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Author Topic: Paladin Orders: The Legacies of Vorax  (Read 1282 times)

EdTheKet

Paladin Orders: The Legacies of Vorax
« on: February 24, 2005, 01:40:00 pm »
[SIZE=13]The Order of the Bloody Axe, one of the three that make up the Chruch of Vorax, is primarily broken up into three parts called Legacies. Each of these represents an aspect or legend of Vorax.  [/SIZE][SIZE=13]Vorax's Legacy of the Chosen:  [/SIZE][/b][SIZE=13]"Come the moment, come the man."[/i] -- Unknown  [/SIZE][SIZE=13]Sometime around the year -225, the first of the Champions of Vorax, now known as the Legacy of the Chosen, started to appear. It is believed that the first Chosen of Vorax was Rainstorff who performed the most brave and famous act ever performed: saving Vorax from imprisonment on the Plane of Hate and Lost.  [/SIZE][SIZE=13]Since then, it is unknown what prompted the creation or selection of other Chosen, but is known that it was with them and through them that much of the famous acts of bravery and valour that most dwarves still speak about were done.  [/SIZE][SIZE=13]Little can be said about these men and women, other than they are the very essence of a true follow of Vorax. Valour, bravery, vigilance are their stock in trade and they are the very best at what they do.  [/SIZE][SIZE=13]The selection process to become one of the Chosen is still a closely guarded secret by the High Council of Vorax.  [/SIZE][SIZE=13]Notes: [/i][/b]Those that which to become a Chosen must do so only through a CDQ. You can, upon submission, state your desire to take this class, but it must be properly developed through play and development. Members of the Legacy of the Chosen can freely multiclass between paladin and Champion of Vorax.  [/SIZE][SIZE=13]Vorax's Legacy of the Righteous Axe:  [/SIZE][/b][SIZE=13]"Lead them, lead them to glory."[/i] -- General Ulgrith Greybeard, the First.  [/SIZE][SIZE=13]Originally the entire Order of the Bloody Axe were members of what was then called the Righteous Axe, these members are a mix of paladin and warriors, the perfect combination of war and spirit.   [/SIZE][SIZE=13]It was in the year -200 during the siege of Threkendal that this group numbering around 1500 strong stood at the pass of Trendis Morn and held of an Elvish force nearly 20 times its size to give the women and children of Threkendal time to escape. For three days and three nights this small force battled, much blood was spilled, elf and dwarf alike. A charnel pit of bodies and gore lined the pass and still they fought. On the fourth day, numbering less than a hundred, grim with determination, sure in the knowledge that this was their last but they at least had given their families time to escape, they prepared to face their death.  On they fought, turning back tide after tide of attackers until finally, there were just a dozen lone dwarves. And then five. More fell till there was just two. Two dwarves back to back and one of them wounded, axes ready and eyes weary, as they prepared to meet Vorax the Elvish signal for retreat was signalled. Confused the near victors crossed to their tents and waited for further orders.   [/SIZE][SIZE=13]A single elf approached the two dwarves carrying a white flag of parley.  "We are returning home, greybeards, I will tell my superiors that the pass could not be taken. I will not see the last of you slain when you have fought so bravely to protect what is yours. I mourn for the loss of your kin, but I will not condone the murder of two dwarves, even during this War."  [/SIZE][SIZE=13]With that said the elf cross back across the lines of bodies and took his remaining forces, few as they were, back to the Elvish lands.  [/SIZE][SIZE=13]Home they went, one supporting the other, to the land they nearly died defending. During the night one of these two dwarves died of his wounds. Leaving just one. The last of the Righteous Axe. To this day, as a commemoration of that battle and the valour and indescribable courage, there is always just a single member of the Legacy of the Righteous Axe, he is the leader of the entire Order of the Bloody Axe and thus a member of the High Council of Vorax.  [/SIZE][SIZE=13]There is also always a single chair that is placed beside the man, to honour the second survivor of the battle, that later died of wounds received there.  [/SIZE][SIZE=13]Notes:[/i][/b] This is primarily an NPC option but needed to be mentioned none the less. Perhaps one day there will be a player that will be chosen to be the next member of the Legacy of the Righteous Axe. Members of this Legacy can freely multiclass between Fighter and Paladin.  [/SIZE][SIZE=13]Vorax's Legacy of the Mailed Fist:  [/SIZE][/b][SIZE=13]"Thy body is thy most perfect weapon, my child. Lay down thy weapon and first master that which I have given onto thee." [/i]-- Drogan Steelarm, founder of the Legacy of the Mailed Fist's recounting of Vorax's words, taken from the Book of Sundered Blades.  [/SIZE][SIZE=13]This is by far the smallest and most unusual of the three Legacies. Legend holds that in around the year of 225, Drogan Steelarm, the night before a big battle after much consumption of a heavy stout ale was visited by Vorax while passed out under a bar room table. Vorax spoke to him, bidding him to lay down his weapons and to instead rely upon the greatest weapon that is gifted to all dwarves, their body.  The following morning, Drogan left behind his great axe and instead took to the field of battle armed only with the will of Vorax. Much blood was spilled and in the end Drogan had found the true meaning of battle, facing an enemy as Vorax must always have intended, in brute unarmed combat. [/SIZE][SIZE=13] Drogan wasn’t the first one to have this revelation from Vorax though, as several centuries earlier, around -125 the monastic order of the Brothers of Battle had been founded by Thergrim Stonefist.  [/SIZE][SIZE=13]Drogan continued his study of unarmed combat with the Brothers and was soon called ‘The Mailed Fist’, as he continued to wear his chainmail. Since then, other paladins who hear Vorax’ call to lay down their weapons and make their body the perfect weapon have been called Mailed Fist.  [/SIZE][SIZE=13]To enter into the Legacy of the Mailed Fist, a paladin must show his superiors that he understands the meaning of valour, upon deciding to try out for the Mailed Fist, his superiors often set him a task such as fight a foe unarmed or some incredible feat of endurance. If successful he is free to join the Mailed Fist as one of their own, if not after a year of further training he is able to once again try out for the Legacy.  [/SIZE][SIZE=13]Notes:[/i][/b] Once a Paladin joins the Legacy of the Mailed Fist, he is no longer able to wield any weapon or use any shield. This means that most crafts will be off limits to you. That is part of the rituals undertaken to strengthen the body and mind. A small CDQ is required to join the Legacy of the Mailed Fist, that being the trial or task mentioned above. Often a test of strength or endurance, it is rarely the same thing for two different applicants. If the applicant passes the task, from that point on they are able to freely multiclass between paladin and sacred fist. Joining the Mailed Fist is a one way choice, there is no going back. The restriction of weapon and shield is permanent. Be warned.[/SIZE]