Adytum

Adytum by definition is: a sacred place that the public was forbidden to enter; an inner shrine

For the Brotherhood an adytum is the gathering halls of the brethren. For the major gathering in cities or regions where The Brotherhood has a strong following an adytum is in itself a great hall and important shrine. This is where one will find the officials of the Pact. In rural areas or regions where the Brotherhood is gaining hold the adytum may be as simple as a brother's home that acts as a meeting hall. Any given adytum will have at least one dedicated protector or guardian. As the adytum grows so does the number of dedicated guardians. These guardians are known as Zuijin and they well battle to the death to protect their sacred grounds. The Zuijins are supported by the Therons. Therons are not restricted to protecting an adytum but are commissioned to protect the secrets of the Brotherhood. "They clean-up problems."

Zuijin and Theron will be worked out in a future compendium. The current plan is for them to be a modified class for the brotherhood...

Carvers' Depot

A one stop shop for all you lumber and hardware needs.

The Brotherhood of the Pact & The Carvers' have a chain of lumber yards throughout the Heldannic Confederation. Many of these lumber yards have been in operations for generations. As the Carver Guild spreads so will the "Carvers' Depot"

Educational Institutions

Along with the Guilds, the Brotherhood has and continues to establish or support institutions of formal education. The main purpose for supporting education throughout the reach of the Brotherhood is to improve the overall conditions of life and to better educate their brethren and their own children. The Brotherhood also actively recruit from these schools. They act as a training and proving ground from which the Brotherhood can pull the best candidates.

Guilds of the Pact

The Brotherhood of the Pact is a social organization, it draws its members from all rank and file. This leads to most trades and crafts being able to organize within the Pact. Grand Master Amalric has always acted to support this aspect of the Brotherhood and he pushes it to grow.

Below is a list of guilds and planned guild of the Brotherhood. Those that have been flushed out at all will have their own page/s. Also some of these may never be completely flushed out because of their unlikelihood of ever being used by players. In these cases they are here mainly for GMs and possible pbp games.

Guilds in progress
~Bakers: An organization of food-makers. Specifically those who make baked goods but most and brethren chef is welcome.

~Bowyers (Boyers): The Design & Production of bows. These are the craftsman's counter part to Kyudo also within this organization is a smaller specialization of Fletchers.

~Carpenters: Those who build from wood. The woodsman's counter part of the Macians.

~Carvers

~Ceolsige

~Cobblers: Shoe & boot makers.

~Combatants: An organization of trained fighters. These are the martial artists.

~Distillers: Producers of distilled goods. Mostly alcohol for consumption but also other distilled products. Each major alcohol group will have an organization within this heading. Examples would be vodka, whiskey, beer, wine, and gin. There are far more then that.

~Kyudo

~Macian

~Smiths: The umbrella in which all of the smithing sub:groups will fall. Examples are blacksmiths, armorsmiths, bladesmiths, jewelers, etc.

~Thanian

~Wizards: Another large group composed of sub-groups of the Brotherhood. This group is composed of those trained in the magical or mystical arts.

*Designers notes, all of the guilds of the Pact have insignia that is based on the triple horn of the Brotherhood. If one has not yet been described by me and you (GM) would like to use that portion of the guild please make sure that the triple horn is part of the insignias description. In practice the insignia have been the triple horn and a tool or tools of the trade in question. I can not see me breaking from this tradition because it is both practical and functional. Many NPC & PC of Midian are illiterate and live their lives based on understanding symbols. Common symbols of a trade are often the tools used. This would make a great functional purpose for the insignias of the Pact.

The Brotherhood and Blood-Bonding

Brotherhood & Blood-bonding
All ritual combat within the Pact continues the practice of the blood bonding ritual. When a new member joins the Pact they start with the standard -12 penalty on a willpower check to harm the Pact or a Brother. This protection extends to ordering, paying or even suggesting another to harm the Pact. The Pact itself is comprised of the Brethren, their homes & families, the adytum’s, or other structures of the Pact. Additionally continuous involvement with blood-bonding through ritual combat increases the penalty, one point per even degree.

