Disclaimer:
We're going to start this entry with something we ordinarily don't keep on hand: A disclaimer.
The Menders are a Secret that is rooted in very sensitive subjects.
With themes of Death, Faith, and how much can one justify in the name of Good at the root of this Secret's foundation, we want players to give it its due depth and respect when generating characters for it. It's a Secret as complicated as the issues it's trying to solve. That said, for all these things in mind this Secret is its own unique entity. It draws on elements of inspiration from a variety of cultures, and a variety of religions, but it is by no means representative of those things. What we draw on in the real world, is not what comes to life. The World of Secrets is, after all, very different from our own.
So approach this Secret with care when writing for it. With that out of the way? Let's begin.
Summary:
The Menders are a cult of death and assassins.
There are no two ways about it. There is no way to deny that fact reasonably, and almost none of them do, save as a way of subtly encouraging students to always think more deeply about certain matters. They are assassins and sorcerers. But to claim that is all they are is to miss the point of who they are, and why they do what they do.
The life of a Mender is a difficult one. Magic makes the impossible dreams of a better tomorrow, their mundane and natural responsibility. But that mindset in and of itself brings new quirks and new issues in the World of Secrets. And so to understand the Mender, one must take a moment to walk their road.
Take your time. Your doom is not prophesied just yet.
Yet, being the operative word. Don't dally.
The Founding of the Menders:
In the beginning, the Menders were not the Menders.
They were sorcerers like any other secret, and they carried with them their own beliefs and ideals formed by the lands they began in. For the Menders, who started in India, this meant Hinduism. Scholars and practitioners of the faith are liable to key in on the fact that even this statement is vague. Hinduism is a religion of many roads and understandings, with a core tenet that there are many ways to divinity - to Brahman. The Menders themselves too recognize this. One thing they have not been able to escape however, is the way the concept affected their predecessors and in some ways, still affects their beliefs to this day. After all.
Sorcerers never die of natural causes.
Put another way. The Sorcerer is an entity that is removed entirely from the cycle of Samsara - that of death and rebirth as the spirit goes through its many lessons.
It was a thought that haunted the early menders. And though some took their own lives, many continued to seek answers, fleeing from India to all parts of the world that they might better understand what their new existences meant.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, an answer would soon come, as The Babylon Pact was and is one of the most defining contracts in all of human history.
A coalition of mages that sought out one another and came to each other's aid that they might protect the light of human life from being snuffed out in an instant by forces beyond the scope of mortal ken. It was noble. It was beautiful, heroic. It just wasn't the entire truth.
Early menders noted that however golden and noble the purposes of these much wonted sorcerous folk may have been, there was always something to be gained or lost. The council acted as much to keep magic out of the hands of all those who would hold them as much as they did to keep the light of the world to be snuffed out. The infighting was constant, and remained that way for decades, then centuries. It was bloody, brutal.
All too enlightening.
The Menders were in a particularly unique place to come to this realization. Hinduism is one of the earliest religions in the world, and serving as the foundation for parts of their own mystic culture, they'd already had several life times to form certain opinions. The Secrets were to keep magic to themselves, and let the elites "defend mankind". And if they so happened to benefit from that, the better.
It had taken them a long, long time, but the Mender purpose became clear. The Secrets would exist to defend humanity from the Abyss.
And the Menders to defend humanity from the Secrets.
Early Mender History:
Early Mender History is a frustratingly difficult topic for scholars of all stripes from this Secret.
It is notably less so for outsiders. Largely due in part to the fact that an outside Scholar of Mender history is scientifically referred to as a target or a corpse, depending on how far along they are in their studies.
This aside, it's no surprise. The earliest Menders came to the rightful conclusion that no Secret would really agree to be policed by an outside force. Especially one that, in their eyes, hadn't been important enough to merit a spot at the primary council in the first place. So the Menders pulled one of the earliest magic tricks in human history, and disappeared right before their eyes.
