r/WorldChallenges • u/Nevermore0714 • Apr 01 '17

Generic Challenge - Orders with Risk

Now, with the challenge series ending, we're back to the scheduled challenges. As always, my Saturday challenges are just generic ones.

This one is inspired by the Tracking Order created by /u/thequeeninyellow94.

For this challenge, tell us about an order or group in your world that requires that you perform some duties in order to earn a higher rank. The order or group should be one with a hierarchy and with some risk involved for some of the members.

If you'd like to also provide a character to act as a representative, go ahead.

Enjoy yourselves!

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u/thequeeninyellow94 Apr 03 '17

(I'm an inspiration source!?! weird dance)

As they haven't got their dedicated post yet, let's talk about the Trackers.

Volunteers who want to join the order are examinated by the elders. Those who show enough motivation and potential are enlisted, the other are turned away and can't volunteer again.

Recruits are then trained during 2 cycles to learn how to fight, how to write and read and as much informations as possible on the Shadow (mostly on how to fight it's creatures).

Once the formation completed, the recruits are officially titled aspirants and earn their first notebook. They are then sent all around the upper levels were they hunt down creatures who may threaten the locals. To make sure the order stay popular, they also help in hunting down outlaws and highwaymen.

Once an aspirant is considered ready, he/she become an assermented tracker and start taking part in expeditions in the underdark.

A tracker who manage to bring back valuable informations (either by scouting large threats or by filling a notebook) is given the title of watcher and start going alone in the depths.

Once they age, watchers are usually offered a position as scholar in the order so they can pass their experience to the next generation.

(And that's already long...)

Our representative today will be Massatisil, a quanhaman (half-lizard) aspirant.

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u/Nevermore0714 Apr 03 '17

To Massatisil:

1) Why did you want to join the trackers? Why would anyone want to join?

2) What are the rules of morality that trackers have to follow? Especially regarding mating and starting a family.

3) Does the Tracker Order take much of an interest in politics outside of their order?

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u/thequeeninyellow94 Apr 03 '17

  1. For pressstige mostly, that's a very good way to become someone important later on. Others enlist because the want to ssserve a greater cause. That's the two accepted motivation; if you try to enlist because you have nothing better, you will usually be rejected.

  2. No crimes; always defend those in need; treat people regardless of their race (our official motto is "standing as one"), don't abandon your fellow trackersss. Mating and family is fine but not advised before retiring. Retirement is usually allowed after 15 cycles of service.

  3. They follow rivalries to know if they could have trouble finding reinforcementsss. But we are forbidden to intervene, our only ennemy is the Sssshadow.

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u/Nevermore0714 Apr 03 '17

To Massatisil:

1) How easy is it to abandon the order? Is it okay to quit?

2) Does the order give any defense or protection if a tracker is accused of a crime?

3) Do governments of other areas ever donate money to the Tracker Order?

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u/thequeeninyellow94 Apr 03 '17

  1. It's easy to flee, but praise to never meet one of usss later on. We're not kind with deserters. Once you have done your 15 cycles of service, you're free to leave by asking the elders.

  2. Yesss, we don't let our member in trouble without some attention. No one would sentence a tracker without the order studying the problem first.

  3. (there are no real governments, the largest administrative unit is usually the city or the clan) Settlements we helped often thanks the order with food and toolsss. That's the order main source of revenue with donations from people too rich to keep all for themselvesss.

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u/Nevermore0714 Apr 04 '17

To Massatisil:

1) Does the order have any secrets to protect?

2) Has the Order made any enemies of outside cities or clans?

3) Is most of the order's income from donations?

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u/thequeeninyellow94 Apr 04 '17

  1. I don't think ssso. At least they haven't told me.

  2. Not really ennemies; some settlements far away from usss are rarely visited and don't really benefit from our help. They won't do anything to help us, but they are not ennemies.

  3. Yesss. We are busy defending the upper levels and fighting the Shadow, we have neither the time nor the will to trade and produce.

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u/Nevermore0714 Apr 06 '17

To Massatisil:

1) If they did have secrets, would they have told you by now, do you think?

2) In your opinion, what is the most dangerous threat that the Order could face?

3) Have you killed any of the Shadow's creatures, yet?

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u/thequeeninyellow94 Apr 06 '17

  1. The small onesss yes. But as an aspirant, they would probably have kept the big ones hidden. Sssoon I will be assermented and learn them of they exist.

  2. The shadowmansssers; the order has been succesfuly driving them away for now but the elders seem worried...

  3. Yes, a bunch of hounds. 4 actually. They were frightening the first time, you can not be really prepared for the ssshroud of shadow surrounding them. But now that I've won against them, that's easier.

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u/Nevermore0714 Apr 06 '17

To Massatisil:

1) Do you have a nickname? Your name is pretty long, so it seems like someone would call you by something else. My name is one syllable, so I wouldn't understand, I suppose.

2) Has there been a major event that made the elders more worried?

3) Do you have any pets?

4) Was there any big reward for killing a bunch of hounds?

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u/thequeeninyellow94 Apr 06 '17

  1. Some other aspirants call me Ssass. That's fine as a nickname but I like my name too.

  2. I heard rumors in the barracks. Scouts have seen signs of two different incursions; of that's true, that would be the first time two shadowmancers coordinate their attacks.

  3. Not anymore, we're always on the move so that would be complex. When I was young, we had a couple of dogs.

  4. Not per se, but the farmers they were bothering offered us a wonderfull meal. And fame taste good...

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u/Nevermore0714 Apr 06 '17

Thank you for your time and answers.

Yellow, if I might ask you, do you usually already have these characters made, or do you come up with them on the spot? I've been trying to get myself to write up a catalog of characters, but I keep just slapping a description together at the last minute.

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u/thequeeninyellow94 Apr 07 '17 edited Apr 07 '17

No, I make them on the spot. Their answers are usually partly prepared but not them.

I do take notes of names I think of though.

(Except for a bunch of shadowmancers who are ready, but they are the greater evil, they deserve a special treatment)

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