Northern Geographical Society
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The Northern Geographical Society, or NGS for short, is an internationally recognized organization of scholars ranging from historians, alchemist, engineers, mages and adventurers. For over a century now, the Northern Geographical Society has served the continent by safeguarding and showcasing the collective heritage of the descendant races with its museums scattered all around the world. Following its motto "To New Frontiers" the NGS is also adventuring into the unknowns of the continents and even the underworld, bringing and sharing knowledge with the world and endeavoring to expand it.
Contents
Society structure
Mission of the NGS :
Founded as it was in the embers of war, the NGS has always seen itself as an appeal to the more constructive pursuits of collaboration amongst mankind and indeed all the descendant races. This mission is threefold; to preserve the relics and knowledge of our shared history, to increase that knowledge by unearthing stories forgotten and unraveling the mysteries of the natural sciences, and finally to enrich the public by sharing knowledge, dispelling ignorance and promoting peace in glorifying our shared achievements. It is the hope of the NGS that every new museum opened might serve as a beacon in a constellation of knowledge-sharing and enlightened unity.
Structure of the NGS :
The NGS is organized into three broad divisions. The exploration corps organize daring trips to undisturbed ruins, magical anomalies, and exotic biomes. They collect and catalog new species, ancient statues, and lost weapons for display in the museums. The research division produces books, studies, and papers on topics such as history, alchemy, anthropology, and engineering among many others. They also write much of the material available to read in the NGS’ various museums. The public relations division conducts tours at the museums and organizes events to increase the Society’s impact on the communities they serve. Governing the NGS are the Circle and its members. The Circle consists of proven researchers, adventurers, and mages who have demonstrated as much dedication to the mission of the Society as its founders. Most of the decision-making power is vested in the Circle, including the selection of a President, amendments to the charter of the NGS, and final say on most critical decisions. The President is a “first among equals” of sorts, acting as a representative of the institution, organizing it and providing it with direction. While their power is by no means absolute their selection marks them as amongst the most distinguished and respected members of the Circle, and as such their word is generally respected.
Services of the NGS:
The museums of the NGS feature regularly updated, well-researched exhibits and are always open to the public, however there are many more services the Society endeavors to provide the communities it serves. Each museum features a library curated by the chief archivist of the society to meet the research needs of the branch and local citizens. Should one be seeking a technical document or treatise unavailable at a national library, the local NGS branch is always a good place to look next. Branches host classes and events, and are often glad to do so in cooperation with local governments, organizations, and initiatives.
History
Origin :
While the Society was founded in 1762, the first museum of the NGS formally opened in 1763. At first, the NGS was primarily localized to Haense, though further initiatives were undertaken to establish a small branch in Helena.The founding principles of the NGS included tolerance toward all races and cultures, academic impartiality, and public diffusion of knowledge to the general public. The Society’s motto, “To New Frontiers”, was christened as harkening to the new lands yet to be explored by the exploration corp but also to the better tomorrow which the Society’s mission sought to achieve. A steady process of institution building over the course of 50 years would allow it to survive long beyond the vision of Celestine Herbert, expanding across the continent to become the organization that it is today.
Arcas :
- The Society Circle Meeting of 1772
1772 is a very Important date in NGS History, one that all of the eldest members of the NGS remember as a defining moment for the society itself. Speering ahead what the NGS will look like in its following decades and even centuries. Back in that same year the NGS had just turned 10 years old. It had successfully opened its first museum in New Reza as well as started to venture out exploring into the world. All this made the NGS a known organization, peaking the interest of nations who would want to start to cooperate with it. One such proposal was made during the same year by Haense and its king Sigismund II.
The Proposal would give the NGS access to the royal treasury of Haense, more specifically the artifacts held within it to be used for study and exhibits.In addition a large sum of money together with funding would go to the NGS. However the Kingdom of Haense would also hold Half the shares of the NGS. During one of the NGS meetings this proposal was discussed. It was an unexpected proposal but it was very welcomed by the members who felt reaffirmed in their hard work seeing this as a grand opportunity to expand the NGS. Yet… one thing bothered the members, that half the shares of the NGS going to the Kingdom of Haense.
