The Dark Leyan Order

> The Dark Leyan Order... Their name makes 'em seem a lot scarier than they actually are. That said, you still probably don't wanna get on the bad side of someone with talents in Corrupting Arcana. One of my servants made the mistake of standing up a girl from the Dark Order on her date, and lemme tell ya... She ended up having a bad month after that. It's hard to walk around normally when one of your arms is cursed to be six times it's original size.
>
> Lehbana Sin on her experience The Dark Leyan Order.

### Allied Forces

The Grand School of ArcanaThe Grand Library

### Opposing Forces

The Zeltranite ClergyThe MageHunter GuildThe Light Leyan Order

## Overview

**The Dark Leyan Order** was founded long ago by a legendary black arcanist known as Orga. Her followers are known as the Shaman Order, and they worked with the original Order of Sages to form The Grand School of Arcana, which now houses both the Dark Leyan order and The Light Leyan Order.

The Dark Leyan Order as a group has dedicated itself to the practicing and understanding of powerful Corrupting Arcana and it's applications to one's personal gain and influence. They want to establish a sense of dominance over the land and seek to raise Leyanthe up to the point of being able to fight Zeltrus and it's Clergy on even footing. They see the Light Order as a necessary part of their goals and don't actively seek to destroy it but would like it more if they were under their control.

Members of the dark order are inducted after passing both a written test and a practical test. They live in dorms in the basement levels of The Grand School. People of all races and genders are allowed to come into the school and learn excluding those with a history of being in the Zeltranite Clergy are turned away.

The core tenants of the Dark Leyan Order are as follows:

* If you believe yourself beneath another, then you will remain beneath them.
* Honor the Gods, for their favor is useful.
* Give heed to those who can forward your goals. Cut off those who burden you.
* Uphold the Orders commands. Strike back at those who wronged you. Those who waste their time gaining favor from others for reasons other than forwarding their goals are considered foolish.
* Those who purposefully inflict pain on others should finish the job.
* Find certain solutions to conflict.

## Relations with The Light Leyan Order

**The Light Leyan Order** are traditionalists who follow beliefs in opposition to the Dark Leyan Order. The Dark Order sees them as an obstacle to their inevitable success. The two factions have opposed one another but inhabit the same building due to the blackmail of Orga on The First Sage, on how they would be able to push back Zeltrus through underhanded means. The Dark Order rests in the catacombs beneath the ground level in **The Grand School**, whereas the Light Order sits in their lofty halls atop the ground floor.

In modern day, the opposing orders are violently opposed to one another and the Dark Order seeks to overthrow The Grand Sage and supplant their leader with one of their choosing. They keep their plans amongst the higher ups of the Dark Order, and they have yet to succeed in dethroning the leader.

## Relations with the Clergy and The MageHunter's Guild

**The Zeltranite Clergy** and **Magehunter's Guild** both dislike the Leyan order for existing, but for differing reasons. Put plainly, the Clergy dislikes the usage of talents gained from contracts with demons and devils from Hell permitted by The Dark Order, and the MageHunters actively seek to dissolve the Dark Order in it's entirety. The Dark Order is one of the sole reasons that large swathes of The Clergy being murdered in The War of the Plain. They are also responsible for teaching and encouraging many rogue mages hunted by The MageHunter guild.

## Tools and Expertise

Members of the order are provided hooded robes and masks. Hanging from the side of the masks are ribbons with the sigil of The Dark Leyan Order inscribed on it. The robes and ribbons change in appearance based on the wearers current status and placement within the hierarchy. The ribbon alternates sides on the mask when going up in the ladder, and the complexity and design of the masks get more and more intense as one gets to a higher place within the faction's leadership.

Advocates must wear robes that are darkened red, with simple masks of white with a hook on the left side for a black ribbon. Upon hitting the level of Wizard/Witch, their robes are given a silver trim, and their mask gains marking around the eyeholes, with a hook on the right side for a light grey ribbon. Upon becoming an Archwizard/Archwitch, the mask of the member becomes a maroon color, with a matching maroon ribbon worn on the masks right hook. Their masks also now gain markings around the mouth and cheeks. Magicians have their robes and ribbon changed to a brighter, more distinct red, and gain a marking in the center-forehead of their masks. Shamans must wear ribbons on both sides of their masks, and now they are a bright purple in color. Shamans are also required to begin wearing a cloak made from a beast that they have slain through their own hands.

Shaman Nobles are no longer bound by robe color or mask guidelines, save for the inclusion of horns upon their masks in some form. Additional ribbons are hung from the horns of the masks that denote their abilities in some way.

## Hierarchy of the Dark Order

The hierarchy was set up by Orga when she was the primary and sole leader of the faction before her death. Moving up in the guild requires one to prove themselves by merit. There is no other way up in the order other than proving your worth to them.

The hierarchy is as follows:

* The Order Transcendent
* The Shaman Order
* The Shaman Nobles
* Shamans
* Magicians
* Archwizards/Archwitch
* Enchanters
* Wizards/Witches
* Cultists
* Hexcrafter
* Exorcist
* Advocate