The Brotherhood of Martial Discipline
Legal martial arts guild registered in Avalon
Public Mission: To "preserve ancient fighting traditions, discipline, and cultural honor." Offers:
- Training in unarmed and armed combat
- Classes for youth and nobles (for image)
- Performances at festivals (staged duels)
- “Peacekeeping demonstrations” in markets and city squares
Guildmasters Speak in Rhetoric about:
- “Balance of aggression and restraint”
- “Historical preservation of warrior cultures”
- “Personal growth through controlled adversity”
Guild Mark: A pair of open fists within a laurel wreath—publicly peace through strength; secretly, the symbol for Fight Club.
Secret Guild: Fight Club
Type: Underground Combat Guild
Origin: Founded by Black Legion officers during the height of the Black Legion Empire in South Azure.
Current Status: Operates in secrecy across North and South Azure after the War of the Ancients and the fall of the Black Legion Empire.
Purpose: Provide a venue for raw, unregulated combat; stress relief; anti-authoritarian networking; and testing one’s mettle. It has evolved into a decentralized cult-like guild with rituals, rankings, and secret signs.
Origins & Purpose:
Originally created as an outlet for soldiers returning from war, Fight Club allowed veterans of the Black Legion to fight without consequence, process trauma, and feel alive again. After the Black Legion Empire’s defeat, the Pendragon monarchy outlawed gladiatorial blood sports and banned organizations that glorified unregulated violence—pushing Fight Club underground.
Structure:
- The First Circle – Secret founders and senior fighters, known only by aliases.
- Circles – Local clubs ("circles") in cities, towns, or rest areas; each circle is semi-autonomous.
- The Spiral – A traveling bracket-style tournament circuit, known only through hidden signage, tavern rumors, or coded messages in guild halls.
- The Maw – An annual, invitation-only tournament where champions of different circles fight in a high-stakes, secretive location.
Rules of Fight Club:
- You do not talk about Fight Club.
- You DO NOT talk about Fight Club.
- If someone yields, taps out, or is unconscious, the fight is over.
- Only two fighters per match—no outside interference.
- No weapons or armor unless specified in advance (special rules fights).
- Fights go on as long as they have to—no time limits.
- First-time fighters must fight when initiated.
- The Spiral is sacred—cheating or killing outside the ring means exile or death.
- No bets in the name of Fight Club. All gambling is handled externally by approved syndicates.
- Guild secrets are guarded by blood oath.
Hidden Practices:
- Real fights occur in basements, abandoned mines, cargo holds, forest clearings, or under taverns.
- Entry requires knowing the phrase of passage (which rotates monthly).
- Fighter aliases are used to maintain secrecy.
- Initiation involves both a fight and a blood rite involving a branded token only known to those in the guild.
Structure
Fight Club – Secret Guild Structure
"In Blood, Truth. In Pain, Freedom."
Hierarchy of Titles:
1. The Ghost (Founder)
- The original creator of Fight Club—believed to be a legendary Black Legion war hero.
- No one knows if they still live. Their philosophies form the "Blood Code," the core belief system.
- Occasionally referenced in hushed reverence during inner-circle gatherings.
2. Fist of the Spiral (Guildmaster)
- Oversees the entire Fight Club network across North and South Azure.
- Issues orders through proxies; rarely seen.
- Maintains the Spiral, the underground championship circuit.
3. Circle Masters
- Run individual Fight Club Circles (cells) in various cities or rest areas.
- Manage local initiations, matches, and internal discipline.
- May fight in the Maw if their circle produces a worthy champion.
4. Iron Hands
- Senior fighters and enforcers of the Blood Code.
- Train initiates, settle disputes, and maintain secrecy.
- Often ex-military, disgraced knights, or battle-hardened gladiators.
5. Bone Brothers / Blood Sisters
- Full-fledged members who have completed their initiation.
- Trusted to recruit, pass on secret signs, and represent their Circle in outer tournaments.
6. Broken Ones
- New initiates or conscripts who have not yet earned a Circle name.
- Must survive their first fight and blood rite to ascend.
The Brotherhood of Martial Discipline – Public Guild Structure
“Strength through Form. Harmony through Struggle.”
1. Grand Master of the Brotherhood
- Public-facing leader of the guild, often a retired knight or ex-gladiator.
- Meets with city authorities and the Pendragon line's oversight agents.
- Hosts exhibitions, tournaments, and classes.
2. Masters of Forms
- Heads of various martial disciplines taught by the guild (e.g., wrestling, swordplay, grappling).
- Some secretly double as Circle Masters in Fight Club.
3. Keepers of Discipline
- Instructors and tournament organizers.
- Often used to scout for potential recruits into the secret guild.
4. Initiates of the Blade
- Students and members of the public guild who are unaware of the true Fight Club.
- Serve as cover, participate in lawful training, and attend public exhibitions.
Culture
Culture of Fight Club
Core Beliefs:
- Violence is truth – all masks are stripped away in combat.
- Pain purifies – suffering brings clarity and freedom from lies.
- Freedom from structure – despite its hierarchy, Fight Club rejects oppressive political systems.
