The Warriors of the Mind

== The Warriors of the Mind ==
Loyal to Vidya, The Warriors of the Mind are an elite group of fighters, strategists, and knowledge seekers, first founded by the Goddess in the very early days after Stormrift to spread knowledge around the Imperial Colonies. The Warriors are a very selective group, with the largest number at any given time, excluding a brief period before the foundation of the Shimmerhand Association, was around 10000 across all of Ferra, with the average number sitting around 5000-7000. Vidya is indiscriminately about who she allows in, as long as they've proven themselves wise and worthy enough to join. 
=== History ===
==== Early Days ====
In the early days of The Warriors, their missions were simply to find new knowledge and spread it, demystify the relatively new world everyone was on. Depending on which of Vidya's domains they mostly associated with, they could also do things such as grand architecture or battle planning against Lizardfolk attacks.
==== The Founding of The Confederation of Haystan ====
The Warriors would fight on the side of the Hylthian Alliance, as per Vidya's secretive orders. They would be the only ones who knew the full extent the Goddess went to to help the alliance, also being the few who knew her reasons for doing so. 
==== Restructuring ====
Around the turn of the millennium, there would be an extensive growth of The Warriors, which Vidya believed defeated the purpose of The Warriors. To reconcile this, The Warriors would be secretly reorganized into The Shimmerhand Association. After that, there were no known Warriors for over half a millennium, with Vidya preferring to simply watch over the Association and see how they did on their own.
==== Resurgence ====
With the happenings of The Emberot Crisis, reports of The Warriors' return spread, especially after The Siege of Badenbach. 
=== Organization ===
==== Combatants ====
The deep inner workings of The Warriors is unknown, but a rough overhead has been catalogued through their missions. Depending on the size of The Warriors present, numbers may vary, but in general they form themselves into Standard Warrior Units.
===== Standard Warrior Units =====
* Comprised of usually no more than 50 personnel 
* These 50 are split into 5 groups of 10, each lead by a Consultant of Wisdom, the top strategist from each group 
* Each of these groups specialize in a form of combat, and often have their own special skill set
* 1 of these 5 are the Commander of Wisdom, the wisest and best leader of the 50
* If there are more than 2 Units operating in a given area, they will coordinate, forming a Grand Unit of Wisdom
* The leader of each Unit and 2 of their Consultants of their choice will coordinate as part of The Grand Strategists Command.
* One of the leaders will be chosen Champion of Wisdom and Strategy, leading the 150+ Warriors.
===== Ranks =====
It it rare for there to be only new recruits in a Unit, so the Rank system is followed to easily know who will fill what position.
* Warrior of the Mind- The general title everyone has, used to refer to those who have yet been given a rank
* Warrior of Wisdom- The lowest level, though still very prestigious as a Warrior of the Mind
* Consultant of Wisdom-The leader of a small group of Warriors, can be used for small personal missions or as part of a larger unit
* Commander of Wisdom-The leader of a group of Consultants, used to strategize and plan more medium sized missions, such as standard battles.
* Champion of Wisdom-The leader of a group of Commanders, used for to plan for larger scaled missions, planning for multiple battles.
* Strategist of Vidya-The leader of Champions, rarely used for very large scaled planning, can control easily over 500 Warriors.
* Champion of Vidya-The top of the ladder, the Champion of Lady Vidya herself. If one does exist at any moment, their words are taken above all but word from Vidya herself.
===== Notes =====
While The Warriors numbers are limited, they are not to be underestimated. They are the Elite force of Vidya, each being there only become the Goddess herself deemed them worthy. 
==== Noncombatants ====
Though named The Warriors, it is not a requirement to actually be a warrior to join. Though they are in the minority, making up less than 33% of The Warriors at any given moment, they are still powerful innovators in their own fields. Master crafters, scientists, researchers, scribes, and planners have all been in The Warriors' ranks without ever focusing on combat. Though, even if you are not a warrior, you are expected to at least have a proficient understanding on how to defend yourself and others.
=== Being A Warrior ===
It is not simple to become or be part of The Warriors. Some Warriors have told, however, of a seeming increase in wisdom and intelligence upon settling into The Warriors, potentially linked to claims that they see the world differently, as if they can catalogue everything and have an urge to know and to learn. When you are A Warrior, you swear loyalty to Vidya above all else, including your nation or any association you are in. Vidya reportedly does not often push these oaths, though has before. Warriors also report infrequent visits from the Goddess after stretches of constant prayer, enlightening them on the issue they asked help for. While not a requirement, it is very often that Warriors tend to act as Paladins or Clerics of Vidya, even if they are a different class. All Warriors seem to have the ability to quickly obtain a basic level of understand in what they wish to learn, and while not nearly as fast, also seem to have the ability to more quickly become proficient in whatever they are trying to learn.
Being A Warrior is a life time commitment, and the only way to leave is to die or for Vidya to personally dismiss you, honorably or dishonorably. Warriors are almost never discharged, though after conflicts or deadly missions, those who have been left unable to continue their service can be honorably discharged, and as a thanks for service, Vidya will help heal what otherwise would've been life long damage. If the injured wish, they may choose to stay within The Warriors instead of being discharged.