Order of the Wayward Warriors

Roaming Justice The Order of the Wayward Warriors is one of the five sacred orders of The Church of the Devout Orders, and one of the two devoted to the service of the Son. Any warrior who upholds the faith, regardless of their past, may pledge themselves to this order, swearing an oath to become a living champion of justice. In the name of the Son, they roam the land, offering protection to the defenseless, rooting out corruption, and smiting evil wherever it hides. With their weapons raised high, they are a relentless force against darkness, driven by the belief that the Son’s will is carried out through their hands. Among them stands The Chosen, a sacred figure of the faith and the most exalted of warriors, revered as the living embodiment of the Son’s justice. To the people, The Chosen is more than just a warrior—they are a legend made flesh, a hero whose deeds inspire hope across the land. Their name is spoken with awe, their presence celebrated in song and scripture, a shining example of divine justice walking among mortals.
Like the Son, the Wayward Warriors are known for their free-spirited nature. The Son often defied his Father’s commands, choosing to follow his own path. In the same way, the Wayward Warriors reject the Church's authority, choosing instead to carry out justice as they see fit. This Order stands in stark contrast to the usually authoritarian nature of the Church of the Devout, embracing a freedom that challenges its core structure. Despite their independence, each warrior is bound by a sacred oath, marked by the Devout Star amulet bestowed upon them at their initiation—a symbol of their faith, their duty, and the unpredictable path they walk in service of the Son. More than just an emblem, the star serves as a guiding light, reminding them that even in their wayward journey, they are never truly lost

Shadows of Authority

The independent nature of the Wayward Warriors has caused significant friction within the Church. Some Wayward Warriors, driven by their own sense of justice, have crossed the line into acts of cruelty, lawlessness, and defiance. These actions have left a stain on the Church’s image, spreading fear and sowing division among both the faithful and the common folk. In A114, after the Great Reformation, the text governing the Order of the Wayward Warriors was revised to include Church-mandated and trained paladins. These paladins now travel the lands, enacting justice on behalf of the Church, while also serving to keep the Wayward Warriors in check. They stand as shining examples of the ideals the Wayward Warriors are meant to uphold.
Alongside this reform, a sacred role known as The Chosen was established. Acting as a pseudo-leader of the paladins, The Chosen is a revered public figure, embodying the Church’s vision of justice and righteousness. Their presence serves as both inspiration and control, reinforcing the Church’s authority while symbolizing the balance between faith and order.
As one last safeguard, Order of the Crimson Vow looms over the Wayward Warriors. Any warrior who strays from the righteous path is certain to be relentlessly hunted by the Crimson Inquisition, their every step shadowed by the oppressive fear that the Inquisition is always watching.

The Warrior’s Crucible: The Rite of the Chosen

In A114, after usurping the Hand of the Father during the Hestus Rebellion, Saint Hestus made a choice that would shape the future of the Church of the Devout. Despite his victory, he refused the position of ultimate authority and instead returned to his role as a Wayward Warrior, believing that his true purpose lay in the unyielding pursuit of justice. He became the first Chosen, a leader of the newly formed Paladins, embodying the ideals of the Son as both warrior and guide. Upon his death in A133, his legacy was passed on to another Wayward Warrior, establishing the tradition that would continue for generations—the choosing of a new Chosen to carry forth Saint Hestus’s mission of light and righteousness.
To become The Chosen is no easy feat. After the passing of the current Chosen, a call is sent across the land, summoning all Wayward Warriors to partake in The Warrior’s Crucible, the sacred ritual through which a new Chosen is selected. A Church of the Devout worship site, chosen near the place of the last Chosen’s death, becomes the battleground for this fateful contest. During the week-long Feast of Saint Hestus, Wayward Warriors gather to honor the past and determine their future. Any warrior of the order may put forth their own name or be nominated by their peers. Nominees must prove their worth, recounting their deeds in impassioned speeches, testifying to their faith, and demonstrating their strength of will. The trials that follow are as unpredictable as the warriors themselves—some settle their challenges through combat, clashing steel ringing out in the sacred halls, while others duel with wit and wisdom, seeking to outmatch their rivals in debate and cunning.
On the final day of the feast, the assembled warriors cast their votes. When the choice is made, the newly anointed Chosen is presented with Saint Hestus’s Spear, the very weapon the saint wielded to slay the corrupt Hand of the Father. With this sacred relic in hand, the Chosen steps forth, not as a mere warrior, but as a legend reborn—destined to carry out the Son’s justice and lead the Wayward Warriors.
After a new Chosen has been anointed, they embark on a sacred journey to the resting place of Saint Hestus, located in the Vydern Empire’s capital city of Eldyren. Upon arrival, they are greeted by a solemn procession of Sisters from Order of the Silent Vigil, who escort them to the hallowed site. There, the Chosen drinks from a chalice said to contain The Daughter’s Blood, a potent and divine elixir mixed with the blood of a fallen demigod. This rare and sacred concoction is believed to bestow unparalleled strength, clarity of purpose, and divine fortitude upon the one who drinks it. This ritual infuses the Chosen with the strength needed to carry out their sacred mission. Following the ritual, the Chosen is assigned two Battle Angels—elite warriors from The Order of the Silent Vigil. With the final blessing and protection bestowed upon them, the new Chosen is then free to embark on their mission, carrying out the Son’s justice wherever it is needed.

