The Ashborn Covenant

The Ashborn Covenant oversees and controls the exploration, discovery, and dissemination of arcane and historical knowledge. Keeping records of events, developing Force powers, rituals, and rites, and debating and refining the Fireborn Sovereignty's understanding of Force theory are some of the Covenant's most sacred duties, as well as ensuring an understanding and fanatical devotion to the philosophies of the Sovereignty as outlined by the Tutai Qo philosophy. Ginungagap developed the Tutai Qo and was the first Diocese of the Ashborn Covenant.

## Tutai Qo

The Tutai Qo is a belief system that focuses on self-control and self-determination, as well as the power of many independent minds working towards a common goal. It was developed by Ginungagap during the Sith Imperium's reformation into the Fireborn Sovereignty as a result of days of intensive meditations.

## Divisions of the Covenant

The Ashborn Covenant was the religious backbone of the Fireborn Sovereignty, helping to spread the Tutai Qo. Where the Sovereignty’s military and civilian portions largely focused on refining and growing in power and scope, the Covenant’s members concerned themselves with what came after: on ensuring the unending resurrection – and, thereby, immortality – of the Sovereignty, her culture, and her values; hence the name, Ashborn. The head of the Covenant, the Diocese, sat on the Council as an advisor and guide on spiritual and mystical matters, including (but not limited to) the Force and its applications and exploration, historical literacy and censorship, and philosophical beliefs both practiced and otherwise within the Sovereignty. These duties are carried out by the Covenant as a whole to varying degrees.

### Divisions

The Ashborn Covenant is divided into three broad groups, each of which is tasked with specific duties and requires specific skills. Members of this Ministry will gain titles based on their Division and rank: [Division] [Rank] [Name]. Example: Archival Cleric Tannado.

#### Archival Division

The Archival Division of the Ashborn Covenant is tasked with guarding and overseeing the use of the libraries of the Fireborn Sovereignty. The Covenant’s Archivists run the Arcanum Verasis, the repository of all the Sovereignty’s Force-related knowledge, on Yad Shel’Rik, a moon in a system near Amgarrak. The Arcanum is divided into three Archives that Archivists will, based on their level, oversee: the Archive of Knowledge, which contains texts that any may access, including treatises on basic Force power instruction, galactic history, and Force theory; the Archive of Power, which contains texts that may prove dangerous to the reader or those around them if used improperly; and the Archive of Mysteries, which contains the most dangerous texts and many relics and artifacts.

These Archives are open to different classes and ranks of citizens. The Archive of Knowledge is available to anyone who requests a landing on Yad Shel’Rik and have their request accepted. The Archive of Power is available to Sr. Lords or above. The Archive of Mysteries is available to Darth or above.

Archivists from ranks Aspirant to Rector have access to the Archive of Knowledge only and are tasked with assisting others in research and study. Archival Clerics may access the Archive of Power as well, and are tasked with overseeing the usage of the texts therein to ensure the safety and growth of all involved. Archival Ecclesiastes may access any of the above and must oversee and provide assistance to those granted access to the Archive of Mysteries in particular. Archivists of the appropriate level may bring in additional, lower-ranked help to an Archive if the need arises.

Some few may be trusted enough to be invited to Ginungagap’s world, Ma’ehmaq, and access his personal library, the Archive Apocrypha.

Members of the Archival Division must be well-versed in galactic history, especially as it pertains to Force-ful species and Force-centric events, and in Force theory. They must have working knowledge of Force use and applied Force theory.

#### Research Division

The Research Division of the Ashborn Covenant is tasked with exploring the Force and how it may be applied to a variety of scenarios, from combat to enlightenment to necromancy. Research projects will be approved of and/or assigned by Research Ecclisiasts.

Members of the Research Division must be experts in Force-theory and applied Force theory and have a working knowledge of galactic history.

