The militant members of Oghma's following in the Cloud Spires are simply referred to as Oghma's Men of War.

As far as paladins and clerics go, they are some of the most tactically minded, often employing magics in unexpected and largely effective ways.

They are seated in nearly every city that has a church of Oghma with a following large enough to support the recruitment.

While many regard Oghmites as docile, the truth is that they will fight fiercely to defend the security of whatever knowledge those Oghmites are responsible for.

The material possessions, such as scrolls and books as well as the needs of the Viri Libre are protected by the Oghmita Exercitus.

The Oghmita Exercitus maintains many champions; of these many champions, a number of them have converged to help push Daed Al Icarr's agenda upon the CloudSpires

The members of this elite leadership

Currently, this team of champions is in the employ of Mordea Hidross in the battle for Dodsland.

In the midst of the city sits an absolutely massive tree, encircling the Brightwood compound in its entirety; hollow in the centre, and rooted at the edges, the tree thrust itself skyward as a defense mechanism against those who would seek to harm Juren Brightwood's family.

Created through Juren, using the power of the Wand of the Many, and the inherent influence of The Many, Juren sought protection and aberrant demon, or demi god of nature did give Juren the power to contend against his opposition. However, Juren's cowardice and his fathers wisdom argued against Jurens courage and fool hardiness. Though he was incredibly powerful, he is just a young boy, and though he is just a young boy, he is a Brightwood.

He fought against the strange nature of the spirit. As it sought to consume and redefine the world within and eventually outside the city, Juren held against it, preventing the spirit from completely manifesting, and limiting the power it could express upon the world.

When Juren was rescued from the inner most chambers of the caverns beneath the tree, the tree did not die or disappear. It held strong, and now several months later, is a testament to the fucked up history of the great kingdom.

A large city north east of the capital, Royals Peak.

It is half way from the capital to Sols Rest and Daeds Outreach on Dorums Plateau.

Tursq's wife. She's kind of a bitch.

The proto form of "Ladies who Lunch", Esther is not imbued with any special magics, or patron spirits of any sort, but she is no push over mentally or socially.

A trained botanist, learned chemist and no nonsense business mind, Esther operates the finances of the Ardratiche household while "Tursq pretends to run everything."

She clearly loves her husband for being all the things she isn't, however their shared interest in chemistery is where their relationship shines.

She is smart tongued and sharp minded, and accustomed to the two facedness of social life, providing a smile where necessary, but only when necessary.

Esther is a 6' 3" woman (huge bitch), and nearly skin and bone for a diet of mostly greens she produces herself and the odd piece of fish she has specially brought from rivers throughout the Cloud Spires.

The Church of Oghma, headed by Sid Meir, located in Sols Rest, sits proudly against the horizon.

Built mostly using magical techniques it stands as a testament to Sid's renewed passion for his faith, and his aim to demonstrate where the real power of Oghma resides.

Several spires point upwards with sweeping buttressed bridges stretching between the towers.

Redacted for Meta

Scouts have seen Drow patrolling the pathways leading between the towers while Frost Giants patrol the streets below. FrostFire clansmen seem to guard the building and surroundings.

Sid spreads the word of Oghma using primitive and modern techniques, sending pilgrims to neighboring cities and distant lands, as well as sending printed materials around.

With the backing of Daed's forces, Sid has protected and wrested where necessary to establish a very defined seat of power.

With his forces protecting and liberating Dodsland from the oppressive rule of the Pelorite order, Sid sits comfortably in Sols Rest, organizing his manuevers as he sees fit.

Waterdeep has always had a major Oghmite influence.

In current times, several religions are practiced in the City of Splendors, and Oghmas name is spoken loudly among them.

The Ministry of the Scroll is the church hub for several countries, and is internally influenced by several small political groups, each providing a Deacon, or 'Pontiff Minor.'

A Deacon with a Circle of warrior training, gains a barracks space and the title of Lord in The Service, and becomes a Lord Pontiff who makes up the Rack Council, answering to the Pontiff Major.

