Asch+Ment

=Asch Ment =

//"Born to the Oppi tribe of the Embir long ago, Naia Ment ("Dreamer, Of the Plains") willingly took up curved blade and joined the Oppi's league of warriors upon news of his father falling in battle. Against all odds the youth would challenge even the mightiest champions of the other tribes and bring them to their knees. He quickly became known for his ferocity in battle and refusal to draw weapons against anyone not ready to give their own life for their cause. His mercy to civilians and warriors alike brought him fame amongst the other tribes, so it was no surprise that when he earned the title of Asch ("Ruler") in the Oppi, the other tribes laid down their arms without hesitation, knowing that the kindness of Asch Ment would ensure an end to the hostilities between the Oppi and the other tribes. In short order Asch Ment began to send missives to the other kings and ask them for their union under a single banner. Asch Ment was declared Emperor of this new Embir alliance and set to work improving the lives of all his people, building up cities and establishing the Imperial Law. The wicked Bunburans bore witness to the rise of Asch Ment and through their eyes the jealousy of such success reached the Dark One himself, Ta Rak Ra. The Ram ordered his people to attack the Empire, resulting in the War of Ascension. The Bunburans tore through the forces of the Empire with unmatched military prowess. All hope seemed lost. It was then that Asch Ment, faced with the annihilation of the Embir, vanished from his throne in an instant, leaving behind a single large tooth (the Proud Fang). An incredible roar like that of a lion echoed out across all the lands of the Empire, emboldening the spirits of the Embir and calling the warriors to press back against the tide. The Empire stands today with Asch Ment as the eternal Emperor, a testament to the indomitable will of the proud Embir."// ~High Priest Alden of the Order of the Proud Fang, Sermon on the Divine

Asch is most commonly portrayed as a tanned and brawny warrior with the head of a lion, missing one tooth and garbed either in the ragged vestments of an ancient Oppi warrior or the regal refineries associated with rulership. He is always shown with a scimitar as tribute to his warrior heritage, a sign to the people of the Empire that they must always be prepared to defend themselves against his greatest and most stubborn of foes--Ta Rak Ra.

Asch Ment is a Lawful Good deity who espouses the virtues of kings, civilization, honor, glory, justice, righteousness, and bodily prowess. His worshipers are Lawful Good, Neutral Good, Lawful Neutral, and True Neutral. His domains include the following (to access domains marked with an asterisk (*) one must be the same alignment as the god):
 * Good
 * Law
 * Strength
 * Glory*
 * Community*
 * Competition*
 * Nobility*
 * Pride*

Orders within the faith of Asch Ment represent the very best of his congregation. They are gifted in and devoted to the pursuits of law, valor, battle, and personal accomplishment.
 * Order of the Proud Fang
 * This sect of priests and ever-vigilant guardians attend the safeguard of the Empire's most treasured artifact--the Proud Fang. The Proud Fang is a tooth left behind by Asch at the precise moment of his ascension, found in the seat of his throne. It is enshrined in a magnificent glass case studded and filigreed with all manner of precious metals and gemstones as a reminder of the unparalleled glory of the Emperor. It is a symbol of hope and courage to the people of the Empire and has been used on at least one occasion to serve as a source of confidence to those who suffer for the sake of the Empire. Those who wish to join the Order of the Proud Fang must be prepared for a life of little travel and be ready to prove themselves through various tests to gain the right to keep watch over the artifact. Only the most devout and capable are accepted as guardians, while priests are selected by the Table of Kings to serve a contracted period of time.
 * Justiciars
 * The most knowledgeable of Imperial Law amongst the soldiers of the Empire are offered the chance to join the leagues of the Justiciars, a branch of the Imperial Legion who no longer participate in quelling uprisings or patrolling the borders, rather they focus their unique skills in tracking down the greatest criminals of the Empire and ensuring obedience to Imperial Law everywhere they travel. As part of the initiation into the Justiciars, one must prove capable of reciting any number of laws as well as successfully arrest a wanted criminal as determined by the Table of Kings.
 * Mechanically, a Justiciar is required to be either Lawful Good or Lawful Neutral and worship Asch Ment.
 * Asch Warriors
 * Another branch of the Imperial Legion, the Asch Warriors are Embir who train in their own god's personalized art of war. They dress merely in iron skirts and take an oath never to shave, allowing their bodies to more closely resemble their leonine deity. The Asch Warriors live a monastic life for a period of years during which they study scripture and hone their minds before being abandoned in the deserts of the Oppi region and challenged to live there for a period of three years before being allowed to set foot in civilization again. During this time the initiate will hone his or her body to perfection, forced to brave the blinding desert winds and fearsome beasts of the land. Through these tests each Asch Warrior gains a new appreciation for the blessings of the Empire and of Asch himself, and as a result become able to perform a feat of truly righteous wrath in combat; an Asch Warrior may enter into a state of combined nightmarish rage and utmost calm, allowing his outward body to appear wild and ferocious while his mind gains a greater sense of clarity. To witness the devastation wrought by an Asch Warrior is to glimpse the might of Asch Ment's own prowess.
 * Mechanically, an Asch Warrior is a Barbarian/Monk with the Righteous Wrath feat from BoED and required to be either Lawful Good or Lawful Neutral and must worship Asch Ment.
 * Avenger
 * Skilled in the arts of deception and rigorous study of the body, the Avengers of the Empire are a rare breed employed by the Table of Kings to serve the will of the Emperor in matters that require a subtle hand. These soldiers are capable of killing a man in a single stroke without ever being seen; as such they are kept on a short leash and required to report their activities to the nearest priest of Asch, who in turn sends the report to the Table of Kings. Once a person has been accepted into the ranks of the Avengers, a single missed report is grounds for suspicion of illegal behavior. These shadows of death bring swift and justified ends to the enemies of the Empire wherever they lie, maintaining their occupation in secret and never questioning the decisions of the Table of Kings.
 * Mechanically, an Avenger is an Assassin who is required to be any non-evil alignment.