[INFO] The Compendium

[The Al-Siq]

 

[The Al-Siq]

An Overview of the Phantoms  

[The Al-Siq]

Phantom Hierarchy
Those who rule the Scourge have been of considerable interest to the Justicars since the dawn of time. Unfortunately, when it seems that these Justicars have successfully silenced what they believe to be 'The Prime', it seems that he has the capacity to simply reappear. As such, they have developed many theories regarding how this is possible and through the Blue Justicar's continued efforts, one of these theories has now been confirmed...

The Prime
The Prime is the absolute authority over the Phantoms. It is he (for he is always male), who determines if and when a resurgence will occur. More often than not, these assaults only begin when The Prime has come of age and has several years of experience under his belt. At one point in time it was believed that this was because he was an apprentice to the former Prime, but it has since been determined that this is not the case.

More often than not, The Prime often appears in the form of a middle aged lion, or one of considerable years. Due to the manner in which the Scourge take their form, only they are able to take note of the subtle differences that would allow an individual to determine who The Prime might be. In a manner of speaking, they all 'look the same'.

The Prime is considered the voice of the Black Dragon, communing with this slumbering deity through means that are still not entirely understood. If the Black Dragon demands peace for a time, a moment in which to recover, then there will be no war; however, should he demand war then it will be inevitable.

The Prime is known for being a master strategist with many Justicars remarking upon his seemingly ability to see everything as though he were everywhere at once. While this is credited to an impressive intelligence network by the Justicars, the normal citizens of the pride have attributed this to a corrupted power. In essence, they believe he is the corrupted Vessel of the Black Dragon and this is a reputation that is cultivated by the Scourge where opportunities present themselves. A pet hate of many Justicars is that this entity always seems to have a counter for them and it requires they often think outside the box to win... something that can take several years to achieve.

The Prime is renowned for being decisive in battle and his immediate decisions in the midst of battle are often celebrated due to how successful they tend to be. Suffice it to say, that it seems that even after all these years, the Al-Siq upon the surface still struggle to counter those who make decisions so swiftly.

One of the more interesting aspects of The Prime is that he's rarely seen, not even the most high ranking Phantoms can gain an audience with him unless he calls to them. As such, it really is a puzzle as to how the Phantoms operate so beautifully, to an outsider their leadership looks to be in disarray... but it still somehow works.

It is not known if The Prime ever takes a mate.

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The Generals
Despite the religious doctrine that surrounds this society, it is the Generals that are the second in command. They have risen to such high ranks and had so much success that they have gained the attention of The Prime himself. It is generally assumed that these very special warriors are imbued with a blessing far beyond any other being in the warrens which provides them with unnatural strength...and in some circles, there are claims of immortality.

It is highly unlikely that those who reach these lofty heights will ever be demoted; more often than not a General is slain in battle rather than finding themselves out of favour with The Prime. This is attributed to their absolute determination to ensure the Scourge's successful return to the surface. They are, for the most part, the individuals who receive the most credit during a Resurgence as The Prime is quick to remind the masses through his Priests that it is the Generals who make the majority of the strategic decisions on the frontlines.

...While The Prime might be the master planner, it is these Generals who enact that plan and ensure its success. More often than not they are the bane of the Justicars existence. In a one on one battle, the Justicars are evenly matched against these mighty warriors.

The Generals are highly respected, though a normal phantom might not necessarily realise exactly how high ranking they are depending on the conditions in which they are met. More often than not, the Generals are mistaken for normal males and this is something that they encourage.

After all, in Phantom society, all beings are equal (for the most part) and rank is only pulled when necessary.

Dragon Priests are the most likely to recognise a General from a distance regardless of whether or not they are displaying their rank. Those close to a General may also know that they hold this position as well.

Generals are known to take mates.

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The Dragon Priests
Yes, even in the Warrens these Dragon Priests exist (however their duties differ considerably)...though the process of becoming one of these individuals is a source of wonder. It is said that these priests are summoned by The Prime when they reach adolescence. Through the grace of the slumbering Black Dragon himself, they are chosen to serve him and educate the masses.

This is a position of great respect and one can expect the parents of such a cub to be positively delighted. It is one of the few positions in Phantom society that cannot be demoted by anyone other than The Prime himself. One would go so far as to say that only the Black Dragon can spurn these religious representatives as he speaks directly through The Prime.

