Order of Ice
A group of pragmatic Mage Hunters with strange motives.
Structure
The Order of Ice is loosely associated with the Mage Hunters, and are shunned by the majority of their fellow Mage Hunters. The Order of Ice operate in groups of two, and convene via magic or in person for council meetings every two months upon the Moonless Night.
Public Agenda
The Order of Ice don't seek to eradicate the practice of magic, they seek to quell the spread of Mystrium and those who would abuse it. To this end they have been seen as morally apathetic mercenaries serving any side that would take them or of their own accord.
Assets
The Order of Ice practice Necromancy to make up for their lack of resources and few numbers, and are often forced to accept odd jobs to keep from starving.
History
The Order of Ice was not originally associated with the Mage Hunters, though they did eventually become associated with them after the Mage Hunters established themselves in Narsai and began to hoard Mystrium. It's uncertain when the Order of Ice was established, they are secretive and isolationists by nature rarely sharing details of their own past or that of their sect. The Order of Ice was given to them as a title following their eventual inclusion into the ranks of the Mage Hunters, which was opposed by many of the other cells due to their practice of Necromancy a nearly universally reviled school of magic.
Mythology & Lore
The Order of Ice, or the Keepers as they often refer to themselves are a mysterious band of Mages who practice various schools of magic to better serve their goals of containing the spread of Mystrium. it is widely accepted that they were once Druids from Antaeus before the Long Night, because of their dour nature and close ties to the haunting nature of Antaeus. The Keepers believe that magic has no intrinsic nature, it is simply a raw source of power and energy that must be contained like a flame. without the Ley Lines even a properly prepared God of Magic would be hard pressed to quell the chaos of magic in its current form.
Ethics
The Keepers are slow to trust, and undergo a series of rituals similar to that of Druids of Clerics to maintain their powers,often in the twilight hours where the sun and the moon are in equilibrium. The Keepers care little for political affairs, and are often seen as quiet and reserved, only interfering when they require coin or if there is suspicion of those who would abuse Mystrium. Keepers travel in pairs, a master and a student, in the hopes of going unnoticed. On occasion Keepers will gather in greater number to deal with more difficult tasks, such as when a mage has gathered enough Mystrium to pose a threat to the region.
Worship
While Keepers don't officially worship Thiros they are closely tied to the God of Magic, who they pray to for guidance in the hopes of assisting the weary god in his burden.
Granted Divine Powers
Keepers always appear as gaunt, and pale creatures as if on the verge of death from hypothermia. This has slowed their aging, and their heart rate considerably, as well as gifted them a number of powers involved with the ethereal plane such as the ability to speak with the dead and see into the ethereal plane for short periods of time. Many of the Spells Keepers may call upon manipulate life in some fashion, such as healing, causing wounds to the flesh or spirit with darker powers, and infamously raising the dead.
Sects
There are those among the Order of Ice who do not enjoy their ties to the zealous sects of the Mage Hunters, despite the benefits their group offers the Keepers on occasion.
Comments