Mists of Xan
The Mists of Xan is the magic used by Paladins.
Contents
Overview
History
The history of the Order and how the origins first start is a tale unlike others, which was eventually forgotten with time. Of truths foretold and blasphemous acts created within the divines themselves. Though to state that all Aengul/Daemons are perfect is a flawed concept in and of itself. For their very views and influence upon the realm of mortalkind is a prime example of such imperfections, as they tend to their own devices or ways of power. Yet here at the beginning of this story falls upon an Aengul that descended down for a time. A time of which, the fabled Isle of Sheerok fell into darkness in the aftermath of the Betrayer’s war. It was a place of desolation where the once beautiful scape of a vast forest and fields of crops that held such a divine light from the Sun itself, turned into a barren waste of death and disease. It was here where the Aengul decided to descend, for this place, for those that knew him, praised and served him. It was then the chance encounter of the siblings Zyanna and Hilan occurred. Whether it was faith that decided or a mere chance, the Aengul took notice in the siblings that day. Splitting two of the four wings from his back, he infused each into Zyanna and Hilan, becoming the first paladins in existence.
But Xan’s purpose was not fulfilled, far from it. His next act caused a brief strife with his war-brother Tahariae, the Aengul of Purity, who forbid him from influencing the mortal realm further. A warning that Xan did not follow and with his arms opened wide, broke the desolate clouds that hung over the cursed Isle of Sheerok. Rays of sunlight and warmth poured through and the land was cleansed of the blight that had befallen it. It was then that the Isle became the home of the paladins of old and for several generations to come.
Yet with such a tale of hope, tragedy was soon to follow. During that brief time of the Lord of Sunlight being on the mortal realm, he met with Zyanna privately and eventually she birthed a child that was then hidden away. It was after this that he ascended back to the divines, and Zyanna sought a way to find him again. Five or so years passed since that day and with her travels she came upon a mountain side where she erected a tower so that she could eventually communicate with the Aengul. It was there that Gudour, The Night Terror, found her. Upon the next morning, her followers found the paladin encased in an crystal-like ebony shield. A sword straight through her heart under the bewitched spell of the Drakaar.
Zyanna could never find peace and rest again, and such was that the heavens cried out in rage and anger. The wrath of the Sunlight Lord was unlike that which the realm would see, as Hilan took up arms and the paladins became the first Dragonslayers. Species upon species of Dragur’s broods were hunted down and destroyed. The hunting of such mighty beasts lasted for eons to come and as well, became a starting point for what was seen as ‘Order’. It was here that Sol Invicta, the first born of Zyanna Athna and the Aengul of Order and Guardianship, rose up and became an instrument for her father’s wrath. His words gave her life and with her raw power of Order, she set forth to wipe out the dragonkin to near extinction. Her mother’s legacy of the Isle of Sheerok she protected and called home. There her followers protected the sacred area and with the Guardian’s Grimoire, fabled Tome of the Power of Xan, Sol Invicta transported the island to hide it away from all those that seek its destruction.
Yet despite the achievements of Sol Invicta and the removal of such dangerous foes from the world, all was not well with her view of ‘Order’. The Aengul Xan would see his mistake, when Sol Invicta began her own crusade against all which besmirched her vision of perfect Order upon the realm. She became a Tyrant that raged war and destruction to warp the world into her vision for it. Thus as the sapphire mists had developed her very soul with the use of the Grimoire, the Demi-God was struck down. Her body was torn azure by the raw power of Xan and she was cast down, falling into the deepest parts of the Abyss. There she was thought dead, but unbeknownst to even the Aengul himself, she survived.
It was then the Aengul saw the errors of his daughter. The concept of pure Order had cast away what devotion and love he had for mortalkind. Thus Guardianship truly took form and both views became one. From that point on, many events occurred throughout the history of the paladins. Abilities and ways of using the magic were created, while older ones were lost to the pages of history. The battle of Setherian among such achievements and even the war and conquering of Asura’s realm with the fall of the Daemon was done and had come to pass, as well as the attempt on Aeriel’s realm for the position of Archaengul. Yet that in the end was met with a failing and eventual retreat of Xan and his forces.
History became a place of stories and rumors surfacing, and so the passing of time would eventually come to the recent centuries and decades, of what the Paladin Order had become. It was clear with the lacking of servants, that instead of distain or dismay, the realm was, as a whole, changing. Thus the Aengul of Order and Guardianship saw fit to shift the magic of his servants once more. Their roots were long forgotten and it was time to give the knowledge and wisdom back. To invoke purpose in what they once were and find the meaning for them in this changing world.
