The Cobalt Soul is an order that worships The Knowing Mistress, Ioun.[3] Some members of the Cobalt Soul are monks, while others are knowledge clerics of Ioun, bards, or fighters. Many folks are just standard researchers, caretakers, and historians.[4]
Symbol of the Cobalt Soul
Leadership
The High Curator of Vasselheim and the High Curator of Rexxentrum (Yudala Fon) share dual and equal leadership over the entire structure of the Cobalt Soul.[5]
History
In the Dwendalian Empire, the Cobalt Soul and the Cerberus Assembly have worked in an antagonistic lockstep for the better part of a century, since the inception of the Assembly. They do not outwardly show aggression towards each other, but have maintained a series of checks and balances. Both sides have done what they can to curb the influence of the other and prevent the other from achieving internal goals that went against the needs and wants of their own faction. They also work together at times out of necessity, both publicly and behind the scenes. Sometimes they maintain a relationship of frustrated convenience, and at other times, a subversive antagonism.[6]
The Cobalt Soul has developed a relationship with the Revelry, and the Plank King is well aware of it.[7]
Locations
The Cobalt Soul operates several libraries, including the Cobalt Reserve in Westruun, the Cobalt Vault in Vasselheim[8], and several Cobalt Archives on the continent of Wildemount: the main archive in Rexxentrum, the Valley Archive of the Cobalt Soul in Zadash, and an archive in Port Damali.[9] These libraries are offered a degree of governmental protection.[10]
The Cobalt Reserve
A grand dome of blue, polished stone, the Cobalt Reserve is a well-fortified library in Westruun that is organized, overseen, and guarded by an order of monks in worship to The Knowing Mistress, goddess of knowledge, prophecy, and skill. The Reserve's collection of knowledge is so vast that individuals travel from all over the world to study here. A monk is assigned to every person that seeks entry, both as a guide and as a security escort, as Quian was assigned to Vox Machina during their quest to remove the proto-phylactery from Grog's torso.[11]
Known Members
- Quian[11]
- "CS" - Author of articles based on Beauregard Lionett's intelligence, with whom Zeenoth corresponds.[12]
The Cobalt Vault
Some affluent individuals outside of the order were allowed to read books within the libraries but were carefully monitored to ensure that they did not remove any books.[13] The Curator of this Vasselheim branch, at the time of the events of Campaign Two, had dual leadership of the Cobalt Soul with the High Curator of Rexxentrum.[14]
Known Members
The Valley Archive of the Cobalt Soul
Built off of the western edge of the Pentamarket in the Interstead Sprawl of Zadash,[18] this library is known to contain rare tomes and elaborate writings. It is maintained by the Cobalt Soul. Although open to the public under supervision, it has off-limits areas requiring special approval for access. After signing in, a monk is assigned as a watchful escort. Within the public areas, attendees can read and take notes on the materials within, though removing items from the library is strictly forbidden.[19]
Interior
The archive has a tall, tapering tower that curves at the top into a dome-like pinnacle. Flanking the sides of this tower are three smaller spires. The stonework of the main tower has a smooth, concrete-looking texture. In the morning sunlight, the tower shines brightly and reveals intricate carvings on the various tiers that spiral down the tower. The interior of this library consists of:[20]
- Several curved staircases carved through the bookshelves, rising to different heights and connecting the higher levels of the library at various points.
- Rooms usable for meetings or quiet research and study of the materials found within.
- Subterranean training boxes with sand pits for sparring, as well as urban and wilderness obstacle courses.
- Private and guarded teleportation circles to Rexxentrum, Port Damali, Tal'Dorei, and Vasselheim.[21]
Known Members
Symbol of Ioun, the Knowing Mistress, with a cobalt blue backdrop
- Archivist Delan[22]
- Archivist Demid Sunlash[23] (Was studying Exandria's moons in Uthodurn when the Mighty Nein first passed through, but he has left.[24] Has information on the Dust family.[25])
- Archivist Galesh[26]
- Archivist Jennah[27]
- Archivist Madeer[28]
- Archivist Zeenoth[29]
- Expositor Beauregard Lionett[30] (Currently traveling with the Mighty Nein.)
