The Keepers of the Flame, also known as the Flamekeepers and An-arcesil Ornoth in their native tongue of Agarei, were a secluded organisation dedicated to the safekeeping and preservation of the mighty Phoenixes that lived on the mountain peaks of Baranar.
They directly served the Kings of Agaroth, although did not maintain a presence in the fountain court itself. Instead, the majority of the order served at Vel Aesur, where the magic of the world was strongest. There they attended to the Phoenixes, observing their wisdom and knowledge.
They were strictly neutral and did not concern themselves with the complex politics of the fountain court, and were forbidden to involve themselves in matters of war.
History[]
Rise[]
After the discovery of Phoenixes atop the mountain of Baranar in the late Era of Discord, King Talancaril of Agaroth, against the behest of his court, sent messages to the realm. These messages ordered explorers to the highest peaks of the mountain to seek the creatures and bring them a message of peace. In 303 D.E, two local Anari woodsmen, named Seldir Enaron and Aedin Fynel ascended to the highest peak, at a place that would come to be known as Vel Aesur.
Soon after their discovery, the phoenix Illume met with them, but shunned the summons from their king. Instead, he sent message back offering wisdom in exchange for peace. The phoenixes, fearing what might occur should they offer direct advice to a king, instead proposed the creation of an order to teach the Anari. King Talancaril later agreed to the request, and granted the phoenix his wishes.
The king granted estates in Ar-Tyriath to both woodsmen, and inducted them at the behest of Illume as the first members of the newfound group. At Vel Aesur, despite few financial resources, they erected living quarters to house the first men of the order. Over the decades a temple would be added, where the members would later learn from the creatures they had befriended. They would also learn the names of their charges, and from this location the new order took the name of the Keepers of the Flame, individually known as flamekeepers.
Denial of the Elves[]
Many flamekeepers came to distrust the fountain court as the phoenixes did. Following the order's refusal to aid their kin in the War of Ashes, many blamed the order for their lack of foresight. In 170 D.E, following the annexation of Agaroth, the ageing flamekeeper Seldir Enaron delivered message to the elven emperor Eiradhras III. Having raised no arms against the invasion, the order would remain untouched. Despite this, members of the order were instructed to convert to the worship of Eren.
For the elves, however, the discovery of Vel Aesur was of great interest. Many believed the order to be a conclave of secretive wizards, holding great power. In 168 D.E, a small party of elven mages accompanied by a member of the Urdau Augama managed to reach the peaks of Baranar and were invited to stay. The phoenix Galanath opposed their arrival, but later met with the elves. His wisdom was said to have swayed the hearts of the elves, who had come seeking power. They stayed for another month with the order, learning from its leader.
It was told in folklore that the elves left the order and did not return, for they had seen the power wielded by the phoenixes there, and were thereafter wary of Baranar and the peculiar Anari who inhabited its peaks.
Death[]
The events surrounding the destruction of the order were lost to history. During the events of the Heartstone Crisis, the phoenix Illume would successfully defend against the Angel Zuriel, although the phoenixes and their Anari allies were later entirely wiped out during the Fire Ritual of Londorwyn.
Organisation[]
Secrets of the Phoenixes[]
In its infancy, the order was faced by great pressure from the fountain court and its nobles. Many in Agaroth desired the secrets of the newly understood Phoenixes. In 301 D.E, only a year after the creation of the order, Seldir Enaron was summoned to Ar-Tyriath. There, he was instructed to induct further members to the order. The order grew significantly during the next ten years, adding a host of wagons and essential supplies. They were also granted custodianship of Luin, the ceremonial spear of kings and a symbol of the monarch's power over his people.
The Phoenixes were aware of the Anari attempts at courting their favour, and during this time began teaching the flamekeepers of the world energies, which they would later know as aether. Illume would eventually undergo his regeneration, leaving the tutelage of the humans to Galanath, another phoenix yet unknown to the order. The following period saw many more phoenixes abandoning their mountain nests to roost at Vel Aesur, and there they instructed more of the Anari in the ways of the world.
Members of the order were instructed to learn at the top of the mountain, where the air was thin and the energy of the world was strong. There they learned how to channel magic through their weapons, as well as study of the mind and rigorous training, all under the tutelage of the phoenixes. Galanath came to be known as the wisest of them all, and was advised to lead the order. Seeing opportunity to safeguard the knowledge of his kind, and seeing the potential dangers of granting knowledge of aether to the realm at large, he would step up as leader.
Attire and Training[]
The Keepers of the Flame were easily identifiable by their red gowns which were sometimes worn over plate armour, depending on the conditions. An orange cord symbolised the flame of the phoenixes which the order was sworn to protect, and was worn around the waist. Small numbers of the order serving as guards were taught at length how to utilise magic in ways yet unknown to the Anari. They also trained rigorously with the spear. The combination of acrobatic fighting techniques and distinctive dress made flamekeepers identifiable from their other comrades.
The flamekeepers were trained to practice silence and to observe the world. Although they were not strictly forbidden to do so, they later came to be identified by their quiet nature. This was in part due to their studies under the phoenix Galanath, and would later cause trouble for the order when they too would refuse summons from their king, as the phoenix Illume once did.