Guardian's of Lyon

Legend recalls that the first known hunters of Lyon were some of the last remaining Knight Templars who created an organization called "Guardians/Legion of the Night”. This group was created under the premise that mystical creatures such as Vampires, Lycans, and Mages only emerged from the shadows at night. This was likely due to Vampires burning to death after dawn, the secrecy of Mages, and the Lycan's attachment to the moon. The league was composed of five knights often referred to as 'The First Five" in the modern day. The group was created in 1307 AD. after the demise of the Knights of Solomon caused by King Philip and the betrayal of Pope Clement V.

The First Five:

• Jeremy de Lyon
  
• William de Perthus
  
• Jacques de Acre
  
• Robert de Arlon
  
• Richard Craon
  

After the Knights of Solomon were persecuted for heresy, tortured, and outcasted amongst the public, they took whatever was left of their men residing in France that believed in their cause and fled southeast opposite to the other remaining templars who went north. Jeremy, often described as the leader of the group, persuaded the men that Walachia (Romania) was the birthplace of the Vampire and that defeating the vampire would cause an end to all of the supernatural entities that roam about the free world. To destroy them would be the ultimate ticket to the Kingdom of Heaven, a guaranteed spot as a Seraph. Guardians to the throne of God. Thus, trusting the word of Lyon, the Knights established themselves as the Legion of the Night in Walachia, bringing prosperity to villages that were close to poverty before their arrival. They brought with them ancient relics that belonged to God and his disciples, relics that once lived in the Holy Land, Jerusalem, items that they believed belonged to them. The Knights hunted these creatures day in and day out. The largest clan in Walachia at the time belonged to the Balan bloodline. Most of them ancient, vicious, and powerful beings who controlled King Radu and the rest of the Basarab family.

The Legion of the Night had raised an army of God, with vows to reap the enemies of God - Vampires, Lycans, and Mages alike. The Knights wanted the Vampiric army defeated and the King’s army as well. With the King against them, the odds may have never been in their favor. Hours before the Battle for Dawn, Jeremy de Lyon visited an old Witch that lived in a deserted village across the Olt River. He thought to sacrifice himself as Jesus Christ did for all sins and win the war. The old Witch granted him double the strength and speed of any vampire for a total of twenty-four hours. She bewitched his ancient steel sword with a coating of pure silver, a known weakness of the vampire. Lyon bestowed the sword ‘Mortifera’, Latin for ‘death bringing.’ This was enough, he thought, to defeat the Balans and Basarab’s once and for all and to take the city.

The city that had long been ruled by Demon entities would soon be under God’s control, under his terms and conditions. This was the stepping stone they needed to mark their territory because this world belonged to God and no one else. It was a Kingdom that needed to rise, in Jesus's name, at any and all cost. Jeremy would never come to speak of his exchange with the Witch for the price he had paid was his life. When he met with the members of the First Five and the rest of his army, he walked them through the plan - one he explained was sure-fire. They knew of only a few ways to destroy a vampire. Fire, Decapitation, and Sunlight. But Lyon knew that the silver he had blessed could help weaken the immortality of the vampire. He knew that the Legion had to distract them in order for their plan to work, catch them off guard and at the brink of dawn. “We will show no mercy!” Lyon chanted as dusk fell onto the faces of his men. They would attack the vampires from all sides, trapping them into the very courtyard of the King’s castle - the one they called home, as they retreated to their arrangements beneath the grounds of the castle. The Legions used fire to lure them out, some Knights guarding outside the castle so that nothing came out, while the others set out for a far more dangerous excursion - defending what would soon be their Kingdom from evil.

Many of the men inside the castle died fighting for the cause, including Jeremy de Lyon. Lyon died just as he struck the Head Vampire of the Balan clan, Cornel, in the chest with the Mortifera. The blow was not enough to kill the Ancient vampire, but just as Lyon took his last breath, the harsh beam of the sun shun behind the head of Cornel. Lyon died with his watery bright blue eyes wide open and a bloodied smile on his face. The vampires that hadn’t been trapped underground by fire met their fate by the vindictive glare of the Sun. After having witnessed the miracle that took place here, all the King’s men turned their loyalty to the Legion of the Night. Appointing Perthus as their noble King and exiling the Basarab bloodline from the Kingdom. King Radu was cast out and ordered to live out the rest of his days in the dungeon of his own castle.

After the Battle for Dawn, King Perthus named the Order, ‘Guardians of Lyon’ in honor of his dear friend and brother, Jeremy de Lyon. Perthus then declared peace upon Walachia in God’s name.

