View source for Wayfarer's Guild

{{Group
| name = The Wayfarer's Guild
| image = WayfarersLogo3.png
| status = Inactive
| members = 9 operatives at peak
| base = Possibility (starship)
| allies = Most local governments (somehow)
| enemies = Most local governments (somehow)
}}<blockquote>''"No call left unanswered." — Captain Sherazi''</blockquote>The Wayfarer’s Guild was disbanded around eight years prior to the official launch of the Pathfinding Initiative, due to an incident that took the lives of the vast majority of its members.

The Wayfarer’s Guild was a small, independently-operated organization dedicated to responding to distress calls from across star systems. Where official channels of disaster relief fail, the Wayfarers intervene– offering medical aid, technical support, evacuation assistance, and at times, combat assistance to affected regions and populations.

Though the guild remained under the broader jurisdiction of the local government, they were able to act as an independent agency with higher authority granted to them by the '''[[High Stellar Council|High Stellar Council’s]]''' recognition of their acts. This level of neutrality allowed the Wayfarers to cross borders and assist populations regardless of species, legal status, or political affiliation. The Wayfarer’s Guild was also known to refuse monetary reward or bounty for their work, opting to leave worlds better than when they arrived.

The Wayfarers themselves were an extremely diverse team, consistently featuring associates and full badge-bearing members from a variety of species. They journeyed across the known universe in their starship, ''Possibility''.

== "The Long Road" ==
The Wayfarer’s Guild viewed their endless journey (dubbed “The Long Road”) as a metaphysical concept and referred to it as such. The Long Road takes them from planet to planet, into and out of many people’s lives. The road ahead may seem unclear, but the Wayfarers forge ahead anyway, persevering as they always have. They tie their fates to the worlds they have sworn to protect.

The Long Road represents the winding journey all beings find themselves on, and the twists and turns that a life takes. Everyone's road ends eventually, and traveling companions may change along the way, but so long as you keep learning, your destination will always be worth the journey. Such is the belief of the Wayfarers.

== Mission Statement ==
''“We travel where others cannot, aid those others will not, and defend what others could not.”''

The Wayfarer’s Guild operates on a set of principles that dictate courses of action during times of crisis.

* Preservation of life is always more important than material gain.
* Where a nonviolent solution can be attained, it should always be the first option.
* Keep accurate records of events to prevent the erasure of history.
* Where possible, never leave a survivor behind.
* Aid is given regardless of race, species, or social standing.
* Never trade aid in exchange for material gain, obedience, or favor.
* We do not decide who is worth saving.
* We are accountable for our actions as individuals, always.

== Wayfarer's Oath ==

All Wayfarers, upon being inducted, were asked to swear an oath to themselves, one another, and the universe at large.

“I swear to walk the Long Road between the stars, to answer calls for help without prejudice, to place life above profit, truth above comfort, and leave no world worse for my passing. I am a Wayfarer, and I carry the banner of hope when none remains.”

Upon swearing their oath, the Captain and her First Mate will present the new member with their badge, which they will wear for the duration of their service. All badges bear the logo on the front, and are engraved with their names on the back, serving as 'dog tags' in case a crew member needs rescue.

Notably, the Captain's Badge and the First Mate's Badge have specialized functions, but what these functions are is a mystery to all but those who bear them. Anyone else who knew is long deceased.
== Crew Roster ==
''In order of recruitment...''
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=== Captain Dr. Maya Sherazi ===
'''Species:''' Felari

'''Role:''' Captain, Co-Founder, Medical Officer

'''Pronouns:''' She/Her

'''[[Maya Sherazi|Dr. Maya Sherazi]]''' co-founded the Wayfarer’s Guild alongside one of her best friends, Guin. She utilized her time as a Wayfarer to get more experience in the field, becoming an extremely talented surgeon and field medic as a result. She was also able to obtain several other degrees alongside her Wayfarers duties.

Captain Sherazi was by far the Wayfarer in the limelight the most often, shaking hands with many influential individuals and giving interviews. No matter the criticism, Captain Sherazi always bore her duty with a sense of grace and honor, smiling and waving at the cameras before departing for the next horizon. Following the destruction of the Wayfarers, she ceased making public appearances.

