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Scion History: Difference between revisions

From Wizards and Warlords
Created page with "__TOC__ In the time before memory, when the mountains still walked and the stars had not yet chosen their places in the sky, the gods breathed life into a race unlike any other. Born from divine thought and shaped by sacred hands, this race was not made merely to live; it was made to lead. To inherit. To ascend. These were the Scions, the Children of Purpose, destined to one day walk in the footsteps of the Forsworn, the gods who made them. Their bodies were woven from t..."
 
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The Orders do not interfere with one another. By ancient law and sacred tradition, no Order may raise arms against another. Yet within this peace, quiet rivalries bloom. Alliances form and shift like constellations in a turning sky. Though they are bound by the same birthright, the Scions do not always agree on what that birthright demands.
The Orders do not interfere with one another. By ancient law and sacred tradition, no Order may raise arms against another. Yet within this peace, quiet rivalries bloom. Alliances form and shift like constellations in a turning sky. Though they are bound by the same birthright, the Scions do not always agree on what that birthright demands.
These philosophies are visible in the way each Order presents itself.
To the Scions, clothing is never merely practical. Every garment tells a story, reflects a belief, or honours a tradition. Fashion is viewed as an extension of identity, with colours, fabrics, and adornments chosen to communicate not wealth, but purpose. A Scion's attire often reveals their Order, vocation, achievements, or personal philosophy long before they speak.
Despite these differences, certain principles remain universal. Scion clothing favours flowing lines, layered fabrics, and elegant tailoring that allows freedom of movement. Robes, cloaks, fitted tunics, and long coats are common, often embroidered with intricate patterns inspired by nature, celestial bodies, or ancient runes. Precious metals and gemstones are worn sparingly, valued more for symbolism than extravagance.


In these Orders lies the soul of the Scions: many voices speaking one truth in many tongues.
In these Orders lies the soul of the Scions: many voices speaking one truth in many tongues.
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They are also accused of coldness. Their vision is vast, but their compassion often feels distant. To the Order of Harmony, the needs of the many truly outweigh the needs of the few. The fire must be allowed to burn if it will warm the greater world, and if a village must be forgotten to preserve a kingdom, so be it. Yet without their tireless planning, countless disasters would have bloomed. Their bureaucracy is dense but precise, their records vast but invaluable, and their failures, when they occur, are studied more harshly than any outsider would dare.
They are also accused of coldness. Their vision is vast, but their compassion often feels distant. To the Order of Harmony, the needs of the many truly outweigh the needs of the few. The fire must be allowed to burn if it will warm the greater world, and if a village must be forgotten to preserve a kingdom, so be it. Yet without their tireless planning, countless disasters would have bloomed. Their bureaucracy is dense but precise, their records vast but invaluable, and their failures, when they occur, are studied more harshly than any outsider would dare.
The Order presents itself with the same discipline and authority it seeks to bring to the world. Members favour refined, formal clothing: long ceremonial robes, tailored coats, and flowing capes, often decorated with gold thread and geometric embroidery representing order and balance. White, ivory, royal blue, and gold reinforce their connection to governance and divine stewardship.
To them, appearance is a reflection of responsibility. A poorly maintained uniform is seen as a failure of discipline, while immaculate presentation demonstrates respect for both oneself and those being served.


=== Order of Urbanites ===
=== Order of Urbanites ===
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In recent ages, they have grown weary of divine silence. Though they would never speak of rebellion aloud, their patience wears thinner with each passing generation. The Urbanites believe that if the gods do not return to fulfil their promises, then perhaps they should be made to answer for their absence.
In recent ages, they have grown weary of divine silence. Though they would never speak of rebellion aloud, their patience wears thinner with each passing generation. The Urbanites believe that if the gods do not return to fulfil their promises, then perhaps they should be made to answer for their absence.
The Urbanites present themselves as people who belong among those they serve. Their clothing balances practicality with Scion elegance, using earthy colours, leather accessories, layered garments, and durable fabrics suited to busy streets, workshops, and marketplaces. They favour an appearance that allows them to move comfortably through ordinary life rather than stand apart from it.
Many adopt local styles from the settlements they visit, believing that understanding a people begins with living as they do. Garments influenced by Human, Dworn, or even Orukar cultures sit alongside traditional Scion craftsmanship, expressing their willingness to meet others on familiar ground.