#### Operations Division

Members of the Operations Division of the Ashborn Covenant use practical applications of various Force techniques to assist in missions carried out and led by members of other Ministries. Operations members may provide combat support for the military, assist with intelligence gathering or provide other support for Intelligence missions, or provide protection and counsel on diplomatic missions. There are two main types of missions members of Operations may be sent on. The first is a Retrieval mission, where the Ops member is tasked with finding and bringing back lore, artifacts, relics, or other objects, entities, or knowledge that the Imperium can benefit from. The second is a Support Mission, where the Ops member is tasked with accompanying a group commanded by someone from a different Ministry. They will help keep the group safe from Force-based threats and may override command decisions if they believe it will lead to unnecessary danger.

Members of the Operations Division have a slightly different title structure, calling themselves "Ops" [Rank] [Name] instead of the full Division name. Example: Ops Cleric Tannado.

Members of the Operations Division must be expert Force-wielders and have a working knowledge of both Force theory and galactic history.

## Rank Structure

### Diocese

The Diocese is the leader of the Ashborn Covenant and can be addressed by title, by Sith title and name (ie, "Darth Ginungagap"), or simply as “Your Honor.” This individual must be at least the rank of Darth and will be a member of the Fireborn Sovereignty’s Dark Council.

The Diocese controls what Force powers and related training materials, including texts and guidance tools, are available to which members of the Sovereignty based primarily upon rank and placement of the individual(s) in question. The Diocese may choose to accelerate or decelerate specific citizens’ access to higher-ranked Force abilities either by entire Archives or by specific abilities; these decisions will be made with the assistance of the Council based on the Council’s trust in the individual(s) in question. Unique abilities created by members of the Sovereignty will be closely controlled by the Diocese to ensure their safety and efficacy in terms of wide-spread use; the creator of an ability may advise on its dispersal or lack thereof and will continue to be allowed to utilize the ability, whether or not it’s made available for others to learn. Unique abilities will be recorded and kept safe in the Diocese’ personal library, the Archive Apocrypha.

The Diocese must be an expert in galactic history, mythology, and arcane knowledge, and must be able to manipulate, destroy, and create powerful rituals and relics.

The Diocese directs investigations into historical, philosophical, or arcane matters, constructs and shapes classes for the education or re-education of movement members, guides or leads explorations into locations suspected of being important in a historical or arcane context, and oversees the general operations of the Ministry. They are advised by the Enclave, made up of the senior Ecclisiast of each Division and the Proctor.

The Diocese will teach classes when necessary.

### Proctor

The Proctor acts as the advisor and direct underling of the Diocese. This individual must me at least the rank of Darth and should be a relative expert in galactic history, mythology, and arcane knowledge, and should be able to manipulate or destroy/disrupt powerful rituals and relics.

The Proctor's primary role is to assist in the supervision and operation of the Ashborn Covenant and to carry out any specific tasks the Diocese may present them. They may supervise a new group of Aspirants one day and direct all three Divisions the next, depending on the Diocese' demands. The Proctor runs the Enclave when the Diocese cannot attend a meeting and will teach classes when necessary.

### Ecclesiast

The Ecclisiasts of the Ashborn Covenant, along with the Proctor, assist the Diocese in leading the ministry's affairs. They must be the rank of Darth and should be capable of utilizing powerful rituals and relics to affect a positive or desired outcome.

Ecclisiasts are, in essence, the heads of their particular Division, helping the Diocese direct and oversee the Division's duties in more detail. They should be competent in matters of galactic history and should be familiar with advanced Force theory subjects, such as the nature of Light, Dark, and Balance. As the highest rank of each Division, the duties and conduct of a Division's members will be the responsibility of the Ecclisiast(s). There will rarely be more than one Ecclisiast per Division.

#### Archival

Archival Ecclisiasts help the Diocese and Proctor write lessons, and teach classes when Archival Clerics are not available. Archival Ecclisiasts must be present when someone outside the Ministry is making use of the Archive of Mysteries.

#### Research

Research Ecclisiasts help direct fields of Force-study, leading the Imperium's efforts to understand and control the Force more efficiently and effectively.

#### Operations

Operations Ecclisiasts evaluate missions and needs to determine what Ops rank a mission requires, and go on missions when necessary. They also assist other ministries with mission planning to ensure any necessary Force-users are brought along.

