Order of the Lady's Claw

Religious

There are many who worship and revere The Tiger Maiden, but non so fiercely and dedicated as the Order of the Lady’s Claw. This devout order of female monks trains and plays hard. As the Order travels often, they can be found anywhere on Starhelm, and many take up roots in all corners of the continent, spreading their love of experience and joy to any who would listen. They do not function under a unified leadership, but rather in smaller groups or sects. They work well with each other (most of the time), but each group functions with their own structure and has their own goals and styles.

History

It is hard to speak of the history of this Order without also hearing of the history of Tiger, and the Tiger Maiden. The Order stems from the teachings of Tiger and the Tiger Maiden, and most of their dogma is directly related to their progenitor’s experience.
Even before meeting Josefan, the Tiger herself has a long history. When she was a child, she had run away from home, after the awful events of her mother’s murder at her father’s hand. The Tiger made her way into a forest and kept running, as far away as she could. She traveled night and day, and there seemed to be no end to the forest. Stories of lost travelers who made their way to the Beastlands entered her head, and she feared the worst. Lost, scared, and exhausted, the little girl was on the verge of collapsing, when a forceful presence came into her view. A massive, five-headed tiger, of multi-coloured fur approached her; snarling and breathing. She braced herself for what was assuredly death, but instead found the beast snuffling up against her, taking pity at her misery.
He picked her up and placed her on one of his five heads, and began padding through the forest, rocking her as he went. It did not take long for the exhausted child to fall asleep. Awaking with a start, and scarcely remembering what had happened, the girl was surprised to hear the tiger speaking to her, and she could understand him. It was an odd sight as all five heads spoke simultaneously, and yet separately, though their meaning was clear and understandable.
‘My name is Khan Shi, ruler of this forest, and protector of the bridges between worlds,’ the tiger proclaimed. He began to tell her stories of the Beastlands, and the bridges he protected. The child sat and listened intently, until it was her turn to share her own story, about her father and mother. One night in a drunken rage, she explained, her father beat her mother to death, right in front of her. Her father was not a nice man, and she was not sad to be away from him, she explained, but the look of helplessness on her mother’s face was more than the child could bear.
Khan Shi, greatly moved by her story, declared she would never have to suffer the indignation or fear of this man. He adopted her on the spot. Over the years he taught her to read, write, think strategically, assess situations, and most importantly, how to protect herself. The secrets of the Beastlands were her secrets now also, and she spent many years there learning how to move through it, manipulate it to her needs, and coming to love it as much as her home lands.
Emerging from the Beastlands centuries later, the child, a grown woman now, had become a fierce warrior and protector, losing her given name, and in honour of her adopted father, came to be known as simply Tiger. In the lands outside the Beastlands, over 300 years had passed, her father along with it. Looking for purpose and meaning, Tiger vowed to empower as many women as possible, so that no woman would ever suffer the same fate as her mother. She traveled from village to town to city, slowly enhancing the few women who had the bravery and strength to learn from her. Then came the fateful day when she met Josefan.
When Josefan was first created after the Fractioning she traveled and met many of the other Shards of Alucar. Some she befriended, like Parfin, Dranaden, and Mirriam, and others she avoided, like Greegis, or Leftis. None she avoided more than Bruges however, who coveted her as a prize to be won, and not a partner to share a life with. She was courteous and polite, but was clear that she had no interest. As was his nature, he continued to pursue her, regardless of her wishes.
In an effort to escape, she traveled to Essillion for the comfort of a bath and some rest, where was fortunate enough to find such a place. The owner of the establishment was a lady of remarkable beauty, dressed all in red, known simply as Tiger. Josefan was intrigued by the grace and style of this woman. She seemed powerful yet still beautiful. Josefan followed her around the city, observing her wherever she went, and one thing stood out for her - none of the men approached her, though they all looked longingly.
Josefan returned to the bath and struck up a conversation with Tiger, enquiring how she could keep the men, some of them quite large, at bay. Tiger simply responded, ‘I could tell you, but words are cheap; actions speak much louder. If you want to learn, then come here tomorrow evening and I will show you what I mean.’
Josefan returned the next evening and witnessed Tiger giving a demonstration to a small gathering of women. She moved with grace, easily avoiding blows but she used distraction and trickery to gain a better position for attack or defense. Josefan returned every night for a whole year and learned Tiger’s style. She took on some of Tiger’s mannerisms and found that the passion and desire fueled her energy. Her attacks were even more effective than usual.
When she felt ready she went back to the world, more appreciative of her brother Leftis’ approach. Bruges soon sought her out to woo her and she agreed to wed him if he could defeat her in hand to hand combat. Their battle lasted days but eventually Bruges tired of it, sensing the pointlessness of the confrontation. Even if he could marry her he would spend the rest of his days trying to catch her, so he pursued different goals.
All who watched her marveled at her style and they asked what it was called. Josefan called it Tiger’s style and she was dubbed with the moniker ‘The Tiger Maiden’. In appreciation for her teacher she offered her a gift of long life. Tiger can still be seen wandering the world, morphing from red-striped tiger to sensual woman at a whim.
Shortly after Bruges’ defeat at the hands of the Tiger Maiden, many women came to Tiger and the Tiger Maiden asking for guidance, protection, or assistance. The two worked together to help empower these women as best they could, but eventually they all had to leave to make their way on their own. Small groups formed in different parts of the continent, and they changed membership often, as the women moved on to different interests or experiences.
Eventually the Order of the Lady’s Claw was officially formed in Essillion under the leadership of the Black Tiger, but in reality there is no centralized structure. The Tiger Den in Essillion is the most well-known of the sects, but each group has their own leadership, goals, and interests, never seeking permission or acknowledgment from anyone else.