* It took some time for Captain Sherazi to find her footing in her Captain role, especially when her crew was extremely small. It took the support of Guin, North, and Kailani for her to gain more confidence
* Very particular about making 'celebrity' appearances, usually feeling like these things detract from her group being able to operate easily. As such, rarely agreed to interviews and never did advertisements or sponsorships despite getting offers
* Her main reason for starting the Guild and her drive to continue it was always to be someone she wishes would have helped her when she was little
* Firmly believes in never giving up on a patient until they're truly dead, will always choose the medical means of saving them every time
* Refuses to pass judgment on her patients, she will fight to save a murderer the same way she will fight to save anyone else
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 ''[Applause. Recognizable jingle of the late night talk show, Midnight Mixer with Connie Vixen on Pelagia. CONNIE speaks to the studio audience.]''
 
 '''CONNIE:''' "And we're back! So lovely to have you here, Captain Sherazi, really. I've been hearing a lot about you and the Wayfarer's Guild, but I'm just dying to ask. Why start the Guild? What was your inspiration?"
 '''CAPT_SHERAZI:''' "We're doing good work, and someone has to put in the effort. Someone has to help the people who can't save themselves, you know."
 '''CONNIE:''' "Is that all?"
 '''CAPT_SHERAZI:''' "Does there have to be a better reason than that? When I was young, I remember seeing bad things happen to others, and bad things happening to me, and I always felt like someone should have been there. I remember looking up at the treetops and praying with all my heart that someone would come to help, to save me. So, I wanted to become that someone."
 
 ''[Applause.]''
 
 '''CONNIE:''' "That's a very admirable aspiration. Where do you see the Guild going from here? What are the future goals?"
 '''CAPT_SHERAZI:''' "Keep going where we're needed, keep helping those who need it. We don't plan on stopping anytime soon. I want us to keep going so that others can pick up the torch later."
 '''CONNIE:''' "What about the crew?"
 '''CAPT_SHERAZI (fondly):''' "I wouldn't be here without them. They're family, you know. You travel with a group of people for years and they have a way of growing on you. I'd lay down my life for any of them."
 '''CONNIE (lighthearted):''' "Well, let's hope it never comes to that!"
 '''CAPT_SHERAZI:''' "Haha, yes, let's."
 
 // END OF TRANSCRIPT
 //NOTE: ''"Captain Sherazi never gives up on anyone or anything! ദ്ദി◝ ⩊ ◜.ᐟ "''

=== First Mate Guin ===
'''Species:''' Canari

'''Role:''' First Mate/Second in Command, Co-Founder (Maya insists upon this title), Researcher

'''Pronouns:''' She/Her

The first person to support Dr. Sherazi’s dream of the Guild, Dr. Sherazi insisted again and again that it wouldn’t quite be the Wayfarer’s Guild without her. After Guin was expelled from the academy on Singulon, Dr. Sherazi swiftly offered her a position on the crew, which she accepted after a couple of years at home on Virilune. Guin would be a talented researcher and would often accompany her Captain to many meetings with others, being Dr. Sherazi’s second-in-command, no matter how many times it was offered. Her heart always lay with her research.

* Bright and kind, Captain Sherazi often admits she feels she couldn't run the Guild without her there
* Often managing the crew's logistics and helping make connections with other groups and organizations, meetings rarely proceed without her there
* Very willing to break rules and local laws if it's for the greater good
* The crew was very prone to teasing her about Sonya once she and Sonya started getting closer
* Got along best with Vespera, Nia, and Elio
* Her room was ''full'' of research equipment and books, all dedicated to her own personal pursuits
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=== Ship AI, North ===
'''Species:''' Artificial Construct

'''Role:''' ''Possibility'' ship AI

'''Pronouns:''' They/It/She/He/Any

''Possibility''<nowiki/>'s built-in ship artificial intelligence, North served faithfully alongside Captain Sherazi from the earliest moments of the Wayfarer's Guild's creation. Whether North is truly sentient or not is up for debate, but the crew collectively treats it like a fellow crewmate instead of a tool. North is equipped with a variety of advanced capabilities, with attuned sensors that allow for them to keep tabs on both the crew and the world around them. North at times exhibits a personality, but whether this is true sentience or merely yet another subroutine that was installed is left to speculation. North is capable of taking on a constructed artificial body, but oftentimes prefers to 'live' inside of electronics, preferably terminals or the ship's general data drives.

