Order of Saint Riode

Stormwind Inquisition ·
Order of Saint Isaac ·
**Order of Saint Riode** ·
Order of Saint Zeliek

Named after Saint Riode Janeiro, the Order of Saint Riode is a militaristic monastic order of monks that seek to spread the teachings of their faith and to combat wickedness wherever it would grow. Much like their battle-cleric brothers and sisters, they have a storied history as both feared combatants and stalwart healers. Those who seek to join the Order may do so as a novice and will be expected to liv within the Prior of Westridge where they will be trained upon the teachings of the Order and begin their trials along the Path of Saint Riode.

## History

During the reign of King Adamant Wrynn II, the Kingdom of Stormwind sent an expeditionary fleet to colonize Stranglethorn Vale. Landing on the southern cape, the fleet quickly constructed fortifications to defend themselves against the Jungle Trolls of the Gurubashi Tribe. Father Riode Janiero was the missionary priest of the expedition.

On the first night of the landing, Father Janiero went out to gather water from the lagoon. After blessing the clear water, he looked out to the sea. Sources vary as to why or how he did, but at the shore of the lagoon, Father Janiero cried out and pointed towards the island at the lagoon's mouth. Some say it was a divine vision, or simply good eyesight, but Father Janiero had spotted dozens of canoes fast approaching the foothold against the backdrop of the sandy isle.

Seething with rage at the humans' encroaching on the Vale, the jungle trolls rowed into the lagoon in the black of night. However, due to Father Janiero's call, the armsmen of Stormwind were well prepared for their arrival - loading ballista and crossbows with projectiles lit with fire. When the canoes were in range, the burning projectiles were released. Burning arcs of flame impacted amongst the tightly-packed wooden canoes, cries of pain, and anguish echoing between the cliffs. A rain of iron-tipped arrows soon followed, finishing off many of the trolls who were not shattered by the siege bolts. Faced with annihilation, the trolls who remained retreated into the night.

When the sun rose, a grizzly sight met the eyes of the king's men. The surface of the lagoon's water had turned black from the trolls' blood, many of the trolls slumped over dead in their scorched canoes. Father Janiero, seeking the Light's blessings for the newly founded colony, held a solemn prayer for the trolls that perished for their blind hatred. The colony, as deemed fitting, was given the name of Blackwater Cove in honor of the battle that almost spelled the destruction of the colonists' progress.

Contending with parasites, disease, and monstrous beasts, the colonists of Blackwater Cove turned to their faith in order to weather the horrors of the jungle. Father Janiero assembled a retinue of zealous followers, each determined to see the Light's will done through the taming of the wilds. The colonial guard of Blackwater Cove set out on several expeditions into the jungle. Janiero and his faithful servants would often accompany these missions in order to survey the land and record their findings for the church.

On one fateful expedition, the Blackwater colonial guard ventured far to the north of the colony in hopes of finding the fabled golden treasure of the Gurubashi trolls. Father Janiero and his faithful joined in the expedition, hoping to catalog any troll ruins they encountered. After traversing Mistvale Valley, the expedition was suddenly surrounded by a raving pack of jungle trolls from the village of Jubuwal. Outnumbered and at the trolls' mercy, the expedition surrendered and was taken captive to the great Gurubashi Arena. Without means of contacting their allies, the colonial guardsmen had no choice but to fight any manner of savage beasts in the troll coliseum. One by one, the colonial guardsmen fell in combat - some of them eaten alive by tigers and gorillas.

Father Janiero called upon the Light to aid his brethren and grant them strength in battle. The Light answered to the faithful - empowering Father Janiero's retinue with righteous flame as they fought in hand-to-hand combat. With the Light's backing, the colonial guardsmen and Father Janiero defeated scores of beasts and trolls alike in the arena. Earning renown and becoming a crowd favorite of the trolls, Father Janiero became known as the "Warrior Monk" of men. Despite the Light's blessings, the colonial guardsmen and faithful captives fell as gladiators over several months until only a handful of them remained. Sympathetic to the valor displayed in the arena, several troll warriors petitioned that Father Janiero be put against a grand champion of the Gurubashi in order to earn his freedom. Unwilling to anger his warriors, the chieftain of Jubuwal agreed and organized a ceremonial match with his greatest champion.

