Yeux Vigilants

Esoteric*This article may contain information your player characters are not privy to. Please remember to play your character with the information they have, and not what you have as a player.*
> "Noblesse Oblige, Ladies and gentlemen."
>
> Yeux Vigilant in Adam Labyr

### Status

Active

The Yeux Vigilants are a mysterious group operating globally across Famthries. They have shown exceptional capabilities in tracking and pursuing their targets. They operate incredibly stealthily, leaving very little trace of their movements and actions. This has made determining their motivations and objectives incredibly difficult, meaning they are one of the most mysterious groups the party has encountered, as well as the most difficult to investigate.

## Overview

The Yeux Vigilants are an elusive group operating within several points in Famthries, though their origin and base of operations is presently unknown. Their motivations are a closely kept secret, as demonstrated by the party's encounters with their members thus far. They are incredibly strict about preventing the leaking of important or compromising information, as demonstrated when the Deus Vitae party were attacked by rogues who had firstly had their tongues removed, and secondly, committed suicide by spontaneous combustion when escape proved impossible for them. This seems to be in contrast with the incident in which another member of the Yeux Vigilants was apprehended by the party in Adam Labyr, where he was caught following the party. On this occasion, the vigilant offered several important pieces of information, despite his confidence that he was about to die regardless. The information provided appeared very conspicuously to be valuable, such as referring to the Pragatus Arcanum, both in alluding to them facing an ill-fate, and their research into Einar, as well as the success of the seed candidate program, informing the party that there had been celebrations in Imnamos. Additionally, this vigilant is the only reason the party was able to put a name to the group, who had previously been referred to as the "Crimson Soldiers" or the "Crimson Rogues".

The Yeux Vigilants appear to be present in many reaches of Famthries, however their identity is a very closely guarded secret in all cases except for the Adam Labyr incident. It was established that the Yeux Vigilants have a particular interest in both the Seed candidates and Einar, however, what they know about both of these subjects is currently unknown.

## History

Due to their care in erasing their own tracks, it can be very difficult to establish a clear timeline of the Yeux Vigilants movements. The first encounter that the Alea Iacta Est party had with the group, was in "A Side - Chapter 1: Christening by Irons". The Yeux Vigilants had established a military siege of the Miheldrin burgh of Ohlo, where the party had been detained. Though, at this time, their identity as the Yeux Vigilants, nor any other details including their motivations and goals were not known to the party. After the party were intercepted by members of The Union of Axis Alea, they had very little interaction with the group and thus learned next to nothing about them, and it was unknown to the party what the group was doing during this time.

The Deus Vitae party's first encounter with the Yeux Vigilants was during their first journey to the Astenhul Diarchy. During their travels, when they were flying above the Rudrin Empire, several rogues garbed in crimson red robes somehow boarded the ship and attacked the party. After defending themselves, the party were able to apprehend one rogue after their colleague escaped the ship. SafeGuard fiercely grabbed the remaining rogue, only to find that their tongue had been removed. Finding this strange, the party made a note of this detail. However, as they intended to detain the rogue, the rogue cast a spell and ignited their own body into flames. The party investigated the charred remains and found a small embroidered patch in the shape of a shield. It sported four distinct symbols, however no-one aboard the ship recognised the motif. Additionally, they discovered a set of two daggers; both of which where identical, bearing a very ornamental fashion in contrast to a practical combat knife. Confused and cautious, the party kept a hold of these findings as they continued their journey into Astenhul.

After the fight at Xianshao Arena, the party returned to their inn room to collect their belongings so that they may leave the country as soon as possible. However, when they returned to their inn room they had their first encounter with Einar, who held both daggers in a very auspicious way. He, in a very smug and condescending manner, informed the party that they should: "be more careful about the knickknacks they carry around." implying that the daggers were imbued with a powerful tracking magic that allows the Yeux Vigilants to track their movements. The party discarded the daggers and continued on.

Later in their journey, the party were given several potential objectives to pursue, including investigating the Yeux Vigilants, who at this time were known as the "crimson rogues". As part of the information provided to them, they were shown a few locations the crimson soldiers had been spotted in a general timeline. From Adam Sol, moving slowly across the span of weeks to the east, with the most recent sightings taking place in Miheldri (Which unknown to the party, was the siege at Ohlo), and their interception above the Rudrin Empire.

The party elected to investigate the recent sighting in Miheldri, visiting Ohlo. The Deus Vitae party engaged with the citizens, who were very shaken up by the events and still relatively untrusting of outsiders. They learned that the Yeux Vigilants had taken many of Ohlo's citizens away in carriages. All but one carriage returned, with the citizens unable to remember what had happened to them after their detention. The party chose to investigate the path the carriages had taken, and unwittingly found the cart that had carried the Alea Iacta Est party, though their decision to pursue the vigilants was reversed, and several crimson garbed soldiers detained the party and the archbishop. The party were taken to a dilapidated stronghold a little west of Ohlo, and separated from the Archbishop. All the while, the Yeux Vigilants cautioned the party that if they are truly unaware of the "church's plans", they do not need to fear for their lives, and that their investigation primarily concerns the archbishop. It became quickly apparent that the Yeux Vigilants know substantially more about the church's operations and goals than the party did, however, they were cautious of divulging information at this time. The party were locked in a cell, whilst the Yeux Vigilants took the archbishop to determine an unknown variable. When the party were able to escape their cell and reach the archbishop, the Yeux Vigilants struck him with a lance, engulfing the room in bright light.

A week later, the Deus Vitae party after uniting with the Alea Iacta Est party, had their next in-person encounter with a Yeux Vigilant. This time however, the vigilant was rather generous with the information he provided in stark contrast to previous experiences with the group's members. Despite understanding that the conversation will likely end in his death regardless of whether he provided information or not, he seemed almost keen to mention several important pieces of information, such as informing the party that the archbishop the Deus Vitae party had been escorting was successful, and now embodies the goddess Agathia and alluding to the potentially ill-fated Pargatus Arcanum. He offered the party the use of his airship, conceding that he "won't be needing it anymore". Aboard the airship, the party found a conspicuous piano with a very short song on the sheet music board. The party played the song successfully, opening the drawer next to the piano and revealing another ornamental dagger, but also summoning a dark crimson Roc, that attacked their ship. The party were able to, in a manner of speaking, call off the Roc's attack.

## Trivia

* The name "Yeux Vigilant" is French for "Watchful Eye"
	+ Furthermore, the phrase associated with the Yeux Vigilants "Noblesse Oblige" is another French phrase that loosely translates to "Privilege carries responsibility".