Basanic Specialist Careers Descriptions

## Ambassador - The Veiled Consulate

An ambassador is an official envoy, essentially the highest ranking diplomat who represents a state of the Royal Basin and is also accredited to another sovereign state, or to an international organisation as the resident representative of their own government or sovereign or appointed for a special and often temporary diplomatic assignment. These assignments are occasionally in the interests of peace, sometimes in the interest of war but always in the interest of the Royal Basin. The term, in its most common use, usually applies to the ranking government representative stationed in a foreign capital. The host country typically allows the ambassador control of specific territory called an embassy, whose territory, staff, and equipment are generally afforded diplomatic immunity in the host country. Like diplomats Ambassadors share a level of the same diplomatic immunity in the areas of travel and immunity however they also find themselves safe from prosecution according to the laws of the area that they stationed in. Instead they are extradited to home soil for any criminal proceedings; failure to do so usually precipitates a war, a war that was, in most cases, on the cards and in which the ambassador has been an unwitting pawn.

The role of the ambassador expands on the diplomat into very clear areas that move away from just speaking on behalf of the nation but more into a representative role. Each nations citizens move from country to country, crossing borders, settling in new lands but keeping the credential of their birth land. An Ambassador shoulders the burden of protecting those citizens; coming to their aid and looking after their interests, interpreting and negotiating for them where necessary. As a nation expands so too does the opportunity for trade and prosperity, this is often one sided unless there is an ambassador present to act as an intermediary between foreign business and their own. Finally and most importantly an Ambassador's position away from home is one that is designed to promote peace between peoples. Fostering trust and global laws that prevent the abuse of human rights, crushing slavery, criminal activity and also disseminating foreign cultures into friendly and new environments. Ambassadors are a rare breed, each and everyone as ready to lay down their life like the heroic warriors who breach the frontlines on a daily basis. Just as brave, just as bold, often unsung.

## Arcane Archer / Blade - Arcane Arsenal

*"An Arcane Archer/Blade has moved on from the basic teachings of the Arsenal and come to a greater understanding of both the martial and the magical. By this stage in their career the CoCP and the Crimson Brotherhood have taught them all the ways that they understand and it is time for the Arcane Arsenal to call in assistance not only from their sister guilds, such as the Altars and the Battered Shield, but also to the guild of  the Blending. At this point the training becomes intensified as the joining of the two disciplines; the combative arts and the mystical, becomes both more critical and at the same time much complex. During this stage of evolution the pupil often begins to develop unusual character traits; some claim that they can see the core magics of the world whilst others are convinced that they can see the very balance of time itself and even move through it. Slowly the amalgamation of these powers builds in the core of trainee until they are capable of acting independently of both disciplines and call on their abilities without the need for complex mantras and katas that walk hand in hand with the initial understanding, instead requiring only the Foci that has been with them since their first initiations.*

*Any individual that wished to train with the Arsenal whether they are designated as cored with the Mystic or the Master Arcane require a point that represents the two halves of their journey. From the Colleges we learnt the strength of their Foci and from the Brotherhood we learnt the clarity that one's personal weaponry brings. The sword or the bow, whichever is used is that focus and it is through them that the power gathered is channelled and learned to be displayed. But it is not enough to be gifted, to be given a weapon by your guild leaders or by a satisfied employer, although using such a weapon is guaranteed to give you a great deal of familiarity. No. Instead it must be that you have mastered the creation of such a weapon and become skilled in its upkeep and repair. This is something that is encouraged in the privacy of the students time, away from the training so that the weapon takes on an aspect directly unique to them and their abilties -Tazataran Lothiliak"* - Arcane Blade.

## Artificer of The Speaking House

*"In the darkened corridor a shadow slithered slowly from the darkness coalescing into a human form standing in the recesses of a weathered alcove. As the process ran its course a hand reached to the neckline and plucked from the darkness a silvered pin, glowing with a covetous light. Almost instantly the effect ended and a woman, garbed in close fitting trews and shirt appeared plucking a slender wand from a tooled leather belt pouch at her hip. With a casual flick of her long Emerald hair she glided to a sturdy door at the end of the walkway and with a flick of the wand unlocked the tumblers that bared her way. A smile graced her lips as she remembered the meticulous planning that this undertaking had demanded. She had chosen Emison to craft the wand and it had been a wise choice, their skill and dedication, as ever, spoke volumes in these situations. Despite their direct absence from the mission it was as if her old friend was with her now using skills from afar to ensure her success and more importantly her safety."*  - From the novelisation of the life of the Starling by Lizzy Nuance.

Artificers are a rare breed of crafter who have learnt to work the rarer and more powerful commodities that Daer Akmir and the continents beyond have to offer. Their talents allow them to create all manner of miraculous inventions that contain fragments of the divine or the Wyld that can be unleashed at a moment's notice. The role of an artificer in society is an unusual one; they are highly sought after for their wares but equally the supply that they require is hard to come by. Often an artificer will be rich for months but lacking appropriate materials have to fall back onto secondary roles to pay the bills. They are, almost innately, incapable of working together for long periods of time and usually they pass on their skills via the traditional format of Apprentice and Master. However their collective techniques are shared under the common concept of a "guild" based out of Shriekspire in a huge building, once a postal sorting office, called The Speaking House and it is there that most of our journeys begin.

### From an Artificers Journal

*"There comes a certain moment in the life of any guilder and it is certainly worth stating that this moment is going to be one that you hope will never come again but that you know probably will, that something someone else made saves your life. Sometimes that is a sword or a Shield, Armour or a bandage but frequently, possibly more frequently than most of us would like to admit, when that moment happens it is a piece of artifice that is doing the saving. Some folk hate the artifice calling it a crutch whilst others swear by it and see, on occasion, to be made from it. In truth some people are actually made from it. Regardless: Love it or hate it, it is a piece of most kit for the majority of Field Operatives and has the power to emulate not only skills that many of us possess but also the hundreds of abilities that we don't have. Ask most people and they would say that, given a choice, they would be on the lookout for something that emulated the power of Yarrianne and her healing gubbins but to me that is just limiting when the scope and array of potential extensions your own power is so hugely open.*

*All of this however comes down almost exclusively to the artificer that built the kit you are looking for. If you are worth your salt you will have a wide gamut of abilities available to you when it comes to crafting. Obviously you could just focus on the healing arts; a) It's going to be popular and you are always going to make your money back and b) It's going to save the lives of your customers and those customers are the guilds folk that keep us all safe. But let's be honest; as artificers we craft because we love crafting and we enjoy our own personal touch added to everything we are making. Let's be clear: ALL Artificers specialise, in what they craft; protective items or portation or offensive and what they craft it into; Shoes, wands, hats, armour or if you are me playing cards. It's these little bits and pieces that give us the fame and ergo the wealth to continue the research that we do and to be able to provide the surface that we have for thousands of years"* - Peaches Able - Legendary Artificer.

### Notes of a Master Artificer

*"Can you hear it?*
If you, ah, press your ear, ah, right up to the, ah, casing, you'll hear it
talking, ah, too you." *She could too, even if I never could, she*
really could hear it. Her name was Aylsion Kent and she really was a Master of
Artifice, so much so that she could hear the power, the very life of what she
and others created. That is the gift that all of us seek or at least that I
believe all of us should seek. There are so many of us that call ourselves
"Masters" as though we have managed to complete a journey that
thousands before us have not. People call me a Master and my name is synonymous
with modern artifice to such an extent that there aren't many that can match me
skill for skill and yet I must correct them when they insinuate such. So let me
ask you, fair reader, do you consider yourself a Master? Have you done what
others could not or do you find yourself cobbling together ten a helm trinkets
that find themselves adorning some Daemons lair after the pauper guilder that
purchased them from you was slaughtered because they were relying on
dysfunctional merchandise. Or when you craft a piece *can you hear it singing?*

The Key? The masterpiece that paves the way to greatness? Your
first and last great piece? I speak of course of the Relic and it is here that
this text takes its direction because I remember her talking about such a piece
before she died. She lost her trepidation then, her age, it fell away from her
so much did it define her. At the very end: *"It*
is as though all your crafting experience stays with you, in the back of your
head, thinking, learning with you and waiting, evolving almost. When you work
there are always incantations flowing through your minds, ticking over but its
more than that, what you don't use you don't throw away, you keep it there. It
carries on, growing, changing and merging with the rest of the thoughts that
you discard when you are making the toys you make for children. It becomes
Chaos Gor Gor, Chaos and cacophony and noise until one day, one day you can
hear ot singing and when you do...you accomplish something glorious. It guides
itself, it defines itself but it is your work but you won't know it till the
day it arrives, with a purpose for the world and one that will grow as you age
and die. A relic my apprentice." *- Excerpts from the Guidance of*
Master Artificer and Relic Maker Gor Gor Fagnor.

## Assassin (Blessed Blades) - The Silent Hall

Assassin is a vague term that is often misused by the general populace; assassins are killers yes but few enjoy that title, one around which hang many clichés and pseudonyms. By their basics an Assassin is a trained, well paid individual, usually acting alone, who is trained to end the life of their opponent without ever being seen by the target or those that serve and protect them. The Assassins skills begin in another life when they are training as soldiers or as Hunters and finish when they have mastered the arts that are drawn from the ether of the world, that empower them and give them skills beyond the ken of mortal folk. Sometimes these skills come naturally to an assassin, these people are legendary figures, other times it is taught to them by others who have identified their talent and chosen to train them to follow in their footsteps. These skills are taught by members of the Silent Hall, an institute of unusual and deeply religious origin: The Silent Hall was established by followers of Notelexus during the 7th century, a place where death could be monitored and all those that teach are called back from the realms of those that have passed beyond.

Assassins have a code by which they live and operate, often it differs from individual to individual generally based on the region in which they were trained and came to strength. Equally most would be assassins do not escape the notice of the local authorities who have their own special operatives who court the assassins and attempt to engage them with the regional powers that be. If an assassin cannot be courted in such a way then they often become a target for others of their kind; no assassin operates as a rogue agent without some form of retribution by local powers. All contracts and standards of the Oaths of Conduct come directly from The Silent Hall and any Blessed Blade that might work without the remit of the Hall are usually the victims of its next legitimate contract. The roll of Blessed Blade is an honoured and well received one with most communities or villages treating the presence of one such among their number as an honour. Many leave them personal gifts and trinkets, charms that they hope will keep the Assassin tied to that place for as long as possible.

## Baserak - Inherited Skill that is Enhanced

*"The memories of the greatest spirits that have walked the lands of the Tao, the Royal Basin, Rhygahrea and in truth the majority of the lands that we have experienced are remembered in tale and story. The deeds that they have done when they were living, when they were vital and strong were seen by the many and their actions, no doubt inspired many on that day, on the field of battle, in the halls of the worthy and among the company of politicians and Queens. Those actions were recorded and given a body again in the form of words that can be spoken, sung and made form again by the skilled and the eloquent, a feat made impressive not just by the action of the inspirer but also the ability of the tale writers and later tellers. What these two things have in common, what makes them remarkable is the strength that it gives to others: Witnessing the deeds or hearing their oration, well spoken, brings forth a great emotional response in those present; the heart beats faster, our physical power manifests as stronger and greater, our senses keener and our resolve immeasurable but when those words or memory of that deed fades so too does that mystic empowerment.*

*Imagine then the idea that the spirit that was the catalyst for those deeds, the inspiration for those stories was something that you could call upon whenever you needed to. Something that could find in you that hidden and forgotten strength when you needed it the most, something that would guide your hands and your actions to achieve greater things. Some of you may have heard of those possessed by a Baserak Spirit, a long fallen warrior that can, on occasion connect with someone and feed them with their might. These spirits sometimes follow a lineage or the deeds of someone who shares a commonality with them but there are almost always limits to the connections. Then there are the Baserak. A Baserak is the amalgamation of the Spirits of Warriors so consumed with rage and bloodlust that their story refuses to leave the weave and that manifests inside a person merging with their personality as well as giving them tremendous strength and experience. These legends that walk are truly fearsome."* - From The Warriors of the Weave by Torja Blackwood - 1182 PPW

## Beast Speaker

The Wylds are a strange place where all manner of beings and legends abound; some speak of ancient trees that remember the times of the first days and that are willing to tell those patient enough to listen all about those times.  Others will tell tales of the Melkarr using the power of the Wyld to Shift their forms into Wyld shapes and the Lycanthropes of ancient days but few nod to the Beast Speakers should they exist at all. It is said that there are places in the world that are known to the beasts where those mortals that sleep open their minds and their hearts to the world and take into themselves the power of not just the Wyld but of the beast that has selected them. When they awaken they are changed, their perceptions different, their blood flowing with a new purpose. They are not taught, so legends tell us, by the words or sounds of human lips, nor Eaölf, nor Orc or other but instead they listen to the whisper song of the beast. Teaches them, it does, of instinct learned from generations long gone past or died but moments gone. The Beast Speaker. "*The Beastspeaker..."*

