ORIGIN

They say there's something strange in Monoceros. Something scary, stalking through unnatural corridors lined with wailing prisoners. But the nice scientists here would disagree.

Welcome to the Laboratory. Today's your first day.

— Leader: Researcher
— Followers: Assistant, Forgraves, Cortex, Karyo, Sprig
— Name: The Laboratory
— Colors: #b1b1b1 and #5d5d5d
— Territory: Monoceros

The Laboratory is a secretive, highly-advanced, lawful neutral group of scientists, mages, and intellectuals who study the phenomena of the caves. There are no species requirements, though the ability to hold and manipulate tools is highly encouraged. Lab activities center around four goals:

1. Understanding and chronicling the history of Origin and its dynamics.
2. Studying cave features, lifeforms, and natural events, and finding their underlying properties, potentially using unwitting test subjects in the process.
3. Testing and finding the limits of magic, also with the aid of test subjects.
4. Using this information to advance technology, provide education, and increase the standard of life for animals around the cave.

Lab employees have fluid and personalized jobs covering all aspects of research. The only permanent categories are: Managers, the leaders of the group, Professionals, all those who work in some way for the Lab, Assistants too young or inexperienced to work fully, and Test Subjects of whom experiments are tried on. The latter do not have to be members and may volunteer, be bribed or forced instead.

Group spell: Data Log Charm a small object or carving so that, when interacted with, it'll replay a spoken statement of choice up to one minute in length.

1. Knowledge and innovation before everything. That includes ethics. Full-time scientists are expected to put the Lab first.

2. That being said, we are not cruel. Needless harm to test subjects, aggression towards coworkers, or using dangerous materials for personal gain are all reasons for expulsion. Killing is fine if the experiment requires it.

3. Listen to your Managers. Discussion is allowed, but do not sneak behind their backs. Do not blatantly do what a Manager has ordered you not to.

4. The Laboratory must stay secretive. Don't share any information with outsiders-- that includes test subjects-- for they may use it to rip off our hard work.

The Laboratory is a collaborative community of gembounds trying to figure out the mysteries of the caves, and for that they'll need a collaboration space. Lab 0 will start as a cluster of shabby tents along the far, breezy Monoceros wall, closed off to strangers but not exactly hidden either. Once they start doing more heavy stuff they'll begin digging a tunnel down through the wall itself in the hopes of building an underground facility.

Members are incentivized by the promise with the promise of Grub (free food) and a stable, quiet home away from gemkind, making it alluring to those without a place to stay. It isn't premium real estate, and the food is just mashed bugs and grass harvested from Monoceros, but it does the job fine.

Codebreakers are sometimes revoked Grub priveledges, meaning they must hunt themselves, or forced to sleep alone. Test Subjects and other captives are usually handed the short end of the stick.

Managers: The Researcher | The Assistant

Professionals: Forgraves | Cortex | The Cleaner (Janitor) | Karyo | Sprig

Assistants:

Test Subjects: Test Subject (test subject, also qualifies as guard)