Regardless of gender, these lions are given extensive education and are largely responsible for ensuring that the young and old alike are guided. For the young, they are often teachers in a classroom, while to the more mature, they lead those who feel lost back to the right path.

They are often philosophical, dwelling on more divine concerns than those of mortal beings, but do not mistake them for untrained citizens. Like all phantoms, these individuals are capable of going to war immediately and will fight just as well as any other participant.

Be advised that they are fiercely loyal to The Prime, and by extension, the Black Dragon.

Dragon Priests are known to take mates.  

[The Al-Siq]

Phantom Religion and Mythos  

[The Al-Siq]

Phantom Ranks and Castes

Despite the assumption by the citizens of the Al-Siq, the Phantoms have a societal structure and caste system to rival the world above. Their world is not defined by chaos and destruction; and they have hobbies, professions and ranks that would startle and confuse any standard citizen if they were to gain access to the warrens that this sect of society call home.

The important distinction to make between Phantoms and the standard Al-Siq citizen, is that their rank and caste are not determined by wealth; but instead, by the manner of profession they adopt at adolescence, and their achievements as they function on a day to day basis.

Phantom Structure is nuanced enough to confuse even the most educated of parties, with the Blue Province's Justicar often struggling to comprehend exactly how it functions despite having access to the inner most sanctums through carefully placed sources.

Below, the castes and their ranks are specified, IC and OOC details will be provided surrounding these as a large proportion of this detailed is information that only a phantom would know.

Caste Structure
- Castes are not given specific names in phantom society, the exception to this is The Prime, who is regarded as something akin to the Divine.

- Phantoms have the ability to lose and gain rank quickly, if they have a series of remarkable gains and this is spotted by those at the highest echelons then they will find themselves in a more powerful position. Similarly, numerous failings may see the phantom cast down to reflect upon their actions so that they might better themselves.

- Phantom ranks are gender neutral, a male or female can rise in rank though their professions are strictly dictated.

- All Phantom offspring are born at the very bottom rung of their society, this doesn't mean that they're not worth respect, only that like everyone else, they need to prove their worth. Authority and rank are not something that can be inherited in this society.

Caste Behaviour
- Phantoms of a higher caste will carry themselves a specific way, to an outsider this would be regarded as arrogance, but the immediate demeanour of a phantom in their own society is simply an indicator of rank. The more they stare down at an individual, the higher their rank in society.

- Phantoms do not pretend to be a higher rank than they are, their society is based heavily on absolute trust (and in some eyes, obedience).

- It is exceedingly rare that a Phantom will disobey the order of a higher ranked individual.

- Jealousy, is bizarrely, not something that's very common. This may be attributed to how fluidly phantoms can rise and fall in rank. In their world, everyone has the same chance to succeed, another individuals success generally means they may need to work harder.

- Friendly competition is encouraged, this isn't to inspire jealousy, but to encourage individuals to try their best. In cubs this may result in jealousy, but in time these offspring grow to realise that all competition is a lesson and not there to humiliate.  

[The Al-Siq]

Phantom Education & Professions  

[The Al-Siq]

Phantom Attire and Appearance

Attire and Jewellery

It is generally understood that Phantoms do not wear anything that may directly connect them to the rest of Al-Siq society. As they have been forsaken from birth, they have cast aside all links they may have had to a former life and fully embraced the ways of their own kind. As such, jewellery is strongly frowned upon and so are any form of 'clothing'.

Both of these pose risks as they increase the likely hood of detection i.e. cloth or leather might make a sound and alert an individual to their presence. Similarly, a jewel might shine or clink; such things cannot be afforded.

Foreigners

The Phantoms are not generally known for being strong in terms of Foreign Affairs, they have been isolated in the Al-Siq for so long that they trust only their own. Whether or not they choose to embrace an outsider who falls into their definition of blessed is very much open to debate - in fact, it's a debate that now rages among the Justicars following the Scourge's invasion into the lands beyond the Al-Siq borders.


Colouration and Markings

All phantoms will always conform to the same standards:


- Males:
These lions will always have a pure black coat, their eyes are red. They deliberately blackened their claws and inner ears in order to completely blend in to the shadows. They are ghoulish and well known for their cruel smiles. The thought of a male phantom is enough to unsettle some of the most seasoned soldiers in the Al-Siq.

- Females:
These lions will always have pure black coats, their eyes are white. They deliberately darken their claws and inner ears in order to blend in to the shadows. They are haunting and ethereal, deliberately so, due to the expectations upon them during an assault.