF DOMESTIC CURRENCIES Early exceptions to the rule of minae dominance included predominantly human examples. On Axios, the Margraviate of Ponce began to issue their own domestic currency, the Silver Pound, produced from their nearby silver mines (Falk, 1634). The Silver Pound was a commodity currency backed by the fluctuating prices of silver, but still represents an exception to the dominance of mina in early societies. More recently, the Imperial Mark was the short-lived currency of the Holy Orenian Empire (Penton, 1836). The Imperial Mint was the first to begin the production of paper bank notes to accompany metallic coins of lower denominations. Initially minted in 1836, the new currency superseded any other domestic currencies minted through the prior edicts of 1765. Nonetheless, Oren had begun to dabble in fiat currencies, creating a means of exchange wherein value was entrusted by the issuer. Almarian examples begin with initiatives from Haelun’or, where the Silver State sought to escape the “crumbling economy of Almaris” through the creation of their own national currency, the Ibar’thilln (An’asul, 58SE). While the creation of an Economic Reform Committee also created a series of guilds tied to particular industries, it also maintained that the Ibar was the only acceptable means of exchange within Haelun’or. Rhetoric used by the Okarir indicates that there are political motivations to shift “towards freedom from the festering greed of our enemies. For Mali'thill do not need their fruit, their produce, their coin to survive, for we are more than capable of thriving with no more than the efforts of the purest of elves” (An’asul, 58SE). The Haelunorian example makes heavy usage of alienating rhetoric, implying that the “crumbling” economy of Almaris is directly related to the universality of the mina. Further, the United Provinces of Dùnrath have recently begun minting their own currencies. The Rathonian currency exists in a peculiar space between commodity and fiat currencies, reliant on both the faith of the issuer as well as the fluctuating prices of metal relative to the Almarian mina (Sutharlainn, 73SE). The Monetary Act of Dunrath implies that the mina is an unstable and illegitimate currency, but does not present rhetoric which directly subjugates foreigners or implies that the declining state of the Almarian economy is the fault of non-Rathonians. Recent introductions of new domestic currencies in the Dwarven economy have also been attributed to a declining age of economic expansion. Though the Kingdom of Urguan had previously used a faulty domestic currency – the Karzul – the Grand Bank has recently issued the Minek as a replacement (Goldhand & Grandaxe, 70SE). The Minek is, decidedly, a fiat currency as the conversion from mina is subject to an exchange rate dictated by the Grand Bank. Nonetheless, the Minek is also attributed to a floundering economy of the “Second Age.” Of course, the most prominent and dominant instance of modern domestic fiat currencies rests with the Hanseti Krawn, similarly attributed to fix economic woes, though does not make use of the fiat currency. Introduced in the early 1800’s, the Krawn originally included bronze, silver and gold denominations. Since the Krawn is backed by the value of minerals as an asset, they retain their value as a means to mitigate inflation (Vyronov, 78SE). Economic downturn is also credited as the reason for reliance on domestic currencies, citing the rapid inflation of the price of mina relative to the Krawn, but also the economic ramifications of recent warfare. Perhaps warfare implies increased government spending on expensive military equipment produced by Hansetian industries, increasing the overall demand (and equilibrium prices) of related goods used in military production. The implication is that the inflation caused by militaristic spending would have an expansionary effect on the demand for certain goods, causing an increase in prices. Nonetheless, Hansetians cite the Krawn as a means to prevent creeping inflation and are increasingly proud of their domestic currency. ISOLATION OF DOMESTIC MARKETS The effects of domestic currency reliance, in all cases, can imply the isolation of various markets that is no longer reminiscent of the mina. Recall the attributes which define that of the mina: accessibility, universality, and abundance. Without banking institutions which accept a standard international currency, access to domestic currencies becomes difficult to those conducting international trade. Commerce suffers as a result of foreign consumers being unable to access their own money. While a Hansetian may spend their Krawn domestically, visiting Dunrath becomes an issue, should they wish to purchase goods using their Krawns. Conversion of the Krawn to Agra at Rathonian banking institutions may not even be possible, let alone the conversion of Agra to mina, should the Hansetian possess only the Krawn (Sutharlainn, 73SE). The same is true of a Rathonian in Karosgrad, or a foreign consumer in any market which makes use of domestic currencies. Thus, national treasuries have sacrificed the universality of their currency for a marginal increase in agency of their domestic markets, forgoing accessibility and universality. The abundance of domestic currencies may vary between nations. The result of this alienation is an economy which becomes increasingly reliant on domestic goods rather than international imports. The degree to which domestic currencies may decrease imports is yet to be examined, but conventional wisdom would suggest that the lack of accessibility and universality could create an isolated domestic economy. This is especially true in economies where the domestic currency is considerably weaker with fewer consumers. However, this may be a desirable effect to some nations. For instance, the Ibar is spurred by distrust of foreign banking institutions, accompanied by the desire to create a more intimate domestic labor market (An’asul, 58SE). Perhaps the Ibar creates an incentive to engage in foreign commerce outside of Haelun’or, leaving Haelunorians to their own devices and creating domestic economic activity that is not reliant on exogenous markets. To others with less centralized economic hubs and more rural populations, the decrease in foreign commerce may have an alienating impact on the domestic markets. Without imports, the economies which have a comparative disadvantage in the production of most goods would suffer, unable to capitalize on their abundant resources in exchange for the imports they so direly need. CONCLUSION Although domestic currencies are almost sure to isolate domestic markets from international commerce, the effects may be viewed as desirable to some economies. For those with a reliable domestic labor force, suitable capital to produce the demanded products, and the political will to detach from international reliance on the mina, the isolation of domestic economies can arguably be viewed as a favorable outcome. Economic analysts should be urged to conduct cost-benefit analyses when minting domestic currencies, and further research should explore quantitative impacts of domestic currencies on imported goods. There exists a potential field of research to explore the rise of domestic currencies and the differences between means of exchange. I have opted to coin a term for the study of currencies (pun intended), dubbed “numismatics.” Rooted in the Flexian word for coin, “nomisma,” I find that numismatics can be a useful field of study for macroeconomists across Almaris, further informing national treasuries and mints of potential economic policies. BIBLIOGRAPHY Ana, J. (1865FE) The Beauty Industry Crash of 1865. Red Rose Industry. ((Link)) Falk. (1634FE) The Silver Pound of Ponce. The Ponce Exchange. ((Link)) Goldhand, H.; Grandaxe, D. (70SE) Urguani Economic Reform. The Grand Bank of Urguan. ((Link)) Penton, H. (1836SE) The Imperial Mint. Ministry of the Treasury. ((Link)) Sutharlainn, D. (73SE) The Monetary Act S.A.73. Grand Governor of the United Provinces of Dunrath’s Office. ((Link)) An’asul, U. (58SE) In Regards to the Economic Reformation of Haelun’or. ((Link)) Vyronov, G. (78SE) Krawn Exchange & New Krawns. Golden Crown Bank. ((Link))