This point was fiercely debated, it was not an issue of trusting Haense but members feared that the NGS would be perceived as a society of Haense only. At the time the NGS already had to battle the perception by Oren as a Haense organization, yet in Haense as an organization hailing from Oren due to its founder, sealing a contract with a kingdom would make it even more difficult. That is when the cries for an independent and neutral NGS became louder. From its founding the NGS was already an independent and neutral organization, but it was that fateful meeting in 1772 that formed the NGS Identity as a neutral and independent Society, bound to no alliances and open for all. Thus the proposal was voted down and the NGS Members vowed to finance and uphold the NGS by themselves.
It would still take several decades all the way into Almaris for the Nations of the world to start trusting the NGS fully. But today the NGS is recognised as an open, independent and neutral organization. This has granted the NGS the ability to open museums in several Nations, earning their trust. So much so that NGS Members no matter where they hail from have always been allowed entrance into a city even during times of war.
- Nether Expeditions
During the later part of the 18th Century in Arcas, Circle member Lauritz Christanensen showed informed Celestine Herbert of a portal leading to another plane. Known in ancient Aegisian texts as “The Nether”, the Society jumped at the opportunity to explore this desolate wasteland.
Celestine and Tanith would lead the members of the NGS into the outer realm of the Deceiver, cataloging its wonders, fauna, and flora throughout. These four expeditions remain a core part of NGS folklore to this day, lauded as some of the Society’s greatest achievements. A public study was published by the duo documenting and showcasing the Society’s findings, remaining one of the most popular works published by the NGS to date.
Venturing further into the Nether than any other party, Herbert and her explorers would plant a daemonsteel plaque during this last expedition in which they attained this. This plaque in the Nether reads: “NGS, 1778: Here Marks the Furthest Point Ventured into the Nether. We Came in Peace for all Descendant Kind.”
- Saving Artifacts from Arcas
The Inferi Crisis at the end of the 18th Century, often referred to as the “end of the First Era”, necessitated a series of preparations to save the history of the descendant peoples. Tanith Vursur, then Chief of Research of the NGS, skillfully stored all of the Society’s artifacts and written works within the Void as a skilled translocationist. What couldn’t be stored in the Void was loaded aboard the Odyssey, an exploration vessel commissioned by then Vice President Otto Wittenbach.
Celestine Herbert skillfully orchestrated the evacuation of all NGS museums and the rescuing of all their texts and artifacts. Boarding the Odyssey, the NGS safeguarded this history as it sailed from Arcas to Almaris. Through uncharted seas, the NGS sailed toward a New Frontier, a new world which promised to be even better for the Society than the old.
Almaris :
- Early years, Golden Age
Indeed, the New World provided a chance for the NGS to begin anew as the descendant races landed upon the continent of Almaris. Herbert managed to procure a flagship museum custom built to the Society’s exact specifications in the new Haeseni capital of Karosgrad and, with the help of her old friend Edward Napier, a far larger and more grandiose Imperial Museum in Providence, Oren.
The opening of both museums would attract dozens of spectators, these being roaring events across the two largest realms of humanity. The Society enjoyed strong political support within both as it pursued its mission. Scholars from the Eternal Library feeling persecution under a revival diarchy in Haelun’or would supplement the Society’s intellectual skills, leading to an explosion of knowledge and the opening of its public archival operations.
New Circle members were admitted into the Society from around the globe, including Dilvyn Deveral, Kallian Sylvir, and Ferek Frostbeard. Truly, the NGS was no longer a mere Haeseni organization. It had become global, achieving the reality that Herbert had envisioned decades before.
Expeditions into the Attenlund, the Deepways, the and the rest of Almaris would fuel the Society for years to come. Exhibits on all of these would fill the museums, which visitors would endeavor to read about as more of the mysteries of this new land were unveiled.
List of Notable Members:
- Celestine Herbert - Founder, First president
- Otto Wittenbach - Chief Architect, Second President
- Elizabeth Brae-Wittenbach - Third President
- Stephen Carolus - First VP, NGS Author
- Zulom Toadicus - NGS Natural Historian
- Juan De Lyons - NGS Catrographer
- Tanith Vursur - First NGS Head of Research
- Kallian Sylvari - Chief of exploration
- Dilvyn Deveral - explorers & VP
- Ferek Frostbeard - Librarian & Explorer
- Deshe of Esbec - Head of personal Relations
- James Vursur - Head of Personal relations & VP
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