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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Triskaideka" data-source="post: 6096601" data-attributes="member: 6708148">Canes Sanguis, the Templars Indivisible. (26.15) The ancient and much-feared Order of the Canes Sanguis is the greatest arm of the Priests-Militant of the Temple Indivisible in the Shuttered Lands. Famed for their blood-red armor, fully enclosing hounds-head shaped helms, and impressive spears, these soldiers of faith, informally called the Templars, are the bloody face of the Temple Indivisible’s might. Though enrollment is open to any of the faithful of the Temple, the secret rites of initiation, the grueling training regimes, and intense religious instructions have been known to break average men and kill lesser ones. But the product is hard to argue with- Knights of the Order of the Canes Sanguis are stoic, fearless, disciplined soldiers who temper their fanatical zeal for Alberon with cool, cunning, tactical practicality. They are still zealots though, and their hearts burn with hatred for heresy and foreign gods. These soldiers of god answer only to their Grand Master, who in turn is beholden to, and appointed by, the Matriarch of the Temple Indivisible. Although their ranks are identically uniformed in their distinct and terrifying armor, their position can be determined by the material of the spear they carry. These spears are formed of a single piece of tempered metal, with a long, sword-like spear tip, making them heavy but powerful weapons. The lowest rank is of the Iron Spears, marking out the acolytes who have survived their training and initiation with lives and minds mostly intact. Above them are the Steel Spears, veteran members who form the majority of the seasoned troops. The next rank and those beyond are closed to all but those who can display some measure of divine power. These begin with the Mithril Spears, who are the paladins, battle-clerics, and inquisitors of the Order. Beyond them are the mighty Adamantine Spears the high officers of the Order. They answer directly to the Grand Master, who holds that Diamond Spear, the only exception to the rule, as its massive diamond blade is secured to a pole of adamantine. The Diamond Spear is passed from Grand Master to Grand Master, who serve at the pleasure of the Matriarch. Though legions of the Canes Sanguis guard the Steeple and the Matriarch in the city, and others enact the Temple’s will wherever the City of Shuttered Windows holds power, the headquarters of the Order lie just outside the City, nestled in the mountains of the Barrier Range. Here stands the Kennel, the great fortress-monastery-cum-factory-cum-prison-cum-mine. Here initiates are broken in, and heretics toil to death and beyond in eternal repentance by pulling metals and gems from the mines, and working the factories, all to fill the coffers and vaults that finance the well-armed Order. Hooks-- Where does the name ‘Canes Sanguis’ and the Order’s canine theme come from, what does it have to do Alberon, and how did these holy knights come to serve the Temple Indivisible?- Why spears?- Who is the current Grand Master of the Order?- Any famous members?- Religious wars?</blockquote>

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