Vortician Citation Style Guide First Edition Dr. Elibar'Indor Vortician Society of Scholars and Artisans 79 SE Preface: The Second Era signified a newfound sense of community and collectivity in the academic world. The Congress of Scholars has achieved a basic level of cooperation between academic guilds, thus making progress towards a more cohesive and collaborative generation of researchers. It is under the auspice of unity that we discover three themes which further define the academic profession: precision, novelty, and honesty. If one were to read literature archived by the oldest of libraries and academic societies, they too would note the presence of these themes. The most serious scholars have always valued precision and empiricism. Faulty research or imprecise reasoning presented in academic works constitutes laziness or bad faith on the part of the authors. Precision concerns both the actual findings of scientific research as well as the presentation of those findings. Imprecision implies that the methodology used to conduct the research was illogical, or that the presentation of the findings were incomplete or misconstrued. Further, scholars strive for novelty in their findings. Publications which are reminiscent of prior academic work (either from the author themselves or another scholar) can be perceived as unoriginal. The objective of the author in creating novel academic literature is to contribute something new to the discipline; if a publication contributes no new knowledge, then the research is not considered novel (note that academics do publish book reviews which are not considered “novel” and do not necessarily contribute to the discipline, but these do not constitute research articles). Honesty, too, is a value reflected by this new generation of scholars. In formal academic publishing, it is now considered the gravest of sins to copy another’s academic work without crediting the original authors. Plagiarism is rightfully crowned as the cardinal sin of the academic world. Given these values central to the contemporary academic age, it is expected that the academic community would create a uniform citation style to credit the original authors in publications. After all, building a study which appropriately credits the original ideas of other authors both avoids plagiarism and allows the reader to view further literature on the topic. However, it seems that in academic publications, the authors merely allude to the works to which they refer to if they refer to it at all. As such, I find it appropriate to present a new citation style synthesized by myself, Dr. Elibar’Indor, the Master of Research at the Vortician Society of Scholars and Artisans. While my own work observes the social sciences, and examples in this guide will include my own publications, It is my hope that this guide will present eager scholars with an appropriate citation style to credit their academic peers. This publication marks the first edition of the Vortician Citation Style Guide, as I expect to make subsequent revisions based on the criticisms of my peers. Please note that while I have published this guide under the auspice of the VSSA, and subsequently I have dubbed it as the “Vortician style” of citations, this is not a style endorsed by the Vortician Society itself. I do urge the VSSA to adopt this as the guild’s official citation style, as I find that a uniform citation style lends itself well to a more precise, novel, and honest academic community. Section I: Format Section I: In-Text Citations Section III: Bibliography Section IV: Citing Collectives or Unknowns BIBLIOGRAPHY Indor, E. (36SE) Basic Principles of Modern Economics, Volume 1. Northern Geographic Society. ((Link)) Napier, E. (1784FE) The Adunian Histories, Part 1. Northern Geographic Society. ((Link)) Trito, V. (75SE) The Sovereigns of the South: A Compendium of the Leaders of Talon's Port, Talon's Grotto, and Vortice, Volumes 1-2. Vortician Society of Scholars and Artisans. ((Link))

The Congress of Scholars of Almaris 77 SE Ex Post Facto Doctoral Degrees The Congress of Scholars is an international forum of scholars which crosses institutional barriers. The board is composed of institutional leaders in academia who organize academic events, programs, and standards to formalize academics and ensure that a new generation of scholars can more effectively share their works and learn from one another. The Congress is not a university, college, or academic society; it is a neutral arbiter of academic affairs with a mandate to create a community of scholars. You can learn more about the Congress in a previous missive. One of the primary mandates of the Congress is to create a universal standard for doctoral accreditation. Doctorate degrees signify that an individual is capable of conducting academic research and writing at a professional level. Those who possess a doctoral degree have not only mastered the theoretical knowledge in their discipline, but have also proven that they are capable of making original contributions to their field by producing novel research. The criteria of "novelty" varies between fields; for those in the humanities, academic papers may support a specific viewpoint from an original perspective backed by previous literature. For those in the natural sciences, discoveries and empirical scientific findings may constitute novel contributions. It is recognized that, at the time of the Congress's foundation, there are already a cohort of scholars with fantastic publications of high quality which are, indeed, novel. Scholars who are already established are not expected to pursue the current doctoral accreditation process outlined for future students. These scholars should submit all current publications to the Congress of Scholars directly to be awarded an ex post facto degree, wherein applications will be evaluated by the board. The "ex post facto" degree qualifies holders to perform all of the functions of future doctorates, but is awarded on the basis of literature published prior to the founding of the Congress. Ex Post Facto candidates are evaluated on the following criteria: Does the candidate have multiple publications in their field? Has the candidate made an original research contribution to their field? Does the candidate demonstrate mastery of the theories in their field? Does the candidate keep up with the literature in their field? Candidates who are granted the Ex Post Facto degree will be eligible for the following: The title "doctor" (Dr.) for life, regardless of their future academic activity The ability to act as a supervisor to future doctoral candidates Membership in the Congress of Scholars All scholars are welcome to apply. It is recognized that most applicants will be current members of one of our member institutions (Northern Geographic Society, Unviersity of Vaelya, Vortician Society of Scholars and Artisans, Arcanic Celian Academy). However, independent applicants not affiliated with any institution are also eligible, given that they meet the same criteria for past publications. Those who are granted the degree will be logged in our doctoral directory. Those who intend to apply for the Ex Post Facto doctoral degree should send all of their academic publications to the Chairman Pro Tempore, Elibar'indor ((Liam#7649)).

