The History of the Silver Flame

At the end of the third century YK, the province of Thrane was overcome by a great darkness in what is known as the Year of Blood and Shadow. A pillar of crimson fire split the ground, and those who came to investigate were confused at first but clearly felt a strong malevolent presence. Over time, this fissure grew and fiendish creatures congregated around the dark flame, eventually leaving to terrorize the land.
The shadows in Thrane began to whisper dark thoughts of betrayal, turning brother against sister. The religious Vassals of the Sovereign Host engaged in witch hunts in the name of finding those who trafficked directly with the fiends, but only did Bel Shalor's work as they drowned, stoned, and tortured the innocent. Feuds and vendettas escalated into a breakdown of the social order. The Kingdom of Galifar attempted to intervene, but the knights and bureaucrats only fell under the sway of Bel Shalor as he bent the boundaries of his prison.
In the Western reaches of the province, a paladin of Dol Arrah named Tira Miron remained uncorrupted by Bel Shalor's whispers, fighting against the wicked whispers that plagued herhomeland. She exorcised and fought demons, rooted out human corruption, and brought people together under her leadership. One of the first to join her quest was the human Cleric of Arawai Maliah Sharavaci. They were soon joined by the Elven Avenger Samyr Kes, the Dwarven Bard Turanank Noldrun, and the Gnomish Monk Cassia Canatar Clebdecher.
The party adventured throughout Thrane until Tira received a vision in a dream one night - a rainbow-winged serpent explained that the source of this evil was the strange fire in the east, and that a terrible evil would emerge from the depths of Khyber. The serpent guided Tira and her compatriots on their quest, traveling far and wide to retrieve the sacred, Couatl-blessed relics they would need to fight the forces of darkness. The most holy of these was Kloinjer, a greatsword with a flawlessly cut Khybershard embedded in the pommel that she won as a gift from the Ghaash'kala. Wielding these holy relics, the party rallied the people of Thrane in an epic conflict against the darkness, defeating the forces of Durastoran the Wyrmbreaker.
Her allies gravely injured from the confrontation with Durastoran, Tira carried on to the now enormous chasm. There, Bel Shalor's avatar rose from the chasm, a cloud of darkness and fire. The rainbow serpent from Tira's vision dove down from the sky, wrestling with Bel Shalor. Frozen in horror, Tira watched as the two struggled, the demon incrementally winning the conflict. When Bel Shalor struck a crippling blow, the Couatl drew upon its final power and constricted the Overlord while sinking its argent fangs into his throat, sending a plea to Tira. Tira knew what she had to do, leaping into the pit and burying Kloijner in Bel Shalor's form as the three fell back into the pits of Khyber. With Tira's sacrifice, a wave of radiant energy swept throughout the land, freeing those still under Bel Shalor's influence. The chasm almost entirely closed, the hot crimson fire transformed to the cool silver flame that exists to this day.
In the aftermath, the members of Tira's party formed the Church of the Silver Flame. Maliah Sharavaci founded the original Society of Ministers and became the first Keeper of the Flame, Cassia Canatar Clebdecher founded the original Order of Knights Templar, and Turanank Noldrun founded the original Fellowship of Friars. Samyr Kes was assassinated before the final battle by an agent of Bel Shalor.