The Veiled Guard stands in direct opposition to the undeath of al-Shhubus, and is an order of clerics, druids, and rangers that protect the Kav’orra Desert from the Undead Wastes. Formed many centuries ago by Mahataraja Rakash II, they are faithful followers of the goddess of the afterlives Therahti. They protect the “veil” between the world of the living and the afterlife, and seek to destroy any undead that may come their way. They operate out of the Veiled Wall, a series of black marble forts constructed in a line to the north of Mem’mala that form a wall that connects the Km’mala Peaks to the lone Ablunaa Parbat, separating the Kav’orra Desert from the Undead Sands of al-Fahim. These qilas and the order as a whole are technically vassals to House Mathii of Mem’mala, but the city has never exerted much control over the wall and simply keeps them supplied with food and resources. While most of the members patrol the wall, some are regularly sent out into the eastern lifeless desert to patrol the sands beyond the wall. Few are further sent to the Vurmark Raj to join their patrols as well.
An ashtadharmic religious order, its members wear purple-black armor and cover their heads with veiled masks when possible, although it is not a requirement to do so. Their weapon of choice is the bident to mirror their goddess, but many members choose their own weapons and fighting styles. While the Veiled Guard regularly see combat with individual undead and would-be dread lords, they have never seen true war against the forces of al-Shhubus. While it is a religious order and the members take a vow to not marry or have children, the members of the order are not forbidden from leaving occasionally or visiting their families back home. They are even allowed to visit the brothels of nearby cities, so long as they do not sire any children. Unlike some other religious orders, the Guard accepts women and other genders as well, although it is still two-thirds staffed by men.
The relatively open nature of the order unfortunately does mean that many of its members easily subvert the rules. Defectors are punished severely though, and have a bad reputation across the Kav’orra. Criminals are forbidden from joining the order, as they only want those who are truly devoted to Therahti and their goals. This unfortunately reduces the manpower of the Guard significantly, and many senior members are seen recruiting at the temples within the major cities. The size of the guard has decreased significantly from the height of their founding, and it's believed that there are anywhere from two-hundred to three-hundred guards within the order in the present day. Not a small number, but minuscule in front of the legions of undead should they ever try to invade en-masse. Members of the order are often invited to Ashrest celebrations across the Kav’orra to perform the rituals of Therahti and recruit new members for the order, to varying degrees of success depending on the city and other conditions like impending war.
Goals
The Veiled Guard is loyal to the Mahataraja as well as their liege the Raja of Mem’mala, and stands against the undeath of al-Shhubus. They are ordered to keep out any and all undead from entering the Kav’orra Desert, and not take any political sides. Another one of their goals is to further the worship of Therahti, and to give proper funerary rites to everyone while destroying undeath wherever they see it, even if they are visiting some other location.
Criminals are forbidden from joining the order, as they only want those who are truly devoted to Therahti and their goals. This unfortunately reduces the manpower of the Guard significantly, and many senior members are seen recruiting at the temples within the major cities.
Relationships
The Guard are to remain neutral in any internal matters of the Hukumat. Despite their vassalage to House Mathii and orders from the Mahataraja, they are never to take any sides in any civil wars or internal fights. With that being said, some individual members of the order sometimes work as mercenaries by taking bribes under-the-table.
They do have a long-standing relationship with House Rakhaa of Janaghat, who are also devout followers of Therahti. Many of the recruits that man the forts are sent to them from Janaghat, and quite a few members of House Rakhaa have served as the Rakhpati of the Veiled Guard.
Ranks
Characters belonging to the Veiled Guard use the following background:
Ability Scores: Choose any +2; choose any other +1
Origin Feat: Death Slayer
Skill Proficiencies: Your choice of two of the following: Perception, Religion, or Survival
Tool Proficiency: Herbalism Kit
Equipment: Choose A or B: (A) Veiled Amulet, Chakram, Guard’s Clothes, Spyglass, Lamp, Pouch, 5 GP; or (B) 50 GP
You are, or were, a member of the Veiled Guard who protect the Kav’orra Desert from the Undead Sands. You are recognised as a current member of the Guard anywhere you go, and are recognized as a faithful follower of Therahti. If you are a former member of the order, you are instead seen as a traitor and someone who broke religious vows.
Death Slayer (Background Origin Feat). As someone trained by the Veiled Guard, you gain the following features:
Whenever you roll Initiative and are not Surprised, you gain Advantage on your Initiative roll.
Whenever you deal damage to Undead creatures with a weapon or cantrip, you deal additional damage of the same type equal to your Proficiency Bonus.
Members
The known members are:
History
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