Category:Ensigerum

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Revision as of 23:31, 11 November 2007

The Ensigerum Order is an order of super-powerful time-ninjas living in a village somewhere in northeastern Veracia. They are aligned with the Veracian Church as a matter of expediency, although their first priority is assuring survival of the village. Most of the monks use time magic and enhancements to do their work, much to the annoyance of Imperatrix Anita.

It is tradition for initiates pulled from outside the village to undergo a test of loyalty, to make sure that when push comes to shove they're shoving with the order and not against it. The tests range from the murder of a relative to a simple visit to one's hometown to see if an initiate tries to speak with an old friend or family member. In recent times the tradition has fallen out of practice due to the sheer glut of outsider initiates, but Sara has been set up so perfectly for such a test that some of the upper monks just can't let the opportunity pass.

Contents 1 History 2 Capabilities 3 Ranks 4 Known Members 5 Weapons

History

According to themselves, their order is incredibly ancient and predates just about all other existing human power groups. This turned out to be false when Tsuirakushiti was revealed. Nevertheless, the Ensigerum Village is possibly the oldest human-only settlement on the continent of Veracia. They seem to have been shaping their world to their whims, though in minor ways, for over a thousand years.

Ensigerum refers to both, the village and the Order of the monks. The Ensigerum Village was created when the Ensigerum Order was expelled from the Elven Territories along with the rest of the humans living there. Ergo, the Village is not much more than 1000 years old. Tsuirakushiti is much older than the Ensigerum Village.

Capabilities

The Ensigerum Order are also known as Time Ninjas, Time Mages, or Time Monks due to a unique magic trick that allows them to move in accelerated time. This gives them a decided advantage in most combat situations. Of these, the second, Time Mage, is probably the most accurate as they are Mages and are able to use basic magic like any other mage. It is questionable that their magecraft, outside of time magic, is the equivalent of a Tsuirakuan Arch Mage, as Tsuiraku has elevated the art of magic to, at least, a technology, whereas the Ensigerum Order has been focusing all their efforts to develop combat skills, Durus Flamma, and time magic, to the exclusion of most else.

In addition to time magic, Ensigerum monks have been seen to cast something like a Force Bolt in two sequences: the combat with the trolls (where it's cast by Sara Amraphel), and in the chambers of the Veracian Church, when the disguised Sandel uses it for an effective magical back-stab. Monks have also cast Healing spells from time to time. Other spellcasting capabilities among the Ensigerum aren't clear yet.

Ranks

The Ensigerum has a hierarchical system for designating standing in the village. Known ranks, from top to bottom, are:

• Imperator/Imperatrix (big enchilada: absolute ruler of the Order)
• Monk
• Novice
• Initiate

There are probably others, or at least sub-ranks of Monk; not all of the Monks seem to have the same standing and prestige. At the very least, Paul gets to wear a slightly fancier robe than the other Monks do. However, if he has some rank other than Monk, we don't know what it is. It isn't known what advantage there is to a Novice in being elevated to Monk status, but it's important enough to have become a significant plot point.

Known Members

• Anita
• Chris (initiate)
• Correl (deceased)
• Paul
• Sandel
• Sara Amraphel (recently parted from the Order)
• Warrel (deceased -- recently)

Other, unnamed members of the order are seen in sequences starting here, here, here, here, and here.

Weapons

Most Ensigerum members use Lancea weapons, a type of long hilted sword or pole arm tipped with a Durus Flamma blade, when on missions. Other types of Durus Flamma weapons (Dolon and Spatha) are also used by some members. However, they commonly practice with blunt look-alike weapons. Note that when Sandel shows up in his role as spy in the Veracian Church, he's using the same sorts of weapons as the other guards (although not very frequently, to hear his boss tell it), so he, at least, has some degree of proficiency with weapons other than the usual Ensigerum arsenal.