Engineer's Enclave

Type: Crafters/Technologists Association

Membership: Open (20,000)

Wealth: Rich

Scope: Multi-Regional

Interests: Artificers, Craftsmen, Mechanicks

Headquarters: N/A

The Engineering Enclave is the largest organization in the world dedicated to the advancement of non-hermetic science and engineering. The Enclave was established in the year 3115 as the result of a dozen smaller organizations merging under one umbrella. The rediscovery of limited amounts of ancient Kulthus technology as well as newly developed sciences had until recently only fueled membership in the Enclave amongst budding and eccentric Artificers. Today, Charn's implosion reminds the world of artificer's dangers once again, and has prompted a more traditional outlook in some areas, though the Enclave does not lack for members or contracts.

Enclave facilities are found in nearly every major city where the Enclave has negotiated an agreement with the local governments. There, brilliant and occasionally insane minds of every civilized race work to design and build newer and more potent machines. Most valued typically are the Artificers or 'Artefactual Engineers', a school of technologist that merges magickal principles with mechanickal design, creating the arcane devices that have reshaped much of the world over the last few centuries. From their creations the world had been full of flying Skyships, smokeless arcanofilament lanterns, and even a race of self-aware golems. Others within the guild are the mechanics and skilled craftsmen, who build and maintain mundane machines that serve the common citizen as printing presses and looms.

A second major chapter among the Enclave are the explorer-engineers, who, inspired by the original discovery of the ruins of Kulthos move out among the world in an effort to learn more and explore sites unseen. These individuals are often frequently contracted for dangerous expeditions as experts on archeology and architecture.

Membership and rank within this highly decentralized organization is typically based upon how long one has been a member, as well as how many technical publications have been written and distributed detailing new technologies or sciences developed. Those which lead to further discoveries or even technological revolutions grant great prestiege to their progenitors. However, a disaster such as a machine that violently explodes or goes amok often is overlooked as 'minor setbacks in the march of progress' and are typically swept under the rug by the engineer that created them. Generally, junior apprentices work under the supervision of more senior members until they pass examination by a senior member known as a Validator and are fully inducted as a Journeyman.

The Enclave has little permanent leadership and a general anarchic organizational structure. Individual city chapters are largely independent from others in leadership or finances, and maintain institutional contact by the circulation of many academic journals. The most prominent of journals are 'Applied Arcantrics Quarterly', 'The Clockworks and Steamfitting Journal', and 'Artifice Today'. Occasional conferences of leading members generally dictate central policies or amendments to the Enclave Charter, as well as approving the establishment of new chapters. Strong academic debate also is held on the merits of particular technologies and if they should be more widely applied. Such discussion is often protracted, lasting months as the pros and cons of each new prospective (and often problematic) new advancement is weighed.

For Players

Artificers are drawn most strongly to the Enclave, though Gadgeteers may make it their home as well. In addition, professions or interests strongly tied to craftwork, particularly clockworks and artifice, may find a home here.