The Congress of Scholars of Almaris 76 SE Preface The Congress of Scholars is an international forum of scholars which crosses institutional barriers. The board is composed of institutional leaders in academia who organize academic events, programs, and standards to formalize academics and ensure that a new generation of scholars can more effectively share their works and learn from one another. The Congress is not a single university, college, or academic society; it is a neutral arbiter of academic affairs with a mandate to create a community of scholars. The Second Age has marked a dramatic shift in contemporary global cultural attitudes. Following the departure from Arcas, the denizens of Almaris seem to have experienced a scholarly renaissance. The expansion of formal academic institutions in recent decades has created a hospitable space for those who seek to synthesize new knowledge merely for knowledge’s sake. There now exists the capacity to facilitate an international community of scholars who are motivated by nothing more than the accumulation, creation, and publication of knowledge; albeit, a small community. Nonetheless, the apparently small size of dedicated scholars in Almaris is the precise reason that a universal forum should exist to create a more intimate environment for academics who wish to see academia blossom. Mission Statement The Congress has three primary objectives; to facilitate networking events between scholars of all affiliations, to accredit degree-granting academic institutions, and formalize the process for awarding doctoral credentials. These objectives are not meant to hinder the activities of academic institutions – rather, they are meant to provide support for the next generation of scholars. Doctoral Credentials Accreditation of Institutions Networking Events The Board Archives Ex Post Facto Degrees Individuals with inquiries are encouraged to contact Chairman Pro Tempore, Elibar'Indor ((Liam#7649))

[!] This article is published as a standalone piece. You notice no affiliation with any larger institution, merely the signature of a smug, elitist elf. Critique of Academia: Why Historical Efforts to Formalize Academia Fail Elibar'indor H. Hilea 64 2E Abstract This article analyzes the previous failures of academic institutions which have attempted to offer credentials to students. I thoroughly detail the flaws of defunct schools which have failed both to exist for a prolonged period of time and grant their students academic accreditation. Further, I propose potential solutions and a future framework to create academic institutions, one which can potentially withstand the test of time. The arguments made are elitist, cynical, and yet, still efficient enough to justify my blatantly smug sense of superiority. Introduction For as long as the descendents have been capable of transcribing their thoughts onto papyrus, sentient beings have occupied themselves with the pursuit of scholarship, knowledge, and research. After centuries of developing scholarly traditions in the pursuit of empirical answers and analyses, this history of “academia” has faced recent efforts to be institutionalized by said scholars and researchers. These efforts, however, have almost always encountered seemingly insurmountable obstacles to successfully sustaining a single institution. Rarely do we note examples where formalized academia has carried on a tradition of continuous research between generations of scholars, rather than transitioning from one failed school to the next. Rather, the case seems to be that an ambitious group of well-respected academics creates an institution, publishes some fairly impressive literature, and then interest in maintaining the institution is dismissed in favor of individual scholarly pursuits. While those individual scholars still go on to public impressive articles and theses, there are potential advantages to publishing under the auspices of a larger institution, namely the prestige one acquires from affiliation with a reputable school, and the opportunities to network with others of a similar intellectual caliber. Given these seemingly apparent advantages to formalizing academia, why have prior attempts failed? In this article, I contend that the system devised for academic accreditation and publishing is severely flawed, and discourages individuals from pursuing academics in an institutional setting. Historical Context of Academic Institutions Most institutional attempts to formalize academic pursuits have ended in dissolution, though not all. Of early attempts to formalize academic writings, those of the Wilven Sanctuary Monks have lasted the test of time. Though their involvement with the public periodically wanes, historical accounts from prior continents assert that their dedication to the preservation of texts in a politically neutral environment span back to the Cloud Temple in Aegis. While serving as a site for medical resurrection and magical imbuement, the temple also stored great wells of knowledge available to the public. Another notable example rests with the Library of Dragur, founded in Vailor by the notable Harbinger, Orithur. As a man of many trades, historical accounts of Orithur note his foundation of the Library of Dragur sometime in the 1550’s of the First Era, dedicated to the archival and further development of knowledge. The Library of Dragur held some of history’s most impressive collection of academic literature, all while sustaining assaults from the Canonist Church, magical antagonists, and other miscellaneous characters seeking to plunder the library for material, political, or theological reasons. The library was eventually disbanded upon the arrival of Atlas. Of all the institutions which have attempted to formalize academia, however, the most successful has been the Church of Canon. Acolytes in the faith have long been required to write and publish theses on a matter of ecclesial importance to begin their ascension to priesthood. Often, successful acolytes will synthesize matters of worldly topics with theological beliefs, making an argument which spurs some degree of discourse in the church. Although these pieces of literature have the tendency to be brief, they still represent the longest standing tradition of academic publishing in recorded history. Of course, these relatively successful attempts of institutionalizing academia are the exceptions, as most efforts quickly fail. For instance, in Vailor, the “College of Skyfall” was an independent institution which represented a small gathering of scholars in a liberal arts environment. New members would study directly under an elder scholar, often of a magical nature, but accounts of historians and scientists also exist. Multiple imperial attempts have been made to create academic institutions, including the Johannesburg Conservatoire in the 1590’s. The project represented the first historical attempt to grant academic accreditation to students, but ultimately folded within two decades (possibly due, however, to political sabotage. The conservatoire was founded by the notorious Bell Sano, often targeted by the Imperial Anti-Orenian Activities Committee for his earlier involvement in attempts to radicalize denizens of the Empire). Slightly more successful attempts would follow, such as a promising project in the Republic of Holm in 1648. As an institution in a racially diverse trade city with no affiliation to other political entities (though the city’s political allegiance was often swayed by the Dwarven elite), the Academy of Holm attracted students from all reaches of Atlas. This school, too, granted academic accreditation to students, and awarded degrees in a wide array of subjects. Historical accounts detail that degrees were awarded in alchemy, metallurgy, political science, Holmite law, medicine, linguistics, and various subfields of history. It became a major employer in the city, hiring some of the most renowned scholars of the time. The academy lasted three semesters before its eventual closure due to a lack of students. On Almaris, contemporary attempts have been made by the Northern Geographic Society and the Order of Remembrancers. As I understand it, the Order has attempted to emulate the structure and intention of the Library of Dragur, acting as a central source of literature for the continent. The NGS, however, has a higher degree of novelty; their intention originated not with the desire to grant degrees or host lectures, but as a group of expeditioners who would document their ventures. While still retaining their original purpose, the society later evolved into a catch-all for academics and scholars to publish their work and collaborate with other like minded individuals. Attempts were made to award academic degrees, but their efforts, too, were abandoned. The NGS, admirable as it is, has fallen short at creating a formal system to accredit scholars and capitalize