Do you have an interest in things of an arcane nature, Like to be in a secret society?
Join The Institute for Arcane Ciphers today!
New premier secret society in Daunton!
-The Screamer
Another mention in The Screamer!
Quote:
Originally Posted by renau1g
Extra! Extra!
The Sky is Falling!
Farmers near the interior of Daunton have reported seeing a ball of fire come from the sky and fly across their homesteads. During this event, it was also purported that milk was curdled, livestock fell over dead and some who stared directly at the ball were struck blind. Experts are scrambling to determine the truth of their claims and some wonder whether this new secret arcane society has summoned some despicable evil down on the island. Most have laughed off their claims as the tales of fools or a trick of swamp gasses reflecting the light. Officials have not released any word on their actions or plans for dealing with this phenomena. One thing's for certain, things have never appeared worse for our fair island, between cultists, murders, crimelords, icy islands threatening our trade routes, pirates, and the dead rising.
Original
I'm working out the details tonight, maybe making a wiki note. Where would something like this go in the wiki?
The society is publicly known, and registered in Daunton and Bacarte. It is not a secret that the society exists, but it's intentions are only known to members. Even then, not all members know all operations undertaken by The IAC. Also, there is no public list of membership, and even the groups head does not know who every member is. (Martelai, who is currently traveling with Veruzak is an excellent example.)
The members can acknowledge that the society exists, but not who else is a member, society goals, or projects.
The party can hear things like, "I'm a member", "I claim this site for The IAC, I'm posting this no trespassing notice, and classifying this area as experimental research.", and "Would you like to join the IAC?".
Think of it like the Freemasons, it's secret, but not because people don't know it exists. Because the public doesn't know it's rites of passage, goals, and membership information, that is what makes it secret.
Cults are the kind of secret society that if someone rejects membership you kill them... The IAC just says "thank you for your time" and continues it's secret machinations...
I'm going to be updating the note at The Hanged Man Tavern, and over at The Drowned Man Tavern, if Veruzak makes the cash it will be a secret note only detectable through an Arcana check. UPDATE: Veruzak is still stuck on the Isle of Haurton, if he ever escapes, the note will be updated with a secret message.
Secret messages will be left for characters, either with Igor, or the bartender, mostly of the "all is well" variety. This will all be happening before October is out, and I have an idea for a couple short vignettes I may develop and submit... We'll see! Looking forward to continued developments.
UPDATE: Have not developed an adventure, however someone may be working on something . Secret Messages still in the works, been an unexpectedly busy October (engagement... ).
Ideas for The IAC's future
This is going to be space for ideas, none of this is concrete or even firm.
If you want something added to this list that your character, or you as a DM, would like to see explored or accomplished, just post, and I'll edit it in.
Possible adventure hooks or group activity
The group is secretly collecting the spell and ritual components for the Archlich spell.
The group is establishing authority throughout the transitive isle's and beyond as a super power.
The group is forwarding 7 Rabbits search for his legendary heros.
The group is creating a museum within Daunton to promote good public opinion of Magic.
The group is purposely and actively influencing the political and educational institutes in Daunton and Bacarte to reflect well on magic users.
The group is collecting spare parts to keep the Igors running.
Information on Joining
To join, post an OOC here in this thread stating that your character has joined.
There are three ways to join.
Recruitment by Veruzak
Recruitment by another IAC member
Recruitment by Igor (Terry Pratchett style)
Any of these can be done through RP (let me know so I can read this, it entertains me)
or as an off-camera/background event.
The most important bit, is the OOC confirmation on this thread.
The only people, and I use the term loosely, that know all of the IAC's membership info, and plans, are the Igors. They are notorious for being discrete and have served countless Wizards, mad scientists, and monstrous nobles in this regard for millennia.
Their only stipulation, when the torch-bearing towns-folk come, a back door be prepared for them. The IAC also provides spare parts when possible to assist the Igors own surgical goals...
Membership information update
Grade Band levels DO NOT give members authority over other members. The IAC believes that each member is a moral agent, and has a right to self-sovereignty. Even a Sophic may not give a direct order to another member. Each member decides their own level of involvement with the IAC.
Grade Band Levels
There are four grade band levels, each imparts it's own benefit.
All members receive the Perspicacious Grade Band to begin with, this shows membership, and grants access to most IAC buildings, without appointment. This also allows claiming arcane sites, and recruiting new members.
Any combination of the following will promote a member to Sapient. Claiming an arcane site, completing contractual obligations for the society (go on an adventure for the IAC), recruit 3 new members, or gain a full level as a member of the IAC.
Sapient Grade Band members are granted access to the guild enchanters for no fee beyond creation costs. Members at this level may open, and oversee new headquarters.
