Forged Order of the Machine Spirit
The Forged Order of the Machine Spirit, also known as the Order of the Soul Forgers, are a fairly new religious sect in Beldan. Their Citadel is in the center of the Belkan Mountain range and is believed to have been made by the The Forge Light himself.
They follow a Codex found in the Citadel by the freed Umberdwarves who came from the Deep Dark. They were left with no purpose, only knowing they were once from a race of craftsman. However this fortress gave them but a small glimpse of their potential. They vowed to use all they had available to make something of themselves and not repeat the mistakes of the Gerlandarian Dwarves they descended from.
The first four Umberdwarves who found the Citidel began their study of the previous inhabitants quickly. They found the forgotten technology of how to both create a "soul" power source and put it into the ancient mechana bodies. The race once used for war now had their unfinished bodies lying in this ruin. And the first Forge Mothers and Fathers were born here. They came to believe it was the ultimate expression of craft and workmanship to become one with their machines.
Once their prowess were known by the new Beldan King, the Order was called upon to defend their new country from the invading Dokkalf. The Nexun asked these pacifists to aid them as they helped their escape from the Deep Dark. Forever in the Nexunalf's debt they accepted. They built weapons the likes of witch no-one had seen before: hand held cannons, mechanisms for war unseen for a generation and a terrifying new machine, made souly for defense of their Nexun allies, the Titan.
Once the fighting was done they turned their talents to the betterment of Beldan as a whole. They created the technology that powered the Nexun's inventions but never the machines themselves after the Surface War. Such as what makes airships fly and the Thunder Rail transportation platform run at both such high speeds and unstoppable power.
Upon war's end they also opened their doors to non-Umberdwarves to enter and to learn. They wanted to spread this knowledge as far as they could, so that others would not fall prey to the same tactics that brought their ancestors to the Underdark. Their Arbitors and Librarians are the Militant arm of the Citidel.
The Forge Fathers and Mothers rest in their Titan bodies. Having only been made for war, they refuse to move and are unable to transfer their souls a second time. They serve the Citidel as guardians of the Forge Fire. A wellspring of power pulled from the Elemental Plane of Fire, that they use to Forge their tools.
They follow a Codex found in the Citadel by the freed Umberdwarves who came from the Deep Dark. They were left with no purpose, only knowing they were once from a race of craftsman. However this fortress gave them but a small glimpse of their potential. They vowed to use all they had available to make something of themselves and not repeat the mistakes of the Gerlandarian Dwarves they descended from.
The first four Umberdwarves who found the Citidel began their study of the previous inhabitants quickly. They found the forgotten technology of how to both create a "soul" power source and put it into the ancient mechana bodies. The race once used for war now had their unfinished bodies lying in this ruin. And the first Forge Mothers and Fathers were born here. They came to believe it was the ultimate expression of craft and workmanship to become one with their machines.
Once their prowess were known by the new Beldan King, the Order was called upon to defend their new country from the invading Dokkalf. The Nexun asked these pacifists to aid them as they helped their escape from the Deep Dark. Forever in the Nexunalf's debt they accepted. They built weapons the likes of witch no-one had seen before: hand held cannons, mechanisms for war unseen for a generation and a terrifying new machine, made souly for defense of their Nexun allies, the Titan.
Once the fighting was done they turned their talents to the betterment of Beldan as a whole. They created the technology that powered the Nexun's inventions but never the machines themselves after the Surface War. Such as what makes airships fly and the Thunder Rail transportation platform run at both such high speeds and unstoppable power.
Upon war's end they also opened their doors to non-Umberdwarves to enter and to learn. They wanted to spread this knowledge as far as they could, so that others would not fall prey to the same tactics that brought their ancestors to the Underdark. Their Arbitors and Librarians are the Militant arm of the Citidel.
The Forge Fathers and Mothers rest in their Titan bodies. Having only been made for war, they refuse to move and are unable to transfer their souls a second time. They serve the Citidel as guardians of the Forge Fire. A wellspring of power pulled from the Elemental Plane of Fire, that they use to Forge their tools.
Structure
Those wishing to join the Order may do so rather easily. New Students are always welcome to study and learn.
After several years and recommendation by Professors students are elevated into Assistant roles until they are believed to be able to teach on their own. A professor can be either a warforged or a mortal as the position is largely ceremonial.
However neither of these ranks have taken oathes yet. Once a Mortal Professor has taught students for long enough they are offered to become full members of the Order. Here they take one of two paths; as either a Chaplin or an Arbiter. Chaplins take the Oath of the Forge while Arbiters swear the Oath of the Quill.