- Strength is earned, not granted – rank is gained through sweat and blood, not noble birth.
- Silence is loyalty – secrecy is sacred.
Customs & Rituals:
- Blood Rite: All new members must spill blood in an unarmed fight before they are branded with a scar or mark.
- Alias Names: Members never use real names. Fighters earn names in the ring (e.g., “The Ox,” “Whisper,” “Ruin”).
- Monthly Code Word: Used to identify trusted members and access hidden locations.
- Ghost Candle Ritual: On the anniversary of the Ghost’s rumored death, fighters hold silent duels in the dark, lit only by candles.
Public Agenda
Brotherhood of Martial Discipline – Public Agenda
“Preserving the Warrior’s Way through Discipline, Honor, and Tradition.”
Mandate & Goals:
- Preserve Martial Traditions
“We honor the techniques of old and pass them to the next generation.”
The Brotherhood publicly claims to preserve ancient combat arts from across Avalon, South Azure, and even fragments of Black Legion martial forms (reframed as historical curiosities). They emphasize discipline over violence and form over fury. - Promote Personal Growth through Discipline
“The body is a weapon, but the mind must guide it.”
The guild teaches that martial practice builds character, mental clarity, and peace—attracting nobles, scholars, and aspiring warriors alike. Classes are open to all, regardless of station, subtly spreading the guild's influence. - Serve as a Peacekeeping Force
“When swords are drawn, let it be by the disciplined.”
The Brotherhood offers volunteers to help local guards in non-lethal conflict resolution, crowd control, and dueling arbitration. This gives them legitimate authority to move throughout Avalon and host public exhibitions. - Host Legal Tournaments & Cultural Events
“Through contest, we inspire greatness.”
The Brotherhood hosts martial arts festivals, staged exhibitions, and friendly tournaments. These act as recruitment covers for secret Fight Club scouting and information gathering. - Advise Nobility & Military on Combat Training
“A knight's title is only as strong as his grip on the blade.”
The Brotherhood is seen as a respected consultant to nobles and military commanders seeking to train elite guards or personal champions—offering legitimacy, political protection, and access to military minds.
Motivation Behind the Public Agenda:
Beneath this righteous veneer, the Brotherhood’s real motivation is to:
- Recruit worthy fighters into the secret Fight Club.
- Maintain legal protection while operating a vast underground network.
- Preserve and spread the Black Legion’s fighting philosophy, even after their empire’s fall.
- Influence Avalon’s future military culture, subtly shifting it toward their creed of might, personal freedom, and ritualized combat.
History
Timeline: The History of Fight Club & The Brotherhood of Martial Discipline
~1000Years Ago – Birth in Blood
- Event: Gladiatorial Schools of the Black Legion Empire
- In the war-hardened empire of the Black Legion (South Azure), brutal unarmed combat pits were established to train elite soldiers and entertain the masses. These pits became a crucible for warriors seeking honor outside of traditional legions.
~700 Years Ago – The War of the Ancients
- Event: Fall of the Black Legion Empire
- The War of the Ancients leads to the empire’s defeat. Many traditions, including the combat pits, are outlawed. Surviving gladiators and trainers scatter, taking their brutal philosophies underground.
- Event: Founding of Fight Club by "The Ghost"
- A mysterious former Black Legion champion known only as The Ghost forms the first Circle, naming it Fight Club. Its core doctrine: pain reveals truth, combat is freedom.
~450 Years Ago – The Spiral is Formed
- Event: Creation of the Spiral Circuit
- Secret cells begin spreading through North and South Azure. A hidden championship known as The Spiral is created, connecting elite fighters in a clandestine ring of bloodsport and philosophy.
~300 Years Ago – Pendragon Law Expands
- Event: The Martial Prohibition Act
- The Pendragon Dynasty, now ruling Avalon, passes strict laws regulating combat schools and unlicensed dueling. Fight Club is declared illegal.
- Event: Founding of The Brotherhood of Martial Discipline
- To survive, Fight Club creates a legal front guild: The Brotherhood of Martial Discipline. It teaches sanitized martial arts to the public while secretly maintaining the underground Spiral.
~200 Years Ago – The Purges
- Event: Crackdown by the Knights of the Round Table
- Several Brotherhood chapters are investigated and dismantled. The Circle Masters respond by restructuring—adopting alias names, burn-after-reading orders, and layered fronts.
~100 Years Ago – Golden Spiral
- Event: Revival of the Spiral Tournaments
- Under the Fist of the Spiral known as “Velthorn the Hollow”, the underground network thrives once more. Public tournaments gain prestige, secretly funneling the strongest contenders into the Spiral.
Present Day – The Resurgence
- Event: Murmurs of the Dovahkiin’s Return
- With dragons returning and old powers awakening, Fight Club sees a new purpose. Some believe this is a sign the Ghost will return. Recruitment spikes, and more Circles are established across Avalon.
"No Chains. No Mercy. No Masters." Public motto “Preserving the Warrior’s Way through Discipline, Honor, and Tradition.”
Founding Date
01 CD
Type
Guild, Fighter / Mercenary
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