The Trill Society

The Trill Society is an independent archaelogical and antiquarian guild headquartered in Rainwood Hall, the founder's home-turned-guildhall.   The Society supports archaeological university courses at The Avail Academy, partners with museums in each of the three capital cities, and houses a small (thought not unimpressive) museum at its headquarters of Rainwood Hall.

A Society with Purpose

The Society's current focus is uncovering ancient ruins and learning about the history of Zivaria through artifacts, archaeological evidence, and to a lesser extent, oral tradition. The workforce of the Society is primarily kobolds, halflings, and gnomes, but membership is not limited by folk or culture. All who crave a better understanding of the world or the world's past and are willing to put in their share of the effort are welcome among the ranks of the Trill Society.   "An archaeologist learns about the long-lost and fallen cultures of the past by studying their remains – their bones, their ruins, their surviving masterworks, and their tombs. Those who practice archaeology travel to the far corners of the world to root through crumbled cities and lost dungeons, digging in search of artifacts that might tell the stories of monarchs and high priests, wars and cataclysms."   The Society has a whole section of the library dedicated to policies and procedures for it's members but all of these can be condensed to the following core values:

Curiosity

Stay curious. The mysteries of the world are yours to solve. Dig deeply. Always be investigating that which remains unsolved. The greater the mystery, the greater the satisfaction for solving it.

Courage

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Finding relics from the past often requires bravery to delve and face the unknown.

Tenacity

Leave no stone unturned. Don't give up; never give in. Rely on your crew and you can overcome any obstacle.

Current Guild Organization

All Trill Society scholars are archaeologists or anthropologists, but not all field crew members need be. The Trill Society often employs local mercenaries to protect their scholars during excavations and travel between field sites.   Positions are based on aptitude, and are not exactly aligned with character class, although more scholarly, squishy characters tend to be archivists, whereas the sturdier members of the Society are found among field crews. Other than directors and curators, the Society positions are not organized in any sort of heirarchy.  

Directors

The Board of Directors maintains oversight of the Society as a whole. Directors work with archivists to determine which research leads would be viable options for a field crew, and liase with libraries and academic institutions.

• Cadamdhil Finnagund, m halfling, Trill Society Director
• Adso Brickbone, m kobold, Trill Society Director, primary liason to The Avail Academy
• Rollin Toll, m deep gnome, Trill Society Director, primary liason to Crossings Cave
• Wyborough Covenfoot, f kobold, Trill Society Director, primary liason to Nova Excelsium
• Merrin Teabrand, m halfling, Trill Society Director, primary liason to Z'Veena

Curators

Curators manage collections of artifacts and ensure correct preservation and documentation. Often contracted to curate third-party museums, they are responsible for individual collections and exhibits.

• Cosimo Barrows, m halfling, curator of the comprehensive collection of Rainwood Hall
• Frœdi Pulkkinen, m gnome, curator of Dymai Archives, Crossings Cave
• Lyra Palana, f elf, curator of Petertine Archives, Z'Veena
• Clarity Dorsey, f tiefling halfling, curator at Beauview Library, Nova Excelsium
• Ellie Cadden, f halfling, curator of the learning collection at The Avail Academy

Archivists

Archivists are researchers, librarians and scholars typically based out of Rainwood Hall, Avail Academy, or another academic partner. They conduct research and analysis of collected literary works and other records, and archivists usually (but not always) have previously worked as a field crew's scribe. They conduct research so as to find out where field crews might start, and try to know where people need certain things to help them stay alive. These include easy access to water, trade and migration routes, and food sources. With this knowledge and some research, archaeologists can locate the most likely places where people may have lived in a past age.

Field Crews

There are approximately seven active field crews; below are the primary positions which comprise a crew. A field crew is responsible for the excavation and exploration at one specific site. 

• Crew Chief: sometimes called "Crew Boss", and frequently nicknamed "Skipper"; responsible for planning and overseeing the research and excavation plans
• Surveyor: conducts a survey of the site to determine its boundaries and potential features.
• Foreman: supervises the excavation the recording of finds, and ensures crew is following excavation plans.
• Excavators: responsible for doing the majority of the digging
• Conservator(s): cleans and preservs finds to prevent deterioration
• Scribe(s): documents all finds and discoveries; maintains record of field crew and site progress for posterity

Should the site and/or field crew come under threat or attack, the highest priority is for the scribe(s) and their notes to evacuate to safety first; followed by the conservator(s), and the site find(s) (if possible to transport), and lastly, the rest of the crew.