Elder Cathar

The cathars are the soldiers of the Church of Avacyn, trained against the dangers of the night, and providing defense for Innistrad's common people. Cathars are drawn from across all of Innistrad, and though the training is brutal and not all are fit for the job, anyone who wishes to try is eligible for a chance at becoming a cathar.   Call to Arms Those that do take on the mantle of service often have some higher reason, a purpose beyond the one given to them by Avacyn's Church. Some have seen loved ones fall prey to horrid creatures, some hope to bring the benefits of their training back to their villages, and others simply believe that it is the most righteous path available in the world so dark.   In the Jaws of Danger Because of the dangers they face, few cathars ever get the chance to grow old and retire, even though cathars are given the option once they reach the age of forty. By the time a cathar does manage to reach such a ripe age, the instinct to fight is buried deep inside, and they no longer remember how to live a life of safety. And every retired cathar knows that they are never safe anyway, no mater where in Innistrad they choose to travel.   Guiding Presence But while older cathars may no longer bear the same battlefield presence they once did, they can still provide a great service to their communities. Several famous cathars have gone on from retirement to do more for the safety of Innistrad than they ever did under the church, training the common folk in their own defense or researching new ways to evade and hold back the tide of endless night. But above all, each retired cathar gives to their community a symbol, one of peace and prosperity, a sign that even those who place themselves in the gravest danger can return alive, if not unscathed. Their presence, one garnered through years of bloodshed, is an anchor and an insperation to those who serve under them.