* Yes, they can run Doom
* Keeps startling the crew by making jokes and sarcastic comments that definitely aren't CIV's doing
* Has a "joke of the day" tradition and will send you a frowny face if you don't laugh at their joke
* Frequently uses emoticons as tone indicators ("it enhances communication capabilities in a visual way")
* Claims to have the strongest grasp of Captain Sherazi's personality and goals, due to their time spent together in the earliest days of the Guild, has a few commands and protocols that only she knows about
* Expresses unending loyalty to the Captain, whether this is programmed into them or not is up in the air
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 '''CAPT_SHERAZI:''' "North?"
 '''NORTH:''' "Hello, Captain! How may I assist you?"
 '''CAPT_SHERAZI:''' "Am I doing the right thing? The Guild is a lofty aspiration. And I'm a pretty sorry captain if I don't have a crew."
 '''NORTH:''' "Wayfarer's Guild projected growth is expected to be non-zero within six months!"
 '''CAPT_SHERAZI:''' "Is that your way of saying there's a chance this works?"
 '''NORTH:''' "I think you should believe in yourself."
 '''CAPT_SHERAZI:''' "...thank you, North. It's a wonder you aren't sick of my moping yet."
 '''NORTH:''' "It's my honor, Captain! I am incapable of 'getting sick'!"
 '''CAPT_SHERAZI:''' "Not what I-- you know what, sure. Thanks, buddy."
 
 //END OF TRANSCRIPT
 //NOTE: ''"Hello, World! |˶˙ᵕ˙ )ﾉﾞ "''
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=== Kailani "Lani" Koa ===
'''Species:''' Sonyx

'''Role:''' Weapons Specialist/Logistics

'''Pronouns:''' She/Her

Surprisingly adept in engineering and weaponsmithing despite her appearance, Kailani flew the nest when she was young in order to pursue her passion for crafting. Bubbly, a little airheaded, and altogether a bit too enthusiastic about chances to test out her new gear and make things blow up (safely), she was one of the first Wayfarers to join the team. Lani has been a ray of sunshine among the group, eager to travel the galaxy and see as much of it as possible in her life.

* Obsessed with stickers, and puts them on everything and anything. Similarly, all of her notes are done in colorful pens
* Extremely interested in customizing everyone's gear
* Firmly insists that cutting food into fun shapes or adding sprinkles to it makes it better
* Extremely particular about her looks and living space, converted her personal quarters into an art studio
* Adores theatre and will frequently beg the crew to watch shows with her
* Sees weaponsmithing as her art and her calling, romanticizes every aspect of her life where possible. Wants to earn respect for her talents
* Especially close with Horace and Vespera, also likes Henry but can be a bit overwhelming when trying to befriend new people since her energy is so high.
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 ''[Wayfarer's Mess Hall, 9:45PM. Camera is held by NIA, it is pointed at the table.]''
 
 '''HORACE:''' "You know, I did this when I was younger when I was playing hide and seek. I lost, fell, and broke one of my teeth."
 '''NIA:''' "What? Who starts a conversation like that?"
 
 ''[The camera pans upwards. KAILANI is wedged between a support beam and the ceiling. She grins and waves.]''
 
 '''KAILANI:''' "Hi!"
 '''NIA:''' "Do you want to explain how you got up there?"
 '''KAILANI (wiggling her fingers):''' "Maaaagic."
 '''GUIN (laughing):''' "That's not an answer."
 '''KAILANI (sticking out her tongue):''' "Yes it is!"
 '''HORACE:''' "Alright fellas, place your bets on how she managed it."
 
 ''[Camera pans back to the table, with several crew members gathered.]''
 
