The Order of Ichneumon
History
The Order of Ichneumon was formed by a Nevalan scholar, Adinath Anand, who was dedicated to discovering spells and oaths meant to channel the strengths of Akashan gods and demigods. Anand held a great sympathy for weredragons, and meant to find either a cure, or a means to help them manage their emotional outbursts with Akashan-related magic. Instead, he crafted what is known as The Oath of Jharana, which gave volunteers like himself the ability to subdue weredragons. He gave those that took the oath the title of Icheumon, and so The Order of Ichneumon was born. The name "Ichneumon" came from an extinct breed of mongoose often associated with Jharana, this mongoose known to have abilities similar to those that took the oath. The first dozen Icheumon were Anand's disciples, nearly half of them weredragons themselves. The purpose of the Ichneumon was to protect both humans and weredragons, to serve as a mediator and to give guidance. The Ichneumon built a temple meant to house and care for struggling weredragons, particularly ones having experienced their first shift. Weredragons would be prepared to return to society, or to become Ichneumon if they wished, by learning self control from Anand and his disciples. The focus of their teachings was mindfulness, meditation, venting strategies and practiced positivity, to help them cope with their enhanced emotions. Their teaching also involved the control and flow of chi, which is believed to be the source of how weredragons come to be.Abilities and Beliefs
The Oath of Jharana gave the Ichneumon abilities complementary to weredragons: inhuman speed and self healing, resistance to fire, telepathic abilities among other Ichneumon, and occasionally, manipulation over water. Should they break any part of their oath, Jharana is said to strike them dead herself within minutes of the offense. Most if not all of the early Ichneumon were devout followers of both the Akashan religion and the teaching of Anand, some believing him to be an avatar of one of Jharana's demigods, the god of the waterfall.The Fall of the Order
The Order was first founded and built beside a shrine of Jharana that would later become Kaala Pattee, the capital of Nevala. After Anand passed on, The Order of Ichneumon spread out to found more temples/fortresses across Nevala. Less and less weredragons became Ichneumon overtime, to the point that nearly all Ichneumon were humans. When Nevala went to war against Samos and Oadanim, Nevala also suffered an internal conflict of weredragons demanding independence from The Order. These events lead to the fall of The Order of Icheumon as it was known at that time.The New Orders
The original Order of Ichneumon is no more, yet their impact on the isles remains. The Samos Nation has a branch of law enforcement based on The Order, known as The Red Ichneumon, and Oadanim has founded its own order, The Jade Ichneumon, who are building an influence in Nevala as well.This page is a work in progress and feedback is greatly appreciated!
Type
Religious, Monastic Order
Demonym
Ichneumon
Location
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