Athenaeum of Curiosities

Scire quod sciendum – “Knowledge Worth Knowing”, Athenaeum motto

Introduction

Established to catalogue the strange and peculiar remnants of past ages, the Athenaeum stands on an outcropping of hard rock in Copselinna. No one actually knows who raised the unusually well built jet-faced edifice, which stands several stories above the valley floor, and visitors to the interior might notice a feature that is even more unusual: warm air and occasional sounds rising from vents in the floor hint at a subterranean complex. Overhead, a windmill moves water from… somewhere, out into a canel draining towards the river.

The Steward lives in a small apartment just off the entry foyer. Guests are few but frequent, spending an hour or two browsing the giant fossilized bones, the slice of the massive lignitized Copse-Father tree found while mining jet, the baubles and idols of forgotten civilizations found throughout the continent. The real task of the custodian, though, is to deal with the traders and treasure hunters who daily bring curiosities to barter or sell. Along with a tidy business in local keepsakes, acting as a point of exchange for artifacts in and outside of Drakeolm has funded the Athenaeum for generations.

Far more than just conducting business on behalf of the Athenaeum, the steward’s role in dealing with outsiders must be to recognize possible magical or occult artifacts and ensure that they are kept out of the hands of forces who might use them for untoward purposes. In the long history of the Athenaeum, no such artifacts have ever been found (so far as anyone knows), save one: a bog mummy, with skin tattooed in an unknown language. His hands and feet are bound behind him, and neither his missing head nor any possessions have ever been found despite a through search of the swamp where he was discovered. The origin and remaining secrets of the bog-mann is among the topics often debated at the Copselinna grove by historians and philosophers.

Services provided

Cartography

The nature of the Athenaeum’s membership is to explore and to travel. Many members provide useful information for the development and periodic revision of world maps.

Treasure hunting

The best way to find treasure is to find someone else who’s found it first! A group of bandits may pose a tough challenge, but resolving a problem for the local citizens may also pay dividends in recovering new artifacts. Discovering a rare beast means new rare beast parts to analyze and research. Ruins are often found in the swamp, often picked bare above ground, but who knows what might lie beneath?

Resource identification

Members of the Athenaeum often bring back information regarding the location of exotic flora, mineral deposits, and other useful natural resources to be exploited by clients of the Athenaeum. Rich claims may warrant an ongoing royalty (or buyout), but such claims have been proven to be well worth the price.

Protection and Acquisition

The nature of the Athenaeum’s wares are such that many would wish to lay hands on them. The small team of Waerd operatives supported by the guild are available to escort merchants with priority cargos to and from the borders of the kingdom. On occasion, the Athenaeum’s security has been called upon for joint operations with elements of the duchy’s military.

Research network

The Archivist maintains a few well-read researchers on staff, who many times can identify an unknown item without much trouble. In those cases where identification proves impossible, the Archivist can turn to well-cultivated relationships with the universities and academies of Blackheart in search of answers.

Currently Recruiting

• Scribes and historians
• Adventurers, treasure hunters, and grave robbers
• Specialists in alchemy, herbalism, toxins, and other hazards
• Traders
• Guards

Ranks

• Steward – overall authority for the Athenaeum, responsible directly to the Custodian
  • Archivist – manages the archives and research efforts
    • Librarian – experienced in crafting pursuits (including scribing)
    • Broker - experienced in commerce and lore
  • Protector – manages security, exploration, and acquisition
    • Keeper – experienced in combat, poisons, and deviant arts
    • Delver – experienced in exploration and cartography

Apprentices are taken on as prospective members, and work directly with Librarians, Brokers, Keepers, or Delvers (as appropriate).

Member Benefits

• The Athenaeum will be available as a storefront for members to sell their personal crafts (on consignment, if desired) and to facilitate export.
• Skills training, tools, and adventuring supplies available at cost.
• Access to secret projects, special orders, and commissions from the Athenaeum as well as other guilds, governments, and all who may need something found, researched, or catalogued.
• Additional rewards, equal with significance, for discovering hidden purposes, secret messages, and forgotten functions in the artifacts catalogued by the Athenaeum.
• Access to the archives.

Vital Details

• Server: NA-West
• Kingdom: Blackheart
• Duchy: Drakeolm
• Languages: English
• Guild Seat: Copselinna, County of Kalevasuo
• Discord Channel: Kalevasuo discord
• Point of Contact: Count huntsmaster (discord huntsmaster#4254)
• Recruitment Status: Open

Joining the Athenaeum

Only citizens of Blackheart, sworn to Queen Rowena, will be accepted into the Athenaeum. However, exploration and research organizations in other kingdoms should feel free to get in touch! We have much to learn from each other. You can get in touch via post or PM here or on the Blackheart Discord, Drakeolm discord, or Kalevasuo discord.

Note on organizations

The Athenaeum will not be settled as a particular type of organization until more information becomes available. Based on what is known today, at the start of 2018, the Athenaeum will be structured as an Association (not for profit, closed membership) that contains one or more guilds that may be joined by members of the Athenaeum as they see fit.