The Teachings of the Brotherhood.

The Teachings of the Brotherhood

The Pact is accepting of any/all religion as long as they do not conflict with our own teachings. Our Deacons & Chaplains are well versed with various Religions. They avoid conflicting directly with the practices of our Brethren.

What we teach, is from an ancient text. These writing are practiced & passed down through the Brotherhood and an understanding of it is defining character of all brethren.

The Art of War
• War is a matter of vital importance to the state; the province of life or death; the road to survival or ruin. It is mandatory that it be thoroughly studied.
• All warfare is based on deception.
• Victory is the main object in war. If this is long delayed, weapons are blunted and morale depressed. When troops attack cities, their strength will be exhausted.
• For there has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefited.
• Generally in war the best policy is to take a state intact; to ruin it is inferior to this.
• To capture the enemy’s army is better than to destroy it; to take intact a battalion, a company or a five-man squad is better then to destroy them.
• Treat the captives well, and care for them.
• To subdue the enemy without fighting is acme of skill.
• Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy’s strategy.
• Invincibility lies in defense; the possibility of victory in the attack.
• One defends when his strength is inadequate; he attacks when it is abundant.
• When torrential water tosses boulders, it is because of its momentum;
• When the strike of a hawk breaks the body of its prey, it is because of timing.
• Thus the momentum of one skilled in war is overwhelming, and his attack precisely regulated.
• When the enemy is at ease, be able to weary him; when well fed, to starve him; when at rest, to make him move.
• He whose advance is irresistible plunges into his enemy’s weak position; he who in withdrawal cannot be pursued moves so swiftly that he cannot be overtaken.
• As water has no constant form, there are in war no constant conditions.
• Those who do not use local guides are unable to obtain the advantages of the ground.
• In war, numbers alone confer no advantage. Do not advance on sheer military power.

These are but a few of the ancient Teaching. Our Brethren are thought all of the tactics of “The Art of War.”

Zuijin: Guardian Class

You are assigned to an Adytum which acts as your home. The position is an unpaid post but all of your physical needs are met by the Adytum. The Adytum and the surrounding land becomes you home terrain over the course of the year of training. This becomes a tactical advantage when fighting off outsiders. The post has great benefits but restricts your “freedom” to roam. Your post is a minimum of one year after which one can resign their post, extend the post, or apply for a transfer to another Adytum. All “home terrain” bonuses are lost upon resignation of post. In case of transfer the bonuses are lost but regained over the course of 6 months.

Zuijin:
Training time: 12 months + first year assignment
Skill cost: 16

Requirements:
Brotherhood of the Pact
Minimum Strength: 15
Minimum Will: 12

Bonus backgrounds:
Familiar with Area
Less Sleep II

Bonus traits:
Alert
Heightened Hearing
Light Sleeper

Bonus equipment:
Light Leather Armor
One regular weapon of choice

Skills:
Alertness
Brawling
Disappear
Dodge
Glare
Graceful Avoidance
Hiding
Instant Stand
Melee Weapon IV (select one)
Power Block
Quick Blade
Rear Defense
Sentinel Removal
Sneaking
Take It Like a Man
Wayfarer: Apprentice
Wrestling

Level bonuses:

2. New Skill: Statue
3. Status: Guard. (+2 to initiative on home terrain)
4. +2 to all martial proficiencies
5. +4 to cause fear & intimidation
6. Status: Guardian. (+2 initiative, hit, & damage on home terrain)
7. +1 interrupt, +1D4 hit points
8. Skill: Predation,
9. +1D6 hit points. (+2 initiative, parry, hit, & damage on home terrain)
10. Darksight: can see in darkness, smoke, fog, and magical blindness
11. Signature Combat Move
12. +2 to all proficiencies. (+2 initiative, parry, dodge, hit, & damage on home terrain)
13. Skill: Disappear Advance
14. +1D8 hit points
15. Double damage when on home terrain

Each additional level: +1 hit point
Each additional even level: +1 to all class proficiencies