We are the rock and stone, heirs of a duty that cannot be forsworn.
We are the fires that burn bright against the night, beacons against the darkness.
We are the shield that guards the realms, the blade that cuts through chaos.
We are Vigilant.
-Oath of the Vigilant
The origins of the Order are closely tied to the duties once carried out by the Dwarves of Karuzgard. For over one thousand years the Dwarves defended the fortress, and now the Order has done the same. Towards the end, as the numbers of the Dwarves dwindled, a plea of help was sent out to all the races of the world for warriors to aid them. Knights and heroes answered the call from across the continent, manning the walls of Karuzgard alongside the fortress' stout defenders. Seeing the dire straits facing the Dwarves, it was agreed that some would remain to help them bear the burden. This, was the origin of the Order.
Under the first Grandmaster Sharlain Hightower, treaties were set up across the world for the nations to send aid and support to Karuzgard in the form of men and supplies. The Order of Conscription was granted, where any Blademaster could forcefully conscript any commoner or noble in defence of the Order. Supplies were sent from across the land to supply the troops, but the greatest gift was provided by the last Dwarves. The Ascension. A gift of power and strength, undertaken by every member of the Order after their initiation. A highly secret procedure, it is unknown to the greater world, who think the warriors of the Order are chosen for supernatural strength and abilities. One man of the Order is worth a hundred in battle they say.
The Ascension begins when an Initiate completes their training. Inbetween training, an Initiate will serve various custodial duties like cleaning, tending to armour and weapons, organising. The duties are decided by the division Master, the only constant is that they cannot leave the fortress. When they are deemed as ready, the entire division of Initiates are sent on an expedition to the Forsaken Lands to retrieve the heart of a Corruptor, a creature of darkness from beyond our world. When the trial is complete, all retire to a chamber atop Karuzgard for it to begin. Draining the heart of its blood into a chalice, the Initiates are to drink deep. Two things can now happened. In the worst case scenario, the blood poisons the Initiate, who dies a horrible death with black bile foaming through their mouth. Otherwise they go through the Ascension, and recieve their Gift.
The Gift is the members unique powers, so diverse that very few members will ever have any crossover. Some are granted power over the elements, some find their natural abilities greatly enhanced. Sometimes random, sometimes based on the Initiates personality, the possibilities are endless. Grandmaster Victarion Blackfall was given the gift of blades, able to summon hundreds of spectral blades that he can project in a barrage or for duelling multiple opponents, meanwhile Master Wilhelm was given the gift of vampirism to name a few. There are a few things that all members are granted along with their Gift, greater speed and strength, along with a long lifespan. A typical member can live for 200 years, some even 400.
After the Ascension, they are now a sworn Shieldbearer of the Order and can leave Karuzgard on scouting missions into the Forsaken Lands. As their skills continue to grow, so to does their Gift, granting new skills and powers. Should they excel in their duties, one might be raised to the rank of Blademaster. The highest rank most members will achieve, Blademasters often serves as officers during battle and recruiters. The Grandmaster himself will handpick his Masters. There are 6 Masters, each in charge of his own division, each with a nod to the 6 orginal founders;
The Dragon's Talons
The Ashen Knights
The Desert Snakes
The Ice Wolves
The Silver Arrows
The Blackguard
The Masters themselves take on various roles within the Order (Master-at-arms, Spymaster), and on the death of a Grandmaster it is normally expected that their successor honour their choice of Masters and allow them to continue their role, again until death.
In recent times, very few supplies make their way to Karuzgard save from the Riverlands, and the Order of Conscription is invoked more often. Once the Order was viewed as honourable for heroes and knights to join, but eventually the world began to view Karuzgard as obsolete, protecting them from beasts that did not exist. As a result, the Order has had to conscript mostly thieves, bandits and murderers from nations across the world. Only those down on their luck or looking to escape from poverty normally volunteer to join, as the Order accepts all who would aid them, regardless of race, gender or class.