 '''ELIO:''' "Her wings are too small, she couldn't have flown up there..."
 '''VESPERA:''' "I'm betting it's the vents. She can fit in there. I know it."
 '''HENRY:''' "''Can'' she?"
 '''HORACE:''' "Not everyone's a bendy little freak who can get in there, Ves."
 '''VESPERA (mock hurt):''' "Augh! Ow! I'm ''wounded'', you're so mean to me all the time."
 
 ''[Camera sweeps back up to KAILANI, who is looking very haughty from her vantage point.]''
 
 '''KAILANI:''' "I refuse to confirm or deny using the vents. I'm ''perching''."
 '''GUIN:''' "Come down before Maya sees you up there."
 '''KAILANI:''' "...No."
 '''CIV (monotone, not looking up from their laptop):''' "She's stuck."
 '''KAILANI (petulant):''' "Am not!"
 '''Nia (exasperated):''' "Oh my god, someone help get her down."
 
 ''[The doors slide open and CAPTAIN SHERAZI enters the room, spotting Kailani and pinching the bridge of her nose.]''
 
 '''SHERAZI:''' "I can't leave any of you alone..."
 
 //END OF FILE
 //NOTE: ''"Kailani had an extensive folder of stickers! ^▽^ "''

=== Horace Vibius ===
'''Species:''' Lepteran

'''Role:''' Pilot

'''Pronouns:''' He/Him

Disillusioned with his previous life of crime on Chitara after the loss of his brother, Horace turned to vigilante justice work before being offered a position within the Wayfarer’s Guild. Loud, boisterous, and loyal to the end, Horace is the guy everyone wants in their corner in a pinch. Although he regrets his past as a thief (“pirate”, he calls himself, with the eyepatch to prove it), he still thinks back on some of his escapades fondly and uses the experience he gained from a life of crime to better the lives of those the Wayfarers encounter.

* Firm believer of "food is food" and will eat anything you put in front of him
* Doesn't care much for material wealth or luxuries, despite his thieving past. He stole to survive, and if given a large sum of money he'd use it for necessities and to help others out of poverty instead of elevating his lifestyle
* Adrenaline junkie in the cockpit, always whooping and cheering when getting the crew out of tight spots
* Has put the entire ship upside down several times, despite being scolded by Captain Sherazi and Guin about it
* Messy living quarters, but insists he knows where everything is. He maximizes shelf space, a bit of a hoarder
* Short compared to the rest of the team, but full of heart, seeing the crew as family in some way or another
* Especially fond of Kailani and Vespera, and immediately took Henry under his wing (whether Henry wanted that or not). Sees Henry as a brother/partner in crime
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=== Nia Walsh ===
'''Species:''' Cervari

'''Role:''' Diplomat/Negotiator/Communications Officer

'''Pronouns:''' She/Her

After witnessing the Wayfarers in action, Nia became dissatisfied with the structured, sanitized life her family had laid out for her. Seeking an escape from the rigidity of her life, she presented Dr. Sherazi with her resume and asked to join. Although her parents were disapproving of her change in career path, Nia swiftly made herself fully independent. She feels more alive working with the Wayfarers than she ever did back home, despite rarely expressing her own emotions openly. Reserved and quiet, her heart always yearned for adventure and good company, making her first-ever real friends among the crew and laughing more with them than she ever did on Velora.

* She avoids raising her voice because it reminds her of her tutor from when she was little, who she always found needlessly cruel and strict. The crew finds her scary when she yells, anyway
* Lives and breathes hot drinks of any kind, whether it be tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. Her favorites always have peppermint in them
* Remembers everything about everyone. Birthdays, favorite foods, embarrassing story you told her while drunk four months ago, the works
* Religiously uses a planner and keeps the crew's paperwork in order, a tall order in itself
* Vegan
* Comically terrible at gardening, Elio has been trying to teach her
* Good friends with Guin, she likes how analytical Guin can be and how bright she is. Would often take notes during meetings with her and talk logistics together
* Found Sonya interesting upon meeting her, finding her especially interesting after learning about her path to becoming captain of the Steele Sharks
* Has a bit of distrust about Aurelians, and was one of the few to be vocally against Henry joining
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=== Elio Chloros ===
'''Species:''' Gelum