*"Aye, I remember the first day and the change, the sounds I could hear, the taste of the air, the smell of a campfire miles distant. It was a fox that spoke to me in my dreams all quick and hunting through the dark. Cold eyes in dusk and the half smile on its lips when the scent of a fawn rolled in on the breeze. All the while I slept but I could feel rough paws soft padding and hard thundering through the soft earth of the forest, chasing, chasing the anticipation of flesh, warm, in my belly empty. When I awoke the world was a different place, I found people difficult but the quiet places easy and when I need the beast; the ears of the fox, eyes in the pitch black, they are never far away. Always with me, always, at the turn of my head or the sudden myoclonic twitch from sleep, it is once more the beast a' speaking, man forgotten in a pinch. Those days? Sad to wake I am and be, once more, like you "* - Azilo Yuronomor - Beast Speaker

Legends of the Speakers

*"Dreams of being human, dreams of being Eaölf, dreams of being Orc these are dreams that I have. Remembrance of chair and table, bowl and spoon, fire and cauldron, hearth and home. Memories perhaps. Fleeting, far distant. Once I was thumb and finger. Now I am paw and claw. Thoughts of voices, articulation, words, paper, prayer and lordlings. Ideas of then and now, light and dark, right and wrong, the premise of civility. Notions of sword and shield, tools, beasts of burdens, brothers and sisters enslaved. Shared thoughts, shared words, shared feelings; fleeting now no more to be theirs all mine, inside. Simple taste and smell, weak limbed and slow, to see the breeze and hear the fear in tone and being that is the beast not the girl it is the freedom and not the snare, I am the beast, She is the Prey, I am the strength and she is the weakness, I am what is and She is what was."* - The words on the lips of Spirit Speaker Ta'al when contacting the mind of Beast Adept Kaya Ardelle

*"Beast Adepts are said to be the amalgamation of the dreams of mortal folk and the dreams of the Gillieabad themselves. A link between what we had, long ago and what we have now that steps between both worlds but with a measure of control that gives them a very strong connection between beast and mortal. The Mistress, in the case above, it is assumed, have a greater heritage, one that is hidden from the powers and magics that is provided to us. Their vestiged power within the realm of the beats is very clear and they seem to spend more time among them than they do among us, specifically communicating through sense and feeling than we do. They are less adept than their predecessors at operating within a group of mortals than their brethren, which is often a liability, but their skills are legendary."* - Professor Morpan Legilin - Discussion on the merits of the Beastkind - 1822

Remarks on the Beast Kin

*"Feel the ground beneath your claws and smell the wind, summon the beast and ride its back, float between the day and the night the man and the monster, feel the Gillieabad, touch their minds, reel back and understand for moments. Worship not, nor sacrifice, nor crawl or dance for favour, speak not in tongues or howl in sorrow at the darkness for your are Lord you are Mistress, you are Lady you are Master. Charged between the here and now the then and never, sight of the unseen, flying high below the earth, charging deep above the hills. Return then to form of truth an waken, mind filled and limbs tired, truths uncovered and the future seen. Through the action of the of the Spirits, walking with them, seeing with them, understanding with them and then the mortal shape again. This is what it was to be them, this is their legacy, to be chosen, to be the link, to be almost as they were to be, a remembrance of the past and glance at the future.Gillieabad, Ghurahl, we do not forget them and they have never recalled the memory of us." -* Shaleford Laxeth - Beast Kin
Long ago there were stories that the legendary Gillieabad and Ghurahl roamed this land, Spirits great and powerful, capable of seeing the truth and the deceit of matters. They were known to be capable of realising the now, the then and the time to come, perhaps not in the order of lineage but certainly in the order of importance. It was said that they were capable of riding the mortal form of both man and beast although that neither could hold their strength for long lest their power burn the soul and scour the body in fire. For those fortunate enough to feel their strength great insight of those moments of sharing were left in their minds, granting them skill and wisdom beyond
compare. It is said that the lines of those touched in such a way remembered the sharing of skins, with beasts and birds and that as the lineages opened their children gained such skill as Speakers and Masters and on occasion Lords.

## The Champions of Faith

Those that have proven themselves to the first Nine Deities of the Royal Basin may be named as Champions and be accepted into the vaulted Echelons of the Clergy. Neither Pracalam nor The Corriguns faithful have, as yet, been blessed by thair patrons but when they do they will certainly find a place here:

## Champion of Duty - Tiberiusite Churches & The Harmony of Champions

As a Priest or Holy Warrior progresses through the Church they come to appreciate the responsibilities that fall so squarely upon their shoulders: The day to day lives of their flocks with the problems that stem from family, trade, justice and injustice, aging, death, birth, love and hate. The demands of the Clergy and Church councils to maintain the status quo between the faiths and to ensure that their Church is well represented among the other powers. Evils rise that need to be fought and guildsmen call upon the faithful time and time again for their assistance in miracle and deed of arms. Those that can transcend these burdens and continue on their way are exemplars of their faith, however in a society that provides the world with so many followers of said faith exemplars tend to be ten a blade in many ways. In order to further hone the talents, belief and grace the Clergy gathered to form an order of people to represent the causes of their religions, originally totaling no more than a hundred from each all faiths and called the Harmony of Champions. Through the years since its creation the Champions have grown into a fully blown order where the ways of each Deity is carefully observed.

A Champion of Duty represents the pride that is carried in the heart of all Tiberiusites and the shield that is their duty to protect the people. Originally these Champions were rare across the Basin to such a degree that the Church tended to allocate them to the largest Churches in each Duchy individually rather than en masse. However over the years chapters of The Champions of Duty have sprung up, like their brothers and sisters across all of the six Duchies. If Guildsmen are in need then they may be allocated a Champion but frequently they are held back for specialist missions or are sent forward only during times of war. In the meantime they act throughout the Guildic community in acts of the faith; training, inspiring and leading others that they themselves may one day become Champions of Duty and heroes of the Royal Basin. Their most common role is as a member of a Charter, using the group to travel the lands of the Royal Basin and beyond to ensure t

## Champion of Fortune - Terrefian Churches & The Harmony of Champions -

As a Priest or Holy Warrior progresses through the Church they come to appreciate the responsibilities that fall so squarely upon their shoulders: The day to day lives of their flocks with the problems that stem from family, trade, justice and injustice, aging, death, birth, love and hate. The demands of the Clergy and Church councils to maintain the status quo between the faiths and to ensure that their Church is well represented among the other powers. Evils rise that need to be fought and guildsmen call upon the faithful time and time again for their assistance in miracle and deed of arms. Those that can transcend these burdens and continue on their way are exemplars of their faith, however in a society that provides the world with so many followers of said faith exemplars tend to be ten a blade in many ways. In order to further hone the talents, belief and grace the Clergy gathered to form an order of people to represent the causes of their religions, originally totaling no more than a hundred from each all faiths and called the Harmony of Champions. Through the years since its creation the Champions have grown into a fully blown order where the ways of each Deity is carefully observed.

*"The Churches produce Priests at an alarming rate, Holy Warriors swiftly and the truly pure of faith less efficiently but of all of these folk very few of them truly are born to the grace that can be felt by what are commonly called champions. It's hard to say if they are born to greatness or whether they pick it up along the way, you know what these adventuring types are like? Falling into deific pits, half inching old relics and generally picking up all manner of magical fallout. The ones that have always worried me though are the Champions of Fortune. The road is a long one from birth to the grave and few enjoy it as much as those that have been given blessings by the Lady of the Fortunate Paths. The chosen of the Lady seem almost led in their actions to the right door, to select the right card or say the right thing, or perhaps the wrong, before they even begin to think about. Glib of tongue and with such a bloody swagger in their stride, they'd make you sick if they didn't share that wellbeing around, but they do. Don't let it make you jealous though, they love that, especially when they give you that smile after blessing your business as they walk off with four of your helms, all gifts for the Lady!"* - Meredith Moonshine - Theatre owner in Great Strabainhat the will of their God is observed.

## Champion of Invention- Bethylakian Churches & the Harmony of Champions

As a Priest or Holy Warrior progresses through the Church they come to appreciate the responsibilities that fall so squarely upon their shoulders: The day to day lives of their flocks with the problems that stem from family, trade, justice and injustice, aging, death, birth, love and hate. The demands of the Clergy and Church councils to maintain the status quo between the faiths and to ensure that their Church is well represented among the other powers. Evils rise that need to be fought and guildsmen call upon the faithful time and time again for their assistance in miracle and deed of arms. Those that can transcend these burdens and continue on their way are exemplars of their faith, however in a society that provides the world with so many followers of said faith exemplars tend to be ten a blade in many ways. In order to further hone the talents, belief and grace the Clergy gathered to form an order of people to represent the causes of their religions, originally totaling no more than a hundred from each all faiths and called the Harmony of Champions. Through the years since its creation the Champions have grown into a fully blown order where the ways of each Deity is carefully observed.

*"It is known that each church produces its Holy Warriors and Priests and specialists and the like, all of whom share very similar qualities with each other outside of the fact that they are from different faiths. The clergy has long had a hand in the development of the Churches and, fair play to them, they have kept things pretty even across the board even when one faith has come to more power than another. But wotcha don't know is that there are some born into the faith what are even more powerful than your standard Priest and each faith has their version of these champions and I have seen a fair few during my time in the Church of Bethylak. There they are called Champions of Invention and they certainly are clever folk when it comes to knocking something together in a pinch but there is more too 'em than that. They seem to understand magic and power without really trying to. It's more like they can instinctively see what they need to do too make things work in the way that they want them too. Now don't get me wrong these blokes are far and few between but they are pretty amazing to watch in action."* - Culvard Smith, Dust Collector at the Timeless Order of Lore and Fates.

## Champion of Ipseity - Naedite Churches & the Harmony of Champions

As a Priest or Holy Warrior progresses through the Church they come to appreciate the responsibilities that fall so squarely upon their shoulders: The day to day lives of their flocks with the problems that stem from family, trade, justice and injustice, aging, death, birth, love and hate. The demands of the Clergy and Church councils to maintain the status quo between the faiths and to ensure that their Church is well represented among the other powers. Evils rise that need to be fought and guildsmen call upon the faithful time and time again for their assistance in miracle and deed of arms. Those that can transcend these burdens and continue on their way are exemplars of their faith, however in a society that provides the world with so many followers of said faith exemplars tend to be ten a blade in many ways. In order to further hone the talents, belief and grace the Clergy gathered to form an order of people to represent the causes of their religions, originally totaling no more than a hundred from each all faiths and called the Harmony of Champions. Through the years since its creation the Champions have grown into a fully blown order where the ways of each Deity is carefully observed.

A Champion of Ipseity stands to protect that which has become the epitome of each and every one of us; to protect us from the invasive nature of society and to give us the strength to look to the path that we would set before ourselves rather than the one that we are forced into by the world in which we live. A Naedites duty is to protect the common folk, through acts of bravery and zeal but to protect what? A Champion of Ipseity protects your freedoms and your rights to be an individual: Inside all people their creativity and their desires live, attempting to flirt with the world and the Champion lives to bring that forward so long as it does not cause  damage to the rights of others. These Naedites are not held by the Church but allowed to wander freely bringing their own heroic nature into play to protect the will and rights of others as they find them.

## Champion of Justice - Ekimelahwian Churches & the Harmony of Champions

As a Priest or Holy Warrior progresses through the Church they come to appreciate the responsibilities that fall so squarely upon their shoulders: The day to day lives of their flocks with the problems that stem from family, trade, justice and injustice, aging, death, birth, love and hate. The demands of the Clergy and Church councils to maintain the status quo between the faiths and to ensure that their Church is well represented among the other powers. Evils rise that need to be fought and guildsmen call upon the faithful time and time again for their assistance in miracle and deed of arms. Those that can transcend these burdens and continue on their way are exemplars of their faith, however in a society that provides the world with so many followers of said faith exemplars tend to be ten a blade in many ways. In order to further hone the talents, belief and grace the Clergy gathered to form an order of people to represent the causes of their religions, originally totaling no more than a hundred from each all faiths and called the Harmony of Champions. Through the years since its creation the Champions have grown into a fully blown order where the ways of each Deity is carefully observed.

