The Order of the Aether

The order of the Aether is a religious militant faction that is prevalent in the Shattered Kingdom and the Shattered west. They are well known for their strong distrust of magic and their over zealous responses to bad fortune, often jumping to the conclusion that it is black magic and starting a witch hunt for the 'Agent of Ruin' responsible for the act.

The Order of the Aether operates from its Abbeys, which exist in several cities and towns, the most notable of which being Crofton. The Abbeys include a sermon hall, an interrogation room, a meeting room, a "Black Library" in which captured "Dark Artifacts" are stored. Some of these are genuinely black magic artifacts and there are a large number of Stone Charms, but much of it is standard magic equipment which the Templars have captured and locked away.

There are several branches of the Order of the Aether. The first is the Artificers, who are responsible for creating the equipment used by the Order. This equipment is covered in markings which supposedly protect from "Black Magic". While this claim may seem suspect at first, some wizards do believe that the markings convey an enchantment upon the objects, making the wearer more resistant to magical attacks, ironically meaning that the order is using magic its self.

The second branch is the Laymen and Priests. They preach sermons upon the dangers of magic and the Princes of Ruin. These sermons spread paranoia, and teach that people must be as pure and pious as possible to avoid being taken by the Princes. As a result, many areas under the influence of the Order have reached technological stagnation, and new technologies are routinely deemed heretical by the orders priests. People are taught to report each other for any signs of influence by the Princes of Ruin, and the accused are dragged from their homes by the Templars and tortured until they confess their crimes and are executed as a result. They always confess. The Templars always find the guilt they seek, even in the innocent. Some people report on opponents to remove them.

The final branch are the Templars of the Order. They hunt down magic users, Heretics, Dari Artifacts and nearly anything or anyone involved with a prince of ruin or magic in any way. Once they have found their supposed heretics, they 'Redeem' them by getting a confession and killing them. They are experts at extracting confessions, even from the innocents. Armed with a sword and a crossbow and armoured in gold armour covered in sacred symbols and patterns, and wearing a menacing golden mask. The Templars beliefs may be laughable and their hypocrisy obvious, but that makes them no less skilled at their task.

Each Abbey is run by a Master, and their overall leader is the Grandmaster who resides in Aether Abbey in Crofton. Each abbey has its own artificers and templars, and many are considered fortresses in their own right. Due to their beliefs, they are the natural enemies of all the princes of ruin and their servants, the Zaandi, and all other magic users and associates. Luckily, their influence outside the shattered kingdom is minimal, and even within the shattered kingdom they often come into conflict with city guardsmen, who mostly regards them as dangerous insane zealots, and the guardsmen often try to impede the activities of the Order where possible, sometimes directly attacking or arresting them.

Ten Commandments of the Order of the Aether

1: Be pure in heart first, be wise second, for what value is the man without faith? A clever heretic is still a heretic first and foremost.
2: Restrict your lust, for that is the path to ruin. Save your passion for your wife, whatever wanton woman has caught your eye is an agent of ruin, trying to lead you astray. What is the value of consorting with a prostitute? What is the value of the company of a fickle lover? They are worthless.
3: Control your thoughts, for through a devious mind can enter the forces of ruin. Likewise, an open mind is like a house with its doors unlocked, and in shall seep ruin. Leave no place for the schemes of the princes of ruin, and instead occupy your mind with the prayers against witchcraft and ruin.
4: Your brothers are an extension of yourself. Does the sane man attack his own arm? He does not, and so neither must you. As such, you must never raise a hand against a brother.
5: Pain is temporary, Honour is forever, and so you must never betray your brothers nor your faith, no matter the torment.
6: Teach the heretics and you make them but clever devils. Is a clever devil not worse? Instead, purge them from the world that they might see their errors from the next
7: Faith without deeds is worthless. What value is a man, should he refuse to work? Act on your faith or forever turn your back on your brothers.
8: Cowards die in shame, and so you must never retreat and never surrender. Remember, dear brother, that none have died in service have died in vain
9: Greed is a trap, a trick to lure your to the path of ruin. Watch for the objects that, though shiny and pleasing to the eye, bring only sorrow to their owner. Rather, deny yourself pleasure and luxuries, and instead wait patiently, for your reward shall be great.
10: Blessed is the man who can overcome his doubt, for doubt leads to ruin. Instead, be sure and certain in all your actions, and leave no space for uncertainty in your soul and mind