ORDER Handbook v.03
(Last Update: 4/6/2025)
Embedded Files
Tenets of the Order
Know Your Oath.
Your Oath is your path. Never forget it.
Balance Above All.
No force—light, dark, innate, infernal, divine, or arcane—may tip the scales. All power must be kept in harmony.
Magic Is Not Free.
Those who wield must be watched. Those who abuse must be held accountable. Like any great power, magic is a privilege and a responsibility. It is not a given right.
The Hidden Hand Guides the World.
Influence without exposure. Shape events without being seen. The Order does not seek glory or credit for our actions.
Aberrations Must Be Purged.
There is no place for Aberrations in our society. Purge them.
The Veil Is Sacred.
The Veil is what permits society to exist. Guard it with your life.
No One Is Above the Code.
No title, bloodline, or oath outweighs the Tenets. Even our own must fall if they stray.
Knowledge is a Weapon and a Curse.
Guard the old texts. Limit access. Share only what is needed to prevent collapse.
When the Balance Wavers, Act Without Mercy.
There can be no hesitation. Delay invites disaster. Sacrifice is the currency of peace.
We Are the Quiet Flame.
Burn away the rot, light the path, and vanish with the smoke. The world must never know our names.
The Oath
I, [Your Name], in solemn pledge, do swear by the unseen threads that weave through the mystical realm, to guard with unwavering fidelity the secrets of The Order.
I shall reveal not of our hidden truths, revealing only in the shadows and echoes. My words, a silent shield, shall protect the sanctity of magic and the delicate balance we preserve. In unity and silence, I embrace the sacred duty bestowed upon me as a member of The Order, bound by this oath until the end of my days.
I acknowledge that if ever circumstances, as determined by the will of the council or my own, dictate my departure from The Order, my memory of its existence, names, and all knowledge pertaining to its secrets shall be erased. This vow of forgetfulness I willingly accept, understanding that the mysteries of The Order must remain shrouded even from my own recollection.
The Order's Purpose & Goals
Not all members of The Order are for peace and not all of it's leaders have always been good. There are many various ways to achieve balance.
Safeguarding the balance of magical and non-magical beings discreetly.
Monitoring individuals within and outside the Veil for potential threats to balance.
Acquiring, destroying, or securely storing powerful artifacts.
The Order occasionally collaborates with the RDA to prevent dangerous criminals from obtaining such artifacts.
In-Character Rules
The Order takes their identities seriously through an “identity clause” and have it specifically noted as rule #1. Punishment for breaking this rule is known to be extreme. Each member of The Order is responsible for the integrity of their identity. Friends, family, spouses are prohibited from knowing. (see In-Character Consequences below.)
Arbiters and Hands are the only members of leadership who have clearance to access the Veil Generator and the daily status through NPC technicians.
The Order is primarily a “behind the scenes” type of organization. Think in terms of how the intelligence community works.
The safety and integrity of Howling Hills’ Veil is top priority. Along with that priority are Aberrations, Corruption, and securing and neutralizing dangerous artifacts inside and outside from being a threat to the Veil and Howling Hills.
The Order holds a close working relationship with the RDA. While the RDA provides law and order, The Order provides balance and protection within Howling Hills.
The Order is a known organization, but few have been properly identified as affiliates. See Rule #1.
In-Character Consequences
Betrayal - Betraying The Order is defined by committing an act against the vision, purpose, and goals of the organization. This includes outing members, sharing confidential information, artifact theft, and a member(s) intentionally causing harm to the organization. It is at the discretion of the Arbiter and/or Warden to deliver in-character punishment.
Examples of Consequences:
Excommunication
Memory manipulation
RDA involvement
Warnings
Temporarily extracting magic from a character.
OOC Note: The list is a few examples. Get creative with them. It is highly advised and encouraged players communicate with The Order leadership concerning plots, outcomes, and consequences for turning against the organization with your character for an acceptable and satisfactory compromise for both parties regarding ICA = ICC.
Leaving The Order
Players are free to have their character depart or retire from The Order at any time. However, it is at the Leadership’s discretion on how to react. Leaving The Order voluntarily has its own set of consequences to maintain the safety and integrity of the organization.
A player character will be bound to an oath of silence. Any leaving or excommunicated member will undergo memory manipulation to extract specific memories. The Order would not risk someone leaving without having some contingencies along the way to ensure The Order’s identity clause and work remain secret. It is highly advised and encouraged to speak with The Order leadership to arrive at a compromise to maintain the integrity and secrecy of the organization.
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