Order of the Smoldering Fist
The Order of the Smoldering Fist is a NPC organization created by The Bitter Coast Quest Guild for use in the ongoing Bitter Coast Quest Campaign, which has been told over several reigns.
A secretive organization, in which members ritualistically cut out their own tongues. Very little is known about their plans, or motives. What is known is that members who are encountered outside of the Order's hidden sanctuaries, are single-minded in obtaining their objectives, whatever those objectives may be, and show little fear.
HISTORY
As would be expected from a secret-society, little is truly known about the Order of the Smoldering Fist aside from rumors and hearsay. The agents of the Order are most often found by outsiders when tracking an individual, or item. The agents of the Order have been known to kidnap and steal in the past, and do so without reservation. The fate of those people who are taken is unknown, but many speculate they are horribly sacrificed to some dark entity, or perhaps forced to join the Order, and cut out their own tongues.
Members of the Order are recognized by their lack of a tongue, and chest-brand. It is assumed that members of the Order cut out their tongues in order to keep them from revealing anything about the Order. Those who are captured, and are forced to write, write in a language which is unknown to even the most scholarly sages. The symbols of the Order's language are as mysterious as the Order itself.
Although the Order's agents lack the ability to speak, they retain their ability to cast spells which normally require spoken words. This rare ability is assumed to be one of the secrets which the Order zealously seeks to keep, and makes the agents more deadly than they sometimes appear. Monks seem to be the most common class of Agent, but whether or not this is an indication that the Order is mainly composed of Monks, or that the Order prefers it's Monk members to act as their agents is unknown at this time.
In a recent incident, there was a Wizard of Goldenvale, who while being initiated into the Order, decided against joining their ranks at the last moment, when she would have to cut her tongue out. Using her magic, she enchanted a predominant statue in the ceremonial chamber, animated it into a Metal Golem, and fled to the Bitter Coast.
She arrived in the woods of the Fell Druid, being hunted by agents of the Order. After making a deal with the Druid, she gave him her Golem body-guard, and escaped. The agents of the Order did not pursue, but attacked the heroes of Bitter Coast, when they obtained the gem which acted as the heart and soul of the Metal Golem. The agents were all slain, and the Order has not overtly taken action against the Bitter Coast since that time.
They truly are a mystery.
More information
- Bitter Coast Quest Guild, The group responsible for Quests and Roleplaying events.
- A Map of the Bitter Coast, made using Campaign Cartography software
- The Bitter Coast Website website, complete with photo gallery, forum, and video section.
