The Sanguine Order
"The blood mages of Celene..."
The blood mages of Gothenya have arguably had the most tumultuous history of any organization that ever existed. When the disciples of Gothenya's deities discovered (on their many pilgrimages to Mount Celene) unheard of levels of magical energy (mana), seemingly held within the mountain itself, many mages of all orders decided they must too make the arduous trek to the site of such wonders. This influx of arcane magicians was considered blasphemous to the many religious orders that claimed the holy site for their own. Hence, in small groups, wizards, sorcerers and the like were easily repelled by the combined priests of even opposing gods (for here they found a common enemy). This went on for many years until the coming of The Sanguine Order.
The natural progression for students and masters of the arcane seemed to involve combining their forces to create a safety net against their religious enemies. But getting mages to agree to anything, let alone a protective coalition, proved worse a task than herding a million cats. However, one group of arcane casters, those who employed blood rites in their magic rituals, managed to get their act together and form a bond. This bond reached across all aisles, as any school of magic could employ blood magic.
Blood magic, at its core, is not a separate school of magic, but rather a set of rituals that, when combined with magic of any order, enhances the effects of any spells cast (at the expense of damaging the natural world, either through blood spilt or flora withered). It is mostly employed by necromancers, but enough mages from all schools partook in the blood rites that their combined strength was enough to challenge the devout priests of Celene. This conclave of blood mages was dubbed The Sanguine Order, and its leaders were almost exclusively necromancers.
It is the Sanguine Order that fought the combined priests of most deities on the slopes of Celene, thus causing The Sundering. And it was the Sanguine Order that was hit hardest by the pogroms that followed, though mages of all orders (including many that expressly never trafficked in blood magic) were terrorized.
As the grand exodus of magic users traveled south, the majority of non-blood magic practitioners created the nation of Varuum (supplanting the existing government of the region). However, the blood mages feared that crossing the land-bridge of The Throat didn't put near enough distance between themselves and their enemies to the north. Thus, they took to the sea and headed east.
Landing on Golthien, the blood mages took, by force of magic, the largest nation on the west coast, Lentokk. At that moment, the Sanguine Order became The Lentokki, and the old term fell into disuse. Though there are still some that adhere to the old moniker. Of most interest is the Sanguine Order of the Demon Isles. Here, from their fortress of Coldkeep, the order continues their attempt to raise their god Krytuss (also the lord of the Lentokki) from the ice below. Though the return of Krytuss is the goal of both the Lentokki and these separate members of the "new" Sanguine Order, the latter does not have the full support of Lentokk. This is primarily due to the God Kings lack of faith in the location of their frozen god.
The Sanguine Order continues, however, convinced their lord is mere miles beneath their very feet, waiting to be released. They believe they will be the favored of his followers, supplanting even the God Kings themselves. This hubris, the Lentokki believe, will be their downfall.
Structure
The "new" Sanguine Order is led by a "Council of Masters," all powerful magicians (mostly necromancers), modeled after the original council from the order, Pre-Sundering.
Public Agenda
The raise Krytuss, the Lord of Corruption and Decay, from his icy prison.
History
Originally founded around 3,000 years ago, during the great pilgrimages to Celene, as a protective order against the aggressive might of the priesthood.
The organization changed roughly 1,500 years ago, after the original Sanguine Order crossed the World Sea and became the Lentokki. Those who wished to continue to the holy site where they believed their lord to be buried became the new Sanguine Order.
Warmed By Ice
Type
Guild, Mages
Alternative Names
Blood Mages
Parent Organization
Subsidiary Organizations
Divines
Location
Controlled Territories
Related Myths
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