Vigilant Protectors/Azure Inquisition

Inner Name: Azure Inquisition
Symbol: Cerulean Sign; Sun; Everwatchfull Eye
Faction Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Area of Focus: Lower Planes and The Far Realms
Political Status: Neutral
Leader: Sir Reynard d'Aubernon

General Informations:

Order, established by Sir Reynard d'Aubernon, few weeks before the end of the War with Collin Reyes and heretical Arcanum. It was mainly created to support missing protection of common folk on Amia.
Even when a lot of organizations claim otherwise, fact, that attacks and heretical activity on the island are increasing, tell us different.
It is known, that not only knights and nobles can be members of this organizations, but simply anyone with a pure heart and sense of responsibility can attempt to join their ranks.

Order claims, that protection of those who need it, not just the nobles and high-placed individuals, is critically important for ability to survive as community as a whole. No-one is expendable.
While, at the beginning the main goal was to make sure, that villagers, farmers and others are safe against the raids of orcs, goblins and others enemies of life, their focus slightly changed and increased few weeks of activity.

Nearly any race, can join this cause, without a problem. Humans, Elves, Dwarves, one of the secondary goals of the Order is to unite races of Toril under one flag, to resist the threats of different sources.
While accepting races like good-focused kobolds, Eilistraeen dhaerows and other divergences, everything is matter of dicussion and with that, nothing is impossible.


Area of Focus:

Order as a whole, has sworn and took reponsibility for battle against Lower Planes and mainly, against the Far Realms.
And mainly this caused a second name to appear for the Order - The Azure Inquisition. They accepted the Cerulean Sign as their personal symbol.
Order focused mainly on a offensive defense. Trying to keep enemies of Toril at bay, anticipate the attack and while many do not know about their sarcrifice, they are doing so for a greater good of all.

Alignment focus:

Order strictly focuses on a Law, because most of their enemies are of Chaotic nature and with that, enemies of the living creatures.
Natural order, law and logic is probably the greatest weapon against the Madness and Chaotic evil that can be found in Far Realms and Lower Planes.

Inner Structure:

Order of Vigilant Protectors/Azure Inquisition is currently divided to two parts. - Templars and Keepers.

The "Templars" (as in "The world is our temple and we are its guardians") are the martially-focused people that train as hunters and crusaders of abberations and their cultists.
Templars are further divided to Templar-Recruit. (Recruit is considered for a week or less, until the vow is spoken.)
The "Keepers" (as in "Keepers of Knowledge") gather information and lore. Both rely on one another to fulfill the greater purpose of the Inquisition.
Keeprs are further divided to Keeper-Acolyte. (Acolyte is considered for a week or less, until the vow is spoken.)

The Templars need the Keepers to educate them, and the Keepers need the Templars to protect them. Though that doesn't mean only Templars go out to fight, and only Keepers can research. It makes sense to take a Keeper along when fighting, and it makes sense for a Templar to do his own research when he can. A wizard can be a Templar if he/she wants and its more in their nature to blow stuff up. A fighter can be a Keeper if they want to be, if they're more about fighting with knowledge and intelligence than martial skill.
Thanks goes to Elorathall for this idea!

The Leader of the Order is called "Inquisitor".

Supported Deities:

Even when worshipper of any deity can join the Order, there are three deities, which are taken as a patrons of this cause.

Amaunator - Because Just as certainly as the sun would rise in the morning, the law could deal fairly with any dispute and any crime.
Helm - Because Ancitipate attacks and be ready. Protect the weak, poor, injured and young, and do not sarcrifice them for others or yourself.
Hoar - Because Those who do not respond to attacks against their person or that which they hold dear only invite further attacks.

Base of operations:

None - necessary preparation is about to begin.

Recruitment:

Recruitment in case of Vigilant Protectors came in two forms - be it announcements or choosing.

