The Undying

The Undying are an ancient and secretive cult devoted to the worship of phoenixes and the eternal preservation of knowledge. Cloaked in mystery, they exist between shadow and flame—keepers of memory, protectors of truth, and custodians of the sacred rebirth cycle.

Their motto is simple: "Knowledge should outlive those who hold it."

Origins and Purpose
The clan formed centuries ago in response to the decay of civilizations and the loss of old wisdom to war, tyranny, and time. Where others let fire consume and ash bury history, the Undying gather fragments of the past—scrolls, artifacts, oral traditions—and weave them into a tapestry that resists oblivion. They believe that knowledge, like the phoenix, must burn and be reborn, carrying truth across ages.

Worship of the Phoenix
To the Undying, phoenixes are not merely symbols of fire and renewal—they are living embodiments of eternity, sacrifice, and transcendence. They revere Xephyra Nyima as a chosen one: born of the primordial world of fire, daughter of Nova, and an immortal caught between worlds. When she was slain on Marth nearly two decades ago, the Undying alone understood her nature. They gathered her body and performed the ancient rite of pyric rebirth, nurturing her egg in sacred flame until she was reborn as a child and raised within their care.

Role in the World
The Undying operate quietly across realms, blending into society while guarding their true mission. They act as archivists, spies, and seekers, ensuring dangerous truths do not vanish—or fall into the wrong hands. Their agents are known for sharp insight, patience, and the ability to see patterns where others see chaos. They are not conquerors, but preservers; not kings, but stewards of the eternal flame of knowledge.

Symbols and Sanctuaries

• Their library, often compared to the Library of Congress, is a vast labyrinth of ash-stained tomes, phoenix-etched codices, and relics from countless ages. Its crest—a phoenix rising from an open book—embodies their vow.
• Their crests and banners often burn with the motif of the eternal flame, feathers of light entwined with the quill of a scribe.
• Their sanctuaries are hidden in ruins, mountains, or beneath great cities, always with fire at their heart: a brazier, an eternal torch, or a volcanic vent to sustain their rites.

Values

• Preservation over power – Knowledge is sacred; to destroy it is to sin against eternity.
• Sacrifice for rebirth – Fire cleanses and renews. What falls to ash is not lost but transformed.
• Eternal vigilance – The innocents and the forgotten must be remembered, for history belongs to more than the victors.

Xephyra’s Place Among Them
Xephyra is both child and chosen of the Undying. To them, she is proof of their faith—a living phoenix reborn into mortal form, destined to reclaim the armor and strength she lost, and perhaps to lead them into a new age where fire no longer destroys knowledge but guards it.

Though their aims often align with stability and truth, their methods are pragmatic, and they are not above deception, theft, or infiltration to secure what they deem important.

Purpose & Goals

Locate and preserve knowledge from across Marth, especially information at risk of being lost.

Maintain secret archives that protect against both ignorance and manipulation.

Influence the flow of information subtly to prevent knowledge from falling into dangerous hands.

Structure

Cells & Agents – Operate in small, autonomous groups to limit exposure.

Handlers – Coordinate missions and manage safehouses.

Council of Memory – A small circle of senior members guiding the order’s long-term goals.

Known Activities

Agents embedded in Highcano, Rihsama, and other knowledge hubs.

Acquisition of documents, artifacts, and testimonies linked to ancient events.

Monitoring of The Beekeeper’s Apostles and their search for the Elemental Artifacts.

Notable Members

Xephyra – Phoenix-born party member tasked with knowledge-gathering. Leads the council of Memory. The elder Kaelen Solvigil takes her seat when she is out on excursions

The Broker – Former member, exiled for reasons still debated.

Aurelian Ashweaver – keeper of old texts, binding wisdom from ruin.

Veyloris Emberquill – chronicler whose words burn with memory.

Eztian Marrowscribe – scholar of forgotten truths, penning what others fear.

Thamior Pyrelore – ancient mind who tends the fire of knowledge.

Kaelen Solvigil – the watcher of dawn, guarding secrets across ages.

Orivand Flameborne – a sage believed to carry fragments of phoenix insight.

Seraphius Ashmantle – elder whose very robes are steeped in cinders of time.

Orrick Ashmantle - the Keeper of the Codex Ignivar