Old Atlantia
11-06-2007, 04:22
The Brotherhood of Kaine
Peace through Power
The Brotherhood is a secretive, arcane cult composed of Valgardian nobles, bandit kings, wizards, necromancers, vampires, and wealthy merchants. Founded by the dangerous and enigmatic Kaine, a rouge wizard and necromancer said to be centuries old, the Brotherhood's stated goal is to bring peace to earth, through the conquest of death. The ends, for this shadowy cult, always justify the means... bribery, kidnapping, torture, terrorism, coercion, and assassinations are employed regularly by the Brotherhood in order to accomplish it's mysterious goals. The Church of Kaine is notably xenophobic, racist, and pro-slavery; thus it is sworn enemies with the abolitionist movement known as the Three Lanterns. In fact, the Three Lanterns is the only group who seem to have any information on the Brotherhood, though the Imperial Authorities hunt cult members and necromancers almost as zealously as they hunt abolitionists.
The Basics
The Brotherhood is divided into three branches-The Eyes of Kaine, The Claw, and The Dagger- each serving a specific role. All three branches answer to the Council, a group of six powerful necromancers and wizards, who in turn answer to their god-on-earth, Kaine.
Kaine himself is an elusive figure about whom little is known. He is wanted in every Valgardian city and a bounty on him has been signed by the Emperor himself. Believed to be a high elf, Kaine is rumored to be able to change his form at will and have nearly complete mastery over the undead... little else is known.
Key Strengths
Velim Royal Trading Company:
Owned by a key leader of the Brotherhood, Archduke Athulas 'The Spider' Velim, the Velim royal trading company is an economic powerhouse within the Empire. With headquarters in Vismar and major branches in Eira, Yiorit, and Erimea, the Trading Company deals- quite legally and publicly- in spices, precious metals, lumber, and animals such as horses and oxen. It owns a great deal of mines throughout the Empire, and controls a fleet of ships. The Royal Trading Company does not, notably, deal in the slave trade (though it does use slaves) and it is rumored that Archduke Velim is a closet abolitionist. This could not be farther from the truth- Velim secretly uses the Trading Company's great wealth, man power, and political influence to further the Brotherhood's sinister goals. While the Kainites might lack the nearly omniscient intelligence network of the Three Lanterns, it compensates by controlling incredible wealth. The Velim Royal Trading Company is also used by the Brotherhood to smuggle necromantic artifacts and other forbidden objects into the Empire.
Vampires:
Unlike the Imperial Authorities, the Brotherhood welcomes vampires into it's ranks and thus controls a very powerful- if secretive- asset. Vampires often belong to the Brotherhood's intelligence and terror network- the Eye, working as assassins and spies, but can be found in all levels of the cult.
The Brotherhood
The Eyes of Kaine:
A group of spies, assassins, ninjas, and agents who have sworn their lives to the Brotherhood. While the Eyes lack the numbers of the Imperial authorities and the slave resources of the Yellow Lanterns, they make up for this deficit by using bribery, brainwashing, and threats to manipulate non-Brotherhood officials into doing their will. Unlike their abolitionist counterparts, the Eyes rely heavily on illusion magic and charms to get the information they require. In addition to coercion and intelligence, this branch of the Brotherhood also deals in assassinations and acts of terrorism.
The Claw:
The Claw is composed of the main membership of the Brotherhood. Each 'Talon' is an accomplished sorcerer and necromancer who is in charge of a particular geographic region. Every 'Talon' has a number of initiates and acolytes who study the Dark Arts under them and hope to someday fully join the Brotherhood. To become a 'Talon' one must go through a lengthy and dangerous initiation process, followed by a difficult training period in Necromancy and other forbidden forms of magic.
The Dagger:
An assortment of bribed guards and soldiers, mercenaries, thugs, bandits, and orcs who fight for the Brotherhood. Each Talon has a small army of outlaws and mercenaries who fight for them. Many members of the Dagger have no idea they are working for the Brotherhood, while some are brainwashed into service. A select few of these warriors catch the eye of their necromantic masters and are granted the rank of 'Peacekeeper.' The Peacekeepers are a small group of elite (mostly orcish) soldiers who are fanatical in their devotion to the Brotherhood. They act as bodyguards for the Talons and Council Members, and also as strike troops whenever the Brotherhood deems it necessary to fight in the open. In addition to living troops, Talons and their acolytes can summon swarms of various undead creatures to do their bidding.
