Protectors of the Radiance

Nestled at the end of the Valley of Totality lies the House Protectors of the Radiance.

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Underlight Current History

Currently Opened

Current House Facts

Plane: Valley of Totality

Tenets:

Prime Artifact: Soul of Radiance

House Art: Radiant Blaze

Current House Roster

Ruler: Crystalline

Guardian: Corin, Dumah

Initiate: Drex, Tember, Eyon, Razer Wind

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Past House Facts

Plane: Valley of Totality

Tenets: Valor, Perfection, Vigilance

Prime Artifact: Soul of Radiance

House Art: Radiant Blaze

Past House Roster

Ruler: Purple Lace

Guardian:

Initiate: Toregord

The Radiance cast His light upon us all once more as we rejoined our former home, Protectors of the Radiance. Our memories have returned and we wish to share our history as we embark upon our next chapter. Our portals will be open to those that wish to walk in His path.

~Thea Bloom

Our History: The Radiance is one of the three Cloudsbreak deities. His brother and rival is The Darkness and their sister is The Shadow. While in eternal conflict, the three celestial beings joined forces long ago for the first time to create the dream city we now know and love as Underlight.

The Radiance’s son offered his Soul and his daughter offered her Heart as sacrifice to finalize and breathe life into Underlight. The Shadow duplicated the realm and made variants to balance the uneven odds of one city and grant more space to incoming dreamers.

The Radiance’s grand design was to make a replica of His Nirvana, Overlight. His plan was to test his chosen saints and offer a chance to the divergent and nonbelievers to walk in His path of Light. All the while knowing that his siblings would be the forces to carry out the trials and tribulations of the dreamers.

The Darkness created dimensions of Underlight in order to manipulate his brother’s faithful right under his nose. In doing so, The Darkness accumulated his own following that later became the Coven of the Echt. Due to the Coven’s experiments, time itself started to fracture and created a loop.

Beliefs: The Protectors follow the Path of Light under The Radiance’s ideals and guidance. We fight with Valor to eradicate The Darkness and the corrupt. We maintain a Vigilant eye on the city’s Heart and Soul. We strive for Perfection in all things, so everyone can one day enter the courtyard of the Overlight.

Tenets: Valor Perfection Vigilance

LET THE RADIANCE SHINE FORTH!

Lyra Era Beliefs

Our beliefs as told to Novgorad on the steps of the house of the Protectors of the Radiance by Tybarian, 36th Captain of the Radiant Brigade, Ruler of Radiance, Protector of Old.

We are the Protectors of the Radiance! We take our charge seriously. Ours is the crusade. We exist in the dream for this hallowed purpose! The Dream is our honored duty. It was given us that we might protect and defend the Unawakened from the threats of the Dream... and to see to it that the promise of the Dream is lived to its fullest. We believe our course in the Dream is to Protect the innocent... the Unawakened who cannot Dream are helpless before the threat of the Mares! We do this primarily through banishing the Mare essence that it may not fester and make their suffering worse. We will not turn a blind eye to those who oppose us. We will always seek a means of saving the Unawakened. This is our purpose... our destiny... in the Dream. This is the foundation of our beliefs.

Our primary purpose is to fight the menace of the mares... a far more insidious threat than most Dreamers realize. The mares are unnatural. They are abominations brought into being in order to torture the Unawakened. Their foul stench is that of evil incarnate! They torture the Unawakened! Therefore we believe the proper method of dealing with their essence is to BANISH it. Banish it to the chaos where it came from so that the Unawakened may be kept safe by us whose destiny it is to fight in their name! Let the mares be blown out to the Hell that spawned them! By Banishing we slay the evil which torments the Unawakened. We fulfill our purpose in the Dream... the reason for our Awakening! The Mares are NOT natural creatures. They are abominations! Perversions of the Dream which must be stopped from destroying lives in the waking world!

