Savant Caste

"Until all embrace the Void..."

- Common proverb among the Savant Caste

The Savant Caste was one of the three main castes of Charon society, alongside the Zealot Caste and the Thrall Caste. Unlike the other castes, the Savant Caste was entirely made up of the Voidborn of the Charon Dominion, and served in majority as the leaders of the Charon in both military and domestic matters. Sometimes refereed to as the master caste or priestly caste, the Savants were the most feared members of the Charon Dominion during both the Oblivion Crusades and the Extant War. Among the Charon peoples, the Savants served as the equivalent of nobles in an aristocratic society, especially those with precognitive visionary abilities.

The Savants made up the smallest caste of the Charon Dominion and was considered to be the "purest". Only Voidborn, those believed to have been ushered into existence by the will of the Void itself, could be counted among the Savants. In addition, because Humans made up the vast bulk of the Voidborn of Otherspace, there was the least amount of diversity in the Charon Caste, with an arguable exception to the Vrathite species.

The Savants were believed to have the ability to commune with the Void, either consciously or subconsciously, and direct the Charon people toward their ultimate goal of the galactic absence of all life, as outlined in the religious creeds of the Void of Oblivion. The Savant Caste was led by the Prophet of the Void, who was also the leader of all Charon society within the First and Second Dominions. For all practical purposes however, the Oracle was considered to be the acting head of all Savants. The Savant Caste itself was governed by the Ring of Arch-Savants, the collected coven of the wisest and most powerful savants within the Dominion.

Although a single group, the members of the Savant served different purposes, depending on their training, abilities and proficiencies. It is worth noting that most Savants, similar to many of the Zealot Caste, ceremonially and formally wore white in native settings, which to them was a constant reminder and visible icon of the purity of their mission.

Savant classes

 * Savant Scion – The youngest and most inexperienced members of the Savant Caste, the Scions were almost entirely Voidborn children that were in the early stages of being groomed for future positions among the Savants. After reaching adulthood, Scions fall into one of three successive classes.
 * Savant Templar – Trained "battle-mage" Savants who are more geared toward utilizing their abilities in combat and warfare than with unlocking the arcane knowledge of the Void. During the Extant War, Templars were the primary Voidborn of the Savant Caste seen on the battlefield.
 * Savant Ghost – Savant infiltrators and assassins who specialize in espionage and gathering information. Ghosts are often tasked with retrieving Voidborn from within the realspace galaxy, act as secret police for the Ring of the Arch-Savants, and ceaselessly hunt for members of the heretical Void of Animus.
 * Savant Eldar – Masters of their powers and deeply tethered to the Void, Eldars are considered to be the most precious of the Savants, due to the Charon placing great emphasis on communication with the Void in order to find direction, both as individuals and as a people. While not warriors, Eldars typically are the most adept in wielding the powers of the Void and more Eldars elevate to the position of Arch-Savant than its former peer-classes.

Highest hierarchy

 * Arch-Savant – Arch-Savants are the wizened and tested Savants, tempered by experiences whether it be a lifetime of delving into the mysteries of the Void, decades on the battlefield or slaying enemies of the Dominion from behind the scenes. Collected into a single body, Arch-Savants make up the Ring of the Arch-Savants, which is presided over by the Oracle.
 * Oracle - The Oracle is the most powerful of the Savants, save for the Prophet of the Void, who the Oracle acts as heir-apparent to. As a would-be successor, the Oracle must be blessed with the rarest gift of Omen, should the need for them to become the Prophet of the Void come about.
 * Prophet of the Void - The unchallenged and unrivaled ruler of the Savant Caste and the Charon in its entirety, the Prophet of the Void is the most powerful Voidborn in the Dominion, and widely considered to be the most powerful Voidborn alive. Because the Prophet of the Void leads the entire Dominion, active leadership of the Savant Caste is typically handled by the Oracle.