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Named after the legendary Templar of Solomon, "Jeremy de Lyon", one amongst the first five known hunters who created the Guardians of Lyon (originally known as Legion of the Night and often dubbed “The Order”). After about a century, the Guardians of Lyon traveled back to their true home of France, leaving behind Walachia. The global organization is now headquartered in Avignon and Lyon, France with extensions in Romania, Israel, Germany, Italy, Ireland, United Kingdom, Africa, Greece, China, Japan, South America, Australia, and United States etc. Each country has its own divisions with minor twists to the Order, but relatively similar ideologies and rules. However, the oath they take is binding and what makes a member of the Order a devout warrior. This oath is unchanging amongst any of its divisions. To break this vow is to breach your ticket to Heaven and considered a deadly sin. To break this vow is to wish death upon you and your loved ones, and thus curse them to Hell. Throughout the years, Lyon's army took a more tactical/military approach versus biblical.

The Oath

"I vow to safeguard the Kingdom of God, the Universe, from the enemies of God and man. I take this oath to faithfully protect mankind against supernatural entities that threaten the earth. My sword, a relic, is the punishment of God bestowed upon me to defend me in battle. I will show strength in the face of temptation and reject the ploys of daemonium. I pledge my life to the Guardian of Lyon. I shall defend this holy oath until my final breath. By the nod of God, with the power of the five, we shall prevail."

The Sword - 'Mortifera'

The sword used in the Battle for Dawn belongs to the Guardians of Lyon. It was a sword created in the Dark ages that was gifted to Lyon during his tenure as a Knight of Solomon. It was a Relic that he took with him to Walachia and there it stayed for a hundred years after his death. This sword was blessed by a Witch and enchanted with the purest form of silver. It has a big red ruby at top of the handle. The details on the handle are engraved with the image of St. Michael the Archangel and his prayer in Latin. The sword does not stay in possession of one Master for too long, it is rotated across the world. (In the possession of Lyon's sword is Phoenix Nacht)

The Guardians of Lyon have hundreds of relics that belonged to the First Five, like Jacques de Acres's crossbow. The crossbow is somewhere in Europe.

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Based in America, League of Angels (LOA) is just a small piece of a much larger organization. LOA is often used as a code name to differentiate from other countries. The Hunters usually call themselves, "The Order of Lyon", "The Order", "The Angels", and "The League". Currently, the League of Angels is under Phoenix Nacht's comannd.

Initiation

A prospect is usually discovered by another Hunter and watched for a period of time. The initiation is essentially called "The Preamble" it is an introduction to the life of a Hunter. During the preamble, the prospect is kidnapped and tortured, even if he/she was aware of their candidacy they are usually unaware of this being a part of the initiation. Much like the Templars of Solomon, the prospective candidates are tortured in a manner that could be considered brutal to any human. Examples of this, tying a knot on the prospect's hands, shoving a bag on their head, and pushing them off 'No Haven' cliffs. The prospect is expected to remove the knot from their hand, free themselves, and come up for air before they could drown.  Another example is cold-weather training, nearly freezing them to death. Most prospects do not make it past this stage.  Note - Typically, the majority of recruits have a military background, some would say this is a pre-requisite.

Training

Once the prospects endure 48 hours of torture, their training begins. Candidates are now brainwashed into the teachings of the Guardians of Lyon. Here they learn St. Michael's prayer for battle, the rules of the Order, and begin to physically train for the role. The candidates have to fight other hunters, live off of very little food and water, and suffer from a lack of sleep. Some have died of dehydration and do not make it past this stage either. The training resembles combat-style training like the military. Often training in harsh weather and conditions, with obstacle courses often called 'assault courses'. The training takes place at the Beach, the Forest, amongst other locations. The training is based upon the skill sets of the first five:

• Jeremy de Lyon - Jack of all Trades - The last stage of training
  
• William de Perthus - Swordsman Expert
  
• Jacques de Acre - Archer/Crossbow Expert - Sniper/Long Range
  
• Robert de Arlon - Inventor / Technology
  
• Richard Craon - Stealth / Thief
  

Crucible - Final Test

The crucible is like the hunger games of the preamble. The prospective hunter is placed in an obstacle course for survival that runs 92 hours in length. He/she is meant to survive while being hunted. Hunted by other hunters, while attempting to evade the savagery of feral vampires. The course takes place in the forest and the only way out is to survive the 92-hour crucible. To survive is one thing, but to become a Hunter of the Order of Lyon, the prospect must find the 'Mortifera' and use it to bring the Hunters the severed head of a feral vampire. After this is completed, the Hunter must cut a cross in the palm of their hand with the Mortifera (or equivalent relic) and take the Oath of Lyon. Once the blood oath is complete the prospect becomes a Hunter and shortly after is assigned a "Mentor/Teacher" as a Junior Recruit.

Ranking Structure

OFFICER

• L-10 - General Major of League of Angels (GM)
  
• L-9 - Lieutenant General (Second in Command) (LG)
  
• L-8 - Lieutenant Marshal (LM)
  
• L-7 - Colonel (Cl)
  
• L-6 - Captain (C)
  

INCULATE/ENLISTED

• L-5 - Master Sergeant  (MS)
  
• L-4 - Chief Petty Officer (CPO)
  
• L-3 - Petty Officer (PO)
  
• L-2 - Apprentice (AP)
  
• L-1 - Junior Recruit (JR)
  

Ranking System

A Hunter could assume rank in a number of ways but these are the main components of receiving rank:

• Number of completed/fulfilled missions
  
• Scope/Scale of the mission
  
• Number of confirmed kills
  
• Continued training, mastering a skill etc.
  

