Kallias - General of the Crusaders
Played by - GM Sobriquet
Kallias is the highest ranking officer of the Crusaders. He has a large build and is in his mid-forties and is usually seen wearing silver plate armour that negates most magics; even the Templar art of hemalurgy stops dead in the face of the metal. He is known to be very brash and to the point; often foregoing courtesy and etiquette even in diplomatic situations. There are a few who disagree with him, but he leads with the strength of an army and has so far been doing well in administrating the Crusaders.
There is only one goal in Kallias’ mind: the total annihilation of the Keepers. He loathes them with all his heart. It was not always this way. When he was a high ranking commander he would often fight for peaceful and non-aggressive operations; despite his marriage with the former General who would almost always advocate the converse. Their love was true, however, and their marriage lasted despite these differences. Fifteen years ago, the General was assassinated, and eventually it was discovered that Lucciola perpetrated it. Even though he knew that Lucciola was a splinter group from the main Keepers, his loathing for mages grew stronger and his thoughts turned 180 degrees. He fought for the past General’s policies and took over the post. Since then, the Crusader’s army has grown exponentially and relations with the Keepers have grown colder and colder.
High ranking Templars never disclose each other’s powers, and as such much is unknown about Kallias’ powers. It is rumoured that his anti-magic field is able to banish lesser spirits outright without a ritual and that he can bar a mage’s powers permanently. It is also rumoured that he is a very powerful hemalurgist and is able to control others like puppets if he gets their blood. He was not born with beastmastery and as such cannot call the wild to his aid.
There is only one goal in Kallias’ mind: the total annihilation of the Keepers. He loathes them with all his heart. It was not always this way. When he was a high ranking commander he would often fight for peaceful and non-aggressive operations; despite his marriage with the former General who would almost always advocate the converse. Their love was true, however, and their marriage lasted despite these differences. Fifteen years ago, the General was assassinated, and eventually it was discovered that Lucciola perpetrated it. Even though he knew that Lucciola was a splinter group from the main Keepers, his loathing for mages grew stronger and his thoughts turned 180 degrees. He fought for the past General’s policies and took over the post. Since then, the Crusader’s army has grown exponentially and relations with the Keepers have grown colder and colder.
High ranking Templars never disclose each other’s powers, and as such much is unknown about Kallias’ powers. It is rumoured that his anti-magic field is able to banish lesser spirits outright without a ritual and that he can bar a mage’s powers permanently. It is also rumoured that he is a very powerful hemalurgist and is able to control others like puppets if he gets their blood. He was not born with beastmastery and as such cannot call the wild to his aid.
The Crimson Crusaders : Together, we ride to a new 'morrow.
My good blade carves the casques of men,
My tough lance thrusteth sure,
My strength is as the strength of ten,
Because my heart is pure.
-Lord Galahad
My tough lance thrusteth sure,
My strength is as the strength of ten,
Because my heart is pure.
-Lord Galahad
The Western Province:
The people of the Western Province are called Crusaders. They believe that magic and spirits should never be allowed to exist and are launching crusades against it. Magic will only bring the Rift back to the world, they say. They believe that only the destruction of that art will bring peace to Alencia. Their foreign relations with the Keepers is one of extreme hostility. They see them as people who would do nothing but bring destruction to Alencia due to their lust for power. With the Dragonkin, they are slightly more lax but still wish to destroy their arts as they use entities not wholly of this world. Their people dislike anything supernatural and will call for Templars to banish spirits regularly.
The people of the West are a hardy bunch of people. They come from a terrain filled with barren deserts in the south and treacherous swamps near the seas. Cities are built on grassy terrain that fill up most of the space of the flatlands that is the West, and smaller towns and villages are built in swamps or even in deserts. It is always scorching and blazing wherever one is in the West – with the sole exception of the chilling desert night. The one thing that the West is grateful for however is their abundance of rivers and streams despite the lack of mountainous areas. All of the West’s cities are built near these water sources. The Watch Tower – the name of the building that is both the name of Zenara’s main temple and the building in which the General administrates – is located close to the borders of the East and North. Their capital however is located within the heart of the West.
Initiation into The Templars:
The crusaders generally recruit young and gifted people into their ranks. They place utmost importance in their future generations and have many schools placed throughout the West that teach the young many skills. Those of which show great potential in the arts of hemalurgy, beastmastery or mage-hunting would be chosen and offered a place within the prestigious military academy of the Templars. There they are given special training until they turn 15.
When they turn 15 they have to prove what they have learned so far in their training. Many methods are employed, ranging from theoretical exams to actual battle practical tests. Once they pass, they are then placed under a ‘Guardian’ and are given missions for a minimum period of ten months. The Guardian assesses and mentors the student for this period. These mission usually consists of the destruction of spirits that plague the land or the patrolling of the borders.
After the ten months, should the Guardian decide that the student is worthy enough he will send the student on a solo mission to destroy a spirit. Even though they are unable to utilize the full spirit banishing ritual at this point, they are still powerful enough to harm the spirit until it is but a shell of its former self and contain it, after which they will bring the spirit back to their Guardian for full banishment. Should the student succeed, he is given full membership. Should the student not, then he will most likely perish. Only the very talented are able to fully prove themselves right after the apprenticeship, with most taking about five months more before they are ready.
The Templars are the main governmental body of the Crusaders, and they are very influential. They have ranks like in an army and a chain of command. The new recruits are called privates while the main leader is the General.
The crusaders generally recruit young and gifted people into their ranks. They place utmost importance in their future generations and have many schools placed throughout the West that teach the young many skills. Those of which show great potential in the arts of hemalurgy, beastmastery or mage-hunting would be chosen and offered a place within the prestigious military academy of the Templars. There they are given special training until they turn 15.
When they turn 15 they have to prove what they have learned so far in their training. Many methods are employed, ranging from theoretical exams to actual battle practical tests. Once they pass, they are then placed under a ‘Guardian’ and are given missions for a minimum period of ten months. The Guardian assesses and mentors the student for this period. These mission usually consists of the destruction of spirits that plague the land or the patrolling of the borders.
After the ten months, should the Guardian decide that the student is worthy enough he will send the student on a solo mission to destroy a spirit. Even though they are unable to utilize the full spirit banishing ritual at this point, they are still powerful enough to harm the spirit until it is but a shell of its former self and contain it, after which they will bring the spirit back to their Guardian for full banishment. Should the student succeed, he is given full membership. Should the student not, then he will most likely perish. Only the very talented are able to fully prove themselves right after the apprenticeship, with most taking about five months more before they are ready.
The Templars are the main governmental body of the Crusaders, and they are very influential. They have ranks like in an army and a chain of command. The new recruits are called privates while the main leader is the General.
Tenets of the Templars:
1. Temperance – I will never be tempted by power, greed or lust nor will I ever forgive those who are.
2. Despoil Magic – I will never allow magic to be practiced and will eradicate those who do.
3. Succession – I will always protect the future of the Crusaders no matter the cost to myself.
4. Blood Rights – I will never misuse the blood of any person and hold its usage with the highest respect and destroy those who don't.
1. Temperance – I will never be tempted by power, greed or lust nor will I ever forgive those who are.
2. Despoil Magic – I will never allow magic to be practiced and will eradicate those who do.
3. Succession – I will always protect the future of the Crusaders no matter the cost to myself.
4. Blood Rights – I will never misuse the blood of any person and hold its usage with the highest respect and destroy those who don't.