The Pontiff Major is typically a warrior priest of several circles practice.
The seat of Pontiff Major may be passed by the current Pontiff Major to a chosen Deacon, major or minor.

A blue skinned tiefling, Eddard is known as a Lord Pontiff in the Oghmite order and is a Deacon of the Waterdavian Ministry of the Scroll.

He follows a Lawful Neutral alignment through his holy endeavor.

His values are those of a simple and pious individual but Mr. Reville is a tiefling who has seen some shit.

He has spent time fighting abroad alongside the Githzerai against mind flayers guilty in summoning demonic forces.

He has spent time fighting at the front lines in Chult and many other exotic locations.

Eddard Reville is known as a 12th Circle Warrior Priest, capable of high power magical influence through his studies.

He is rarely without his confidant and assistant, Essproh Vaeryn, and his friend and bodyguard Ingram Dewman.

Brother to Orion Fall and grandson to Yvan, he is a well trained warrior and high ranking member of the city's militia.

Close to Faramore Barl, he is the current standing head of the Fall family.

The Zamfirescu family of Calimshan is as spread as they are legendary.

Comprised of warriors, magicians and engineers, they have spread across the great sprawling desert and to distant parts far and away from the sands of their home land.

A woman recently arrived in the Cloud Spires from the distant land of Calimshan.

Khanoom ("madamn," or "lady") Leonida Zamfirescu is a well known figure in her country for a variety of reasons.

She has served in her provincial military as a footman, an officer and a hunter (an elite fighter, defending against djinn and other magical beasts).

She has served as a pilgrim and diplomat to several regions around the world and her favoured climates have always been high mountains and chilling environments.

She has never explained why she prefers the cold to the heat of her home land.

She has been responsible for leading her three trusted bodyguards, and a Minotaur who has taken an oath of service, for nearly three years of hard work in vanquishing a range of varied enemies.

Her body guards consist of Armando, a paladin of the Vested Blade, a church of Torm; Palaccerro, a paladin of the Blind Quill, a church of Oghma, Vecna and Tyr, and Elloettro, a cleric of The Guiding Light, the Waterdavian Ministry of Pelor.

The Minotaur, a brute named Daturok, is a deadly fighter with a broken horn and a massive scar on his back. Both injuries from his unyielding service to Zamfirsecu.

Commanding a massive loyalty of her people, she is trained to be brutal, and empathic to be sensitive. In her short life she has already watched poverty or material wealth consume people, she has watched populations rise and fall, she has watched new life come to being and new life taken by horrible fate.

She has been betrothed to Ivor Ketterrog through relations conducted by her father and Lucretia's envoys to the south.

Lucretia saw an incredible example in this woman and thinking highly of her son, felt the match made sense.

Leonida is at this time impassive emotionally towards Mr. Ketterrog but is pleased by her fathers choice; she is however, still invested in whatever mission the gods pass down to her.

An elven gentleman warlord, he is aged somewhere near a thousand years of age and looks it.

He is gruff in his old age but quick to demonstrate a regality and traditional form few can match when the moment requires.

He is a defender of a woman's honour and also the loudest voice stating where a woman's place is.

He is not brash and not especially vocal unless implored. He is reserved in his demonstrations while among a crowd, choosing to make purposeful movements when many eyes are upon him.

Leostrad Vogons son from a Calishite woman who perished during the intial dwarven invasions.

Leostrad does not remember her name but refers to her as an incredible cook and stout in all the right places.

Car'Touche is a capable warrior and deadly assassin who has successfully been a part of, and led raids upon various FrostFire emplacements, coming away victorious against drow and giants.

His skills cannot be understated but his temperment is typically his undoing as he is quick to anger, and lose his focus in the face of maligned personal adversity (such as familial conflict or personal jealousies).

His Calishite blood cannot be missed, as he is several shades darker then any other member of the CloudSpires natives, and although he is the son of a high standing CloudSpires noble, he maintains spartan trappings, choosing to live a simple and meager life compared to his fathers lavish ways.

