The Preternatural Society

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Introduction

Following an anonymous and quite sizeable research grant awarded to renowned yet reticent archaeologist, Professor Neva de Silva established the Preternatural Society, and is an association of professionals, scholars, mystics, explorers, merchants, crafts people, adventurers, and other researchers of interest within the multidisciplinary field of Preternatural Philosophies & Sciences. The Society takes an integrative approach, encouraging the cross-pollination of disciplines in order to break new ground in this exciting field of transdisciplinary study. It offers its members access to state-of-the-art research facilities, interaction with a supportive network of experts and like-minded individuals, as well as subscription to the prestigious Rusted Quarterly.

The Preternatural Society is a guild within the gaming world of Ashes of Creation, developed by Intrepid Studios. If you would like to learn more about joining the society, please feel free to drop a line. We are currently recruiting for director-level members who can handle web design, community management, recruiting and social media.

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Membership

There are two types of membership if one would like to join the Preternatural Society: Patrons and Fellows. Patrons are everyday people who wish to attend talks, workshops and presentations at the Society, but do not need professional access to facilities and competencies. This type of membership is best for the general populace that are interested in preternatural studies but are not professional researchers. Membership as well as all events are completely free, though donations are always graciously accepted, and all that is asked is that new visitors register as Patrons before participating in Society events, as well as respect the rules of the Society while attending said events.

Active membership in the form of Fellows of the Society affords academic rank based on merit. Service towards the ideals of the Society and the benefit of all its members allows for those looking to make a significant impact in the field a chance to rise in rank, responsibility and opportunity within the Society. Higher rank affords more funding for research, better access to resources, more influence to shape the Society, etc. Fellows also have the opportunity to dedicate themselves more wholeheartedly by seeking out governance and administrative positions within the Society.

Fellows are not barred from joining other societies and associations, so long as the integrity of the Preternatural Society remains untarnished through such association. This can most easily be achieved by assuring the conducting of ethical research and the dissemination of truthful and accurate research findings.

The prerequisite of consideration for Fellow status is a certification from a chartered institute, otherwise proof of equivalent professional experience in lieu of an academic degree will be considered. Fellowship can be instated or terminated at any time following a majority vote by the Board of Directors, veto-able only by the acting Director of the Society.

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Academic Rank

De Silva Endowed Chair Investigator

Sometimes called the Investigator-at-Large, this specially endowed position comes with the honorary rank of Principal Investigator. The De Silva Chair Investigator is reserved for only the very best and exceptional members of the Society. This is often awarded as to honour state dignitaries, leaders of industry, top tier researchers, great soldiers and explorers, or masters of the arts both light and dark. Along with all the benefits of the Principal Investigator rank, the endowment includes a lump sum research grant, as well as personal access to a private office located on Society grounds. The position is non-tenure track and available for up to 1 year, extend-able by an additional year.

Principal Investigator

Principal Investigators are experts in multiple disciplines. They conceptualize, plot, forecast and manage all research conducted by the Society towards a focused vision and tangible outcome. They are in charge of the overarching research areas such as alchemy, demonology, etc. They are considered paragons above and beyond their respective fields, and are also highly respected members of AoC society. Principal investigators are afforded complete autonomy to set research agendas, are assigned a study of Readers to help with the conducting of their research, are given a monthly research stipend, and can apply for short-term residency within one of the Society’s complexes in order to conduct extended research.

Reader

Members of the Reader rank are generally known to have been Society members for at least 3 years, are experts in a discipline, and would have published at least three pieces of original research as a primary author, or would have designed or lead at least three major expeditions or experiments. Readers are afforded the opportunity to recruit Fellows to work on aspects of their research project. Readers are expected to uphold the highest ideals of the Society, and are charged with managing the hands-on research agendas set by the Principal Investigators they work for. Readers have full, 24 access to all facilities afforded by the Society, and may propose original research within the scope of the Society research agenda. Successful applications by qualified Readers will be granted a one-time research stipend, dependent on the expected cost and scope of the endeavor. A succession of successful grant applications towards a focused yet multidisciplinary thesis will allow Readers to eventually apply for Principal Investigator rank.

Fellow

Neophyte members start with the rank of Fellow, and generally show promise in a research discipline, be it theoretical, experimental or field-based. In order to be considered for Fellowship, a certified degree or equivalent is required, otherwise proof of equivalent professional experience in lieu of an academic degree will be considered. Fellows conduct research under the supervision of a Reader. Fellows are free to choose whichever Reader they would like to work with, so long as the selected reader reciprocates. It is best that a Fellow chooses their supervisor wisely, as the Fellow is obligated to complete at least one major research task for the Reader before release. Once a Fellow has completed a significant portfolio of research projects for Readers in the Society, they may consider applying for Reader rank promotion. New authors who publish in the <em>Rusted Quarterly</em> are afforded the Fellow title automatically. Fellows are afforded access to Society common areas at all times, free entry to all Society events and conferences, as well as free use of laboratories and research facilities through a research proposal application, approved by a Reader.