The Council:
The Mouth:
Age: Unknown
Race: Undead; originally human
Eye Color: N/A
Phys. Desc: Tall, gaunt, very pale old man with long grey hair. His nose has eroded into two slits, his ears are bloody scabs, and his eyes are hidden behind a rag serving as a blindfold. His lipless mouth is carvernous; his teeth are filed to points, and his tongue is snake like. The Mouth wears black, ragged robes.
Skills: A master of illusion, the Mouth's strength lies in his ability to control his enemies. Though physically repulsive, the Mouth has an unnaturally beautiful voice which can send a man to his knees in tears or into a homocidal rage, depending on what the Mouth wants. Only those with the strongest of wills can resist his powerful charms. The Mouth also has the ability to change his form into a black crow.
Equipment: small, silver dagger
Bio: No one knows who or what the Mouth originally was, but what he's become is truly horrific. Able to twist men's minds with a single word, the Mouth is Kaine's emissary- he is the only one who speaks directly with the cult leader, and relays the master's messages to the rest of the Council.
Arch-Duke Athalus Velim:
Alias: The Spider
Age: 210 years
Race: High Elven
Eye Color: Emerald
Phys. Desc: Tall and graceful looking with high cheekbones and well defined features. Velim has shoulder length, dark brown hair and sharp, bright green eyes. He wears silvery, almost iridescent robes made of the finest materials.
Skills: powerful wizard, well versed in most forms of magic- including necromancy.
Equipment: small wooden cane topped with a silver snake head, silver dagger, Velim Family Ring (silver with a green stone)
Bio: to come...
Count Kristoph von Sutler: more to come
Gorgath the Vile: more to come
Nightwalker: more to come
Ariana Darkwater: more to come
Peace through Power
The Brotherhood is a secretive, arcane cult composed of Valgardian nobles, bandit kings, wizards, necromancers, vampires, and wealthy merchants. Founded by the dangerous and enigmatic Kaine, a rouge wizard and necromancer said to be centuries old, the Brotherhood's stated goal is to bring peace to earth, through the conquest of death. The ends, for this shadowy cult, always justify the means... bribery, kidnapping, torture, terrorism, coercion, and assassinations are employed regularly by the Brotherhood in order to accomplish it's mysterious goals. The Church of Kaine is notably xenophobic, racist, and pro-slavery; thus it is sworn enemies with the abolitionist movement known as the Three Lanterns. In fact, the Three Lanterns is the only group who seem to have any information on the Brotherhood, though the Imperial Authorities hunt cult members and necromancers almost as zealously as they hunt abolitionists.
The Basics
The Brotherhood is divided into three branches-The Eyes of Kaine, The Claw, and The Dagger- each serving a specific role. All three branches answer to the Council, a group of six powerful necromancers and wizards, who in turn answer to their god-on-earth, Kaine.
Kaine himself is an elusive figure about whom little is known. He is wanted in every Valgardian city and a bounty on him has been signed by the Emperor himself. Believed to be a high elf, Kaine is rumored to be able to change his form at will and have nearly complete mastery over the undead... little else is known.
Key Strengths
Velim Royal Trading Company:
Owned by a key leader of the Brotherhood, Archduke Athulas 'The Spider' Velim, the Velim royal trading company is an economic powerhouse within the Empire. With headquarters in Vismar and major branches in Eira, Yiorit, and Erimea, the Trading Company deals- quite legally and publicly- in spices, precious metals, lumber, and animals such as horses and oxen. It owns a great deal of mines throughout the Empire, and controls a fleet of ships. The Royal Trading Company does not, notably, deal in the slave trade (though it does use slaves) and it is rumored that Archduke Velim is a closet abolitionist. This could not be farther from the truth- Velim secretly uses the Trading Company's great wealth, man power, and political influence to further the Brotherhood's sinister goals. While the Kainites might lack the nearly omniscient intelligence network of the Three Lanterns, it compensates by controlling incredible wealth. The Velim Royal Trading Company is also used by the Brotherhood to smuggle necromantic artifacts and other forbidden objects into the Empire.
