Sword Schism

## Overview

The event known as the **Sword Schism** was actually a series of events that culminated with the separation of **Sacner**'s armies and religious body, through the creation of the **Grand Constable** position.

Since its very inception, the armies of the kingdom of **Sacner** answered directly to the **Church**, but during the reign of King **Lawrence** Keylor I, that was no longer true. The king elected many reforms to the law system of the realm, and, among them, was the creation of the **Grand Constable** position, which would serve as the high commander of all military forces within the land.

## Background

During the reign of King **Lawerence**, the Overseer, the kingdom of **Sacner** achieved many revolutions in law and custom, as well as in the military field. The hierarchy had been simplified, granting superior officers even more power, and creating the position of **Grand Constable**, which would be the de-facto leader of all military forces. The first Grand Constable was Lawrence’s own brother, **Randolf Keylor**.

The man was ruthless and efficient, finally defeating the so-called “**bandit king**” that had been plaguing the kingdom for the last few years, as well as enforcing new curfews and laws on the capital city. He was also much more active in stamping out possible threats, especially those coming from inside Sacner itself. Vassals were prohibited from declaring war on each other, as well as on other domains, and soon a cold peace had been installed.

Still, this new position created conflict between the military branch of Sacner and the religious order of the Glorious, as this new position answered only to the crown, and did not need to concern itself with the views of the clergy. In addition to the fact that many soldiers did not follow some of the Glorious more strict doctrines and ended up influencing the common people to do the same, many priests and Holy Swords began to openly denounce the new Grand Constable and the decision to install him in such a position, even causing some armed conflicts within cities and nearby fields.

Key among these dissatisfied priests was a young and zealous man named **Melwas**, who claimed for reform not only in the military, but even in the church itself, claiming that all of humanity had lost its way. He was even known to criticize the new king, a young boy named Roderik, saying that he was not worthy to be the conqueror’s namesake.

Such a divide grew with time, resulting even in direct conflict on a few instances. Still, the young king did not allow his uncle to retaliate, and, when the Plague hit, some years after, the king was gone. No one knows what happened to him, or the rest of his family and court. There was now only one person of royal blood still in the kingdom, and that was the Grand Constable.

Even so, he refused not only to take the throne, but also to speak of his nephew and family, killing any that dared even ask. Instead of keeping order, he abandoned the city and became something of a “bandit king”, robbing anything he found of value. He attacked the church many times, but stopped when it became clear that the Plague would hit both sides at once.

When he himself contracted the deadly disease, Randolf Keylor named his own daughter, Eleanor, as his successor. While not all his soldiers were happy following a woman, she soon proved to be just as strong, strategic, and ruthless as her father, when she abandoned the capital to rot and sailed to the Nested Lands, seeking to take it for herself and protect it against all corruption: be it from the Plague, weak kings, or religious fanatics.

## Rogue Soldiers

After sailing for **Norovellir**, **Eleanor** and her soldiers stormed the **Red Peak** castle and took it for themselves. After that, the island of **Wild Hills** became the headquarters for the **Rogue Soldiers**, where they remain still.