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Greetings, Lodge Sisters and Brothers! Please excuse the assumed name above, but I thought it best to travel incognito. I am Pathfinder Aram bin Kaleel, of Katheer, and I beg your indulgence this day on a matter of import to the entire Society.
“Explore. Report. Cooperate.” These are the three Core Tenants of our Society, drilled into the heads of every Initiate that passes through the doors of the Grand Lodge. Yet when they leave again, their training complete, how many Pathfinders are actually qualified to carry out those core tenants?
- To Explore, a Pathfinder must possess more than lethal skill with a single weapon: one must possess curiosity and skill, self-sufficiency and courage in equal measure.
- To Report, a Pathfinder must be at the least literate, and able to express themselves coherently in more than monosyllabic grunts.
- To Cooperate requires a certain level of social grace and tact, which seems largely absent in many Pathfinders today.
In my experience, many Pathfinders seem to be either highly-specialized killers or common thugs. On a recent assignment to represent the Society at the marriage of Michellia Blakros, I shudder to think of the damage that could have been caused by a group of brutish oafs with no use beyond murder. Pathfinders are increasingly being used as nothing more than an army against the Society’s enemies, because that is all many of them are suited for. This intolerable situation is an affront to the memory of those who have gone before, whose tales are immortalized in the Chronicles. So: what can be done?
In my country, we have a saying: “It is better to light one lamp, than to sit and curse the darkness.” To do my part in restoring the honor and traditions of the Pathfinder Society, I have decided to become a Lamplighter, and I invite other Pathfinders of like mind to join with me.
I propose the formation of a voluntary, informal organization within the Pathfinder Society, to be known as the Lamplighters, with membership open to any Pathfinder who meets the minimal requirements outlined in the attached Creed. The Lamplighters will have no hierarchy and no leadership; anyone who meets the qualifications may purchase and wear the Lamplighter’s badge upon showing proof of qualification to the vendor.
Benefit of membership in the Lamplighters is intangible, but significant. When you see another agent wearing a Lamplighter badge, you know that you can count on their support and trust them with your life. Similarly, by identifying yourself as a Lamplighter, you will instill confidence in your companions that you can be trusted to complete the mission at hand. Lamplighters will remind other agents, new and old, what it once was to be a Pathfinder, and put the proper emphasis on resourcefulness and versatility outside of just the combat arena.
Let me emphasize: the Lamplighters are not a “shadow Society” trying to change the Pathfinder leadership or mandate. Neither are we a political faction seeking to twist the Society to our own uses. No Lamplighter will ever ask another to obtain a bauble for their upcoming party or to assassinate a personal rival while on Society business. The Lamplighters exist solely as a positive exemplar of the resourcefulness, wit, and skill that built our Society’s glorious history. As such, it operates above such individual agendas. Membership is open to all Pathfinders who honor the Lamplighter's Creed regardless of other political or social affiliations.
I believe that if more agents were as versatile, resourceful and adaptable as our predecessors, then our leadership would see more use for us than as foot soldiers against the Aspis Consortium and other rivals. Join the Lamplighters, and together we will serve as a guiding light for the Society's future.
With humble thanks for your time and consideration, I remain,
Your comrade,
Aram bin Kaleel of Katheer,
Pathfinder
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In order to codify the qualifications to become a Lamplighter, I have set down my thoughts in this matter. I propose that those who yearn as I do for the Society to return to its glory days, offer their own suggestions, so that we may quickly agree upon a list of minimal requirements.
* A Lamplighter is sound of mind and body, with no physical, mental, or social deficiency which would interfere with their duties.
* A Lamplighter is skilled in diplomacy, tact, and effective communication.
* A Lamplighter is well-trained, knowledgeable, and resourceful.
* A Lamplighter is always ready for combat, and is trained and equipped for both hand-to-hand and ranged fighting.
* A Lamplighter is well-equipped for any eventuality, and ready to travel at a moment’s notice.
* A Lamplighter puts the success of the mission and the well-being of her comrades ahead of personal gain.
* A Lamplighter keeps no knowledge secret from their Venture-Captain or their comrades.
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As a loyal member of the Grand Lodge, my sworn duty is to protect, uphold, and advance both the goals and reputation of The Society.
As such, I volunteer my spells to your cause.
-Xar'Zith Zook Furrygem Nackl
Blue Gnome proprietor of Xar'z Sapphire Emporeum
P.s. I agree there has been a distinct downfall of social etiquette of late...
Greetings, Leastrie - I have been following your progress in Riddleport with much interest! Several people have pointed out that some established Pathfinders may not qualify due to their already-completed training or physical and mental abilities. I will consider this point of view, as well as other comments I am receiving both in person and by letter.
Xarz, Arden: all that you need do is start calling yourself a Lamplighter. I have commissioned the creation of a small number of Lamplighter badges, which I will make available through various mercantile establishments in Absalom; they will be sold at cost, like any other piece of jewelry.
Now, what is that smell?
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Look, my mother wanted me to be some dainty maiden, ready for some idiot suitor to sweep off to a life of luxury. I was underfed until I was fifteen! It's not my fault I can't lug those heavy trail packs around! Do you know what corsets do for a girl's muscle development?! IT ISN'T PRETTY!
