📖 The Chroniclers
The Chroniclers
"Truth outlasts empires."
Overview
The Chroniclers are not a faction in the traditional sense—they claim no territory, field no armies, and pursue no political agenda. Instead, they are an ancient order dedicated to recording Aethoria's history without bias or allegiance. They operate across all factions, welcomed (if not always trusted) by each due to their strict neutrality.
Where factions clash over land, power, and ideology, the Chroniclers observe, document, and preserve. They believe that truth is the most precious resource in Aethoria—more valuable than Essence, more enduring than empires, more powerful than any army.
Origins
The First Truth
The Chroniclers were founded after the first great war between factions, over a thousand years ago. In the aftermath, a group of scholars from all five factions came together, horrified by what they discovered: each side had rewritten history to justify their atrocities. Victories became "liberations." Massacres became "necessary sacrifices." Truth became the first casualty.
These scholars—historians, mages, and philosophers—swore an oath that would define their order for millennia:
"We shall record what was, not what should have been. We shall witness without judgment, preserve without alteration, and speak truth to power regardless of consequence. Our loyalty is to history itself."
The Binding Covenant
To ensure their neutrality could never be compromised, the founding Chroniclers created the Binding Covenant—a magical contract that prevents any Chronicler from lying in their official records. The Covenant also strips members of faction allegiance; once you become a Chronicler, you belong to no nation, serve no lord, and fight for no cause but truth.
This sacrifice is not taken lightly. Chroniclers give up family ties, inheritance rights, and the protection of any faction. In exchange, they gain something rare in Aethoria: universal safe passage. Harming a Chronicler is considered an act of war against truth itself—and even the most ruthless factions hesitate to earn that reputation.
The Chronicler's Codex
The Definitive History
The Chronicler's Codex is the most complete and accurate history of Aethoria ever compiled. It spans thousands of years, documenting wars, treaties, discoveries, and disasters with meticulous detail. Multiple copies exist in protected locations across all faction territories, ensuring that no single catastrophe can destroy the accumulated knowledge of ages.
The Codex is not merely a book—it is a living document, constantly updated as Chroniclers across Aethoria submit their observations. New volumes are added each generation, while older entries are preserved unchanged, allowing scholars to trace how understanding evolves over time.
What the Codex Contains
- Complete battle records — Every major conflict, with casualty figures, tactical analyses, and firsthand accounts
- Treaty archives — The exact text of every significant agreement between factions
- Biographical records — Lives of notable figures, heroes and villains alike
- Essence research — Neutral documentation of magical discoveries from all traditions
- Prophecy collection — Every recorded prophecy, with analysis of which came true
What the Codex Hides
The Chroniclers maintain certain restricted sections, accessible only to senior members. These contain knowledge deemed too dangerous for general release:
- Detailed instructions for forbidden magics
- The true origins of certain faction leaders
- Predictions that, if widely known, might cause the very disasters they foretell
- Records of "the spaces between"—hints at realities beyond Aethoria
Current Leadership
Keeper of Memory Aldren Quillwind
Keeper of Memory Aldren Quillwind is an ancient elf who has led the Chroniclers for over five centuries. He was present at the Sundering War's worst battles, recording horrors that still haunt his dreams. That experience crystallized his dedication to neutrality—he watched what happens when truth becomes a weapon.
Aldren rarely speaks publicly, preferring to guide the order through written directives and private counsel. His memory is legendary; he can recall conversations from centuries past with perfect accuracy. Some say this gift is a blessing. Aldren considers it a burden—he cannot forget the atrocities he has witnessed.
The Three Circles
Beneath the Keeper, Chroniclers are organized into three specialized Circles:
| Circle | Focus | Current Leader |
|---|---|---|
| 📜 Circle of Witness | Observing current events | First Witness Mira Truthspeaker |
| 📚 Circle of Archive | Maintaining historical records | First Archivist Brennan Inkwell |
| 🔮 Circle of Interpretation | Analyzing patterns and prophecies | First Interpreter Yasha the Blind |
First Witness Mira Truthspeaker leads Chroniclers who embed with faction forces, observing battles and negotiations firsthand. Her people face the greatest danger—present at conflicts but forbidden from participating.
First Archivist Brennan Inkwell oversees the vast repositories where the Codex is stored. His Circle ensures that records are preserved, copied, and protected from those who would destroy inconvenient truths.
First Interpreter Yasha the Blind guides those who seek meaning in history's patterns. Though she lost her sight to a magical accident, she claims to see time more clearly now—past, present, and possible futures intertwined.
Role in Aethoria
Historians
The Chroniclers maintain the most complete and accurate records in existence. When factions dispute historical claims—who owned territory first, who violated which treaty, who started which war—they consult the Codex. Chronicler testimony is accepted in courts across Aethoria.
Witnesses
Chroniclers observe battles and negotiations, creating neutral accounts that both sides (theoretically) trust. Their presence at treaty signings adds legitimacy; their absence raises suspicions that parties have something to hide.
Mediators
Though they take no sides, Chroniclers often facilitate negotiations. Their neutrality makes them acceptable intermediaries, and their historical knowledge helps identify precedents that might resolve disputes.
