The Sharyrdian Order, in its earliest days, was little more than a religious organization made of up of several dozen, maybe a hundred or more. Throughout its long history, it has grown into the most influential political and spiritual authority of Aeraesar and its various people. In this way, the Order serves multiple purposes.

Its first and primary purpose is given unto them: the teachings of the Patriarch and belief in the Celestial Pantheon, and to remember the Exodus and the Dark Ones. For this, they were to be a warrior priesthood, benevolent and powerful lovers of peace, and enforcers of righteousness. In these things the Order, and the Aerai as a people, are rather dogmatic about.

As such, the Sharyrdian Order as a denomination of Celestialism, albeit an independent one, upholds several important doctrines:

First and foremost, one's relationship with the god of their calling is a personal one. How one chooses to honour their god and the pantheon as a whole is for them to decide. This, however, is not without limitation.

The Order:

• teaches benevolence, with peace being a preferred resolution to conflict.
• teaches that peace is not often possible, and that one must always be ready to fight.
• teaches diligent mastery in all things. It does not expect one to master all things, but to be the master of a thing, or perhaps several.
• teaches to uphold rituals of personal and group prayer, and rejoicing; its Temples' doors are always open and festivals usually held with relative frequency in accordance with the stars, and signs in the sky.
• teaches each of the Spheres to uphold their own rituals, and even their own creeds.
• teaches to not only the be strong in body, but to be also strong in mind, and for as much time as they devote to their martial skills, to devote just as much to thoughtful meditation and the pursuit of knowledge, and understanding.
• teaches honour in combat, nobility with company and selflessness when the need calls for it.
• encourages co-operation with like minded individuals and entities.
• encourages romantic relationships within the Order.
• encourages pilgrimage to other Celestial temples throughout Arethil.
• encourages, predominately to its elven initiates, pilgrimage to Fal'Addas if given the chance, to see the ancestral city of all elf-kind.

The Order also:

• forbids and is in direct opposition to dark magic. Only the highest of their priests or most learned of their Order are permitted to explore any acquired knowledge.
• forbids and opposes malevolence, and violence inflicted upon innocence.
• forbids and opposes slavery of any thinking life.
• forbids the meddling in conflicts of others unless it aligns with their creed.
• forbids romantic relationships outside of the Order.
• forbids interaction with criminals or villains, unless necessary.
• forbids telepathic interaction with outsiders - exception is given to higher members.

As the government of Aeraesar and its people, the creeds and doctrines of the Order influence all of the Aerai from a young age, and are deeply rooted in Aerai culture.

The Order is broken into several different categories they refer to as Spheres of Appointment. Individual standing within these spheres is based on merit alone, however heredity can be an influence of some degree regarding the appointment of one's sphere.

The Lesser Spheres as they are called, refer to the spheres within those of the Edict, Nykios, or Ertie. Though they are referred to as "lesser spheres," this designation is as such only because they fall in under their greater sphere. For example, under the Sphere of Nykios is the lesser - the Sphere of Swords. There is also the Sphere of Shields, who also fall under that of Nykios, whose primary duty is to protect and defend the Temple. There are many Spheres of Appointment within the Order, all of which falling under the three greater spheres.

The Arbiters

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Of all of the Order's Spheres of Appointment, those under the Sphere of the Edict are the least numerous. They are comprised of the Order's most affluent sorcerers, most capable minds, and most affluent leaders and teachers. Though there are many titles under the umbrella of this sphere, and they are often referred to collectively as "the Arbiters," or "the Arbiter caste."

Their roles in the Order often overlap with one another's, with teachers, political leaders and priests all being looked to for guidance in all matters ranging from martial to spiritual. Often these individuals find themselves preforming the tasks of not just their own appointment but the appointments of the Sphere as a whole.

Most notably, falling under the Sphere of the Edict is the High Council.

