Lumen Metorus
The nation of Nicandria has always held meritorious deeds, self improvement and other advancements as something to continually strive for. For over a millennia there was very few things that were outlawed if it showed a significant improvement. Slavery and necromancy had taken a vital part in the development and economy of Nicandria to an extent where it would be hard to root out. During the The War for Midranor, the extent to which some tried to grow their strength and protect their assets — which included House Rothspard slaughtering refugees to reinforce their undead armies — made some question the path the nation was taking. A key question that was raised to the The Assembly of Masters was where the line stopped:
A child that is still growing and has not been able to show the world what they can do. An apprentice still mastering their craft, struggling to improve themselves day after day. The master that retired after an injury that tries to get back to doing what they still can. Who among these are we allowed to kill or maim in the name of progress, where is the line of worthwhile sacrifice?-A student of the Lauren Halls of Estinisca
With the war draining the resources of everyone, the great houses of Nicandria initially killed the initiative. Whatever it takes was the motto they held themselves to during the war. As the war ended and the people's rage had still not subsided, the The Assembly of Masters was once again brought the petition to stop the sacrifice of others. This time there was progress as a new institution was born, the Lumen Metorus. They where tasked with where to draw the line, what would kill their humanity and make them as just as bad as the demons that had invaded and slaughtered them?
Career
Qualifications
The Lumen Metorus are selected by the Council of Luminaries based on education, experience and previous work and accomplishments. Although there are no explicit requirements to be selected, there are similarities between those chosen.
- Excellent performance from a prestigious university such as The Lauren Halls of Estinisca.
- A scholarly disposition with at least two written works that have been produced to books.
- At least 3 years as a scribe or apprentice to someone of the Lumen Metorus.
The ones that stand out and do not share these qualifications usually do so with a history filled with other meritorious deeds and a wealth of experience. These include some adventurers that have traveled the planes of existences and have and can bring new perspectives, members of the great guilds with high ranks to show respect and seasoned workers that have experienced the meaning of their policies.
Career Progression
Entering the Lumen Metorus is often done through getting and introduction to a current member and working under them for an extended period of time or by showing yourself off to the Council of Luminaries and hoping they find your previous work valuable. If you fail to get in front of either you usually get noticed for the position by becoming a researcher and/or professor at the Lauren Halls of Estinisca.
Once you become a member of the Lumen Metorus you have entered the political sphere of Nicandria. The position is well respected and although there is no clear position above within their field, many move from here to either the Council of Luminaries or The Assembly of Masters to change the nation in more ways.
Perception
History
The decision made by the Lumen Metorus have often gone against the will of the most powerful in Nicandria, especially House Rothspard. They have regardless been able to remain in power and slowly grown over their years due to the support of the people. Their largest decisions where made during their early years when they where the most aggressive to show the power they wielded.
Abolished slavery
As Nicandria was to be seen as a nation of opportunity to show your potential, the notion of slavery was counterproductive. Although they where primarily coming from severe crimes, rehabilitation was brought forth by the Lumen Metorus as the way to show that anyone can return to the nations true path. The law faced severe backlash as slavery was holding a war torn economy together. While on the surface the law seemed quite effective, many had turned to slavery in the underdark through Arktalith Family causing problems that would last over a millennia and still have negative effects on the nation.
The dead's rights
House Rothspard had for a long time been retrieving the corpses of the dead from battlefields to regrow their armies and during the war, they had even started to plunder graveyards. Although the soul leaves the body when you die, leaving a shell that will rot away into nothing, seeing your dead family shambling around at the command of someone else was for a lot of people quite distressing. The first laws brought forth by Lumen Metorus would have crippled House Rothspard to the extent that they threatened secession if it was passed. There were countless meetings regarding the extent of what rights the body had without a soul, if it was to be seen as a person or object, the rights of the family and extended family.
Over a century passed as the discussion went far beyond their initial scope. House Rothspard demanded that a clear line regarding where the humanity that Lumen Metorus claimed to protect ended and where only dead objects remained. In the end only immediate family held any rights to corpses for a time in which they where cared for. For those that died without anyone around them they where seen as property of Nicandria and could be bought for a price. This was far beyond what the Lumen Metorus where aiming for and would cause a severe fissure with their neighbor Kyl Vestiál.
