Prologue

The Order of Thorenheld’s Acumen is an ancient organization of the church founded by Reverend Father Danar Rotansin after the fall of the Empire.  The order was created in what are called "the young days of the church" when the world was left in chaos after the sudden fall of the Empire by the death of the A'trus and the church, even the basic tenants of the faith, were first becoming known to the world.  With the Empire crumbling and the wizards who once held power dead or in flight, their relics of magic were often left behind and sometimes put to devious use by those with heretical ambitions.  The Order was created to fight those with such malicious intent as well as collect and destroy the items of the Empire. 

As the first century of the church passed the world saw many changes.  Several human generations passed and the evil of the Empire was starting to become memory.  The Order found their work transform as did their organization: while it remained on to continue the work, another order formed with much the same function but with an uncompromising and less flexible interpretation of Danar Rotansin's goals.  This second order became the Illuminators and flourishes to this day as the sentinels against corruption within the church as well as external enemies of the faith.  However, the Order continue to exist although as more of a "fringe" of the church, mostly forgotten and ignored. 

Those of The Order of Thorenheld’s Acumen are what would be considered a more liberal order of the church by those within the church, if they paused to give it any thought (which is unlikely).  None aspire to join the Order as its duties revolve around the maintenance of a few shrines and vaults of old worthless artifacts: in short, the Order is little more than a glorified group of watchmen.  Those of the church assigned to this task are generally either of two categories: those that are generally young and without enough stature to avoid a short stint in Greytower as a stepping stone to more illustrious positions elsewhere, those who have made political enemies within the church, or those who have...well, embarrassed the church is too strong of a word, but suffice to say that those who lack the talents to be useful elsewhere are often assigned to the Order. 

Unlike the Illuminators and most of the church in general, the Order considers the possibility that those with sorcerer's blood in their veins, or those of full-blooded elvish descent (and perhaps even...gnomes?) might be redeemable and that just perhaps their talents could be used to continue the Order's original mission.   In the city of Greytower, the Order's mission is to safeguard a small cache of Imperial relics kept safe in the vaults of the Temple of Thorenheld, the largest church of the city.  Essentially a guard duty of little interest or excitement.  The only thing that sets the order apart is this acceptance of what the church in general would consider "heretical elements" with more than just a note of distaste. 

Father Fabitor Thisk

Journeyman Sage Jevicca Norr

The local leader of the Order, Father Fabitor Thisk (Human Male, Cleric of the Reliquis Faith), is a man of very limited resources and influence in the church at large.  One benefit is that the hierarchy is intent on leaving him to his own devices and largely ignored.  Fabitor has decided to use this to his advantage to solve on of this problems: that is, of being a man of limited resources and personnel to call upon, he has initiated a quiet relationship with the semi-secret organization known as The Sages.  This is a group of arcane wizards and sorcerers that work quietly for the good of the duchy with the tenuous acceptance of the church: more specifically, the church "overlooks" the organization as a part of its relationship with Duke Sebastian Finn (the leader of Falconmoor) if its members keep a low profile and routinely purchase Indulgences (basically edicts that allow a person to ignore a certain teaching of the church for a limited duration of time). 

The Sages are very eager to stay on good terms with the church.  When Fabitor brought the possibility that he would be willing to work with a few individuals from the Sages for the good of the church, the Sages quickly agreed.  Journeyman Sage Jevicca Norr (Human Female, Wizard of the Sages) was assigned as a liaison to Father Thisk and ordered to assist him however possible.  Furthermore, Duke Finn quietly passed along word that he would like to see this relationship blossom and offered the assistance of the duchy as well.  Perhaps he could assign one of his Heralds (an organization of skilled trouble-shooters and spies) to help, as well as report back on the progress of the union?

Fabitor was surprised by the warm reception, but quickly began to put together plans for ways in which he could best utilize the relationship for the good of the church: certainly there are old Imperial ruins that he could assign a team consisting of a few of those of his order as well as of the Sages and perhaps a Herald to explore.  This would provide them both experience as well as allow him to begin rebuilding the Order to continue on its original mission, not to mention give him the chance to show that those considered irredeemable to the church might have a place within the faith.  Lastly, such an arrangement if successful could provide him with a better group to help in the defense of those artifacts entrusted to the Order.

As he gathered together his new team for their first assignment, he learned that one of his order, a Paladin of Thorenheld named Kalerecent (Half-elf Male, Paladin of Thorenheld), whom he had assigned a minor task that probably did not mean anything of significance, was missing in Greytower.  Fabitor realized that he had a mission for his newly formed group, one that would allow them the chance to get to know each other without the possibility of any real danger: a perfect warm-up to something more of a challenge in a few ten-day perhaps...

Introduction for the Players

The Banewarrens will start with the first meeting of the party on the 11th of the Tomb (December) of the year 862 with both Father Fabitor Thisk and Journeyman Sage Jevicca Norr in attendance.  It would be most useful to have:

• At least one official representative of the church, of The Order of Thorenheld’s Acumen
• At least one representative of The Sages (primarily a sorcerer, wizard, or bard)
• At least one representative of the official duchy government (any other class)

All of the characters understand from their respective organizations that they are essentially being transferred to Father Thisk's "command" (if they are not already) for the duration of six months, minimum.  This first meeting might be the first time some characters have met either one of the two NPCs present.