The Library of The Spheres is as close to an overall headquarters as the Seekers get (short of the legendary world of Compendium). About thirty years ago the Seekers decided to relocate two of their larger libraries to Bral for their safety, thus forming the core of the current collection. While the Crown was apprehensive of leasing that much property to a group notorious for not being concerned with trifles like Rulers, politics, or temporal authority in general they were persuaded by gifts of intelligence about rival and trading opportunities in other Spheres.
The Library itself is actually a compound of six buildings (filling the city block it occupies on the Bral map). These buildings are: The Main Library, three dormitories for transient members, Offices and staff residences, and the walled compound of The Special Collection. Entities from throughout the "Arcane Inner Flow", and beyond travel here to use its resources. It is also worthy of note that the Seeker Council of Sages meets here once every five years as they set the agenda for the order and decide which "great and burning questions", deserve attention.
Goals
The Seekers value knowledge above all. As an order they wish to resolve questions of magnitude, such as, "why are the Spheres round?" "How do the Arcane make Helms," and others. Seen by some as manic adventurers, and by some as itinerate naval gazers, they maintain reasonably cordial relations with most other groups except the Xenos who see them as the worst possible blending of races.
Membership
Races both known and unknown from throughout the Spheres join the Seekers. It is almost axiomatic within the order that knowledge, not race, is important. More than any other group in Wildspace the Seeker's membership is multiracial and multiethnic. Hadozee, Gnomes, Xixchil, Taladan Minotaurs, Dohwar, and many others are not unusual sites in the LoS compound. Rumor has it that they even deal with Illithids (Mind Flayers) when necessary, and have even accepted a few of their outcasts into the organization.
Membership in the First and Second orders is fairly easy to get, involving simply an offering of unusual information and the swearing of an oath to pursue information and learning above all else. Advancement beyond the Second Circle is determined on a case-by-case basis and is much harder to obtain (See Organization Below).
History and Motivations
The Seekers have been around a long time. In the LoS there are firsthand reports written on the Rain of Colorless Fire (which created the Sea of Dust on Oerth in Greyspace over a thousand years ago) as viewed from Wildspace. No one knows their origins, although rumors abound that they were founded by a race that vanished long before the Thri Kreen's great starfaring Empire of The Celestial Mantis.
Seeing racial boundaries and politics as nothing more than passing inconveniences, they wish to unearth the secrets of the Universe. Certain "Great Questions", are decreed as the main priorities every five years. These questions are determined by the Council of Sages in closed session and then communicated to their bases via the Wildspace Codex. Each major Seekers branch has a copy of the Codex, which replicates anything written in it in all its copies. Even across Spheres!
The LoS on Bral has grown to be the largest repository of Seekers data short of Compenduim (their legendary home base). It was located there due to Andru's staunch attitude of neutrality and rabid independence. Staffed entirely by members, some retired and pursuing research or those working in a more theoretical vein, it also acts as a way station for the order and a meeting place for dealings that would otherwise be impossible. It is here that negotiations with the Illithid Empire for knowledge of the mind are conducted.
Organization
There is a strict series of "Circles," within the Seekers. Entrance to the First and Second Circles is easy to obtain and many spacers have membership at these levels. In return for accounts of their travels and any useful of interesting information the members at these levels are given access to Seeker facilities, libraries, and (where they exist) lodging.
Advancement to Third through Seventh is determined by the member's contributions to the Seeker's knowledge base. Sometimes great discoveries can allow a member to jump from First directly to Fourth or higher circles dependant on the verdict of the "The Quorum." (see below) Each advancement in rank allows access to additional resources, including many that are not know even to the LoS' patrons (See RoBral publication for details on becoming a Library member of Patron without joining the Seekers). Higher-ranking members will occasionally be given missions for the order. They may also, depending on their mission, be granted assistance in the form of money, equipment, or rarely magic.
Eighth and Ninth Circles are the highest attainment within the order. Members at these levels are minimum of 15th Lvl (Sage, Mage, or Psionic usually. Clerics at that level are more concerned with the dictates of their God(s) than knowledge for it's own sake. Notable exceptions are Priests of Gods whose domain is knowledge such as Toth or Oghma) Ninth level members compose the Council of Sages, which dictates the Seeker agendas. To attain these levels one must not only have made great advances in knowledge, but also must have a personal sponsor from within the Circle in question.
The Seekers maintain relations with sages and mages throughout the Spheres, including Elminster on Toril. They also maintain a close relationship with the Pantheistic Celestial College of Celestian, which provides Helmsmen for many of the Seeker's journeys of exploration.
