Fraternus Necrotis

Base Of Operations:  Unknown Commonly known info: The Brotherhood of Death as they are known started as a loose affiliation of early Discipline magic researchers who specialized in the refinement of the school of Necromancy.  The manipulation of the forces surrounding life and death was, at the time, not considered necessarily evil.  Their services were used in the preservation and embalming of the dead, as well as using cadavers to perform tasks that were too mundane to warrant the costs of creating a construct, for example undead oxen could turn grindstones indefinitely.  Their research into the energies surrounding life and death also led to many important advancements in medicine.  Members of the Fraternity were even responsible for the creation of the College of Apothecaries.            Over the years members of the Fraternity pushed the limit of what was considered appropriate, and ethical in Necromantic research and the overall opinion of the school turned worse and worse.  Eventually the actions of the Fraternity turned to the manipulation of negative energies and they began consorting with demons and other evil underworld powers and they were publicly condemned by the University of the Unseen Path.  Forced underground, the Fraternity lost its public acceptance and access to the Temple libraries, but their banishment was a blessing as they could now conduct all manner of research without fear of reprisal from the University or bothersome ethical quandaries.   Goals and Ideals:  One of the few slighted organizations on Aerith with no ambitions towards revenge, the Fraternity is concerned only with their own interests in advancing the art and science of necromancy.  It is not enough they say, to merely understand the nature of death, they see the body as flawed and weak.  They recognize the power that death brings the body in the absence of life and they search for a way to bring that might to a living form.  The Fraternity doesn’t seek immortality or command over life and death, they seek mortal perfection.  A flawless, self correcting organic system that can maintain itself indefinitely without the aid of magic or supernatural powers.  Undeath, placing a soul in a golem, to them is an artificial immortality.   Leadership:  The Fraternity has no leadership in the traditional sense.  Members record their findings and present them for peer review through simple communication magic.  They feel they have nothing to hide, because they believe their work will ultimately be a benefit to everyone.  They are not actively sought out by local authorities unless they’re causing problems in the area.  To become a member one must be recommended for membership and be vouched for by 7 other members of the organization.  If selected the initiate is asked to make a presentation before an assembly of Brothers, and if they prove talented enough, and that they have the potential to add meaningful insight into their work, they are put through a series of ancient pledge ceremonies and made full members of the organization.   Behind the Curtain Information:  It’s no secret that many members of the Brotherhood are followers of the dark god Mael.  Considering the groups defiance of the inevitabilities of Death, its seems strange but they worship him as respect for the power of death, and the wasting effects of entropy on the body.  The seek to understand death and so seek to understand the nature of Mael.  They are also accepting of the goddess Salindralas, though the goddess does not tolerate their actions as they use flesh that should rightfully be returned to the earth.   Many members of the group have gone insane due to their dealings with negative energies and beings of the lower planes.  Though their analytical minds are keen, the people they once were are long gone, replaced by monsters.  They have sold their souls for power to devils and fiends of all kinds.  Some members have even transformed themselves into powerful undead beings in the hopes they can eventually find a cure for what they have done to themselves and to death itself.