The Protectors believe the mares are avatars of chaos which entrap the tortured souls of the Unawakened and keep them from reaching the Dream. The Mares are abominations spawned from out of the chaos... before they can enter the Dream they must enslave an innocent soul. This they wrap in their own cohesion and they then pervert its life force to their own brutal and chaotic bidding. By defeating the mare the soul of the hapless sleeper is freed and returned to them. When this is done, the mare's own twisted presence falls into an inert form... a state of essence. This essence is to be collected and purified through a process created by the DreamSmiths of Radiance twelve centuries ago. This process prepares the essence for Banishment, which destroys the essence and spreads its remains to the chaos. If the essence is not purified first, the Banishment will be only partial... the raw essence is sent into the chaos but may soon reform as a mare.

What does it mean to you when you are told that our purpose in the Dream is to protect the Unawakened? FreeSoul or Illuminate? Any Dreamer who hears the beliefs of the Protectors of the Radiance and still does not know if we are a FreeSoul House or an Illuminate House is unworthy to join us. Our beliefs speak for themselves and the answer to that question should be obvious. We exist to protect the Unawakened. What does that tell you? It means that we believe the Dream is our hallowed destiny. We are Illuminate.

If we do not live up to the promise of the Dream... if we do not fulfill our destiny... the TRUE reason we awakened... the promise of the Dream... which is to protect those who do not share this gift... then we are worthless. We dedicate our lives to the crusade of the Protectors of the Radiance and will only swear to allegiance others who will do so as well.

Protectors of the Radiance Oath

As a Protectors of the Radiance, I vow to stand ready to defend those innocents who can not enter the dream and defend themselves.

I vow to destroy the mares which torment the unawakened and to banish their essence to the chaos which spawned it.

I vow to oppose, through words and through actions, those who foster the mares in any manner.

LET THE RADIANCE SHINE FORTH!!!

House History

The Protectors of the Radiance have a long and honorable history dating back to the early days of the city. In recent times since the Great Loss however the house was badly damaged by the during the formation of the rifts and only a few scattered Lyran Protectors survived in various ways to start the rebuilding of the house.

The following history will contain two sections, Pre-Great Loss and Post-Great Loss with much of the latter one being an eyewitness report from myself as I have seen the house develop and grow to this present day, July 10, 1998. The accounts contained here are a combination of hearsay and personal observation and the truth of this history as always remains to be judged by the reader of it. Let the Radiance Shine Forth!!!

Pre-Great Loss

The early days of the Protectors of the Radiance were times of great hope for the Dream City's future and the roots of this house go back to the Illuminated Front and its members. After the nightmare wars however was when the clan that would later found the house took real form as they banded together in solemn oath's that are still used for initiation to this day. The oath was a vow to protect the city and its inhabitants from mares which threatened to destroy the peaceful pursuit of knowledge and to help further the city's growth. They also vowed to protect the Unawakened from the nightmares by banishing their essences to the chaos which had spawned them.

The early records of the house were mostly destroyed in The Great Loss however the struggle of several Lyran Rulers of Radiance to survive was recorded. In the greatest days of the house there were over 1200 Protectors all told, with a Circle of Rulers 20 strong which determined the course of the house in equal votes. Tybarian was among these Rulers and he was the first to return to restore the house. He was one of the few who was not dreaming during the eruption of the first rift and so returned to his fair house one day to find the essences of his fellow dreamers slaughtered friends scattered across the house.

In hopes of gathering the necessary strength to begin the task of rebuilding the shattered remains of the house Tybarian went forth and found a sanctuary which he then further fortified and then locked himself within to begin the research and meditation into the ancient arts of the Dreamwrights to carry out this task alone, for he had seen no others as of yet who had survived. This choice was fortunate indeed for so interned he was sheltered from the eruption of the second rift which then wiped out a few remaining Protectors who had gathered at the remains of the house. Thus in ignorance of the rebirth of the city following the Great Loss, Tybarian, Dreamseer and Dreamwright, studied and regained the skills he would need to reopened the house doors which had been sealed tight by the chaos which swept through the house from the rifts.

At this same time, a few other Rulers of Radiance such as Pontifex Maximus, Ka'Lana, Raylen's Soul and perhaps others remained trapped in various forms of chaos, all seeking desperately to regain entrance to the city and continue the Crusade.