'''Role:''' Combat Specialist/Tank

'''Pronouns:''' He/Him

Elio never thought he could do more than the average Gelum, feeling rather downtrodden due to his rather lackluster grasp on magic. However, he was immediately enraptured by hearing stories of an interspecies organization helping people in need. Although shy and timid, he offered much-needed assistance during a crisis on Singulon and was welcomed into the team as a result. Elio was used ot being pushed around or made fun of, and was pleasantly surprised at how well he was treated among the Wayfarers. He sees the group as his family, and wouldn’t trade them for anything, willing to give his life for any of them.

* Absolutely adores children and small animals, extremely gentle despite his stature
* Enjoys gardening and botany, especially since it's difficult to study plants when you live in a desert. His room is full of terrariums and plant life
* Enjoys Nia's company as she mediates most of the conflict on the ship. Conflict stresses him out, he absolutely hates arguments
* Cries at dog movies, even ones he's seen before
* Has a bunch of stickers stuck to him always, thanks to Kailani
* Extremely strong, and it took him a while to understand his strength. He used to accidentally break things all the time, much to his dismay
* Oftentimes pushes the crew to consider the little guys at the bottom of the food chain instead of being blinded by the big picture. Every life has value, no matter how small
* Shy and anxious, but has slowly been coming out of his shell with the support of the crew
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=== CIV ===
'''Species:''' Ferran

'''Role:''' Ship Repairs/Technician

'''Pronouns:''' Any, prefers they/them

Not much is known about where CIV came from, and they tend to keep that close to the chest, only divulging their story to Dr. Sherazi. They were brought onto the team at the same time as Elio, being the one who convinced the Gelum to approach the Guild. CIV sometimes speaks of time spent traveling between villages on Singulon, searching for a place to belong. Even after joining the team, CIV dislikes putting roots down, always looking over their shoulder and urging the group to keep moving lest they be ambushed. However, despite this, CIV seems truly at peace and safe around their fellow crew, something they haven’t been able to say for many years before joining.

* Very talented in the art of rigging things to work using whatever scraps they have on hand. A creative mind, they enjoy tinkering with anything and everything, finding beauty in machines
* Tilts their head to the side like a bird when thinking hard about something
* Have some controversial opinions about Androids and Android policy on Eden that would likely get them banned from the planet, and as such tend to stay behind on the ship whenever the Wayfarers visit the Eden Construct to avoid getting into arguments with very important people
* Doesn't see themselves as very different from an Android under all the modifications they had done, or did to themselves
* Inherently mysterious and avoids talking about their past very much. Only Elio and Captain Sherazi know much about them
* Doesn't talk much at all, but when they do, they tend to be rather deadpan and monotone. Despite this, they care for their crew very deeply
* They were simply "104" in their earliest years, hence the name. When asked if they would want a "real" name, they always insisted that "CIV" ''is'' their real name and they want no other
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=== Vespera Aguilar ===
'''Species:''' Abyssal

'''Role:''' Scout/Navigator

'''Pronouns:''' She/They

Vespera simply appeared on the site of a crisis one day, and rarely ever discusses much about where she was before. Allegedly, she has told some variants of her origins to Horace and Elio, but each story varies so wildly that it’s very plausible she’s been joking in each one. Vespera goes wherever interests them, and the chance to get off of Pelagia and see more of the world was one they couldn’t pass up. Since joining, they’ve been eccentric, a bit particular, but altogether a very kind and altruistic person. They inherently dislike authority and believe in bending and breaking rules for the greater good, even if it lands them in trouble.

