Collectives are psychic societies, typically secretive, that are bent on dominating the mindscape to fulfil a certain ideology. Through sponsorship and exploitation of the Shugendo outcasts and other organisational bodies, the essence of collectivism places these societies at the peak of the cause-and-effect chain. Though some of these societies try to mean well, the ultimate influence of enigmatic investors perpetuates all in a collective cycle that suppresses true independence and demands the way of attention.
Agnoia’s Mark
An international body of solicitors, both mundane and psychic, aiming to regulate psionics under extreme law. The mark states that balance between the people comes before superstitious truth.
Bodhi-Loka
A sanctuary home to a pacified sagehood. Ascetic seekers of enlightenment, the Bodhis believe that all beings are capable of psychic potential and must take up the Bodhi’s vow to liberate other beings in quiet unity. Their physical nexus is located in the hidden valley of Maitreya, formed by a band of Tibetan yogis as part of the independent movement's response to Chinese oppression and shifting political relations.
Codex Raptus
An eldritch cult devoted to the primordial source. The masses possess a zeal to assimilate the psychic people to a greater being, as they must feed their psyche as fuel to the old ones for the benefit of a great, carnal existence that is incomprehensible to the mundane.
Nomads of Babel
A travelling clan of explorers, archaeologists of the mental plane. The nomads believe that psychics and their communities must seek voyage across the ‘mindscape’ and beyond to find great meaning in their powerful sixth sense.
The Nomads hold mastery over portal-related psionics and the domestication of gargantuan astral beasts (Known to their clan as the Nomadic Towers). Their collective aura also dispels all barriers of communication thanks to a personal language network held together by the Nomads.
Ofudahood
A festive civilisation deep within nature, worshippers of the elements guided by a governing body of shrinefolk. To join the Ofudahood is to further one’s connection with the spirits and energies of the earth, for that is the key to the psychic journey.
Starseed Pact
An alliance of fanatics bent on engineering the ultimate psychic kind, the ‘starchildren’, to reign dominance over the world and beyond. The pact swears that those who lack the gift of psionics are mere obstacles and must be wiped from reality.
Turmeric Eyes
An esoteric society of seekers, honour-bound to unlock the secrets of existence. The members believe that psychics must be of service to humanity through self-transformation and mastery of principles through ascending the organisation’s hierarchy.
Zoemasons
A gathering of merchants and artisans that revel in mystical artefacts and alchemical equipment. The gathering believes that there is a fruitful economy to the psychic life, bringing forth treasures that shall be of utmost cherishment.
Albeit not as dominant as the aforementioned primary collectives (If anything, influenced by them), these minor collectives remain important in the motions of influencing the mindscape.
Psychic Temple Academy
Considered the most prestigious and sought-after educational institution for Shugendo in training. The Psychic Temple acts as an academic pathway for the most witty of psychics, top-scoring students and alumni eventually find themselves in the embrace of collectives who ultimately sponsor and control the teachings of the hierophants.
The academy’s most gifted student is Rosemary Tilocca aka “Pythia”, now promoting herself as a wellness coach who is revered by many, yet is suspected of pulling the strings of the collective unconscious whilst becoming a puppet herself.
Saffron Robes
A monastic order of warriors and technologists, originating as a band of rebellious scavengers that battled an oppressive theocracy. Situated in ‘Lumbini Valley’ in the Himalayas, the Saffron Robes house ancient texts and relics as well as refugees living amongst their quarters, studying martial arts as well as engineering as their disciples prove themselves to be expertised in both fields. Their philosophy honours the phrase - "Everything in the world is ready to teach us”.
Those of the Saffron Court seek enlightenment not only through physical and mental discipline, but through an honorific battle against oppressive authorities and the collectives.
Vorvolakas
A shadowy clan of vampiric psychics known as ‘Siphons’ with their roots founded in the failed experiments of the Starseed Pact. To prevent being reduced to feral beasts, the Siphons feed from the psionic energies of others, making themselves a valuable service for malicious collectives to take advantage of as they are very powerful.
Whilst not collectives, a ‘frontal' refers to an agent who carries out assignments from collectives and other clientele and carries them out to the Shugendo (or some other form of mercenaries). The most notable frontal is Madame Crowther, a well-masked figure who hides behind a orbuculum and is well-known for initiating novice Shugendo into the Enceph networks (Though there are doubts whether she is an actual individual or a shadowy thoughtform).