Nominals

Active members are afforded the use of pre and post-nominal letters, in designation to their rank and service. Members are encouraged to use the following forms. When listing multiple nominals, list order should follow rank of distinction from highest to lowest. Use of nominals are optional and are to be used at member discretion.

For example, Neva de Silva’s full title within the Society would be:

Dr. Neva de Silva, P.I.

Here, de Silva’s nominals denote that she is the Director of the Society (Dr.) and an Active Member of Principal Investigator (P.I.) rank. Likewise Horus Kahn’s full title within the Society would be:

d.Dr. Horus Kahn, P.I., E.a.L., P.R.Q.

Here, Kahn’s nominals denote that he is the Deputy Director of the Society (D.Dr.), an active member of Principal Investigator (P.I.) rank, is an Editor-at-Large (E.a.L.) at the Rusted Quarterly, and has reviewed a minimum of 13 manuscript submissions for the journal to achieve Peer of the Rusted Quarterly (P.R.Q.) status. Sheesh. Who’s he trying to impress?

The following pre and post-nominal designations afforded to Active Members include:

Pre-nominal

Director : Dr.

Deputy Director : d.Dr.

Associate Director : a.Dr.

Post-nominal

Chair Principal Investigator : C.P.I.

Principal Investigator : P.I.

Reader : Rdr.

Fellow : Fel.

Editor-in-Chief : E.i.C.

Editor-at-Large : E.a.L.

Associate Editor : a.Ed.

Peer of the Rusted Quarterly : P.R.Q.

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Governance

The Steering Committee is the policy-making body within the Preternatural Society. It consists of the External Advisers and the Board of Directors, and overseas the vision, scope and future of the Society. It is less involved with the inner mechanics and running of the Society, and more concerned with the positioning of the Society in a wider socio-political and economic system. It’s members are from all walks of life, of the finest integrity, and insure that the path for the Preternatural Society is true and steady. Often interacting in collaboration and in chorus with other organizations yet unafraid to stake its position in the best interest of its members, the Preternatural Society is a node in the socio-political fabric of AoC, and the Steering Committee insures that the Society thrives in such a tumultuous environment.

External Advisers

External Advisers are highly respected individuals who are not active members of the Society that attend Board meetings as observers with 0.5 voting power. They are invited guests and are conferred the honorary title of Fellow during their role with the steering committee.

Board of Directors

Comprises of all senior level positions throughout the Society. Board members have equal voting power of 1.0 votes per seat, and any member of the board may table proposals.

Administration

Administrative rank titles delineate an Active Member’s commitment to the practice and operationalization of the ideals of the Society. Each member of the administrative body is a research-active member of the Society, and a trusted member of the community at large. Members who hold administrative ranks are committed and responsible towards the charge of their title. Administrative positions afford the honorary rank of Reader or higher, depending on research track record.

Director

A member of the Board of Directors, the inaugural director of the Society is non-other than Professor Neva de Silva herself. As the founder of the Society, she is steadfast in assuring that the Preternatural Society is the preeminent organization for professional researchers, experimental crafts people, explorers, archaeologists, tome raiders, religious and occult scholars, and whomever else interested in the organized, systematic, and transparent pursuit of knowledge, with the greater goal being the betterment of society and the advancement of culture for all people. Also a Principal Investigator in the Society, Neva de Silva is still a very active field researcher and one would rarely find her on the Society premises, often off and away on seemingly mythical research expeditions. Most of the day-to-day representation of Neva de Silva is channeled through her sole doctoral student of 6 years, Horus Kahn.

Deputy Director

The interim deputy director is currently Principal Investigator Horus Kahn. Horus Kahn brings years of experience as both a laboratory and field researcher, assisting Professor de Silva on countless expeditions, not to mention saving Prof. de Silva’s life on occasion. As such, Neva de Silva considers Kahn her closest confidant. Charged by de Silva to ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the Society, Kahn willingly accepted the position, growing a bit weary of his supervisor’s wanderlust and longing to build something tangible and live less… mobile, as well as taking the opportunity to finish his dissertation for final review at the university. The Deputy Director sits on the Board of Directors.

Associate Director – Finance

The Associate Director, Finance is a senior level administrator who sits on the Board of Directors and is responsible for all financial aspects regarding the Society. This includes anything from arranging the contracts and payments of freelance service providers, to dictating the pension return interest rate for active and contributing members, to administering and allocating research funding, as well as the investment of Society income external of the organization. The Associate Director, Finance reports directly to the Deputy Director.

