Orders of the Forbidden

The northern faction of the Talahaean Bloodhunters is known as the Orders of the Forbidden. The name comes from their secrecy under the Regime and the Sovereignty, but they offered their aid to the Union during the War of Hubris, and so secured their place in the Sacred Republic as experts on and nemesis to all that the new order opposes. While many in the Church suspect them of harbouring arcanists and employing forbidden methods, the Orders so far hold sufficient influence to dissuade open action against their members, or their fortress of Weissgard in northern Ardheim.
More than any of their sister orders, the Orders of the Forbidden have a place in society. Outside Ardheim, even outside the northern White Country, they are as much the hated necessity as anywhere, but in the north, they are the state, and certainly as beloved as any government in the Republic. Keenly aware of their enemies in the Church, the Orders make sure that their people are happy and supportive, and also productive. What is known by very few outside the Orders, is that they used this position to protect the druidic circles, even when apparently hunting them down, aiding many in vanishing into quiet lives and concealing others in Weissgard after the fall of the White Baron.
Some time after their foundation - perhaps a century and a half; the exact date is hard to fix, since this was in the period of the Orders' secrecy - the singular order divided into two. There are now four major orders and numerous orders minor, operating from their own city. Several of their number hold the office of elector in both the province and the Sacred Republic as a whole, but the orders and their members are still widely distrusted.
The Hunter's Bane of the Orders of the Forbidden has the side- effect of changing the pigmentation of the slayer's body. This change is catalysed by the slayer's use of their power, resulting in each sub-order developing distinctive body markings.
The Order of the White, known by a marked pallor of the skin and hair, are the central administration of the Orders as a whole, as well as serving as custodians of the Hunter's Bane. Formerly know as the Order of the Bane, they are the oldest of the orders, but underwent a massive restructuring when the Orders were given the city of Weissgard and estates covering most of the White Country. Now, as well as the alchemical stores and laboratories, the order has overall administrative responsibility for the city, the region, and the defence of both.
Since vengeance, even seasoned by age and experience, is a poor temperament for bureaucracy, the Order of the White also supervises and encompasses a number of subordinal bodies which see to the day-to-day administration of the city and lands in their keeping. These include:

• The White Scholars, the primary administrative and bureaucratic service;
• The Custodians, who maintain the city and citadel of Weissgard;
• The White Guard, who defend the White Country from mundane enemies, bandits and other criminals; and
• The White Squires, who form the entourages of senior hunters, both to provide muscle, and sometimes a friendlier face.

The Order of Shade Slayers specialise in battling the undead, a recurrent problems in Yethera, home to the Undying King and the Archlich of Zeras. They were the first order to be separated from the Order of the Bane, and since the restructuring of the Order of the White tend to claim absolute seniority, for whatever they can make that worth. Members of this order are dedicated solely to the hunt, but typically travel with a number of soldiers and other assistants from the White Squires. They are recognisable to those in the know by the near-white irises of their eyes.
The Order of the Unhallowed study the Relicts of the Colossi, with the twin goals of removing such relicts from the World and turning those they collect against the ancient enemy. They regard their work against the Outerfolk and cults of the Colossi to be of paramount importance, but are well aware that their methods are an abomination in the eyes of others. The Bane leaves them with bloodshot eyes, which progress to full red sclera, darkening to almost black.
Finally, the Order of the Inscripted was created in the time of the Sovereigns to battle renegade mages and magical creations through the Magic of the adept. Their methods are a closely- guarded secret from all outsiders, being a direct violation of the Eightfold Church's Decree Absolute. The inscripted are named for the letter-like markings which form on their skin.
The Order Primal is a minor order dedicated to hunting bestial foes, who use a variant of the Bane modelled on that of the Order of the Beast's. Marked by animalistic eyes, they are regarded as unstable even by the Orders as a whole.

Type

Military Order