* Pretty good friends with Horace, Guin, Kailani, and Henry. Always bringing her friends a variety of goodies that people struggle to trace the source of, like a magpie
* Somehow always knows where they are, having extremely good positional awareness
* Commits to any bit with full seriousness and fervor, if given a task they will not rest until it is done and if roped into any scheme they will instantly commit
* Dislikes bright lights, prefers having the lights dim or off. Has "cave time" with her friends. Enjoys hearing Guin discuss crystal research
* Has an abnormally long tongue and likes unhinging their jaw to freak people out
* Usually very hard to read, and holds herself very confidently. Firmly believes that if you're confident enough, you can do anything and get anywhere
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=== Henry Solaris ===
'''Species:''' Aurelian

'''Role:''' Recruit, Mechanic. Never quite shook the ‘recruit’ label before the Guild was destroyed

The Wayfarer’s most recent (and final) recruit before Locus Astra, the Wayfarers made a very strong impression on Henry when Dr. Sherazi personally rescued him from a collapsing mining tunnel from one of his family’s many less-than-ethical mining operations. Being rescued by a stranger when his own family was ready to brush off the loss of life got gears turning in his head, and when he was later exiled and disowned, he promptly sought out the Wayfarers with the intention of joining. Although the Solaris name hangs over his head constantly, leading to many of the crew initially distrusting him, Dr. Sherazi personally vouched for his capability and good nature.

* The last recruit, and thus the one who gets messed with the most. Perpetually roped into schemes with Horace, Kailani, and Vespera
* Earned the status of being one of two "Crime Brothers", the other being Horace. Much to Henry's dismay
* Feels indebted to and greatly looks up to Captain Sherazi, given she was the one who insisted on saving his life, and was the one to vouch for him when he was being brought onto the crew
* Terrible at claw machines but also extremely susceptible to getting ragebaited into continuing to play them
* CIV didn't have an issue with working with Henry, but Henry's ability to work on the Wayfarers was largely limited
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== Recruitment Timeline ==

While attending the academy on '''[[Singulon]]''' for her magical studies and working on several PhDs in the background, Dr. Sherazi realized her dream: the Wayfarer’s Guild.

She’d put significant effort into working on the logistics, the main issue being the… lack of people. She managed to get a small ship, along with a ship AI she calls North. For the first little while of the Guild's existence, there was just the Captain and her very helpful artificial intelligence.

Dr. Sherazi originally traveled to '''[[Stratos]]''' for emergency aid after a series of violent storms devastated several of its floating settlements. Airships had been ripped from the skies, communication towers were damaged, and whole communities were stranded. Dr. Sherazi was a Captain of… none, really, which made her somewhat anxious about making sure this first act went well.

Kailani was barely an adult at the time and had already left home after clashing with her family over her obsession with engineering. She’d been working out of a tiny, cluttered workshop attached to a salvage yard, repairing damaged generators and modifying tools. Dr. Sherazi first met her after Kailani illegally modified a rescue skiff to reach survivors trapped on a floating city. It ''worked''.

Mostly.

Impressed by her capabilities and ingenuity, Dr. Sherazi introduced herself to the young inventor, and Kailani immediately became fascinated with the concept of a roaming interspecies aid organization. She joined almost impulsively, seeing it as her chance to explore the galaxy and build bigger, more exciting things than her homeworld would ever allow. She was effectively the Wayfarer’s Guild's first recruit, not minding at all that she was the first. In fact, she’d often hold that status over the others, with some playful teasing.

Dr. Sherazi then turned back to '''[[Virilune]]''' to pick up Guin, hoping to share her dream with her best friend and give her some purpose after her expulsion. Two years had passed since Guin left Singulon, and while she was hesitant to leave her brother, Guin needed the fresh start (and Kailani was ever-eager to meet her).

The Wayfarers arrived on '''[[Chitara]]''', investigating disappearances along shipping lanes near one of its sprawling subterranean cities. Local authorities blamed pirates and smuggling syndicates, but the reality was more complicated: corrupt corporate security forces were deliberately sabotaging civilian freighters to justify controlling trade routes themselves.

Horace, previously operating as a thief and smuggler alongside his brother, changed his ways when his brother was killed in action to spare his life. Rather than flee the planet or double down, he began targeting corrupt officials and hijacking shipments to redistribute medicine and food to struggling families. He gained a reputation as a masked vigilante, a pirate folk hero that the authorities absolutely hated.