Well it is, but you miss my point.
If that ain't good enough for you uppity candle burners, then you can go drown yer heads!
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As being one who has almost failed missions (and on one occasion outright died) due to fellow pathfinders who are more concerned with kill counts and pyrotechnics, I fully support this group. Despite being unable to join myself (I need to hit the books and brush up on one more knowledge skill in between missions), I will gladly spread the word and find more members to join the ranks.
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We shall keep our eyes on this group. They have drawn our......interest.
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What you speak is true. Pathfinder field agents have, over time, become more brutish. With increased tactics and combat prowess, less reports and notes are taken. As such I've often been a self-pointed journalist on expeditions, as others rarely carry paper nor pen. I'm not pointing a finger at those individuals, however. Their skills have been invaluable, and undoubtly have saved my life numerous times.
While noble in its cause, I see little benefit in such an organization. A loose, near-anarchic dare I say, society of prime agents will eventually gather members of the... lesser sorts. Or then the requirements will become ever more tighter. Either way the course isn't desirable.
What worries me is the possible cause of rivalry within the society, if prime members, so to speak, are given this elevated status of a 'Lamplighter'. Will this cause grudge within the non-lamplighters, and perhaps create another rogue association we experienced not too long ago?
And you say the lamplighter badge would represent that you can trust that individual with your life? That'd indicate agents without badges are untrustworthy, or reckless. Every field agent has gone through the three year conscription. Every one of them knows deep inside they must explore, report, and cooperate. Their methods are unorthodox, yet often efficient.
It would preferable to have the venture-captains pick their agents a lot more carefully. A mission of deligacy has seen four nomads from far north, and failed miserably. Blame the agents or the captain who chose them to the task?
Ms. Kestler: You are correct; I was perhaps overzealous in my initial proposal. As many have pointed out, such things may be offset by training, more than making up for any initial deficiency. I have convened a meeting in Absalom to discuss this idea further, and would encourage you to join us and offer your suggestions.
Mr. Beakwood, please join us at the meeting also. I look forward to meeting you and learning from your experiences as well.
Mr. Nevantes: you have hit upon a prime concern of mine as well. I do not see the Lamplighter badge as a medal of merit, but as a beacon announcing an individual's commitment and readiness. There would be no "prime" members or elevated status conferred upon agents - this is a completely voluntary effort, and no one should expect or claim elevated status by self-identify oneself as a Lamplighter. I urge you to come to the meeting as well, to help perfect this idea and ensure it does not cause the troubles you envision.
Meeting in Absalom: link
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Gah look at what the grand boring it up to now.
You know I was born weak and frail I did not choose it, but to make up for it I became super awesome. We pathfinders are a team. I would prefer to be in a team of experts. I am an expert fibber slash diplomat and master color sprayerer. I would ratehr have a mute barbarian on my team that speciailizes in smahsing things and carrying me then one that wastes his time training talking skills. We are a team and we become great at our thing so other can become great at their things.
What about those Jelly Axes, fellow zarnyiest, and such who say to keep our missions secret?
I once heard of a story in another world there was a once great country suffer from pressions and made poor. Then one man with silly facial hair took all the best brightest without any handicups in the body or mind. Then he used these people to take away all the pressions and make the land rich again. Then he took all the weak and stupid people and put them in a place to get their toes. Then not the leader, but his people started killing everyone born weak and such that they did not liek or were not like them. Then they started killing people that disagreed with them. It took the whole rest of the world to stop them. They called them Knot-seers.
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I can understand the need for less force in Society missions. Once I was with a group of Pathfinders in Andoran to go negotiate with a Druid for a relic the Society wanted. Unfortunately my group could have been described as a "brute squad." There wouldn't have been much negotiating if he wasn't already dead when we got there.
Ha..Just what the Society needs, another elitist new clique to divide us even further.
I'd have to agree here. The Society is already heavily divided enough as it is. While I understand the motives behind your organization, I'm not sure the Decemvirate would ultimately approve of this.
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My travels have taught me one thing; human or elf, humanoids are dicks and jerks all the way. Eventually one blessed with hermean traits will attain a lamplighter badge and exuberantly exclaim it to all his or her compatriots and colleagues, creating this unwanted feud between "simple" pathfinders and "better" pathfinders.
And, Andrina, your mannerisms are a prime example of the underlying trouble. Immediately you see the lamplighters as a threat to you and your ego, and somehow undermine you. Expand your scope and you realise only you fame matters. A hermean exile might possess the looks and powers of a god, but a weathered veteran has the experience. Guess which the society favors more.
And, Pontificor, you are right. The strength of pathfinders lies within the diversity. Admittably this diversity often gathers unwanted attention and might ruin espionage missions, but it has been invaluble in the treks to unspoiled soils.
I've had the ... "pleasure" of working with a half-orc barbarian known as Karim. He's the ... ordinary sort of pathfinder field agent. If a team of his sort would be assigned to a task of diplomacy, the society would be doomed. Fortunately our skills complement each other's skills.
Come to think of it, a requirement of one lamplighter per every pathfinder expedition would be suffice to guarantee success in diplomatic encounters in place one would never imagine to meet another sentient - and non-hostile - face.