There are very few ranks within Echelon, most of its members are considered to be equal regardless of time served, while many of its figure heads have mere titles of office. In Ivor's experience an overly intricate chain of command can become a bureaucratic nightmare, and a liability on the field. At its most basic structure:

Lord Commander

Commander

Sergeant

Soldier

Badges of Honor are awarded to individuals or squads that performed a heroic feat or task, while they may seperate an individual by merit of skill (or luck) they are not indicators of increased rank, although many of the soldiers are quick to look to their badged brethren in the heat of battle.

Echelon soldiers are trained with the standard armament of all Cloudspires troops, radiant rifles, slug throwers, and all manner hand to hand weapons, but have unique access and permission to use more heinous weaponry in order to protect the Kingdom. Flamers, Acid-Throwers, Poison-Fumers... weapons deemed illegal to own and carry within the Cloudspires do to the risk of collateral damage.

Flamer: Scavenged and reverse engineered Flamethrower of formerly Dwarven design used in the Great War. This new model removes the heavy, volitale, back mounted cargo tank in return for a much smaller replacable cannister. This allows the trooper to keep pace with the rest of the unit and minimizes the risk of catastrophic explosion.

Acid Thrower: Utilizing Dwarven flamethrower technology this weapon instead flings a thick gelatinous acid globule designed to eat through heavy armor and hardened structures. Different acid gelatin provides varied effects (short range spittle, condensed stream) the more liquidic the acid, the more risk to the user and gun prone failure.

Poison-Fumer: Glorified Gas Grenades, these fumer's spew oxidized poisons into the immediate area that hang like a thick cloud for a few minutes. Lethal and Non-Lethal variants exist, from deadly paralytics to mild choking gas. Excellent for flushing enemies out of cover... or letting the rats die in their hole.

Echelon soldiers are each equipped with a suitably insulated uniform, gas mask, and rebreather unit that allows operations along side and even amissed the dangerous equipment they muster. While providing an intimidating dehumanized appearance, to friend and foe alike.

Recruited from the citizenry of the Cloudspires and trained under the guise of a few remaining members of the Commissariat that sought to oversee Ivor Keterog's construction of Echelon.

Training is harsh, regimented, orderly... discipline rules the day, forming competent soldiery the likes of which has not been seen for some time in the Cloudspires. Unlike the Cloudspire Militia, members of Echelon didnt join up for a hot meal, warm bed, and to sit on their asses behind high walls... They come from those who saw their family enslaved, friends killed, and homes burned. Those with anger, hatred, and pain in their hearts... with the desire to do something, anything, to prevent others from suffering a similar fate... or to exact bloody personal vengeance.

Most would consider such armed individuals to be a dangerous if not fractous element in a kingdom, one that could lead to rebellion if left unchecked. For now, Ivor seems to have collared such an internal threat and molded it into a benefit for the rest of the Cloudspires for Lord Commander Keterog has promised them this much... that with loyalty to him and faith in his plan, the Cloudspires would one day be safe and all its enemies dead.

Hirion Orvathar

Elf

Humble shopkeeper, alchemist, and wizard that resided in Royals Peak for several hundred years, content to live his days in modest comfort with his wife and daughter, plying his trades and assisting with his knowledge when he can (ed: past tense, or time traveler, you decide). Durring the 2nd siege of Royals Peak, the Kings own airship was shot out of the sky by the combined dark elf and giant's cohort, crashing down upon the city itself, engulfing an entire district in flames. Everything Hirion loved was below.

Sworn to avenge their deaths, Hirion sought to personally burn to cinders those responsible for this travisty. Originally inducted into Echelon with the desire to be a battlemage, Ivor convinced Hirion that his goals would be better served behind the lines as his adviser of the arcane, head researcher, and second in command.

Since then Hirion has overseen the construction of much of Echelons retrofitted armaments, guardian warding, and construction of "The Farm" with a zealous fervor granted by the knowledge that everything he does... every advancement, no matter how small, empowers the Cloudspires and Echelon in hopes of one day destroying those that took his former life from him.

An abandoned farmstead originally lost durring the second siege of Royals Peak owned by the Keterog family.