We will start with the Chaplin line. The Oath of the Forge is when Professors wish to follow in the religious aspect of the Order. They are the first "soldier" rank of the Order. Though passifists, they won their freedom through blood. So defending the Order is an oath not taken lightly. They are considered Paladins of Moradin and thus, protect and serve.
Chaplins begin studying the specifics of creating and maintaining a Warforged body once they have taken the Oath. They must be able to aid their brothers and sisters in battle should the need arise. But also so they may assend further to the rank of Forge-Hammer. Forge-Hammers are some of the most devoted to the Order. They build and craft their new bodies and, only if truly willing to stand by the Order for as long as their metal gleams, do they transfer their soul and create a new Warforged. This is not a common occurrence and only one in many hundreds of mortals choose to assend. And even then they tend to wait until their mortal bodies can no longer sustain life.
If a Forge-Hammer wishes to remain a warrior, the eldest of them become Forge Keepers. Forge Keepers are the personal protectors of the Forge Flame and the Forge Fathers and Mothers.
Now when a Professor wants to go deeper into their studies, they can become Arbitors. Arbitors are the primary researchers of the Order. Most often, they travel across the world finding new knowledge and furthering their own study.
Arbiters report back to Codicier's. A Codicier is distinguished from an Arbiter, typically, by age. Codiciers live within a section called, The Hall of Expanding Quandries. They have grown closer to mastering their field of study and are usually project leads. While Arbiters are more hands on, Codiciers pour over all the information at their disposal and work with the Arbiters to put that knowledge into practice.
When a Codicier wishes to take a more passive role they may apply to become Librarians. It is by this time most mortal bodies begin to give out and thus they begin building their next body. While in no way a requirement, nearly half of Librarians are Warforged. Librarians are tasked with maintaining the vast stores of knowledge in the Citidel. They work closely with those ranked 'below' them and aid everyone that enters the Hall to find answers. They live and work inside of their cathedral sized library, Hall of Expanding Answers.
Above all here however are the Forge Fathers/Mothers. These four Titans, two male and two female, are the original founders of the Citidel and the Order. Their aincent bodies rest around the Forge Flame and are often sought counsel on matters that cannot be resolved by Librarians or Forge-Hammers. They are immobile and are, in essence, performing their own experiment. They are testing to see how long a Warforged can live.
Culture
The Order are passifists by nature. Having fought for their freedom along side the Nexun Drow, they believe it is best to remain neutral to any party or conflict in the world. They do have a strong alliance with Belden but are not beholden to them.
The Order is open to all who wish to enter so long as they do so with peaceful intent. For an outsider to gain access to the Library, they must make a case to the Librarians for their entry and inquiry.
Public Agenda
The Order is open to all. There is much knowledge they share with the Empire. They are in fact the basis for the Empire's public education system. Most places where machinery or great Arcane technology is found, members of the Order are there to learn or aid in operation/maintenance.
Territories
The Order lives and operates out of The Citidel, located deep in the Belkan mountain range.
Military
The Order's Chaplins, and Forge-Hammers are the Organization's primary "military" strength. If called up to war however they will begin constructing new Warforged. It is a contingency they wish to never have to implement and would require materiel from Gerlander to do so.
Technological Level
The Order are some of the most technologically advanced people on the continent. The Forge Flame creates enough heat to turn a Sterling engine that they use to produce electricity. The system is only able to function for them due to the immense heat coming from The Forge Flame.
Education
The education levels of Order members is high. They are typically Artificers, Wizards and Schollars in the like. And anyone living in the Citidel would have access to mountains of informstion.
Mythology & Lore
The Order believes that the Citidel was built by the All-Hammer himself, Moradin. That this was a place where the most sacred of creations were built by their Dwarven forebears. The Duergar who found the abandoned Citidel saw the Warforged bodies here and began studying them. It was then that the Forge Fathers and Mothers interpreted the religious mantra of "Forge Yourself Anew" to mean that the most devout should become one with their creation!
Tenets of Faith
- Knowledge is power. To abuse that power for your own gain is a perversion of the All-Hammer's gift of The Spark of Creativity.
- Knowledge should be shared. To educate yourself is to make yourself better able to avoid conflict.
- Violence is the point when Knowledge is discarded for the blade. Seek to know your enemy so they may not be one day.
- Protect the Forge and Safe Guard its Knowledge from those who seek to abuse it.
- To be one with your creation, is the ultimate sign of faith in yourself.
Forge Yourself Anew
Type
Religious, Sect
Alternative Names
Order of the Soul Forgers
Training Level
Professional
Veterancy Level
Experienced
Demonym
Machine Spirits/Soul Forged
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
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