Description
The Paladins exist as Holy Mages drawing their power from the Aengul of Order and Guardianship, Xan. Upon making a connection to their patron, a Paladin has a sapphire ember born within their soul, acting as their direct link to their Patron. This ember gives off smoke, in its own sense, come to be known to the Paladin as their ‘Mist.’ These Mists may either be the colors of Emerald, Gold, or Silver[More in ‘Aura’ under Abilities]. The magic itself is created through the Paladin by the controlling of these Mists to form their spells from.
It is inevitable with this magic and the raw power that flows through the paladin’s form that the paladin’s body suffers to some extent from overuse of the abilities they emit and perform. Even the Aengul of Order and Guardianship cannot undo the effects of his might and power that is felt within the magic itself. Thus in turn, a variety of effects can start to occur should the paladin over exert themselves. The only spells that seems to otherwise not effect to such a degree are the given Abilities[Found under ‘Abilities’ Section].
To cast their spells, a Paladin is utilizing their Mana in order to control the Mists and form such into varying effects. At the same time however, they are feeding small portions of their mana to the ember in which their Mists derive from. This causes it to grow throughout a Paladin’s casting, not entirely under control and beginning to take its harm upon their body. Upon casting their first spell, the Paladin’s body begins to ache some. With the second cast used, their body begins to strain and muscles begin to feel sore. When the third spell is cast, the Paladin’s skin begins to flake and the sensation of heat is felt along their flesh as well as their muscles continuing to feel strained. As the fourth cast is spent, the paladin’s body starts to be covered in various hefty burns across their body. Upon the fifth, the Paladin is now entirely incapacitated and covered in burns, unable to function any longer and now must rest for the duration of the encounter
Creed
Additionally, all Paladins must follow a given Creed; rules laid down by Xan for his servants, detailing their relation to various topics and acting as a guideline. For a Paladin to break one of these Creeds is a serious crime. Though punishments exist beyond disconnection, it is possible to disconnect a Paladin once they’ve broken one. The Creeds are as follows:
The light is the fire in our hearts, the light is the wrath of Xan, the light is the Creator’s glory manifest, and with it we burn away the shadow, cleanse the darkness and all the taint within. The power of Xan is not used lightly, nor ever against the Descendants save for those corrupted and turned against their brothers. We wield the Light only in defense of them, only in service of Xan, or against those once-children of the Creator whose hearts have been made blackened ash, and turned to darkness. Never shall the light of Xan be used against a descendant, except in the most extreme of cases of those poor souls misled by the evil present in all hearts. And yet so all attempts shall be made to cause no permanent harm, all instances of such reported to the rest of the Order.
- Do not use your holy abilities on innocents except in self-defence or its clear intent said person is a threat to others. On that same note, do not kill any innocents regardless of abilities used or not. Torturing innocents counts in this as well. People are no longer ‘innocent’ upon either breaking a law in their given area, or otherwise causing harm unto another who has not done the same. Dark Magics and Creatures are excluded from this and instead placed in the Third Creed. Other Paladins are included in this, and should not be attacked or harmed lest an honorable duel be declared and upheld.
While it’s said that the Order protects all Descendants from foulness, using the magic given to them by their patron, it should not be confused with offering said magic to just everyone. There’s a difference between selling divine artifacts for personal gain and teaching those willing of paladinism. Offering divine artifacts in such a manner, whether it is trading in coin, power or favors, is strictly frowned upon and shall not be tolerated by either the Order or its patron.
- Do not sell out your deity. This obviously meaning giving connections, deific artifacts, and/or abilities for money, favors, or personal gain. Donations or praise rewards given are fine, but not the sole reason for doing your duty.
When faced with the Dark, of Creatures or Magics alike, a Paladin must remember that their first and foremost duty is to defend innocents. The option lay to interpret this as offense in the sense of hunting the vile, but they must not forget the roots of their cause in their pursuit. As such, they need not actively hunt and seek out the dark and vile, unless such is attacking another innocent.
- Paladins are not required to actively hunt the dark, but they must side with innocents above them in any conflict between the two. If a Paladin does opt for the zealous approach of hunting the dark however, they will not receive punishment for it, but neither will their brethren be required to aid them in their pursuits.
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