A Champion of Justice is one such of the faith of Ekimelahw who stands for the preservation of the Holy tenets of the Lady. They are earmarked for greater things in the future of their faith and are trained to battle the enemies of law, order and the clarity of thought and purpose. Relentlessly they pursue those that would dare to cross the Lady and what she stands for to the end of the road at which they hide and sometimes beyond into realms of power that even the hardiest of the Militia would fear to step into. Through the power of verisimilitude and the taking of the Oath shall the Champion be known and prove their strengths to the Church. Whilst their core is Ekimelahwian they are not Cavaliers and are specifically taught to interact with the Guildsfolk that they travel with. Some level of flexibility that allows for the complex interaction of the multifaceted apsects of the law through teaching and diplomatic skills are all part and parcel the application of Her teachings and Champions are expected to be versatile in such matters.

## Champion of Ravens - Notelexian Churches & the Harmony of Champions

As a Priest or Holy Warrior progresses through the Church they come to appreciate the responsibilities that fall so squarely upon their shoulders: The day to day lives of their flocks with the problems that stem from family, trade, justice and injustice, aging, death, birth, love and hate. The demands of the Clergy and Church councils to maintain the status quo between the faiths and to ensure that their Church is well represented among the other powers. Evils rise that need to be fought and guildsmen call upon the faithful time and time again for their assistance in miracle and deed of arms. Those that can transcend these burdens and continue on their way are
exemplars of their faith, however in a society that provides the world with so many followers of said faith exemplars tend to be ten a blade in many ways. In order to further hone the talents, belief and grace the Clergy gathered to form an order of people to represent the causes of their religions, originally totaling no more than a hundred from each all faiths and called the Harmony of Champions. Through the years since its creation the Champions have grown into a fully blown order where the ways of each Deity is carefully observed.

*"The church of Notelexus is the home of so much ancient power; some of it is bound to Priests and Holy Warriors through the teachings of the Patient Hand. Other power belongs to the ancestors for whom we are the custodians and also the voices and the receptacles of their knowledge and their wisdom, the two having a very clear difference. Beyond that there are secrets so old and powerful that only the dead can hear them safely and perhaps understand them. That, however, is not the end of the power; many priests of many faiths including our own have within their ranks Champions that are drawn to the Faith. As a Champion of Ravens it is my duty to represent all that is our belief in the purest of ways, there is no need for Churches nor for litany where a Champion walks. With us walk the Ancestors of all times, their words nothing more than a breath away, a breath for us so quickly taken but for them something not felt in hundreds of years. My role is to walk among the faithful and lift them, allow them to hear the words of old and grant them the power of the God, walking with the dead beyond the realm of the living and to the side of the God. That and so much more..."* - Jeriah Hollistal - Champion of Ravens

## Champion of Serenity- Yarriannite Churches & the Harmony of Champions

As a Priest or Holy Warrior progresses through the Church they come to appreciate the responsibilities that fall so squarely upon their shoulders: The day to day lives of their flocks with the problems that stem from family, trade, justice and injustice, aging, death, birth, love and hate. The demands of the Clergy and Church councils to maintain the status quo between the faiths and to ensure that their Church is well represented among the other powers. Evils rise that need to be fought and guildsmen call upon the faithful time and time again for their assistance in miracle and deed of arms. Those that can transcend these burdens and continue on their way are exemplars of their faith, however in a society that provides the world with so many followers of said faith exemplars tend to be ten a blade in many ways. In order to further hone the talents, belief and grace the Clergy gathered to form an order of people to represent the causes of their religions, originally totalling no more than a hundred from each all faiths and called the Harmony of Champions. Through the years since its creation the Champions have grown into a fully blown order where the ways of each Deity is carefully observed.

A Champion of Serenity represents the faith of Yarrianne, her angels and her Archangels; mercy, peace, family and the other perfections of grace are all taken to the heart of the Champion. Within the heart of the Champion the truth of Yarrianne burns like a fever guiding them to the reconciliation of her peace among the wicked. Only followers of Yarrianne who are pure in their faith can hope to carry the torch for the Goddess. Champions of serenity are revered in the world so few and far between are they; all of the folk that they meet are their family, all that they meet deserve their love. There is no cause that they will not consider, there is no task that they will not bear the burden of for another. Many claim that the role of a Champion of Ipseity gives itself for the people but it is the Serene ones that hold the people most dear. It cannot be underlined enough how much of themselves they are willing to give to another and how deeply the loss of a single life is felt by them if they had it in their power to prevent such loss.

## Champion of The Moon - Krakenite Churches & the Harmony of Champions

As a Priest or Holy Warrior progresses through the Church they come to appreciate the responsibilities that fall so squarely upon their shoulders: The day to day lives of their flocks with the problems that stem from family, trade, justice and injustice, aging, death, birth, love and hate. The demands of the Clergy and Church councils to maintain the status quo between the faiths and to ensure that their Church is well represented among the other powers. Evils rise that need to be fought and guildsmen call upon the faithful time and time again for their assistance in miracle and deed of arms. Those that can transcend these burdens and continue on their way are exemplars of their faith, however in a society that provides the world with so many followers of said faith exemplars tend to be ten a blade in many ways. In order to further hone the talents, belief and grace the Clergy gathered to form an order of people to represent the causes of their religions, originally totalling no more than a hundred from each all faiths and called the Harmony of Champions. Through the years since its creation the Champions have
grown into a fully blown order where the ways of each Deity is carefully observed.

*"Within all of the Faiths there are those born that have, perhaps, a truer purpose than those that make their road that of the Priest my friend. With a Church so young and yet so old it would be difficult for anyone to make a differentiation between someone that is born to the calling with that spark of pure faith within them and one that is enticed by the words of others and who, with the vigour of such a youthful faith, approaches the Kraken with that intensity. Let me explain how I would see the Champions of the Kraken: In your heart my friend you know you are: You are, in your blood, a custodian, it is the duty of a Champion to understand the spite that the Sea brings and the power that governs it from the Moon that shines overhead. Those that would ride its waves and accept that their fate may lie at its centre below those cresting turns. It is your duty to lead, to observe the future of those that would call upon the Great God of the Deep for guidance, to bring them to whatever end might await them. Your burden will be to know the truth of that outcome and allow them to face it for good or for ill"* - Muria Trent of Notelexus to Canoth, Drowned Priest of the Kraken.

## Champion of Torment- Rayvahnite Churches & the Harmony of Champions

As a Priest or Holy Warrior progresses through the Church they come to appreciate the responsibilities that fall so squarely upon their shoulders: The day to day lives of their flocks with the problems that stem from family, trade, justice and injustice, aging, death, birth, love and hate. The demands of the Clergy and Church councils to maintain the status quo between the faiths and to ensure that their Church is well represented among the other powers. Evils rise that need to be fought and guildsmen call upon the faithful time and time again for their assistance in miracle and deed of arms. Those that can transcend these burdens and continue on their way are exemplars of their faith, however in a society that provides the world with so many followers of said faith exemplars tend to be ten a blade in many ways. In order to further hone the talents, belief and grace the Clergy gathered to form an order of people to represent the causes of their religions, originally totalling no more than a hundred from each all faiths and called the Harmony of Champions. Through the years since its creation the Champions have grown into a fully blown order where the ways of each Deity is carefully observed

*"The Churches traditions are ancient, their ways are entrenched with dogma, religious fervour and behaviour that only the blanket protection of the clergy allows the Priest to get away with it. The Faith operates through the respect that is owed due to the various long and winded deeds that they have done to keep the smallfolk in their pockets and fuel their piety with lies and bitterness to keep them praying and their Gods strong. I have hated Priests for a long time, their deceit and their pretence at belief led me to my actions and my long acquaintance with one who has altered my perceptions. A Champion of Torment is one in whom the power of the Mistress is nestled like a corrupted little seed, there from the moment of birth and awaiting her call to grow to maturity. Inside them her gifts continue week by week, day by day and hour by hour to do their work, burning away at them causing them to lose hope, to feel the pain of her gifts and to let her being burn in this world for all to see. In return they are blessed by her ways and her rights, strengthened by the pain and the torment and with all that strength and faith they are more than capable of extracting that which no Priest ever could"* - Binrow Skole - Condemned Heretic

## Champion of Tale and Story - Affiliated to the Academy and The Oath

From all walks of life, in every classroom, in every band of travelling folk there is an entertainer or at least someone that believes that they are. Sometimes they strike out to make a name for themselves, not always as one would expect a singer or story teller; some are jugglers, others are ventriloquists and others still are dancers and acrobats. Some have taken to the life to hear their name chanted by the crowd, others walk the road to pass on the stories and the skills that they have heard whilst a few travel to hear the word of the road, to pass message and to act in the name of their benefactors. Of course the chink of coin in the purse is a given, everyone needs a full belly to walk on. A champion of Tale and Story joins a long and selective litany of individuals that have graced the streets and roads of Daer Akmir for centuries. They go under many names: Bards, Minstrels, Heralds, Skalds, Authors and Travellers are but a few and have had many famous names under their belts over the years such as Descallay Ferone, Lee Kane, Silvoro Nalkay and Niamh Grayal to name but a few.

Revered wherever they stop, be it by King or Bandit, the Champions are always welcomed so long as they entertain and assist where they can. However travel is not without a price and unless they receive a wealthy sponsor they find themselves at the hard end of taxation and persecution. The Champions hail in the main from the Academy although they are largely supplemented by the Oath and a small turnout from the Church of the Ten Travellers. Their home remains with the Academy of Bold Companions however but there is a great extension called The Green Lane: Over the years the Academy came into acquirement of a sequence of establishments that not only swell the coffers of the Guilds but also provide safe havens and a place where Champions and their allies can perform and train. Inns, Coach Houses, Theatres and even farmsteads all going into making up a network for them across The Royal Basin and even beyond. Thus the Champions march on in the name of Tale and Story.

## Chosen of the Vorok Core - College of Controlling Power

The power of the Vorok Core has been locked behind the secrets of the Colleges since their inception after the days of wrath thousands of years ago. These mysteries are the enlightenments that provide the strength of the Colleges and the Houses of each of the worlds of the four core worlds that surround the Harrowgulf. It is known that any that whisper their words to the Lords and Ladies of the Colleges, who in turn whisper them to the Masters and Mistresses of their houses, gain some insight and knowledge into these words. The words are the oaths that make keep the rising of the sun and crash of the tides on such distant shores in the worlds that are called Beyleethe, Jorven Kel Karenik, Veek Ruaeth Kajhar and Zartherinyialial. Each time the words are whispered so the Oath between speaker and the great trinity is made more pure and given greater credence. On and on this cycle goes until the one that whispers into the dark finds that there is no longer one part of those that teach listening to them. Instead there is the heart of that world and if what waits there in the darkness accepts the Oath then the whisper chooses to whisper no more.

The Vorok Core and the world, or at least continent, of Daer Akmir share power at levels that most followers of Faith and even the sagacity of Archmages and Wizards would be surprised at and would struggle to understand. These powers many would call forbidden or at the very worst dangerous but that is only because they have not been privy to the knowledge that has been set apart from them. The Chosen is responsible for this power and for keeping the esoteric mysteries of the two worlds safe. So armed they become capable of channeling the flux of their houses directly but more specifically they become partly tied to that world, always hearing the unspoken dreams of its people in their mind; guided by it, shaped by it and ultimately drawn to it. Walking under the sun of Vaklam but feeling the warmth of that shines upon the Zaek Haqire. More than ambassadors, more than their contemporary wizarding components they are chosen; not by their peers in the Colleges, not by the Archmages that have trained them or the Lords of the Houses but by the worlds themselves and the heartstones that empower them.

## Clergy Inquisitor - The Administration of the Vigilant

*Two thousand years have passed. In that time the faithful, believers of truth, seekers of piety have raised the power of divinity to the heavens. Contracts bind us to the heavens, contracts that speak of our duty to the Gods, our duty to the flock and in return both the flock's and the God's duty to us and to each other. Such is the Holy Triumvirate. It is pure. It is sacred. It is Holy. Without it there the sacred bonds of ages and the trusts between us broken. They are not built purely as a physical thing. Our Faith transcends the physical and empowers, through the foundations of magic and miracles, the Gods and in turn those that follow them. The function of our faith and the Gods has been crafted between us with no room for other influence and should there be any need for a redefinition of what is law and is what is heresy then such matters are for a Tharinos and the words of the masses through their High Primus and the words of the Gods themselves. Yet in the dark and still places, unpatrolled by the faithful, their rises the corruption and the malediction of the heretical who would steal from the chastity and sanctities of our belief a power of their own.*

*This filth seeks the words of obedience that are the purity between mortal and their faith and turn it to horror that is their own. There are many that seek to emulate the power of a God and pervert the will of mortal followers by seeking out the weak willed and the feeble minded and tricking them, through deceit, or luring them with power,  tempting them to heresy, to kneel to a darker power. Those that seek to tempt, those that seek to lead and those that seek to follow are a taint upon the purity of the nine, their wickedness will topple the careful balance of power that we follow. They must be sought out, slaughtered, those that know them should be inquisited until the truth of their faith be known, there will be only the righteous and the pure. Vigilance!* - Brief extracts from the words of Termolius. These words are used to introduce those Faithful to the Administration of The Vigilant to whom the Inquisitors belong and by whom they are trained.

