// FACTIONS

The Wayfarer Council

"We go out so that others understand why we must go back."

Meridian who spend their lives among the other races. The Wayfarers are bridges, translators, traders, and the Meridian face that other civilizations actually interact with. They know how Varath think, have Keth contacts, and have been quietly building relationships that the Conclave views with complicated feelings.

The Wayfarer Council is the practical governance structure for Meridian who operate outside the Stillwater. They run stations, manage trade relationships, and coordinate the Meridian's carefully controlled economic presence in the wider galaxy. They are less alien than the Conclave but still not quite like other races - a Wayfarer at a negotiating table is relaxed and capable and will, eventually, reveal that they know something you thought you'd said in private.

Space: Stellar Reach and Riftmark. Also present at Confluence Station (one of the three official Concordat delegations) and Waygate Station.

What they want: Preserve the gate network. Maintain relationships with the other races while the Conclave works on something that can't be explained yet. Keep Stratum Corp away from the important sites.

Starting standing: Varath: +50 | Keth: +50 | Meridian: +300

Missions: Diplomatic escort, Ancient site surveys (non-extraction), navigation assistance for the deep sectors, information gathering on Vrael probe activity.

Exalted perk: Wayfarer navigation blessing - permanent improvement to nav discovery range; passive Void Resonance boost (extended range on incoming ability detection).