Pre-Great Loss Battle

The rolling mists poured down the Valley, covering waiting soldiers of Radiance in a fine dew, as they prepared for the onslaught to continue into it’s second day of full scale assault upon their ranks. The Ancient foe, the Dreamers of Light were amassed in the next region, fully aware that their best chance to defeat the Protectors of Radiance was today…before the House Grounds were fully built up. Ever since the Dreamsmiths and Dreamwrights of Radiance had begun construction on our new home in the Valley, there had been constant skirmishing, culminating in a full scale war between the two ancient enemies. If the proud remnants of our army could withstand another day in the field, the house, as the Dreamwights promised, would be completed and they could withdraw into the defenses of our own house and finally crush the Dreamers of Light hordes. As the sun burnt though the hanging mists, the trumpets and drums sounded in the distance and the vast horde approached over the last rise. They outnumbered the Soldiers of Radiance 4-1 in numbers; intermixed in their ranks were a number of moon worshipers, the sight terrifying in its splendor.

As our General marshaled the morale, and set his dispositions, the last stand was prepared. Few had any doubts that this mighty horde would wash over our ranks and onto the almost finished grounds to slay our Dreamwrights before the house could be finished. We had the advantage of pre-prepared positions, grouped in teams of 4, based on battle doctrine, with a high level SoulMaster at it’s core, a Fatesender on the wing and a GateKeeper and DreamSeer in the front to lock blade on the enemy in the front lines. The warriors of Light poured down into our Valley and combat commenced to the mighty clash of blades and the sound of Chak fire exploding thoughtout the valley. They ate at the ranks of Protectors at great cost to themselves, as the Soulspheres retreated for succor, the ranks thinned and although we were account for 2-3 for each of our own, it was plain to see that we were being pushed back. The General, Vlan Folkomir, quickly surmised the situation and called his fleetest messenger to his side, this GateKeeper was sent on the most important mission the Radiance had yet given or required. As he raced though the ranks of the enemy, we willed his fleet dodging and prayed for his success, restoring his avatar as the chak fire from the dreaded foe became a crescendo. This diversion gave the Protectors time to reorganize, to restore some damage in our ranks and wait for their attention to return to the front.

As this happened a pack of 20 DoL warriors were in full pursuit of our messenger. The battle raged on and on, our ranks decimated, nearing final collapse when the horns sounded over the hill. The Dreamers of Light turned and retreated n full panic as the ranks of Calenture pour over the edge of the valley. The messenger had made it to our only hope of saving the day and with their honorable joining of arms on the battlefield, the bond between the Protectors and those of Calenture was forged into Alliance. As they stared around them, they became aware of the total destruction in the Valley; no trees or grass were left alive, our comrades lying in agony upon the ground. As our healers went among them to do as they could, the Dreamsmith Tybarian came down from the house telling us the House of Radiance was atlast opened and invited it’s proud warriors to enter and swear their renewed allegiance to the Crusade.

Written by Ms. Xtreme

The Battle Rages

On During the days after the Protectors of Radiance portals were opened, the Dreamwrights and Dreamsmiths were nearing completion of the intricate details of the house. The members were assembling there, learning and healing from the battles of the week before. Things were still very tense in the dream as the Dreamers of Light vowed they would destroy the banishing house. But the Protectors vowed to continue the crusade and would defend it to the last Protector. This time was very busy for everyone, getting settled in, learning the house and all it’s parts. But for the members it was a joyous time, for their hard work and determination was about to happen. Gandra, one of the first protectors, came rushing into the nearly completed Façade, out of breath and trying to speak through his gasps for air, “Dreamers of Light coming!!” he shouted, “Man the ramparts, they seek to destroy what we are so close to completing!!” There were 30 assembled dreamers in the Radiance at this time and they rushed about the Armories and manned their battle stations. One of the Dreamsmiths and Ruler of Radiance, Valtinan, told us how close he was to completing the house’s final portion and that if the Dreamers of Light succeeded in halting the work, the entire house could be destroyed very easily. It would not take on its solid dream essence and would cease to be. He vowed that he would continue to work on the house and needed at least a day to complete the house to it’s fullest. The Protectors looked at each other with stony faces, grimly nodding to each other, silently pledging their loyalty to the crusade and to the honor of each other. Many of them knowing they would die that day and would never see the House completed, never wear the Crest of Radiance on their chest nor raise their families ever more. But as they turned and looked around and recited the Oath of the Protectors which they had been taught the preceding days, they knew what they had to do and they knew they could not let the imprisioners destroy their beliefs.