The Paladins

Established in A114, The Son’s Paladins serve as a guiding example to the Wayward Warriors, standing as the embodiment of the Church’s vision for justice and order. Unlike the free-spirited Warriors, paladins are enlisted by the church and undergo rigorous training to earn their place among their ranks. Many recruits come from within the Church, raised in its doctrines from a young age, while others are drawn from the faithful seeking to dedicate their lives to divine service. Even some Wayward Warriors, despite their independent nature, choose to forsake their freedom and take up the structured path of the Son’s Paladins. However, the relationship between the two groups remains tense, as many Warriors regard paladins with disdain, seeing them as instruments of the Church’s control rather than true champions of The Son’s wil
The Paladins wear a standard uniform of gilded plate armor, adorned with the Church's colors of maroon and white, and emblazoned with the Devout Star on their surcoats. Unlike the Wayward Warriors, the Paladins do not have the freedom to act on their own judgment in carrying out the Son’s justice. Instead, they are given specific assignments by the Church, serving as enforcers of the Church’s authority and will. Over time, the numbers of the Paladins have grown significantly, effectively becoming a small but formidable military force loyal to the Church. This authoritative and structured approach stands in stark contrast to the Wayward Warriors' rebellious and independent spirit.
This friction within the order has led to much tension. The Wayward Warriors, in particular, frequently mock the Paladins, viewing them as little more than puppets of the Church’s centralized power. The Paladins, in turn, look down on the Wayward Warriors, seeing them as nothing more than individuals playing at being heroes, unbound by the discipline and purpose the Church demands. This animosity reached a boiling point in A375, when the Church deployed the Paladins as a military force in support of the Vydern Empire's invasion of Alboric. The Church justified the campaign by claiming that the region was holy ground, theorizing that Alboric was the land where The Son had pursued the Elderborn during the Cataclysm. However, many Wayward Warriors viewed the move as a blatant exercise of power rather than a sacred mission, deepening the rift between the two factions.
In response, many Wayward Warriors abandoned the Order in A375, appalled by the actions of The Son’s Paladins. Among them was Leotholden Stormheart, who joined The Valiant Vagrants before eventually returning to claim the title of The Chosen. Others, such as Elios and Allara Duskbane, took a different path, founding The Dawn Wardens—a group of dedicated hunters who believed the Paladins had strayed too far from their true purpose. Fearing that the Paladins' growing political entanglements had drawn them away from protecting the innocent, The Wardens turned their focus to the study and eradication of the dark creatures that lurk in Alboric—demons, witches, and other horrors that prey upon the weak under the cover of night.

Known Members

Leotholden Stormheart, The Chosen

Vaelros Lightbearer, The Chosen

Sister Aveline, The Paladin

Elios Duskbane, Founder of the Dawn Wardens

Allara Duskbane, Founder of the Dawn Wardens

A member of the Wayward Warriors

A shrine dedicated to Leotholden Stormheart, the first Chosen selected in Alboric. This sacred site honors his legacy and the pivotal role he played in shaping the destiny of the land and its people.

A paladin of the Wayward Warriors, clad in the traditional armor of the order—a solemn symbol of their enduring vigil and storied path.