During the time of recruitment (Usually one week), applicant is tested and observed - to simply make sure, that his joining to Order will not be dangerous for himself or Order as a whole.
After this time, an Oath is given to applicant, so he can think about it before he will swear to the cause.

It is known, that Order is willing to accept from absolutely beginners to experienced adventurers.

Military Academy:

Even when this idea is not fully established, it is still the considerable fact. Due to the fact, that there is not enough Protectors to make sure, that -everyone- will be safe, they decided to start a "military academy" situated inside the Fort (once it will be built). This academy will be free for anyone, who will be willing to study under the wings of Protectors and with an intend to join their ranks in the future.
While Protectors usually do not accept any kind of rewards or payment, unexceptionable need of coins in the future existence and functionality of the Order often push them to acceptance of payment for their service as teachers and lectors. In time, military should be able to train all types of styles from martial to divine and arcane.




Vow:

While the Order claims, that they are not forcing their applicants into something against their will, vow was created to support this saying.
Simply said, while many vows are created to make sure, that applicant will not violate the inner Law and structure of the organization, this vow is created to make sure, that applicant knows -exactly- what does it take and what is he standing against. In this case, vow fullfills the role of Reminder.

We are the shield that guards the Toril;
We seek no glory, nor fame or wealth;
We are here, to protect the Balance, keeping the banished evil and chaos at bay for all time;
I will fear no darkness and I will stand as a beacon of light against the chaos;
I will fight for those, who can't do so themselves, offering my life to maintain the balance;
I will do whatever it takes for survival of Toril;
I vow to uphold the Law;
I vow to my honor and my life.

_________________
Reynard d'Aubernon - Retired
Balaeyi Elandinai Haeren - Active
Jaezred Kilr'ae - Active

I'm definitly getting involved in this, though the particulars of this is something to further be discussed. A few points to clarify though.

1. The Lower Planes (Demons (CE), Devils (LE) and Yugoloths (NE)) are different from the Far Realms (Abberations, usually CE). Think of the Lower Planes as "below" and opposite the celestial realms (which are Good). The Far Realms are entirely outside the existing cosmology. It's literally a realm of alien entities and lovecraftian concepts. It takes a very different kind of person to combat the Far Realms and abberations than it does evil outsiders - though there may at times be overlap. While the mean threat of devils lie in their cunning and their corruptive influence, and demons are mainly a powerful and destructive threat, abberations (and their cultists) are a whole different level of evil altogether. Mind Flayers and Beholders are most understandable of the abberations, but the Far Realms is a place of utter entropy and madness. If you think of the known planes (including the material, upper planes, lower planes and elemental planes) as Existence, then the Far Realms is Non-Existence. It's a place where the laws of physics don't exist, where entities older than reality dwell and the source of utter madness and oblivion. In fact, it wouldn't be a leap to say the old Lovecraftian RPG maxim holds true - everybody dies or goes insane. Protip: studying the Far Realms tends to lead to insanity itself, as it cannot be defined (let alone understood) by even the most abstract of concepts mortals comprehend.

That said, a faction that fills that niche is very, very interesting. As said (and already discussed before) I'm getting involved one way or another.

2. The mention of Amaunator after our last IG conversation is very nice, but I would actually suggest a different reason. While the Cerulean Sign is the symbol of the natural world - in the interpretation that it is OUR world vs the OTHER world - the sun as a symbol would reflect the presence and nature of law in opposition of the endless and true chaos of the Far Realms. More than simply embodying stability (as the sun is the most stable element in a changing multiverse), the cycle of dawn-noon-dusk-night is an anchor for (or manifestation of) that most base fundament on which everything else builds - time. Time in the Far Realms is a meaningless concept, as everything else tends to be.

Could I suggest that the symbol of the Azure Inquisition's (nice name, even if I say so myself ) could be a sun over a tree? One representing the force of Law and the other the Cerulean Sign (eg the natural world/our world).

I'd love to help this concept grow and help work out the fluff (uniform, rituals, ranks) as I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff, if you'll have me.