Note*** Additionally, a Hunter could lose rank if they fail a mission depending upon the scale/scope of the job and what is at stake.

Severity/Priority Level for Missions

• Dangerously Critical
  
• Extremely High
  
• High
  
• Moderate
  
• Low
  
• Very Minor
  

(As you go up in Rank, the more high severity missions you will have. Missions "Moderate" and below, if failed, would cause minor inconvenience but nothing too critical. Missions ranked "High" and above, if failed, result in death/injury)

INSIGNIA

Description
[TBA]
Symbolism
[TBA]

CODE OF HONOR

COMING SOON

Last edited by Tiara on Mon Apr 10, 2023 1:07 am; edited 2 times in total

Threatcon ALPHA: [LOW] General threat of possible supernatural activity against the order, small proactive measures are taken for the protection of the order. Officers (L-6 and above) can raise this threat level and escalate up.

Threatcon BRAVO: [MEDIUM] More predictable threat of supernatural activity exists. Planning and some operational inconveniences occur. Can also be ordered by L-6 and escalate up.

Threatcon CHARLIE: [HIGH] Incident has occurred or some form of supernatural activity against the order is imminent. Continue measures implemented in Bravo and Alpha. Measures are taken to de-escalate the situation and protect the order. Example: Increased security measures, lockdowns, weaponry. Only the Captain or General can set this threat level (L-8 through L-10 level rank)

Threatcon DELTA: [CRITICAL] Highest and most protective level. The level can only be set by the Commander - General (L10 level rank). The immediate area/personnel where a supernatural attack/threat has taken place. Continue measures in Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie. Prepare to attack/fight back. Military-grade weapons activated.

By/for the five: Similar to saying you "swear to God", a promise is usually ended with this. Could also be used in place of "Cheers" when drinking.

Driveby: When one hunter steers a prey towards another hunter

One Take Jake: An expert marksmen

Killed the fox: Killed the prey

Gone to Ground: Prey has hidden, usually underground/retreated underground (vampires)

Jacques of all trades: Experienced hunter

Mayday: Distress call

Lost a game of Russian Roulette: Hunter committed suicide

FUBAR: Fucked up beyond all recognition/repair

Hammerhead: Beefy Hunter

Cousin Itt: Wolf

Falcon: Prey that is blindingly fast (usually vampires)

Opt-Out: Quit a mission

Death Bringer: Sword of Mortifera (In Phoenix's possesion)

Death Camp: Nickname for the Crucible

Cocktease: Prey that keeps making themselves visible only to quickly retreat

The Hunter's Ball

“Venatio” - The Hunting, is a celebration in honor of Jeremy de Lyon and King Perthus. This occurs every five years (to honor the first five) on April 20th. This was the anniversary of Lyon’s death and the victory of the Battle against the Balans and the Basarabs, the day that Perthus rightfully became King. This is a night when all the subdivisions of GoL, much like the League, could join together and honor the first members of the legion.

Location- Avignon, France’

Invitation/Selection-To be invited to the Hunter’s Ball is considered a great honor. Many Hunters never get invited to a ball in their lifetime. Selection depends on performance and is entirely up to the General Major of each subdivision. To refuse an invitation after being invited is frowned upon and considered a dishonor, this would be very insulting to the command.

The Venatio Traditions

Competitions- They change every year, but competitions are typically held throughout the week leading up to the hunting. Following immense pressures from their command, hunters usually commence training at the beginning of the year. Prizes include, but are not limited to, advanced weaponry.

Sacrifice- After the death of Lyon, King Perthus created the Venatio. Within the Venatio, one of the traditions that the king relished in most was the sacrifice. In this tradition, the king asked for only one human sacrifice. If the subdivision was selected, the General would make the final choice out of his invitees. It has been argued that this tradition is a punishment against all hunters and should be abolished. However, loyal followers of Perthus have fought against its demise and it has remained. Perthus professed that Jesus sacrificed himself for his brothers, why should we be no different? Perthus and his followers claimed that to be selected would be a man’s highest honor and aid in minimizing the fear of death.

Gifts-Relics from the Templars and the Holy Land are to be gifted to Hunter’s with the best performance (see award types).

Guests- Only Hunters and their wives/husbands can attend, unless authorized and approved by the General.

Award Types- Sword of Perthus gifted to an expert swordsman. Badge of Craon to the one with the most stealth. Medal of Arlon awarded to the most technical savvy. Globe of Acre for the expert gunmen. Lastly, the Hunter of the Next Half Decade (Lyon Award) goes to the expert in all four - Usually jumbled up with hunter with the most confirmed kills.

HUNT NIGHT

Espirit de Corps

First 24 hours of becoming a hunter celebration - PENDING/COMING SOON