The Explorer's Society Ladies' Auxiliary

Archaeology is quite fashionable in Theah's courtly circles, but not every aficionado has the skills to actually participate on digs. (Or the inclination. The work can be slow and dirty; not very appealing to most courtiers.) The Ladies' Auxiliary to the Explorer's Society began in Avalon, as a way for ladies to express their enthusiasm for archaeology without actually being archaeologists themselves. It has since spread, with chapters cropping up near most of the chapter houses. There is a movement afoot to change the group's name to simply the Society Auxiliary, to encourage men to join as well.

Fundraising

The Ladies' Auxiliary's primary goal is to support the Society in its scientific efforts. In this way, the ladies can feel that they are contributing to the march of progress. Their first line of support is organizing fundraisers, charity events, and the like, with proceeds going to the Society or a sponsored dig. They arrange invitation-only auctions of prized Syrneth artifacts, lectures by noteable scholars and field scholars, and even balls where the nobility can meet the members of a celebrated dig team. Since the ladies are noblewomen themselves, they have the right connections to potential influential, rich donors. And most of them have much more charm than the average Society scholar, which means the donors are more likely to accept the invitations.

Cataloging

Some of the Auxiliary members are more enthralled by the romantic idea of archaeology rather than its reality, but a goodly number are more than happy to roll up their sleeves and actually assist. Owing their status and responsibilities, they cannot simply hie off on digs. They can, however, volunteer some of their time to working at the local chapter house, doing the grunt work of cleaning and cataloging items brought back from the field. They often end up working alongside students and trainees, and they may or may not take pains to conceal their proper identity when they do so. It can be quite vexing for an Avalonian lady to be pestered for political favors when she's trying to clean a piece of ancient Inish goldwork, or for a popular Dionna courtesan to be pestered for other favors while she's restoring the images on an ancient Numan vase.

Site Protection

If the lady in question holds lands which contain an archaeological site, she may volunteer to safeguard it against diggers. Usually, her family's guards will be employed for the task. In Eisen especially, the lady herself may appear, weapons at hand, to run off any unwanted intruders.

Suggested Uses

A young PC Explorer might find a Patron or Ally in the somewhat dowdy woman who's been working alongside him in the Catalog Room, when she turns out to be a comtesse.

Want an Explorer's exhibition, lecture, or charity event in Freiburg but can't see dour Madeline Bisset du Verre arranging such a fluffy thing? The Ladies' Auxiliary can do it for her.

PCs may not think about private property when they dash off to the latest Vodacce amber cave. Remind them that they need to negotiate permission with a squad of guards sent by an older gent whose courtesan begged it of him as a favor.

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