Civilized Scholar

Most of Innistrad's human population, when faced with the terrors that lurk in the dark, turn to the protection and guidance offered by the Church of Avacyn. But when Avacyn disappeared, and the Church's wards began to fail, some saw the resulting death as a sign that humans had become too reliant on the angels, and forgotten how to protect themselves. Instead, they turned to the sacred pursuit of knowledge to defend them from the world outside of their walls.   Forgotten Professions When the church of Avacyn rose to prominence in Innistrad, they banned most forms of magical research, seeing them as getaways to further evils- necromancy, skaab-stitching, demon summoning, and worse. Alchemy, however, was granted a special form of exemption from this ban. Alchemy had often been the saving grace for Innistrad's people before Avacyn, and the church recognized the benefits that it could still give, instead limiting its practice to specially-designated members of the Church, and confiscating or burning any books on the topic found in private collections. Despite these attempts to limit the dangers of its practice, some disreputable scholars still seek overlooked tomes and private journals for the forgotten knowledge they bear.   Research Reclaimed Most private collectors kept knowledge forbidden by the Church out of habit, or in defense of the ideal that all knowledge should be free. Few actively performed research in alchemy. But those who did slowly developed a network between cities and villages, meeting under the cover of night clouds, exchanging discreet hand signs, innocuous passwords, and revolutionary breakthroughs. And through such networks, the once-lost even before Avacyn rose to prominence, was rediscovered. And through its exposure, once-civilized scholars found themselves freed from inhibitions to roam streets and rooftops, willing to partake in vices they feared to openly speak of.