Any combination of the following will promote a member to Erudite (A member must reach Sapient before they may reach Erudite, however accomplishments before becoming Sapient may still apply to promotion to Erudite). Retrieve a rare or powerful artifact for the IAC reliquary in Daunton (This should be a minor quest), succeed in an IAC mission goal (Any minor quest that furthers the IAC), or organize an IAC operation (DM a vignette for the IAC).
Erudite Grade Band members are given their own sacred ceremony. Each Erudite gains access to the IAC spell-pool (Haven't worked out what this actually means...). Erudite members have access to the Arcane Shrine (Veruzak is going to be furnishing this place for use, if a character reaches this Grade Band level, they can come in too!).
Any combination of the following will promote a member to Sophic (A member must reach Erudite before they may reach Sophic, however accomplishments before becoming Erudite may still apply to promotion to Sophic). I'll work this out when people start reaching paragon tier...
Perspicacious
Sapient
Erudite
Sophic
Sites claimed by the IAC
What used to be Hob's Cabin on the Isle of Haurton by Martelai (Neurotic)Here
Site claim form
The institute is vested with the authority to claim "unclaimed" arcane sites. So walking into the local magic shop and declaring it to be IAC property violates the contract Daunton and Bacarte signed onto. (The IAC will one day be large enough to enforce it's own authority, but until then they rely on Local Transitive Isle Governments. Those government officials comply because having a group that only wants good publicity for magic, is great for keeping crazy, blow-up-the-city wizards [looking at you dead Palindrome], from blowing up the city...)
(Thanks to Neurotic for this, I liked the idea enough to adopt it officially. Thought it was hilarious, especially *All of the above. Circle whichever you claim the site with, like this, (*). Thanks)
NOTICE
This site is claimed property of Institute of Arcane Ciphers for any or all of the following reasons:
* Site of known magical manifestations
* Power node
* Site of arcane menace or magical threat to general populace
* Ritual site
* Site of unexplained arcane manifestation
* Legacy site or site of historical significance
* Research station
* All of the above
* Other
For additional information or legal dispute contact ___________ or other representative of IAC in Bacarta/Dauntonian offices.
If you want to appeal to his demographic, you need to locate the organization in a honky-tonk or introduce square dancing or have a lot of drinking. A lot.
Powers:
Bardic Virtue (Once per round, when any ally within 5 squares of you reduces an enemy to 0 hit points or bloodies an enemy, you can grant 3 temporary hit points to that ally as a free action.) Jinx Shot
Cutting Words Shout of Triumph
Twin Strike
Hunter's Quarry
Majestic Word
Words of Friendship Arrow of Warning
Full Character Sheet
Avenging Light
Grasping Shards
Call Spirit Companion Memory of a Thousand Lifetimes
CD: Armour of Wrath
CD: Rubukle Undead
Raven's Claw
Thunder of Judgement The Lady's Aid
Invocation of Ice and Fire
So far it sounds like 5 total members, if something gets posted somewhere that a member should see, I'll post a link to it here in the OOC of the society.
Veruzak is coming back through from Bacarte to finish filing paperwork with Daunton, he can run into Morvannon, while Kamotz and Vrrsk't are sparring.
Georg can have run into Veruzak on the way to Daunton's clerk for notarizing.
Feel free once you're a member to recruit new members!
Avenging Light
Grasping Shards
Call Spirit Companion Memory of a Thousand Lifetimes
CD: Armour of Wrath
CD: Rubukle Undead
Raven's Claw
Thunder of Judgement The Lady's Aid
Invocation of Ice and Fire
which adventure is Alek in? I can try to talk with your DM and see what kind of IC way to do this we can find.
Morvannon will be easy for me, because he is traveling with my other character so I know he'll eventually end up at the Temple Lauto.
Georg is a little more difficult, because I don't know where he is at all...
when Cheysuli gets back from the Jade Kingdom, The Hanged Man Tavern will have something to trigger a possible recruitment opportunity. (I've got an idea, but don't want to reveal everything yet...)
Well, Veruzak orignally proposed the society in the tavern before Blight Makes Right started (IIRC), you could just retcon it to say you joined then, offscreen. Or he could wait and find out about it when he gets back to town.
NPC Igors will be taking care of all of The Arcane Institute of Cipher's business. If you signed up with The Institute for Arcane Ciphers, and did not meet Veruzak, your character met an Igor (ala Terry Pratchet). DM's please feel free to RP this join up if you'd like! If you do I'd love to read it, so let me know where I can find it! (I know I'm awful for not reading every adventure...)
Veruzak may not even know you are a member yet, as he isn't always aware of the roster. (he is an adventurer)
I'm thinking of giving the group some off camera NPC sponsors, maybe even opening a research center on Daunton...
Anybody who has joined or is thinking of joining that has ideas in that vein?
Very neat, and after a few days of lurking, I'm going to pull together a wizard and dive right in. Of course, I am loathe to join any society that would have me as a member...
. Secret Messages still in the works, been an unexpectedly busy October (engagement... 
).
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