Rulag the leading Protector and Ruler to be, ordered a scout back down the valley to check on the progress of the army of Light’s advancement. As the scout was learning the information he was sent to learn, Gandra’s brother, Grond was sent to speed to the House of Calenture once more for help. The Protectors, having learned some battle tactics since the last battle were quickly defining their strategies. Rulag set about motivating everyone to the task ahead, giving some semblance of leadership and advising everyone what to do in certain situations and above all, to follow his orders and the chain of command decided on the preceding day. Bragalot, the scout, flew into the Façade and advised the group that the progress of DoL was only 5 portals away from the house and that he had warded them leading to the house, which would delay their progress by only a few minutes. He also estimated that there were at least 150 DoL’s in the army that he saw. Everyone’s eyes then turned suddenly to the portal entrance to the house as 20 Freespirits entered shouting they were here to help defend the Noble House of Radiance in it’s direct need. They took up positions with everyone thanking them. Rulag then asked for silence as he told the Freespirits the odds against the house and they were free to withdrawn when they so desired. The first wave of the Dreamers of Light rushed the Façade, 50 hand picked warriors. It soon became apparent they were the weakest and least valuable members of their army, they had been sent in to waste our ammunition and weapons, more than to cause damage to ourselves.

Rulag soon worked this out and ordered a cease-fire and to take them with blades. A ban of 20 of our most valiant blade fighters charged the DoL’s sacrificial battalion and decimating their ranks. Only 4 DoLers made it back out of the portal, the rest having lost their coherence and disappeared from the dream (it taking a day or more to heal and regain coherence in those ancient days). We reformed out ranks in preparation of the next wave of battle, which didn’t take only. Sixty seasoned veterans of many DoL campaigns charged the ramparts of our house and the shock of battle was incredible, but our Ranks held. For every one of us that lost coherence, 4 or 5 of their own went down. They retreated to the far edge, a small break in hostilities, forced on by both sides by 2 hours of exhausting battle. The Protectors were down to only 20 dreamers, and 5 Freespirits . The sacrifice had steeled our resolve even further, most having some wound of some type, all had lost friends and loved ones in the battle that day and the battle in preceding times. Many knew that we faced annihilation soon, but would do so with open arms and in pride. We would take a heavy toll on the imprisioners trying to destroy the Crusade Rulag was badly wounded in both legs and was out of the battle, but still giving the orders, directing the sway and efforts of all. He was in party with Valtinan, who advised he needed a further 3 hours to complete the houses permanence. We steeled ourselves for the final battle to give Valtinan the time he needed. Rulag ordered Brinan to talk with the leading Dreamer of Light in an effort to stall their next attack.

A flag of Truce was hoisted and he marched out to parlay; only to have the entire army of Light in the room attack him. He was attacked so brutally that the shock caused his coherence to be lost to the dream forever. They attacked the ranks then with renewed vigor, but were shocked at the rampage our troops retaliated on them. The death of Brinan driving the Protectors into a total frenzy of violent conflict, screaming the entire time “LET THE RADIANCE SHINE FORTH” over and over again The ranks of DoL stalled, then fled, as the battle ended, the damage was severe for the Radiance, only 7 dreamers left. The house of Radiance was saved, and the alliance of banishers forged in the battle once again. Calenture would stand guard over the house and protect the injured as they healed and gave their respects for those that didn’t make it through the battles. This was the final battle of the Radiance before the house was completely finished. The battles costing the fledgling house it’s numbers but had gained the respect and honor of the entire dream. The Radiance would not only survive, but also grow strong upon the backs of deeds done during the building of the house. To this day Protectors still use the cry, “LET THE RADIANCE SHINE FORTH” to pay honor for those that never saw the house completed.