## Daemon Hunter - College of Controlling Power

*"I can still remember the fragrance of death; not the smell, but the fragrance left behind as the last living members of my family fell. Abstractly I recall the fragrance of the dry earth stirred up by my Sisters tears and the stench of my father's bowels as they oozed their contents into the world to mix there with his blood. What air  I thought would be me with breath for every moment of my life was the taint of the other world, the tang of the Shadowed Lands. Nineteen of them had attacked the village of Harn, nineteen towering killers, bleak and stark against the contrast of a summers day and the gay colours smothering the trees of the Orchards. It was graceful, calm as they descended intent on, as I thought then our death, as I know now our souls, to feed upon or worse still to powers higher up that one day we might become like them. A Daemon, a Dark Fae Man and one day a singer of the slaughter song, bringing death to those that had one day been like me. My short life was over, a boy, a man, a husband, a father all in one were to end. Then she came.*

*Two words drawn from the heartbeat of the universe cast half of them screaming to the fires of the death and all attention was hers. None had seen her arrive and no Daemon would see her leave again though ten of them pitched their power against hers. I had not then, at fourteen years, nor will I again, see anything as beautiful as that woman with that power. Runes splashed across her skin as she rippled more phrases and strength into the air, pulling a blade made from the hardest places in the world into her hand. Their skin surrendered and shattered into fire and death and she smiled as she walked amongst them cradling their final moments in her grasp. The air screamed and my future danced to life as I watched her complete her oaths and duties, the Colleges beckoned and there in distant days I saw her smile on MY lips and my ending not here but in the Shadowed Lands in war" -* Cull Trevaski - Daemon Hunter, speaking of Yiris Parithyre who inspired him in his youth, as he died in my arms in the castle of bone.

## Detective - Black Square Beaters (Koren Wing)

*"It's my opinion that the Church of Ekimelahw, who as we know are supposedly the pinnacle of law enforcement, lack the cutting edge that makes the militiaman, the freelancer, the detective the true paragon of the law. The law is nothing something that you can master, nor truly use as a tool, it is ever changing, new rules, new interpretations and we find, if we follow nothing but the law, that we are moving away from the truth. Then there are those of us that have mastered the skills of the hunter, that can taste blood in the air, see a handful of splinters from a shoe scuff in a recently lain floor. The ability to detect over the ability to judge is what separates us from the lawmen of the land; the concept of learning from the actions of criminals, that they might follow a pattern in each of their crimes is knowledge that can be drawn from a book, from training but there is more. Instinct, a feeling for a crime, reading people, these are skills that come from someone born to this role, born to follow the gentle trail, the hunt, the chase to bring our quarry down, then to face justice with no clue left unfound and no power in court to save them from their punishment.*

*Who are we then? Anyone. So many of us have found the calling of the detective, consulting or through the justice departments but that is not the be all and end all of us. The majority, you will find, have, like myself, made their way through the ranks of the militia: seen too much death, too many of the law-abiding folk of the world punished by a weak criminal system with their protagonists walking free. They have either pushed themselves for promotion or spent hard earned cash opening private establishments and taken their own brand of investigation into the street. The role is a dangerous one; simple clues that lead us to a murderer can just as easily lead us to a thief who works for a human trafficking organisation and they could work for anyone.  We find ourselves up against the General Krysts of Crime with no real leverage save that which the proof, the links our minds can make and our own elocution can offer to the law and then the strength that that establishment can bring to bear."* - Commander Selvo Rifaca, Koren City Watch.

## Divine Warrior - The Guild known as Divinity

*"An inspiration of faith, my friends, greater in my opinion than any Priest, as I am and a warrior guided by the hand of Grace, I have walked in the Shadow of many worthies but none so great as he: I served with him for many years and I saw the best and worst of him, he was a man first, an angel second and hero of his faith and of his people at all times. Among his first acts in this world as servant of the light was to thwart the power of Malice as it sought a return to this world and in doing so bring forth the Pantheon that we now revere. In many ways you could say that he was the Father of the modern Church of Tiberius although he would dismiss such words as nonsense and continue his work without thoughts of greatness. That was only the beginning of a very long career that would see so many foes defeated, relics recovered, lives saved and dwindling faith inspired that Dieron would eventually be offered and accept the rulership of the Royal Basin as King. Some considered him a poor King, others great a trait that he shared with many others before and after him. Whatever the thoughts of him as King that is never how I remember him or judge him and everything that he was, was summed up on the last day of his life among us.*

*The last act of his life was to sacrifice himself so that we might live. There were others with him who could have and would have cast themselves into the Archway through which he walked but Dieron could not see others carry such burdens when through the actions of their lives they could walk in happiness and bring such spark of faith and belief to others along that way. What speaks of his greatness is the reaction of his comrades. There was little left, upon his departure, but grief and loss in the hearts of his companions. Hopelessness and fear followed not far behind but he knew that they would pass. He was a man who showed faith in us and so powerful was the conviction of that one man, so powerful his faith that it will always inspire us and give us strength no matter how far away from us he has travelled. Yes; these are the journeys of Dieron the Blessed and he is of Tiberius but he embraced the many faiths, though the journey to do so was long and his inspiration was and is an inspiration to any who would call themselves a Warrior Divine, through whatever faith or means they have made their way the purity of the soul is all."* - Battik the Redeemer - Lord of the Dragon

## Enforcer - The House of Black Iron

The Colleges are a mass of Sourcerers, law masters and daemon hunters all of whom are required to spend a great deal of time in the field seeking the knowledge that they need to master their skills. Generally they are skilled with the Sourcerous magics but they have little ability with weapons and the very nature of the magics with which they work restricts their ability to use armour, shields or blades. Despite this they continue their work in harms way and are generally oblivious to dangers that face them as they are often distracted by the power that they seek to control. Quite frequently this means that they need other people to protect them and who better than those that are equally learned in Sourcery.  Enforcers are generally but not always trained solely within the Colleges from an early age and whilst they may show a natural aptitude for magic they are usually equally as gifted with weaponry. Sometimes those with such skills are scooped up by the Colleges from other guilds and put to training but always with the same purpose: To fully integrate the arts of the warrior and the wizard with the intention of protecting those Sourcerers that travel in the field and to support the interests of the Colleges and of Source magic in general.

They are valued by those institutions and also by the Black and Iron Tables for their dedication and abilities whilst travelling on missions. To that end both tables dedicated both time and energy into the creation of a subdivision of the Colleges, supporting both Sourcerous and Vorokian elements with assistance from the Battered Shield and the Crimson Brotherhood. This merging of guilds has led to the Enforcers gaining a much wider range of abilities with which to serve and to protect the Sourcerous causes. Not only are they gaining an education in the combatative arts, covering weapons, armour and shields but also hunting, tracking, urban and wilderness survival and a furtherment of their Sourcerous arts. This led, then, to the creation of the House of Black Iron which has been training Enforcers specifically for almost three centuries.

## Environmental Harmonist - Colleges of Controlling Power

The Colleges support a number of programs outside of the usual channels that step away from the usual regulations of the hierarchy to which the CoCP so dearly hold. The Harmony is one of those operations although in common guildic tongue it is called the Crossing of the Ways or the Nexus Point Guild. It focuses on those that have sought more direct access to the courts of those of the four Nexus worlds. These individuals are on course for a role in that court and whilst the Colleges in no way sever that link they openly encourage that the road be taken. The Harmony represents a role that links the two ancient traditions closer and closer together but in such a way that will not upset the delicate political balance that exists between what both sides perceive as a Master to pupil relationship. For many, long ago the Nexus connection was strongest but the steady advance of Sourcerous training has given rise to a more fluid situation between the two which the Harmony represents.

An Environmental Harmonist is an individual that has shown an great deal of respect for both of these sides, undergone a great deal of training and as such commands a great deal of power from both realms: Basanic and Nexian. Their duties are to both courts and they often called upon to be arbitrators between both worlds, as such they are expected to understand and have explicit knowledge of the cultures and traditions of both as well as a firm grasp of the politics between them. However they are equally capable as Incanters of their arts and many of them go forward to carry within them the essence of one of the people of the realm that they have chosen to support. Whilst this role may seem unique it is a common one among the travelling contingents of the Guildfolk who often have both the need and the opportunity to travel to other realms and share in the power and the stories of their benefactors.

## Exorcist - The Guardians of the Unseen Gate

*"It was an experience that I never want to repeat and one that has underlined my respect for the clergy and specifically the Exorcists. We had just breached into the chambers that we thought held the heart of the cult, mortals we were hoping, but what we found were Daemons. Now I'm a soldier which means I am not generally protected from magics but Daemons I have fought generally chuck out some Arcane damage and then the priests take care of me. This one, though, lashed out with its mind; it was like some dark veil had slipped down over my thoughts. I could see, I was aware, but I had no control as I lashed out: My first cut took down Malanya, our Sourcerer, I'd known her for twelve years, my second went through the guts of my old friend Tonsk from the Silent Company. I would have finished both of them off if it hadn't been for Chadli, our priest, he just stepped up and pressed his hands to my head and the Daemon was gone. Shit, when I think what I could have done if he hadn't been there"* - Rogal Slitherwick - Battered Shield and former member of Twin Trees

Exorcists do not solely come from the ranks of the Clergy; the power that protects the soul, spirit, mind and body can be found in most people and is honed by most orders of Magic: Colleges, Churches, Altars and Halls, even the Oath have the training available to teach people the powers required to drive out the darkness. In 1232 the guilds capable produced the Guardians of the Unseen Gate, a somewhat wordily named guild but one that certainly teaches the skills of Exorcism. There are many creatures that have the ability to possess or control another and it was long a thorn in the side of the Basanic battlefield. So the various orders took it upon themselves to learn the arts and skills that would banish such dominion and those that master them are called Exorcists. This title grants a certain fear and also respect amongst the guildic community and an order of Exorcists exists as an amalgamation of the various sources of power.

## Fate Seeker - The Collegium of Fate

The Collegium of Fate or the Fate Seekers is an exclusive guild that focus their unique skills on Ley Lines of fate to read potential futures and to apply their exclusive knowledge's and abilities to what might come to pass. They are rare in the field but often called upon and considered collector's items for various chartered groups, such is their power.  They can be difficult to converse with; so much of their time is spent with their minds exploring a hundred, hundred futures that they are often referring to themselves and others in the wrong tense or referencing happenings yet to come or far distant past rather than on what is actually happening around them. However in their moments of clarity they are wise beyond their years and seem to have access to knowledge's and powers that would otherwise be beyond them. Whilst the Collegium is small it is powerful and always calls in the dues of anyone who employs their members.

*Thirteen into the days of the Golden Cow*

*Sometimes I have done but only on a Trildas*

*I couldn't but I have if you will*

*Shouldn't we turn that off before they have done*

*But then that wouldn't have happened when now was then and then was going to be later*

*Last week was when the door will open in the orange mountain*

*Look out*

*Too late*

*Croissants*

- Betram Malliakole - Fate Seeker when asked what he wanted for breakfast.

## Freelance Peacekeeping Agent - Various Professional Agencies

Sometimes, when a person has done a thing a thousand times, they get so good at their job they simply can't operate in the same playing field as their competitors. They find themselves moving out of the professions that have bound them for so long, stepping away from the guilds that have controlled them, moving into comfy offices and employing staff that will cope with the influx of requests that will dog them until they shut up shop and retire as millionaires. And rich they will be, Freelance Peacekeeping Agents rarely come cheap and they always come professional; they do the job and you pay them for it with your Helms or your Colverik or they will make sure that you pay for it with your life. These individuals have spent years building a reputation for themselves, one that will carry them out of their previous lives and into a new existence as a Freelance Peacekeeping Agent and it is a reputation that they will want to keep. Training for Freelancing usually comes from an organisation that has dedicated their lives to such action; The Hunters, The Wicked Folk, The Broken Bow and The Twenty Blooded Blades.

