The Four Lands - The Great North Part 2

[Rath Lorien]

Anniston smiles and nods a friendly greeting as Vorian approaches, then listens carefully to see how the conversation goes.

OOC: I would enjoy this conversation to play out (along with any other PC's who find themselves wandering over and joining in) even if it must continue in an sblock as other actions and dialog carry the main plot of the story forward. I hope this can be accomodated without too much disruption.

 

[Neurotic]

Ooc

I plan on spilling character history in one big sblock as life story. Subject to JA's approval for history of my order. After he approves it I'll post it. Then we can discuss finer points of contact with elves and celestial companions in sblocks continuing main story as normal.

 

[Rhun]

Sounds good...I'm into the conversation as well. It is an interesting twist to have characters who serve the same side "The Light" in the grand scheme of things, but to have the tension from different beliefs and backgrounds to add color.

 

[J. Alexander]

Journey

The tribesmen are friendly but not very helpful or communicative. They appear to be waiting for something or someone before moving on.

OCC:Got the email Neurotic...and working on it..i was not really prepared to come up with the linkage bewteen your order and the church other than in a periphal sense..so I will have to think........i will have somethign by saturday..sorry for the delay..

 

[Neurotic]

History

Well, I included reasons why other orders disbanded. Just like Border Legion allows some small keeps to be maned by Valley men, Tolgarien order has scattered keeps that bother no one and they are useful in keeping borders and surrounding area clear. As long as they don't use demons or elves (one and the same) for that

 

[Scotley]

Knowing that the group is chained together by their association with the book, Bertrand drags himself up and moves closer, coffee in hand to hear the discussion with Vorian. He considers what he knows of the area where Vorian is from.

OOC: Knowledge History and Knowledge Nobility and Royalty checks (1d20+5=25, 1d20+5=19)

 

[J. Alexander]

The Journey

OCC: Still working out the details guys...it has become more complicated than I thought.........so bear wtih me.......

And from now on please give me a sidebar heads up before you get into discussions like this...........

 

[J. Alexander]

Got it posted

Okay Neurotic..i have your response emailed to youl.....go ahead and start your discussion./.

Jaroth
[sblock]Roll a d20 for me please[/sblock]

 

[Neurotic]

Vorian Tolgar

OOC: Yeah, I've seen it. Sorry for jumping a surprise on you, we said we'll discuss as time allows


[sblock=Vorian's tale (for all present)]
I am member of Tolgarien knights. One of my ancestors was founder of this particular order. In the beginning of Church of Light there were four orders just as there are today. These had slightly different functions then those today. The Tolgarien Knights are an very old splinter branch of the Knights of the Dawn. We are very small in numbers perhaps only 100 belted knights and 500 men at arms and our keeps are located on the far northern coast just north of eastmarch. Our charge is scouring of northlands and warning Mother Church of any potential invasion. Thus, every member passes grueling training and is capable of prolonged missions in the wilderness.

I'm not really steeped into history so I cannot give you details, but this is short version of it:

Since creation of Four Orders the Knights have defended The Valley in the few wars with other countries that have broken out from time to time. The Knights have also attempted to keep peace within the borders of The Valley.

The four orders of knights that make up the collective organization known as the Knights of Four Lands all have one goal in common: To keep the peace, and to defend Four Lands with their lives.

The Knights greatest assets draw from their devotion to the code of chivalry. It is known far and wide that you can trust the word of a Knight of Four Lands, as well as his honor, valor, and equity. However, it is also well known that the Knights are not to be trifled with, as they make a unified and fierce opponent.

This peace was interrupted briefly at one time because one preceptor whose name I cannot recall right now tried to declare that the Knights were a heresy because of their study of things magical. Most of those studies were based on how to fight magical opponents, but as always, dark arts calling of power corrupted few members.

There was small order of knights whose preceptor believed that after all this time, peacefull contact with other races might be established. This put them at risk of being influenced by them. Those knights had access to magic not normally associated with The Light and some of them studied too deeply or too openly for newly consolidated Church. This led to a short period of fighting between the two branches of the Church. Fighting eventually led to the defeat of said preceptor.

