Sa'har Order
The Sa’har Order was an ancient and revered monastic tradition that originated among the elves of Golarion long before the rise of Azlant or the codification of modern magic. The Sa’har followed the Old Ways—a mystical philosophy rooted in the manipulation and understanding of Akasha, the primordial force of creation from which all magic flows.
At their height, the Sa’har were philosophers, protectors, and spiritual guides to the elven people. Though they are now gone, their teachings laid the foundation for countless martial and mystical traditions, and their legacy survives in scattered ruins, hidden texts, and the secretive Akashic Brotherhood.
The Akasha and the Old Way
The Old Way—also called the Elder Way—was a path of meditation, self-mastery, and resonance with the living force of Akasha. This raw, pre-magical essence existed before arcane formulae, divine miracles, or planar pacts. Akasha is not aligned to any one tradition but exists as a pure source, amplifying or intersecting with arcane, divine, and psionic energies. The Sa’har taught that all living beings carried within them a connection to the Akasha, but only the rare few—later known as Akashari—could truly attune to its flow.Philosophy and Purpose
The Sa’har Order believed in balance, harmony, and the pursuit of understanding. Their role was not to lead, rule, or conquer, but to advise, defend, and guide. Though capable of great power, they rarely acted in worldly affairs unless compelled by grave necessity. They held a central principle:We are the shield, not the sword.Their temples were places of peace, contemplation, and training—not bastions of war. Yet when danger threatened knowledge, life, or balance itself, the Sa’har acted with purpose and precision.
Structure
Structure and Organization
The Sa’har Order was governed by the High Council, also known as the Council of Knowledge, comprised of five Sa’har Masters and led by the High Consular. The Council oversaw all philosophical, political, and spiritual matters within the Order, though it maintained autonomy from Kyonin’s monarchy. Entry into the Order was exceedingly rare. The Induction of Akashari was a sacred and mysterious process, involving signs, meditations, and often visions. In nearly 1,000 years before Earthfall, only seventeen initiates were ever accepted—including two humans—making the Sa’har one of the most exclusive orders in elven history.Training and the Way of Attunement
Training within the Order was long and arduous. Physical conditioning, philosophical study, and mastery of ki-like disciplines were all required. Eventually, a monk would undertake the Way of Attunement—a deep meditative rite in which the practitioner’s spirit left the body and entered the flow of Akasha itself. This journey could last years or decades, and while the spirit was away, the body required no food or water and aged little. However, it was vulnerable. Should the body be slain or the spirit remain lost too long, the monk would be absorbed into the Akasha, becoming a formless echo of their former self. Success meant transcendence: a heightened connection to the Old Ways and access to deeper mysteries of creation.History
The Fall of Meropis and the Age of Darkness
At the time of Earthfall, the Sa’har warned their people and joined the exodus to Sovyrian, abandoning their sacred island of Meropis and the temples scattered across Golarion. While many perished, some monks remained behind to safeguard their holdings. After Earthfall, the Order never recovered. Meropis vanished—either destroyed or hidden in a fold of Akashic space—and most temples were destroyed or buried during the Age of Darkness. Survivors who remained were fragmented into cloisters, stripped of resources, and isolated. Over generations, their teachings became diluted, evolving into new martial traditions such as the Qinggong Monks.Legacy
In Sovyrian, the Order's philosophy slowly changed. Isolated and politicized, it became an academic institution devoted more to the study of Akasha than its practice. The living flame of the Old Way dimmed—until the schism. A small group of true Akashari refused to surrender the path. Breaking away from the reformed Sa’har, they became the Akashic Brotherhood, preserving the Old Ways in secret. Though the Sa’har Order is gone, its echoes endure. In broken temples, in scattered writings, in the soul of every Akashari who still hears the call of the Akasha—the shield still waits.Military
The Swordmages
Though the Sa’har disavowed conquest, they recognized the need for guardianship. Thus emerged the Swordmages—a martial sect within the Order composed of elves who blended swordplay and arcane magic into a seamless art. Tasked with defending the Great Library of Minas Amer, the Swordmages acted as protectors of knowledge and enforcers of peace, using disciplined, precise techniques to subdue threats without excess force.Foreign Relations
The Sa’har were officially loyal to the crown of Kyonin but operated independently. They maintained cordial relations with other cultures to support their mission of gathering knowledge across Golarion. They believed understanding other people and their traditions was vital to maintaining harmony.
Their controversial decision to admit human initiates—especially during escalating human-elven tensions—caused friction among elven nobility. Some members of the Order were courted or manipulated into political positions, notably as advisors to the Winter Council, further eroding internal unity.
Type
Religious, Monastic Order
Successor Organization
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