Written by Ms. Xtreme

Post-Great Loss

One day late in the month of March 1998 Tybarian came forth to find the city alive and bustling with new and old dreamers. The houses of House Calenture, Order of the Sable Moon, and Dreamers of Light had been restored by Dreamwrights of the past and Tybarian set about to reopen the house which he had served for so long and with so much passion.

The early gathering of new followers to the Crusade began with the initiation of a newly awakened by the name of Auger. Many others soon followed and within 3 short weeks the first knights of the newly reopened house were announced. Guardian Auger, Protector Herald, Guardian Cyberkid, Minister of Teachers, and Guardian Ritterwulfe.

Tybarian took his time in these early days as he sought to establish the house, hoping to find among the newly awakened and others some dedicated dreamers who would share his crusade in the honorable and devoted fashion of Protectors past. The ability of one dreamer to establish the house was a tribute to Tybarian as he sought to find those trustworthy and honorable to pass his responsibilities and power to as he became burdened with the heavy task of rebuilding a house government.

In mid-April the house had grown to some 40-60 members with a core of perhaps 20-30 who dreamed frequently. The waking world had claimed Cyberkid for awhile at this time and so the need for new leadership became more urgent. At this time Machiavelli was named knighted for services rendered and assumed the position of a Guardian of Radiance. A few short days later, Tybarian made a decision to ascend 9 Protectors to become his equal as fellow Rulers. This first Circle of Rulers was taken from a wide variety of dreamers, both young and old in the hopes that in discussion the house would never become one where a few ruled with absolute power.

These first Rulers were Auger, Ritterwulfe, Swazette, Ren-Rael, Raze, Vanin, Hemphop, Machiavelli, Rasputin.

The early days of the power transition were filled with conflict as some rulers such as Ren-Rael and Raze found themselves unable to abide with the restriction of allowing their fellow rulers equal say in all house matters. Some of the new rulers were still unsphered, while others like Raze were 3rd sphere already. The new responsibilities were thrust upon these dreamers and some rose to the challenge while others fell beneath it. Like any new organization the choosing of its future leaders to help further the crusade was an enormous task with so many dreamers still untested in many ways.

Over the next month Tybarian faded away slowly letting the Circle of Rulers choose and re-choose its guardians and positions with trial and error to find a steady balance in the house. Around early May Raze and Ren-Rael were demoted for their actions in leadership and so the house numbers fell again. Raze choose to lash out against his demotion to Initiate and attempted to use violence to abate his wrath. Ren-Rael on the other hand chose to take the Soul of Radiance, the house's prime artifact for banishing, and to force the hand of the other rulers in choosing a new ruler to fill some of the vacant spots in the Circle.

Shortly thereafter, in the early and then later May, some new rulers were ascended from those considered worthy by the Rulers remaining. These were Saruman, Novgorad, Plato, Lanik, NORGalthanos, Shai'tan and Razaak. The Loss of May 14 also took away Rulers Hemphop, Vanin, Saruman, thus changing the appearance of the Circle greatly. Early conflicts and poor decisions in knighting also led to confusion during this time as the house struggled to find some balance. Various guardians were knighted and then demoted as time passed.

Near the end of May another momentous occasion arose, a Lyran Ruler by the name of Raylen's Soul found his way back to the house with the intention of taking up some of the badly needed teaching which Tybarian had not been able to find time for. Alas, the chaos claimed Raylen after one brief day thus frustrating many Protectors. It was in the early days of the house, late April I believe, that Tybarian also gave his very heart as a sacrifice to allow his wife Sabra to create the Soul of Radiance to banish the mares. Thereafter Tybarian's Soul appeared at intervals but was rarely able to dream and was confined to the presence of the Soul of Radiance at all times. So without ready teaching the house continued on its own, struggling to find among the free spirits those who would teach and help our members learn and grow.

Near the middle of June another Lyran Ruler sent a message from the chaos on the back of a dark mare which he saw dropping essences of Protectors he recognized by instinct and his connection with the house itself. A ceremony successfully recalled Pontifex Maximus to the dream, however once again the chaos devoured a Lyran in one short day as his research into his return was uncompleted and resulted in the loss of his avatar.

