The Stygian Order

*Expressions from the language of the Orsimer used in this article can be found on the translations page.*

**The Stygian Order** was a division of the Autumnshade Coven that served a vital role in the faction’s development and endurance. Its members were known as *Rassal-Orsim* (Gatherer of Kin) or simply Gatherers, and these vampires were responsible for inducting new vampires and thralls into the Coven at a steady rate. The name originates from a realm of Oblivion known as the Styx Xasum, which served as the final testing ground for unordained Gatherers.

## History

The first Rassal-Orsim, known as Korbus Morghal, was inducted into the role in the opening months of the Coven’s history. The Battlemage had selected him from among the fledglings of the Coven after he had demonstrated adept skill in producing a thrall. He received a portion of what would eventually become the universal training regimen for the caste before being deployed to participate in the Varen Treaty campaign, and completed it after the Activation enabled him to travel to Styx Xasum. As the original Gatherer, he held the title of *Pastol-Orsim* (Guardian of Kin).

As more vampires adopted this position the Autumnshade Coven’s recruitment rates steadily grew, with each pack deployed for campaigns to the surface eventually receiving its own Gatherer. As a way of keeping this new and powerful caste of vampires in check, the Battlemage established a Council to organise their distribution amongst the frontier, which was led by the Pastol-Orsim from within his headquarters in Alum Sharr.

Every Gatherer was granted honorary membership into the Council, but a divide within their caste occurred as those stationed within Alum Sharr began to gain more political influence within the Council, in contrast to their comrades stationed on the frontier. The Pastol-Orsim eventually resolved the issue by founding the Stygian Order. This new sect of the Coven was to be secretly led by the Council of the Stainless Onyx, whilst all of the Gatherers were unanimously unified under the new banner.

### Loyalty

The Order gained an infamous reputation within the Coven for serving as the Battlemage’s private forces, whose members would single-handedly end revolts during times of strife, with what became their trademark lethality. Their loyalty to the coven leader was absolute, and there had never been a single incident of a member of the Order being involved in a revolt, a statistic unique to their caste. Indoctrination was heavily applied during their training to procure these mindsets.

### Economy

   By helping to maintain a supply of healthy thralls through their activities, the Order would become the backbone of the Autumnshade Coven's financial infastructure. As what amounted to slave labourers were key to the Coven's profits the Council would recieve generous funding from the Battlemage on an annual basis. Over time they were able to independantly supply their memebrs with Orcansteel armour from the forges of Kagrenzel.

### Internal Governing

The Council of the Stainless Onyx served as a shadow leadership for the Order, although the Pastol-Orsim still resided as the official commander of the caste. Their number was composed of the affluent Rassal-Orsim who had resided within Alum Sharr prior to the Stygian Order's founding. Unknown to all but it's members and the Council of the Crooked One, this small division of the Coven government controlled all aspects of their caste from within the shadows, from the transportation of fresh Thralls from the frontier to the Coven, to the distribution of Gatherers across their sphere of influence, to the Order's day-to-day finances.

## Rassal-Orsim (Gatherers)

### Combat

Gatherers demonstrate their supernatural abilities as vampires in combat more than any other caste in the

Coven. Maniupulating the minds of their foes to horrific extents, they were rarely required to engage their foes in conventional battle, usually having forced their enemies to tear one another apart. However should the need arise a Rassal-Orsim will utilise other schools of magic in combat, although these secondary skill sets vary between individuals. A noticable tactic utilised by many within the caste was to conjure bound weaponry when forced into close-quarters combat.

Staves were not made standard issue to Gatherers until the capture of Darklight Tower in 4E 183, after which a sizable cache of magical items were recovered. A rare fighting style used by some Gatherers in battle featured an enchanted shield that could protect it's wielder from almost any frontal blow, be it physical or magic-based. The shields were known as a *Bouyuss,* and they are composed of Orcansteel forged into shape personally by the Shadow-Mason.

### Role

When stationed with packs on the frontier the Gatherers duty was to serve as torturers and jailkeepers of their captives, and provide arcane knowledge to their Chieftain. Outside of their duties to the pack they would also capture people throughout the province, usually to be converted into thrallls, or occasionally a new vampire. Though the Stygian Order and it's Council were subservient to the Battlemage, they often appealed to have more of their people stationed within the major Strongholds of the Coven rather than on the frontier, for fear of one of their kin dying unexpectedly *(*See *Death within the ranks)*.

### Appearance and Apparel

Rassal-Orsim bear little similarity in appearance to the typical 'Pale Orcs' that form the majority of the Autumnshade Coven, with their exterior appearance having been magically altered. Whereas other vampires of their bloodline retain hair colour and facial structure reminiscent of their mortal years, all Rassal-Orsim have smooth, untarnished skin, and their hair is pitch black by day and a luminous silver by night. The Orcish tusks they once bore will have visibly receded, and a concealed pair of fangs become prominent in the upper jaw. Their skin adopts a pitch-black complexion, which is thought to improve their resistance to the sun. This trait is shared by all Gatherers that have bathed in the Sightless Lakes of Styx Xasum.

All Gatherers wear Orcansteel armour fashioned in the like of the dwarven mails of old. They are not permitted to remove their helms in the presence of mortals, which some members of the Order state is because "Their simple minds would cease to function, their souls torn asunder in fear of our horrific semblance." To reveal their faces even to another vampire who is neither a fellow Rassal-Orsim or amongst the court of the Crooked One was considered an abhorent and dishonourable act.

### Sub-culture

The Stygian Order, like the rest of the Coven, have sworn service to the Battlemage; Their faithfullness to him is measured before an initiate is even considered for the caste, and indoctrination methods are heavily applied in their training regime to ensure their absolute loyalty. Members of the Order are known to (though not unanimously) develop an elitist attitude when comparing themselves with the Coven fledglings, or castes that have little bearing on the magical arts.

One notable feature of the Order's 'culture' is their desire for purity within their caste. The method of their recruitment is evidence of this attitude; every Rassal-Orsim may only take on one apprenticce in their lifetime, and this apprentice in turn will give rise to another Gatherer. This societal phenomenon led to the birth of the expression known as the *Liesh Sangur*; in that all Gatherers who fell under the same line of successors would be linked and considered a chain of offspring to one another.

### Death within the ranks

Although this tradition would be discontinued during periods of war, if a Gatherer was to be killed in anything other than honourable battle, then their *Liesh-Orsim* (Descendants of Kin) would have their purity of blood brought into question. A law enforced onto the Order by the Battlemage imposed that should any of these Rassal-Orsim fail in the redeeming trials, they and all of their *Liesh* would be 'purged' from the Coven; the failures themselves would be tried and almost certainly executed by the Council of the Stainless Onyx. No Gatherer of this *Liesh Sangai* (regardless of their origins) would be allowed to take on a new apprentice; the Pastol-Orsim would be called upon to take on a new apprentice who could restart the cycle of Liesh Sangur.

## Notable Members

* Korbus Morghal - Orc Male. The orignal Gatherer, who holds the title of Pastol-Orsim.
* Shuthak Orura- Orc Female. 9-times removed apprentice of Korbus Morghal. Member of the Council of the Stainless Onyx.

* Khadrash Uzyal - Orc Male. 26-times removed apprentice of Korbus Morghal.

## Notes

* As seen in the case of Khadrash Uzyal, a Rassal-Orsim may not simultaneously hold the rank of Chieftain, should they challenge their frontier pack's leader. It has not been established yet which one would outrank the other.
* No non-Orcish Gatherers exist; this is not due to prejudicial attitudes however, as Coven members of other races are brought into the hegemony for the specific services that they offered.