THE CATHAR ORDER

[Omen Prince 391]

THE CATHAR ORDER

𒋼𒁍𒀀𒄿𒁺

 

 

“BI-LA KAIFA;

I HATE THE PALEBEAST

I THINK, THEREFORE, I AM

NO GODS, NO MASTERS

WE ARE THE SECRET

 

WITHOUT NEW CHANGE,
SOMETHING SLEEPS WITHIN MAN,

AND SELDOM AWAKENS

 

THE SLEEPER MUST AWAKEN”

 

The Cathar Order is a religious organization raised with the intention to protect and preserve Sorvian and Construct species, primarily in the Norlandic region where three Sorvian tribes (Beskytte, Alusa and Redshroud) have settled and united with the Human natives and Nevaehli migrants. While the Cathar Order itself is migratory in that it settles where-ever the three tribes settle, they are also loyal and cooperative to their host nation and will assist in its defense against Palebeast or darkspawn incursions.

 

The Cathars hold claimancy over “Dulocian culture”, believing that the soul of the city Du Loc is transient and binds to civilizations where Constructs settle in permanent residence and instigate a Construct renaissance. The two halves of the order carry on the traditional mantles of “Man-makers” and “Man-enders”, and these are official titles granted to Constructs that are brought into the organization as to distinguish their chosen purpose.

 

Man-makers are participants of “Left-hand Catharism”, which promotes peace between mankind and Constructs, as well as facilitate and sanctify the creation of more Constructs within their respective community. Man-makers act as the Catharist priesthood, and do as much as possible to avoid violence and to meditate struggles or conflicts between Construct and Descendant populations or individuals. For this reason, Man-makers are instructed to dedicate themselves to nonlethal methods of combat in order to deescalate situations that develop violently.

 

Man-enders are participants of “Right-hand Catharism”, and they are invested in the duty to safeguard Constructs and Construct freedom with the threat of armed violence. Man-enders are trained to excel in both manslaying and Palebeast hunting, but are not invested or concerned in fielding themselves en masse for open warfare among nations. Because the Cathar directive is to defend the land of their people, they are therefore obligated to defend their host nation whether in matters of keeping the peace or thwarting city invaders.

 

THE SEVEN WARDS

 

 

The Seven Wards are the religious laws upheld by the Cathar Order among the Constructs and among themselves, and were written as to apply to every sensible Construct without impeding upon virtuous cultural and religious freedoms that Constructs may embrace. The wards act as fundamental rules intended to maintain a sense of humanity or moral compass among the Constructs, preventing them from submitting to tyrannical rule or Palebeast servitude.

 

The Man-makers prioritize themselves with teaching Constructs the Seven Wards, whereas the Man-enders enforce them and ensure other forces do not impose upon or threaten Constructkind. 

 

WARD I:

Thou shall not murder a man, old or new.

 

WARD II:

Thou shall not deceive or steal from a man, old or new.

 

WARD III:

Thou shall not accept any master unwillingly, or be put to service without due freedom.

 

WARD IV:

Thou shall not strike a man for his words, and shall keep the peace in the forum of thoughts.

 

WARD V:

Thou shall hate the Palebeast, and curse Ash-Shaitan, and put them to fire.

 

WARD VI:

Thou shall not lend service to wicked idols, tyrant kings, or Palebeast powers.

 

WARD VII:

Thou shall always create and rarely destroy.

 

THE MAN-MAKERS

 

 

The Man-makers are the priesthood of Catharsis, and participate in the peaceful and mediating half of Catharist thought known as “the left-handed path”. The left-handed path concerns itself in matters of deep thought, meditation, interpretation of omens, prophetic creation and fulfillment, as well as proselytization among all Constructs in order to convince them of their personhood.

 

Man-makers began as Sculptors in Du Loc, but as long as a Construct has the means to create their own kind or another form of man-made-man, they may qualify to participate in the priesthood’s induction ceremony. Man-makers adorn the deep black robes of their mortal predecessors and go without armor as their intentions are to prevent violence among men and Constructs rather than to instigate it. Man-makers preach and proselytize among their man-made people and actively work to create more Constructs, as well as find ways to evolve them so that they may properly assume the mantle of “mortals” - self-sufficient living beings reliant only upon their own abilities.

