[hider=The Avaen Guard] [center][url=https://fontmeme.com/fonts/emyrla-font/][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/210122/e42e0386f584d738bf182c84bbdd99d3.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ee/de/6c/eede6c29a7816d5cea987f94c574290e.jpg[/img] [hr][hr] [color=red][sub][i]We are are the rod in the Sorcerer King's fist, the sword at his waist, and the shield on his back. We are the sons and daughters of Menorath, once forged, a hundred times reborn. We are the wall about His land. We are the shadow in His wake. We are the Avaen Guard.[/i][/sub][/color] [hr][hr] [color=red][b][sub]The Avaen Guard is the elite fighting force, several trillion strong, of self-sustaining and self-replenishing soldiers that Adath has at his disposal. They are armed with some of the best equipment and gear in the known cosmos, as the enchantments woven into their suits work in tandem with highly advanced tech to keep them alive in some of the most inhospitable conditions imaginable, not to mention let them tap directly into the smallest faction of Adath's own psycho-magical might. As if their own abilities and rigorous million year training regimen wasn't already more than enough. The armor employed by the Guard is nigh-unbreakable as well, being made of materials and metals that are insanely resilient in their own right. Combine this with each suit's onboard tracking systems, various sensors to monitor not only the vitals of the wearer but any friendly forces nearby, along with numerous types of scanners, comprehensive isomorphic subroutines that prevent anyone but its designated user from so much as putting a segment of it on, and you have a force that is damn near unstoppable save through the might of some of the Verse's most powerful warriors and fearsome gods. This isn't even mentioning their weapons which, while completely unnecessary in their own right due to the Guard's direct link with Adath himself, are incomprehensibly devastating to all save the most resilient of foes. Some of these include, but are obviously not limited to, the [url=https://www.clipartkey.com/mpngs/m/188-1884604_clip-art-futuristic-revolvers-sci-fi-gun-png.png]Vanquisher Model-3[/url] auto-pistol. A sidearm that, while weak at first glance, is capable of unleashing hails of deadly annihilative magic on foes at speeds comparable to that of a modern day assault rifle on full-auto, minus the same horrendous level of recoil due to the complete lack of a gas based firing system. The [url=https://img-new.cgtrader.com/items/916315/ba3ccfca20/sci-fi-concept-laser-rifle-3d-model-obj-c4d.jpg]Retributor-09 pulse rifle[/url], a rather hefty looking assault rifle that fires bolts of superheated plasma at rates exceeding those of the Vanquisher thanks to its use of block transfer mathematics, all of which is handled by the gun's own AI. This lets the projectiles travel through micro-tears in spacetime opened within the barrel, which proceed to exit through the other end of the tunnel, the opening of which is typically positioned right next to the target's most vital organs. This allows for a wide variety of uses in numerous combat scenarios, such as setting up ambushes that don't trigger for hours, days, or even weeks, riddling targets with a veritable hail of searing bolts. And much, much, more. The Guard also has access to many other armaments and tools, such as strike craft, titans, and many other engines of war, though these are far too numerous for a fully comprehensive list. In regards to the structure of the Guard itself, it is divvied up into twelve separate legions, each of which is assigned to one of the twelve sectors of Menorath along with their respective Megaworlds. These legions all share a unified doctrine of war and ranking scheme, with each legion growing progressively more powerful the higher up you go, staring with the supercluster burning malice of the First and ending at the omniverse crushing might of the Twelfth. [/sub][/b][/color] [/center] [/hider] [hider=The Umbral Court] [center][url=https://fontmeme.com/fonts/emyrla-font/][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/210123/65593bf4ac22bed52d508f931919009d.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][img]https://cdna.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/003/437/332/large/david-franco-livingforever.jpg?1473683279[/img][/center] [hr][hr] [center][i][sub]The affairs of this court are beyond your reckoning mortal! Tis best if you do as every worm in Menorath does... Be silent, and obey.[/sub][/i][/center] [hr][hr] [center][b][sub]The Duodecim. The Twelve. They Who Walk in Shadow. The Umbral Court. For a pantheon of lesser gods, when compared to their master and his servants anyway, one would assume the twelve deities that comprise the ranks of the Court[i]—who are split as equally between male and female as possible, seemingly only for Adath's own personal peace of mind—[/i]to have a greater deal of influence over their respective Megaworlds. This, however, is not the case. As a matter of fact the Court, for all its supposed might, actually possesses the [i]least[/i] amount of political power out of anyone living in the empire today. They press on blindly in spite of this niggling fact though, continuing and even outright escalating their petty internal conflicts, though not to the point where one of Adath's subordinates such as the Herald, or even members of the Guard, are forced to intervene. Not since their first reprimand anyway, the lesson having been learned well and abided by faithfully since then. When not acting like petulant, tantrum throwing children however, the Court somehow manages to do wonders for increasing the people's trust in their dark god. For they ensure all citizens properly follow the Sorcerer King's will, even going so far as to work with certain agents of the Onyx Hand at times. Assuming they leave their gilded thrones and drug filled dens long enough to mingle amongst the common folk that is. Granted, this isn't really necessary given the fact that Adath could simply use his vast psionic might to puppet the massive populations currently languishing under his rule, but if he did that then he wouldn't get nearly as much enjoyment from his more sadistic activities as he does now. Thus we can see that the Court is a largely useless institution, serving more as an elite country club for a gaggle of spoiled gods and goddesses Adath can't be bothered to simply eradicate, his reasons for showing them mercy in the first place still a complete and utter mystery. Perhaps he finds their squabbling amusing in some strange way, or perhaps he simply wants a group of self-proclaimed all-powerful beings to abuse at his leisure. Whatever the case, the Court does not appear as though it will be going anywhere, be that upwards in terms of overall power or outwards in terms of blatant rebellion, any time soon. [/sub][/b][/center] [/hider] [hider=The Onyx Hand] [center][url=https://fontmeme.com/fonts/emyrla-font/][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/210124/17f65468849586465659a2ce3bcde3f8.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][img]https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/pictures/200000/nahled/hand-with-eye.jpg[/img][/center] [hr][hr] [center][i][sub]An eye in the hand and a hand in the eye... We shall spread our faith across the void, and watch the Verse die. [/sub][/i][/center] [hr][hr] [center][b][sub]Not much is known about the Onyx Hand other than the fact that they are a very secretive and extremely malicious cult in the service of Adath. How they recruit, their rituals, methods of worship, and indeed even tenants are completely unknown to all save those already on the inside. Combine this with the fact that no one save Adath knows where they actually are at any one time, and you get quite the mysterious religion. Their goals on the other hand, are anything but. They live to infiltrate and subvert the various civilizations inhabiting the Verse, much like the Hive, albeit in a far less violent fashion due to their tendency towards psychological manipulation rather than straight up possession and eventual overthrow. Furthermore, they devote at least a part of their time and resources to reinforcing the faith of those already under Adath's control, and sometimes work hand in hand with members of the Umbral Court as mentioned before.[/sub][/b][/center] [/hider]