"Crownless" is the common denominator for a smattering of radical Lightburners and their associated allies, reputed as ruthless faithfuls of the Exist's principles. They pay no homage in particular to what they see as its various "manifestations", such as Estel or the Exist Arken, but see them as fragments and personifications of what the enlightenment and wholeness of the Exist truly is. Their reputation stretched across Kathar territory, and warrants frequents persecution: they live on the run and frequently meet violent ends in their almost-hopeless war.
The Crownless, since their inception centuries prior, have stood as insurgency against the world's most vile element: the Purebloods of the Dread Empire and all it's decentralized provinces, striking wherever vulnerability presents itself. They hold reputation for their ferocity and unconventional warfare, sparing no quarter. Wherever the emblem of the sun is found beside instances of destruction, their presence is known.
Many owe their origins to the first known groups of Lightburners, of whom no formal records exist: among their in-groups, however, they maintain an oral history of questionable accuracy - purporting that the first among them was one of the first of the Pathar who objected to the horrors perpetrated in the nascent years of the Dread Empire. No information or evidence stands to this claim, but they hold it as evidence that Kathar ought to be able to "see the light" - and therefore, that in their willful rejection of it - bring about the just desserts so many Lightburners willfully inflict.
Operational history information is scarce due to a decentralized cell structure, and among Kathar, it is unlikely that those without direct experience would know much of their tactics or intentions: only that they are a boogeyman and rural legend, much the same way the Forest Gnomes that steal children are. However, that is not to say they have historically been without any successes in their war on the Void.
Pursuant to their cell-based, decentralized structure and egalitarian Exist ideals, understanding the "hierarchy" is incredibly challenging and often met with evasive answers. However, for the scholar and the initiated, it is clear that things "do" have a hierarchy.
[OOC LISTINGS OF RANKS]
There is a cultural phenomenon in which most Crownless believe in a messianic figure that will one day liberate them from their worldly prison. Amos - awkwardly juxtaposed from Kathar Elven, translates awkwardly to, wordily, "the spark that will ignite the fire destined to consume the unclean" - is considered their leader, despite no information or prophecy: just the collective expectation that one day, the Exist will send them a Champion powerful enough to defeat the Pathar. It is said that the Regalian Sect has discovered their destined savior.
Each cell is headed by a single veteran operator; sometimes this man serves a double-role as Chaplain or Priest - in the case of the Regalian sect, is colloquially referred to as Cardinal or Preacher by the other Lightburners. His command is not absolute, but taken with a heavy weight by virtue of experience. [ key_of_solomon/@solomonskey ]
Below these are the specialists. Oftentimes, they are combatively trained veterans who have taken up a secondary trade: for many, this is explosives, poisons, the alchemical, or a specialization in block to block warfare tactics.
Thereafter lay the brunt of the parties: the infantrymen, the soldier, the extremist, the mule for supplies. There is no "formal" ranking system or method to moving up: the only expectation is that one serve faithfully and act against the Kathar, and no other strong restrictors are applied to their liberty. Those who fail to serve sensibly are usually among the first to die. This cell in particular has began to take on Exist-Silven on a semi-official capacity. Until they prove themselves, however, no particular merit or traditional hierarchical structure is held to them.
[IN-CHARACTER]
- Above all else, the safeguarding of Amos is imperative.
- The destruction of any formal society of Kathar is a righteous cause, and the chief purpose of the Crownless, to purge their taint from Aloria.
- Oppression is to be resisted at every turn. Tyranny is the greatest form of injustice and must not be abided by under any circumstance, even in the face of death.
- Where possible, needless bloodshed is to be avoided. Only Kathar are exempt from this principle, for they are lost to the pervasive taint of the Void.
- Where possible, recover surviving Kathar to test so you may see if they may be "reconstituted" back into their true forms. No onus is held against those who carry out field executions, but to rescue a trapped soul garners immense prestige.
- Causing or aiding in the death of a Lightburner is considered among the most heinous of betrayals
- Causing or aiding in preserving the life of a Kathar is considered among the most heinous of betrayals
- Acting or stating oneself to be "superior" or the "sovereign" of another Lightburner is considered among the most heinous of betrayals.
Though the faction is combative and hostile in nature towards Kathar, it isn't alright be to rude or unfriendly to people who play the race. It's fine to give leeway and expected to let people escape to facilitate future RP and develop rivalries.
We use discord for the purpose of arranging RP and general chatter. Take anything you read on it with a grain of salt, because the original friend group is not a particularly serious group out of character. It's expected that people who join use it too.
Given the circumstances of the Regalian Sect, the Lightburners and their allies are open to taking on new members, and integrating them into their hierarchy on the same level as their own kindred due to the importance of manpower in the ongoing struggle against the local offshoots of the Dread Empire's Authority.This is available to most anyone who looks into the topic. On the other hand, fresh Lightburners now have an open channel to be smuggled into the city through: you are welcome to contact us OOC and arrange an induction across the board, even if you aren't particularly friendly or well-known with us.
[OOC]
Feel free to contact Hunter but SRBJA#6957 or Bagley#8451 for more information if you are curious. We welcome new and old players alike to join, regardless of experience: just be aware that the theme of the group is not suitable to people who aren't okay with very frequent conflict and that we hope for level-headedness (unless you are Bagley)!
