Academy of the Future
The Academy of the Future is a faction grounded in cold pragmatism, blending intellectual pursuit with a ruthless drive for control. They view monsters not as inherently good or evil but as forces that must be understood and harnessed to secure humanity's dominance. Their philosophies and methods make them one of the most morally ambiguous factions, balancing lofty ideals of progress with a willingness to manipulate and subjugate for the perceived greater good.
Their symbol is a book encircled by chains. Their colors are a sky blue, silver, and gold.
This faction is dedicated to humanity staying one step ahead of the monsters. This comes from the belief that humanity will only survive if they can get the upper hand and become the apex predators once more. There's no need to go out of your way to hunt them down and eliminate them if you can just take care of them as they come for you. Capture, experiment, develop, test, repeat.
Rigid scientific experimentation and arduous occult research work hand in hand to ensure that capturing and keeping the monsters out of public domain remains a smooth effort. Academy members use rituals, sigils, scientific tools, etc to develop theories to then test in the field and report back with success or at least attempted salvaged materials. No experiment is a failure as long as the data was gathered and returned to base.
AotF captures monsters to study the very literal ins and outs of them. Stab, poke, rip, electrocute, drown, burn, freeze, shock, etc all of their successfully captured monsters and document in detail ALL findings about what harms them, what strengthens them, what renders them incapacitated, what makes them frightened etc.
The Academy of the Future stands as a faction that embodies humanity’s thirst for knowledge and dominance, pushing the boundaries of ethics and morality in the name of progress. Their actions spark fear and admiration in equal measure, and their presence in the monster conflict ensures that no decision about humanity’s future will be made without their influence.
Structure
Leadership Structure
- The High Council (Gold Tunic Leadership)
- Overview: The ultimate governing body of the Academy. Composed of the most distinguished members from each occupation, these individuals are the architects of policy, strategy, and long-term planning.
- Composition:
- One representative from each major occupation:
- High Researcher (Researcher representative).
- Master Hunter (Hunter representative).
- Grand Archivist (Archivist representative).
- Chief Enforcer (Enforcer representative).
- Responsibilities:
- Setting policies for monster research, containment, and control.
- Approving major expeditions or initiatives.
- Mediating disputes between divisions.
- Representing the Academy to outside factions.
- Attire:
- Gold Tunic: The defining mark of their status.
- Collar Embroidery: Occupation insignia entirely embroidered around the collar in intricate patterns, symbolizing their mastery and responsibility.
- Cloak: Sky blue or silver cloak lined with gold, worn during formal proceedings.
-High Council (made of Division Commanders)
-Divisions
Division Insignias
Each insignia reflects the unique role and expertise of the wearer and is displayed prominently on the high collar:
- Researchers:
- A quill crossed with a book, representing the pursuit of knowledge and scholarly endeavors.
- Hunters:
- A spear crossed with a chain, symbolizing the balance between lethal precision and containment efforts.
- Archivists:
- An open book with a glowing orb above it, reflecting the preservation of knowledge and illumination of the unknown.
- Enforcers:
- A book crossed with swords, representing their role as the guardians of the Academy’s mission and enforcers of its strict rules.
Culture
- Rationale: Monsters, despite their danger, might have vulnerabilities—psychological, physical, or societal—that can be exploited to keep them under control. Studying them allows humanity to develop methods for influencing or manipulating monsters instead of outright destroying them or attempting peaceful coexistence.
- Philosophy: "A leash is more reliable than a handshake—or a sword."
- Example: This faction might investigate methods to pacify or enslave monsters, making them subservient to humanity through magical bindings, biological conditioning, or psychological manipulation.
Rationale: This faction might believe that humanity should always have the upper hand in any relationship with monsters, whether as allies or enemies. By studying monsters, they ensure that humanity is never at a disadvantage, whether the monsters are exterminated, subjugated, or befriended.
- Philosophy: "We decide the rules of this game, not the monsters."
- Example: Even if coexistence were achieved, this faction would want contingency plans to control the monsters if the relationship soured.
Tunic Colors and Hierarchy
- Blue Tunic:
- Worn by the majority of members across all occupations.
- Represents knowledge and the Academy’s collective identity.
- Insignia of the wearer’s occupation is prominently displayed on the high collar, outlined in gold thread, symbolizing the equal importance of every role within the Academy.
- Silver Tunic:
- Reserved for senior members and experts who have demonstrated mastery in their field.
- Signifies achievement and specialization.
- Insignia placement and design remain the same as blue tunics but with more intricate detailing to reflect their elevated status.
- Gold Tunic:
- Exclusive to leaders, council members, and other high-ranking authority figures.
- Instead of the standard insignia on the collar, their entire collar is embroidered in elaborate gold patterns that denote their occupation (e.g., chains for hunters, books for archivists).
- Highlights their role as the guiding forces of the Academy.
Public Agenda
"A leash is more reliable than a handshake—or a sword."
"We decide the rules of this game, not the monsters."
"The future is built on knowledge."
Foreign Relations
How Others Perceive Them:
- Higher Power Crusaders:
They view the Academy as dangerously overconfident, playing with fire by keeping monsters alive and within reach of humanity. - Preservation Initiative:
They see the Academy as cruel and heartless, denying monsters the chance for peace by treating them as resources rather than sentient beings. - Neutral Observers:
Many consider the Academy coldly efficient and terrifyingly logical. While they recognize the value of the Academy’s research, its moral ambiguity makes them uneasy.
Comments