- Expositor Dairon[31]
- High Curator Loman Turray[32]
- Tubo[33]
Rexxentrum Archive of the Cobalt Soul
One of the two headquarters of the Cobalt Soul, the other being in Vasselheim, this library is easily larger than the Zadash archive by fifty-percent or more. There are multiple floors, with at least four full fifteen-foot high tiers visible from the interior, with many little pocket chambers. Walkways connect the tiers. In the basement are teleportation circles to Vasselheim, Westruun, Port Damali, and Zadash. The exterior is a beautiful cerulean building marked by four short multi-level domed towers of polished blue stone in the Tangles, a neighborhood in Rexxentrum.
Known Members
- High Curator Yudala Fon - Has dual leadership of the Cobalt Soul with the Curator of the Cobalt Vault of Vasselheim.[34]
- Archivist Kathedoc - Handles the teleportation room.[35]
- Archivist Desaund - Works in the library at the help desk.[36]
Other Archives of the Cobalt Soul in Wildemount
An archive in Port Damali has a teleportation room that does not link to Vasselheim, unlike both Rexxentrum and Zadash.[37]
Personnel at Unspecified Locations
- Expositor Fraelin - Fond of Tusk Love[38]
- Expositor Marcella - Saw the Ruby of the Sea perform once.[39]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 52.
- ↑ See Matt Mercer's clarification on Twitter.
- ↑ See "Voice of the Tempest" (1x90) at 1:38:23.
- ↑ See Matt Mercer's clarification on Twitter.
- ↑ See "The Threads Converge" (2x85) at 3:57:50. However, in Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 53, it states that the second High Curator is located in Zadash rather than Vasselheim.
- ↑ See "Unwanted Reunions" (2x88) at 4:06:16.
- ↑ The Chronicles of Exandria - The Mighty Nein, p. 216.
- ↑ See "Voice of the Tempest" (1x90) from 1:38:20 through 1:38:57.
- ↑ See "Curious Beginnings" (2x01) from 1:22:33 through 1:22:52.
- ↑ See "Talks Machina: Campaign Wrap-up" (Sx31) at 0:33:14.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Information about Quian was imported from Matthew Mercer's Vox Machina Wiki article, "Quian".
- ↑ The Chronicles of Exandria - The Mighty Nein, pp. 148 and 247. May also be an abbreviation of "Cobalt Soul".
- ↑ See "Voice of the Tempest" (1x90) from 1:47:11 through 1:47:45.
- ↑ See "The Threads Converge" (2x85) at 3:57:50. However, in Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 53, it states that the second High Curator is located in Zadash rather than Vasselheim.
- ↑ See "Voice of the Tempest" (1x90) at 1:43:55.
- ↑ See "Voice of the Tempest" (1x90) at 1:50:45.
- ↑ See "Voice of the Tempest" (1x90) at 1:50:45.
- ↑ See "Curious Beginnings" (2x01) from 1:22:33 through 1:22:52.
- ↑ See "Harvest Close" (2x17) at 1:49:48.
- ↑ See "A Favor in Kind" (2x16) at 3:33:54.
- ↑ See "Between the Lines" (2x78) at 3:27:00.
- ↑ See "Between the Lines" (2x78) at 2:35:47.
- ↑ See "Manifold Morals" (2x74) at 1:36:24.
- ↑ See "Family Shatters" (2x96) from 3:50:22 through 3:52:12.
- ↑ According to Zeenoth. See The Chronicles of Exandria - The Mighty Nein, p. 152.
- ↑ See "Between the Lines" (2x78) at 2:26:17.
- ↑ See "Harvest Close" (2x17) at 1:50:34.
- ↑ See "Whispers of War" (2x18) at 3:28:38.
- ↑ See "Disparate Pieces" (2x04) at 1:03:48.
- ↑ See "Harvest Close" (2x17) at 1:50:34.
- ↑ See "Disparate Pieces" (2x04) at 2:18:19.
- ↑ See "A Walk to Warmer Welcomes" (2x124) at 1:23:04.
- ↑ See "Commerce & Chaos" (2x31) at 1:22:38.
- ↑ See "The Threads Converge" (2x85) at 3:57:50. However, in Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 53, it states that the second High Curator is located in Zadash rather than Vasselheim.
- ↑ See "Between the Lines" (2x78) at 3:42:04.
- ↑ See "Bathhouses and Bastions" (2x90) at 1:09:01.
- ↑ See "Between the Lines" (2x78) at 3:43:17.
- ↑ The Chronicles of Exandria - The Mighty Nein, p. 182.
- ↑ The Chronicles of Exandria - The Mighty Nein, p. 193.
Art:
- ↑ Symbol of the Cobalt Soul, by Claudio Pozas (source). Used with permission.
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