Using the Order for Fun and Proffit

SETTING North of Fobin, Thardic Republic
AIDS  
SUGGESTED READING HM:Religion/Gods of Hârn, HRT: Agrik, Order of the Scarlet Veil article, Thardic Republican Module, Rethem Kingdom Module

The Order of the Scarlet Veil seeks messengers of honorable bearing to deliver various messages to all of known Agrikdom and beyond. Any interested parties should apply to the compound of the Order of the Scarlet Veil at dawn or dusk, five miles north of Fobin, in the realm of the Thardic Republic. Please bring your own transport.

The Order often requires messengers to find people destined for their prophecies in places where it is perhaps not politically correct to send an armed and armored Warriors of the Bloody Mace of the Scarlet Veil; and even less so a Order of the Scarlet Veil. In these cases they will gladly accept the services of the faithful. At least one of the applicants must be faithful (at least give lip service to) Agrik so that they can be sworn and bound on their faith and their word before receiving the message. The messengers are encouraged to travel quickly, and in groups.

The messengers must swear never to open the prophecy themselves, nor offer it up to anyone but the receiver named and described by the Order. Speed is always of the essence, and the Order of the Scarlet Veil are quite willing to dicker over fees. If the receiver turns down the prophecy, or is dead - the messengers are expected to return the message to the Order. If they deliver it, they are expected to return with word of the receiver's reaction and actions immediately thereafter (the time is specified by the Order in the messenger's contract). If there is a return message, they are expected to return with it.

Payment is offered half in advance, and half on return. Equipment and supplies are offered at a discount from the Order's own stores, otherwise whatever can be purchased from Fobin will have to suffice. Not all receivers of prophecies are glad of the news, and it is still the custom in some places to kill he bearers of bad news, so the Order recommends all messengers go armed and on a fast horse.

Acceptability via the Agrik Church

Rumor has it that the Order of the Scarlet Veil will do almost anything to truly ingratiate themselves with the Agrik church. That is not entirely true, but it comes darn close. The Order knows it will be the pawn or puppet of the other Agrik orders for quite some time to come, and are therefore determined to make as many high placed friends as they can. Each year, on the highest festival of Agrik, certain nobles are invited to a private (and free) prophecy session with the Oracle herself. All questions will be answered to the best of the Order's ability during the hours of dawn and dusk when the sky boils red.

The first of such chaotic sessions is to occur this year. There are invitations to pass out, and accommodations to prepare. Imagine the number of nobles and powerful merchants to be present - each with their own entourage of sycophants, bodyguards, servants and slaves. Also - all questions will be asked in public. How many secrets are the various dignitaries willing to give away, and how many answers are they willing to let the public hear? The mixing of religions and politics is never a safe affair. So the day promises to be highly interesting.

In addition, the Oracle's history has been leaked to a few members in the church. Her history (see characters, oracle) was originally sealed when she became the Oracle of the Order - but someone (Jamie perhaps) has sent copies to several of the powers that be. Could an avatar be coming? If so, of which religion - and what would lure him to Fobin? Perhaps he'll be at one of these meetings.

In such a highly volatile situation...

SETTING Fobin, Thardic Republic
AIDS  
SUGGESTED READING HM:Religion/Gods of Hârn, HRT: Agrik, Order of the Scarlet Veil article, Thardic Republican Module, Rethem Kingdom Module

Whether the player-characters play a member, a visitor or an enemy of the Order - one thing is certain. Anything could happen. Using dreams and prophecies is a common way to start adventurers out on their quest. All prophecies from the Order will be vague, yet somehow meaningful to their intended target. This is intentional - as a means of keeping the hidden message from any other prying eyes that might see the message. Disbelieves claim this allows the target to read his own meaning into the future, and by his very belief in the ruse, forces the prophecy to come true.

Occasionally, when the Order has predicted bandit attacks on passing nobles, or towns - the Order has been immediately accused of either setting up the raids - if not committing the acts of banditry themselves. The Order blames such accusations on a lack of faith and fear. They are always willing to bow to the laws of the Senate of Tharda - but the Senate themselves is having sufficient problems selecting warders and government officials. The Senate is bogged down with legislation, arguments and petty rivalries. The local legionaries' claims the Order has done no wrong, but everyone knows that the Order's compound is just a fancy name for the Legionaries whore-house.

A senator of the Monarchist faction of the Thardic Senate hires the PCs to debunk the Oracle and her merry band of charlatans. They are to witness an oracle in action - whatever it takes, and report back what they saw, and the truth of the prophecy. The PCs may try to walk in and demand satisfaction from the Order, using the senator's family name, wealth and position as bartering tools. Or they may come in for a seasonal prophecy and find Jamie in the courtyard. The senator knows of Jamie, but may not have revealed this to the PCs (GM's choice).

The Order will not allow anyone (knowingly) to see an Oracle in action. Jamie has glimpsed part of the ceremony and can tell the PCs the basics (as explained by this article). He's even seen the current Oracle slay her predecessor. Blinding the Oracle is often a public ceremony - but the current Oracle blinded herself before the ceremony (although her eyes were cauterized while she hung between the posts. Jamie believes reverently in their ability to prophesies the future but can not explain why he's been left in place. He is sure the Order knows about him, and who he works for.

The prophecy they hear may concern a plague of insects infesting a field nearby, or of more bandit attacks - something the PCs can easily follow and try to debunk. Success, or failure, of their debunking attempts should be left up to the PCs. The prophecies will be believed by the locals - but not necessarily by the nobles; and the type of precautions taken may influence the outcomes (i.e. no bandit in their right mind would attack a legionary-guarded noble while traveling).

The Ukhila

SETTING Somewhere in Rethem
AIDS HRT: Agrikan Page
SUGGESTED READING Tournament rules (from the HârnPage, HRT: Agrik), HM: Religion/Gods of Hârn

Every 8 years the various Terani, priests and laymen gather for Ukhila: The Octennial Games (the last was in 714). It is suspected that at one such set of Games, the Order has the best chance at gaining legitimacy. Groups of the Terani practice daily with the hope of being selected to represent the Order at the next Ukhila. If one of them could be named the best Agrik fighter the Order would have to at least be acknowledged by the Agrik church as a whole.

Unfortunately, any member of the Order who won such a title would probably live a very short life - as they would be challenged repeatedly by other Terani from other orders. This is considered an acceptable price to pay for the glory it would bring the Order and thus their god. Any member may "try out" - but only the best 3 Terani will be considered for the games. All practice fights for the Ukhila are non-lethal, but the Ukhila itself is quite lethal.

The Order insists all Terani practice their horsemanship, mace and whip skills, and unarmed martial combat for the games. As the date for the Ukhila approaches, the training intensifies. Some Terani have asked the legionaries to mount offensives in the nearby fields so that they can practice repelling and counter-attacking. These war games are of great interest to the Thardic Senate - but so far the Fobin Maniple has willingly staged 2 such offensives. The next war-game is suppose to have the Fobin Maniple defending while the Terani attack. The current score is tied 1-1.

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