_________________
Aernoud Van Brabant: Heir of the House. Proprietor of the Beer Wagon.
"Go to the Mayfields, have a pint, and wait for this to blow over."
Aurelius: Sunmaster of Amaunator. Contemplative. Aspirant to Transcendance.
"Sol Invictus"

I was working on a similar concept for a new faction for Kohlingen with Robert. Given I am not around for the time being, feel free to poke me about it if you'd like, and I can share with you what I had come up with so far myself.

Or you could start playing again.

_________________
Aernoud Van Brabant: Heir of the House. Proprietor of the Beer Wagon.
"Go to the Mayfields, have a pint, and wait for this to blow over."
Aurelius: Sunmaster of Amaunator. Contemplative. Aspirant to Transcendance.
"Sol Invictus"

I tried to blend the Cerulean symbol with Amanautor's symbol, but it ended up looking mostly like a very righteous, inquisitorial sunflower.

That made me snicker.

I was rather thinking of a sun symbol above a tree. Or perhaps a more rigid, lawful and less droopy version of the cerulean symbol inside the sun symbol.

_________________
Aernoud Van Brabant: Heir of the House. Proprietor of the Beer Wagon.
"Go to the Mayfields, have a pint, and wait for this to blow over."
Aurelius: Sunmaster of Amaunator. Contemplative. Aspirant to Transcendance.
"Sol Invictus"

That looks like the Lady of Pain posing as a Sunflower. I love it!

Exactly, right after the post, I started to think about combination of both sun and tree, with a combination of Eye (Helm), to show this in the whole "flag or so" like this...

Eye as a symbol of the "Vigilance"
Sun as a symbol of the Force of Law
Tree as a symbol of Cerulean Sign, as you said natural/our world.

Also I like Letums picture! But rally, it looks like an inquisitorial sunflower

_________________
Reynard d'Aubernon - Retired
Balaeyi Elandinai Haeren - Active
Jaezred Kilr'ae - Active

I see where the Hoar thing comes from, but keep in mind that Hoar is reactive - about retribution. The whole point of the inquisition might be to prevent abberations (or fiends) from being in the world to begin with. Just a thought though.

But yeah, a combination of the Eye of Helm, the Sun of Amaunator and the Cerulean Sign would make for an appropriate symbol/banner. I'm not sure how to combine them though. The eye floating above the tree, with both within the sun? The sun above the tree, within the eye?

_________________
Aernoud Van Brabant: Heir of the House. Proprietor of the Beer Wagon.
"Go to the Mayfields, have a pint, and wait for this to blow over."
Aurelius: Sunmaster of Amaunator. Contemplative. Aspirant to Transcendance.
"Sol Invictus"

I was thinking about... Eye in the bottom, representing the humbleness of Protectors against the Tree (Nature) and Sun.
Tree in the middle and Sun above, as it should be in the world. Community -> Nature -> Eternal Sun.

OR

Tree with a Sun above it with an Eye in it's middle... But I do not "how" exactly it would look like.

_________________
Reynard d'Aubernon - Retired
Balaeyi Elandinai Haeren - Active
Jaezred Kilr'ae - Active

Good luck with the faction! I look forward to tearing your minds apart with the horrors beyond the planes.

Well my reasoning was:
* Sun above a tree inside the eye: representing watchfulness and respect for / adherence to the natural laws and the principles of law.
* Eye above a tree inside the sun symbol: representing watchfulness / guardianship of the world, always within the principles of law/order.

It's a matter of emphasis and interpretation, really. And in truth, the cerulean sign is the only one I feel "should" be included.

_________________
Aernoud Van Brabant: Heir of the House. Proprietor of the Beer Wagon.
"Go to the Mayfields, have a pint, and wait for this to blow over."
Aurelius: Sunmaster of Amaunator. Contemplative. Aspirant to Transcendance.
"Sol Invictus"

Maybe I'll draw some things while I'm loopy on my pain meds and see if it turns up anything neat for the symbol.

