Obscurati

Secret society. Segmented so that the only ones who know its full structure are those at the top.

## Goals

The Obscurati was originally founded in order to take revenge on the Clergy after the Great Malice, including assassination of targets and consolidation of their own power and influence.

Later on Nicodemus had the idea to change the world via planar realignment. They planned to create Borne and use him to move the planes, although significant technological and infrastructural development was necessary to facilitate his creation.

## History

The Obscurati was originally founded by Nicodemus, Kasavarina Varal, and Jierre; Nicodemus had the original idea and pitched it to the other two, giving them the signature Methian stone rings in the process. They achieved their ends via both Kasavarina's resources as an eladrin matriarch and her co-opting of the Vekeshi Mystics, as well as Jierre's resources through Danor, the country he founded. Although Jierre himself was short-lived in comparison to the other two founders, his family line continued association with and aid to the Obscurati.

Kasavarina tried to distance herself from Nicodemus and the Obscurati in favor of focusing on Ushanti, but Nicodemus arranged the death of Kasavarina’s daughter Launga to motivate her back to the Obscurati.

Over time the Obscurati expanded in scale, and by the start of the campaign was large enough that some disconnect existed between Obscurati leadership and the lower tiers of membership. Nicodemus and Kasavarina's solution to this was to use ObCon in Adventure 7 to weed out those they deemed corrupt and then apply some murder. By the time ObCon actually happened Kasavarina had lost her memory and was no longer present, but the plan went ahead as scheduled.

In the meantime, the future knights, constable, and future king of Risur would prove a nuisance to the Obscurati's plans, stumbling onto Obscurati operations initially by accident and later on purpose.

The Obscurati used Borne to execute its plans to change the planes in Adventure 9, but the Voice of Rot's interference prevented Borne from completing the ritual. As a result, Lanjyr became doomed and is currently headed to the Gyre. In Adventure 10 the Obscurati attempted to take credit for the positive changes resulting from the planar shift and blame Risur for the downsides. However, their PR attempts were flipped on their head at the Forward Symposium.

## Rings

Members have rings containing Methian stone, which has anti-scrying effects, and a three-word inscription. The first two words of any member's inscription start with O and B, respectively; the third word can start with any letter, but the number of letters indicates the member's rank within the Obscurati (1 letter for the founders, 5 letters for the lowest official rank). Members who are promoted within the Obscurati will have their inscription modified accordingly.

## Operations

Operates from the Bleak Gate. Currently has strong influences over the governments of Danor and Flint, Risur due to leaders' membership.

* **Borne construction** - includes the manipulation of Flint and Risuri industry towards putting Flint in a state where it has the resources to construct Borne, as well as the actual building process. Formerly allied with Lorcan Kell and the Thieves' Guild for this purpose, unfortunately for the Ob.
* **Planar research** - includes both research on individual planes and planar materials (e.g., planar oils or icons) as well as the development of ways to utilize planar influences such as the Wayfarer's Lantern and its use in lighthouses.
* **International influence/espionage** - includes keeping tabs on various countries, as well as manipulating them for the Obscurati's goals. Keeping Danoran (and therefore Obscurati) control of Axis Island and facilitating Borne's construction is a high priority, but also includes spies, subterfuge, and propaganda among various countries in both the government and popular culture.

## Known members

### Tier 1 (Founders, Stone rings)

* Nicodemus
* Kasavarina Varal
* Jierre and succeeding sovereigns (currently Han Jierre)

### Tier 2 (Ghost Council)

* Amielle Latimer (former)
* Reed McBannin (former)
* Vicemi (soul trapped in in witch oil) - Silver/Lantern cell
* Lya Jierre (as ghost)
* Catherine Romana (double deceased)

### Tier 3 (Cell Leaders)

* Lya Jierre in life (deceased, but now a ghost council member) - Gold Cell
* Roland Stanfield (deceased) - Bronze Cell
* Gardienne de Cherage - College Cell
* Gran Guiscard - Gorgeous/Mother of Pearl Cell (arrested)
* Cula Ravjahani - Mystic cell (deceased)

### Tier 4 (Specific Missions)

* Caius Bergeron (deceased) - Gold
* Finona Duvall (former) - Gold
* Luc Jierre (deceased) - Silver
* Ottavia Sacredote (former) - Silver
* Ramos Zoltan (deceased) - Silver
* Catherine Romana (deceased) - Bronze
* Irwin Romana (former) - Bronze
* Alexander Grappa (former) - Bronze
* Leone Quital (deceased) - Bronze
* Tinker Oddcog (former) - Bronze
* Livia Hatsfield (former) (arrested) - Bronze
* Alastor (deceased, kinda) - Stone
* Chatwood (former) - Wood
* Xavier Sangria (former) - Unknown
* Oscan Ligurio (arrested) - Unknown
* Ken Don (arrested) - Unknown
* Shane Wallison? - Unknown
* Abiera? - Unknown
* Constance Baden (deceased) - Unknown

### Tier 5 (Helpers)

* Brianne Kaldeckis (former) - Gold
* Nozomi Sarto (deceased) - Silver
* Margaret Saxby (former) - Bronze
* Kaja Stewart (deceased) - Bronze
* Greg Masterson (deceased) - Bronze