The Fatebound

Beneath Endros's grand political theater exists a clandestine network bound by secret oaths to Adonis, the absent God of Fate. These individuals, known as the Fatebound, operate in the shadows, executing his inscrutable designs from within every layer of society in exchange for the promise of citizenship after their term of service is complete.

Organization and Structure

The Fatebound operate through a meticulously crafted cell structure, with most members knowing only their immediate handler and perhaps one or two fellow agents. This compartmentalization shields members from discovery and protects the organization from infiltration.

Interactions with handlers typically occur through portal meetings or in secure Astralei safehouses, where Astralei emissaries provide new instructions and collect reports on previous assignments. These handlers are the only consistent connection most Fatebound have to the organization's true purpose.

Recruitment and Induction

Recruitment into the Fatebound occurs exclusively through the Trials of Fate, particularly those who pass with great success. Among the most likely candidates are Hunters and high-ranking adventurers, Archivists, Bards, and members of prominent noble families. One with inner knowledge of the Fatebound could safely infer that Maidens are somehow involved, though any details would be highly guarded.

All recruits are individuals with extraordinary skills, or those positioned strongly to shape the world. Adonis personally evaluates candidates based on their potential to influence critical nexus points in the flow of causality. Those who impress Adonis are approached afterward by an Astralei emissary, and given the opportunity to join the Fatebound.

The induction involves swearing an oath to the Fatebound, which is formally contracted through Concordia, a fact that remains known to very few.

Activities and Operations

The Fatebound execute a diverse array of missions, often seemingly disconnected from one another. Their most important assignments are what Adonis identifies as "nexus points," which are moments and locations where multiple strands of possibility converge and the course of future events hangs in the balance.

While some of the Fatebound's operations are difficult or covert, others are extremely casual and ordinary. Profound changes can come from subtle interventions: a conversation at the right moment, a document "accidentally" left where it will be found, or a seemingly chance encounter between key individuals.

Service and Reward

Adonis expects members to handle any task requested without question, though he does not give assignments that he is not genuinely convinced they can achieve. Service terms generally last between five to ten years, depending on how valuable the candidate is to Adonis's plans, and how successful they have been at executing their tasks.

Those who successfully complete their term are granted passage to Nexus, where they begin a new life among the Astralei as citizens. This transition is irreversible — once they cross into Nexus, they sever all ties with their former life in Endros.

Before leaving, they are required to establish a justifiable scenario that would explain their disappearance, such as heading through dangerous territory for work. These scenarios are always constructed by the Astralei, who are effective at making them appear genuine enough to deflect most inquiries.

Conflicts and Challenges

While all Fatebound are bound by oath to Adonis, they maintain their original identities and connections. Conflicts can arise when missions clash with personal values or put loved ones at risk. Though Adonis does not give assignments that the subject is likely to reject, it can certainly test their resolve at times.

Some inevitably begin to question the purpose behind their assignments or attempt to discern the broader pattern. This curiosity, while natural, can be dangerous if it leads to unauthorized investigations.

Resources and Facilities

Certain Astralei locations within Endros serve as safe houses for Fatebound operations. The Fatebound often have permission to use Astralei Portals for secure communications and travel, as long as it is done in secret and pertains to their work.