Order of the Ostiaries

The Order of the Ostiaries is a faction operating within the continent of Ahlus.

## History

The Order of the Ostiaries are an organisation that works to follow on the actions of the Guardians of the Flock, the group credited with creating the Great Seals of Ahlus. With the Guardians gone, the Order of the Ostiaries travel Ahlus trying to find powerful artifacts, sequestering them away so as to prevent them falling into the wrong hands. The Order likewise has tied and origins amongst a number of other discreet historical factions such as the Order of the Black Veil and the Sealed Tome.

There is a strict hierarchy that operates in the Order, although most members are only aware of a few other members - typically a member or two of equivalent renown and prestige, as well as a mentoring superior, to whom all discoveries are expected to be reported and relinquished. In doing so, no particular member knows where all of the artifacts recovered have been stored, thus further reducing the likelihood of their subsequent rediscovery.

## Goals

Stalwartly believing that some objects should not be allowed to reside in the hands of mortal beings prone to corruption from sentiments of power and grandeur granted by their possession, the Order of the Ostiaries scour the continent in search of such relics, casting them beyond the reach of mundane creatures.

Of particular focus for the Order of the Ostiaries are the Remnant Weapons, mighty artifacts formerly wielded by deities and other almight beings in the wars before Aita's Second Gift.

## Tenets of the Order of the Ostiaries

* In bright and gloom alike, hazards reside, relics upon which no mortal hand should be placed. Let them be sequestered beyond such beings, cast out for the interest of the general populace.
* A misplaced whisper threatens to unravel what has been achieved, and what is yet to be achieved. Seek knowledge of the Order only out of necessity, never seek to learn more beyond those to which you are consigned - mentor, partner and apprentice.
* Those that step away from the Order surely do so with malice or megalomaniacal tendencies at heart. Should one of your consigned seek such things, move with haste to recover what threatens to be lost.

## Relationships

The predilection of the Order of the Ostiaries to pillage ancient ruins and private collections alike for artifacts of significant power has placed them squarely in conflict with the Eclectic Eclipse, which specialises in the accretion of such objects. Likewise, many black market groups trade in illicitly acquired relics and oddities, which has likewise caused tension when members of the Order offer pursuit in an effort to recover the objects. The Ministry of the Curio has also clashed with the Order on occasion, particularly with regard to the former's ongoing study of the Ashenvale.

Otherwise, the Order of the Ostiaries largely keeps to themselves, acting as a nomadic organisation with no known base of operations. Though frequently users of glamours and other illusionary magic to hide their passage, the Order issues its members with pale robes that often result in them being mistaken for holy priests of the Principal Sixteen.

## Characters

By nature of the objects that they seek, most members of the Order of the Ostiaries are capable spellcasters equipped with years of experience to aid them in the acquisitions. However, as conflicts with the Eclectic Eclipse continue to escalate, the Order has started recruiting more martially-skilled individuals to guard them during the expeditions from any looming threats.

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