The Keepers of Light
Each would-be member of the Keepers of Light, or just the Keepers, is asked a single thing: do you believe that the world we live in now is the world that should be?
Rather than any idealistic conception of making the world a better place, there is a different intention within these words, one not directed towards the idea that the world is imperfect and must be improved, but rather that there was once a greatness that has since been robbed. In the Verses of old Hyr'norai legends, from before the world had yet left the Age of Dreams, it is said that there were heroes of old with the capacity to act like Gods.
These beings, coming from all races and bearing powers uniquely their own, did not bend to the Elven Gods or the other Adac; immortal and filled with impenetrable might, ruled their own cities and steered the birth of civilization. It is said in these Verses that at some point, at the height of their civilization, these archaic beings vanished. They were known as the Empyreans, the Eternal, or the Light-Touched. Even as thousands of years have passed, the Keepers are what remain of their following, and now they seek to return them to life.
Around three decades ago, the Grandmaster of the Keepers - back then the rank of the organization's leader - abdicated for the first time since the organization's founding. He offered his role willingly to the far younger Jaris Tilandrek, a young acolyte of the organization who showed incredible promise. Early into joining the Keepers, Jaris spoke to the Grandmaster of a vision he had, in the literal sense. A sort of... premonition of ruin, one that tormented him as he explored the temple grounds, inviting experiences he had never met with before joining the Light.
Jaris claimed that the Eternals were reaching out to him, from far beyond the simplistic boundaries of life and even the physical plane, calling on the young novice through vague and delirious episodes wherein he witnessed what appeared to be prior events. Moreover, Jaris discovered an astounding capability of his: the ability to decode and unlock the Keepers' ancient artifacts, storing knowledge that had been kept away for thousands of years.
The knowledge was decipherable only by the first human language, distinct from Eldhan. The Grandmaster was the only one among the Keepers to know the language, and for days and nights he transcribed the documents. He learned of secrets written by the Empyreans themselves, encrypted and left to rot. It is said that the Grandmaster later learned that he felt these secrets should continue to do so, as the truths hidden within them were so vile and horrific that he could no longer stomach calling himself a member of the Faith. He left the religious order not long into translating the majority of the readings, offering them to Jaris in a journal and naming him Grandmaster if he truly wished to continue following the Empyreans after all they had learned.
But Jaris did learn a lot, and among the many secrets scrawled into the ancient pages, he learned how to return the Eternals to the mortal world. He learned that they were false Gods, and how to create a new one. Defiant and hateful of the Adac, this knowledge did not perturb him. Jaris shared these secrets with those most likely to be loyal to him, and changed his title to the 'Herald', announcing to the Keepers that he would lead them down a new path: one where the Light would return.
Only a few know, even now, just what secrets the Grandmaster learned from the old books, and what he shared with Jaris. Those who learn tend to steel themselves to the cause.
The Light-Touched
From what historical records exist of the Light-Touched, it does appear undeniable that they were both real, and very powerful - even by the standards of today. They were often compared with the Elven Gods, and tended to act as guardians for the mortal races, protecting them from the domination of the Elves. But the Light-Touched did not discriminate, nor determine favorites; they believed in harmony between mortals, and the adoption of common ideals. Peace, justice, prosperity, advancement, the propagation of truth above all; the dispelling of bigotries. The Light-Touched believed that mortals needed to find perfection within themselves, rather than seeking for it in the divine. Still, they were worshiped, and they were harsh with those who defied their just principles. They maintained orderly societies where filth and disorder were far from allowed.
There were eight Light-Touched by the time they disappeared. These were: Serana, Redel, Trissea, Veriyil (pronounced like Veregil), Drephas, Lelhainn, Niven and Lyria. Most information on them has been lost, as their original race and their domains (as each Light-Touched supposedly had one) cannot be found in any reliable written record. What is known is that there were far more blessed with inklings of their power, but the far majority of them died in a several year-long conflict. Only eight remained by the end of it, and they swore an oath to one another to let their conflict end, forming a pact. From this point on, they reigned from their gilded cities for over a hundred years, before their disappearance left a rift in their old Faith.
The Light-Touched were originally mortals, which made their worship all the more compelling. They became immortal through their own means, in a way that did not or could not invoke Malek's ire. Yet, it is known that they were not Liches, making them far removed from the grim conceptions of what is normally ascribed to mortal-immortality. The Light-Touched were defiant of all logic and held powers unparalleled by any since them; they could seemingly create sentience, and their physical capabilities were God-like, and inspirational.