Current Membership

The followers of The Tiger Maiden revel in releasing someone’s inner passion and take every opportunity to show the beauty inside and outside of people. They bring joy, physical and spiritual, to any who would wish to experience it. They too enjoy being the subject of poetry, song and art but more to appease their ego than for the nobler aspects of it.
The Order of the Lady’s Claws leads a very ordered life in the monastery but out of it they are much different people. While training they maintain strict discipline in order to release their passion at the right moment. When they are out of the monastery they take on a very different personality, reveling in the pleasures of the physical world.
During this time the followers of The Tiger Maiden seek to inspire anyone not prone to do so to follow their passion. It is their hope to increase the flock during this time but it usually ends up being a momentary understanding on the part of the recipient.

Goals

The Order of the Lady’s Claw are monks who have taken vows to empower themselves and other women of Starhelm. Protecting women who are threatened, abused, or made to feel lesser, the members of this order wander the continent to experience the freedom that empowerment brings. They embrace sensual and hedonistic desires, as they choose to do so, not because others wish it for them. They gain strength in knowing that others do not get to dictate their path, outside of the sisterhood that seeks to protect them.

Resources

The Order of the Lady’s Claw has no real resources to speak of, outside of access to many hedonistic pleasures, like food, alcohol, drugs, or companionship. Their Influence with government and civic regulations gives their members certain ‘unspoken’ benefits, as those in high positions may sometimes look the other way.
Their biggest resource is the loyalty of the members. While they do not follow each other, they all have mutual respect for members of the Order. This does not necessarily mean that they all get along, but their bond with each other will always supersede outside forces.

Notable Personalities

• Lucadia Capistran (f/human), the Black Tiger; head of the Tiger’s Den (Essillion)
• Mary Josephine Leal (f/human), the White Tiger
• Penelope Rushwillow (f/human), the Purple Tiger
• Fiona Ashflower (f/human), the Green Tiger
• Cathrine Everbright (f/human), the Orange Tiger
• Madame Kostra (f/human), head of the Maiden’s Claw (Avandar)

Type

Religious, Monastic Order

Purpose: Devout female monk order of the Tiger Maiden

Membership: Monks, Clerics, Rogues, Warriors, hedonists

Base of Operations: Tiger’s Den in Essillion; various sects across the continent

Symbol: Slender tiger’s claw on a red background

Notable Members: Sybarite Lucadia Capistran aka ‘The Black Tiger’ (head of the Tiger Den Monastery)