=== Order of Masks ===
=== Order of Masks ===
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Though they do not seek power or rulership, they prepare for the aftermath. They collect histories others would burn. They preserve the bloodlines of beasts and Scions alike. They map the ley lines and mark the fading paths of ancient power. When all others fall, the Masks intend to be the last whisper in the silence, carrying the memory of the world into whatever comes next.
Though they do not seek power or rulership, they prepare for the aftermath. They collect histories others would burn. They preserve the bloodlines of beasts and Scions alike. They map the ley lines and mark the fading paths of ancient power. When all others fall, the Masks intend to be the last whisper in the silence, carrying the memory of the world into whatever comes next.
The Masks reveal something of themselves through the object that conceals them. Their crafted masks may be carved from polished wood, forged from metal, shaped from porcelain, or woven from enchanted fibres. Each is unique to its owner and deeply symbolic, giving visible form to an identity whose true face remains private.
Their clothing serves the same purpose of controlled visibility. Muted colours, layered cloaks, fitted leathers, and garments designed for concealment and mobility allow them to choose when they are seen. Deep greys, blacks, dark greens, and weathered browns help them disappear into shadows or wilderness with equal ease.


=== Order of Nomads ===
=== Order of Nomads ===
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They say the gods scattered secrets across the face of the world like seeds upon the wind. The Nomads have taken it upon themselves to find every last one, not for power, but for the joy of knowing. They will not rest, for every map is unfinished and every answer leads to another question.
They say the gods scattered secrets across the face of the world like seeds upon the wind. The Nomads have taken it upon themselves to find every last one, not for power, but for the joy of knowing. They will not rest, for every map is unfinished and every answer leads to another question.
The Nomads present themselves as travellers, their appearance shaped by movement rather than a fixed place or station. Lightweight, durable clothing adapts to changing climates, with long coats, scarves, weatherproof cloaks, and layered garments ready for the next journey. Hidden pockets and practical fastenings keep maps, journals, and tools close at hand.
Their attire frequently incorporates materials collected from distant lands, making no two Nomads look quite alike. Feathers, shells, rare fabrics, carved bone, and foreign jewellery are worn not as trophies, but as reminders of places visited and stories lived. Their appearance carries the journeys that have shaped them.


=== Order of Burials ===
=== Order of Burials ===
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To serve in the Order of Burials is to live among ghosts. But it is also to walk with purpose, knowing that while others look to the future, it is your sacred task to guard the past.
To serve in the Order of Burials is to live among ghosts. But it is also to walk with purpose, knowing that while others look to the future, it is your sacred task to guard the past.
The Burials present themselves with the humility and restraint they bring to their sacred duties. Dark robes, ash-grey cloaks, and simple ceremonial vestments are common, often trimmed with silver embroidery representing the cycle of life, death, and memory. Ornamentation is restrained, each piece carrying personal or spiritual significance rather than decorative excess.
Many wear heirlooms belonging to departed mentors or family members. To them, carrying these possessions keeps the memory of the dead alive among the living, making their appearance an act of remembrance as much as an expression of identity.


=== Order of Eternal War ===
=== Order of Eternal War ===
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Because someone must.
Because someone must.
The Eternal War presents itself in a state of readiness. Armour is worn whenever practical, supplemented by heavy cloaks, reinforced leathers, and garments built to endure long campaigns and harsh environments. Dark blues, greys, blacks, and muted reds reflect both discipline and the demands of a life spent preparing for conflict.
Decorations are earned rather than inherited. Every medal, engraved plate, or stitched emblem represents a campaign survived, a life saved, or an oath fulfilled. Their appearance records service and endurance, expressing the responsibility they have chosen to carry.


