The Order of the Mantis - a way of life...

Deities: Valen and the Valaar
Alignment: Fellowship of the Heavenly Road

[ The following information comes from Galen of the Mantis - "one among many" - Emissary of Valen. You might also want to visit the Crosseye Tavern and listen to the "Legend of the Valaar" ]

"The Order of the Mantis is a group of like minded individuals in the North who study the Valaar - a group of ancient mystics who possessed strange magickal powers. By combining the power of all the Elements of magick the Valaar were able to unite the lands in a reign of peace and prosperity - each Element exactly balancing the others - Shadow and Light, Water and Fire, Earth and Air. The most powerful of the Valaar was a man known as Valen - he was one of the few who could wield both the powers of magick and the powers of spirit - choosing the Element of Light and the path of the Fellowship of the Heavenly Road. He was offset by Kaleth - a shadowy figure who could wield the Element of Shadow and followed the path of the Court of the Eternal Wheel. Yet a seed of corruption grew in the heart of Kaleth, who being not so strong as Valen sought to gain more power for himself.

"Unbeknown to Valen, Kaleth gathered together a force of dark knights named the Knights of the Ariadæ Loren. With these Knights of Darkness he rode against Valen and the Valaar. Unsuspecting of this treachery, many of the Valaar were slain and it was only in a desperate final stand that the remaining few Valaar managed to defeat Kaleth. However, in performing the ritual of banishment the most powerful of the Valaar - Valen of the Light, Iellessar of the Mountains, Eilawen of the Sea, Therma of the Flame and Sirius of the Wind - gave up their mortal forms and ascended to another Plane of existence.

"There they have wandered empty and homeless for time upon time, waiting for the day when the bonds would grow weary and Kaleth would again return to the mortal Plane.

"The Mantis are those people descended from the first servants and apprentices of the Valaar. They keep the old traditions and the old ways, many of which have departed with the sands of time. They know of Kaleth and the Knights of the Ariadæ Loren and they wait for the time when the Valaar will return. All of the Mantis study the art of war, of which there are four main teachings:

• The Way of the Bear - those who would study the art of hand to hand fighting - "To fight like the bear - strong and deadly, swift and true".
• The Way of the Scorpion - those who study the arts of knowledge - "To know one's foe and to strike when they least expect - swift and subtle".
• The Way of the Dragon - those who learn to channel the magicks of the Dragons of Light, Earth, Air, Fire and Water.
• The Way of the Moon - those who bring blessings, even to the most forsaken places, and hope to the spirits of the world - they are the priests of the Mantis.

"It is inevitable that although strong in both heart and mind those who study the Valaar and follow the Mantis will never come close to those they strive to protect. The age of legends, when the Valaar performed deeds at whim that today would seem miraculous, is now far gone. The Mantis are a pale immitation of their masters' former selves but may yet prove to be key if once again the Knights of the Ariadæ Loren walk the land.

"To find your true self and your true path is the preaching of the Valaar. This is the lore of the Mantis. All who are sure of heart and mind may join regardless of previous religious affiliation, actions or deeds (or present comittments, Guild memberships and the like). We ask only that you aid the Valaar when the time arrives and that you strive to follow the Order of the Mantis as it was laid down by Valen. You are all Emissaries of Valen - act as he would have wished.

"No alcoholic or other stimulant based substances are permitted to be consumed. No one of blackened heart is permitted to be of the Mantis - one must always be wary - the Ariadæ Loren may yet walk the earth..."