Keepers of Dangerous Knowledge
Some truths are too dangerous for general release. The Chroniclers guard forbidden lore—not to use it, but to prevent others from rediscovering it. They are librarians of catastrophe, curators of apocalypse.
Internal Tensions
Neutrality vs. Morality
The hardest part of being a Chronicler is watching atrocities without intervening. The Binding Covenant prevents them from taking sides, but it cannot prevent moral anguish. Some Chroniclers struggle with recording massacres they could have warned victims about, documenting corruption they could have exposed.
The Purists argue that any intervention compromises neutrality. If Chroniclers start deciding which truths to share and when, they become political actors—exactly what they swore not to be.
The Interventionists counter that neutrality in the face of evil is itself a moral position. Recording genocide while doing nothing to prevent it makes you complicit.
This debate has simmered for centuries. It may never be resolved.
Access vs. Security
The Codex contains dangerous knowledge. Should it be accessible to all, or restricted to prevent misuse?
The Open Archive faction believes truth should be freely available. Restricting knowledge makes Chroniclers gatekeepers rather than historians, substituting their judgment for the world's.
The Guarded Wisdom faction argues that some knowledge—weapon designs, forbidden rituals, prophecies of doom—could cause catastrophe if widely released. The Chroniclers have a duty to protect as well as preserve.
Currently, a compromise holds: most of the Codex is publicly accessible, but restricted sections require Keeper approval.
The Question of the Future
Chroniclers record the past and observe the present. But should they attempt to predict—or influence—the future?
The Circle of Interpretation studies historical patterns, identifying cycles that might repeat. Some Interpreters believe they can foresee coming crises. The question is whether to share these predictions, and with whom.
Aldren Quillwind has traditionally forbidden publication of predictions, fearing that prophecies might become self-fulfilling—or that factions might act to ensure favorable prophecies come true at others' expense.
Territory
The Great Archives
The Chroniclers maintain archives in every faction's territory, but their headquarters is the Great Archive—a vast library complex built in neutral ground where no faction claims sovereignty. The location is kept secret; Chroniclers are transported there blindfolded and teleported away without knowing the route.
The Great Archive contains:
- The master copy of the Codex, with every entry ever recorded
- Artifacts too dangerous to leave in faction hands
- The Binding Stone, where new Chroniclers swear their oaths
- Quarters for Chroniclers between assignments
Chapter Houses
Smaller Chapter Houses exist in major cities across Aethoria. These serve as bases for local Chroniclers, repositories for regional records, and neutral meeting grounds where faction representatives can negotiate without entering enemy territory.
Chapter Houses are considered sacred ground. Violence within their walls is forbidden by every faction's laws—one of the few rules all factions agree on.
Mechanical Identity
The Chroniclers play as a neutral support option available to all factions. Their cards emphasize information advantage, historical knowledge, and the power of recorded truth.
Keywords
Universal — Chronicler cards can be included in any faction's deck, regardless of Essence alignment. They represent knowledge that transcends factional boundaries.
Witness — When a Witness unit observes certain events (combat, spell casting, unit death), it generates some benefit—card draw, information reveal, or resource generation.
Archive — Archive effects let you retrieve cards from your discard pile or look at cards you've previously seen, representing access to historical records.
Strategic Identity
Deck Building: Chronicler cards offer utility options for any faction. They're rarely the core of a strategy but provide valuable support—card draw, information gathering, and flexible responses.
In Play: Chronicler units tend to be fragile but generate value through observation. Position them to witness key events without becoming targets themselves.
Synergies: Chroniclers work well with factions that value information (Abyssal Court, Eternal Concordat) but can support aggressive strategies that need card draw (Wild Horde, Crimson Pact).
Faction Strengths
- Available to all factions
- Strong card draw and information effects
- Flexible utility options
- Enable multi-faction strategies
Faction Weaknesses
- No dedicated win condition
- Weak combat presence
- Cannot form a complete deck alone
- Some cards require witnessing events that may not occur
Notable Figures
Keeper Aldren Quillwind — The ancient elf who leads the order. His perfect memory is both gift and curse—he remembers every atrocity he's witnessed in five centuries of observation. He believes neutrality is the only path to truth, even when it means watching horrors unfold without intervention.
First Witness Mira Truthspeaker — Leader of the Circle of Witness, Mira has embedded with forces from every faction. She's seen the best and worst of each, and her testimony has ended wars and started them. Her reputation for absolute honesty makes her the most trusted—and most dangerous—observer in Aethoria.
First Interpreter Yasha the Blind — A seer who lost her physical sight but gained deeper vision. Yasha studies the patterns of history, seeking to understand what will come by understanding what has been. Her predictions are cryptic but disturbingly accurate.
Brennan Inkwell — The First Archivist is a dwarf who has dedicated his life to preserving the Codex. He knows the location of every copy, the contents of every restricted section, and the identity of everyone who has ever tried to steal or destroy Chronicler records.
Relations with Other Factions
| Faction | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eternal Concordat | 🤝 Respected | Share reverence for knowledge and law |
| Crimson Pact | 📜 Tolerated | Chroniclers document contracts; useful |
| Verdant Host | 📚 Valued | Chroniclers preserve sacred knowledge |
| Abyssal Court | 🔄 Complicated | Both trade in information; some rivalry |
| Wild Horde | 📖 Appreciated | Chroniclers record Horde victories |