== Faith and Beliefs ==
== Faith and Beliefs ==
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To many Scions, death is not something to fear. It is simply another step towards fulfilling the legacy entrusted to them by the Forsworn.
To many Scions, death is not something to fear. It is simply another step towards fulfilling the legacy entrusted to them by the Forsworn.
== Fashion ==
=== Cultural Philosophy of Dress ===
To the Scions, clothing is never merely practical. Every garment tells a story, reflects a belief, or honours a tradition. Fashion is viewed as an extension of identity, with colours, fabrics, and adornments chosen to communicate not wealth, but purpose. A Scion's attire often reveals their Order, vocation, achievements, or personal philosophy long before they speak.
Despite these differences, certain principles remain universal. Scion clothing favours flowing lines, layered fabrics, and elegant tailoring that allows freedom of movement. Robes, cloaks, fitted tunics, and long coats are common, often embroidered with intricate patterns inspired by nature, celestial bodies, or ancient runes. Precious metals and gemstones are worn sparingly, valued more for symbolism than extravagance.
=== Order of Harmony ===
Members of the Order of Harmony favour refined, formal clothing that reflects discipline and authority. Long ceremonial robes, tailored coats, and flowing capes are common, often decorated with gold thread and geometric embroidery representing order and balance. Their colours tend towards white, ivory, royal blue, and gold, reinforcing their connection to governance and divine stewardship.
To them, appearance is a reflection of responsibility. A poorly maintained uniform is seen as a failure of discipline, while immaculate presentation demonstrates respect for both oneself and those being served.
=== Order of Urbanites ===
Urbanites dress for practicality without abandoning elegance. Their clothing is well made but functional, suited to moving easily through busy streets, workshops, and marketplaces. Earthy colours, leather accessories, layered garments, and durable fabrics are common, allowing them to blend comfortably among the people they serve.
Unlike many other Orders, Urbanites often adopt local fashions from the settlements they visit, believing that understanding a people begins with living as they do. It is not uncommon to see an Urbanite wearing garments influenced by Human, Dworn, or even Orukar cultures alongside traditional Scion craftsmanship.
=== Order of Masks ===
No Order possesses a more recognisable style than the Masks. Every member wears a crafted mask, each unique to its owner and deeply symbolic. Some are carved from polished wood, others forged from metal, shaped from porcelain, or woven from enchanted fibres. The mask becomes their public identity, while the face beneath is revealed only to those they trust completely.
Their clothing favours muted colours, layered cloaks, fitted leathers, and garments designed for concealment and mobility. Deep greys, blacks, dark greens, and weathered browns dominate their attire, allowing them to disappear into shadows or wilderness with equal ease.
=== Order of Nomads ===
Nomads dress for travel above all else. Their clothing is lightweight, durable, and adaptable to changing climates. Long coats, scarves, weatherproof cloaks, and layered travelling garments are common, often reinforced with hidden pockets and practical fastenings for maps, journals, and tools gathered throughout their journeys.
Their attire frequently incorporates materials collected from distant lands, making no two Nomads look quite alike. Feathers, shells, rare fabrics, carved bone, and foreign jewellery are worn not as trophies, but as reminders of places visited and stories lived.
=== Order of Burials ===
The Order of Burials wears garments that reflect humility and remembrance. Dark robes, ash-grey cloaks, and simple ceremonial vestments dominate their wardrobes, often trimmed with silver embroidery representing the cycle of life, death, and memory. Ornamentation is restrained, each piece carrying personal or spiritual significance rather than decorative excess.
Members of the Order often wear heirlooms belonging to departed mentors or family members, believing that carrying these keeps the memory of the dead alive among the living.
=== Order of Eternal War ===
Function defines the clothing of the Eternal War. Armour is worn whenever practical, supplemented by heavy cloaks, reinforced leathers, and garments built to endure long campaigns and harsh environments. Their colours are subdued, favouring dark blues, greys, blacks, and muted reds that reflect both discipline and readiness.
Decorations are earned rather than inherited. Every medal, engraved plate, or stitched emblem represents a campaign survived, a life saved, or an oath fulfilled.


=== Hair and Fabric Rites ===
=== Hair and Fabric Rites ===