I like the faction idea. If I were playing more, I'd probably get in on this! As it happens, we'll just have to interact in other ways with it that I think you'll still enjoy.

Saw it was getting arty in here and cracked out my MS Paint. Hope you guys don't mind if I share my take on your emblem. While I might have nothing to do with your faction it sounds pretty cool.



Eye of helm + amaunator's sun as the pupil + shamelessly stolen tree of Gondor. Trying to do the tree any more detailed seemed to take away from the impact - I prefer simpler looks for emblems and the like.

That's not bad at all. I like how the tree flows into the shape of the eye. I'd still simplify the eye though as the more austere two horizontal curved slits that usually represents an eye.

_________________
Aernoud Van Brabant: Heir of the House. Proprietor of the Beer Wagon.
"Go to the Mayfields, have a pint, and wait for this to blow over."
Aurelius: Sunmaster of Amaunator. Contemplative. Aspirant to Transcendance.
"Sol Invictus"

Remember that the Cerulean Sign is a very specific image and it cannot be changed while still retaining the effect it has. The Sign has to be a weeping willow with the same basic design as the one Letum made (technically with only four 'fronds', but Letum's one looks nice so 5 is fine). So if you want the emblem to contain the Cerulean Sign, that's the restriction.

Few new things were added to main post.

_________________
Reynard d'Aubernon - Retired
Balaeyi Elandinai Haeren - Active
Jaezred Kilr'ae - Active

Hey there folks... So, I was playing with a symbol a bit and what I have is this...



I am just unable to "merge" them together, to make sure it will look like something. I was thinking about the sun behind -behind- the tree and a bit above, just like it should be in real. I am just not sure, if it will not mess the Cerulean Sign symbol as it should be, so if it is possible by Lore (to make sure that Sign will still work) and that the sun/eye can be behind it, it would be awesome! Anyone who's willing to try it? (I am just sooo damn noob myself in this )

_________________
Reynard d'Aubernon - Retired
Balaeyi Elandinai Haeren - Active
Jaezred Kilr'ae - Active

Well in fairness, the Sign doesn't much power by itself. You'd still need to cast 'Invoke the Cerulean Sign' for it to be effective, it's just that the symbol could be used as the material component. Without casting, the sign might just be very slightly off-putting to Abberations. Putting the sun and eye behind the tree is fine.

Yep, we have a person who's capable of casting such spell - he was there during quintessence. I will discuss this with you via PM if you will have nothing against.

_________________
Reynard d'Aubernon - Retired
Balaeyi Elandinai Haeren - Active
Jaezred Kilr'ae - Active

Sure, feel free to PM me.

Aurelius has also cast the Cerulean Sign several times, mainly in Guldorand and Wharftown.

That said, while the actual spell might produce a different sign, would a more abstract version not suffice for purposes of symbology? Also, does the power of the sign not lie in what it represents rather than the sign itself? If the one that wields it uses a symbol of a blue badger instead of a willow as the symbol of the natural world, would it not yield the same results?

_________________
Aernoud Van Brabant: Heir of the House. Proprietor of the Beer Wagon.
"Go to the Mayfields, have a pint, and wait for this to blow over."
Aurelius: Sunmaster of Amaunator. Contemplative. Aspirant to Transcendance.
"Sol Invictus"

The Cerulean Sign is a very specific image. When you cast 'Invoke the Cerulean Sign', you're literally invoking the Sign, that being, you are creating the sign using magic, and that magic allows it the power. If you cast it with a blue badger, you'd be invoking that symbol, not the Sign. The power of the Sign is in what it represents as you say, but it is specifically represented by the Sign. Symbolism is a vital component to the spell.