After the arrival (and subsequent mysterious departure) of the Death-hunter Othello, its derelict ship was seized and stored within, by Ivor and Echelon.

Weeks of study by Keterog engineers and magi saw the "vessel" dismantled into its base materials, and a as-of-yet named metal that was highly psionically reactive that baffled those involved.

After rival family spies were caught on the premise Ivor sent is second in command, Hirion Orvathar, to oversee future projects and the restructuring to guard against intrusion... and escape.

After months of magical labour, Hirion has produced a highly warded underground multi-room substructure, fit for all matter of experimentation, but outwardly it remains an ill-maintained farmstead, frequented by Echelon training groups. Its close proximity to the city proper gives it relative safety from raids but prying eyes are never far away.

Kale Greenleaf as recently been granted access to "The Farm" as both researcher and tenant of the above manor.

"Bare thy chest shall be thus the open air they breast shall breathe so that witnessed of thee Pelor can be, and bring to ye the warmth of all."

~Pelorite Psalm 4

The open air garden suspended between the four towers of the Church of Sun & Scroll.

A beautiful assortment of varied colours arrays on all sides in marble troughs.

My chest of fire, my mind so bright. My father guides me, I see his light.

~Pelorite Psalm 18

The flora in the troughs is made up of

Snapdragons

Sweet Alyssum

Geraniums

Dianthus

Calendula

Cyclamens

Let the day chase away the shades that prey upon my flock that I may stave the starve of cold for yet another day.

~ Pelorite Psalm 12

The flora in the green houses is an assortment of

Poinsettas

White & Red Roses

Morus Bushes (Small cuttings of Mullberry trees)

While much of the flora here is ceremonial and decorative, the garden serves primarily as a meeting place for religious teaching, political discussions, and especially weddings.

A customary activity is to keep an open chest way to the cold to allow Pelor to warm you while you are "closest to him."

Children who (often) ask if "you wouldn't be closer to Pelor in the towers," are met with a smirk and a pat on the head.

A fifteen year old boy, and sole survivor of the Brightwood family.

During the dwarven wars, he was a legend among the people, helping those who needed assistance and routing threats to protect the helpless.

After the wars, when Juren returned home, he was taken in by the Summerhill family as a ward to Cecil.

Over the weeks of his service, the Brightwoods returned and Juren seemed to pull away from society until he disappeared from sight altogether.

Nobody quite knows where the young druid boy is now.

A strapping young stone worker, Rian is a proud Oghmite who uses his exceptional mental prowess to engineer impressive architectures around the Cloud Spires.

A capable mathmetician, Rian has been seen at the Dragons Roost tavern bantering with a number of the cities highest minds about things that eavesdroppers hadn't the foggiest.

Though he is of a strong mind, Rian prefers to operate his company of people from within, often times swinging the hammer upon the pitons himself, and more often then not shirtless and sweating despite the biting cold.

He is known to excel at card games, can juggle, knows a slew of jokes and is allegedly as pure as the snow is white.

He has never been heard to swear, or look cross eyed around a woman or man.

He is the apple of his mother and fathers eye, and in general is the envy of every man and woman within the Royals Peak.

When asked by his friends why he has not bedded a woman or asked by his parents why he has not wedded and settled, his answer is the same: "Our lord placed us here for a purpose, and mine was to create, not procreate. I'll not be the keystone in the load there till I'm well enough seasoned; whenever that might be."

Solaire Mantelar is a paladin dedicated to the Dawnfather and his principles.

When Vane Thal'adriel began to form the Sun Walkers he found Solaire to be highly skilled in battle and a competent strategist.

Assisting Vane while dealing with the Acererak threat earned him high praise within the Church, and his trust was valued by Vane so much that he was appointed Right Hand of the Flame.

He is fundamental in the command of the Sun Walkers during times while Vane is unable to fullfill the duty, and is a trusted adviser among the organization and the Church.

His values of faith, trust, and compassion has fueled the ideology of the Sun Walkers and will further instill these beliefs to effectively combat the evils that threaten it.

