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Phase I of Alpha Two testing will occur on weekends. Each weekend is scheduled to start on Fridays at 10 AM PT and end on Sundays at 10 PM PT. Find out more here.
Check out Alpha Two Announcements here to see the latest Alpha Two news and update notes.
Our quickest Alpha Two updates are in Discord. Testers with Alpha Two access can chat in Alpha Two channels by connecting your Discord and Intrepid accounts here.
[EU - Arioch] The Phoenixguard | RP PvE | Midcore | 18+ | Language: EN 🇬🇧
Yshrael_Dawnbreaker
Member, Alpha Two
They shall be the bearers of Her Torch, these men and women who accept Her Flame into their hearts. Her wings will shelter them and her talons will follow in the wake of their every strike and should they fall, they shall be reborn from the ashes. Reforged into purest steel in both will and flesh. They shall be the first onto the breach to light the path to follow. Her Bulwark against the Darkness. They are the Champions of Creation! They are the Phoenixguard and through them, the Ancients shall know fear.
--The Dawnherald addressing the crowd at the Aelan Divine Gateway on Sanctus
Concept
Once a union of noble elves both Empyrean and Py'rai, the Phoenixguard is now a shade of its former glory. Their legendary deeds remembered as half-truths after the millenia spent on Sanctus.
Still, the Gateways now stirr and their descendands are called back to Verra to rekindle the Phoenix's flame and with it, scour the Ancient taint from the face of the world.
Structure
The Phoenixguard is a theocratic military order, devoted to their patron deity the Phoenix. The order is made up of individuals, various noble houses and their retinues of the Empyrean, as well as clans of the Py'rai. Indeed, members of this order are almost all exclusively elven.
Mission
As the name suggest, the Phoenixguard is devoted to the Goddess of Creation and her Phoenix avatar. They wield her flames to protect Verra from the threats lurking in the shadows who seek to snuff out Creation's Light. The orde is less concerned about territorial disputes and more focused on foes from the Old World.
Recruitment
The current ranking representative of the Phoenixguard on Verra is Seeker Khatra Steadyheart. Anyone looking to enlist into the order should seek her out.
Be mindful, only those of elven heritage, who also kindle the Phoenix's flame are welcome amongst their rank.
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The Phoenixguard orders itself into Chapters, numbering from 1st to 7th. At the head of each chapter sits a Chaptermaster, tasked with overseeing its operations and managing its training and development.
The 1st Chapter is home to High Command and the de-facto head of the order, the Dawnherald. All Chapters answer to this individual. They are stationed back on Sanctus.
The 2nd Chapter serves as an Inquisition force, routing out the influence of the Ancients that may seep into Sanctus. They may operate on either side of the Divine Gateways, depending on measures required to get their job done.
The 3rd through 5th Chapters are Expeditionary forces, deployed to Verra as part of the order's mission to cleanse the world of the taint of the Ancients.
3rd Chapter serves as Advanced Reconnaissance, braving the frontier and path finding for the main host. 4th and 5th Chapters make up the bulk of the fighting force, counting myriad of infantry and cavalry amongst their ranks.
The 6th and 7th Chapters serve as Training Regiments. The 6th Chapter trains Initiates on Sanctum, while the 7th Chapter field-trains Initiates that had already braved the Divine Gateways and endured Verra's influence.
The 7th also serves as a Penal assignment for members of the order who were deemed to require additional discipline.
After Enlisting
Aspirants of the order begin their journey in either the 6th or 7th Chapters .
Their time spent in these chapters marks their training and induction into the ways of the order. The techniques, practices, values and very soul of the Phoenixguard will be imprinted onto them through rigorous lessons until they can become one of the many feathers adorning the Phoenix's wings.
Aspirants who enlist on Sanctus are assigned to the 6th until their training is complete, at which point they are moved into the main host of the order. Those that enlist on Verra are placed into the 7th for field training and evaluation. Some Aspirants who completed their training in the 6th may be assigned to the 7th for final evaluation before being given their post.
This training period normally lasts 3 months. This regime ensures a steady flow of quality, new recruits to the front lines on Verra.
After Training
Once Aspirants pass their training and get assigned to a Chapter, they are raised to the rank of Neophyte. They are expected to spend anywhere between 1 or 2 years at this rank. During this period they must display exceptional courage and understanding of their duties as Phoenixguard if they seek to advance further in the ranks of the order.
They will undertake all but the most critical duties of their Chapter, serving under more senior members. Although rare for this to occur, should a party of Neophytes be stranded without a Commanding Officer, the most senior amongst them is expected to assume the responsibilities of Command.
After Exemplary Service
An Aspirant may rise to the rank of a Crusader automatically after spending 1 or 2 years in service of the Order, depending on the discretion of their Commanding Officer, or through display of exemplary service and unshakable courage in the face of great adversity.
Crusaders are fully vested members of the order and may take on leadership roles in the field of Neophytes and lower ranked members, however they are not expected to oversee the training and development of these brothers and sisters. They may also be awarded special roles based on their service, such as Chapter Champion, Honor Guard or Seeker, just to name a few.