The High Council is made up of of over a hundred individuals elected as Councilors. The Conclave, however, is the ruling council of the Order, consisting of twenty-four individuals regarded as High Councilors. As a whole, but primarily dictated by the Conclave, they maintain absolute authority over all the Order’s actions including all economical, political, and religious activity throughout Aeraesar. Councilors and High Councilors are regarded with a great deal of respect, and almost all of them maintain responsibilities outside their duties in leadership, serving in clergy or education and training as well.

During the eventide, nearly half of the sitting councilors perished, leaving the mantle to be taken up by, in some cases, far younger and less experienced individuals.

The Sons of Nykios

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The Sharyrdian Order follows the teachings of Astra, and all of the Celestial Pantheon, but none of them have been as influential on the Order as Nykios. The Aerai are a warrior people, and it is the ways of the warrior that they are taught from their earliest years. The Sphere of Nykios is by far the most vast of the Order's Spheres. That is largely because all Aerai are at their heart, from birth, born of this Sphere. But this warriorhood is not purely for the vanity of honour and glory, but for the upholding of the light and benevolence of their gods' teachings. Those who fall into these spheres are referred to as "The Sons or Daughters of Nykios."

The Swords are the Order’s most elite. These warriors are of a wide sort, ranging from among some of the most capable battlemages in all Arethil, to the deadliest assassins. The Swords are chosen from Aeraesarian children based on a specific criterion, and trained from childhood by the Order’s most gifted champions. While it is expected for them to be their most proficient warriors, perhaps more important is an acute connection with the Shoraes. The Swords are the Order’s most trusted, trained, and skilled agents, often sent abroad into the world to carry out the will of the Order. Unless in large groups, many joined Aeraesarians feel their connection to their collective consciousness fade over time with prolonged distance from the Shorai. Aeraesarians appointed as a Sword are chosen because they do not suffer from this, or they do over a quite prolonged period, which is the case for the majority of them. There are very few whose connection goes unhindered.

The Swords are comprised of a tiered system. There is the First Sword, who is the most proven of their sort, ranging down to the seventh tier. However, while there is only one First Sword, within each other tier there are many, ranging from a dozen to well into the hundreds.
Though it is said that the Sword's make up the Order's most capable warriors, the truest difference between the Spheres of the Swords and Shields is not necessarily in their combat ability. In fact, many who take up the mantle of Shield are just as if not more impressive than many of the Order's Swords. Those of the Shield, however, are far more receptive to working in much larger groups. The Shields, though having a primary duty to safeguard Aerai city's, and especially act as temple guards, they also make up the grand army of the Aerai. Swords, though capable of operating in larger groups, are far more accustomed to operating individually or in very small groups, whereas this is where Shields are at their best. While individually skillful, their ability to work so well with their brethren acts as a considerable multiplier in whatever trials they come against.

Like the Sphere of Swords, the Shields are comprised of a tiered system. However this one is far more vast and far more layered, but it follows a very similar arrangement.

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[W.I.P]

Since the conception of the Sharyrdian Order and the establishing of the Aerai, the Celestial Pantheon has remained at the heart of their spiritual faith. They observe each of the six major gods in their traditional arrangement, and often seek the favour of those aligning with their chosen paths in life. Regardless of this, however, there are none who fail to pay respect to Astra, and of course the most prominent to the order - Nykios, on a regular basis.

How one chooses to find favour in the godhood of their following is something that is both taught and discovered, and varies depending on whose teachings of the pantheon they follow. While the leading priesthood, and elders are benevolent guides, the Order teaches that one's path with the gods is a personal one. Mentors and friends can share experiences, their own ways of paying respects or worshipping, and communing with the gods, or seeking their guidance and strength. But ultimately one must establish their own faith, and lean only so much on the wisdom of others.

While it is rare for one to claim and truly believe to have heard the voice of a god, the Aerai look to the skies to see what they might tell them. The Order teaches that the Celestial Gods wage their timeless war against the Dark Ones there in the heavens above. Were it not for the gods' need to contain their evil there, they could walk on Arethil still. With this not being so, it is written that the gods arranged the stars for their people. It was written they arranged some to be guides in the night, for those who could see nothing else. It was also written that they arranged some to be guides toward the gods.

