Order of the Eternal Ring
On the continent of Romaya exists the Sanctum of the Senses, which serves as the oldest and most active church devoted to the god of reincarnation, Vokresh. Within its walls exists the Order of the Eternal Ring, a religious group who is steadfast in their faith and hostile to anyone or anything that threatens their beliefs. Dark magic is seen as an unfortunate blight on the world. The order loathes necromancy and the creatures it gives rise to. When the opportunity presents itself, they waste no time in subduing its practitioners by any means necessary. Rehabilitation is not an option offered to dark mages who find themselves at the mercy of the order. Given their status as an active threat to Vokresh and the world he's created, dark mages are executed.
The Hands of the Eternal are a militaristic sect of the Order of the Eternal Ring. Their clerics and paladins are among the best monster hunters in the world, specializing in the eradication of all manner of undead. They spend years training themselves physically and mentally to deal with the risks that come with fighting the undead. As such, they have a supernatural resistance to necrotic energy and possession, likely as a gift from their god.
The Order of the Eternal Ring is known for their unusual attire given the tropical environment they live in. They dress in all black clothing, usually something formal and modest, and hide their faces beneath veils. This isn't an attempt to hide their identities; it's simply an aesthetic choice. The majority of the order's members wear amulets or rings depicting the ouroboros. Members of the Hands of the Eternal carry the "mark of their Maker", which is the ouroboros scarred onto their body. These scars are then enchanted with a protection spell, causing them to glow whenever they're in close proximity to the undead.
Foreign kingdoms often employ the Hands of the Eternal for their skill with such monstrosities. The Hands of the Eternal, as well as the order as a whole, aren't painted in a good light in some communities though. They've been compared to violent criminals, using their status as a shield to commit acts of bigotry when someone's presence is an affront to Vokresh. The order has a particular obsession with the minor goddess, Odona the Plague Maiden. They aim to destroy any records of her existence, as well as the rare shrines that are built in her honor. Rumor's have spread that the order intends to summon Odona once every bit of her material existence is gone.
With nothing left to remember her by, they can end her life and thrust her back into the cycle that Vokresh oversees.
Public Agenda
The Order of the Eternal Ring's public agenda is to keep the world cleansed of dark magic that would otherwise corrupt it. Their teachings frequently criticize the nature of such magic, casting shame upon any who fall prey to its temptation. Were it not for the Kingdom of Alencia's forces keeping them in line, the order would lead witch hunts to find and destroy any potential practitioners of dark magic, especially those who use necromancy.
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