They were known to be impartial, benevolent and gracious to their flock. They did not seek to expand their territory, and instead allowed others to join them willingly, growing as word of their good deeds and just manner inspired others to take heed. For the majority of their tenure on Atharen, they grew somewhat rapidly, encompassing a vast territory within Ailizane and Western Mornoth. Despite their nature being somewhat short-lived, they appear to have inspired many of the things that came after them; such as the white, burgeoning cities of the Ald'norai, who revered the divine nature of flame. As the Light-Touched were known for this power, it appears they were the Ashen Elves' early inspiration.
The Verses
The Verses are the preserved teachings of the Light-Touched, and are often called the Axioms, the Code, or the Way. As there are eight major Verses, most believe that each of the remaining Eternals preoccupied one of them as their domain.
Justice: At the core of the Faith of the Eternal Light, as the religious is known, is the belief that justice must always prevail. No noble can be above the law, no crime can go unpunished, and while time mends wounds so does righteous vindication. This belief occupies not only individual justice - such as punishing a criminal - but societal justice, and thus seeks to empower all those repressed to find common cause.
Generosity: Generosity is core to a follower of the Eternal Light, as without it, it is believed that selfish behaviors prosper. Alms to the poor, food for the hungry, and helping others in need is essential. Betraying those who have been generous to you is viewed as highly sinful, as well; generosity should be repaid with generosity in kind, by whatever means might be feasible. By perpetuating this belief, society inherently becomes more giving, and focused on the community rather than only the self.
Humility: An individual must be humble in order to be good. Those who look down upon and disrespect others will quickly find themselves filled with hatred, and wicked impulses.
Compassion: Compassion is perhaps the underlying concept on which all of the Verses depend; in order to truly care about the common good, one must have compassion. Those who read the Verses are taught to seek good in other people, and to attempt to minimize suffering for themselves and others. They are led to believe that compassion is where, essentially, all positive connections form; it is the birthplace of love, of peace, of generosity, and so on. Empathy is important, as well as understanding.
Love: Love is a strongly encouraged principle within the Verses, as it is believed to be a key to peace and fulfillment. The goal of freedom, of justice, compassion and other such precepts is to make way for love, which thrives in serenity. Followers of the Light-Touched are encouraged to love one another, and to be unafraid of the strength of their emotions. This love can be romantic, brotherly, nurturing, or any mixture of these things.
Order: Order is fundamental to the Verses, but it does not conflict with freedom. Order is actually simply defined as acting in a way that promotes the freedom of others, by not acting in a manner that disrupts or sows chaos. It asks one to enact a responsible manner of self-expression, ultimately leading to greater opportunities for society as a whole.
Peace: Peace is the goal sought after by the Verses, and it is where joy and fulfillment are said to thrive. As Drephas once said, "Peace is our purpose. It will always be, for what it creates belittles our own divinity. Goodness. The individual, within the collective."
Truth: In order for any of the above Verses to be truly followed, one must always speak with truth. Transparency is necessary for true understanding, true generosity, true love, and so on. As such, Keepers are encouraged not to lie to one another, but they are also meant to understand why others deceive and rather than judging them, they are meant to have compassion for those that lie to them. Still, truth is encouraged, and this non-judgmental approach to its spread appears to have a very benign effect: the Keepers, with one another, tend to be as open and honest as one could imagine, to the point where others are often shocked.
The Endir
The Keepers do not oppose the Endir. They are not against the Elven Gods, the Living Gods, even the Imprisoned or any similar, powerful beings. In fact, generally Keepers appreciate the existence of such beings for allowing mortals to exist as they do. The Keepers simply believe that mortals should effectively self-govern, and that the role of the Gods is to provide them the means to do so. While a small footnote, this is important to the Keepers, and while they primarily worship the ideals of the Light-Touched some of them do ascribe to the worship of the Living Gods.
Purpose
With all of that said, there are a few things the Keepers consider their purpose; the reason for their organization's continued existence. These things have, since the rise of Jaris, somewhat changed.
1. Rule Vardrek: The Keepers manage a small to medium-sized city-state known as Vardrek, effectively a theocratic dominion. With little more than a hundred thousand souls, it bears little relevance on the global stage, but remains a highly wealthy city as a trade hub for Vendigad, Radenor, Tyrclaid and the other mountain cities of southern Mornoth and eastern Calanon. Vardrek is located just south of Radenor at the helm of a large river, and lies almost exactly between its four major neighboring powers. Due to its incredibly defensible position and the nearby river, as well as the mountain slopes which allow for successful terrace farming, Vardrek is a highly prosperous city and the Keepers run it effectively. It is also the only city on Atharen that, as a majority, follows the Faith of the Eternal Light.
