The Multiverse » Groups » The Ardelean Society

OOC

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The Ardelean Society

The Ardelean Society are an influential organization within Lutetia, owing their roots to Gabriel Ardelean, who founded the Mandragora University as an epicenter for scientific advancement. Beginning as a brotherhood of scientists that wished to further the cause of mankind and supernatural inhabitants within Lutetia, without the restraints of religious doctrine to hinder their progress, the Society went on to become a highly philanthropic coalition of like-minded individuals. Their strict adherence to scientific method and refutation of most of the church's doctrine made them bitter rivals of their faith-bound counterparts, their research often scrutinized as being unnatural and criticized for attempting to play God with the human condition, even stated as bordering on witchcraft and heresy

Centuries later, the Society would evolve into a more highly functioning apparatus, using the influence, wealth and knowledge it had acquired over the years to fund multiple beneficial programs throughout the city. Their prosperity would soon come to an end, however, as a gruesome attack by a clan of ruthless vampires, aided by several factions of werewolves, saw all but one of the Society's members, Hector Ardelean, slaughtered. Merely a boy of ten, Hector was forever changed by witnessing the death of his kin, vowing to rebuild the Society to its former glory. When he was old enough, he set forth, rounding up as many recruits as he could. All the while, the Society's waning influence over the city resulted in its ruination; the infrastructure began to decay, overcrowding became an issue, and the infamous maze-like catacombs were erected in order to store the bodies that began piling up. Having harbored an immense hatred for the supernatural, Hector set out to eradicate any trace of malicious otherworldly beings and activity.


Present Day

Today, the Society is headed by Thaddeus Cael Ardelean, a distant descendant of Hector's. Having come a long way since the Society's downfall, he is slowly rebuilding what they once lost. Amassing a decent following of troops, scientists and hunters, Thaddeus is steering hard to supplant the Society back into its former glory. With Thaddeus adopting a policy to recruit rehabilitated supernaturals, something Hector himself would not have sanctioned, the Society is, as it always has been, looked at by the church with much scorn.
In these dark and foreboding times, the Society is often contracted by local law enforcement to handle the more unsavory cases; jobs deemed too dangerous for the law enforcement agents to handle. Bearing the technology and know-how to deal with unruly supernatural threats, the Hunters of the Ardelean Society act as grim private investigators, their ultimate goal being to defend Lutetia from wayward creatures and practitioners of the dark arts.


Divisions

The Society has several divisions, each established to fulfill a certain role to maintain the stability of its inner workings:


The Alchemists

The Alchemists are the backbone of the Society's operations. Engineers, tinkerers, chemists, mechanics and researchers, they serve as the chief source of all the Society's knowledge, as well as providing maintenance to its weapons and devising new weaponry and gadgets to introduce and distribute. Ultimately, without the help of the Alchemists, the Society's cause would be a lost one.

The Healers

Physicians, surgeons, and even herbalists and mages make up the Healers. They are the dedicated medical staff of the Society, living to ensure that its brave frontline fighters can continue to fight. They employ vast medical knowledge, ranging from pharmaceuticals and anatomy to herbal teas and benevolent magics (although magic is often eschewed in favor of more scientific solutions).

The Slayers

The Slayers are the main fighting force of the Society. Equipped with powerful weapons and a suit of sturdy and dependable power armor, they are mostly called upon to aid the Hunters in rooting out and destroying a particularly troublesome foe. Their dedication to the Society varies; some of them aspire to become Hunters, while others take advantage of the generous benefits they attain from being recruited, making them little more than mercenaries.

The Hunters

Specialists in the field of supernatural investigations, Hunters have trained rigorously to hone their skills. Hunters study in various fields of supernatural workings, attaining a broad knowledge of supernatural creatures; their anatomies, mannerisms, psychological states, etc. Additionally, Hunters must learn a considerable amount of natural science in order to further their understanding the natural world and how it coincides with the supernatural elements that plague it. It takes dedication to become a Hunter, and not everyone succeeds in acquireing such a position.

The Rangers

The Rangers act as reconnaissance for the Society, operating within the forests that surround Lutetia City, keeping an eye out for any dangers lurking there. Receiving the same training as Hunters, they are better suited for woodland environments than urban ones. Their specialty is stealth, tracking, and hunting, employing these traits to best carry out their tasks. The Rangers are taught to avoid open conflict, and train to fight in the shadows, utilizing stealth tactics and only fighting head on when hiding away is impossible. They are a valuable asset to the Society's success, serving as their border patrol for the city's forests.

"Welcome to our humble abode."