Ivory order
The Ivory Order stands as one of the three governing pillars of zyrokhil, serving as both its shield and its sword. Composed primarily of Dragonborn, with a scattering of elite recruits from other races, the Order commands respect—and fear—wherever its pale-armored patrols march.
Structure
At its height, the Ivory Order numbered 3,000 legionaries, Each thousand-strong legion was stationed in one of zyrokhil’s three great city layers, commanded by a Centurio. From among the Centurios, the legionaries themselves would elect a Lord Centurio to represent them and lead in times of crisis.
Beneath the Centurios, the hierarchy divided into several key roles:
- Hornblowers: The tactical officers—part strategists, part detectives—each led a formation of 50 to 100 legionaries. They coordinated squads, devised plans, and maintained discipline.
- Paladins: Elite knights, either operating together as a strike team or leading squads on difficult or delicate missions. Their word carried the weight of the Order.
- Clerics: Specialist officers trained for rescue operations, medical response, and handling civilian casualties. They typically led squads where compassion was as vital as martial prowess.
- Fangs: The backbone of the Order. These were the common troops who marched the streets and filled the ranks of every squad, their shields and pila (throwing spears) a familiar sight in every district.
Culture
Ivory Order members are instantly recognizable: clad in white, bone-plated armor inscribed with stylized teeth motifs, and bearing the sigil of a Dragon’s jaw. Their tabards and banners are off-white or bone, marked with crimson stains—a reminder of the price of sacrifice.
The phrase “By Teeth and Sacrifice” is no idle boast. The Order believes that security and law are bought with pain, vigilance, and personal cost. Ritual scarring and tooth-shaped jewelry are common, the latter often crafted from the teeth of defeated foes or fallen comrades.
Discipline is harsh. Recruits are drilled in martial prowess, tactics, and—more importantly—the principle that the safety of many justifies sacrifice by the few. The Order frowns on weakness and sentimentality; duty comes before kin, mercy is considered a personal indulgence, and orders are obeyed without question.
Yet cracks run beneath the surface. Not all Dragonborn are as fanatical as the Order’s founders, and some quietly question the ethics of “sacrifice”—especially as the line blurs between self-sacrifice and the sacrifice of innocents. Political factions within the city attempt to sway the Order’s allegiance, sometimes with gold, sometimes with threats.
Public Agenda
The Ivory Order’s jurisdiction is absolute within the city walls when it comes to violent crime, public safety, and existential threats. They operate as both police and standing army, patrolling districts, breaking up riots, executing criminals, and defending against threats from beyond the walls—be they monstrous, magical, or political.
However, the Order does not meddle in every aspect of justice. Many civil offenses and administrative disputes fall under the purview of The Gold administration, zyrokhil’s civil bureaucracy. The Ivory Order rarely acts on political threats independently, preferring (and often required) to receive direction from the city’s other governing bodies before intervening in political or factional disputes.
History
The Order traces its roots to the earliest days of the city’s foundation, born from a brotherhood of Dragonborn warriors who pledged to guard zyrokhil’s gates against the chaos of the post-cataclysmic world. Over centuries, their role solidified: first as city guardians, then as the hand that delivers justice and punishment.
During the Closed Gates Period, the Order was separated and split between the different districts of the city. In most cases, they were locked out of their own barracks and could not act in coordinated fashion across the city. Each legion became isolated, transforming in response to their environment:
The bowls: The Ivory Order here became more corrupt and vigilante, often turning to protection rackets and local justice when cut off from central command.
The grove: In this district, the Order evolved into settler farmers, developing a deep hostility toward the Herd of Oriria, whom they saw as dangerous rivals for land and order.
The hill of seats: Those stationed here became border guards, mediating the tense line between the Court of gems and The Gold administration, essentially holding the peace between the city’s most powerful factions.
Their reputation for severity persists to this day; few forget the purges that swept through The grove and The bowls during times of unrest.
By teeth and sacrifice
2550 - 2926
Type
Military Order
Alternative Names
The bones, the teeth
Training Level
Professional
Veterancy Level
Experienced
Demonym
Ivory guards
Notable Members