 

The Man-makers lack a sophisticated hierarchy in their branch, as they are primarily democratic in their methods of choosing the direction and purpose of their congregation. They have one sole leading figure that they call the Seventh Ward Dragon who begins as the first or foundational member of the left-handed priesthood and determines whether or not Constructs are fit or qualified in joining the Cathar Order as Man-makers. The Dragon’s soul authoritative power is their means to veto a formal Man-maker vote on a collective choice or clerical decision, but only once, as it prompts the priesthood to re-review and affirm their course of action in any given matter, whether domestic or esoteric or otherwise. New Seventh Ward Dragons are named from Man-makers who are willingly granted the mantle by their predecessors, or if they’re permitted to establish a new priesthood within another region, but only one Dragon may lead the flock in a each city or mortal community that is host to them.

 

Man-makers may initiate Constructs capable of creating other Constructs on their lonesome, and if a Construct does not have the skills to meet that condition, they may be made a Maker Disciple. They are instructed in the methods of creation mastered by their teacher, and educated on the Seven Wards during the process. Man-makers are also expected to teach their nonlethal combat knowledge to their Maker Disciples, ensuring they are fully invested in the ways of the left-handed path of peace.

 

THE MAN-ENDERS

 

The Man-enders are the red-robed contrasts to the Man-makers, stylizing themselves as a form of zealot militia that are compelled to preserve Constructkind by the divine mandate of Cathar faith. Their duty is to act as constant monitors that provide security to any area occupied temporarily or indefinitely by Constructs, at any place and at any time. Not only are Man-enders trained to relentlessly assault and persecute both open and subtle threats to Constructs, but they are also tasked to prevent harm from being dealt between feuding Constructs, and by force if necessary. It is among the most absolute priorities for the Man-enders to prevent the first, let alone any act of kinslaying between Constructs, as they are taught to view it as a ruinous omen for their kind.

 

Man-ender chapters are established in specific regions or cities that are occupied by a recognized Construct communities, and are led by the foundational Man-ender of that chapter called the Seventh Ward Lord. The Lord commands absolute authority over none but the Construct Man-enders, and instructs them militarily and in the training of techniques and crafts versed in the ways of warfare. The Seventh Ward Lord functions as an essential Construct military commander who is in part a diplomat to the Descendant communities that host them, capable of becoming as much of a councilman or court member in order to maintain close and amicable ties between a Man-ender chapter and the people who host their kind.

 

Man-enders cannot fully initiate other Man-enders, but they may take other Constructs under their wing to make them Ender Disciples, or more simply squires. The Seventh Ward Lord holds the power to bestow a knighthood ritual over these squires to turn them into full Man-enders, but only after they have proven themselves in combat whether against man or Palebeast. 

 

In times of war, Man-enders favor the use of spears and pikes, as well as weapons made to debilitate, cripple or dismember their foes with raw force. Under the command of the Lord, they may assemble into strategic formations and utilize defensive methods concocted from the familiar surroundings of their host nation. While they are obligated to act in the defense of their host nation from invaders, the Seventh Ward Lord will not permit them to be fielded in open warfare in order to mitigate risks surrounding the Constructs they protect in times of strife.

 

INITIATION & CREATION

 

 

Constructs may be initiated into the Cathar Order by accepting the tutelage of members of either branch of the organization, becoming Maker or Ender Disciples. Constructs may be born from any tribe, group or maker in order to be able to join the Cathars, but they must adhere to the Seven Wards and vow to put the preservation of Constructkind first over their personal priorities and relationships. 

 

Man-makers and Man-enders may create Constructs of their own design in order to usher them into the ranks of the Cathar Order, but their creation requires the willing blood sacrifice of a host nation native, and that the born Construct are given the choice whether to join the priesthood or the militia. They are not allowed to be offered their own path beyond the Cathars, as this is believed to deprive them of their agency and ability to come to that conclusion and request it on their own. 

 

Constructs permissible for recruitment into the Cathar Order include Sorvians, Homunculi, Automatons and Golems. Descendant beings or any entities not recognized as entirely man-made are not permitted to join the order. Descendants in particular are given the option to assist in the creation of Sorvian Constructs with their blood so that they may join the Cathars on their behalf

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

The application process for the guild is based out of character and any accepted submissions act as an invitation for the Cathar Order to approach the applying playing characters to instigate their joining of the group. There are two forms of application a player may choose from depending on whether they play Descendant or Construct characters.

 

DESCENDANT APPLICATION

MC Name:

Character Name:

Character Race:

Are you willing to play a Sorvian? (Y/N):

If not, are you interested in playing a different Construct for the guild? Specify:

 

CONSTRUCT APPLICATION

MC Name:

Character Name:

Construct Type:

Character Skills:

Character CA:

 

LINKS & RESOURCES

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/187842-%E2%9C%93-feat-lore-sorvian-sculpting-ca-race-lore-sorvians/

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/227061-culture-the-way-of-new-men/