The vast majority of the order remain Crusaders for the whole duration of their service. To rise above this station, one must be born anew in the flames of the Phoenix.
After Rebirth
Crusaders that brave the fires of hell and emerge from that crucible born anew are raised to the highest honor a Phoenixguard can achieve through service. They are elevated to the rank of Justicar.
They now serve as independent agents of their Chapter, trusted to carry out the most dangerous tasks, often on their lonesome or as part of a smaller team. They are equipped with the best gear and best techniques the order has to offer. A Justicar is the executioner of the Phoenix's Will, leaving only the ashes of the wicked in their wake.
They do not take on leadership roles in the field, as their objectives would often interfere with the responsibilities of taking command. Regardless of this, members of the order often look to Justicars for advice in the field, in honor of their exemplary service history.
Some are fit the lead. Once a member of the order attains the Crusader rank, they may put their name forward to be selected as an officer.
The responsibilities of an officer are many and varied, depending on the role. Applicants are evaluated by High Command.
If found sufficient, they are put through rigorous training and education so they may assume their roles with competence.
While the officers of the Phoenixguard will still participate in field operations at times, their focus will be more on developing and training the brothers and sisters under their command.
Chaplain
These officers are responsible for the morale, discipline and spiritual well-being of their chapter.
Emissary
These officers may be dispatched to represent the Phoenixguard at diplomatic summits or at meetings with other factions operating in Verra.
Quartermaster
These officers are responsible for the development of equipment for their chapter, as well as keeping their chapter supplied with perishables.
Siegemaster
Responsible for both fortifying Phoenixguard encampments as well as designing, developing and training of troops in the use of siege engines.
Chirurgien
These officer are responsible for the study, documentation and research of all maladies of Verra, as wells as the training of troops in countering them.
Historian
These officers are responsible for recording and reporting the deeds of their chapters. They are also tasked with writing the eulogy of each brother and sister that falls in the line of duty.
Chamberlain
This officer is responsible for the finances of the order. They assign budgets and commissions to complete to fund the operations of the Phoenixguard at large.
Oracle
The Oracle serves as an advisor to their Chaptermaster in matters of both war and peace. They are essentially the second head of the chapter and assume the duties of the Chaptermaster in their absence.
Chaptermaster
These officers are responsible for commanding the whole of their chapter. Depending on the Chapter, they may hold a specific moniker.
The Dawnherald is the Chaptermaster of the 1st.
The Scouring Gaze is the Chaptermaster of the 2nd.
The Scoutmaster is the Chaptermaster of the 3rd.
The Chaptermasters of the 4th & 5th are referred to as Warmasters.
The Chaptermasters of the 6th & 7th are referred to as Drillmasters.
Each Chapter of the Phoenixguard is comprised of four Wings.
Each Wing holds eight individual members, colloquially referred to as Flames.
Each Wing is commanded by the most senior Crusader in its ranks, making them the 1st Flame of their unit.
The total manpower of a Chapter is 32 Flames.
There are other members who may join them as Attachés when appropriate for deployment.
🗣️Terminology
The Phoenixguard utilizes specific terminology to communicate.
For example, a member of the order would identify themselves as such, whether to other members of the order or outsiders; when communicating with outsiders, they would suffix at the end.
Members of the order, depending on gender, will refer to each other as brothers and sisters, the usage of these terms stemming from one, shared ancestry and two, being one family under the protective wings of the Phoenix. When speaking to seniors or those in positions in honor, they would prefix these terms with honored. For example;
The Phoenixguard will only ever speak of the Phoenix in reverence. To curse it is considered blasphemy. They will either plead to it, ask it for succor or invoke its name in battle cries. Their worship of the Avatar permeates every segment of their lives.
Examples of such phrases are;
Millennia Ago
During the first war against the Ancients, the Phoenixguard rose to defend Verra from their influence.
Initially simply a loose alliance of empyrean noble houses and py'rai clans, they were codified into an organization of their own to better help combat the emergent threat.
Brought together under the wings of the Phoenix, they wielded its flames and purge the world of corruption.
They fought and died on the frontlines in order to ensure the continuation of civilization in the face of an unprecedented threat.
The Return
The Divine Gateways stirred, opening the path back onto a world long left to ruin and decay.
With the return of the Divine Races onto Verra, a new era of history dawns. An era the Phoenixguard had been preparing for.
They are equipped and ready to retake the world and right the wrongs visited upon their ancestors all those millenia ago.
The duties of the Phoenixguard are multifaceted. They may be a military order first and foremost, but that does not mean their responsibilities end or begin on the battlefield.
Tactical
The Phoenixguard is a relatively small order, not counting more than 300 souls amongst its ranks at any given time.
They exist to combat specialized threats other forces may struggle with. Their units are fast moving and able to act independently along the lines of pre-established doctrine, ensuring optimal outcomes even in the most dire of situations.
They accomplish all this by;
Social
It's true that the blades of the Phoenixguard strike with the flames of the Avatar, but once the wicked are reduced to ash, order must rise from it.
It's their duty to encourage rebuilding and healing after a threat has passed.
They do this by;