Society of Reason

The Society of Reason
Founded by Ulrich, the Society of Reason was devised as a philosophy based around reason and science, instead of superstition. The future is here, even if sorcerers and warlocks want it to be or not.

Technology continually tests and redefines the boundaries of what it is to be human [or otherwise], recreating our culture for the sake of progress. The masses of Eldham continually contend with the same two questions. "Is technology changing to create the world that we want? Or is our world changing in ways we don´t want for the sake of technology?" That issue of control might define the coming era The Society of Reason is the name given to a collective that advances technology as an alternative to anachronistic traditions of magic and religion. Practitioners may see this Society as a restrictive society that eliminates anyone who won´t conform to its practices...and with good reason. Anyone can learn how to tame the limitless possibility of magic, but its unrestrained practice can have unforeseen consequences. The Society of Reason fights to limit those possibilities, reshaping the world in its own image and philosophy by opposing all alternatives. If each human held the potential to mold reality, that reality would be hell for everything on Eldham. Beyond the passions and stupidities of the mortal condition, reality itself craves structure. Just as physical laws channel and limit the forces of nature, so must metaphysical laws channel and limit forces of reality. Without a standardised set of rules and principles, after all, endless variation of magical practice and religious belief become a series of disasters waiting to happen. Someone must attempt to police that reality. Coming out of the superstitious past, the goal of the Society is to serve as a philosophical guideline, as an academy to teach the wonders of science and as a bulwark against creatures or beings who want to intrude upon the reality of which the normal citizen depend on for survival.

The Tenets of Ulrich
The Society of Reason has been drawn out to follow certain Tenets to guide its development and to protect reality against unrestrained and dangerous superstitious practices.

TENET 1 : Bring order to the universe. Predictability brings control. Once everything has been known and understood, peace will be won.
Magic by its very nature is unpredictable and capricious. Members of the Society work with innovations that are tested and iterated until those inventions become safe and predictable tools that can benefit humanity. The red stone rifles, the airships, the metalwork. All a long way of development and understanding of the laws of reality to surpass magic.

Instead of spells, talismans and rituals, Society members develop specific procedures, processes and technology. This way, the impossible becomes commonplace and predictable. Instead of a world of supernatural horror and endless mystery, the Society of Reason tames a world in which everything can be defined, classified and quantified. In such way, ultimately controlled.

'''TENET 2 - Convince the world of the benevolence of science, commerce and the power of rationality. Conflict and suffering shall be eliminated by the brighter minds'''

The tools of reason are tools of science. When the Society acts, it acts in secret - but when the world see the results, the Society success reveals the triumph of science. Whenever  Reason triumphs, the masses witness the benefits of innovative technology, dedicated commerce, controlled politics and reasonably manufactured consent (   ).

'''TENET 3 -  Preserve Reality and the other dimensions. Chaotic individuals who thread upon gateways with impunity threaten the stability of our world. Outside forces shall never be granted access to our reality.'''

The world is already a dark and dangerous place, with hazardous degrees of paranormal influence. Legends of old say about zombies roaming the countryside alongside spiders and skeletal creatures. The world now is even more dangerous by the undead knights, giant lobsters and all sorts of reality transgressors who thread upon the world. It is the duty of the Society of Reason to catalogue, secure, contain and protect reality against such beings. Even so, its paramount for Reason to endure that creatures, gods or whatever else hold no sway upon reality.

'''TENET 4 - Define the nature of the universe. Knowledge must be absolute or darkness shall envelop us all.'''

Reason cannot oppose that which it cannot understand, so the Society of Reason wants to gather as much information as possible about everything. If humanity truly understood the predations of the supernatural, the result would be chaos. Thus, it stands to reason that the Society investigates and gathers hidden lore about magical and mystical activity. Contrary to the possible stereotype, Members of the Society  do not destroy anything that can´t be explained thought science. But they do need to investigate and gather enough information to predict and neutralise paranormal phenomena and mystical entities.

TENET 5- The empowered elite must guide the world towards a brighter future

The people of the Society of Reason  are some of the most outstanding individuals on the world. They do the impossible, every day, because impossible things are their job

Diplomats are working tirelessly to prevent yet another war from breaking out - and they are succeeding. Bankers and Merchants finance complete conversion to new industrial standards. Scientists just this morning developed stronger, better and faster brews alongside new strains of cactus to fuel growing markets for experience that is used in equipment enhancement practices.

The Society of Reason isn't just aware of the problems in the world, but are ready for them and they have a plan to prove it.

Mystics only dream of making a single real difference in the world. It is the duty of such organisation to lead the path to progress with marvels of technological development, military prowess and scientific discoveries.