If you want the symbol of your faction to be an amalgamation of the Sign and something else, that's totally fine and I think it'd look neat. All I'm saying is that the resulting symbol couldn't be used as a component in the 'Invoke the Cerulean Sign' spell, which I thought might be a fun possibility for a faction symbol. You could just cast it the normal way and that'd be fine too, I just like the concept thematically.

I have a suggestion to offer:

Perhaps have one on top of the other. A symbol more appropriate to the faction with the Cerulean Sign overhead.

Take 2/3?

I really like the last picture. I mean, the shape, but I would like to have the sun/eye a little bit lower, likely behind the treetop, with the eye behind slightly above it. (To make sure it can see something, right?)

I am currently working on a "merging" of the pictures I posted to fit as best as possible together, but if anyone is willing to try it feel free, I will be only happy! (Reward will be discussed later! )

_________________
Reynard d'Aubernon - Retired
Balaeyi Elandinai Haeren - Active
Jaezred Kilr'ae - Active

So... Something like this?

_________________

Jes ftw

I'd like to get involved in this with my slightly senile but adorable LN wizard from Halruaa, Berlin. He needs to make a return, and this faction sounds extremely interesting.

He also specializes in conjuration, which can be useful for a faction focused on war with other planes. PM me if you think this can work!

_________________
Osiris Masud

Ironically that symbol is starting to look like something from the Far Realm. which is a cool concept in itself.

_________________

aaegus battlehammer™

cloak rockhewer

murtaugh gunn

I should have known Jes would create something straight out of a hentai. Them tentacles.

_________________
Aernoud Van Brabant: Heir of the House. Proprietor of the Beer Wagon.
"Go to the Mayfields, have a pint, and wait for this to blow over."
Aurelius: Sunmaster of Amaunator. Contemplative. Aspirant to Transcendance.
"Sol Invictus"

I like how we're all very "must make awesome icon for these people! What, am I interested? I dunno yet, but I sure as hell want them to have a cool symbol!"

What if you take the Cerulean Sign tree and put it in the place of the blue starburst in the "pupil" of the sun eye? It would be much smaller and sort of discreet, but I think that could look cool.

Like this:

Like.

Though for comparison sake, could you mock up one that has the tree within the sun, which would be the pupil inside the eye?

Also, Amaunator's symbol is spikey. Non of that chaotic happy-go-lucky wriggly bits.

_________________
Aernoud Van Brabant: Heir of the House. Proprietor of the Beer Wagon.
"Go to the Mayfields, have a pint, and wait for this to blow over."
Aurelius: Sunmaster of Amaunator. Contemplative. Aspirant to Transcendance.
"Sol Invictus"

What intrigues me most about this faction is that it's one of the few which seem ideal for characters of chaotic alignment, which tickles me. Allow me to explain.

I won't re-write my whole expanded theory of D&D alignments because everyone hates talking about them in-depth and even moreso if it bores you to tears, but the basic premise there is that alignment categories have different subtypes, like domains to a deity. The question here is, are characters of chaotic alignment whose chaotic subtype is Freedom allowed to join? Liberating mortals from the clutches of madness, entropy and such terrors seems right up the alley of a Chaotic Good and a few Chaotic Neutral characters. Offensive subjugation is firmly within the Law area, but reactive emancipation, especially from forces like the Far Realm beings, has always been Chaos' game.

To that end, maybe the faction could elaborate as a part of its lore exactly what it means by 'enemies of chaos'. Few things irk me (and most of my characters) more than organizations that don't make points of recognition for allied groups within a broader 'hostile' category. An aboleth thrallherd is deserving of nothing but your scorn. It takes free will, it's an alien mind, it's an aberration, everything you hate in life. A Holy Liberator, a warrior dedicated to espousing freedom and righteousness, especially from the clutches of beings with no respect for the sanctity of life, is absolutely your ally. The problem is, that aboleth is Lawful, and the Holy Liberator is Chaotic. Saying you simply oppose chaos isn't very helpful when it means so many different things. Obviously freedom, choice and chance aren't on your hit-list, but entropy, insanity, and savagery almost certainly are. By the same line of thought, tyranny and subjugation on the Law scale seem anathema to an organization that provides a protective service to the world.