on the aforementioned advantages of institutionalizing academia. This is all to say that, while attempts to institutionalize academia have come a long way since the Wilven Sanctuary Monks of Aegis, why have we not yet seen prolonged periods of success for these highly formalized projects? Scheduled Lectures Many of the aforementioned institutions (The Johannesburg Conservatoire, Academy of Holm, Skyfall) would require the attendance of scheduled classes and lectures to attain academic prestige and accreditation. There is an inevitable issue with requiring individuals to attend a regular class, in that many individuals are not full-time students. By and large, those aspiring to earn an academic degree were already active in other affairs. Statesmen, lawyers, soldiers, and sometimes royalty were among the population of students who would attend these institutions, and their lives are subject to other demands which can be volatile. Thus, degrees via lecture hardly work. The advantages of lectures are apparent; a session in which the student is given an opportunity to have complex matters articulated to them is of utmost importance, and doing so in a lecture hall with multiple students is economically efficient for all parties involved. However, this system disadvantages more students than it would otherwise help. Mandating that students attend lectures is a waste of time, though extracurricular lectures and events would still enrich the academic community. Accreditation The creation of an accreditation system should be a priority for the academic community. Degrees provide individuals not only with evidence of their scholarly achievements, but also serves as a goalpost for ambitious students to join the ranks of “the intellectual.” Indeed, the academic community has created a great deal of prestige amongst the inner-circles of certain disciplines in select cultures, particularly of the imperial variant. Although some may debate the merits of making academia a prestigious institution or practice, the scholarly community as a whole ought to capitalize on such and make accreditation a symbol of intellectual prestige. This may come off as elitist, but a degree should serve as an all-access pass to “the guild” of academia, as to weed out any academics who are unable to contribute something of true substance to the academic community. It is not my intention to exclude any individual on the basis of their background or character, I truly do encourage all aspiring scholars to pursue academic accreditation on the merit of their work; though, if we are lenient with who we allow into “the guild,” the market for academics becomes oversaturated, and we are less able to focus our attention on the most influential and impactful scholars, as we’d be too busy rummaging through inadequate literature. The institution by which accreditation is granted is unclear. The obvious answer may be to model accreditation based off of prior attempts, by simply allowing a host institution to grant their students degrees in exchange for academic work. This, however, can create grave issues when an institution doesn’t have a monopoly on the academic market (the NGS is a major force in academia, but surely, if a system of accreditation were ever resumed then other scholarly groups would also seek to grant degrees to their circle). Multiple institutions granted with the independent authority to declare degree holders would oversaturate the world with accredited scholars, as each institution manages to broaden the amount of members on their “team.” Rather, an equitable solution may be to make a Congress of Scholars composed of all advanced degree holders from all institutions to facilitate the processing and awarding of academic credentials. Of course, another avenue is to have the state facilitate academic credentials, which the Holy Orenian Empire currently does through the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Although efficient for the state’s interests (and admittedly efficient), the academic community ought to be the one to evaluate scholarly work, not bureaucrats. A mixture of all the prior solutions to accreditation could be the answer to creating an avenue to formal credentials. No matter the solution, accreditation should still be a desirable goal for contemporary and future academic institutions. The formalization of scholarly literature serves to benefit the community and society as a whole. Though, if coursework continues to be an inefficient solution to providing a formal education, the answer must instead reside in academic mentorships. Mentorship The Northern Geographical Society had come the closest to creating an efficient system for granting deserving academics their degrees. Rather than scheduling classes, students would be assigned a mentor in their field and assigned literature to learn about the theoretical knowledge in their discipline. Further, they would be asked to publish a series of articles in a variety of subjects to acquire a standard degree in a broad subject (i.e. the social sciences, law, etc). Advanced degrees would require additional writing of a higher caliber. This system apparently became too much to maintain, but I contend that with proper pedagogical management, we can institutionalize academia more efficiently. I stress that there should only be two academic degrees, rather than the four or five which defunct institutions have proposed. One degree should entail that a student has successfully reviewed, summarized, and demonstrated their proficiency in the relevant literature of their discipline. This degree would not serve as a pass to participate in “the guild” of academia, but rather as proof that they have obtained the baseline knowledge in their field, and as a stepping stone to pursue more advanced degrees if they so choose. The second degree would entail that the student has not only mastered the theoretical knowledge in their discipline, but has also contributed novel literature and research to the field. I do prefer the Universitas Magistrorum’s term for this, modeling this degree after their “doctorate.” Novelty should be stressed; students should have to synthesize unique perspectives and original research in order to acquire such a doctorate. Those that are granted entry to insider academic circles should demonstrate that they are not merely a student anymore, but one who can make novel contributions to their field. True, the extent to which something is considered “novel” will vary by discipline. Political theorists will likely have to spend countless hours reviewing prior literature only to create new heuristic devices, whereas those in alchemy would be expected to elaborate on the recipes or scientific uses of ingredients or alchemical potions. To pursue either degree, individuals should be assigned to mentors, as the NGS had previously done. Having a mentor who has already earned their doctorate ensures that a qualified scholar is giving proper guidance to students entering the field, all while avoiding the necessity of coordinating formal classes and lectures. Further, the curriculum of the student is tailored towards their specific needs, rather than sharing in a lecture designed to address a broad array of academic interests. Obtaining the first degree ought to be no trivial feat, but should also be straightforth. It should merely require the approval of their mentor and the institution’s chief academic. The doctorate, on the other hand, may require more safeguarding to ensure only the most worthy scholars are capable of navigating the process. Potential doctorates should be expected to write a piece of literature that is of great length, high quality, and contributes something of great novelty to their field. This literature should then be extensively reviewed by scholars who have knowledge of the candidate’s subject area (possibly pulled from the aforementioned Congress of Scholars) and should determine if the candidate is capable of being an active and qualified scholar. Then, a proper community of academics who have been screened by the rest of the community may freely exchange their knowledge in the most efficient manner possible. Conclusion This is a controversial proposal. Accreditation intentionally acts as a gatekeeping agent for those aspiring for an academic career. However, the benefits of systematic accreditation far outweigh the costs of exclusion. The academic community would make the most of our finite time by spending it only on the most qualified individuals, and our publications would be of a higher caliber, which would subsequently be reflected on the rest of society who may freely benefit from our literature. True, I am an economist, so I may be biased in my prioritization of efficiency over exclusion; nonetheless, this system sacrifices the mere participation of the weakest links in favor of a stronger, sustainable, and superior academic institution.