Sometime later, the "Church of Kali" came to life. Known as death obsessed hedonists, (an idea encouraged in no small part by the menders themselves), the Church of Kali became a visible front organization to keep the primary Secrets from looking too deeply into the going ons of the Indian Subcontinent. A surprisingly effective ploy, given that no one ever bothered to give one of the largest Secrets period a seat on the council of six. Small blessings.
In secret however, the sorcerer group made their pact with the Abyss.
And the menders were born.
Middle Mender History:
It's here that their history becomes if not more well known, at least easier to understand. With cloak and dagger as their primary tool and the advent of things such as the silk road, and later great sea-faring ships capable of traveling distances, the Menders slowly but surely spread out. The Church of Kali continued to act as a distraction tactic, while Menders took to placing their agents wherever they could in various secrets and hiding, taking out dangerous mages and others alike. To make a pact with the Abyss is one thing. But the Menders have never served anyone or anything but humanity itself. It's a period that's marked with shadowy dealings, and the quiet "Handling" of problems. It would never be fair to blame every high profile murder and assassination on the hands of the Menders. But that doesn't mean they'll discourage the idea within their own ranks.
Fear is healthy for young students in some senses after all.
Modern Mender History:
And here they are now.
The Menders may well have been content to stay quiet and walk a tight rope for the rest of time, keeping man, magic, and monsters in check to the best of their ability. Then, two gods died. Draeven returned to the Secrets. The Dionysian's disappeared, the Garden revealed itself to have been the Scheherezade, and so much more. The world was fast spinning into a turmoil that could scarce be understood, and if the Menders did not act, they felt that the dance would at last end.
For that reason they too have revealed themselves, though in a much different light. The story that the Secrets have heard was that the Menders arose as a counter movement to that of the Church of Kali. They were mages advocating for a more accurate representation of themselves and their people, who wanted little more than the right to truly show the best that not only their continent, but their best sorcerers had to offer. The truth is obviously different. After all, the Menders were well above the matters of nationality, region and race, and had been for well over a thousand years. Humanity is humanity.
But when dealing with certain groups, sometimes a lie is easier to understand than the truth. Besides, if the true scope of who and what they were, what they had been got out, the Secrets would never ally themselves in time to stop what many Menders are sure is the encroaching end of the world.
And that is mostly that. Though one last final thing of note is that in spite of this, many Menders "appear" to have spread to all other corners of the world with their acceptance into the pact. The truth is that these Menders were all generally in these locations, but it made it somewhat easier to appear as though they were simply the newest sorcerers on the block, attempting to get the most while they were still hungry.
Lies within lies, and circles within circles.
Just another day for a Mender.
Mender Training and Recruitment:
Raising an entire group of death-obsessed assassins is not an easy task.
And in other news: Water is wet.
But in all seriousness, the mindset that it takes to live with, and prosper under this inglorious task requires both extreme dedication and extreme care. And so life as a Mender begins slowly, and always with two other fledglings flanking their roads.
A mentor will find a band of students. Often, this begins through careful application of magics used to sense weaknesses and strengths in their prospects. (Detailed later.) Thus the selection process begins. Perhaps the mentor is a University professor. Formerly military, and long retired, they frequent debate halls, they encourage their students to find new truths, and when a student catches their eyes, they are vetted over the course of years. This of course is not the only ruse under which sorcerers are scouted, but it is a common one. At any rate, a student that has made an impression is invited to outings, philosophy meetings with other Menders posing as friends and family from the professors life, and more. They are quizzed, studied, and then when one is approved, they seek another.