Associate Director – Recruitment, Membership & Alumni

The Associate Director, Recruitment, Membership & Alumni is a senior level administrator who sits on the Board of Directors and is responsible for all personnel aspects regarding the Society. This includes anything from indoctrinating new members, to tracking members on extended field surveys, to maintaining the messaging board services and more. The office also administers disciplinary actions for errant members. The Associate Director, Recruitment, Membership and Alumni reports directly to the Deputy Director.

Associate Director – Operations & Field Support

The Associate Director, Operations & Field Support is a senior level administrator who sits on the Board of Directors and is responsible for all facility aspects regarding the Society. This includes anything from managing the laboratory and research spaces, to maintaining adequate security of Society property and members, both on the premises and in the field. The Associate Director, Operations & Field Support also handles other active operations of the society that require a martial touch. The Associate Director, Operations & Field Support reports directly to the Deputy Director.

Associate Director – Research

The Associate Director, Research is always a senior principal investigator and is an active researcher also charged to represent the best interests of the research community within the Society. The Associate Director, Research also coordinates the Society’s intelligence and clandestine operations. The Associate Director, Research reports directly to the Deputy Director and also sits on the Board of Directors. The Associate Director, Research position is the only position voted for democratically by all active Society members.

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The Rusted Quarterly (RQ)

The Rusted Quarterly (RQ) is an academic journal published by the Preternatural Society. The editorial board is dedicated to the dissemination of novel research inclusive but not limited to the fields of alchemy, astrology, occultism, element/flesh animation, monstrophy, ritual methodology and practice, archaeology and grave excavation, artifacts craft and discovery, demonology, the ethics of trans-dimensional tele-presence and tele-operation, as well as other topics as-of-yet undefined within the scope of preternatural philosophies and sciences both practiced, theoretical and exploratory. The types of publications considered include technical reports on systems, methods, and experimentation. We also encourage submissions of case studies, travel logs, battle analyses, historical accounts, letters review, exploratory notes, and tutorials. Occasionally special guest Society members will be invited to author editorials and monographs.

The RQ has a quarterly release schedule, as well as accepts proposals for special issues season-round. We invite submissions for single-blind peer review with consideration for both the regular journal as well as special issues. Selected manuscripts will afford the author an opportunity to published in the prestigious Rusted Quarterly and present their research at the Preternatural Society Campus. Authors of first-time accepted-for-publication manuscripts will be automatically granted Fellow status within the Society. Interested authors please contact an Associate Editor for manuscript preparation and submission instructions.

Editorial Board

The RQ Editorial Board manages the entire work-flow of the Society journal. This includes administration of authors and their manuscripts, review and/or review management and assignment of reviewers, organization of the Society’s annual conference, and other related academic charges.

Editor-in-Chief

The Editor-in-Chief is always an Active Member ranked Principal Investigator, and ensures that the output of the journal is of highest quality, adhering to the vision and ideals of the Society it represents, as well as helms the Society’s propaganda machine. The Editor-in-Chief of the Rusted Quarterly traditionally sits on the Board of Directors as an observer with 0.5 voting power.

Editor-at-Large

Along with assisting the editorial staff with the day-to-day running of the publication, the Editor-at-Large also focuses on carving out novel, new spaces for the journal to exist in. The Editor-at-Large is always an Active Member of rank Reader or higher.

Associate Editor

An Associate Editor is always an Active Members of rank Reader or above and are the first point of contact an author has with with the journal after submission of the initial manuscript. An Associate Editor evaluates whether the submission is of high enough quality. Once this step is surpassed, the Associate Editor allocates the manuscript to 3 Peers for peer review. Once peer review is completed, the Associate Editor synthesizes a meta-review, which is then furnished back to the author(s) for rejection, revision, or acceptance.

Peer Reviewer

A Peer Reviewer is a voluntary active member of the Society of at least Fellow rank who is committed to fair and just appraisal of submitted research work. They are charged with upholding the standards of the Society, as well as obliged to provide fair and honest critical feedback to potential authors. Peers are granted use of the honorarium P.R.Q. (Peer of the Rusted Quarterly) after 13 reviews.

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Sustainability

The Preternatural Society is a non-profit, non-denominational, and strictly neutral society. As such, it relies on the kind donations of it’s members and patrons. Members with proper means are encouraged to donate a portion of their profits from any discoveries or findings where Society resources were involved, either through use of laboratory equipment, consultation with other members, or otherwise. This donation is purely voluntary and is not required to sustain membership, however it is worth noting that all proceeds go forth to maintaining the Society’s cutting-edge laboratories, studies and other facilities, as well as furnishes grants, insurance and external consulting support for members in need.

All Society-sponsored events are completely free and open to all in the community so long as one registers as an official Patron. Patron membership is also free. Patrons have the ability to forward gifts towards the Society.

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