Epic Level Handbook

CHAPTER 6:AN EPICSETTINGMEMBER BENEFITS ANDRESPONSIBILITIESThere is little in the way of tangible benefits or responsibilitiesinherent in membership in the Godkissed,other than celebrity status in some quarters of theplanar metropolis of Union and perhaps some otherplanar metropolises. Since anything goes, membersmake their own rewards and follow their own rules intheir quest for the pedestal. Everyone is mindful of theconsequences for brash actions such as assassination andtreachery, so some level of care is always taken not tobring the ire of others down on the group at large. Such afaux pas may earn the wrath of all the Godkissed.ENCOUNTERSPCs who spend any time in the planar metropolis ofUnion are likely to at least hear of the doings of this orthat Godkissed member. The local populace followseven the Godkissed’s mundane happenings as if theycreated some sort of dramatic serial story. Those whoseek out the Godkissed can easily find flamboyant representativesat the exclusive local tavern calledHeaven’s Tankard, though getting on the guest listcould prove difficult.Because the members of this group have no shortageof ambition, they always seek others who can do theirdirty work for them. Able adventurers with no smallamount of savvy are always handy to have around, even(and especially) when they don’t know the true divinepurpose of their employers. The Godkissed also utilizesthe services of some of the other organizations who havea presence in Union, especially the Garrote and theOrder of the Shield. Because of the nature of the Godkissed,it is a logical assumption that the Regulators havea few agents planted among this organization’s membership,although few Godkissed realize it. Using the Godkissedas a foil for any of the other groups, particularlywith the PC’s caught in the middle in some fashion, is agreat wrinkle to throw into your campaign.Typical Godkissed Party: 1 celebrity (Sor23), 2hangers-on (Brd15). The typical encounter is on thestreet where commoners swarm the Godkissed, andthe PCs’ progress is possibly hindered by the press ofthe crowd.THE ORDER OF THE BOOKThis group has one love, one purpose, one destiny: compilingthe ultimate spellbook, with all spells everywhererecorded in it.OVERVIEW AND BRIEF HISTORYThe Order of the Book is a collection of wizards whorevere written magic. They quest to bring together everylast spell in the multiverse and record them in an artifactcalled the Last Book to preserve them for all eternity.They have no interest in any other kind of magic andallow nothing to distract them from their goal.The order has been around for a very long time, longerthan almost all its current members have served. Popularhistory has it that a wizard named Sharlee the Enchantressreceived the Last Book directly from a being of puremagic she called “the serpent.” Sharlee was given tounderstand that filling the Last Book with the recordedmagic of the multiverse would keep magic alive everywhere,but should the record become outdated, magicitself could fail. Most contemporary members don’t actuallybelieve this. Instead, they belong to the order so theycan have access to spells all across existence, and for thepleasure of personally scribing a new spell into the bookand seeing it neatly organized, cataloged, and accountedfor fair and square.THE ORGANIZATIONSharlee still runs the Order of the Book, but below her,there is no hierarchy per se among the members. Thegroup divided itself by necessity into several differenttask forces. Some must cross-index the work that alreadyexists, making sure the group avoids duplication of spells,while others constantly scribe new spells into the temporarystacks (awaiting final scribing into the Last Book bySharlee), and still others utilize a network of informantswho are charged with reporting any and all unusualarcane activity anywhere in the multiverse. Those whoactually travel the planes in search of new magic makeupthe largest group of all, but it is by and large a selfgoverningprocess; few decisions need to be made thatwould influence the operation of the group. Each groupfunctions autonomously, often ignorant of what othersare doing.Headquarters: The Order of the Book houses itself ina mountain stronghold on a little-regarded MaterialPlane world with no roads, no doors, and no mundaneaccess of any kind, except by flying. The structure is heavilyguarded and warded with symbols (keyed to ignore allmembers) and several brachyuruses (see Chapterstrained to attack invaders have the run of the grounds.Members come and go via teleportation, plane shift, and apermanent (but well-guarded) teleportation circle that connectsto a freestanding arch in a building the order ownsin the Magic Quarter of Union.Inside, floor after floor of the stronghold is given overto a great series of tomes where spells are scribed pendingtheir inscription in the Last Book. At the heart of thestronghold is Sharlee’s chamber, where the wizardSharlee spends all her time scribing spell after spell intothe Last Book, which she has chained to a podium-shapedadamantine golem with adamantine chain links.Members: 3,000+.Hierarchy: Loose. Sharlee is the only constant. Otherscome and go, taking on tasks or passing their tasks toothers, as they choose. A member of the Order of theBook may go on sabbatical at any time (though themember is expected to return with at least one new spell.Religion: Various.Alignment: Any.238