A man in his early 50s, he looks like he's in his late 30s and is a jovial fellow who enjoys wine, women and the company of his friends.

A slow man to anger, he has suffered enough tragedy for a lifetime and yet keeps a smile upon his face throughout his day to day doings.

Forced to watch as his wife passed during the birth of his stillborne daughter, Ricarrum Esquee has experienced loss in a way few can describe or imagine.

During the war he was a motivator, an influencer and fiery. After the war, he retreated publically and became a near hermit.

Ricarrum took back to the public eye on the advice of the Lord Carbohn Lagos (a man who lost his wife, Desdemona to the Dwarven Wars).

Despite his public appearances, Ricarrum enjoys his quiet times in the gardens of his estate and is known for hiring help simply to have company around himself. Mostly buxom and succulent help clad in revealing 'uniforms.'

A generous man, Ricarrum is not one to dally upon small amounts or decisions, preferring to show decisive action in order to "keep life moving forward."

He is known among friends to be very aloof, and seems to have an alcoholic streak.

Upon his back, the names of his deceased wife and daughter respectively, Sofia and Luciana are tattooed upon his shoulder blades, each in cursive. When asked about them at the bath house, he responds that they are his wings.

Near death induced visions.

The great Lich Acrerak's curse spreads slowly and darkly across the land. Those touched by the iralite act as conduits of his reach as it mingles within them. His dark gift spreads with each near death experience, each time a new vision presented for the player to interact with, or watch to play as they wait their final judgement. [Authors note: "I call it a gift, but really it is a curse."]

None who experience the visions and live to speak of them know if they have truly affected any course of events.
All they know is that they've been touched by a dark presence that is ever looming and judging from the size via repeat encounters with deaths door, it seems to be growing.

Tahntha, son to the great Clan Chief Konrick Blackmountain and father to Thurass'X Blackmountain was born during the first eruption of the year.

He served his time making decisions for and defending the tribe as his father had before him. His father, serving as wise sayer and all around stoic daddy guy, held his side but not his route, often nodding knowingly as braves died duie to Tahntha's poor choices.

"The men are men. Not cattle, no matter how they may brey. Treat them as men, and they will treat you as their god. Be their guiding light."

A devout follower of the Blackmountain faith, and a powerful fighter, Tahntha would often lead the charge or take over tasks to get things done.

Motivated to accomplish and achieve, he leapt when the Black Wing attacked and was on the front lines himself prepared for war.

It was his mate who spoke the wisdom of positioning themselves along the wall instead, and prepare for the impending strike.

"We will blizzard death upon them from above."

The interloper who caused the avalanche that blocked the path was responsible for providing Tahntha the window he needed during the battle and he leapt upon the black dragon from the cliff side walls, crashing his mighty hammer into the wyrms head. Vishava reeled at this and Tahntha rode the winged nightmare into the snowy valley below.

He was hailed a hero and martyr, until he managed to pull himself into the village, claiming he had failed to destroy the beast, and he had failed to die for his shame.

Konrick was a warrior not from the harsh lands of Blackmountian at first. He grew up in a strong house, educated and trained by the best; a good life well provided for.

His family hungered for power, but Konrick did not. His father who had seen things go his way for over a century somehow saw Konrick as a threat to his plans.

Subsequently, Konrick was forced to flee as far from his family as he could.

Many years passed for him as he lead the life of a hermit deep in the Blackmountains range.

His new home came with new neighbors, and after skirmishes and shows of strength, eventually he made formal contact with a tribe in the cold wilderness of the lichen covered mountains.

With his education and martial prowess, he would quickly become leader over the tribe and ruler over the mountain range as a natural attractant for other clans to join.

Over the decades of his rule, he sired children, and made enemies. Of those enemies, some would band together to form the Blackmountains offshoot, the Black Wing and eventually they would come for their culminated vengeances.

Seeking a simple life as his forefathers, he plys his trade as a carpenter, servicing mostly needs of the church.

He follows their call where ever they need his esteemed talents, and he makes a good living since developin relations with a race of gnomish workers.

A devout follower of Oghma, Dirk is a man in his mid fifties.