Gatekeepers

The **Holy Order of the Gatekeepers** are a fanatical holy order that serve the Holy Hierarchydiligently. They operate as the primary source of defense in the Tower of Light and County Districts.

## History

The first Holy Order of the Gatekeepers was formed long ago, as the very first militia defense force of the Holy Hierarchy. It is said that their one and only duty was to defend the Iron Gate of Glaze, which faced endless hordes of enemies yet never once fell. The Gatekeepers did not answer to any authority, save for the Royal Pope. This eventually led to their destruction, as when the Pope was asked to stand down after intense politicking, the Gatekeepers led a rebellion that was swiftly cut down by the first Minister's armies. Since then, the Gatekeepers were a forgotten fragment of history.

The second Order of the Gatekeepers were formed as a response to the Begotten invasion. Though mostly eradicated in the ensuing chaos, the Holy Order managed to survive to protect the newly-founded Holy Hierarchy. This new order of Gatekeepers was tasked with defending the great Town of Light, its county districts, and its grand wall that protected it from the hordes of death beyond. The Gatekeepers successfully held this wall for decades, even when faced against the forces of Satan and the Undergod. The Town of Light would later fall to the Undergod, following Grand Royal Emissary of Light Adyssa's ascendance to Skylight. With the Pope gone and the Town of Light's Gatekeepers slaughtered to the last man, a grave blow was dealt to the Holy Hierarchy.

Despite the eradication of the main branch of the Gatekeepers, the order still lives on in the county districts, protecting the Tower of Light. This order is less strict than the one before it, as its members are allowed to keep their names and personalities as a 'treat' from the new Pope himself. This Order holds an infamous reputation for being disloyal and sinful, with its members often abandoning their posts, as well as indulging in rape and banditry. Several Great Holy Orders were empowered by the Pope to put dissenters into shape. Inquisitors sniff through the ranks of the disciples for evidence of heresy or enemy infiltration. The great Knights of Sol rally the men to fight alongside them, to take land in their name. When even these Greater Holy Orders are not enough to rid thoughts of treachery within the ranks, then there is a last resort. Rumors abound of the Pope's secret dungeon, where disloyal disciples and innocent wanderers alike go to suffer the pains of a thousand deaths for the royal one's amusement.

## Command Structure

Ultimately a peasant militia at heart, the low order of Gatekeepers boasts little training for the mass swathes of recruits it collects. Their command structure falls wholly under the command of the Hierarchy’s nobility and higher orders.

**Disciples** are the lowest rung of the order, composed of raw recruits, Orthodox flagellants and criminals. Used as the most base level of infantrymen, disciples endure perilous assignments with little regard to their welfare.

Only those who manage to survive and prove their worth have a chance of advancing. Disciples are typically armed with little more than primitive maces or spears, or sometimes luxuries such as small shields or basic armor.

**Acolytes** compose the bulk of average guardsmen and trained soldiers. Having survived their tenure as a disciple, these proven troops are issued standard equipment such as mail or plate, steel weapons, and in some cases muskets.

**Emissaries** are field commanders of the Order. While still far from true nobility or the great Holy Orders, emissaries discipline the peasant masses. They are often armed with fine steel armor and advanced weapons, and are among the few who could ever hope to join the ranks of the Inquisitorium or the Knights of Sol.

**High Gatekeepers** are the highest status in the Hierarchy almost any commoner could hope to achieve. High Gatekeepers act as the voice for the Master-at-Arms himself, commanding every rank below them as the second-in-command. They are renowned for exceptional fighting skills and their ability to lead.

**The Commander**, also known as the **Master-at-Arms**, is a member of the Holy Hierarchy responsible for the management of the entire Order of Gatekeepers. He is the final say when it comes to any matter regarding Gatekeepers other than Ministers and the Pope himself.