There were consequences however. Orders were reorganized and small part of four orders was declared secular, they lost Church support. All knights were given choice of renouncing their magical ways or become secular order on which inquisitors will keep close eye.

Tolgarien order was least steeped into magic as they were fighters and they were least affected by foul influence under this preceptor. Rather than slay their brothers outrigth Knights of the Dawn banished the order to the far north.

The Tolgarien Knights are the Knights of the Earth. The Tolgarien Knights were the elite warriors of the church. More than once these heavily armed and armored knights have been referred to as 'moving rocks.' WIth their harsh training Tolgarien knights were able to travel alone for long distances. They were emissaries of the Church between cultures in times of conflict and defenders of justice everywhere, diplomats on missions to border nations.

This included other races when said preceptor tried to establish contact after the War of Races. They had contact with dwarves and elves, they studied with them after the war. When they were disbanded some renounced the order and became Defenders of Humanity, others returned to the Church, but most simply continued their mission as bordermen diplomats and keepers of knowledge even in banishment. This knowledge is mostly related to war. Tolgarien order renounced magic use, but retained knowledge gained from other races that was destroyed in Church purges of all things heretical.

For example look at my armor. It is enchanted by a priest of Light. But several of it's properties, such as this deep blue color, is result of forging not magic. It gives the armor immunity to rust and acid and helps maintenance in long stretches of wilderness travel. You will see in my fighting style stances different then any you might have seen before. Different, but effective. Even we don't know anymore which knowledge comes from time of contact with elves and dwarves. But we are sure some of it does. Please, pay attention to the fact that this knowledge has nothing to do with magic, but with knowledge.


As to WHO I am...I'm son of Lucius Tolgar, priest administrator in The Valley of Light. As eldest son I was supposed to follow in his footsteps, but I was never one for quiet study and book keeping. After some trouble with authorities I was transferred to border keep under supervision of Sir Justin Oldoak who was Tolgarien knight. I ran with him up and down borders of Borderlands and The Valley. We were ambushed by orcs and ogiers at one occasion that had support of some orcish or ogrish magic user or shaman. Our company was down to Sir Oldoak, one Brother and me. We were back to back prepared to die. Last thing I remember was flights of arrows striking orcs before I went down.

Now, there is part of the story you might want to interrupt. Please, don't. Hear me out. I awoke in elven camp. Chained yes, but healed from my wounds and treated well. I was their prisoner for about six months. At first I expected I was saved for interrogation or worse, but nothing untoward happened. I didn't see or feel bloodthirstiness or savageness or demonic influence or any other attribute usually associated with fey. I was taught their language by elder elf who is the only one I ever talked to. Others came with food or water or guarded me in short walks, but none ever spoke directly to me. So, you see, while I have no particular fondness for elves I lost that reaction to them you all showed in the tent. And yes, I greeted him in elven, but I assure you, that was formal form and not any warm welcome. I am, after all, a diplomat warrior. After the spring came and I was fully healed, I was released. Not once was I questioned about our military strength or subjected to spells. That is, that I know of.

After I returned I reported everything, EVERYTHING, I could remember and after battery of tests and divinations, Arrwuh came as representative of Light and I was cleansed and released to my duties.

I vowed vengeance for the death of my mentor and started tracking humanoids by their occasional attack, helpful divination every now and then along with Saying of the seers that says that my help will be needed. My way went always north. Until I met you I was starting to despair that I will never find anything worthy so far north.

OOC: sorry it is long and somewhat disjointed as I incorporated parts of JA's work into character history. It represents losing trains of thought in long winded story
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[Dracomeander]

With the terse responses from the tribesmen, Finnian will retire to the tent arriving near the beginning of Vorian's tale. He listens quietly comparing Vorian's version with tales from other perspectives he has heard before.

[sblock=OOC]Knowledge-History 1d20+9=23, Knowledge-Nobility 1d20+9=13, & Bardic Knowledge 1d20+13=32 checks.
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