Safeguard Pact

"Maybe the question, 'What's a safeguard for?' could sit under that pile of ashes in her mind, safe and quiet and unimportant, forever."

―Narration of Morrigan's impossibly optimistic thoughts

A Safeguard Pact, also just known as a safeguard, is required by the Wundrous Society's High Council of Elders when a person who is a dangerous entity is permitted to study at the society following the Show Trial. It requires the patron of the candidate to find —at minimum three— signatories that are trustworthy, capable, reputable, and upstanding citizens. The signatories must be found by the inauguration ceremony or the candidates position in the society becomes forfeit.

What a safeguard pact entails has not been revealed as of Hollowpox (novel) but it seems to be to protect the Wundrous society, rather than the patron or the scholar. It also puts an obligation on the signatory to do something if the scholar triggers the safeguard pact.

When Baz Charlton suggests activating Morrigan's safeguard pact after the fireball incident, it is perceived as shocking and an overreaction by the others present.

Known Safeguard Pacts

Morrigan Crow

Morrigan Crow required nine signatories as a Wundersmith to be organized by her patron, Jupiter North. Four are currently known.

• Guiscard Silverback
• Queen Caledonia II
• Gregoria Quinn
• Israfel

Elder Quinn, after offering to sign Morrigan's safeguard pact:

Elder Quinn: "Quite certain. At least someone on this list will know what they're getting themselves into. Send me the paperwork this evening, North"

Jupiter North: "I - th-thank you, Elder Quinn. Really - thank you. I promise you won't regret it."

Elder Quinn: "I doubt that very much, dear."

— In the green room backstage at the Trollosseum

Israfel after agreeing to sign Morrigan's safeguard pact:

"You are my dearest friend and the biggest fool I’ve ever known. So yes, of course I’ll sign your stupid safeguard pact. Pointless though it is. A Wundersmith, honestly. How ridiculous."

―Israfel to Jupiter - In his dressing room at the Old Delphian

Israfel after Morrigan rescued him:

"You saved my life tonight. I find myself in your debt. You’d do well not to mention that to the folks at Wunsoc. I shouldn’t be in your debt. It complicates things, you see? For both of us."

―Israfel to Morrigan - Outside the Museum of Stolen Moments

Cadence Blackburn

As a Mesmerist, Cadence Blackburn required three signatories to be organized by her patron Baz Charlton. None are currently known.

Behind the Scenes

• There are certain rules that go along with a safeguard
• Current Elders are allowed to be signatories of the Pact, though it is considered unusual
• There is paperwork that must be filled out after someone agrees to be a signatory
• The more dangerous the entity, the more signatures needed for the pact
  • Mesmerists or conjurers of hurricanes need three signatures
  • Elder Quinn decided that Morrigan, a Wundersmith, needed nine signatures

Conjecture

Morrigan might have violated her Safeguard pact simply by signing a contract with Ezra Squall.

Trivia

• Morrigan's Safeguard Pact was not mentioned in Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow
• Townsend has mentioned that some of what a Safeguard entails will be revealed in Silverborn

Appearances

• Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow (First appearance)
• Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow
• Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow (Confirmed appearance)