THE FALLEN KESTREL: A CRITIQUE OF SANOIST POLITICAL ECONOMY WRITTEN BY Elibar'indor W. Halcourt PUBLISHED BY The Northern Geographical Society Press SUPERVISOR Dr. Otto Wittenbach 6th of Sun's Smile 36 2E ((Click here to access the better formatted Google Docs version.)) Abstract This essay serves as an in-depth analysis of political economist Bell Sano’s late literary works, when he cultivated a syncretic philosophy combining elements of Canonist morality, democratic ideals, and economic collectivism. While normative views and subjective opinions will be expressed regarding the values of Sanoism, this essay will primarily criticize how coherent, consistent, and logical the rationality of Bell Sano’s essays are. Instead of answering the question “is Sanoism good or bad,” this essay will instead try to answer, “are Bell Sano’s writings rooted in sound economic, political, and theological analysis?” Introduction: The Context of Bell Sano’s Personal Life Bell Sano, full name Bell Cranel Acaele’par Rider Sano, is responsible for the cultivation of a controversial and archaic political philosophy known as “Sanoism,” publishing major literary works in the late 1500’s to the early 1600’s. The impact of Sanoist ideals on Imperial society as a whole, and Axios as a whole, no doubt played a significant importance in the development of philosophical academia. However, the ramifications of the Sanoist movement were likely considered undesirable by Sano, as it served more to polarize the denizens of the Empire and established a paranoia of worker-oriented activism, rather than to revolutionize the proletariat as he had hoped. Sanoism began with an alluring promise; to retain the cultural and religious values of Oren whilst simultaneously empowering the working class, democratizing Imperial society, and creating a more just world for those who were the most marginalized. So how did a decorated military sergeant and respected defense attorney so swiftly become a disgraced academic and near-convicted felon? Bell Sano had a disastrously tragic childhood. Originally born Bell Acaele’par to a drunkard woman in Felsen, his father was a wealthy aristocrat with no interest in the life of his bastard child. Sano’s maternal grandfather, Galen, raised young Bell in the elven dominion of Laureh’lin, to which the origins of Bell’s name can be attributed (it is assumed that Galen thought a human child would better acclimate to elven culture with a more appropriate name.) Upon the death of his grandfather some six years later, the child was placed with the Sano family in the port town of Luceinsport to be raised by an Orenian metal worker and his wife, Vincent and Margaret Sano, along with his adopted sister, Kaitlyn. Sano was raised in an impoverished household with strict Canonist values, and served as an altar boy at the local Cathedral of Saint Adrian until the age of seventeen. At this point, he fled to the College of Skyfall to receive a formal education. During his formal education, Sano made little contribution to the world of academia, mostly writing missives regarding human military history. Bell Sano truly began to cultivate his political ideals when serving as an eventual Senior Sergeant in Felsen and Johannesburg. Sano participated in the De Rolle Rebellion in Felsen, wherein commandant Markese de Rolle led a brief rebellion to establish a democratic free state within the confines of the city of Felsen (which notably had a municipal flag bearing a blue kestrel, the symbol now closely associated to Sanoist thought.) Fast forward to 1580, wherein Sano published what was the cultivation of decades upon decades of financial stress, contempt towards the Imperial hierarchy, and a sincere belief that the homogenization of competing religious traditions was a hindrance on society. The initial publication of the Sanoist Manifesto sparked no reason for alarm amongst the Imperial establishment, until working-class organizations began to hold public rallies and aired a notable anti-capitalist sentiment. Bell Sano’s ideas influenced the minds of men both in worker’s organizations and in high Imperial society. More notable historical figures who adopted Sanoist sympathies included the Mayor of Metz, Victor Clarke, who became a fierce Sanoist revolutionary, in addition to the political giant Alexandre d’Aryn, who later dismissed his Sanoist leanings. However, the most historically notable Sanoist was supposedly High Pontiff Everard IV, who reportedly kept a copy of the Sanoist Manifesto in his desk. It was at this time the Imperial Anti-Orenian Activities Committee banned all of Sano’s texts from Imperial libraries and subpoenaed over two dozen alleged Sanoist conspirators. Faced with charges of incitement, treason, and the intent to distribute felonious literature, Bell Sano entered a plea arrangement with the IAAC in which he sacrificed the names of core Sanoist activists in exchange for legal immunity. After being disgraced by his working-class colleagues, Sano spent the rest of his life between Johannesburg and Alban working as an attorney, making numerous attempts to further inspire workers to no avail. He died an old man in Alban, reportedly to a drunken Halfling, shortly after publishing one last critical piece of literature; the Sanoist Compendium. The legacy of Sanoism today has a minimal impact on the political climate of Almaris. It has since been banished to the archives of history, considered an outdated and stale ideology which has no place in contemporary discourse. Modern Sanoist organizations tend to see little to no success in creating meaningful change in public policy, elections, or legislation. The most successful attempt was by the Sanoist Republican Party in the Duma of Haense, which attempted to establish a worker-led economy in Haense. For three consecutive terms, they composed the majority of the Duma and enacted agricultural land reform, introduced fierce social programs, and reformed elections to offer more democratic representation to the electorate. They were led by Alderman Fabius Braccus, who later became a renown statesman, alongside other notable political minds such as Maer Butch, Konstantin Ruthern, and Henrik Amador. This attempt at a Sanoist political party would prove to be the most successful, but alas, ultimately failed. For what reasons did the general population find Sanoism to be unfavorable? Was it simply the result of propaganda and Imperial intimidation, as suggested by Sano, or was his literature not nearly as attractive as he’d previously thought? Upon further analysis of both the Sanoist Manifesto and the Sanoist Compendium, there appear to be logical inconsistencies and fringe ideas which were framed in such a way that it could appeal only to the worker who was already radicalized prior to its publication. Bell Sano was a fiery, anti-establishment radical who saw success with the Sanoist movement by token of sheer luck, and not on the merits of his flawed, inconsistent, and incoherent ideology. Economic Illiteracy The first value which Bell Sano seems to struggle to ascertain is whether or not his ideology is favorable or unfavorable towards the private ownership of capital. Nominally, Bell Sano is a definitive socialist who vows to dismantle the oppressive nature of capitalist society. In his texts, however, Sano comes off as if he is unsure whether or not total collective ownership of the means of production are a positive aspect for Imperial society. He writes, “When we discuss a socialist hybrid state, we are referring to a hybrid economy between core elements of free exchange and socialism. When it comes to dealing with the element of trade in society, market regulation is a requirement. A major stride must be made, placing an emphasis on workers rights, if we wish to alter society for the better. While small business firms are encouraged to provide services, products, and above all, jobs, it is still the duty of the state to impose regulatory policies onto these private entities, so that the tyranny of greed does not harm the worker.” (The Sanoist Compendium, 1619, pg. 3) Here lies the primary issue; does Sano advocate for what he describes as a ‘socialist’ society, wherein the working class would own capital instead of private businessmen, or does he believe that elements of capitalism and feudalism do not infringe upon the liberation of workers so long as the state regulates them accordingly? The compromise position in Sano’s texts seem to be a “socialist hybrid state,” as he calls it. Under this “hybrid” state, he describes an economic system in which some industries ought to be privatized, and others should be revolutionized to overthrow the capitalist owners and institute worker control. He continues; “The workers, however, have the total right to seize control of the owner’s production if that industry cannot manage a private mode of production. In other words, socialist policies are to be employed when they assist the working class to its fullest. It simply depends on what industries the state decides to collectivize the services or goods being distributed. In the case of healthcare, education, and national security, for example, socialism and collectivism is undoubtedly the answer. In the cases of consumer goods and other services, regulated markets with workers’ rights being considered is superior. The determining factor as to what should be privatized, and what should be left to the state, is weighing the value of competition against potential conflicts of interest.” (pg. 3) I have no doubt