The ceremonial fight between Father Janiero and the Champion of Jubuwal drew an impressive crowd of trolls from throughout Stranglethorn Vale; even some tribal leaders from Zul'Gurub made the journey. After a ritual sacrifice to their Loa gods, the chieftain of Jubuwal sounded a great gong that began the match. Father Janiero and the Champion of Jubuwal were evenly matched - Father Janiero bolstered by the Holy Light, and the Champion an expert in hand-to-hand combat. The two exchanged blows for nearly three hours before either of them showed fatigue. As the sun set, Father Janiero called upon the last rays of the day's Light into his fist. The warrior monk drove all of his might into a final, shattering blow into the Champion's solar plexus. The Champion collapsed in defeat.

Elevated to the chieftain's seat in the coliseum, Father Janiero was given a champion's greeting by the warriors of the Gurubashi Tribe. It was there that the chieftain presented Father Janiero with the opportunity to go free and return to Blackwater Cove with his victory. In a motion that shocked the troll warlord, Father Janiero refused, instead requesting that his remaining brethren, the faithful followers of the Light, be released in his stead. The chieftain of Jubuwal reluctantly agreed.

As his retinue was given safe passage out of the arena, Father Janiero asked that they all retain their faith in the Light and wield it for right and the good. Father Janiero remained in captivity in the Gurubashi Arena and is presumed to have died as a gladiator.

Word of Father Janiero's deeds swept throughout the Kingdom of Stormwind, inspiring many to take up the Light in monastic study. For his sacrifice, Father Janiero was canonized as a saint by the Church of the Light. The Order of Saint Janiero was founded in his name as a military monastic brotherhood.

## Path of Progression

In order to start on the path of progression within the Order of Saint Riode, tyros must first be accepted into the order by the Prior or Prioress of Westridge.

Novice → Battle Friar → Hieromonk

## Combat Roles

The various **combat roles** that members of the **Order of Saint Riode** may take on within the regiment's Clerical Corps and their associated requirements are listed below.

**NOVICE:** Novices of the Order of Saint Riode are the introductory role of those who wish to follow in the path of Saint Riode and take up the monastic life in the Priory Westridge. They will follow a strict regimen set out by the monastery, training in both physical and philosophical matters in hopes of growing closer to the Light. They are garbed in undyed leather armor that has been layered with riveted metal plates underneath and equipped with blessed hand wraps and a sturdy quarterstaff. In order to advance to Battle Friar, the Novice must pass the Novice Trials of the Order of Saint Riode.

**Equipment:**

* Recruit Leather Armor
* Sturdy Quarterstaff

**Requirements:**

* Recruit Tyro Role.

**BATTLE FRIAR**: After passing the Novice Trials of Saint Riode, one will be made a Battle Friar within the order. Upon ascension to this position, the Friar will conceal their face by means of an embroidered mask and will receive a new set of lightly tanned leather armor. Battle Friars are seen as experienced fighters and masterful in the more intense theological side of scripture, balancing both as they continue their training within the monastery. In order to advance to Hieromonk, the Battle Friar must complete the Novice Trials of Saint Riode and complete the Rite of Ordainment.

**Equipment:**

* Battle Friar Leather Armor
* Wrought-Iron Staff

**Requirements:**

* Pass the Novice Trials of Saint Riode.

**HIEROMONK:** TBW

**Equipment:**

* Hieromonk Leather Armor
* Wrought-Iron Staff

**Requirements:**

* Pass the Hieromonk Trials of Saint Riode.

 Patron Saint

The patron saint of the Priory of Westridge is Saint Riode, a missionary priest who saved the fledgling colony of Booty Bay by defeating the Champion of Jubuwal in hand-to-hand combat and sacrificing his freedom so that others could live in his stead.