Order of the Red Shadows of Hepra
A powerful Agrikian fighting order sponsored by the Order of Hepra the Mace.
The mines and mineral wealth of Menekai have made the order rich and politically powerful.
Their long-term long goals include a crusade and conquest of the Kubora tribal ranges to the north of the Kingdom of Rethem and eventually war against the Kingdom of Kanday. Also they have an intense hatred and rivalry with the Order of the Cohorts of Gashang whom they consider traitors.
They are fearless, determined, loyalty to those who earn it, and have a firm belief that power is granted to those who deserve and use it.
Structure
Ranks
Akarata – Grandmaster Head of the Order. The current grandmaster is Larga Gydsilen based at Menekai castle, the center of the Red Shadow's power.
Mekata – High Commander commands multiple Squadrons of Knights.
Telmen – Commander Leads 1 Squadron of Knights and Honorary Brothers.
Haragki – Brother Knight.
T’kelans – Sergeant leads small groups of infantry.
Laumak – Soldier.
Anas-Haragki - Honorary Brother. Knights and nobility who join the order as honorary lay brothers.
Promotions
Those who impress in battle are rapidly promoted. However, unlike other Fighting Orders, commoners will not be promoted to Knightly ranks. The order believes command is a right of birth.
Public Agenda
Act as guards for the Order of Hepra the Mace.
Holy war against the Kubora Barbarians and conquest and exploitation of the Peran region.
Gain patronage of the Nobility of the Kingdom of Rethem.
Become the dominate Agrikian Fighting Order in the Kingdom of Rethem and the Thardic Republic.
Avenge a recent betrayal that stains their honor, the Order of the Eight Demons and the especially the Order of the Cohorts of Gashang.
Assets
Major Holdings
Menekai - Castle Menekai.
5 Chapterhouses and 16 Vassal estates
Mining partnerships with the Miners Guild over Iron, Copper, Tin, Lead and Silver Mines.
Access to rich resources including Timber, furs, wild beasts, hides and Refined Oils.
Chapterhouses in support of Temples
Kingdom of Rethem
Golotha.
Shostim.
Thardic Republic
Moleryn.
The Order also offers support to has numerous small chapels and shrines of the Order of Hepra the Mace, some of them clandestine.
History
301 to 565TR - The order originated from among the gladiator bodyguards of the scholar-priests and astrologers of the Corani Empire.
642TR - The Official founding of the Order of the Red Shadows of Hepra.
681TR - King Nemiran of Rethem grants the Red Shadows the castle of Menekai.
708TR - The Red Shadows, under direction of the Order of Hepra the Mace, capture Themeson keep from the Thardic Republic. War was avoided possibly by use of generous bribes to key Republican Senators.
714TR - A theological dispute within the clergy lead to a spilt and the formation of the Order of the Eight Demons. The Red Shadows also split with the formation of the Order of the Cohorts of Gashang. These traitors annexed Themeson, something the Red Shadows will never forgive. Furthermore, the Cohorts stole the Order's must prized holy weapon, the Bloody Comet, an allegedly enchanted mace.
717TR - The Order of Herpa the Mace makes peace with the Order of Eight Demons, at least on the surface. Even so, the Red Shadows and Cohorts still skirmish.
721TR - The Order joins the royal army during the Rethemi civil war (721 to 723TR).
723TR - After the heroic death of King Chafin III during the Battle of Rylosin Forest the royal army disintegrates. Before they leave the battlefield the Order takes this opportunity to turn on Order of the Cohorts of Gashang and massacres them. The Bloody Comet is returned to the order by Vavryse Lynnaeus, the newly appointed Earl of Tormau, as part of a agrement.
Military
The Red Shadows take pride in individual skill at arms favoring mass attacks and rarely using cohesive battle formations. The Anas-Haragki or Honorary Brother Knights often fight alongside the Order.
Knights of the Order favor medium armor and swift horse making them excellent mobile cavalry and skirmishers.
Stand in the blood of glory.
Notable Members
Akarata (Grandmaster) Larga Gydsilen
The brutal, coarse and very intelligent head of the Order.
D&D 5E Notes
The Red Shadows can use Demon Brands.
Additionally they often apply Brands of the Four Horsemen to their mounts.
Most Red Shadows take the Champion Class
Similar to their clerical counterparts some Knights who have had divine instruction have see ability to occasionally predict the future.
Those with the talent they may perform rituals staring into flames or at blood splatter and potentially receive visions of the future. They must succeed on a DC15 Religion check and if successful then during that day they may roll a d20 and use this number instead of rolling.
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