Usually they were Bounty Hunters, Hunters, Antiques Dealers, Detectives or similar whose skills have been honed in a conventional job but now they have moved beyond that role. The FPA fills a unique position in that they are sought after as *individuals* rather than as bodies or organisations by people and for a variety of missions in different environments and countries with a high expectation of success. The tasks that they are asked to perform range from recovery of missing individuals or goods, the removal of oppressive heads of state, the delivery of vital messages to undercover agents or the subdual of hostile indigenous individuals who are operating illegally against the state. Whatever task the FPA is asked to do they usually charge high prices for the thorough research and reconnaissance and the specialist equipment that they have access to and prepare for these missions. Always show one the highest respect and never call them a Bounty Hunter, yes?

## Gladiator - Taught in the Arenas of Haven and other Cities

*"The cracked earth of the arena floor belched out a tirade of dust against the parched air bringing it more misery on a fiery afternoon as the heavy frame of Marbight Blackshield crashed into the floor. The blood from his blade rained from the sword that he held over his head in a victory salute to the assembled masses, caressing his face and reminding him of the afternoons work. His roar echoed into the packed amphitheatre, the sunlight gleaming from his steel helm, the face guards rusted the chain links battered, falling away. Stretching his muscles beneath the light leathers that offered him meagre protection he set out on a run around the borders of the arena, a hero to the people, a marvel to the masses, his name chanted down through the ages: A Legend."* - The words of Layanine Voss, poet and author writing at one of the last Gladiatorial contests of the "Age of Blood" during the days of Arena bouts each week with high attendance and occasional death. Gladiators now fight in the annual games and blood is avoided at all costs.

In the old days Gladiators lived in a world full of blood, fighting to near death and on occasion to pass beyond to the realm of Notelexus, their bodies destined for some mass grave or unmarked resting place. This was the world of the Gladiators the Kings and Queens of the Arena. They still exist to an extent, mainly they are orphans taken in by guilds or trainers, prisoners or soldiers who miss the life that they once led. Found usually in towns or cities; arenas of old were huge affairs attracting excited and hungry crowds, now they are hidden from the public eye; dug pits or simple circles of wood and iron now serve the cause. A Gladiator trains hard and long and in specific skills: light armour, relying heavily on natural grace, fast and exotic weapons designed to put on a show and enthral the crowd. High levels of success attracts wealthy sponsors and the chance to act as bodyguards to the rich and famous. However many Gladiators, either retired after the change to non-bloodsports, or who seek a more entertaining life become guilds folk as soon as they are able. regardless there are still some who bring the arenas to life; Fenris Kohl being the most legendary of recent days and once more the crowd bays in joy and blood fury.

## Hex Speaker - The Oath

Wicked words and gentle lies

Called Her down with spite

To fill the day with frogs and Flies

Whilst monsters haunt the night

People died as plague grew worse

Children hid beneath their sheets

Yet still she would not leave Her curse

And Sorrow walked the Streets

The people who had drawn Her ire

Saw their families getting weaker

And looked toward the distant Spire

And called for its great Speaker

And so they came for Her to vex

With words and Lore and Charm

And broke the power of Her hex

Returned the town to calm

But the town must pay the cursed folk

Must die that the lesson here be learned

The Speaker killed the ones that spoke

And with the curse their bones were burned.

## Judge- The Cinereous Table

The right to act as a judge in the Royal Basin is one that is reserved for those that have proven to be both morally sound and with little to tie them to outside influences. The infrastructure of the Royal Basin has led to there being serious class divides that extend from the political, into the social and economic and most certainly into the areas of the Law. Those of higher station do not want to be judged by those of a lower rank and status and equally due to intimidation and the way things are the majority of those of lower rank would rather not stand in judgment of those that are of a higher status. When promotion to Judge comes it is always a difficult choice to accept as it will, without reservation, distance you from your comrades and indeed your family. A Low Judge is chosen by their peers to stand as a representative for the law and to be able to dispense judgment instantaneously; whether that sentence be death or a fine they have the right to do so.

Beyond that a low judge may take temporary control of local militia forces and has the right to investigate and operate with impunity when a case that they have been assigned to leads them to such an opportunity. However a low judge only has the right to preside over the cases that involve those of low rank; the commonfolk, unranked soldiers, farm and small shop owners and very low ranking government officials are among those that stand in such ranks. The Judges are the responsibility of the Cinereous Table who give them not only their direction and orders but also their training. The Judges in potential are extracted from their guilds and given guidance at the various Universities as they study the verisimilitudes of the law. Equally they take time to walk the various "beats" of Militia from city to city so that they can understand the direct influence that they will have over the lives of the small folk. In this way all aspects of Justice are applied.

The principal of Judgement as a Low Judge is fundamentally very different to that of a Judge who will have made the title stand for a different thing with a clear set of skills and role in society. Where a Low Judge is a very sedentary individual nothing could be further from the truth regarding the position of an actual Judge and their later counterparts High Judges.  True they gain the right to lay Judgement on more powerful folk and have to deal with the paperwork that is generally associated with that but their power and jurisdiction is also increased. A Judge is expected to wander the lands, roadways and seas; territories owned by the Royal Basin but territories that are less than hospitable to Lawmen and often populated by folk that hold grudges against the inevitable outcome of their actions. To that end the Judges existing skills and powers are married with blessings and skills from those organisations that have a vested interest in the law such as the Clergy and the Colleges. It is here that  the real differences become apparent.

A Judge in any group is usually being escorted and less likely to be a leading or prominent figure; they do not enter the field in the hope of adventure or to gain wealth. They enter the field in the interests of Justice, Law and Order and keeping the peace. They are expected to have taken an Oath to Ekimelahw and to the Courts and Nobility of the Land to keep the peace and are supplemented in case of it. They often work in tandem with Ekimelahwian agents, militiamen and Vormearn awaiting the call of these worthies to towns or cities so that they can preside over the court that tries them. During these times a Judge is not expected to use the power that has been vested in them instead relying on the authorities that already exist (Inquisitors and Ele Strom for example) to apprehend and bring home the villains.

*"The Judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the government of the Royal Basin as dictated by the elected authorities under the rulership of the lawful leadership. The Judiciary allows for a mechanism for the resolution of disputes and is governed by a system of Judges that are appointed by aforementioned authorities and are required to interpret law and apply it to the fact of each case. The Judiciary is funded, in the Royal Basin, directly by the Golden Table and applies itself via the Mastery of the Cinereous Table. The Judiciary is responsible for making law and for setting precedent that the Judges that serve the Judiciary, or Cinereous Table, can follow. The Judiciary is also responsible for the maintenance of the two direct branches of law enforcement that follow serve the public interest in the shape of the Militia and the members of the Church of Ekimelahw that are responsible for criminal investigation and law enforcement. These two organisations are responsible for promoting their own seniors who in turn are responsible for the dispensing of Justice. All of this occurs, as stated, under the remit of the Cinereous Table and those that make the decisions for this table, who have the right to sit upon that table are High Judges.*

*All appointments made are by the hand of a High Judge who have the right to make and unmake any rank of Judge below them. Unlike the Low Judge and the Judge the role demands a more active interest in the courts of the land and a service to the Judiciary and its processes. They are the only individuals that are capable of bringing judgment to cases that involve the higher nobility and seniors of guilds and merchant houses and have long been designated to specific houses from position to position. There are many duties outside of the dispensing of Justice that belong to the High Judge: The critical study of cases that pass through the system, extrapolation of current rules and laws via this process and then the creation and implementation of new laws is among their primary concern. However they are also responsible for training judges and other officials, the distribution of militia personnel, advising guilds and merchant houses on current legislation and also for lecturing to those and similar organisations with regard their responsibilities and situations. The role of the High Judge is a long and difficult one but to serve Justice is reward in itself."* - Damik Rend - High Judge - A summarization of his open speech on the future of law enforcers at Kings College - 1882

## Hospitallier of Blue Horizons - Guild of Blue Horizons

The Royal Basin, nay Daer Akmir, in fact if we are truthful all of Daer Akmir is a violent and unforgiving place that many travel with the hope of bringing order, hope and calm to a toiling civilisation. Among those that walk that road are the Hospitalliers of the Guild of Blue Horizons. The Guild was founded by Domisarn Kyark of the Oath who followed the Path of the Priest but had grown weary of the Oaths tendency to solve problems with the blade and with many of his friends dead he left to form his own Guild. He was joined by various members of different orders, unsurprisingly the Faith of Yarrianne was strongest among them but also a good contingent of Haruspex and a handful of other Guildsfolk dedicated to the cause. The guild continued to grow, although slowly, filling a unique niche in the community; their ethos was to provide protection, through healing, to those that travelled the horizons of the world whilst promoting the ethos of civilisation, peace and prosperity. There are many tenets that the Guild follows but the core of their grouping is based around the core ideals of a culture that abhors violence and promotes arts, teaching and high moral values.

It is very difficult to join the Order; it is rare that those initiates that train here find a blending of their own moral standards with that of the Guild and those original core group members that founded the organisation in 1845. However once within the Order those accepted often discover that the duties of a Hospitallier are much tougher than they imagined: The code of protection, the conflicting duties that come with understanding that all life is sacred and that before one's own requirements must come the needs of others. Beyond that sponsorship of the arts, appreciation of the philosophies that govern the principals of our lives and the investigation and understanding of the politics that dictate the progress of the smallfolk that have no say in their own destinies also walk with a Hospitallier. A Hospitallier takes on the responsibilities of many people and though they are seen as healers and protectors of the physicality of a person or a group they are also protectors of the soul, the morality and indeed the hope of the people.

## Instructor - The Black Bear

Every guild begins its career based around an ethos that will lead it through its long years of growth and eventual power and the application of it, in the Royal Basin. However each guild is based upon more than the moral guide that leads it, more than the guildsmen and women that serve it and more than the funding that the various tables and nobles plough into it. Without the benefit of those that are called instructor, teacher or Master there would be no guild and that role has become a sacred duty that has in turn sparked its own guild and function. Even the members of the Guild are unsure when it first started and it technically has no name although it is unofficially called the Salmagundi, a pun for the gallimaufry of skills that can be found there. The members are all guildsmen seeking to serve the Royal Basin by passing on their knowledge's in the traditions that have installed themselves into the process of training over the years. An instructor is well paid and it is very much known that they come together to share the tricks and abilities that years of service have granted them.

*"Yeah, we have all taken the field at some point or the other, there's no way that we could ever have someone that hadn't been in the field walking these halls. What? The Guild? Well it's more of a pub really, I mean this is where we used to meet when there weren't so many of us all them years back or so the story goes. 'S called the Black Bear an' yeah it is in the middle of nowhere 'cause we need the fields and the like to teach. If we wanna go on a field trip we'll head toward the cities where we have other Black Bears; some are pubs like thissun' others are cellars or sewers and the like and others still are people. Either way we can train practically anywhere, thing is though it is all about the oath that we take. The secrets of the Royal Basin, it's guilds and its training are all with us and we ain't supposed to be tellin' no-one 'cept those that belong to those guilds, have paid their tuition and have taken the same sort of Oaths that we have to the betterment of the Royal Basin.*" - Luscombe Tentz - Instructor at the Academy

## Kai Rain of the Final Way - The Adepts Assembly

The Final Way represents the mysteries that the Institute of contemplation has devoted its life to over the years of its teachings, mysteries that have been carried much further by the Adepts Assembly and were the basis for the great experiment that ultimately led to the evolution of the Iron Minds. The Final Way demonstrates a complete Mastery over both the Mind and the Body and a blending between both that allows the development of Psionic Talents; a Final Way forward without the need for instructors and devotion to previous training. It was expected that the experiment would create the situation where the concept of the Final Way would be revealed but that transcendental state was eventually achieved and taught by the legendary Bharak Zahr whose meditative techniques and understanding of the sharing of the Astral with our psyche are still both unique and expanding. His treatise on the melding and drawing of power from the thousands of minds as one that are represented by the Astral are fascinating and have led to the creation of the last two paths.

A Kai Rain of the Final Way shows contemplative discipline and is able to reach within themselves and call upon the power of the great circle of power that comes from those with whom they have linked minds. A Kai Rain focuses on the power that they have and extending it out from themselves and into the world around them. Harnessing the minds and powers of others around them and allowing them to manipulate the environment in which they live. A Kai Rain lives by their discipline, through focus that is unsullied by emotion and by the agitation of concern. Through these means they have learnt to invade the minds of others, read and understand their own emotions, control their thoughts and even direct their actions. Through the shared link they gain greater insight and understanding of the world and can pass on and share this understanding with others. Whilst the Final Way of the Kai Rain is hard to Master once it is completed the Mind, once opened, can never be closed again.

