![[Image: tumblr_p20pq71wMb1w87wlno1_540.png]](https://78.media.tumblr.com/ab42114f0ba0597ea8411db595c6f3d3/tumblr_p20pq71wMb1w87wlno1_540.png)
Founded by former Director Shiori Eikitaika along with a personal friend of hers, the Artifice of Reason was created with one goal in mind: the pursuit of knowledge, unhindered by the sorts of restrictions imposed by more traditional, city-state sponsored institutions. Director Eikitaika and her friend had great boons left to them by a late mutual friend, including great funds with which to open the doors and a mansion which they hollowed out and turned into a headquarters for the organization.
Although its methods have drawn unfavorable attention at times, there is very little that money can’t buy in Ul’dah, and in exchange for some clever politicking, some pocket-lining, and official allegiance with the Immortal Flames as a sanctioned Free Company, its activities have been allowed to continue well into the Seventh Astral Era.
In the beginning, it was a small operation—in fact, throughout the Company’s history, it’s always been fairly small, and for a period of time under Director Eikitaika, the Artifice as an organization concerned itself greatly with protecting the knowledge that it had acquired. This was, in part, due to the methods used to acquire it: although hardly worse than the methods employed by most mercenary Free Companies operating under the banner of the Immortal Flames, the last thing that the fledgling Company needed was to attract ill repute among its peers—or worse, the ire of rivals.
The face presented to the public was, then, no less than squeaky-clean. As time went on, Director Eikitaika even went on to make the claim that the Artifice of Reason set out to set the pace of progress: an admirable goal, but one that she would not personally see the organization making good on. With personal obligations and aspirations looming on the horizon, it became apparent both to her and those around her that she could not dedicate the time or energy needed into running the Company and making good on that promise.
So she passed the torch.
And the rest of the story is yet unwritten.
Although its methods have drawn unfavorable attention at times, there is very little that money can’t buy in Ul’dah, and in exchange for some clever politicking, some pocket-lining, and official allegiance with the Immortal Flames as a sanctioned Free Company, its activities have been allowed to continue well into the Seventh Astral Era.
In the beginning, it was a small operation—in fact, throughout the Company’s history, it’s always been fairly small, and for a period of time under Director Eikitaika, the Artifice as an organization concerned itself greatly with protecting the knowledge that it had acquired. This was, in part, due to the methods used to acquire it: although hardly worse than the methods employed by most mercenary Free Companies operating under the banner of the Immortal Flames, the last thing that the fledgling Company needed was to attract ill repute among its peers—or worse, the ire of rivals.
The face presented to the public was, then, no less than squeaky-clean. As time went on, Director Eikitaika even went on to make the claim that the Artifice of Reason set out to set the pace of progress: an admirable goal, but one that she would not personally see the organization making good on. With personal obligations and aspirations looming on the horizon, it became apparent both to her and those around her that she could not dedicate the time or energy needed into running the Company and making good on that promise.
So she passed the torch.
And the rest of the story is yet unwritten.
The Artifice of Reason is a research institute-based Free Company. Though they once locked their secrets away in the depths of their Institute, the space now opens its doors to anyone with an interest in enriching their mind and pursuing the knowledge they covet so much. In that, they strive toward ever-greater heights. This is the principle that guides their research into medicine, into aetheric manipulation, into the marial arts, into terra incognita.
