The Griffin of Vandemar
SACRED ORDER OF THE URSINE TEMPLE
- Intent: To create the first in a series of dark-themed knightly orders for an upcoming storyline.
- Image Credit: Skyrim, Nexus, The Witcher, Fortress
- Role: Military Order
- Permissions: N/A
- Links: Ultranaut Corps, Wolfguards, Hellhounds, Pyronauts, Military Order
- Unit Name: Sacred Order of the Ursine Temple [or Ursine Templars]
- Affiliation: Eternal Empire
- Classification: Heavy Melee Infantry, Knights
- Description: The Ursine Templars have been a reclusive society of veterans of the Eternal Army who chose not to enter civilian life after their service was concluded. Instead they followed the call of Baron Ursus of Silden, a former General of the Ultranauts who had retired in all honours but was restless still. Rebuilding the ancient fortress in the mountains above his hold, he called for those restless souls to join him. Now the iron-clad warriors of the Ursine Templars stand as a beacon of valor and warrior-honour, of martial discipline and unrelenting spirit. Choosing a bear as sigil and the coat of the largest non-human predator around to warm themselves, the Templars are known for their skill in melee combat and unshakeable battle-spirit. Sometimes acting as auxillary, sometimes as expeditionary force or even as honorific protectors of what were once the colonies of the Eternal Empire, they have acquired a noteworthy reputation, especially after they were sponsored and guided by a new mentor.
- Unit Size: Medium
- Unit Availability: Uncommon
- Unit Experience: Veteran
- Equipment:
- Armor:
- Weapons:
- Ursine Claymore
- Ursine Sword
- Nelvaanian Longsword
- Ranged: [In Armory, Not Regular Equipment]
- Utility:
- Transportation:
- Combat Function:
- Force Abilities: Non-Force User Unit
- Swordbrethren - The Ursine Order is very skilled in their use of melee weapons, especially swords, and will happily take on any enemy at blade-point.
- Dance of Bears - Through years of hard training and living together in harsh conditions, the brothers and sisters of the Templars are excellently coordinated when they fight together, even without active communication.
- Hug and Hook - If blade-point should prove too far, the members of the Order are well trained in hand to hand combat as well.
- Chaosbane - With their weapons and armor designed to fight apparitions of the Nether and Chaos, they are well suited to annihilate such threats.
- Ranged Weakness - As specialised melee infantry, they have strong deficits in fighting on open terrain against superior firepower and the latter overall.
- Tactically Unique - Again their specialisation does not make them very versatile in their deployment.
- Force Users - With no possibilities or capabilities to defend themselves against many Force attacks or even Lightsabers, they will have a hard time against Force users, especially units of them.
Fortress Ursus
The Sacred Order of the Ursus Temple was born.
A ponderous, pompous name some might say, but Lord Ursus did not consecrate the castle or order to himself, but to the ideal he offered and by a lack of imagination and fantasy, it simply was his name that he utilised. Also of note is that the prefix of 'Sacred' only appeared much later, but the history will get to that.
The Eternal Army had many soldiers under its command, hundreds of thousands and more during the height of the Eternal Empire. And many were not only serving with distinction, but were also wounded beyond recognition, physically and mentally. Some were serving for decades among their comrades, civilian life unknown to them. And to end up without purpose in life, without those who shared the hardship, the unimaginable pain and mayhem, was simply impossible to bear. The Order offered an alternative. Not only one, as it was not the only such institution which would arise.
The alternative was a close-knit brotherhood and sisterhood of warriors, comrades forged in wars fought, friends in hardships survived. Here there was a place where they could feel whole, where their life was their duty to their brethren. Where honour, valor and courage were only second to loyalty. Martial training, weapon drills, auxiliary and expeditionary deployments, peace-keeping - the tasks of the Order were never ending and one was never alone performing them.
Commemorating Heroes
in the Halls of Valor
in the Halls of Valor
Valkoryen Sunfell
, as well as techniques to counter enemies they were not aware of yet. It was also around this time that they were branded 'Sacred'. for their sacred duty towards serving soldiers even after their service. The Order held no membership or roster, it was a voluntary organisation and everyone could join and withdraw at their own making. It was common though that the active deployment was left for those in the fittest age and strongest shape, something which was always maintained among those who could and wanted. But age was not stopping at the cold gates of Fortress Ursus. Yet neither would anyone too old to fight be expelled, there was much need for wise veterans to help with active duty personnel, to train and lecture, just as there was need to help the souls lost among the people.
The Ursine Templars have declined in numbers simply due to the decline of the Eternal Empire, but have not lowered their standards or remained idle. Their gates are open for veterans and their arms ready to embrace those in need of a life among comrades. Their swords are sharpened, the armors polished as they await a time and war that will overshadow everything they have witnessed so far.