## Kantikoy - Unaffiliated - The Organisation of Gentle Blades

The majority of the guilds train their people to use most common forms of weapons, some train in the more exotic whilst others choose to master the arts of unarmed combat and pugilism. Of all the weapons that are handled by folk across the Basin a knife, dagger, shiv, dirk, bodkin, poniard, skean, stilleto or whatever it is you choose to call it, is still the most common form of back-up or defence weapon. However few would carry knives and blades alone as a primary choice of attack, despite their quickness, light weight and ease to conceal, those that do are considered brave or foolish at best but there are those that have mastered the use of knife and knife alone. The Kantikoy or slipblades are a rare and rum bunch who seem to have some privately uncanny way of knowing how to meet and pass on their skills. They have woven their way into many a bards tale with their finesse with the blade and their mysterious air, appearing at shows and delivering a master class of knife work and showmanship. Even the name Kantikoy is a take on its meaning - To dance as an act of worship; the dance of the blade.

They claim that their skills are not part of a guild collective, they meet, usually at festivals, fayres or completions and fade away from the crowd to train in secluded areas, demonstrating nuance and new turns. They rarely use their skills outside of competition, you would not really know you were next to one in combat, swords, axes and shields all make for a longer life but when they pull their cut throats they are as effective if not more at killing work. So who organises this collective? What drives them to learn and practice new skills? The legend states that in the tunnels beneath Shriekspire the Organisation of Gentle Blades meets on a monthly basis to hone their skill and pass on the arts that they have learnt on their travels. Only a hallowed few are tricked into attending these meetings before they are accepted by the "guild" that they will come to revere. So powerful are the stories of these folk that people are known to often tell their children that there might be a Kantikoy in the shadows, they behave after that.

## Knight Commander of an Order - Any Order of Basanic Knights

*"Knights of the Royal Basin generally, in our hearts and minds, typify heroism, bravery and nobility, especially if you believe those lying bards and the stories your nurse maids or teachers told you when you were young. These stories are told for various reasons; first and foremost so that you believe in them, so that a Knight, in your mind is a shining figure of the laws and purity of the Land that you live in. That first reason is easily made to be bollocks if you spend any time with Knight of the Silver Murder....I mean Order."* He chuckled to himself here, somewhat distant, before continuing: *"Secondly because it keeps their spirits up on both sides of the fence for the Knight and the Civilian it is good to feel, well, good! And that in itself is true and worthwhile. The Third reason is because we pay those lying bards to spread stories like that to raise sponsorship for our Orders, which leaves us quite frequently unrecognised by the public due to the liberal spreading of Horse Shit over our images to try and give them some beauty. Anyway."*

*"It is important to remember that this the front end of what we do. We are, in many ways, the ideal of soldiers; either given duty by our birth, our choice or by being chosen to represent our Order. In each of those Orders is a code and it is the responsibility, an important word, of every Knight to uphold that code. Any Order needs a leader. That Leader must not only exemplify the code and the attitudes of those that serve them but also the perception of the people of the Royal Basin. When the common folk of the Royal Basin look at us they see beneath the visor of out helmets a reflection of themselves peering out, all that is good and noble. Or black and barbarous should you be the Silver Order."* More Chuckling: *"That nobility needs to be inspired, a Knight, unlike a common soldier, is an inspiration and in turn must be inspired to continue to be worthy to wear the colours of their Order. Yes it's tactics, yes it's skill at arms, yes it can be bean counting but at the heart of it our new Lord Commander leads by example"* - Departing Lord Commander Rebecca Reeve of the Grand Star as she was replaced by Lord Commander Bella Tyrene.

## Knight of the Bow - The Esteemed Order of The Wicker Dawn

There are weapon experts that operate across the Royal Basin each of whom is well respected and often hold positions of instruction and influence in their guilds or with nobility in courts. However there are also those who are considered elite with those weapons, those that have developed skills beyond just using their weapons to cause injury but also to achieve greater ability on the battle field. These people are quickly collected together and often formed into specific orders that specialise in certain areas of expertise and gain the chance to train others that show the same aptitude levels as them. They are often well supplied and well outfitted by the Royal Basin with Noble sponsorship but equally are expected to undertake dangerous and often lethal missions. The Order or Knights of the Bow are an order that was formed by the remnants of the Emperors own Bowmen that fought in the Battle of The Wicker Dawn. Their ranks were swollen by other survivors of that horrific battle from the likes of the Silent Company, The Oath, The Battered Shield and the Outriders. These treasured few were Knighted by the State and given Lands North of the Ferns to call their own; the Esteemed Order of The Wicker Dawn.

Since that day they have grown in stature and ability adding success after success to their already impressive reputation. They are known for their stealthy and covert abilities that are heavily supplemented by their skill with a bow. Few can come to close to their dexterity, accuracy, calmness under pressure or dedication to duty, in honour of their ability they are raised to the rank of knight. Compared to some other Orders they are relatively new to the field and take their role, their duty and their obligations incredibly seriously. The honour of the Order is a cherished thing, not solely due to their recent status but because they remember. Each day they recite the names of the dead, those that fell in the Battle and remember the deeds that they did, the lives that were saved because they fell and the commitment that they had to the people that they were sworn to protect. This is the reason they take their honour so seriously, why their title means more to them than noble privilege and entirely the nobility of the aspirations of the brave that died before them.

## Knight of the Grand Star - The Most Noble Order of the West

*There are a great number of knightly orders that crowd their way through the guild halls and royal gatherings; some of them can trace their way back through the lineage of noble lines and to the true defence of the land, others, many others, seem to have been made from a hodgepodge of guildsmen who have ideas far above their station. The concept of the Knights of the Grand Star falls firmly into the first description of individuals, this group is preserved for those of noble privilege, those born to the families of the Royal Basin that were sworn to protect and to serve the people be they peasant, merchant or Priest through a code as old as the land itself; a code that truly identifies what privilege is: Not the right that wealth and position bring but the privilege of trust placed in us by those that serve, this is the basis of the code that guides: Chivalry, Honour, Trust, Respect, Good Conduct and Adherence to the Law. The Grand Star has hung in the heavens above the Royal Basin for as long as any can remember and became the symbol of the order to represent our unending and enduring presence as protectors and defenders of the Realm, as long as it hangs in the heavens so shall we too stand.*

*This order was formed in secret in the late 300's PPW when the term Knight was far from our lips and was only made an official order in 1823 PPW when those nobles that opposed our idealistic beliefs finally submitted. But in secret we were taught by Kuldisar of the North, Zumatakans, Yuirfarvallen and others of secrets that were carried over from their lands unto this. Secrets that strengthen and give life to our arms and armour and teach us how to draw on the strength of the people to enhance the abilities that we learned from our guilds. We exist to maintain a peace between all the peoples of Daer Akmir, Silver Saints if you will of all the lands. It is rumoured that in days gone past there were two halves to our faction, those that carried the symbols of our truths and those that wore the Armour crafted not only by the Knight but also by the mystics and smiths of many lands and many cultures. An Armour that is almost alive, an Armour that beats with your heart. Your Armour is your Life* - Selected texts from the words of the Grand Star.

## Knight of the Land - The Most Distinguished Order of the Unlanded

According to the various traditions of the land on which we live the peerage dictates true power to the landed of the noble families. The rankings for such individuals begin with the classification of Knights who are the lowest ranking of the Landed Gentry of the Royal Basin. Long ago that was indeed all there was, the Knights that served Barons who in turn served their way up the chain and these knights were those youngest members of the noble families or those that did not stand to inherit and make their way up the rankings. Today those knights are called Hereditary Knights and continue in the same role but specifically they are landed folk with even the now cling to spits of land to give their family a sounding. They are proud folks who qualify for many of the long established orders, the Purple Heart, the Bow and the Silver Order to name but a few, but these are only open to such folk as the old guard but this old breed are dying out and being replaced en masse. The years of war ravaged the noble lines but the common man still needed the example of Knighthood and those that stood in its defence looked for the advantage of stepping up to the role.

It was a long and bloody battle between the guilds and the nobles but in the end the Order of the Unlanded was formed and given a strict code by which to live. Originally anyone that was not born a noble was forced to be a part of the Order but the tenets, direction and populace of the Order changed swiftly. Quite frankly there were so many newly knighted warriors that the Order was threatening to take over the other Orders in size and fame. Many in the Order found themselves to be second class and treated as such by the other Orders and managed to arrange for the Order to be rebuilt under a new name: The Knights of the Land and with a new purpose which stands today: To stand for the land as though they were all subject to its rule, to protect the nobility and the people whilst serving them, the Gods and the Tao. Soldiers for loyalty, truth and honour. They still adhere to the strict tenets and their numbers have swollen in recent years, mainly due to the wars that have ravaged the lands and the still burning need for the peasantry to look up to the Knights that have, for long, protected them.

## Knight of the Purple Rose - The Blessed Order of the Open Heart

The Royal Basin, like many other lands, has developed specialist orders, often the call will come that wicked Lycans are ravaging the borders, Undead are rising in their tombs or that Daemons are abroad in the wastes. These threats can take years to deal with as the inexperienced and the ill informed attempt to deal with their numbers and end up swelling them. However, swiftly or eventually, the light will come in the form of experts that have been battling such forces for years. Such is the bravery and the service that they perform to the land that occasionally these worthies are given title of the Land, differing from ennoblement. With this responsibility comes many perks and many duties one of which is to keep the training and the skills alive and this is often accompanied by the forming of an Order. The Order of the Purple Rose was formed in 792 PPW and is one of the oldest orders of the Royal Basin. Only its contemporaries the Dragon and the Daemonic Covenants may be older.

It was named the Purple Rose after the founding members were awarded the Purple Roses of Bravery and the Black Hearts for skill at arms. The Deeds? Lady Mary Tulver, Sir Tacey Roan and Red Jack were the surviving members of an order of warriors, supported by a handful of casters who had fought in the ninth daemon wars, against the golden hoard and had been called upon to rout a tribe of Nervish that threatened the lands to the South. Success was theirs but at a cost that could barely be described. Since that day the order has existed to protect the boundaries of the Royal Basin from supernatural forces as dictated by the code of the Order. Their deeds were so immense that they engulfed the concept of the Purple Rose and the only honour left to bestow upon them was the role of Knighthood. With this new order came the burden and responsibility of training and of the continuation of techniques and skills that would allow the Royal Basin to triumph against many darkness' in the years to come.

## Field Agent - Kings Recruitment Office - KRO (CROW)

The Monarchy of the Royal Basin is served by various political and military wings that protect and serve the nobility, the merchants and the small folk alike. There are also the guilds, the colleges and the churches who train independent forces that are ultimately responsible to the Crown. However the chain of command requires these organisations to answer to Guild Heads, Generals and the like meaning that direct control of them is virtually impossible. It is well known The Crown has long employed a service of men and women that carry our dangerous and covert missions that answer only to the Throne and its most direct advisors. They are the Kings Recruitment Office; the KRO. This organisation has existed in one form or another, or so it is rumoured, since the inception of the Royal Basin as a legitimate form of government. Even during the time of the ill conceived principals of the Empire, under Emperor Joshua the First, the organisation reformed as the IRO (Imperial Recruitment Office). Whether the legends are true or not the KRO are not to be trifled with, they are fearsome opponents and very few are actually invited to join the outfit.

The KRO operate alongside the Iron Table providing specific missions for the guilds folk of the Basin and often acting alone. A Field Agent is a trainee officer who has been selected by their guild to train as a junior officer within their ranks. They undergo specialist training and direct their efforts to supporting, in the main, the needs of the Royal Basin and her direct allies. Whilst the KRO is feared and either trusted implicitly or considered to be dangerous due to their subversive nature, field Agents have limited contact with the KRO itself and ergo have little reputation to defend. They are often called upon to lead dangerous missions and are expected to slip into advisory or command roles, few however make it past the role of Field Agent. Promotion and advancement through the ranks comes with hard work and success and an ability to disregard what many would consider to be a moral compass. Only when one reaches the ranks beyond the Field Agent does one achieve the name that will protect them from the enemies that they gather in life.

The Monarchy of the Royal Basin is served by various political and military wings that protect and serve the nobility, the merchants and the small folk alike. There are also the guilds, the colleges and the churches who train independent forces that are ultimately responsible to the Crown. However the chain of command requires these organisations to answer to Guild Heads, Generals and the like meaning that direct control of them is virtually impossible. It is well known The Crown has long employed a service of men and women that carry our dangerous and covert missions that answer only to the Throne and its most direct advisors. They are the Kings Recruitment Office; the KRO. This organisation has existed in one form or another, or so it is rumoured, since the inception of the Royal Basin as a legitimate form of government. Even during the time of the ill conceived principals of the Empire, under Emperor Joshua the First, the organisation reformed as the IRO (Imperial Recruitment Office). Whether the legends are true or not the KRO are not to be trifled with, they are fearsome opponents and very few are actually invited to join the outfit.