Essentially, I'm saying that taking alignment subtleties into consideration can only help you, and so can deciding firmly whether you're Lawful Good with a primary interest of protecting us from threats of the Beyond, or Lawful Neutral with a status-quo-born vendetta against chaotic incursions (whatever that means to you). And then deciding who and what you want your true allies and enemies to be.

Other than that, I'm intrigued. It gives me an excuse to go re-read Lords of Madness, too.

_________________
Contents subject to change without warning, reason, necessity, or logical imperative.

As far as I understand it, the reasoning behind the focus and necessity of being Lawful is:
1. It takes a disciplined mind to stand against that kind of alien evil. Mainly because many abberations enslave trough psionics, twisting their victim's perceptions. As such, a character who fights abberations for the vague concept of personal freedom would likely be far more susceptible than a character who follows a rigid code to destroy abberations. There's a reason paladins are LAWFUL good.
2. It's not about the freedom of a few thralls, it's about preventing the entirety of existence from ending. This is also why I'm in favor of the faction (as a whole) being Lawful NEUTRAL rather than GOOD - if done well it's a faction that's going to face some very hard choices that will require pragmatic solutions.
3. The Far Realms is a place of complete and utter chaos. Still, many abberations are Lawful Evil, which to me is just another point of nonsense in D&D. It doesn't change the fact that the Far Realms is a place of rampant mutation, madness and entropy. It's a place where Chaos is so thick that it's literally tangiable, so do you really want to have members that are already "tainted" with it?

To be fair, this is based on a certain interpretation of the Far Realms and abberations as a whole. The thing about the Far Realms is that it's beyond defining or comprehension, so seeing it as a collective of entities driven to enslave everything else is just as valid. I don't see it fitting in the faction's concept (also because Chaotic groups have a considerably different dynamic), but it's ultimately up to Holy_Avenger to decide what to do with it.

_________________
Aernoud Van Brabant: Heir of the House. Proprietor of the Beer Wagon.
"Go to the Mayfields, have a pint, and wait for this to blow over."
Aurelius: Sunmaster of Amaunator. Contemplative. Aspirant to Transcendance.
"Sol Invictus"

I'm not sure lawful minds necessarily equate to disciplined minds. Paladins are Lawful Good because they must adhere to a strict code of conduct that may sometimes clash with their duty to uphold Good depending on the individual, but personal strength of mind is not exclusive to such a rigid lifestyle. Monks stand in favour of that assessment, here, but classes like sorcerors and bards, too, typically exhibit a certain strength of will beyond the rest, and are generally predisposed towards Chaos. I believe that personal mental strength isn't so strongly related to alignment, although it does at first seem reasonable to equate law with strong will.

It seems to me that the faction would simply benefit more from those who exhibit will and presence of mind regardless of alignment. When you take the fight to the spooky unknowable demons of the Far Realm, you'd rather have someone on your side who isn't going to turn into a gibbering wreck at the first glimpse of madness rather than someone who amicably agreed with you on the rules of the organisation.

From my perspective, while using Law to fight Chaos makes sense to the 'fundamental force opposites-system' you get in D&D, it might be Chaotically inclined minds that handle glimpses of the Far Realm better since they're not so attached to more rigid ideals that the mind magic could twist and exploit - they already have that stuff within them, to a degree. But again, I believe it would still come down to the degree of the character's personal/mental strength - regardless of the manner in which their alignment influenced and fed that power.

This is why I'm liking the discussion the VP is generating, though. Having a goal like 'stop mad alien creatures from mentally enslaving everybody' opens up the door to a lot of potential recruits from different class/alignment backgrounds whose styles might be very different, which is why I'm interested to see how the faction pans out. And the manner in which those strange creatures could affect the minds of those who combat them over time is another very interesting character development path.