The Pureblood Guild

## Overview

The Pureblood Guild was an underground cult operating in central and southern Spauria that sought to remove half-orcs, drow, and other "evil" races from Spaurian society. The Purebloods believe that they can create a better future for the empire by removing half-orc citizens and cleansing the public of their presence. During their reign, the cult intimidated half-orcs, furiously protested the Tusk Act, and later began kidnapping and even "purifying" half-orcs within their stronghold in Quimny.

In Joone of IIA 163, the Pureblood stronghold was overrun by Cadence Qrow, a half-drow spellcaster, and "the Bois." This was just one in a series of tumultuous events that would ultimately end the Pureblood Guild after 23 years.

## Practices

### Religion & Creed

The Pureblood Guild as a whole does not ascribe to any particular religion or form of worship, but deities that are commonly revered by devout priests include Tyr, Ilmater, Kossuth and even the Red Knight.

Though the idea that half-orcs and drow should be removed from society is a unanimous belief amongst the cult's followers, there are varying opinions concerning how this should be accomplished. Some argue that a peaceful banishment of their kind to the Southern Seas is possible, whilst other more radical Purebloods believe that only frightening levels of violence will deter half-orc kind. Still, during the time of the Iron Box, it was believed that biological change of half-orcs into human beings was a radically better alternative.

### Hierarchy

**Acolytes** are the lowest and most numerous of the Pureblood ranks. They are followers of the guild who roam the streets, accompany priests, maintain strongholds, etc. These simple followers are each given a golden Pureblood dagger and a cloak bearing their blood-red insignia.

**Drakes** are the living swords of the guild, acting as kidnappers, assassins, and enforcers of the guild's will. They are fast, stealthy, and extremely skilled in combat, often seen wielding scemitars, longswords, or flails. Beneath their grey hoods they wear red masks/helmets, bearing a distinct resemblance to the Pureblood insignia.

**Priests** are followers who have taken their allegiance to the next level by shaving their heads and facial hair, and devoting themselves completely to their creed. They are the cult's generals, each responsible for teaching acolytes, conducting missions, and regularly reporting to the High Priests. Priests are usually chosen for their arcane abilities, or loyalty to gods that align with the Pureblood's creed.

**High Priests** are few and far between, with one residing in each major Pureblood location. They are advanced spellcasters who oversee the guild as a whole, commanding priests, organizing events, and driving the cult forward. Before the deaths of Veldum Grayhame and Sarvoldis, there were four Pureblood High Priests across the face of Spauria, all of whom helped found the cult when it first began.

## History

### Origins

When the Tusk Act granting half-orc citizenship was passed in IIA 140, many Spaurian's were disgruntled and enraged at the government. Those who were willing to act on their beliefs began calling themselves Purebloods, and within a short time a faceless hate cult had formed in the south. Members of the early Pureblood Guild would proceed to mug, kill and ultimately intimidate the half-orc population, creating much fear and unrest within the empire.

After the Crownsoath cracked down on illegal activity, the cult changed it's tactics and seemingly became more civilized. They organized themselves into proper guilds, spreading throughout southern and central Spauria. Within a short time they had chosen leaders for themselves, and now publicly proclaimed to be Spauria's "knights" that would fight and protest for the good of the people.

### The Iron Box

According to later confessions, Quimny mayor Orfaldo Steth was deeply involved in the Pureblood's arcane research, and using a dangerous artifact left in Quimny by the Switch, he was able to perfect the process of soul-swapping. Using a device called the Iron Box, the Pureblood's could transform half-orcs into humans with a similar biological makeup, at the cost of most of their memories. The transformation wasn't always safe nor reliable, but it is estimated that nearly one hundred half orcs were transmutated in this way during the four year period it was used.

The Iron Box revolutionized the Pureblood Guild, which immediately began putting it's focus on the capture, transportation and purification of half-orcs.

### The Bois Raid

In IIA 163, during the month of Joone, the Pureblood stronghold in Quimny was besieged and ransacked by a group of adventurers who called themselves "the Bois." Among them was Cadence Qrow, who was able to rescue his imprisoned father Luvon Qrow during the raid, and Leonardo Mackintosh of Dawsbury, who was able to kill their elite High Priest.

Survivors of the attack claimed that the siege was a rescue mission for a half-orc ally named Muk that the Bois had befriended, but the remaining acolytes denied any knowledge of a kidnapping, claiming the half-orc was given to them by someone else.

A few weeks later in early Jurily, the Pureblood fortress of Bastian's Beacon was attacked by the same group of adventurers, after Cadence Qrow was captured and sold to the cult by a crew of unknown voyagers.

Between the destruction of two major strongholds and the death of two High Priests, the Pureblood Guild as a whole was severely crippled by the Bois. The Iron Box was destroyed, and capturing half-orcs on the Southern Seas became a useless practice. Many remaining acolytes resigned for fear of further violence, and potential followers were discouraged to join the guild for the same reason.

## Trivia

The "True Spaurian" is the Pureblood insignia, and depicts a red knight with a closed visor. The symbol was chosen to represent their allegiance to "True Spauria," and the allegiance that all noble Spaurian's should have to fight for their freedom and country.

Sarvoldis Ilifiel joined the Pureblood Guild in Quimny in IIA 142, leaving a simulacrum of himself behind and keeping his identity safely hidden for his entire career. After his death during the Bois raid, his body was never found by the Crownsoath, and thus his involvement in the cult would remain hidden.