According to their own legends, the Order was formed after Arnath himself came down in the form of a lion, an eagle, and a griffin – all of which are sacred symbols to the Order. In more verifiable history, the Order was founded well over two hundred years ago, partially in response to the border skirmishes with the Syndar.
The Order is a major power on Faedrun, helping to hold against the sudden betrayal of the May’Kar people with their Clerics. However, there is a minor split in the Order; some of them believe that they are fighting a losing battle, and so tend to recklessly throw themselves into fights, hoping to act as heroically as possible to save those who flee the undead. They believe that only divine magic and warriors with good, strong hearts and good, strong steel can defeat the undead, and tend to lead groups along those lines.
The Fortress in the Celestial Mountains is home and training ground to several thousand battle clerics and their support staff. If bringing an organized detachment to a battle against the undead, their heavy armor and divine magic could turn the tide of a battle. Entire families live in the small villages and towns that dotted up near the fortress in the lower ranges of the mountain and the farmland below.
The Order’s library is a sprawling affair, filled with large tomes detailing the deeds of the clerics and warriors who fight in the name of the Order. At the ordination of a new cleric, a book is started with their first deeds. As stories of the Order’s deeds filter back, these records are kept, so that others may know those who travel the Path of Arnath. Aside from these texts, there are a number of books of ancient wisdom in the Order’s libraries.
Order of Arnath History by Amelios Zamar
Dear readers,
Before you I lay out what could be verified of the Order’s history on Faedrun. Some of this knowledge came from the Order library before I was denied access. Others came from accounts in the former May’Kar Dominion, or the other Kingdoms on Faedrun. While there is many gaps, I feel with the loss of Faedrun I should try to preserve what history we can.
Prior to Year 1:
Not much is known prior to the Order of Arnath’s emergence on Faedrun world scene during the Human-Syndar wars. The Order claims that they were refugees trying to escape wars with the Syndar. They state that they travelled to the Celestial Mountains where they met a foe not seen on Faedrun; giants. The refugees were pushed to the limit trying to defend against the invaders. They would have fallen if not for a foe driving all before them. A griffin taking the shape of a man. This man was Arnath. He taught them fury, honor, and wisdom.
However, this tale does not coincide with the other chronicled events of the time. The Order were some of the first and fiercest foes of the Syndar; in addition, travelling north to escape the Syndar would have only put them in harm’s way. Some other reason must have been of their forming.
The region of Kupferhügel gives some clue. This area of Richtcrag had close ties to the Order with Arnathian worship being the primary religion. In addition, their fierceness in combat, penchant for heavy armor, and focus on honor has similarities to Richtcrag culture. The uniting of Richtcrag in the decades before their emergence would point to refugees from the Kingdom. Arnath himself may even have been a successful warlord.
This scenario would explain the Order’s religious dichotomy and xenophobia. It is not hard to imagine a group fleeing from loss in their kingdom and passing through the May’kar Dominion. Arnathian worship could easily be the combination of Richtcrag Battle Father and Worship of the Light. The trip to the Celestial Mountains could have also taken them through Syndar lands, inspiring their legends of Giants as arcane magic would be unknown to them.
Whatever the case, the Order of Arnath that appeared during the Syndar Wars was not the form that it is today. An objective look at the wars of the Order can see how by the time of the Undead Plague in 197 the Order had changed in form.
Year 1- 5: Syndar Wars
The Order was at the forefront of the Syndar Wars as much as they could. With the Celestial Mountains bordering Syndar lands, most of the Order was pinned downed defending their home. However, at many of the battles a hard knot of men and women were seen. These Order members were an anchor point and often rallied the humans around them. Win or loss, the Order gathered admirers in those years. The Lay Order exploded in size. Before the Order could use this new manpower the Battle of Greytide took place. The Order contingent had not yet met up with the Aldorians and thus missed the fighting. Many were upset at the peace treaty, but dutifully retreated to their growing stronghold in the Celestial Mountains.
Year 7-12: War of the Knives
Not a standard war of sort, but more of a running string of skirmishes. Feral Syndar came into conflict with the Order in the ancestral homes. The Order viewed this as the Syndar breaking the peace agreement. The Order moved to retaliate, targeting a nearby Syndar settlement. They did not distinguish between the Feral and their Civilized cousins and their fighting method worked best in open engagement.