that Bell Sano was a competent scholar who is able to correctly define the tenets of both socialism and capitalism correctly (whereas so many politicians and legal minds in Imperial society incorrectly define both). However, he appears to create some sort of compromise between total revolution and regulation of existing capitalist institutions which cannot exist. “Hybrid socialism” is an ignorami’s way of stating, “I am going to call this institution socialism, but in truth, I am merely regulating capitalism to make it more beneficial towards the working class.” There is nothing inherently wrong with this position, but it is not, in fact, socialist; social democracy mayhaps, but more accurately this would be defined as a state capitalist society. Seemingly, Sano has mistaken “the government enacting social programs” with “socialism.” He correctly identifies overthrowing the private owners in some industries as a key component of what socialist society is meant to be, but that does not amount to socialism if the commodity form still exists, and if the subjective theory of value is still codified into public policy. How, then, can Sano call this a socialist institution? Hierarchy Bell Sano is unclear on the extent to which a political hierarchy should exist. In one breath, he decries the existing structure of Imperial society to be a scourge and a plague on common society, but in the next he makes excuses to retain the existence of various capitalist hierarchies which supposedly fuel the oppression of the working class he alludes to. As already mentioned, Sano is not a proponent of total democratization of society despite his own claims, as he views private ownership of capital acceptable. But outside of the realm of industry, he also views the existence of royalty in public institutions as acceptable, despite earlier claims which call for their total demise. In the preface of his Compendium, he writes, “For too long, the hierarchical monstrosity which is political entitlement has plagued our glorious societies. The issue of political and social inequity is one which transcends racial divides, garnering scorn from all nations, all ethnicities, and all workers. The concept of royalty and entitlement has done nothing more than establish an unequal and unfair societal structure. Sanoism is the cure to this plague.” (pg. 2) Evidently, this is a strong statement to make in the era predating the existence of electoral bodies in the Empire. However, he will later douse his fiery rhetoric with excuses for the existence of the monarchy, which can essentially be summed up as, “It doesn’t matter as much as these other things.” “The extent to which the people have direct control over the government, nor how it is implemented, does not matter; all which truly matters is that Sano law is put into place, while the people are represented by their state. . . However, it is not unacceptable in a Sanoist society to permit a monarch, so long as he or she is to voice the will of the people.” (pg. 9) I cannot fathom how a supposed republican, who previously described the noble class and Imperial royalty as a ‘plague,’ could also accept the existence of a monarch so long as they’re ‘one of the nice ones’ who enacts the will of their constituents. Albeit, he does later detail that the existence of a parliamentary society under a monarch with legal checks and balances would be satisfactory, which is more or less the condition of Imperial society today, but that does not close the holes in his radical rhetoric. If I were a worker, I too would be relatively confused by the dramatic shift in tone. The rest of the section on republicanism in the Sanoist Compendium is a long-winded analysis of how exactly an electoral system would be established to most effectively garner the consent of the governed, but nowhere does it address this major flaw in Sanoist philosophy. Xenophobic Multiculturalism A major reason for Bell Sano’s failure to reach major components of his ideology outside of human spheres is that he is only a progressive icon in his rhetoric, but an incredible xenophobe in practice. Sano describes his proposed society as being incredibly welcoming of foreigners who assimilate into Canonist society, including other descendants. He is all-inclusive of individuals who show a great love and patriotism for Oren, regardless of their original nationalities and race. Later, though, he has this to say about immigration; “The creation of an ideal, Sanoist society must be safeguarded by strict borders, patriotism, and a national military -- otherwise, if we create such a glorious nation, what is to stop greedy foreigners from plundering our accomplishments, and shattering the great works of the proletariat?” (pg. 7) How does this unabashed xenophobic rhetoric fall in line with his supposed egalitarian principles? My assumption is that this was merely an attempt to attract the largely human population of the Empire at the time to his leftist ideas, and to dismiss any accusations of attempting to undermine Imperial values by integrating anti-immigrant rhetoric into his writings. It is also noted in secondary accounts with Bell Sano that he believed the Kharajyr to be of an inferior life form, below that of both descendants and animal. For this reason, I am entirely unsure of where his position on immigration is situated; is a multiracial, religiously homogeneous society desirable, or are immigrants a threat to the proletariat? Would those immigrants, given that they are Orenain patriots and Canonists, not also become a part of that proletarian society? Conclusion I do not wonder why it is that Sanoism was unable to gain significant traction amongst its target audience. The language used is convoluted, unclear, and conflicts with itself. If you were to revive Bell Sano and ask him where things went wrong, my assumption is that he would wholeheartedly defend his actions, declare that he did nothing wrong, and call you an Imperial conspirator who had fallen for propaganda aimed to keep the proletariat complacent in their oppression. I do not inherently disagree with all of Sano’s nominal ideals and principles, some are even considered mainstream today. However, it is clear that Bell Sano was incapable of defining his own position on fundamental questions about how Imperial society should operate, and the major flaws in his literature will forever leave Sanoism as an irrelevant footnote in history, subject to study only by scholars in political theory and fringe radicals.

((Click here to access the better formatted Google Docs version.)) THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF MODERN ECONOMICS Volume I: Defining Economics WRITTEN BY Elibar'indor W. Halcourt PUBLISHED BY The Northern Geographical Society Press SUPERVISORS Dr. Otto Wittenbach & Dr. Tanith Vursur 12th of Tobias' Bounty 36 2E Abstract This essay details the basic introductory principles to become familiarized with when considering the field of economics. It is my belief that much of the hesitancy for new scholars to begin studying economics is the lack of foundational literature, and that the low number of published works in economics is due to the general public holding a misconception of what economics actually is. Thus, this is the first of a three part series detailing the most fundamental, basic principles of economics, which I am writing in the hopes that more budding academics will embrace the discipline and construct more advanced theories. In this volume, we define the parameters of what economics actually is, as to give the reader a foundation to further study the relatively new field. Subjects covered include resource scarcity, rational choice theory, opportunity cost and markets. Introduction: What is Economics? The current volume of published works in economics is concerningly slim. Conventional wisdom dictates that the small quantity of economic literature is the consequence of economics not being a viable field to study. It would be my contention that economics is now more relevant than ever, and the reason that academics have not given it the recognition as afforded to history or anthropology is due to the lack of foundational texts, and the lack of understanding regarding what economics actually is. Economics is a discipline which has only recently been receiving the attention it deserves from advanced scholars, but it is by no means a new field. Literature in economic history dates back to the era of Aegis, where an institution known as the Aegean Academy -- regarded as the first attempt at a formal educational institution in history -- defined economics as the study of “trade commands and markets.” The intention of this program was to educate students to become savvy merchants, and prevent them from being scammed when making financial transactions. While this definition provides a useful practical application, it is not considered accurate by the parameters of today’s economists. It is difficult to come up with a single, coherent definition of what economics “is,” as we still regard it as an emerging field. However, if we were to create an all-encompassing definition, we could summarize the entirety of economics into the following; “Economics is the study of how rational decision makers interact with the concept of value.” You may note that this is a bit of a broad definition, but it is the only one which encapsulates every possible definition of how other economic scholars would describe the discipline. One scholar may define economics as, “the study of production, consumption, and