Organizations of Avern

Religious Organizations

Dawnbringers

Death Keepers

Purpose: The Death Keepers are the faithful of Sumar, the Keeper of Death. While, at first, this would seem to be something evil, the Death Keepers are a completely neutral organization. They believe death is simply a part of the cycle of life, and thus something to be celebrated. They help those who are passing, and they often run what are referred to as "death houses" which are places where extremely sick and untreatable individuals can go to die in peace and dignity. They help them with their last days, offering a clean, open, and warm location where family can visit but they are taken care of as well. The Death Keepers sometimes practice some healing magic, but their focus is making someone comfortable, not healing their sickness. They work with Life Keepers closely, and generally take their judgment into consideration about who needs their end of life care.

Dreamwalkers

Earth Keepers

Purpose: The Earth Keepers are followers of Charin, the Keeper of Earth. They follow her tenants without fail, and care for the environment and the elements. They strictly police access to the elemental planes, intervening when someone would take advantage of them. They consist of Druids, and all involved speak Druidic language with each other, and it is taboo to teach any who are not initiated into the organization the language. The initiation into the Earth Keepers is a guarded secret, though many assume it is a harsh and difficult process to become one of them. Earth Keepers do come in conflict with governments, though like the other Keepers, the Council of Nine gave them powers to protect the lands of Avern. This is often called into question, but none have been willing to break the rule of the Council of Nine as of yet. Earth Keepers often join with Star Keepers to help train young druids in the magic of the elements. They are based in a secret location only known as the Druid Home. 

Freedom Makers

Purpose: The Freedom Makers are the devout of Erikreas, the Smiling Lady or the Chaos Bringer. They are the embodiment of chaos right down to their appearance. They typically appear in any number of physical aspects, male, female, and other. The organization, as such, is chaotic and there is no structure to speak of. Anyone can be a member, no matter their affiliation, as long as they promise to uphold every person's right to personal freedom, both in expression and of self. The Freedom Makers often make themselves known as mercenaries that work within tyrannical governments. They often will fight for the freedom of any group that is oppressed, and while their ilk includes entertainers, they generally hold extremely well trained skills.

Justice Bringers

Purpose: Volmn's followers champion justice throughout the realm of Avern. They typically are impartial judges, police forces, and other enforcement. Their justice, though, does not uphold just any law. They believe in the inalienable rights of all beings, and fight to bring justice to unjust situations. If a government's laws are unjust, they will stand up for the people in that area, and work to change things. They do this through non-violent means, as they are not a violent organization. They, at their heart, believe in the power of justice to overcome injustice, and do not believe violence is ever the answer. Because of this, they often clash with Freedom Makers. Erikreas has no qualms about employing violence in the face of injustice, while Volmn is strict that violence in his name should never be done. 

Life Keepers

Purpose: The Life Keepers are a group who adheres to the teachings of Avarin, the Keeper of Life. They are master healers, but also able to determine when someone is beyond their assistance. They are a completely neutral organization and offer help to any who ask, no matter their deeds or their affiliation. They are known to offer sanctuary to those being pursued by law enforcement of various governments, and often come in conflict with them. They, though, have been given control over what happens in the confines of their Life Houses. No government controls their spaces, and it is always considered sanctuary and neutral ground by everyone. These laws are sometimes called into question, but for whatever reason, all government leaders in Avern have agreed that this will not change, and the Council of Nine codified this in all governments. 

Nightmare Walkers

Order of the Dawn

Briasha, or the Great Healer, is Crean's sister and her complete opposite. She brings hope and healing to all who need it. The Order of the Dawn are her highest ranking healers and priestesses. They are the people that lead the Churches of Light as well as the great healing houses throughout the continent. They offer succor to any who need it, though they are under the jurisdiction of whatever government they are within. They often hide those that the authorities are after, though, when they are sick or injured. Many healing houses exist in the areas, and are sometimes referred to as houses of light. The healers are adept at cycle magic and they all are devoted to Briasha entirely. There is a militant branch of the Order of the Dawn, the Sons of the Dawn, who are warriors devoted to eradicating disease and despair wherever they go. 

Plague Bearers

Purpose: The followers of Crean formed the Plague Bearers in order to spread despair among the people of Avern. In their philosophy, disease is brought about by the beings who live on Avern, and surviving disease gives people an appreciation for life they did not have before. Those that succumb to disease are not worthy of life, and thus should die. They truly believe in this philosophy as well as the idea that disease is a way to control the populations of Avern. They believe that the "gift of Crean" (a disease that Plague Bearers can pass on to others that does not infect them) is a way to level the playing field of those in charge and those who are governed by them. They believe no one is immune to the scourge of plague, and thus no one is worth any more than another. 

Star Keepers

Purpose: The Star Keepers are adherents to Kalimorne, the Keeper of Stars. They are in place to manage those that have magical power and aid them in understanding and realizing their powers. With the advent of the Forge, they were at one time integral to the running of the school. They were the teachers, the administrators, and many of those that worked within the place. In the recent years, however, all Star Keepers have been banned from the Forge, and they have been warned that any interference with the Regulators will result in death. The Star Keepers, though, have continued doing what they always have, though it has become subversive. They often take the people with magical ability that they find to a secret location only known as "the star field" and at this location, they help them learn about their power, and most importantly, teach them how to disguise themselves so that the Regulators do not find out about them.

Truth Sayers

Twilight Bringers

Other Organizations

The Regulators

Purpose: The single purpose of the Regulators was to round up individuals with the marks of having magical abilities and take them to the Forge. Originally, this was optional, and people were permitted to turn down the Regulators. Today, though, they take people without fail, and do not take no for an answer. They operate outside governments, and despite attempts by places like the Republic of Namas and Perta, they have been unstoppable. Since they were given blanket authority by the Council of Nine, they can cross borders and remove anyone from any country. They use force when necessary, and not all arrive at the Forge unharmed, or even alive. It is unknown what happens today. Upon its inception, the Forge was a place of learning and people wanted to find their way there. Now, those that enter the Forge are never heard from again, and no one except the Regulators themselves know what occurs inside.