2. Return the Light-Touched: While previously the Keepers were content to merely follow the teachings of the Light-Touched, since Jaris' ascent, this is no longer the case. The group as a whole has been encouraged to help aide their dead Gods' return, moving throughout the continent to uncover secrets and to learn the cryptography necessary to translate ancient texts. A group once predominantly made up of soldier-monks, the Keepers are now trained night and day as spies, intelligencers, warriors, cave-delvers and otherwise adventurers of incomparable temerity. The missions of the Keepers are endless as they are dangerous, though for this reason the order inspires cohesion, brotherhood and bravery for what they must endure. All of this in the search of answers that may not exist -- though Jaris claims that they do, in the visions that he still frequently alleges to have.
3. Spread the Verses: Important for recruitment is the proselytization of other people. There are a significant number of people in the valley below Vardrek, outside of the borders of Radenor, and within the neighboring countries (save Daravin) that are vulnerable to conversion. Considering the low theocratic centralization of the surrounding nations, many people from their fringe communities have joined the Keepers in the past, and Jaris seeks to greatly expand this venture of conversion. He believes that the Eternal Light can expand far beyond Vardrek, becoming a major religion in central Atharen, or even beyond. As such, he sends out many of his Keepers as missionaries. Doubling as warriors, they often perform acts of heroism for the communities they move into, seeking to inspire others with their bravery.
Ranks
The Herald: As leader of the Keepers, the Herald not only commands the Faith and their resources, but also rules the city of Vardrek and determines its domestic and international policy. While the Herald may not be a giant upon the global stage, locally they do hold considerable influence, and they are often invited to meetings between leaders, valued for their insight on trade.
Ordinant: The Ordinant serve as the leaders of the city of Vardrek, and are effectively given districts to command. All of the Keepers stationed within a particular district are theirs, though they also hold authority over those within the Eternity Priory. As the leaders of the Keepers, they can do nearly everything that the Herald can, and when the Herald is not present in the city they have total control. Acting as a unified organ, they tend to quickly come to decisions together, though they are also capable of acting independently. There are only five Ordinant at any given time.
Keeper: Keepers are the regular members of... the Keepers, and act as influential individuals within the city of Vardrek. They are warrior-priests, and in some ways act as the city's nobility, though they do not throw their weight around and tend to act with discretion and humility. The Keepers serve a variety of roles, one such role being their command over the city guard and the city-state's small fleet. They are also given access to virtually all areas within the city, and can act based on their judgment even in determining punishment and sentences for crimes. There are generally around a hundred Keepers at any given time, and they are typically among the most skilled members of Vardrek society.
Acolyte: Acolytes are would-be Keepers, new members of the organization. They learn until they are deemed ready to fulfill a higher role, which typically takes months or years, though for some it can be much less, and some may live their entire lives as Acolytes. They effectively act as clerics and squires, and they learn of the Verses as well as training to be combative elites. Typically, the Keepers will have over a hundred Acolytes in training. Most do not become Keepers, leaving the role to pursue other opportunities in life.
Members
The Herald
1. Jaris Tilandrek (NPC)
The Ordinant
1. Lexavin Val'Bhreith (NPC)
2. Several Others
The Keepers
1.
2.
3.
The Acolytes
1.
2.
NPC Rules
• Despite the rules below, PCs can apply for specific clearance (of a higher level) in the SF if they have valid reason, or for specific NPCs. This will often be for those PCs with a specific plot in mind, requiring higher clearance to particular NPCs, often ones they have submitted themselves (though not always).
• Acolytes of the Keepers can utilize all NPCs, save for those labeled 'Companion NPC', with level 1 Influence. This Companion NPC rule applies to the other ranks, as well; companion NPCs are exempt from being utilized by other players within the faction. These rules also include even up to the Herald, who can at least be played partially by all members.
• Keepers can utilize all NPCs of the Keepers with level 2 Influence.
• Ordinant can utilize all NPCs of the Keepers with level 3 Influence.
• The Herald can utilize all NPCs of the Keepers with level 4 Influence.