wealth in a society.” Another may take the viewpoint that economics is, “the science of human choice in which a rational individual maximizes their own utility in a world in which resources are finite.” The next could just as easily defend the notion that economics is, “the study of how free agents respond to incentives.” On their face, there is nothing wrong with any of these definitions, as they are all correct in their own regards; economics is the study of all the above. However, the field of economics is not exclusive to any one of those definitions, and one cannot go unaccompanied by the others. All three supplementary definitions inform the original parameters outlined, in that economics is the study of how rational decision makers interact with the concept of value. It is also worth noting what economics is not. There is a common misconception regarding economics, in that it is similar to the field of business or finances. In my experience, many scholars unfamiliar with the field of economics tend to refer to it as the fancier cousin of business studies. Whereas business teaches you how to operate and maintain various aspects of private industry in the market, economics is a social science which addresses the choices and behaviors of people participating in said markets. This is my contention with individuals who conflate economics with business; Business addresses the production of goods and services which are consumed, and economics addresses the behaviours of free agents in the market, including those consumers. There does exist an overlap between the fields, but it should be remembered that business is a professional practice whereas economics is an academic one. Positive and Normative Statements As with many of the social sciences, economics deals with both positive and normative statements. This serves as the foundation for analysis in the social sciences and economics, distinguishing between an indisputable fact and a subjective opinion. The normative statement addresses the analysis of a subject which is informed by personal opinion, ethics, values and morals. We cannot prove it right or wrong, because there is no definitive, objective truth regarding the statement. For instance, if I order a Carrington pale ale from the local tavern, I might say, “This pale ale is delicious!” This is a normative statement. I find the drink to be delicious, and nobody can dispute that statement, because it cannot be proven to be true or false. If I were to say, “This pale ale is in a glass mug,” that would be a positive statement, because we can deduce if the pale ale is actually in a glass mug or not. Even if a statement is incorrect, it is still positive, because we can prove that it is false. If I were to say, “This pale ale is in a wooden mug,” and the ale was indeed in a glass mug, that would still be a positive statement; I could just be proven wrong by the barkeep. The reason I cite positive and normative statements is to detail how economics is not a “hard science” as some are often led to believe. Economics is, at the end of the day, a social science which often does not reach conclusions in objective truths, but rather uses analytical data to reach subjective, opinionated world views. Just because a discipline uses a wide array of quantitative methods does not mean that all of the data and conclusions we cultivate are cold, dead-set, objective truths. Very often, that quantitative data is merely used as an indicator to inform our beliefs. Opportunity Cost Opportunity cost serves as the foundation of behavioral economics. If there is one lesson I want you to take away from this reading, it’s this; opportunity cost is the next best alternative forgone. It measures the “next best thing,” the option you gave up in an effort to pursue the best option. For instance, on a given day, I could either take a jog for two hours or write for three. If I choose to go for a jog for two hours instead of writing for three, I sacrifice one hour of writing. The figures below demonstrates my options; Jog Write Elibar’s Options 2 3 For the sake of this example, let us assume that there are only two possibilities in this scenario; either I can write for three hours or I can jog for two. There is no middle ground. The red points on the graph are the only two options I have. However, this is hardly how the real world operates. Surely, I can find a comfortable middle ground. To figure out what that middle ground is, however, I need to calculate what the opportunity cost for each individual unit is -- in this case, the unit being hours jogged or writing. If this were a diagram where each of the units had a 1:1 ratio, it would be easy to calculate; i.e. if my options were between three hours of jogging and three hours of writing. I’d be giving up one hour of jogging for one hour of writing, and vice-versa. In this example, we’ll have to exert a bit of basic algebra. To calculate the opportunity cost of pursuing a given option, you must divide the forgone option by the option pursued. For instance, if I decide to jog today, we would divide the forgone option (writing, three hours) by the pursued option (jogging, two hours). Opportunity Cost for one hour of jogging 3 / 2 = 1.5 In this example, for every hour I jog, I give up an hour and a half (1.5) of writing. Conversely; Opportunity Cost for one hour of writing 2 / 3 = 0.66 If I were to pursue writing instead, I would be giving up 0.66 hours of jogging (or two-thirds of an hour, for the fractionally inclined) for each hour I write. So then, let’s say that in our first example, we wanted to pursue only one hour of jogging instead of two. The rest of that time can be used to write. Because our opportunity cost for jogging is 1.5 hours, our graph now looks like the following; As pictured above, in pursuit of one hour of jogging, I have sacrificed an hour and a half of writing. Opportunity cost is mayhaps the single most crucial economic concept for budding scholars to comprehend, as it demonstrates that we live in a world of scarcity and finite resources; and in that world of scarce and finite choices, people have to make decisions which maximize their utility, and optimizes the allocation of the resources available. This is what’s referred to as the rational choice theory. Market Functions` You may know markets as the congregation of shops and stalls in the centre of your town or city, and indeed, that is exactly what a market is in economics, as well. Markets simply refer to the systems and institutions by which parties exchange goods and services, may it be on Main Street or the international exchange of goods. Markets are not a uniform concept, they come in various styles, systems, and sizes. The economy of various halfling villages which reject the usage of mina are just as much of a market as the mixed-use economies of Orcish societies, who often assign value to both mina and snagas, and as is the classical market of Imperial exchange. Markets typically include two major agents involved in the process of exchange; the consumer, who is buying the good or service, and the vendor, who is selling the good or service. There may be other actors involved in market exchanges -- think tax agencies, sales brokers -- but market transactions will always, consistently have a consumer (buyer) and a vendor (seller). Those are the actors in markets, and they manipulate two other major elements which determine the overall status of the marketplace, two elements which are rather intuitive to most; supply and demand. These two fundamental components of economic literature describe how the consumers interact with sellers, and how the price of the good interacts with it’s available quantity. We visualize supply and demand through this figure; A major complaint from new economics students is that they understand the material, but do not understand the graphs used to explain that material. Graphs are tricky business for anybody unfamiliar with visualizing quantitative work, it can be a challenge to rewire your cognition in such a way that graphs make sense, but do keep in mind that these graphs are here to help you comprehend economic concepts. One notion that we ought to clarify immediately is that you should think of supply and demand as separate actors in the marketplace, just as you would distinguish consumers and sellers. Their movements will not have implicit impacts on their counterpart (although there will obviously be consequences of one falling and the other rising, but there is no law which explicitly states, “As demand rises, supply falls.” They are separate actors.) There are four major elements at play here, and it is of utmost importance that any budding economist understands each one. The two to begin with are price and quantity, represented as p and q respectively. Price refers to the compensation one party gives up to the other in exchange for the good being analyzed (this refers to the price the consumer is willing to pay the seller for a good). Quantity refers to the amount of that item which is actively purchased on the marketplace. Demand is the downward sloping curve; as the price of a good increases, the quantity decreases, and vice versa. This is known as the law of demand, and it correlates with the consumer’s desire to purchase goods. Think about the market for our aforementioned Carrington pale ale. At the price of five mina, the demand is relatively high, because many consumers are willing to pay a measly five mina for an ale. However, should the barkeep raise the price to