Essentialists
Alignment: N
Headquarters: Whibey Manor, Almas
Leader: Garnet Whibey
Structure: Loose association of like-minded fellows
Scope: Regional
Resources: Little beyond individual members’ personal assets
A grass roots movement dedicated to the de-commodification of magic, Essentialist ideology is gradually taking hold around the Inner Sea. The movement is the brain child of the moneyed Garnet Whibey, who a decade ago began noticing various of his contemporaries sporting enchanted possessions and only the rudest understanding of their function. Upon voicing his discontent at magic being used as a status symbol, Whibey soon discovered others who shared his distaste for what they came to refer to as the commodification of magic. In the last five years their cause has found sympathetic ears scattered about the Inner Sea, and while currently without any clearly articulated plan of action the Essentialists are aggressively growing in number.
Structure and Leadership
Garnet Whibey today is at most a figure-head for the movement, though many Essentialists don’t even recognize him as that. They consider themselves equals within the struggle for magical de-commodification. Initiation into the organization involves nothing more than pronouncing one’s self an Essentialist. This has led to countless scattered and unconnected splinters of the organization—though for now Whibey and the Almas Essentialists are satisfied the message is spreading.
Goals
As an organization Essentialists have nearly as many goals as they have members. The only unified goal is to spread the word and gain members. The larger goal of de-commodifying magic is, at best, poorly defined. Some interpret it to mean seizing and destroying all magical items, others simply limiting access to magic items to those familiar enough with the craft to construct their own. Many Essentialists rail against the evils of commodification not just of magic but mundane goods as well, others distinguish between arcane and divine forms of magic. There are those who seek to force their will on others, and many more who honestly expect people to hear their message and voluntarily reduce or eliminate dependence on magic items.
Public Perception
The public is largely unaffected by the Essentialists, whose mission has more bearing on the adventurous, entrepreneurial or wealthy. Frequently Essentialists are dismissed as mad or comical, but as their numbers grow those who depend on magical items are beginning to take wary notice.