Chain of Command
The highest-ranking members resident on Bral see to the operations of the Library as well as orchestrating Seeker expeditions and networks throughout the "Arcane Inner Flow." Known as "The Quorum," this group of nine makes all large-scale decisions reviews members and candidates for entrance to higher circles and deals directly with the Crown.
The Quorum is composed of the eight highest ranking members resident to the Rock of Bral and one junior level member (Third through Fifth Circle) who acts as a "Wild Card," in the decision making process. The junior member is determined by drawing names, and is different for each meeting.
The Quorum currently consists of:
Sir Kyle- (LN HM F6/B3/W3)- Chief Librarian/8th Circle. Sir Kyle was sent in recently to take over after the previous Head Librarian was discovered to be part of an internal cover-up. Sent in to find out who had been diverting book shipments, he was awarded the post after solving the mystery. Native to Greatspace his wanderlust was ignited during his years in House Shambrath's Military (see Crystal Spheres pub. By TSR). A hale and hearty man of 65 he is looking forward to settling down in his pursuit of magic and song.
Sorten- (N HM W12)- 8th Circle. Native of Toril in RealmSpace, Sorten is a specialist in Illithid Lore. His many encounters with them in the Underdark of his own world and others, as well as in Wildspace itself have left him nervous and paranoid. Due to age retarding magics he looks a youth of 18 despite being well over 120. He is also a member of the Fireball Alliance and lives in the Villa that membership grants him.
Akello-(NG GrommM B11)- Keeper of The Special Collection/8th Circle. Slow moving and cheerful, this silver haired Grommam maintains the walled compound of The Special Collection. Known for heroic performances from "Kong Rex," (his most well know Epic Poem), and encyclopedic knowledge of ancient legends he is known and loved throughout the Rock. Often found having lively disagreements with Aldaric Blackstaff (see Rock of Bral by TSR) over mythic interpretations.
Sarian (N HM Psi9)- 8th Circle. Stern and slow to speak (aloud anyway), Sarian acts as Sir Kyle's chief advisor. A master of "The Inner Art," he has taken it as his project to increase the amount of Psionics Lore in the LoS collection. Little known to most he is a passionate collector of butterflies from throughout the Spheres.
Whitefire (LN HM W6/Mk4)- 8th Circle. Spaceborn and orphaned in the last Unhuman Wars, Whitefire was raised in a Celestian Temple. Early on he decided that his love was for knowledge, not divinity. Inspired by seeing the Spelljammer itself once in his youth, he has pursued it for 25 years. He joined the Seekers to aid his search and rose rapidly through the ranks. A slender man, dressed in plain white clothes, he is humble and understated. When aroused to action he is a whirlwind of spells and fists.
Matunda (CN HadM T9)- 7th Circle. Fiercely abrasive, like most Hadozee, Matunda takes a "hands on," approach to gathering knowledge. An expert on arcane and mechanical traps and locks, as well as a master puzzle solver and historian he has led some of the Seeker's most dangerous and profitable missions.
Chtl'ackak- (N XixF W8)- 7th Circle. Little is known of the reclusive Chtl'ackak, other than that she lives on the grounds and spends most of her time in the poetry sections of the LoS, reading voraciously. As with most Xixchil she had her exoskeleton extensively inlaid with gems and precious metals. In her case they are masterfully done scenes from the mythologies of a dozen races.
Fong Lu- (NE HM T7)- 7th Circle. A very unusual Shou, Fong Lu is enamored of other cultures. His garb is usually a Hodge podge of non-Shou fashions from around the Spheres. Jovial and legendary for his parties, he is also completely without mercy. Personal enemies of his have a tendency to disappear from public life and reappear in the Tenth Pit's slave markets.
Special Missions
The LoS relies on many groups of privateers, explorers and adventurers for information. The following is offered as an example of one of these groups. The Seekers have recently come to rely on a newly formed crew of merchantmen adventurers called the Seven Stars. Three of the six members are also Seekers, and two of those Celestian Priests as well. They were instrumental in recovering the lost books the previous librarian was covering up, and have also unearthed artifacts of ancient civilizations. They operate from Bral and rely extensively on both Seeker and Celestian aid.
They currently maintain three ships:
The Door To Excess- An Octopus (Their flagship) Fitted with an extra Heavy Ballista and Sails of Celestian (SR+2)
Random Access- A Dragonfly
The Morray-An Eelship.
The Seven Stars are:
Capt. Rand Thoral (LN HM Psi6)- Captured by Neogi slavers on his first trip off Oerth he was rescued by the crew and later proved his worth to take command.
Kaolin Moly Mu (CG HadF C6)- 5th Circle Seeker- Traveling medicus and Celestian Priestess. Constantly pushing them to reach new and more exotic locations.