fifteen mina per ale -- a terrifying proposition which I hope never manifests -- then less people will want to buy pale ales at that price; thus, the quantity decreases, and demand has fallen. Then comes supply, the upward sloping curve on our graph. Supply resembles the amount of goods readily available, as provided by the sellers. As it is upwards sloping, the relationship between price and quantity is positive, as opposed to the inverse relationship according to the law of demand. As price increases, so will the quantity, as is the law of supply. Now, take the perspective of our barkeep. Suppose the price of the pale ale he’s selling rises, for whatever the reason (maybe the quantity of malt used to make the ale has decreased, so the malt farmer raises his prices, and the barkeep has to recoup his losses!) As a result, the barkeep has an incentive to produce more pale ale. This will increase the supply. When the supply is greater than the demand for the good, we’re in a situation known as a surplus. When the demand outpaces supply, we’re in a shortage. The intersection on the graph, where both supply and demand meet, refers to the point where both are in perfect market conditions that are appropriate for the given good; they are at equilibrium. This is an important term to remember, as it means the market for that good has perfected itself. However, if demand rises, then the equilibrium price and quantity will rise, resulting in the entirety of the demand curve itself to shift right (as in, the actual line itself will move). When this curve shifts, however, the equilibrium price will still remain at the intersection of the line, but the value of the price and quantity will still have been altered. The inverse also holds true, where a decrease in demand causes the curve to shift left. Likewise, a decrease in supply causes the equilibrium to change to a higher price and lower quantity, as the supply curve will shift left. The opposite also holds true, where the increase in supply causes equilibrium to have a lower price and higher quantity, as the curve shifts right. This concept can be intimidating at first, but forget the fancy terminology for a brief moment. These principles are intuitive, you know that as the price for a good increases then less people are going to be able to afford it. The visualization may be intimidating, but this is not a newfound idea to the well-read commoner. Remember, graphs are your friend, make use of them. Theories of Value Theories of value are competing ideas which contest the foundations of economic thought and principles. Although this veers into the bounds of political economy (the study of how production and trade interact with society’s governance and laws), it is still a series of concepts worth introducing in this first volume. This is to demonstrate that economics is, as clarified in the first section of this book, a social science where subjective morals and opinions are used in qualitative analysis. The theory of value-added is one that has to be comprehended before embarking on an individual economist’s thoughts. The value-added theory stipulates that each stage of production adds additional value to the final value of a produced good. Everything from the malt farmer, to the brewster, to the tavern’s sale of my pale ale adds some sort of value to that ale. With this in mind, the theory which many in the mainstream descendant society adhere to is the subjective theory of value. Subjective-value theory stipulates that we cannot ‘calculate’ the actual value of a good through any inherent property, but rather that the good is valued differently by various consumers, and thus markets allocate the goods to those who need them most based on how much they value them. In other words, “you want this thing more than I do, but I want that thing more than you do.” This is the theory utilized primarily by Imperial, dwarven, and to a smaller degree, Orcish societies. Prominent contemporary economist Soren Q. Z. Haas-Lotherington is one of the most notable advocates of subjective-value theory. The theory most critical of subjective-value theory is the labor theory of value, which takes the opposite stance, in that there are objective indicators which we can use to calculate the value of a certain good; primarily, how much socially necessary labor time was invested into the production of the final good. This theory differentiates the value of the good, which is calculated through how much labor was invested into said good, from the wages paid to workers, who’re paid on the merit of how much their employer and the owner of capital is willing to compensate them. Labor theory of value is practiced staunchly in halfling society, where they’ve forfeited the use of mina, and more recently it has made strides in Mali’aheral circles with modern economists like Tilruir Niënor Nullivari. Classical political economists who adopt the labor theory of value include halfling scholar Bernard Oakstool and the Imperial academic Bell Sano, prominent in the 1600’s. The labor theory of value has lost traction amongst critical scholars, but it has seemingly been making a quiet reappearance in non-human circles today. Conclusion Economics is a complex discipline. It is one that many scholars might find themselves unfamiliar with, even others in the social sciences, as it can make objective truth and subjective thought indiscernible from one another to the unread eye. But to scholars, economics is important because it can have a revolutionary impact, not only on the academic community but society at large. This is more than the study of how things are produced, or how stuff is traded. It is the study of incentives, scarcity, allocation, and how society assigns value to different elements of our various civilizations.

The Magnum Index "The golden era of academia." 5th of Sun's Smile, 34 S.E. [Click here to access the Magnum Index] As accredited degree programs are becoming increasingly common, so does the scene of formal academics, research, and scholarly literature. Students must cite and refer to other pieces of literature, historians spend countless hours rummaging through documents irrelevant to their studies, and researchers do not have a tool to optimize the discovery of academic articles. The Magnum Index is a proposition which creates an open-source database for all published academic literature, free for scholars throughout the realm to cite. Copies of the Magnum Index will be stored at various libraries, universities, and academic institutions throughout Almaris. It provides ease of access to researchers who want to more easily locate the literature they’re searching for by categorizing published documents by academic discipline and division. The days of rummaging through the forums stacks of old historical documents are over. The golden era of academia is here. All files in the Magnum Index are free for scholars to cite, so long as they credit and cite the original author. Volunteer scribes are working on transcribing foundational academic texts into the appropriate format for the Magnum Index. The objective is to turn this database into the all-encompassing centre for academic literature. The second function which the Magnum Index serves is cataloguing all scholars and displaying their profiles. This is designed to help academics network and collaborate on relevant research projects. If you would like to be listed in the catalogue, please fill out our survey and you will be catalogued promptly. Academic Disciplines If you require a description of the various academic disciplines, please refer to this document. If you wish to submit your own literature to the Magnum Index, you may do so by contacting the database's chief coordinator. ((Liam#7649))

Name: Elibar'indor Age: 210 Place of Residence: Ando Alur Field of Study (Pick One) [ ] History [ x ] Social Science [ ] Natural Science [ ] Magical Studies OOC: Username: Papa_Liam Discord: Liam#7649 Timezone: EST

[!] The aged Abeyot entered the Basilica, sitting with the Priest. “Very well, brother. We shall begin quite simply. What is your name?” "Abeyot Okoro, sir." “And your age?” "Fifty-two." “I know it may be clear, heh, but it is for the sake of records. What race of the descendants are you of?” "I'm a Southeron, sir." “You are able to read and write, yes?” "I am an educated man, yes." “And with that, are you at all familiar with the Holy Scrolls and Catechism of our Church?” "My father was a devout Canonist man, Father." “You are of course baptized?” "Of course." “Good, good. Are you married? Do you have children?” "No, you've got's to have hair and a sense of humor for that, I hear." “In what way of the clergy do you wish to serve? As a Priest, a Monastic?” "As a Priest." “While this may not be accepted by the Prelate, depending on the needs of the Church, in what Diocese would you prefer to serve in? You can simply name a city or Kingdom.” "I'd like to remain in New Reza, if at all possible." “A rather personal question, why have you chosen to walk this path in God?” "After my career as journalist and political activist fell through, blacksmithing grew tiresome on my old arms, and I began to realize that I've been livin' my entire life agitated and obsessed over earthly possessions and disputes. The life of the cloth is sure to show me the path to bein' content." “And at last, are you truly devoted to this way of life? Prepared to take any vows involved with ordination and commit oneself to this lifetime bond with the Lord Almighty?” "I am His loyal adherent."