The Kataphros; Bane Of Apostates

[HappyShackles 886]

The Ancient Kataphros

 

History

 

The Conception

 

Balthazar I of House Basileus, when the Great Plague first struck the islands of Rhen, realized the dire situation his people were in far before his subjects or even his advisors or friends. He ordered the creation of a small group of agents, who were at all times to wear masks, to investigate the plague. Those selected were the most skilled alchemists and doctors Balthazar I could find, and carried spears to stave off the infected, as well as wearing long leather cloaks to prevent being infected via contact.

 

Balthazar began to realise that nothing his agents were doing was getting any closer to finding a solution to the plague. He instead decided, against the advice of his advisors, that the plague must be of magical origin. He assigned took his already trusted agents and gave them each ten of the best warriors that could be found, and told them to hunt down every single mage they could find. They were to interrogate until the mage would give no more, and if they refused to give any bit of information, they were to be killed.

 

Needless to say, the plan failed. No mage divulged any information regarding any magical origin to the plague or any who may be related to one; and for their ignorance, many perished. Thousands of mages were killed in Balthazar’s hunt for the source.

 

The Creation

 

Balthazar, once settled in south-eastern Oren and sworn to Daniel I, began to take a closer look at his elite mage hunters. Since their departure from Rhen and their conquests in the mainland, the group he had since dubbed the Kataphros had grown in size and skill. They had come to adopt magic regulation throughout all the realm, keeping mages in check wherever they went, and killing those who lacked faith in the Creator. In this way, Balthazar assured Daniel of his conversion to the True Faith.

 

In the coming years the Kataphros came to take on many roles, from bodyguard to horseman to commander to mage hunter. The most loyal and strongest of Rhenyar warriors, both in mind and body, were selected to join the Kataphros by the Archon himself. It became an aspiration for children, to one day have a mask of their own forged.

 

Modern Times

 

Organization

 

Nowadays the Kataphros have deteriorated in number, but not at all in purpose. They are still trained just as hard, just as long, until the Grand Kataphros, the leader of the order, accepts them as capable of wearing the mask.

 

Kataphros all wear masks of a different color, in order to distinguish them from each other. They are free to either remain with House Basileus and serve them directly, or live elsewhere while still maintaining their oaths to regulate heretic magic and slay those who defy the Creator.

 

The Kataphros do not hold command over each other besides the Grand Kataphros’ authority over all others. There are only ever seven Kataphros at one time. Any race or gender may become Kataphros, but they must meet all the same requirements and excel in their training far beyond any human candidate.

 

Becoming Kataphros

 

In order to become Kataphros, one must approach a currently active Kataphros or the Grand Kataphros and request to be trained. No one will be rejected unless they are a heretic or previously proven to be dishonorable or weak.

 

After some time in service to the designated Kataphros or House Basileus, they may be nominated to be trained in the ways of the Kataphros by any Kataphros or the Archon. From there their training begins, where they must master the hoplon, dory and xiphos.

 

For their final test, they must find and execute a heretical mage, and bring the head to the Grand-Kataphros as an offering. After this, they may receive their oath.

 

Violating one’s oath is grounds to be hunted as though they themselves were an apostate (heretic mage). One may also be stripped of their mask by the Archon or Grand Kataphros at any time.

 

Those of the Mask

 

Marcellus of the Golden Mask

Markos of the Silver Mask

Tormo of the Sun's Mask

Kincaid of the Emerald Mask

Icerit of the Frozen Mask

[Garrett 62]

Bossman Viktor waves his hand in the air joyously, "Remove Spookmen! Remove Spookmage! Remove Skullrascal! May Godanistan bless the mission of these folk!" 

[Birdwhisperer 1174]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.