Tavist Aller Sinache (CN EM F2/T3/W1)- Bastard son of an elf noble by his gardener, left Oerth to join Imperial elven Navy. Ended up peeling potatoes on the Oerth/Toril run for 30 years. Now seeking wine, women, and danger.
Landrake Ke'arendyl (CG EM W4/C3)- Joined up with the crew while they were traveling the Ethereal Plane. Son of a Noble Trading House in Greyhawk, he is constantly calculating how to maximize returns on their mission.
Ozzy (CG GifM F6)- That rarity, an iconoclastic Giff. He's mainly in it for the parties and combat.
Falkirk (LN HM W5/F1)- Dark and sarcastic, mysterious and sometimes pranksterish. Not much is know of Falkirk, although he is gaining a reputation rapidly being the Ship's Mage for the Seven Stars
The Seventh Star is for Celestian, God of Travellers and patron of the two Priests in the crew.
Rank and File
The resident and transient members of Third Circle and above see to daily operations. Any transient Seekers staying in the LoS dormitories must spend a certain number of hours working in the library.
Gerald (NG HM B3) Main Circulation Desk 3rd Circle.- Friendly and helpful, Gerald is the first person you meet besides guards and patrons when entering the LoS. He arranges researches to be assigned, assists patrons, and also keeps Sir Kyles schedule. He has a weakenss for Shou food and collects Maztican artwork.
Beldan Skythistle (NG halfling T4) 4th Circle- halfling "Riddlebreaker," and self styled ecologist. Currently working his way through the LoS's complete collection of Elminster's Ecologies. Tends to be nosy and flirtatious with females of all races and often launches into commentary on the mating habits of exotic magical beings. Seems to ALWAYS be in the LoS, and is actually a great source of info and gossip due to the things he overhears there.
Sabatina (CN HF B3) 3rd Circle- Arrived on Bral after being rescued by the Privateer ship Voidsong (A Battle Dolphin) 10 years ago. She claims to be from a world called Nova Roma that does not appear on any star charts.
Methods and Activities
Espousing total neutrality the Seekers will deal with anyone willing to exchange lore. Their dealings extend to races otherwise thought evil such as the Illithids, and rumor has it even Drow. Methods largely depend on the team involved and can range from brutal and swift, to graceful and diplomatic. They generally lean more towards the good simply for expediency of maintaining relationships with their sources.
Generally a gathering in which those attending get to hear the story firsthand and ask questions as well follows any great discovery. These are usually followed by extensive parties and celebrations depending on the situation.
Abilities
The most important ability of Seekers is their access to information. They have a base 70% chance of being known to any Sage above 9th Level in any Sphere. They also have access to the libraries and facilities the Seekers maintain in all major Spheres of the "Arcane Inner Flow." Mages, and Sages throughout the Spheres will act favorably to known Seekers (+3 reaction roll)
Resources
While the LoS is one of their greater outposts, the Seekers can be found throughout most known Spheres and often at random in far and exotic ones as well. There are legends of the far traveling Seeker named Killjoy, who left on a quest to place his mark in every Sphere of existence. They often have links on both sides of the local law in areas where they maintain a presence.
Behind the scenes is Compendium, the Seeker's planetary HQ. An entire world of libraries and both arcane and psionic research facilities. Only members of 6th Circle or better are even aware that it is more than just a legend. Like the Spelljammer itself, direct intervention from Compendium is both rare and highly memorable.
There is also a network of hidden asteroids in which great and powerful magics unearthed in their quest for knowledge lie in wait.
Area of Operation
All of known Wildspace and much beyond. I give them a range of about 60 Spheres. Since they do not compete against the laws and customs of their immediate surroundings they tend to survive and thrive in areas many would not.
Relations
The Seekers of Bral have very good relationships with both The Temple of Ptah and the Temple of Celestian. Both supply Helmsmen to the Seekers, and there is some membership overlap between them. The rivalry between the Celestians and Priests of Ptah can sometimes make things interesting though. The Arcane do a lot of business with the Seekers, yet do not approve of Seeker meddling in their secrets. The POTS and Elves are both kindly disposed towards Seekers, as are the various Mages and their Guild. All three have relied on Seekers for important information frequently. They view Dwarves and Giff overall as thinking with their muscles. While there are Seekers of both these races, they are not common. They maintain regular contacts within each of the Thieves Guilds and also with the Yakuza of Shou Town. The only groups that tend to have problems with the Seekers are the Tenth Pit, who have had operations shut down due to Seeker expeditions discovering them, and the Xenos, who hate the incredible racial diversity of the group.