With the razing of the settlement, the Syndar responded. What ensued was a long list of skirmishes between the two forces. Syndar ambushed and raided Order settlements; fast marched Order Clerics and Lay Sergeants decimated Syndar settlements where they could. After the initial year, a decivilized zone existed between the two. The Order marched in open array against the Syndar, but found their heavy armor and divine protections did little against the Syndar mages. For their part the Syndar won, but every battle was a bloodbath for both sides.
The Syndar began to deny open battle. The Order was not well enough trained or resourced to lay siege to settlements. With that, the battle moved to the foothills and forest paths. The Syndar held the advantage here as the asymmetrical warfare negated the Order’s preferred tactics. However, Lay hunters and scouts soon came to the forefront of the conflict, more than happy to contest the Syndar in their woods.
The following three years were a time of skirmishes and raids. Order Clerics, refusing to be left on the sidelines, shed their heavy armor to take part. The dishonorable weapons of the bow and arrow were embraced. The ability to hunt, and trap, and move silently were learned. Syndar soon grew to respect their adversaries.
The culmination of the War of the Knives took place at the foot of the Order stronghold. The Syndar nations marched their armies to war. The Order met them. The narrow pass favored the heavy armor and tactics of the old Order. However, they had learned the bow was a mighty weapon against the mage. The resulting siege and sallies went on for a week before a May’Kar diplomat managed to bring both sides to the table. The result was a cessation of hostilities but not a peace. Both sides simmered from the war and promised not to forget.
It is easy to see evolution of the proto-Lions into proto-Eagles. Nowhere in either the nations histories or the Order’s Tomes of Valor had Eagle-like figures before been represented. Afterwards the lighter armored Clerics began to appear.
Year 19-20: Blood Crusade
In the years after the War of Knives the ranks of the Eagles of the Order expanded. While this improved the Orders knowledge as the Eagles roamed, it also caused friction. Some Eagles wanted to use their newfound knowledge to lead the Order. The Lions felt it their traditional duty to do so from the front. The tug and pull came to a head during the Blood Crusade.
The Eagles became aware of a Blood Cult in the May’Kar Dominion. From what they understood, they had been a very fervent Battlefather cult forced from Richtcrag after rampaging through parts of the country. In the May’Kar Dominion they encountered a Death Cult using blood magic. The groups melded together to become a roving band of slaughter.
This was the type of fight the Order was meant for. Indeed, both the Eagles and Lions were so fervent in their belief both rushed to call for a Crusade. The groups’ competition to seek preeminence caused them to overlook crucial details.
For starters, the Order never got the permission to enter the Dominion; nor did they speak to the May’Kar to see if they were knowledgeable of the threat. Had they offered assistance the outcome may have been different. Instead, the May’Kar Dominion sought out the Syndar as allies to deal with the threat. The Syndar responded energetically as blood magic was considered an abomination. Both armies were preparing to deal with the Cult when the Order army passed into the Dominion lands. The May’Kar and Syndar alliance did not know who they were, only that two heavily armored groups now were in their lands.
The Order came to grips with the Blood Cult first. The battle was a thing for the ages, and many Tomes of Valor were filled with the deeds of the day. Battle Clerics waged Divine magics against the Profane of Blood Mages; berserking adherents threw themselves against the wall of shields and steel of the Lay Sergeants; and arrows rained death from above onto all the heads. By afternoon, the heavy armor and training pushed onward over the mountain of cultists bodies. Exhausted, the Order looked to their wounded and finished off the dying cultists.
It was upon this sight the combined May’Kar and Syndar army arrived. The Syndar recognized the heraldry of the Order and were quick to believe their old enemy capable of the deeds of the Cult. The May’Kar, though doubtful, saw the Order killing unarmed and dying people, and could not stand by. Both armies quickly advanced. The Order saw them, and drew up into battle lines. They were all too happy to fight their old enemies and whoever stood with them.
Neither party waited long enough for any words to be shared. The Syndar and Order lines crashed into each other. Though exhausted from the earlier fight, the battle fervor was upon the Order because of their old enemy. The May’Kar were less decisive, hanging back to try and calm the side, but when the Order Eagles and Archers began to rain arrows upon them, they engaged.