We are the fires that burn bright against the night, beacons against the darkness.
We are the shield that guards the realms, the blade that cuts through chaos.
We are Vigilant.
-Oath of the Vigilant
The origins of the Order are closely tied to the duties once carried out by the Dwarves of Karuzgard. For over one thousand years the Dwarves defended the fortress, and now the Order has done the same. Towards the end, as the numbers of the Dwarves dwindled, a plea of help was sent out to all the races of the world for warriors to aid them. Knights and heroes answered the call from across the continent, manning the walls of Karuzgard alongside the fortress' stout defenders. Seeing the dire straits facing the Dwarves, it was agreed that some would remain to help them bear the burden. This, was the origin of the Order.
Under the first Grandmaster Sharlain Hightower, treaties were set up across the world for the nations to send aid and support to Karuzgard in the form of men and supplies. The Order of Conscription was granted, where any Blademaster could forcefully conscript any commoner or noble in defence of the Order. Supplies were sent from across the land to supply the troops, but the greatest gift was provided by the last Dwarves. The Ascension. A gift of power and strength, undertaken by every member of the Order after their initiation. A highly secret procedure, it is unknown to the greater world, who think the warriors of the Order are chosen for supernatural strength and abilities. One man of the Order is worth a hundred in battle they say.
The Ascension begins when an Initiate completes their training. Inbetween training, an Initiate will serve various custodial duties like cleaning, tending to armour and weapons, organising. The duties are decided by the division Master, the only constant is that they cannot leave the fortress. When they are deemed as ready, the entire division of Initiates are sent on an expedition to the Forsaken Lands to retrieve the heart of a Corruptor, a creature of darkness from beyond our world. When the trial is complete, all retire to a chamber atop Karuzgard for it to begin. Draining the heart of its blood into a chalice, the Initiates are to drink deep. Two things can now happened. In the worst case scenario, the blood poisons the Initiate, who dies a horrible death with black bile foaming through their mouth. Otherwise they go through the Ascension, and recieve their Gift.
The Gift is the members unique powers, so diverse that very few members will ever have any crossover. Some are granted power over the elements, some find their natural abilities greatly enhanced. Sometimes random, sometimes based on the Initiates personality, the possibilities are endless. Grandmaster Victarion Blackfall was given the gift of blades, able to summon hundreds of spectral blades that he can project in a barrage or for duelling multiple opponents, meanwhile Master Wilhelm was given the gift of vampirism to name a few. There are a few things that all members are granted along with their Gift, greater speed and strength, along with a long lifespan. A typical member can live for 200 years, some even 400.
After the Ascension, they are now a sworn Shieldbearer of the Order and can leave Karuzgard on scouting missions into the Forsaken Lands. As their skills continue to grow, so to does their Gift, granting new skills and powers. Should they excel in their duties, one might be raised to the rank of Blademaster. The highest rank most members will achieve, Blademasters often serves as officers during battle and recruiters. The Grandmaster himself will handpick his Masters. There are 6 Masters, each in charge of his own division, each with a nod to the 6 orginal founders;
The Dragon's Talons
The Ashen Knights
The Desert Snakes
The Ice Wolves
The Silver Arrows
The Blackguard
The Masters themselves take on various roles within the Order (Master-at-arms, Spymaster), and on the death of a Grandmaster it is normally expected that their successor honour their choice of Masters and allow them to continue their role, again until death.
In recent times, very few supplies make their way to Karuzgard save from the Riverlands, and the Order of Conscription is invoked more often. Once the Order was viewed as honourable for heroes and knights to join, but eventually the world began to view Karuzgard as obsolete, protecting them from beasts that did not exist. As a result, the Order has had to conscript mostly thieves, bandits and murderers from nations across the world. Only those down on their luck or looking to escape from poverty normally volunteer to join, as the Order accepts all who would aid them, regardless of race, gender or class.
Moderators: Dawnseeker