## Symbol ![[lucent guard symbol.png]] The symbol of The Lucent Guard with their iconic crimson lanterns that cast a warding and banishing magic to protect from threats on this plane and others. ## People - [[Ishiru Civric]] ## History The Lucent Guard is a centuries-old faction of guardians against the horrors of the Underdark and extraplanar threats. The Guard is mostly active in [[Rakosa]] and [[Cirumbra]], having originally formed after two separate organizations based in either nation found a common purpose and goal: protecting their people from unnatural, malevolent forces. Today, the Lucent Guard operates out of its headquarters, [[Devabad]], in the mountains on the border between Rakosa and Cirumbra. The two factions that would eventually become the Lucent Guard started independently of each other but shared similar goals. In Rakosa, the Underguard was quickly formed to specialize in fighting the monsters and horrors in the Underdark after the Drow founded their capital city Visaerin roughly three hundred years pre-Schism. Their expertise grew over the years, as did their respect in Rakosan society. The original Cirumbran faction is younger by comparison. The Obilivion’s Call was created in the hundred or so years before the Schism as a resistance group against Orcus’ rule. The Oblivion’s Call would come into its own once the Schism was in full force as an elite group trained to fight demons and the undead. The Call played a major role in defeating Orcus and consequently gained much prestige in Cirumbra. One of their first major victories was liberating [[Umbara]], which would become Cirumbra’s capital city after [[Orcus]]’ defeat. The Underguard and Oblivion’s Call were aware of each other for many years and were on friendly terms but became more entwined during the Schism. As the entire mortal world was battling celestial, fiendish, elemental, and aberrant enemies, the Underguard and the Call began trading best practices and aided each other when possible.  During the height of the Schism, Merana Ko, a mage in Oblivion’s Call, created hemocraft by synthesizing traditional folk magics with practices she allegedly learned from the Baba Yaga. Blood magic gave The Call a needed edge over Orcus’ undead and fiendish armies, and The Call quickly shared hemocraft with The Underguard. The Underguard’s mages worked to adapt hemocraft to fighting monsters in the Underdark and extraplanar threats. These shared discoveries cemented the two organizations into a unified faction. Thus, the Lucent Guard was formed. Post-Schism, the Lucent Guard maintained high prestige in Rakosa and Cirumbra and built out their fortress headquarters in [[Devabad]]. While the Lucent Guard remains a well-respected organization in Rakosa, its reputation in Cirumbra soured over the years as the nation tried to move away from its association with Orcus and “fiendish” magic, which many consider hemocraft to be. Even though many members of the Lucent Guard don’t practice blood magic, their association with it has been damming nonetheless. Subsequently, The Lucent Guard maintains a shadowy presence in Umbara but moved most of its operations to [[Devabad]]. Today, the Lucent Guard is still called upon when their expertise is needed, usually by nations or powerful actors. They maintain an important but shadowy presence in Cirumbran and Rakosan affairs as these nations do not have a formal military arm trained to the level of the Lucent Guard. This provides the Guard with a quiet influence they’re known to leverage when needed. As protectors against otherworldly and undead enemies, they frequently send out scouts and intel-gatherers to keep tabs on possible threats within their sphere of influence. They attract warriors, mages, clerics, and scholars who dedicate their lives to warding mortals from the horrors beyond. Notable members of the Lucent Guard include Tyron Reishen and its current head, the High Beacon Andikh Orth. Their symbol is a crimson lantern styled after the crimson lanterns and lamps that adorn [[Devabad]]. Veterans of the Lucent Guard often carry crimson lanterns of their own that allow the user a free casting of Banishment and Turn Undead. They often go by the motto “Our light shines on the terrors within.” ## Organizational Structure The Lucent Guard is led by the High Beacon. Initiates are called Embers. Members who have finished their training and become fully initiated are known as Vigilants. More experienced members then attain the title Luxant. Those appointed to the command structure by the High Beacon are initiated into the Umbrist Division, commonly called the Umbrists. They are the officers of the Lucent Guard. The Lucent Guard also has three main areas of specialization. The Flamekeepers are the main warriors of the Guard. The Sentinals are expert infiltrators and scouts, using their skills to provide recon against enemies and gain intel across their sphere of influence. The Luminists are generally the mystics of the Guard, dedicating their time and training mainly to hemocraft.** ```dataviewjs await dv.view("TTRPG/_scripts/dm-page") ```