Vampires:
Unlike the Imperial Authorities, the Brotherhood welcomes vampires into it's ranks and thus controls a very powerful- if secretive- asset. Vampires often belong to the Brotherhood's intelligence and terror network- the Eye, working as assassins and spies, but can be found in all levels of the cult.
The Brotherhood
The Eyes of Kaine:
A group of spies, assassins, ninjas, and agents who have sworn their lives to the Brotherhood. While the Eyes lack the numbers of the Imperial authorities and the slave resources of the Yellow Lanterns, they make up for this deficit by using bribery, brainwashing, and threats to manipulate non-Brotherhood officials into doing their will. Unlike their abolitionist counterparts, the Eyes rely heavily on illusion magic and charms to get the information they require. In addition to coercion and intelligence, this branch of the Brotherhood also deals in assassinations and acts of terrorism.
The Claw:
The Claw is composed of the main membership of the Brotherhood. Each 'Talon' is an accomplished sorcerer and necromancer who is in charge of a particular geographic region. Every 'Talon' has a number of initiates and acolytes who study the Dark Arts under them and hope to someday fully join the Brotherhood. To become a 'Talon' one must go through a lengthy and dangerous initiation process, followed by a difficult training period in Necromancy and other forbidden forms of magic.
The Dagger:
An assortment of bribed guards and soldiers, mercenaries, thugs, bandits, and orcs who fight for the Brotherhood. Each Talon has a small army of outlaws and mercenaries who fight for them. Many members of the Dagger have no idea they are working for the Brotherhood, while some are brainwashed into service. A select few of these warriors catch the eye of their necromantic masters and are granted the rank of 'Peacekeeper.' The Peacekeepers are a small group of elite (mostly orcish) soldiers who are fanatical in their devotion to the Brotherhood. They act as bodyguards for the Talons and Council Members, and also as strike troops whenever the Brotherhood deems it necessary to fight in the open. In addition to living troops, Talons and their acolytes can summon swarms of various undead creatures to do their bidding.
The Council:
The Mouth:
Age: Unknown
Race: Undead; originally human
Eye Color: N/A
Phys. Desc: Tall, gaunt, very pale old man with long grey hair. His nose has eroded into two slits, his ears are bloody scabs, and his eyes are hidden behind a rag serving as a blindfold. His lipless mouth is carvernous; his teeth are filed to points, and his tongue is snake like. The Mouth wears black, ragged robes.
Skills: A master of illusion, the Mouth's strength lies in his ability to control his enemies. Though physically repulsive, the Mouth has an unnaturally beautiful voice which can send a man to his knees in tears or into a homocidal rage, depending on what the Mouth wants. Only those with the strongest of wills can resist his powerful charms. The Mouth also has the ability to change his form into a black crow.
Equipment: small, silver dagger
Bio: No one knows who or what the Mouth originally was, but what he's become is truly horrific. Able to twist men's minds with a single word, the Mouth is Kaine's emissary- he is the only one who speaks directly with the cult leader, and relays the master's messages to the rest of the Council.
Arch-Duke Athalus Velim:
Alias: The Spider
Age: 210 years
Race: High Elven
Eye Color: Emerald
Phys. Desc: Tall and graceful looking with high cheekbones and well defined features. Velim has shoulder length, dark brown hair and sharp, bright green eyes. He wears silvery, almost iridescent robes made of the finest materials.
Skills: powerful wizard, well versed in most forms of magic- including necromancy.
Equipment: small wooden cane topped with a silver snake head, silver dagger, Velim Family Ring (silver with a green stone)
Bio: to come...
Count Kristoph von Sutler: more to come
Gorgath the Vile: more to come
Nightwalker: more to come
Ariana Darkwater: more to come