Overview
Purpose and Operaris
To unite all of Mankind.
And this involves many different operations, called 'operari' internally by the Luminari. Originally, it was all 'Dark' Operaris. But, more recently after
Trajan Meng's experience in the
Pandemonium Crisis, he introduced the idea of 'Light' Operaris as well.
A Dark Operari might be:
• Raids on purely xeno targets for financing
• Reprisals against xenos for attacking
humans and human
settlements
• Recruiting drives in
Vel Anir (appealing to xenophobic humans)
• Attempts to coerce wealthy and influential (but unwilling) humans into serving the cause
• Undermining and sabotaging xenos in positions of power in mostly human settlements
• Undermining and sabotaging sympathizing/traitorous humans, especially those in positions of power
Light Operari might be:
• Defending a human settlement against some manner of threat (
undead, beast,
monster, etc.)
• Performing mercenary work for human clients free of charge (provided the work is in line with Luminari ideology)
• Recruiting drives in
Alliria (targeted towards the poor and destitute)
• Community service in poor
villages,
towns, and areas of
cities (except
Elbion)
• Propaganda campaigns, extolling the virtues of service and kinship
• Attempts to indoctrinate/sway wealthy and influential humans to joining or supporting the cause
Dark Operaris are performed with as much stealth and secrecy as possible, and are the reason for the cell-based structure of the Luminari. This is done to prevent alarm and backlash from xenos, but also from sympathizers and traitorous humans.
Light Operari are the opposite. Meant to spread the name of the Luminari in a positive light. During a Light Operari, honor and service and kinship and charity to Mankind is stressed. Dislike of xenos is suppressed, though perhaps implicit. If an accusation is leveled during a Light Operari, it is simply and flatly denied as a lie.
Currently, the major on-going Operari of the Luminari is directed at the
College of Elbion. Whether by sedition or usurping or a gradual change in attitude, the Luminari seeks to make the College a human-only institution, and for it to allow the practice and teaching of
dark magic. The second point certainly being contentious, it is nevertheless the view of the Luminari that dark magic is a
weapon. A dangerous weapon that needs to be respected and carefully used, but a weapon, and one xenos might gladly use to further their own goals, so humanity must not deny itself the same. Lest Mankind willingly put itself at a disadvantage.
Of course, this second point is one disaster away from changing. After all, human-only control of the College is the primary concern.
Symbol
The Starred Sun. An ornate sun, overlaid by a four-pointed star. Silently representing the Light and Dark of the Luminari's Holy Cause.
Adopted more recently for Light Operaris. Surcoats and letters and such may be adorned with the symbol during a Light Operari, as it is meant to be displayed prominently for promotional and propagandist purposes.
The Symbol is not used or shown or worn in any manner or capacity during a Dark Operari.
Customs
Greetings/Salute: When one Luminari member meets another, or as a gesture of respect, the member may perform the following. He or she may make a fist with the right hand and snap it to the heart, the back of the hand facing up and the clenched fingers facing down.
The greeter will say, "For Mankind." To which the greeted will perform the same salute and reply, "For Mankind."
Congratulations/Honoring/Supporting/Encouraging: When a Luminari member wishes to show any of these to a fellow Luminari member, a small ritual is done. For example, say Trajan wishes to encourage Khadija. The ritual is done like this:
Trajan will approach Khadija and either place a hand on her shoulder or embrace her.
He will then say, "Khadija, you are my sister."
And she will reply, "Trajan, you are my brother."
And both will say, together, "And we are kin."
Farewells: When business is concluded between two Luminari members and they must part ways, a simple exchange may take place.
The member initiating the farewell will say, "Never given."
To which the other member will reply, "Always earned."
Structure
Small cells, operating mostly independently of one another. Sometimes the leaders of cells will converge to tackle a particular large operari that requires a lot of manpower. Trajan encourages and supports leadership, though he knows that not all are willing or otherwise up to the task, and would prefer to simply be followers. Those who do show the capacity and will for leadership are quickly given their own cells, if so desired, or are made 'lieutenants' of a sort in existing cells if that is preferred instead.
Some centralized coordination for the Luminari is done by Trajan's family back in Vel Anir. The Meng estate is where the spoils of raids and other means is collected and distributed out to the far-flung cells, and also it serves a central hub of communication such that the cells can keep in contact.
The cells don't have impressive names, or much in the way of names at all. Trajan's kin, Khadija's cell, and Clarissa's spies are a few examples. It's not the cells that are important, but the Luminari as a whole and the cause they all serve. The names for the cells are for clarification purposes only.