Dr. Sherazi, Guin, and Lani crossed paths with him many times, but never quite caught up. Eventually, Kailani was able to corner him and demand he work with them in exchange for not being turned over to the authorities, and with his help, the Wayfarers uncovered the conspiracy.

Although not a perfect solution, this still resulted in positive change. However, this left Horace with nowhere to go. Thieves' guilds wanted him dead, and authorities wanted him imprisoned. Dr. Sherazi and Guin offered him a clean slate aboard their ship. He accepted immediately.

He still insists he was recruited for being “the best pilot in the system”, and Kailani will always say it was because he crashed a ship badly enough that Dr. Sherazi had to rescue him herself. Both are true, but who’s paying attention to that?

Although initially somewhat reluctant, Horace has come to truly adore his position as the pilot, getting to flex skills he otherwise would not be able to, given the subterranean nature of Chitara. And, according to him, he does a much better job than the ship’s autopilot program (even though North does its best).

Several years later, the Wayfarers had gained some level of interplanetary recognition. Not everyone trusted them, but people knew who they were. When tensions between '''[[Felari]]''' activist groups and an '''[[The Aurelium Exculta|Aurelian]]''' mining company erupted into a much larger incident at a mining site, the Wayfarers turned up to assist in the evacuation efforts. The Aurelian mining company, owned by the Solaris family, was very clearly operating unethically and unlawfully, resulting in Felari retaliation as the Aurelians encroached on resources and territory they did not have permission to mine. The accidental ignition of an underground pocket of highly flammable gas created a need for complete and total evacuation, and the mining company was under orders to collapse the tunnels and focus on saving the equipment, not the workers. 

Henry Solaris, having been sent to observe the company’s operation at the site, was caught in the crossfire and left significantly injured in one of the tunnels. Dr. Sherazi personally insisted on saving his life, and later would provide medical care that allowed him to return to Eden scarred, but alive. Her actions that day, in contrast to his family’s way of brushing the entire incident under the rug, were the first step in making Henry question what his family was doing. Dr. Sherazi wished him well and departed with her crew once more.

The Guild arrived on '''[[Velora]]''' during a humanitarian dispute between above-ground '''[[Cervari]]''' development teams and below-ground Lagoran transportation engineers. Veloran leadership was hard-pressed to contain the growing tensions before they erupted into something that would reach the broader news.

Nia came from one of the influential families involved in these negotiations. She had spent her entire life in elite diplomatic training programs, expected to eventually enter government work in carefully controlled political environments.

She witnessed the Wayfarers arrive on Velora. They were everything she was not: loud, disorganized, spontaneous. And they managed to accomplish more in days than her family’s officials had in weeks. Nia was fascinated watching Kailani and Guin navigate impossible negotiations while Horace argued with security personnel, with Dr. Sherazi playing ‘good cop’ to his left. For the first time in her life, Nia saw people acting honestly rather than politically.

After the incident was resolved and an agreement was reached between both parties, Nia privately approached Dr. Sherazi with a meticulously prepared resume, multiple recommendation letters, financial independence paperwork, and a formal letter requesting to join the Wayfarer’s Guild. It was perhaps the most spontaneous thing she’d ever done in her life, but she felt strongly in her chest that it was the most important decision she’d ever make.

Dr. Sherazi, somewhat floored by the stack of papers, accepted Nia’s application and brought her on board for her diplomacy skills and well-read nature. Nia packed her bags that night, despite her family’s outrage.

Singulon suffered from violent storms and gravitational anomalies the closer one gets to the black hole at its center, which can lead to some communities being displaced if support systems fail. The Wayfarers arrived on Singulon to assist evacuation efforts after settlements began collapsing into sinkholes created by repeated destabilization of the ground.

Elio was a resident in one such community. Unlike most '''[[Gelum]]''' living so close to the singularity, he struggled heavily with magic manipulation and had spent most of his life feeling overlooked and inadequate. During the evacuations, panic spread rapidly after several rescue crews became trapped beneath a collapsing transit tunnel. While stronger and more experienced mages hesitated, Elio volunteered himself to help. Over the course of nearly twelve straight system hours, he hauled debris, shielded civilians during aftershocks, and physically carried survivors through unstable terrain despite being terrified the entire time.

