Radiant Order
The Church mandated military force, the Radiant Order, has extended its reach beyond its own ranks by
training ordinary citizens, regardless of their faith, to become hunters of beasts following the aftermath of the Scourge. Recognizing the need for unity and cooperation in the face of the threat, the Radiant Order sets aside religious differences, focusing on the common goal of safeguarding the families and homes of the people.
The Radiant Order stands as one of the church’s three primary powers and is directed by the High-Apostle Logarius' unwavering hand. The Order itself splits into three distinct factions: the Militia and the Blood Cross
Structure
Militia
The Radiant Order's backbone, the hunters of the city, is the Militia—men and women steeled by the hardships of the First War, and many others since, who've chosen to bear arms in the city's defense. As freshly minted hunters, they are handed the tools of their perilous trade: swords to cleave and firearms to pierce the monstrous beasts that haunt Luyarnha's moonlit streets. Yet the Militia's duty extends further, encroaching into the city's daily life. Its members are stewards of law and order in Luyarnha, a police force holding at bay the tide of crime and corruption. Their task is to safeguard the city's values of justice and fairness, protecting each citizen, regardless of their societal rank or creed. Even those who bear no allegiance to the Radiant Faith find common cause in this shared ideal.Strength in Hope
The promise of a purpose, the notion that a life spent in strife and penury could bring about a better future for the collective good, grants many solace. This philosophy, this beacon of hope, pervades the spirits of the Militia's hunters, even those devoid of religious conviction. It proves to be a lifeline in their perilous duty, for those bereft of hope are oft the first claimed by death. As the Radiant Order's most populous arm—so populous, in fact, that when one refers to a hunter of Luyarnha, they almost always mean a member of the Militia—this faction is continually replenished by those willing to pledge a minimum of three years to their service. Should a hunter survive the first year, a rare feat in itself, they earn the privilege of residence in the Grand Cathedral District for themselves and their family. This dual-edged gambit bolsters the Militia's numbers while also culling those less adept. After this first year, even in death, a hunter's sacrifice ensures their family's stay in the district, given they continue to meet the housing tax.Hunt until Death
The rewards of the Militia’s path, including regular pay, housing within the Grand Cathedral District, and the honor of defending Luyarnha's people, are a compelling lure for many, often overshadowing the ultimate price they may have to pay: their life. Membership in the Militia is a badge of prestige, signifying a willingness to lay down one's life for the city and its populace. While maintaining peace within the city, Militia members may engage in supplementary work, their primary duty calling them to arms only on the hunt nights or at the tolling of the city's bells. In the event of a beastly outbreak, they are expected to throw themselves into the fray first. Any hunter found running away from their duty faces severe repercussions, for their motto is as stark as it is unyielding: "Survive together, or die together." Thus, hunters seldom travel alone. Should a lone hunter be sighted, it's a warning to any would-be troublemakers that reinforcements are but a heartbeat away.Blood Cross
Founded during the First War, the Blood Cross is a vital arm of the Radiant Order, pledging itself to the service of the injured and the ailing, offering aid to the afflicted both within and beyond the hunts. Their emblem, the Innarda painted in the sacred blood-red hue across their armband, is a symbol of hope for the injured, a promise of sanctuary amid the chaos. These healers are bound by a code of selfless service, their vows echoing the Radiant One's verses of compassion for all mortals. They walk fearlessly into the heart of the battlefield, braving the thick of conflict, the harrowing screams of the wounded their call to arms. They serve as a living reminder of the Radiant One's mercy, their hands, guided by His divine will, bringing healing where there is hurt, hope where there is despair, and light where there is darkness.Training
Often drawn from the ranks of those with an innate healing touch or a profound understanding of the human body, members of the Blood Cross aren’tnecessarily religious, but are all subjected to the same expeditive training regimen nonetheless. Members are trained to stop bleeding, apply dressings, sprinkle alcohol on wounds as an antiseptic, and to administer holy tonics and sedatives. Amidst hunts, more elaborate medical treatment waits until the warrior can be retrieved from the front and sent to one of the many churches where greater healing would take place. Tragically, Blood Cross members often have to make the decision of which wounded hunters are beyond help, and resolutely move on to the next wounded man. Some rare members of the Blood Cross can wield clerical magic, a divine gift from the Radiant One Himself it is believed, disregarding that other faiths also possess such healers. These blessed healers receive further tutelage inside holy grounds, learning to channel magic to mend grievous wounds and even bring the dying back from the other side. Once fully trained, they receive their distinctive white shoulder cape, adorned with a blood Innarda.Holy Tonic
A key facet of the Blood Cross’ healing methodology is the ministration of the Holy Tonic, a sacred elixir crafted under the auspices of the Radiant Church. This potion is believed to contain the Radiant One's divine essence, capable of mending wounds in ways mundane medicine cannot. The creation of the Holy Tonic is a guarded secret even more sacred than the elixir itself. Before the Scourge, tales of the Tonic's miraculous potency seeped into the farthest corners of the world, drawing the afflicted to Luyarnha in droves akin to a religious pilgrimage. Even today, as the Scourge casts its monstrous shade, the lure of the Tonic's divine promise compels desperate outsiders to brave the horrors of the city in search of salvation.
Type
Religious, Holy Order
Parent Organization