### Cleric

Clerics of the Ashborn Covenant oversee the bulk of the Ministry’s day-to-day affairs. They must be at least the rank of Sith Lord (Sr.) and should have experience conducting or assisting with dangerous rituals and handling dangerous relics.

#### Archival

Archival Clerics assist the Enclave and the Diocese in writing lessons, and teach the majority of the lessons. Archival Clerics must be present when someone outside the Ministry is making use of the Archive of Power.

#### Research

Research Clerics perform the bulk of the studies and rites and rituals done in the Ministry, assisting Ecclisiasts when needed for more complex rituals.

#### Operations

Operations Clerics assist Ecclisiasts in determining who will go on what missions, and they lead most retrieval missions.

### Rector

Rectors make up the majority of the Ministry’s ranks. They must be at least the rank of Sith Lord (Jr.) within the Fireborn Sovereignty and be capable of providing support during rituals and the exploration of dangerous relics.

A Rector’s main duties include assisting students taught by Clerics in their studies, and doing most of the legwork required for exploring places of power and seeking out relics and hidden knowledge.

#### Archival

Archival Rectors man the Archive of Knowledge and assist in the studies of those present. They help Clerics teach classes.

#### Research

Research Rectors assist in rituals and rites, providing bodies and extra energy when required.

#### Operations

Operations Rectors make up the bulk of those sent on retrieval or support missions.

### Aspirant

Aspirants are the base rank of the Ashborn Covenant. They must be at least the rank of Apprentice and must be dedicated to learning about galactic history, Force theory, and Force techniques, powers, and rituals.

An Aspirant’s Apprenticeship is one focused almost entirely on the development of the individual’s mind and curiosity. Aspirants must prove themselves worthy of promotion within the Ministry or will be told to find another focus. If an Aspirant appears unable or unwilling to learn what they are being taught, if they disobey direct orders from a higher-ranking member of the Ministry, or if they endanger themselves or others without sufficient gain, they will be removed from the Ministry immediately.

Aspirants assist their master in their master's Division of the Ministry and have no direct Division duties themselves.

## Recommended Knowledge

The following are texts and information that members of the Ashborn Covenant will be asked to understand on some level. Memorization is not required, but a notable familiarity and the ability to quickly remember or reference the information *is*. The acquisition of this knowledge will take up the bulk of an Aspirant’s time in the Ministry and some of their time after promotion to Rector.

*Why Are We Here? The Events That Led to the Great Galactic War*

This collection of lessons was taught by Gin Tsun, given as lectures and recorded by his apprentice. The lessons expand on the line of historical events that directly influenced the Great Galactic War in some manner, from the disappearance to the Celestials to the Jedi Civil War.

*History’s Forgotten Chapters: The Ones and Abeloth*

Another collection of lessons by Gin Tsun, History’s Forgotten Chapters teach about monumental galactic events that are often overlooked as being irrelevant to the present state of affairs. Of particular import is the lesson on the Ones and Abeloth, which provide vital information for any who seek to experiment with the Force.

*Information on the Celestials*

Members of the Ministry may find their own sources to learn about the Celestials and related topics, including, but not exclusive to: The Kwa, the Gree, Mnggal-Mnggal, hyperspace anomalies/barriers, Centerpoint Station, the Maw.

*Information on the Rakata*

The galaxy-spanning Infinite Empire was built by the Rakata and ruled for 10,000 years. Their technology and influences still echo today, and learning about them is vital to interpreting that influence.

*Information on the Je’daii Order*

While the Sith have existed in a more-or-less consistent state for tens of thousands of years, the Jedi Order’s predecessors were remarkably different from the Light Side-wielders of today. The power and philosophy of the lost Je’daii open numerous avenues to powers unknown to modern Jedi.

*Information on Force Theory concepts*

Members of the Ministry of the Ashborn Covenant must be familiar with an understand of the Dark Side, the Light Side, Balance between the two, and Force practices that ignore them altogether. They must also be familiar with the theory of the Aspects of the Force: Unifying, Cosmic, Living, and Physical.