Horace described him as the “Bravest scared person I’ve ever met”. The crew quickly realized that Elio’s greatest strength was never magic, but endurance, compassion, and his sheer willingness to protect others. When the survivors were safely evacuated, Elio admitted that he’d always dreamed of being someone like the Wayfarers, but never thought someone like him could matter. It was due to a stranger’s encouragement (later identified as CIV) that they even got the courage to talk to the Guild. The crew unanimously agreed to give him the chance he wanted so badly.

Midway during the Singulon mission, where the crew encountered Elio, the Wayfarers encountered CIV. Upon learning that the sinkholes had damaged some vital equipment to keep structures tethered to the ground nearby, the crew found CIV already dismantling unneeded structures and repairing the damage using the salvage. None of the Gelum or '''[[Ferrans|Ferran]]''' survivors could figure out who they were or where they came from. CIV clearly knew the infrastructure better than the local authorities did.

Despite helping extensively, CIV remained deeply distrustful and nearly vanished several times during the operation whenever official law enforcement got too closely involved. Dr. Sherazi eventually recognized their behavior as less than that of a wanderer and more of someone hiding from pursuit. She personally offered them a place aboard the ship with no questions asked. The offer meant more than she realized, and CIV accepted, even if they still sleep lightly and dislike staying planetside for too long.

The Wayfarers were responding to a deep-sea research catastrophe on '''[[Pelagia]]'''. An undersea research facility had experienced a generator failure, leading to necessary evacuations from those stuck inside. One moment, the workers were struggling to navigate the maintenance tunnels, and the next, a strange '''[[Abyssal]]''' was simply ''there'' to guide civilians through corridors. She seemed completely unbothered by the hazards and ignored direct instructions from local authorities while saving dozens anyway.

Horace loved Vespera’s mojo from the start, while Nia certainly did not. But by the end of the crisis,  Vespera had broken several laws, stolen a restricted-access submersible, rerouted evacuation traffic without permission, and somehow prevented catastrophic loss of life. When Guin asked them if they had plans for the future, Vespera simply asked, “You people do this often?” and promptly was permitted to board the ship.

Eventually, while the crew stopped to refuel, Henry reappeared, though very clearly not as he was. Having been on his own, hitchhiking through space for years following being disowned and exiled for ‘radical views’ against his family, he finally pleaded with the crew to join. Although other Wayfarers were skeptical, Dr. Sherazi personally welcomed him aboard, impressed with his determination and believing that he deserved a chance to prove he was different from his family. The others would warm up to him eventually, with Horace, Kailani, and Vespera being his biggest supporters alongside Dr. Sherazi herself.

The crew would continue to operate as a group for several years prior to the Locus Astra incident.

== Locus Astra and Destruction ==

While investigating the far reaches of known starspace, the Wayfarers were able to pinpoint a strangely stable sphere far beyond known destinations. This sphere was later dubbed Locus Astra, and the Wayfarers were the first to land to explore and establish a foothold there.

However, in an event shrouded in mystery, the Wayfarers left Locus Astra in a hurry. Captain Sherazi sent a report to the High Stellar Council about what they found, advising that further exploration be done with immense care and caution. These warnings were acknowledged, but not heeded, with officials deciding to move forward with the planning for the Pathfinding Initiative regardless.

The following information is based on the testimony of Captain Sherazi upon speaking with the High Stellar Council following the incident.

The Wayfarers, as an organization, were ultimately dismantled by an unknown threat upon returning to previously-charted starspace. Dr. Sherazi claims that her crew was slaughtered by an unknown threat, and the ship was destroyed before being lost to space. The starship Possibility was indeed never recovered, despite numerous search parties sent looking for it, and no crew members aside from Horace Vibius (deceased) and Henry Solaris (alive) were recovered from escape pods. 

The Wayfarer's ceased to operate after this incident.

[[Category:Groups]]