At this point the student is not yet made a Mender. As the Mentor has been taking the time to find and assess their weaknesses. They are in need of others. Sometimes, the student is a gifted. A genius, and as such they need someone who can temper their inspirations with the rigors of common sense. Or, perhaps the opposite is true and they need someone who can encourage and foster growth. And by that same token, perhaps that soul with the wit of common sense needs the blinding inspirations of wonder to make them truly think out of the box. All students are selected this way. And while many are impressive, and come from a diverse background, there is one thing they all have in common:
There is a flexibility to their mindsets. A Mender must be many things, wear many masks, and become many people. "From Rudra to Shiva, and Shiva to Kali, and back again" as one of their old founders had put it. The foundation to become an assassin is not something that can be taught without brutally breaking someone's spirit through abuse and manipulation, and so except for in the most extreme cases Menders prefer to find people who are already capable of becoming such.
So, once three students are found, they are all introduced to magic in some form or another. How they choose to do this is truly up to the Mentor in question, but a favorite of some sorcerers tends to be spirit calling--summoning distant ancestors, and using them to communicate with the prospects through dream teaching, and stories. Once all three students can accept magic, their teachings begin. It first begins with the mind, and the sharpness needed to see to the hearts of matters. It is not uncommon for many students despite the regional origin and religious roots of this organization, to cite books such as the Hagakure as part of their foundational studies. A Mender cares not for where or when wisdom originates, so long as it is useful.
It then moves to the physical. Being that the arts of decay often have a certain toll associated with them and how they're employed, Menders make it a point to see that their students are of a physicality capable of withstanding any unforeseen toll from channeling the elements into their many forms and styles.
And finally, it ends with the Spirit.
The Spirit course lies on two axis. The first is that they are at last given magic, and trained to apply it in a way that fits their skills. For though their training has been broad in scope, all humans have their preferences. Menders believe that if such a preference isn't harmful, it is best to teach a student in accordance with these inclinations.
After that, the students are told their apprenticeship is almost at an end, and left to their own ends. At least so it would seem. The truth is that the Mentor then watches them to see how they accord themselves once they believe they are free. If the lessons have stuck, if they have proven themselves capable of walking the thorny road of their magics, they are told they have passed, and introduced to greater Mender society at large.
However, if it proves that they aren't capable of it, they are dealt with.
Oftentimes, this means simply wiping their minds of that which they've learned about the menders, and forwarding the students to a Secret that would better suit their inclinations. Occasionally however, there have been students who have acted with such abhorrence, such malignance that the Mender does not wait. Those students are cut down, without hesitation.
It is one thing not to know better. It is another thing not to care. Menders can be lenient!
But never in this regard.
Mender Organization
As horrifying as all of this is, there is a silver lining once all is said and done. If a student passes all of these dangerous roads, trials, and tribulations they themselves are then introduced to the Mender world as a whole. And it is like coming into a whole new family.
Once a Mender is fully incorporated into the organization, they are free to act alone or with as many sorcerers as they feel like. The only exception to this rule belongs to the reagents of any one region, who are required to always have no less than three sorcerers, and always as an odd number, as a council, with the odd one out as the tie breaker. How one is elected to this council depends on one's sphere of influence and region. Military councils tend to encourage martial skill. Sorcerers running things like the stock market sometimes must show a certain savvy with finance, or be vouched for. There is no limit to how a council mender is chosen.
For there is no limit to how many dangers a Mender must prepare for.
The Mind of a Mender – Why they do what they do:
Now, up this point there’s been a lot of discussion as to the what’s and the how’s. What they are, what they do, how they operate, how they have operated and continue to, where they came from, and so on. A lot of which skims the surface, but none of which answers the ultimate question of “Why?”
Why would they willingly become assassins, when magic is so beautiful, and so powerful? Why would they willingly side, even if only tangentially, with the monsters that seek to wipe out the very heart of all life on earth itself? And the answers to those questions can be found in the questions themselves.
The menders do not believe themselves to be evil.
They don’t believe themselves to be good either, to be perfectly clear. There are no illusions as to who they are and what they do, though most wouldn't believe it.
The few outsiders who’ve been allowed to learn of their existence have attempted to start at the root of the organization’s beginnings, pinning it on Hinduism and its concept of Samsara. These people are, respectfully, wrong.
