Epic Level Handbook

CHAPTER 6:AN EPICSETTINGbring new spells into the fold, or who are obviouslymore interested in using the temporary stacks for personalgain rather than to further the group’s ultimateend, may be cast out, never again welcome in the hallowedhalls of the order.Members may lodge in any of the hundreds of emptyrooms within the stronghold, including the empty catacombsbeneath. Many magically travel to and from thestronghold as necessary, preferring to arrange for theirown higher-quality accommodations.No formal dues are required to maintain membership,only an active pursuit of written magic. Donations forthe cost of scribing new magic into the tomes are alwayswelcome. Sometimes, members find it necessary toembark on side adventures in order to garner supplies,spell components, and sufficient wealth to keep the projectas a whole going. Even powerful wizards must eat,sleep, and bathe, and spell scribing requires ink, candles,pens, parchment, and binding facilities (though a largestoreroom in the stronghold usually holds enough ofthis sort of equipment to last for a month of scribing).ENCOUNTERSThe Order of the Book is probably the most reclusiveorganization among those described herein, but thatdoesn’t mean the player characters have no valid or interestingreasons to cross paths with it at some time oranother. The most obvious plot line in which to use theOrder of the Book is to have the characters create,acquire, or even witness the use of a new and unusualspell the order doesn’t have yet. Less direct but no lessinteresting is a plot thread involving the need for powerfulepic characters to chase down a needed spell. If youwant to bring the characters into conflict with the order,perhaps you can weave some plot in such a way that thePCs get involved with some extremist group that believesthe Order of the Book will bring about yhe downfall ofthe multiverse if it is allowed to complete the project it isworking on.Typical Spell Gathering Task Force (EL 23): 2 gatherers(Wiz19), 1 guardian (Ftr21). A spell gathering taskforce can appear almost anywhere, at any time, teleportingor plane shifting to a location of interest. The membersare usually quite single-minded about acquiringthe spell they came for, but are willing to enter into sideagreements if such a deal will net them a new spell inthe end. They prefer to simply pay, as for a scroll, theright to copy a spell. If necessary, they may fight thosewho refuse to part with a spell, although this behavioris not common.THE ORDER OF THE SHIELDThe Shield is a group of mercenaries who specialize inprotection and defense. It is sometimes referred to as theOrder of the Seal (due to a strange relic the group keepssealed below its headquarters in the city of Union’s CommerceQuarter). Its members work as bodyguards foranyone with the wealth to pay them, but they are goodenough to serve heads of state.OVERVIEW AND BRIEF HISTORYA group of adventurers who got tired of trekking fartherand farther afield to seek their fortunes formedthe Order of the Shield. The city where they lived providedplenty of mayhem, and they realized their talentscould be put to just as good use protecting businesspeople,politicians, and anyone else wealthy enough toneed competent guards. The group’s successes multiplied.When a great schism grew in one powerfultemple, the high cleric feared a coup and assassins. Shehired the Shield, firmly establishing the organizationand their reputation.Today, the Order of the Shield hires out to protect justabout anything. It can take items for safekeeping, watchover family members, or guard valuable facilities. Its servicesdon’t come cheaply, but the cost is well worth it,Lately, the Order of the Shield has been having more andmore trouble with the Garrote, as the two organizationstend to work at cross purposes. No one knows what maycome of this conflict, but it seems that things maybeboiling to a head in the near future.More openly observed and discussed is the Order ofthe Shield’s antagonistic relationship with the UnionSentinels. Both groups have a similar charter, though oneis profit-oriented (the Shield) while the other is a civicinstitution (the Union Sentinels). Problems of jurisdictionare common. In some cases, those who have paid theOrder of the Shield for protection have been sought byUnion Sentinels for real or alleged crimes (though theShield attempts to screen potential clients to avoid thepotential tor this sort of thing). Rumors persist of outand-outconflicts between Union Sentinel teams andShield teams, though both deny it.THE ORGANIZATIONThe Champions of the Shield direct all the activities ofthe organization.Headquarters: The order’s base of operations is astone manor house in the planar metropolis of Union,located in the Commerce Quarter. There, the grouphouses its members, trains them, stores provisions andequipment, and runs the place so that it is self-sufficient(a well-guarded portal inside the manor house opensonto a fertile valley on a Material Plane, where agentscontracted with local farmers for foods and goods). Asone might imagine, this manor is well protected; no oneapproaches who isn’t expected and welcome. Guests areescorted at all times when visiting, but members alsohappily visit a potential client’s abode or place of businessto discuss possible work.Supposedly, the basement of the headquarters housesa relic acquired by the founders. Dire magic supposedlyseals the item against all tampering. It is this rumorthat gives the Shield its unofficial name, the Order ofthe Seal.240