On the Merits of Unnaturalness

"For are we not vastly superior to them, we Unnaturals? For though we pick the Bones of Society, though we crawl in Gutters and beg for our Keep, we are living Conduits to the World Beyond. We are Proof of an auxiliary Existence. We are Catalysts of the ultimate Energy, the eternal Æther. We harness Death itself. We unhorse the Reaper."

- An Obscure Writer

On the Merits of Unnaturalness, also known as On the Merits, is a groundbreaking pamphlet that was written by Jaxon Hall. It details his theory of the Seven Orders of Clairvoyance. It was the first proper attempt to categorize clairvoyance.

Description
In 2031, Jaxon Hall observed in his pamphlet that there were roughly seven colors of aura and that people within one of these groups generally exhibited similar abilities. The book listed every major voyant type that Hall had collected through his research. Hall identified the seven orders of clairvoyance: Soothsayer, Augur, Medium, Sensor, furies, Guardian, and Jumper. Hall had written that the last three were vastly superior compared to the other orders, which then caused major controversy amongst gangs. He claimed that the superior orders were better because they achieve a more perfect form of harmony with the æther.

When it was published, On the Merits quickly became highly popular in the clairvoyant community. While approved by many, On the Merits faced controversy from clairvoyants Hall had listed as the "lower" orders of the Seven Orders. This eventually led to gang wars that lasted for two years before Hall's publishers finally withdrew the pamphlet, although the grudges still lingered. The wars also resulted in the permanent imprisonment of one sub-type of augurs, the supposedly violent "vile augurs," in the putrid slum of Jacob's Island. By the time Paige Mahoney enters the syndicate, the Seven Orders system is widely accepted throughout the voyant world in London and elsewhere.

Reactions
When it was published, On the Merits quickly became highly popular in the clairvoyant community. While approved by many, On the Merits faced controversy from clairvoyants Hall had listed as the "lower" orders of the Seven Orders. This eventually led to gang wars that lasted for two years before Hall's publishers finally withdrew the pamphlet, although the grudges still lingered. The wars also resulted in the permanent imprisonment of one sub-type of augurs, the supposedly violent "vile augurs," in the putrid slum of Jacob's Island. By the time Paige Mahoney enters the syndicate, the Seven Orders system is widely accepted throughout the voyant world in London and elsewhere.

Trivia

 * Paige Mahoney's copy of the book has Hall's written ideas and contact numbers in it.

Appearances

 * The Bone Season (first appearance)