An officer of the KRO has acted as field agent for a selected number of missions and has been considered for promotion to the rank of officer. This rank effectively gives the officer the equivalent rank of Captain or Margrave for matters of protocol with the ability to act in any organisation and to expect respect and co-operation within that organisation. They are expected to follow the protocols laid out before them without question and to obey the will of their senior officers no matter where that path may take them. At this rank they are expected to take a KRO title that they operate under, usually disguised, whilst on official KRO business. This title is said to protect the families that they have from being attacked by enemies of the state; KRO Officers often find themselves in diplomatic missions that may end in espionage in foreign lands and make suitable amounts of enemies. KRO officers are said to be among the most courageous members of the Royal Basins armed and guildic forces and whilst many fear and distrust them no-one doubts their conviction.

*"I had been briefed for Daemons, so I went in the full and confident knowledge that KRO intelligence is always correct and Daemons would be what I would encounter. I was supplied with detailed maps, specific equipment designed to deal mask me and protect me from the Daemon foe and was equally sufficiently happy that I would not be involved with mission unless the powers that be believed that I was capable of death dealing myself. The most, as ever impressive and pertinent tool I was armed with was a contact amongst the local populace. Be cognisant of the fact that intel pointed to this township being 99% Daemon and I was there to find out the truth and whether there was anything worth salvaging. So a contact was beyond impressive. I approached the township around ten pm, it was the stillbirth weather of early winter; everything looked alive but hope was at an end and the mist clung to everything like a whores perfume. The contact was late and Daemons were on the prowl, it was that kind of night, but the training and the kit I was using led me to a barn where he and other prisoners were held.*

*Shortly after his discovery I arranged mine, although I looked more like a local bum than a KRO and it wasn't long before I was chained to a wall, a surly Scaravange the culprit. I'd been chained to walls by better Daemons than him but he didn't need to know that. My contact and I were out and away in a few minutes, the rest went to the Gods; it was a mercy, something I'm well known for, I'd have never got them all out without blowing my cover. A further scout through confirmed what my contact was telling me; an open portal in the town centre and a large number of captives likely to be incubators for Daemons that were coming through. Deep in the heart of Basanic territory too. If there was ever a time for expediency this was it, there was not time to call the cavalry, even if I did the good guys would probably make things worse, let a couple of infected make their way into society, even the contact was probably corrupted. I called in the strike, turned the whole township to slag. I know the souls there would have thanked me. Made me Senior Officer I am today. You've got to know how to roll the hard six."* - Unnamed KRO agent

## Military Officer (Insert Rank) - Full commission - The Table of Swords

*"Officers are a funny breed Corporal. They don't see things like me and you see things and they is the same the entire military over. Don't matter whether they are soldiers, like what you and me are, or if they are sailors or airmen they all think the same and I don't mean the ones what have come up from the dirt, you can't trust those ones, 'cause like me and you they know too many tricks of the trade, lazy buggers. N'ah, I'm talking about a proper officer from the proper Royal Basin which is an odd beast itself. People from elsewhere's tends to think that we is eccentrical with our rules and our traditions and think our officer corps is arrogant and ridiculous with their uniforms and their snoots but, right, its these officers wot is the bravest of the brave and the winners of wars. Well most of them, what you want to watch out for is an officer what has lots of medals for things like valour but is suspiciously unmarked by war: Officers is generally vein and will keep a scar rather than get rid of it 'cause they think it makes 'em look flash, if they ain't wounded they's liars.*

*Our job with an Officer? Well, other than, of course, to do the fighting is pretty straight forward. See, every officer is 'spected to obey certain unwritten laws and there ain't no regulations or written instructions to assist what is a newly commisioned officer in most of these matters. So we tells 'em what they needs to know and what they is supposed to be doing 'cause they usually have no idea. The worst is junior officers; everyone knows that they is enthusiastic and that has to be drummed out of 'em sharpish before all us poor shield bearers is stabbed 'orribly to death or, worse,  forced to over polish something. But generally they can be summed up by something I 'eard a Major say to a new Captain many years ago: '**Good officers are made through the exercise of discipline upon themselves and those under them, courtesy, tact, and, above all, experience in the handling of people. This means hard work, but the respect of people, so necessary to a successful officer, cannot be gained by social charm and good birth credentials"*** **- On Officers - Sergeant James "Horridly Smelly Bush" Jones to his Corporal**

## Mystic Blade - The Arcane Arsenal

The mastery of skill at arms and the mastery of the mystic arts are two avenues of training that are often separated by the sheer amount of time that it takes to master one or the other. It is difficult for an individual to keep in their mind the constant demands of combat; its nuance and its flow it is harder still to merge that with the dedicated rote and drawing on power of a casters thoughts. There are, then, perhaps only a hundred folk, currently alive who have mastered these two arts. Imagine then how few there are that have not only mastered both of these paths but have, through patience and talent, merged the two, using the ritual of battle as a conduit for the rite of the Eldritch arts. This tradition began hundreds of years ago, although how and why is not clear and is rumoured to have had its roots in the Oath although the evolution of power is set with the CoCP and the Crimson Brotherhood. From and sponsored by, those two mighty edifices came The Arcane Arsenal where such skills could be taught.

The Arsenal is small but powerful; its instructors, active members and trainees number less than fifty but each one is respected and often returns to teach at their parent guild. We do not accept anyone with less than five years of experience in either field nor one that whose ability to improve both physically and magically is not apparent, that is to say without a keen degree of innate talent. Mystic Blades and Mystic Sharpshooter, as the common folk would call them, are specialists beyond compare, never one is the same as another and they are found in the field being supported by contracted groups dealing with problems that are specific to their skill sets. With such a small group available to us we are seldom working in the field together and it is vital that we maintain the professional attitude that we have trained with throughout any mission. We are Basanic, we follow the ways of the Gods, the Tao and the Comet and we understand the power of the mind.

## Night Cloak - Illegal Profession - Vigilante Crime Fighter

*It is a mystery, in honesty, who teaches 'em. Some say wot is the Outriders or wot is the Silent Company but I reckons they is just rumours. Ooo killed 'is Lordship then? I dunno probably one of them Oaf men wot don't like people bein' propa bastards. Could've been like a Naedite tho. Did I no? N'ah if I'd nown the bugg'r 'ad them gels locked up down there I wudav hollered fer the militia. Not that they wudav dun nothink 'bout it 'cause of about the money wot 'is Lordship 'ad lots of but wot is suspiciously missin' now. So yeah it cudav bin one of them, wot don't exist, wot did fer him, by stabbin' 'im up afta gettin' fru the locked doors. Also wen they dun made 'im sine that confeshun sayin' 'ow 'e had dun them 'orrible fings to them ova gels and were 'e buried 'em an' all that. Funny 'ow peeple wot don't exist cud do that t'a'man. Oh you'se ear rumorz down the local booza about Red Dandy Tom and 'ow 'e cort the Mangler o' Stoney road an' that no won can find 'em 'cause theyz masters o this guys. But person lee I dun't belief they 'sist.*

*These were the words given to Captain Tomas "Tom Tom" Eelbaiter in an interview conducted after the murder of Lord Calember Shadowmane in Norfell in 1992 by what seemed like a harmless manservant. Tom Tom had arrived at the scene of the murder moments after it was comitted after witnesses saw someone running along the rooftops of the building in the pouring rain in heavy winds. Needless to say Lord Shadowmane had no such manservant and was in fact the Norfell Monster, responsible for the disappearance of over 20 women. I believe that this "manservant" is part of a mysterious group, known as Night Cloaks, that have dedicated themselves o some form of bloody vigilantism. They seem to share the same secrets, specifically around the creation of the outfits that they wear, their methods of investigation and certainly the dispatching of their justice. I firmly believe that they are members of the same sect and that they exist to battle crime and the corruption that exists in our own law enforcement systems*. - Professor Oliver Bruce - University of Great Strabain - Of Night Cloaks tour.

## Oblivion Mage - College of Controlling Power

*"Oblivion. What is Oblivion? Many believe that it is a state of destruction, a state of ending but that is not the truth of Oblivion. If you are to be an Oblivion Mage then you must master the true harmony of the Nexus and understand that what we achieve is not directly the change in state of that which we destroy but the change in state of self. As you train there must become an awareness of only two things: The Self and The Flux of the Nexus and as you become aware of those two things you must make them one. This is a difficult process and cannot be achieved by a cluttered or disordered mind. It represents the pinnacle of the meditative arts which we use to concentrate and unleash the powers of what is known as the Source of Magic and its practice is one that changes a Mage. In truth it is a state that the Oblivion Mage does not leave, this mediation is never left; the Sourcerer becomes unified with the Flux and in many ways is unaware or unconscious of what is happening around them. Strong personalities often cope with this state but are easily subdued if calling on their strengths, weaker ones however often become absorbed into the Flux and become reflections of others or the raw power itself.*

*That in itself is not all that an Oblivion Mage is. The oneness that is created between the Flux and the Mage is an extension of the very power and will of the Nexus. To see and unravel the lines of power that hold life and magic together is a basic gift and one that comes with the truest sense of power. An Oblivion mage holds true Mastery over life and death with the weight on the later because we cannot bring life only preserve it should we chose to. In our hearts, in our souls and in our hands is the power to end civilisations, to destroy cultures, to slaughter armies and crush the dreams of the powerful. Alone an Oblivion Mage is a potent force but in number through the convocation they become something that is unstoppable. This is the power of the Oblivion Mage. We are deployed into the most dangerous situations to achieve the most optimal ending to a scenario with the most extreme power available to us. Otherwise we are servants to our meditations and disciplines but still mortal, still human or Eaölfen but that part of ourselves is something that we must keep and hold to and have been incorporated into our meditations lest we become one of the lost."* - Peveril Cole - Oblivion Mage

## The Pious Shield - The Guild known as Divinity

This path follows on from the description of Divinity but with the application of the following code and beliefs.

Do not question the Deities of the Heavens, simply answer them when they come to test you, follow them and obey them, show them your strengths, honour them when they call:

What is your Calling?

Duty is my Calling

Where is your Strength?

In you is my Strength

What is your Life?

Faith is my Life.

Where is your Honour?

In my deeds is my Honour

Trust in your Faith and the God(dess) that you follow when the Darkness comes calling to rip out your soul; trust in them to intercede and defend their Holy Warriors when other powers rise up to try and snuff them from this world.

We are the Pious Shield of the Clergy

We are the Warriors of the Heavens

We will bring Faith where there is only sin

We will march against the enemies of Divinity

In War or in Peace

Eternally in Service

## Prophet - The Way Beyond The Worlds

*"Within the faiths there are many individuals that claim to have been touched or contacted by the Divine and that they themselves speak with the understanding of their voice and their power. Usually Priests within the religious orders speak with the voice of their Arch Angels or the Deity through the auspice of the Church and many have had the opportunity to do so, it is a given thing by the grace of the Gods after many communions through Tharinos. However there are a number of times when these situations have occurred in situations where the use of Divine or Hallowed places have not been needed nor have the use of miracles that are commonly used by Priests in the field. These occurrences often come naturally to individuals that carry the line of angelic lineage, heritage, in their family either knowingly or unwittingly. In these situations the individual can often hear the voices of lesser powers, Angels or Demi Powers that have fallen through cracks in the world whether that be through the mortal or in Soul Anchor. These people seem to be finally attuned to their essence and can not only speak on their behalf but also draw upon their power and strength to act in their name should they need freedom or direction.*

*However it is most common that these people are not listening to the words of Angels as was suspected for many years. Indeed there are many beings of a supernatural nature that can be heard and drawn upon by those that are particularly gifted in their lineage. At first the Clergy funded a small guild to assist and guide these folk in the hope that they could in turn guide wayward Divine beings; when it was ascertained that they were in contact with other creatures such as Vorokians, Daemons, Fae and Spirits further steps were taken. The leaders of all guilds were spoken with and it fell eventually to the Oath to train those that spoke with such a Supernatural voice: Prophets. It became apparent that there was a great deal of power floating between the different realms and that those that provided it were often lost and in need of a voice. Prophets are charged not only with utilising that power in a positive way for all involved but to bring wayward creatures back to their homes or destroy the malevolent beings that adversely attack this world. Responsibility and Common Sense are watch words for these people"* - Kitsion Dathy - Priest - The Oath.

