Atlas Keepers
The Atlas Keepers is a consortium of collaborative Travellers archiving their stories through the stars. Initially a personal data cache created by the Beacon-Entity, the project evolved into a loose fellowship of peaceful explorers contributing information, discoveries, and camaraderie to the compendium.
// BEACON-NOTE: // For information on Travellers lacking official Keeper status, see: The Kept.
History
// BEACON-NOTE: // The following is my own account of the Atlas Keepers.
In the beginning, I created the Atlas Keepers as a simple archive to organize my discoveries and preserve what I learned of the Lost Traveller Key-Glyph. I envisioned it as a data repository for my own use: a way to review, and a way to remember. Nothing more.
It was the Traveller Cortes who opened my eye to the idea of expanding it into a collaborative compedium. He first proposed that we actively seek out other like-minded explorers to contribute knowledge to our databanks; then he urged us to put that knowledge to practical use.
Together we determined the Facets -- general categories of expertise to which individual Keepers could "belong." These categories served as a way of organizing information, but also as a way of creating a bond among members of a particular group. Facets are left to operate autonomously, with their leaders trusted to keep their group's work ethical and harmonious.
It was Cortes who came up with the name of our little society, as well as the term for the facets as a whole: the Kaleidoscope.
Facets
There are currently seven facets in the Kaleidoscope. Six facets cover general categories of knowledge and are focused on the research thereof. The seventh facet, known as the Providers, is set apart from the others by its goal of putting the collective's knowledge into practical action.
Atlas Facet
The Atlas Facet is dedicated to understanding the Travellers' role in the universe, the fabric of reality, and the Atlas itself. These explorers are concerned with morality, philosophy, spiritual matters, and the overall meaning of existence.
Leader: N/A
Members:
- Key-Glyph (posthumous)
Culture Facet
The Culture Facet is devoted to generating, preserving, and encouraging creative works. They value memoirs, stories, songs, artworks, events, and artifacts from all known races, and are our greatest proponents of diplomatic outreach.
Leader: The Beacon-Entity, Worlds Preserver
Members:
- The Beacon-Entity
Fauna Facet
The Fauna Facet concerns itself with discovering, studying, and documenting animal species. They seek to discover interesting variations and patterns among the fauna and develop ethical ways of benefiting from local wildlife.
Leader: Bo'gus, Sturdy Ground
Members:
Flora Facet
The Flora Facet studies planetary flora aesthetically, nutritionally, and medicinally. They work to identify species, uncover their properties, and develop techniques and best practices for their care and growth.
Leader: Aoss, Gentle Leaf
Members:
Gadget Facet
The Gadget Facet is comprised of Travellers comfortable with manipulating metal, circuits, software, and simple machines. This group of engineers, welders, inventors, and technologists designs and improves the tools we use to live our daily lives.
Leader: Bea'key, Tiny Cannon
Members:
Geo Facet
The Geo Facet is committed to exploring all terrains the universe offers. These dedicated and meticulous Travellers often send themselves into the elements to experience planetary formations, weather, and resources first-hand, while others search for patterns and solutions in the resulting data.
Leader: N/A
Members: N/A
The Providers
The Providers are set apart from the other facets in that their specialization is not in a specific research discipline, but in action. These Keepers are zealous in their application of the other facets' data to what they call "the moving world." They are the farmers tending to fields of crops; the pilots testing prototypes and transporting goods; the builders constructing shelters and homes; the doctors nurturing our health; the musicians raising our spirits. They bring static theories and discoveries to functional life for the betterment of the community.
This facet is the largest, the most diverse, and the most universally respected within the Kaleidoscope.
Leader: Cortes, First Provider
Members:
Members
Below is a list of all Keepers, past, present, and posthumous.
- Aoss, Gentle Leaf
- Bea'key, Tiny Cannon
- The Beacon-Entity, Worlds Preserver
- Bo'gus, Sturdy Ground
- Cortes, First Provider
- Key-Glyph, Soul Searcher (posthumous)
Important Events
Significant events of the Atlas Keepers will be recorded here.