The Eternity Priory
The Eternity Priory was once the home of Redel, one of the more isolated of the Light-Touched. With Vardrek little more than a monastery once given pilgrimage, people began to migrate to the mountainous hamlet and over time it grew. By the time of Redel's disappearance, Vardrek had grown into a city of significant size given the time period, with a large permanent agricultural community. After the disappearance of the Light-Touched, many of the old followers of the Faith were persecuted by worshipers of the Eldhan Weald, and so many of them fled to the defensible mountain-city. There, the most pious of refugees founded a small group to look after the Priory, a small act of remembrance of the living Gods now lost. The group then grew over time, and their role shifted across the ages. The small and peaceful group of scholars and monks shifted into an order of warriors and leaders, founding the Keepers some time during the Third Age to defend the city from Ald'norai conquest.
The Priory became a fortress, and it expanded to fulfill the role of a chamber of rule, a temple, and the headquarters of a now-sprawling organization. Now, it is an ancient site that has been kept extraordinarily well, frequently refurbished and repaired while still maintaining its ancient structure and old beauty. The Priory can hold hundreds of soldiers and other residents at any given time, and has access to a long mountain trail leading to a grand and ancient forest, blessed by the Light-Touched to bear golden leaves. The Priory looks over the city from a high place, with a large walk known as the Pathway a frequent place of training and gathering for the Keepers, able to view the entire mountain-valley and Vardrek within it, a serene if exhilarating place to train.
Jaris Tilandrek
Date of Birth: 88th of Frost, Year 4566
National Origin: Tyrclaid
Race: Human
Details: Jaris is a man of little equal in his scholarly knowledge; a man of history and the written word, he has a grasp on philosophy, theology, politics and social structures that few others can reason with. This is common for the leaders of the Keepers, but unlike the men and women before him, Jaris is also a warrior of little comparison -- and a skilled mage. For all of his strengths and skills, he is revered among the people of Vardrek, seen as a historic man capable of returning to them their lost fate. But Jaris is also a sickly man, becoming far weaker with age. While most men of five decades have not long since left their prime, Herald Tilandrek feels his end days coming nearer and nearer. And some say that he is afraid.
Jaris is also a man of skepticism and reason, yet many find this difficult to contrast with his fervent religious beliefs, ascribing to the Light-Touched with a life-long commitment. He does not ever seem to speak with mad zealotry, but approaches their faith in a logical and respectable manner, believing that their goodness and necessity for the world are an objective truth. It is his belief that they were taken from the world due to fear and envy of what they were -- and what they could become. Yet despite this, he does not conspiratorially blame the Endir, or point to any particular force. He does not buy into the belief that they left the world due to their own volition; no parent would ever willingly abandon their child.
The Herald, perhaps by means of his sickly desperation, believes he is incredibly close to finding the answer to the Gods' disappearance. His activities have increased of late, sending his Keepers all across the world, gathering tangible artifacts that are a mystery to most.
PC-Specific Influence
N/A
Lexavin Val'Bhreith
Date of Birth: 23rd of Ash, Year 4589
National Origin: Vendigad
Race: Hyr'norai
Details: Lexavin is an Ordinant, and is effectively the right hand of Jaris, who trusts him utterly. In fact, despite being a Hyr'norai, he has often been called Jaris' son and his heir; a man he trusts to lead the Keepers, and perhaps to recover the Light-Touched even after Jaris' death. Some in the Keepers wonder why. Lexavin is a good-hearted man, and a skilled soldier, but someone often considered arrogant and naive by his peers. He believes in all manner of unprecedented things: that the Keepers should conquer the other realms of their local mountain-range, that they should even expand into the towns in the valley below, potentially at the risk of inciting the ire of the Daravinic Empire. Lexavin is a military man and a strategist more than he is a scholar or philosopher, and he believes that in order to scrape the world's surface for ancient mysteries, more manpower is needed.
More than that, he believes that the faith of the Light-Touched is supreme and pure; that it should spread, and if it must be done by more aggressive proselytization, he is not opposed. While Lexavin abhors death, tyranny and suffering, he looks to the world around him and sees it perpetuated only by the heathens surrounding Vardrek. Fearful of Daravin's growing expansionist tendencies, he worries that if Vardrek remains as it is, it will be consumed by war and the Light-Touched and their teachings will surely fade. Rather than necessarily looking to the mysteries of the ancient world in search of an answer, he seeks that answer in the world of today, favoring logistics and practical endeavors.
Of course, the heart of an idealist still lives within him, and he often attends the Priory's missions of exploration and discovery. Lexavin is a conflicted man, and one that inherently incites conflict as well. But, perhaps most dangerously, his belief in himself is surely as strong - or perhaps even stronger - than his belief in the Eternals of old.