## Relentless Swordsman - Outlawed Profession - Previously Blades in Honour

*"Duelling was a way of life for me back in old days; it was like an addiction that you couldn't kick, an itch you couldn't scratch, something that wouldn't sleep unless it had been indulged first. I remember my first duel with a clarity that has receded over the years and the countless tests of steel. It was against Farrington, he was a rival of mine at University and someone who had tried to discredit my work in the years to come, I bumped into him outside of Frannies in Great Strabain, down by the bridge. He knocked me down and laughed in my face, Grace joined in and that was that, my old rapier was out and in my hand and the challenge was issued. That was that, I was young then and had no idea what I was doing but I still beat him, that night on one of the stanchions of the bridge itself. The elixeration, not just at the victory, but at the freedom of the act was tremendous and I knew, then, that I could never go back and that this would be something that I did again. Duelling for me, duelling on behalf of others, I fought over fifty times across four years and would have been incarcerated by now if it wasn't for Paul Calstow.*

*I challenged him on a dark Winters eve in Haven for nothing less than a glance that unsettled me across a crowded tavern. He chuckled when I issued my challenge but accepted nonetheless and we met in secret, or so I thought, by the docks. The "duel" lasted less than a minute and I thought he would kill me for sure, so quick, so dangerous but no, when he dumped me on my arse he gave me his hand and up I got. Others appeared from the shadows and it was explained to me that they were part of an organisation of bladesmen called the Relentless Swordsmen. They sought out individuals who had the natural talent with the blade and taught them their skill. Why? I asked, as no doubt you would: So it is not forgotten, I was told, few are as skilled with a sword as we are and few ever will be but those that possess the talent and the need to dance with the blade are the only hope of keeping the teachings and developments of hundreds of years alone. So. I am no longer a slave to my duelling addiction; now I roam the world, seeking tourneys and back alleys to test my blade and find others like me, a swordsman, relentless."* - Myles Champion - Originally a Chirugeon from the University of Great Strabain

## Sacred Purifier - The Cherished Sacrament

There are corners of the world that have bred the darkest and most corrupt creatures that stand against everything in which we believe and in which we have faith. They must be fought and from the Churches of the land come the warriors that will stand against them: There are thousands of quarters from which corruption comes, the most common place that spring to the lips are the powers of the old God - The Devourer or perhaps the Daemon Lords of the Shadowed Lands. They spread their putrid filth through the mouths and hearts of the weak and in the gifts of pestilence and madid fetor. Such power is not so easily dismissed by a Priest of standard training and so the Clergy instructed long ago for the Order of Sacred Purifiers to be dedicated to destroy them. A Sacred Purifier is one who has completed the training of their order and demonstrated a great skill in bringing the gifts of the enemy to a swift and unceremonious end.

They are indoctrinated into the teachings of the Sacred Purifiers and taught the miracles that, dangerous in the hands of the impious, will wipe away the corruption that that the heretical creatures of the ancient foes. They are employed against the power of Malfeasance across the land; destroying creatures, preaching back those that have lost their faith and purifying areas that have been taken by the darkness. These secrets are taught only in the most holy of temples and then only to the most pious, the closest to their deities able to draw from the ire of their patrons to strike down their enemies power. In each of these temples there are a linked collective of shrines called the Cherished Sacrament where the power of the Gods flow to their purifiers, laid down long ago by the Hallowed Twelve and their disciples under edict of the Ninth Tharinos through the lost teachings of Agaranth of Klain.

## Silver Saint - The Saints Hold

The Silver Saints are the elite troops of the Royal Basin, selected from only the very best of the Guildsfolk; they are expected to have the highest skills and aptitudes available to their establishments, demonstrate puissant skill at arms and be capable of utilising magical skill wisely and efficiently. They must have the most indomitable of spirits and Iron of Wills whilst demonstrating loyalty only to the Royal Basin; its nobility, ideals, Guilds, Faiths and Colleges. They will be capable of wearing the full suits of silver plate mail, that is the mark of the Silver Saint, as though it were a second skin and never see it tarnished with the shame of betrayal or dishonour. They will understand the laws of the land and will stand to protect that to which they are charged regardless of personal imperilment and treat the role as it should be treated. Few are taken to it and fewer still survive the selection processes so prestigious is the role, it is known among the people that only the Silver Saints hold more respect than Kings and Queens, Priests and Sourcerers, commanders of the battlefields, loyal warriors and holders of the greatest trust.

*Here before the True Nine Gods I swear this sacred Oath to the Sovereign of the Basanic Empire and its people.*

*I swear that I will powerfully serve the Sovereign, honestly and well and that I will stand by the laws and powers of this realm.*

*I swear faith to the nine, I swear loyalty to the Colleges, I swear truth to the Nobility through terror and without prejudice.*

*I swear to serve the Crown and its legitimate successors with all of my strength and through sacrifice of my life, my mind and if necessary my soul.*

*I assume this commitment to any task or person that is lain before me by the powers that I am sworn to serve and to whomever holds the Regency should the throne be empty.*

*Furthermore I make my Oath to the Golden Saint and my superiors, I offer my respect, devotion and obedience.*

*Allegiance until death*

## Spirit Talker

Some of the Tao firmly believe that spirits are reborn into the world when they die, if they choose to allow it, rather than becoming ancient spirits that teach the others. It is not a commonly held belief because far too many of the those of the Wyld reside in the deeper parts of the Spirit World after their deaths. However it does not explain the existence of the handful of Melkarr, Ulmargarn and the like that are referred to as Spirit Talkers. Their gifts are legendary and the abilities that they possess could only come from one whose kinship has stepped into the Spirit World and returned. The affinity that they have with the spirit world and speaking for those that inhabit it is truly Supernatural in all respects. Spirit Talkers are highly sought after within the Tao and other cultures that revere the spirits as the focal point of their teachings.

The abilities that they use are considered frightening and unsettling by any who witness the events. Eyes black or white out, vapours are seen to come from the mouth and the body contorts and convulses as the spirits of beyond enter the host. A Spirit Talker may at this point begin to speak in tongues or the texture of their voice may change to perhaps a guttural growl or sibilant hiss. To that end a Spirit Talker is often more feared than loved and their interactions with other members of even the Taoic community are limited and stilted. Their training comes directly from the Gillieabad, initially through dreams and then later via sojourns into the spirit world and on journeys with the Felakiq and Galafeli who remind them of the forgotten tongues that all mortals can speak in and giving them the powers that they need to fulfil their roles.

## Tactical Commander - Haven Academy of Tactical Engagements

*"Leadership is a tricky beast, especially when it comes to military commanders; some have leadership thrust upon them whilst others are born to it. Some pay for their roles in command with no former training and some are promoted through the ranks based on the skill that they have learned through experience. There are many ranks that these people can achieve through the armed and military service but few of them will ever be called upon to lead a battle. Of course thousands will be involved in battle and hundreds will lead soldiers into combat and yes they will command those soldiers and every choice they make for those soldiers will change in some small way the outcome of the battle. Each of those orders, though, are based on the decisions and choices of those that actually lead the battle, the select few that have filtered through all of the reports, read their history, come to understand the tactics of their enemy and who understand the morale and abilities of their own troops. There are few of these tacticians and they are treasure by those who serve under them and are served by them; the question is are any of you those people? You may begin."* - Brigadier Chenet to Silent Company hopefuls before Tactical Command Examinations.

The Haven Academy of Tactical Engagements has been the prestigious home of gifted soldiers and officers for well over two centuries and contains most of the knowledge that was accumulated in its predecessors. Skilled commanders are selected by the Guild officials of both the Silent Company and the Crimson Brotherhood based on field reports and recommendations and hail from guilds of all types across the Royal Basin. These folk then go on to take their examinations and eventually, if they are skilled enough, join the staff of senior commanders across the armed forces and guilds of the lands. They are usually renowned for having an extreme presence on the field, able to lead from the front or from the back and to demonstrate a skill at arms enough to rival the champions of most divisions. Most consider this to be the most difficult role in the armed forces, expectation upon you are high and many of the senior leaders find themselves under extreme pressure, many cope with the stresses of command but others crumble and the battle is lost.

## Urban Hunter - Secret Profession

Even the Cities of the Royal Basin are not safe from monsters; the heritage of beasts such as Lycanthropes, Daemons and the dead flow in the veins of unsuspecting members of the populace. On certain nights when the moon is full or when strange materials come into contact with their skin these people become beasts that roam the streets of everyday townships. In dark sewers and forgotten underground caverns followers of forgotten or abandoned Gods or of Daemon Lords gather together to worship their dark masters and to spread their corruption. Some nights when the dark is cloying the followers of those Monsters come together and unleash beasts that prey upon the weak and the innocent. Stories range from town to city to village of nightmares that choke the streets, snatch children from their beds and drag away the innocent to be offered up to some unholy terror. But among the monsters there are stories too, stories of men and women who stand, silent in the shadows with weapons born of story to end their reign of fear.

"Urban Hunter" is a title that is given to a small number of individuals who are also called the children of Vassell who follow the mantra's and teachings of Emile Vassell. Vassell was, presumably as he was never reported dead, a hunter of Lycans, Daemons and the like who began his career a few years after the coming of the comet. His knowledge and skills were recorded by both himself and a small number of scribes and the wisdoms that he learnt have become a doctrine that is swapped and shared between hunters of all types. There is no guild of Urban Hunters but there are rumours that folk can follow as to where they might find one such worthy and when found these rough and ready types might just teach you a skill or two. However the chances of finding one after hearing such a tale are remote, they are often on the move and only a few of them survive year to year with many ending up a meal for the creature that they were tracking.

## Vormearn - The Stone Circle and similar Altars

*"The lands, they tell me, are wild; the seas, they tell me, are rough; the mountains, they tell me, are treacherous and the winds they tell me are bitter. They are the people of Vaklam, the people of the Tao and the people that I am sworn to protect. I am a Vormearn and I have travelled across many lands, sailed on many seas, clambered across many mountaintops and walked against many winds. The people I am sworn to protect are wild, rough, treacherous and bitter and yet still I perform my duty as my Oath dictates. Most people think that a Vormearn is a servant to Ritualists that understands the ways of the Wyld, its secret paths, its hidden mysteries and the ways of beasts and birds but this is only partly true, there is a much deeper side to our duty and the dusty road that we walk.*

*A Vormearn is at one time a warrior, a killer for the Tao, at another an officer of the law, a protector of the Spirits peace. At another they are a Venator, a provider for those that cannot provide for themselves and on another day a teacher, training the young in the ways of the wilderness. In all things, though, we are a guardian. Not just of the people of the Tao but of all things: Of the traditions of the Ritualists that we aid, of the people that live under the auspice of the Tao, of the knowledge that is handed down and discovered in each generation and of the balance between the our way of life, the way of life of those beasts and birds and of the spirits from whom our wisdom spills. We will never fail and we will never give up."* - Kolem Brame - Tao Guardian and Vormearn

## Vyastifar -The Lord/Lady of Tides and Moons - The Eternal Solemnity

Somewhere in the dusty remnants of clergy buildings are the archives of what was and in the case of the Church of Bethylak what might have been. Among those records of antiquity are the inscribed names of those that have been marked as the Lords and the Ladies of the Tides and of the Moon(s). It is supposed to that such records are held in a similar estate in the auspicious record halls of the Tao for it is too they that we also look for such wisdom. It is rare for an anointed Priest or Melkarr to find a following a faith within the others teachings but on occasion it has happened and when it does it marks in the Basanic world a huge time of change and of chances for greater and better things. It is still unclear exactly why the marriage and union of two such alien powers would cause such a climatic movement among the principles of two so very different nations with diametrically opposed approaches to belief but nonetheless it does and it is rare that is not hair raisingly dangerous and uncommon for it not to be beneficial. The last recorded Lady of Tides and Moons was the Prophet, Seer, Ulmargarn and notorious gambler Justina Malakass.

In 1903 Malakass was an Ulmargarn with the Twelve Tree's who was lobbying for a completion of the joining of the Tao State with the Basanic Alliance over matters of trade. However she was suffering a gambling debt that spiraled into the hundreds of Helm with the Church of Terref that she had accrued on a diplomatic mission to Strabain. Seeking council with them it is said that she had strange dreams on her first night within the temple and awoke with words and tals upon her lips that none had heard or experienced before. In days to come she would return to the Tao and call upon them to listen to the words of Terref and where they were spoken so was the Tao enhanced for they were words of future moments. Great roads and powers of trade came about between the two nations because of her understanding, strong were her arts with Spirits and her prayers to the Gods and all heard and believed. Through training in both worlds she came to form a Union, a bridge between not only the cultures of the Tao and the Basin but also the dogma of the Gods and the Spirits that separated the people.