In part because it is not a concept that dominates the entirety of their teachings anymore, but moreso because many students have followed in the footsteps of the original Menders who actively renounced all their ties to religion. All religions to be clear. The reasons for this are as numerous as there are menders: The sorcerous world appeals to them as the true reality, while for others it calls into question the canon of those faiths and their legitimacy.
But for the overwhelming majority of them, it is because they have actively chosen to be damned. If a God – any god chooses to forgive them for their sins. Then they will weep tears of blood when the time comes. But until then, their task remains inglorious, and necessary.
Many of course, still wrestle with their faith. Are they justified? Is this truly the right course? But then, one need only look towards the recent slaughter at the Bank of Opulence or the murder of the Stone God. Sorcerers one and all must be checked. The eternal youth of a magi makes them problematic. Imagine the worst villains and tyrants of history. Genghis Khan, Stalin, Hitler, Caligula.
And now? Give them the longevity of the stars themselves; the ability to become more clever and cruel a thousand times over with the passing acclimation of wisdom. Could a mortal stop them? Could anyone?
There’s also the problem of the Elite. The concept of the pacts from its inception has acted as a barrier to entry for any and all not determined fitting. The Menders choose their magi carefully because their task is daunting, and dooming. But for the rest of the secrets, who call only for the most meagre of protections rather than the elevation of humanity, do they have an excuse?
Now with that being said, we by no means do we intend to provide that answer here, of course. The Menders have been debating these questions since the Secret’s founding. This is why there is always at least three who run the order, at any level, and always an odd number. The Menders are not above themselves being scrutinized, and it is because of the ethical questions so often at the Secret's core that it isn't uncommon to find the Menders spending the better portion of their free time helping mortals. A mender that isn't found in the middle of a mission is one almost certainly found in some act of charity or another.
After all, their task will never be finished. And in the meantime, they have so much more left to give. For every two hard line former special operations soldiers, there is a doctor who has walked in the ashes of a mage’s incursion, a mother who lost her child in a deal with a witch when she just wanted the money to feed him. A man who watched his brother kill himself when his husband died.
They are menders. Both of the cycle of life and death, and of human hearts.
Unique Mender Magic:
The pact that the first menders made with the Abyss has resulted in some unique properties about their magic.
The first is in their elements. Many Secrets have a variety of elements at their command. For the Menders however, almost everything about their magic is set from the time they're first taken. For of the three elements they receive, the first two are always Earth and Dark magics. The reason for this is as of yet a mystery. Some believe it to simply be the beliefs that the Menders are raised in to, causing the magic to respond to them as people. Others believe it has something to do with the contract the First Menders themselves made.
Unfortunately, no one can be sure. If the First Menders are still on this earth, they're not talking. And so for now, the Sorcerers must deal with it. Thankfully, there is something of a trade off, in that they seem to receive an extra element of their own choosing, rather than the randomness with which magic is often assigned instead.
How a student shapes this aspect of their magic is as varied as the humans who employ magic. But how a mender employs their decay magic? That is very much a style almost all menders share, and that brings us to the second property.
Decay itself.
Decay is often thought of as the simple deterioration of materials animate and inanimate. But either by token of the beliefs the Menders hold, or through simple millennia of practice, teaching and refinement, the Menders understand it in a fundamentally different way than most of their sorcerous kinfolk. Decay to the Mender mind is as much conceptual as it is physical. It is for reasons such as this that they are currently renowned fortune-tellers, as well as ghost-whisperers and summoners. For what is Fate but the death of all alternatives, and spirits but the final form of an entropy incapable of rejoining the cycle?
These thoughts have all kinds of fantastic, and decidedly terrifying applications that the Menders have put to good use over the centuries and is probably in no small part responsible for how they've remained a secret from even the Secrets. Still, some of their own worry. Perhaps they are merely delaying the inevitable. . .