Owena Pryde

Owena Pryde was the wife of Duke Arlen Pryde, who led House Pryde during the Arcane Insurrection. Owena Pryde believed The Empire was vulnerable to conquest from outside forces. So too did she believe that her House has overstepped far beyond its right to do so. According to the Lady Owena, that was when she was visited by a Taur'Amandil, though there is none to corroborate her story. This being of legend confirmed Owena's fears, and worse: she told her that if this war continued it would tip the balance of the world in a direction that could very well lead to its destruction. To prevent this, the Lady Owena claims that the Taur'Amandil imparted to her the knowledge to fight the mages of House Pryde and then, with what is described as a 'folding of reality' the Taur'Amandil was gone.
Armed with knowledge, she sneaked to Ennesburg, where she threw herself on the mercy of the Emperor. Surprising everyone, the Emperor showed mercy, promising not to destroy House Pryde, and then ordered the creation of the Order of the Iron Cross, specially trained knights capable of hunting down and killing the rebellious mages of House Pryde.