Over time, the Order identified six great lights in the night sky, and it is said that these lights represent their gods.

As a warrior culture, the Aerai as a whole observe Nykios to at least some degree regardless of their chosen path. In the eyes of the god of war, it is no doubt deemed favourable to be proficient in the arts of war. As such, it is not uncommon to find Aerai honing their combat abilities, or training their focus in meditation under a barrage of distraction. Those more dedicated to their martial prowess often do this far more often than most, some to the point of doing very little else at all.

The Aerai do not follow the path of the warrior simply for the sake of honour, and certainly not for the sake of glory. The Aerai warriorhood is a dedication to readiness in the face of evil and malevolence, and the preservation of the just and innocent. The Aerai warrior wields their strength, not in hopes that they might use it, but in hopes that they may never need it.

In recent times, however, living under the curses of dark and foul magics, the Aerai have become a more hardened people. While they still hold to their long upheld beliefs, they have become far less hesitant to reach for their sword.

As the Aerai, and by default the order, grew in number, the influence of their collective thoughts became more and more chaotic. Despite their best efforts, the more minds that joined together made it all the more difficult to direct and center ones own thoughts. It was through these trials that a number of rituals were deemed necessary for the greater good of the collective, strengthening and fortifying one's connection to it.

- For any who come to Sharyrdaes, it is custom to go first to the grand temple and make physical contact with the Shorai itself.

- Regular visits through the sub-conscious to the dream city.

- Participation in choir.

- In any Aerai temple, at any given time, the collective prompts a number of individuals to be ever present, joined in wordless, harmonious song. This perpetual choir, known as the Lindaerai, is said to be a humble interpretation of what the Aerai call the Shoraes' song - the overall presence of the collective. These choirs, it is said, despite their distance from one another, all sing in perfect synchronization, and it can be heard through all of the Shoraes. It is believed that this choir is a grounding force in the collective, acting as a conduit for imparted thoughts to flow upon.

- The preservation of one another, unless collectively deemed otherwise(with however many immediately present), is to be always held in the utmost regard. Though as warriors, an Aerai knows they are called to give their lives, they must do so not in the pursuit of glory, but only if they must for the sake of others.

Not only has the Shorai become something so deeply integrated into their society, even their oldest stories regard this object as a gift from the gods. Over time, their joyful gratitude for such a treasure turned to reverence, and many of the order's followers see the Shorai itself as something that is almost to be worshipped. While that is not quite the case, it is not uncommon for Aerai to feel something even akin to love, or even adoration when either thinking of, or beholding the Shorai. In fact, this is so common that the Aerai have a name for this, calling it lissë, meaning grace or favour.

W.I.P

W.I.P

Light in the Looming Shadow - The Sharyrdian Order calls for aid in liberating their nation, Aeraesar, from a lord of dark magic.

In the Moonless Night - While an army musters near the Aeraesarian border, Vailë leads a group of the Order's Swords and their allies to the ruins of Qárele, a once formidable Aerai Fortress.

What the Sword's For - Phyrra and Vailë, gifted Daughters of Nykios, dare the ruins of Aera Eäron, the Order's once great port city.

When the Faith Fails Us - the High Council gathers in session for the first time since the return of the Shoraes.

Children of the Veiled Sanctum - read a little about the Istoneth, Nolmo, and her role in the Order.

In the Listless Night - The Aerai people experience the return of their collective conscious, and come together in song and prayer at the temple in Sharyrdaes.

The Amalgamation - read a little about Erën leading a troop of his fellow Swords of the Order in the battle.

The Ancient Dweller - read a little about how Sharyrdian Swords operate with one another.

Friends of Old - The Sharyrdian Order send Erën, Aidathin, and Te'leis to greet and escort an envoy from one of the Order's long standing and most kindred allies to Sharyrdaes - The Knights of Anathaeum.