Though fervent, the body can only go so far. The Order lines began to falter. To bolster them, a Lion strode out to declare a personal challenge to any who would accept it. His challenger stepped through their own lines. A May’Kar Paladin.
The two opposing lines stepped back to give the combatants room, if reluctantly on the Syndar part. After a few moments of declaration of names, the pair met. The Clash blinded those nearby in the explosion of holy energy. The Paladin was everything the May’Kar were in those days: skillful, honorable, and pious beyond measure. Her speed was blinding and her blows crushing. Steel gave way with every strike of her holy blade. The Lion was a paragon of his class. Strong, tall, with a look chiseled from stone. He towered over the Paladin with his tall shield and long blade. His blows were not as swift but equally crushing. His divinely infused blade shone like the sun, and parted armor and shield where he met it.
After a long bout, both separated. A few minutes were spared as each side doffed rent armor and shield. Both took the moment to pray again to their Gods, asking for their holy favor. Clad mostly in mail, both side forwent the safety of shield for a two handed grip on their divine blades.
The next round started in a cautious advance. A pause, and the pair struck again. Where their blows fell mail exploded in a shower of steel rings. Both knew that their only true safety lie in the might channeled into their blades. As holy weapons collided they flashed and sizzled as divine energy strove to keep the blade together. After a particularly vicious exchange, both pairs back off again.
Gone was everything now except their heraldry. Both knew that only their faith and skill at arms would protect them from this point on. Both gave a final prayer, and approached. It was cautious now, fatigue setting in their limbs. The duelists knew a single stroke could decide the fight. A pause, and then collision.
The onlookers knew the Paladin was the greater of the two warriors. Though the Lion had run out of mana, she had not. However, her honor had not let her reapply her protection. She would face her opponent on equal ground.
The Lion knew this, and knew only his reach kept him safe. A veteran of the War of Knives, he knew patience, and cunning, and strategy. He knew this fight was lost, but the battle could still be won. With that purpose he fought not to win, but to not lose. A younger Lion would not have been able to swallow his pride and do what was necessary, but he could.
After a series of feints and parries, the duelists backed off. The Lion checked on his men. They had taken the time to rest, and meditate for the final fight. The wounded were healed, protections granted, and armor reshaped into somewhat usable. It would be soon. The Lion had been fighting for almost an hour now, and his movements had begun to slow. His reach would no longer save him. This round would be his last.
He came at the Paladin with all the fury a Lion could possess. Though aware of the possibility, it still took her aback. Blows came ever closer to her, threatening to end the fight. However, as they came within an inch she pivoted and brought her own blade across. Only his padded jack and gauntlets saved the Lions hands. As it were, his tendons were cut and his sword fell from lifeless fingers. He fell to his knees, all that he was exhausted.
Expecting the fall of a blade, he was surprised when it did not come. The Paladin had been granted insight in the duel. No man as pious as he could have undertaken such acts. With that, she called a meeting to discuss the matter. Shortly after, the Syndar departed for home as the May’Kar gave succor to the Order.
I beg my reader’s indulgence in the matter. It could have simply done to say they fought, and though the winner, the Paladin called a halt to the fighting. However, this comes not from the Tome of Valor as it has been lost, but accounts from the Syndar and May’Kar. I feel such an account should be replicated here so history may remember it.
So, what is the significance of the Blood Crusade? Twofold: first, the Order took to heart the May’Kar advice of being more tactful. The began to understand in their meeting with them that political power was a weapon to be wielded just as readily as physical. As such, the Griffins were created. Brought forth from the wisest of the Eagles and Lions, they constituted the soft approach. In addition, each Order was granted a head.
Secondly, from then on their would be a singular elected ruler of the Order of Arnath. The Council of Lions and Eagles would be no more. He would be counseled by each of the Heads of the Order, and he would be Arnath’s Hand. The first elected leader? The Lion would dueled the May’Kar Paladin.
(p.s. My dear readers. I would like to say that the Paladin and Hand struck up a friendship and became a famous pair, but history has no such record. Considering the distances between them, it would be dubious to suggest it. Perhaps it is only in our fantasies that such would be fast friends.)