**Type:** Martial Order **Founded:** Year 7000 B.A., during the First Age of Solare **Headquarters:** [[The Green Citadel|Green Citadel]], South Angoria **Motto:** _"Ingwer in Erbin Bid"_ — _"Truth and Honor Against the World"_ --- ### Origin and Legacy The Bronze Warriors were forged in an age of chaos, when Solare teetered on the brink of darkness. In 7000 B.A., during the Age of the First Trials, the Great God chose a band of mortals to face the Dark Wizard, a sorcerer whose power threatened the world’s end. These chosen few were not just warriors—they were **champions of divine purpose**, each selected to embody a sacred virtue: courage, wisdom, loyalty, and honor. Led by **Justin McCloud**, a visionary leader, the founding group included: - **Chi the Priest** – a healer and spiritual guide. - **Death Walker and Ryu Walker** – twins, one a mage the other a martial champion. - **[[Perserphina]]** – a rogue-monk who danced between shadow and virtue. They were gifted enchanted bronze medallions—symbols of their sacred mission—and thus became known as the **Bronze Warriors**. After their victory over the Dark Wizard, the group laid the foundations of an enduring knightly order. What began as a fellowship of five became a continent-spanning institution—one bound by sacred oaths, divine legacy, and relentless service to justice. --- ### The Oath of Justin Penned in 6998 B.A., the **Oath of Justin** is the immutable creed that binds all Bronze Warriors. A warrior is measured not by might, but by virtue. **Core Tenets of the Oath:** - **Wisdom and Honor:** Think before you act. Justice without restraint becomes vengeance. - **Uphold Justice:** Do not turn from evil. Seek out injustice and set it right. - **Protect the Weak:** Your sword belongs first to the helpless. - **Loyalty and Brotherhood:** To break faith with your brother is to break faith with the order. - **Sacrifice:** Dedicate your wealth, strength, and time to bettering the world. Failure to uphold these ideals may result in a **Trial of Honor**, where the knight’s future in the order is decided by peers. --- ### Organizational Structure - **Grand Master of the Bronze** – Resides in Euthoria Palace in South Angoria, both spiritual leader and supreme commander. - **High Warrior** – Oversees military deployments across Solare and coordinates with other kingdoms. - **[[Council of Knights]]** – A convening of High Lords and Commanders; it meets only in times of great crisis. - **Knightly Ranks:** Squire → Defender → Knight → Scepter → Shield → Lord → Master → High Lord → High Warrior Each regional kingdom with a Bronze Knight presence is led by a **Lord Commander**, who enforces the Oath of Justice and coordinates with secular rulers. --- ### Modern Role in Solare In the current era (10,123 A.R.), the Bronze Warriors are no longer mere soldiers. They are **arbiters, protectors, and divine agents** walking among mortals. **They serve as:** - **Mediators:** Resolving disputes between kingdoms. - **Advisors:** Guiding rulers toward justice and lawful governance. - **Defenders of Magic:** Maintaining balance between the Sanctum of Echoing Eternity and rogue arcane factions. - **Guardians of the People:** Traveling “Bronze Sentinels” serve in remote villages or walk alone, helping those in need. Despite their revered role, the order faces threats: - Internal corruption. - Conflicts with the [[Dark Consortium]] and [[Black Cloaks|Black Cloak Guild]]. - A growing critique that their **rigid traditionalism** hinders necessary adaptation in a changing world. --- ### Sacred Relics of the Order - **Medallions of Protection:** Every Bronze Warrior receives one—enchanted against harm and symbolic of their bond to the Great God. - **[[The Knight Warrior Sword]]:** Once wielded by Justin McCloud, this holy avenger heals, shields, and devastates foes with divine fire. - **The Banner of Justice:** A holy relic carried into battle, its presence instills courage and magnifies the might of allies beneath it. --- ### Relations with Other Factions - **[[The Wizards Conclave|Wizards Conclave]]:** Respected but watched closely. The Bronze Warriors act independently to avoid undue arcane influence. - **The [[Dark Consortium]]:** Considered the greatest threat to Solare’s moral and political balance. - **The [[Black Cloaks|Black Cloak Guild]]:** A criminal enemy of justice, frequently dismantled by Bronze Sentinels. #### Kingdom Relations - In **South Angoria**, they are deeply entrenched and respected, functioning like a sovereign order with their own courts and fortresses. - In **Brensistria**, they operate as **advisors and judges**, respected for their incorruptibility. - In **Askaria**, their presence is suppressed. The Empire views them as a threat to its authoritarian rule, and Bronze Knights are often hunted or forced into exile. - In **Polaria**, the order partners with the **Dragon Warriors**, acting as battlefield commanders and arbiters during wartime. #### Peacekeeping and Justice Outside of war, the Bronze Warriors mediate disputes, investigate injustices, and protect those in need. In rural regions, they are revered as folk heroes. Some even **wander alone** as "Bronze Sentinels," traveling from village to village and offering aid. #### Cultural Influence The Bronze Warriors have a near-religious following among some cultures. Their **crests and medallions** are believed to ward off corruption and evil. Their **rites of initiation** are seen as sacred rituals, often including fasts, oaths by firelight, and visions granted by divine forces. #### Recent Conflicts - **The Forsworn Rebellion (10,099 A.R.):** A splinter group of corrupted knights who abandoned the oath and sided with Askaria. Purged in a brutal campaign led by High Warrior Ryland Voss. - **The Dimming Star Crisis (10,110 A.R.):** When a celestial omen foretold mass corruption among the knightly orders, it was the Bronze Warriors who led the investigation and prevented several planned assassinations of good-aligned rulers. --- ### Cultural Significance and Traditions **Symbolism:** Their bronze armor symbolizes both strength and humility—less flashy than gold, but no less resilient. **Traditions Include:** - **Oathfire Rite:** Initiates cast aside their former lives in a fire ceremony before becoming full knights. - **Blade Vow:** Once a Bronze Warrior draws their blade for justice, they must not sheath it until balance is restored. - **Council Tribunal:** Formal gatherings where honor, strategy, or judgment is discussed among ranks. --- ### Final Notes The Bronze Warriors are not simply a military order—they are a **living myth**, a moral compass in a world teetering between light and shadow. They represent what is best in mortal hearts, tempered by divine will, and devoted eternally to a cause higher than themselves.