The LastWall Order
Founding and Purpose
Origin
The LastWall Order was founded during the Age of Rifts - The Sundering (3001-3500 AE) in 3003 by Sir Deren Wyrmsbane, a legendary knight who united several disparate factions of warriors, mages, and clerics to protect the Kingdom of Ambria from an unprecedented undead plague. This plague, known as the Shadow Blight, arose from a unknown curse, releasing necromantic energies that reanimated the dead and twisted the living into monstrous forms.
Purpose
The LastWall Order's primary mission was to act as the first and final line of defense against the undead. Their objectives included:
- Containment: Establishing fortified outposts and magical barriers to prevent the spread of the undead.
- Eradication: Leading military campaigns to destroy undead hordes and root out necromantic sources.
- Research: Collaborating with scholars and mages to understand the nature of the undead and develop effective countermeasures.
- Sanctuary: Providing refuge and aid to survivors and those displaced by the plague.
Structure and Hierarchy
- Grandmaster: The leader of the Order, responsible for strategic decisions and maintaining the unity of the Order.
- Wardens: Senior knights and mages who commanded individual outposts and led major campaigns.
- Sentinels: Elite warriors and spellcasters who specialized in frontline combat and arcane defenses.
- Keepers: Clerics and scholars focused on healing, research, and maintaining the Order’s extensive archives and libraries.
Decline and Fall
Peak and Contributions:
At its height, the LastWall Order was a symbol of hope and resilience. Their fortresses, known as Bastions, were marvels of defensive architecture and arcane engineering. They pioneered techniques in necromancy reversal and purification rituals that kept the undead at bay for generations.
Catalysts of Decline:
- Internal Strife: As the decades passed, ideological rifts developed within the Order. Disagreements on strategy and the ethical use of necromantic magic led to factionalism and weakened their unity.
- Resource Depletion: Prolonged warfare against the undead drained the Order’s resources. The Kingdom of Ambria, suffering from the constant threat, struggled to provide the necessary support.
- Evolution of the Blight: The Shadow Blight evolved, creating more powerful and resistant forms of undead. The Order’s traditional methods became less effective, and their losses mounted.
- Betrayal: In a final, devastating blow, one of the Order’s most trusted Wardens, Corvin Blackheart, was seduced by the dark power of necromancy. His betrayal led to the fall of the central Bastion, Blackhold, and a significant portion of the Order was annihilated.
Aftermath
The fall of Blackhold marked the beginning of the end. The remaining Bastions, isolated and besieged, eventually succumbed. The Kingdom of Ambria, though weakened, managed to stabilize as the Shadow Blight receded into the blighted outlands, a region forever scarred by necromantic energies
Legacy
Ruins and Vestiges
Today, the remnants of the LastWall Order can be found in the desolate North of Ambria, within the blighted outlands. Crumbling fortresses and overgrown sanctuaries stand as silent witnesses to their sacrifices. Some of these ruins still hold ancient secrets and powerful relics, protected by lingering wards and haunted by the spirits of the fallen.
Myths and Legends
The LastWall Order has passed into legend. Tales of their heroism inspire new generations, and adventurers occasionally seek out their ruins in search of lost knowledge and treasure. Some believe that the Order’s last Grandmaster, Sir Deren Wyrmsbane, still watches over Ambria from beyond, ready to return in its darkest hour.
Modern Influence
In recent times, small groups of knights, scholars, and mages have formed to honor the LastWall legacy. nowadays, it is the role of the Tempest Knights to protect the Kingdom of Ambria