Seeker

A specialized branch within the Lightbringer Spire, the seekers are a naturally secretive group, and it is unknown exactly how many seekers there are at any given time. Many seekers are mistaken for ray runners when seen in public. Most of the seekers spend their time in the Fog Zone on and off duty. Officially, seekers are tasked with the collection of hidden information and bringing it to the light. What that looks like in practice tends to be very different. In truth, they are the Order’s eyes—and its knives.

While most seekers are assigned to root out any darkness within the Order some are tasked with monitoring civilians as well. Seekers tend to keep to themselves when outside the seeker dorms, but regularly interact with all walks of life within Chronwhorl.

Division in the Ranks

Within the seekers, there is a rift between two groups with opposed views of their work. The first group is very dedicated to the Order and obedient to a fault. They seek to root out darkness and hidden information wherever the Lightbringer Beacon directs them. These seekers tend to be more suspicious of other order members and are most often seen in the spires and the Shining Roads. While they still blend in with other order members to the general public, those within the six branches of the Order usually notice them and the way they always seem to be watching.

Strict to a fault, they report even minor infractions—particularly in the Fog Zone, where their presence causes ripples of silence and distrust. This strict nature is more noticeable down in the Fog Zone than it is up top with the nobles and merchants. As such, much of the undercity will avoid these seekers and even refer to them as "spire hounds". The lack of any connection outside the spires makes investigation within the city unproductive. These seekers often choose to stay within the spires, watching their fellows for any sign of corruption or weakness.

The second group is more subtle. These seekers tend to come from families within the Fog Zone, and they have more sympathy for the day to day lives of the Foggers. Some are even myth-touched themselves but managed to survive the academy and get accepted into the Lightbringer Spire. This tends to lead to more flexibility around minor issues, allowing most of this second group to develop information networks within the city. While people may not know who the seeker they are in touch with is, almost everyone in the lower city knows how to get information to a seeker when help is needed.

Even within the spires, order members with poor or myth-touched families know how to pluck the web for assistance. The seekers have many passages to and from each spire that are unknown to the other branches of the order and have been known to help people reach their families when needed. This option is rarely used due to the extreme danger of being found out as being myth-touched or even related to someone who is. Being caught by one of the stricter seekers would often result in a full investigation of the family who tainted the order by bringing in darkness. These investigations often end in the execution of the entire family — and a promotion for the seeker who routed out the shadow.