Posted on July 18, 2023 in Steel-Realms
– This is the dominant order of the faith. It has common Group/Institution elements.
Cleric, Paladin – These are archetypes dedicated to serving and representing the faith in iconic roles as part of their function; Others may be available as Followers at GM discretion – serving as institutional officers, community officers, or simply through Conviction and shared liturgical beliefs.
The Common Face of Faith: Like most Faiths of the Steel Realms, there may be a multitude of denominations that make up Cults, Orders and Sects of Sunstealer. These share the common Workings of Faith, promoting worship to prove the truth of the Divine Principal's ideals and tenets, and allow Followers a means to prove worthy to wield power and secure a place in the promised afterlife. Sunstealer has a Dominant Presentation of their faith, clergy, and institutions that the folk of the realms look to.
He is known by many names, including that of “Shuustak” by the more savage and primitive creatures like Lizardfolk and Troglodytes.
The most common sub sect or cult of Sunstealer is Tenebraeth. Some say it is a child of his, other an avatar, some a fiend or spirit bound to the god. It is even said that this is just a made up name, so that those seeking to gain power from it do not have to use his name among the Dark Trinity. Regardless of its specific manifestation, it is synonymous with the god. He is the stealer of dreams, and despoiler of rest. Tenebraeth replaces dreams with nightmare, and traps those that he/it curses in a mind-prison of their own thoughts. There is no way to summon Tenebraeth in the light – the light of truth destroys the dark thoughts that surround Tenebraeth.
Posted on November 8, 2022 in Steel-Realms
The Silver Talents are an a knightly order of the Steel Realms dedicated to serving the god Balthazaar and the nation of Umbak. They were founded by a man named Sir Edwin Talent – and have kept his name and polished look. Their primary charge is to keep the roads of Umbak free of all things which would hurt and impair the progress of pilgrims and worshipers of their god. Within Umbak, they report to the King and their church alone. Outside of Umbak, they keep to the main roads, carrying their mission along these roads and places on them. The Silver Talents are the primary transport guards of the Bank of the Silver Stacks – a nice parallel between the names being entirely coincidental. The bank leverages their station to move their wares and personnel unimpeded. For this connection, the primary bankers on these journeys are 2nd and third born nobles – a charge that elevates the position and aligns with the charter of the Silver Talents. They are resented by many (they are an sanctioned order of knight by the High King – they cannot legally be impeded on the roads unless time of war). You will never find them, nor is it allowed by their covenant to press their cause, farther than 2 miles from any road, path, or holy site. Any territory considered to belong to Umbak itself, as perceived to be a divine road to righteousness and faith – as such all of Umbak is subject to their meting of justice. Only the Justicars of Balthazaar are feared more than the knights of the Silver Talents for their zeal. Nearly all of the order is made up of native Umbakians, and the majority of them are all second, third, or fourth sons of nobles. It is said the Silver Talents are proving ground for the crusaders. They are THE most well equipped order of knights in all the realms – fitting since the monetary unit of Silver Talent shares their name. Their armor glints like polished silver. They are the only order which may field opponents for those to face in the trial of the Heart of Light.
Within Umbak, the senior members of the Order of the Silver Talents are instructed into using the devices of Florent’s Array to send and receive messages. This order had adopted the use of Crown Tags for identification.
Official Charter:
The Silver Talents have six ranks within their organization.
There is a single Master officer for each nation the order operates in and but a single Grand Master over them all.
Rank | Follower Requirement |
Other Requirements | Benefits |
Squire Brother |
Lay | 1 year service; Skills: primary weapon 3, Ride 2; Traits: Code of Conduct, Tithe | |
Sergeant Brother |
Lay | 2 years service; Skills: primary weapon 4, Ride 3, Law 1; Traits: Code of Conduct, Tithe | |
Knight | 2 years service; Physical Apt. 7; Skills: primary weapon 6, Ride 5, Law 2; Traits: Code of Conduct, Tithe “Captains” are Knight (errant) which have been appointed to road stations within Umbak after 5 years of service as a ‘master of horses’; they maintain stables and blacksmith accomodations, and small shrines here and there for the forces of the order. |
Vigil: Bless | |
Commander | 10 years service; Physical Apt. 7; CHA 4; WPR 4; Skills: primary weapon 7, Ride 6, Law 2, Literacy; Traits: Code of Conduct, Tithe | Vigilance: Bless, Vigil | |
Master | 15 years service; Physical Apt. 7; CHA 4; WPR 5; Skills: primary weapon 8, Ride 7, Law 3, Literacy; Traits: Code of Conduct, Tithe | Vigilance: Bless, Vigil, Guidance | |
Grand Master |
20 years service; Physical Apt. 7; CHA 4; WPR 6; Skills: primary weapon 9, Ride 8, Law 3, Literacy; Traits: Code of Conduct, Tithe | Vigilance: Bless, Vigil, Guidance, Grace |
The Silver Talents are very aggressive. Like most of the Umbakian military, military dsicipline is part of their daily lives.
The order, being an order of knights has but limited powers of faith.
Posted on November 8, 2022 in Steel-Realms
These are a knightly order of the Steel Realms of the heartlands. They were once “The Order of the Trident” – and often confused with the Legion of the Trident. They once operating out of the Duchy of Dunstrand, Duchy of Rhyl, the Northern Merchant Cities, and Gladnor. Though they are technically a secular order, the followers of light have slowly taken control of the order in the last few hundred years, and in CY 9129 renamed the order. The order faded from Dunstrand, closing and selling its lands in Dunstrand in CY 9131. The political ranks and functionaries are all favorable to the church of Light now, worshiping Ikribu (65%), Balthazaar (20%), and Whelm (15%) – although almost all of the highest ranks are filled by those who venerate Ikribu.
They were originally named after the headwaters of the Nanford river, forked somewhat like a trident (less after The Sundering). Now they are named after the triple male gods of the Lightbringers.
Their symbol is a gold lightning bolt ending in a trident. The trident has a shorter center tine symbolizing Whelm, with a brown background and blue diagonal stripe. Older insignias has three full-length tines.