The Ashen Ring

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The Masters are not kind, but they are strong. They reward our service with power.

Araman of the Ashen Ring

  The Ashen Ring is an order of magicians that serve a small cabal of fiends trapped on Mangal by the Worldfast. The organization consists primarily of warlocks who have entered pacts with these fiends. Most warlocks act independently for their benefit or that of their fiendish Master, though the orders' initiates cooperate when organizational interests are at stake.   The dark rituals necessary to contact the Masters pass from one generation of warlocks to the next. These rituals are shared freely, but only those with magical talent can successfully apprentice with a Master. Humans dominate the Ashen Ring, and the warlocks have the most influence among human communities. Other races are rare among the Rings' warlocks but are often quite potent.  

The Masters

Though few, the Masters are still quite potent even after centuries of exile from their home plane. These fiends enter pacts with mortal agents, trading magical knowledge for service and information, as well as the soul energy they require to thrive. These fiends are the Masters of the Ashen Ring and seek to continue their ambitions through manipulating the unique resources and circumstances on the plane.  

The Pact

Though they pragmatically respect all the Masters, an Ashen Ring warlock only enters a pact with one. The terms vary, but generally contain a few elements:

• Eyes and Ears of the Masters. The warlock must contact the Masters regularly and share information they have discovered. The fiends are keenly interested in potential gaps in the planar barrier isolating Mangal, the flow of soul energies into the Havenwood, and the schemes of various ancient Hags and other powerful beings.
• Sew Credibility. The warlocks must only speak the truth, though they are not required to volunteer information. The Masters hold themselves to no such restrictions.

  Warlocks work to maintain stability against the chaos of the jungle. They offer magical knowledge and aid to communities and help settle personal disputes. Adequately payment is expected for their services. They are free to extract compensation due by any means they see fit.   Transgressions against their Master results in censure or punishment, most often at the hands of their fellow warlocks. Most seasoned warlocks bear numerous scars from youthful indiscretions. Though the Masters do not readily share this, most are incapable of stripping a warlock of their powers.  

Order Operations

Most Warlocks operate independently and come together infrequently to deal with threats to their Masters' interests. Ashen Ring warlocks behave as magicians for hire, offering services to any willing to barter for them.   The average human thinks of the warlocks as cruel (or at least aloof), but the powers they access are too potent to ignore. Warlocks are treated with a mixture of fear and respect, just as most warlocks prefer.   The Ashen Ring also controls a few settlements consisting of artisans, neophytes, and other specialists. These settlements collect arcane artifacts and lore under the watchful eye of a powerful warlock. These more prominent warlocks often train bodyguards or informants in lesser arcane arts to augment their natural skills.