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Thy Mind shall embrace precision,
Thy Eyes shall see all flaws,
Thy Heart shall be as stone,
And thus Thy Hand will create the Perfect World.

- The Codex of Order

Formed when Mandor's Edict was instituted a century ago, the Architects came quickly into power and are now one of the most influential (and dangerous) groups in Amber City. A mixture of engineering guild and quasi-religious sect, the Architects believe it is their sole duty to create the perfect city. This undoubtedly stems from the belief that Amber is the one True City and, thusly, the perfection they create in Amber will be reflected throughout the universe. Indeed, they believe in a “City God”; an entity created from the collective unconsciousness of those living within its “body.” By maintaining order, no matter what the cost, they can keep their god “pure.” Under Oberon and his sons, this belief in the City God was a heretical sect of the Unicorn Church. Through incorporation of some aspects of Serpent theology, and loyal political support of Mandor, they have entered the mainstream. Ostensibly, the "City God" is one of the aspects of the Serpent... but most folk who bother to consider the matter believe this is a transparent fiction to keep the Church of the Serpent happy. Once, a similar claim was made about the City God and the Unicorn.

The true number of Architects is unknown, but their influence is felt in every aspect of city life. Their technological and engineering skills have reformed Amber City into its current incarnation, making it safer, cleaner, and more efficient. They can be seen constantly on the streets, repairing damage or adding new sections and improvements to the city. Under the Mandor Edict, they were provided with substantial resources which they have vastly expanded. It is unclear exactly how extensive their current resources are, but they probably formidable. They control and maintain much of the urban technology that makes Amber run efficiently, including the rush lighting, water, and sanitary systems.

The Architects consist of Amberites and Chaosians alike and their Order consists of five ranks (five being the perfect number to them). The Wood-ranked are the novice Architects, charged with the task of constantly exploring the city for defects and investigating problems; they dress in green. Above novice, all Architects are referred to as Brother or Sister, regardless of rank. The Fire ranked do much of the grunt work and are consummate engineers and builders; being the most numerous of the Architects and dressing in red. The Earth-ranked are the inventors and thinkers of the Order, designing and researching new technologies; they dress in yellow. The Metal-ranked are the true engineers and crafters of the Order, tasked with constructing the complex technologies and overseeing major projects; they dress in white. Finally, there are twenty-three Water-ranked, who guide the Order’s efforts in each Ward and act as the spiritual guides for their underlings; they dress in black. In turn, they answer only to the City Father.

The current City Father, Master Hephaestus III, is the third City Father and perhaps the most devote worshipper of the City God. His true name remains unknown, as each City Father takes the name as his own until death. He rules from the God Forge, a sprawling edifice of towers and smoke stakes at the heart of Clamor Smoke.

In addition to their influence on the city itself, it is well-known that the Architects control the Vigiles Urbani; which is undoubtedly why the organization takes their duties so seriously. It is not unknown for the Watchmen and their Cohorts to follow the Order’s instructions, including driving out tenants and torching homes to make way for the “improvement” of the City God. Such activities have ceased, for the moment, following the sudden death of Hephaestus II. His successor concluded that the Forge God wished them to perform more charitable works, and to allow the city to develop in accordance with His plan. The Architects are currently in direct conflict with the Keepers.

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