Private. Founded circa 18th century.
The most significant mortal organization engaged in supernatural investigation. Founded by the enigmatic figure known only as Germaine, an immortal (or extraordinarily long-lived) being of uncertain nature. Germaine's goal, pursued over three centuries, is the construction of a unified theory of the supernatural: a mathematical and observational framework that reduces the patterns of the arcane into something comprehensible and, ideally, predictable.
The Foundation operates through small field teams of operatives. These are recruited from civilians with latent abilities or prior supernatural exposure and supported by handlers, researchers, and a growing institutional knowledge base. The Midway Incident was a Foundation operation.
Classification System
The Foundation has developed the most sophisticated mortal taxonomy of supernatural entities:
Rarity Codes (Greek letter designations):
- Alpha: Extremely common (e.g., humans)
- Beta: Common
- Delta: Uncommon or declining
- Epsilon: Rare
- Gamma: Extinct or near-extinct
- Omega: Unique creature
- Zeta: Religiously affiliated
- Lambda: Unknown rarity
- Mu: High density, low geographic spread
- Iota: Flagged active threat
Classification Scale (1-7):
- Mundane
- Meta-natural (unusual but explicable)
- Semi-Thaumite (minor supernatural traits)
- Thaumite (confirmed supernatural)
- Eidolon-class
- Aeon-class
- Unknown / Unclassifiable
Threat Assessment (1-10):
- 1-3: Manageable with standard protocols
- 4-6: Requires specialist intervention
- 7: Requires full team deployment
- 8-10: Contact and conflict to be avoided at all costs. Level 10 designates entities capable of regional or global-scale destruction.
The system is imperfect. It was built from incomplete observations and uses categories that don't always map cleanly to the reality of Domains, Aeons, and the taxonomy of Shapers, Shifters, and the rest. But it is functional, and no other mortal organization has produced anything comparable.