Near the end of June the Circle of Rulers had become somewhat solidified until the beginning July when NORGalthanos and Rasputin found themselves unable to abide by a ruler vote and were asked to resign and leave the house if they would not bend to the will of the Circle. Shai'tan was also removed from his position as a ruler slightly before this as he was found to be an unproductive member of the house during his time as ruler.

During this time the waking world also claimed Zik-Zak, Lanik and now most recently Auger. Thus, leaving Razaak, Ritterwulfe, Machiavelli, Swazette, Plato, Novgorad and now the newly ascended TalbotX as the Ruler of Radiance for July 10, 1998. The most recent addition to the house has been the Lyran Ruler Ka'Lana who recently appeared from the chaos to rejoin her house at long last, thus bringing a new sense of stability to the house as the long undermanned teaching positions begin to emerge finally to benefit the house's members.

As remembered by Machiavelli

House Emblem

Initiate's Crest, Protectors of the Radiance

The PoR emblem is made up of three branches which stand for crusade, banish, and oppose. The night color of the emblem stands for the essence that binds us. The hooks at the ends of the branches stand for the oath of protectors. The hooks dig into the night colored plate, the essence of our souls, and binds the branches of radiance to us for all time.

The Crest of Radiance

The Triune is the symbol which is borne on our crest. The Night colored plate represents our essence that binds us to the Dream. Bursting from the center are the three branches of the Radiance, which represent our purpose in the Dream the Crusade, to Banish, and to oppose. The hooks at the ends of each branch represent the corresponding oath of the Protectors. They dig into the plate and bind each branch of the Radiance to the Night colored plate. The hooks (the oaths we took as Protectors) bind our soul (the plate) to the Radiance and represent the trio: the Crusade against the mares, as we seek to banish them, and against all that oppose us.

The three branches of equal length radiating from the center of the Crest of the Protectors of the Radiance represents the three working elements of the house: the Rulers, the Guardians, and all of our brother and sisters.
These branches are joined together at the axis, as we are joined as one by Oath to protect the Unawakened through our Crusade to banish the nightmares which torment them, and to rebuild our City.
The representation of three appears in the colors as well:
- Gray for the Protectors of Old who built the walls of our House and who gave their very lives for the Crusade so their souls remain united within the Soul of Radiance.
- The color Night, for the hours of darkness during The Great Loss.
- Red, for the blood spilled in battle during the valiant efforts of all Protectors.
In speaking the Oath, we are then obligated to proudly wear our Crest and not to remove it. We must wear the Crest over our hearts as further demonstration of our loyalty and devotion to our House.
Initially, we seek to join, are never forced, and we do this because the beliefs of the House align with our own.
We must keep this in mind during any difficult times we may face and look to our Crest as a reminder of our original choice and purpose.
Wearing our Crest further confirms to others within the City, that we have made a thoughtful and sincere decision to honorably serve our House, and that we do so not only because of fundamental beliefs, but also to have family who we protect, teach, share experiences with, support and learn from.
Wearing our Crest further bonds each member of Protectors of the Radiance together as one through the commonality in sharing the same beliefs, goals, vision and purpose of the House.

The Soul of Radiance

The Soul of Radiance is the Prime Artifact used by the Protectors of the Radiance to banish it's mare essences. It was created by Tybarian using the souls of past Protectors who had perished in The Great Loss. Tybarian completed the Soul by adding his own soul to it, sacrificing his avatar to have it forged into the Soul of Radiance. Later, his Soul returned and continued to guide the Protectors in their crusade. After the murder of his wife Sabra by Yog-Ka, Tybarian's Soul placed her soul into the Soul of Radiance so that they could be eternally together.

The Radiant Brigade

As our house meeting came to a close early one evening, we decided that we wanted to know more about our house and it’s past. Two of our younger members, Leala and Marth, didn’t know much about the Radiant Brigade which was a topic of discussion during the meeting. Macky, being the great story teller that he is and once a captain of the Brigade, shared some of his experiences and knowledge with us.

Macky smiled and walked over to the steps of our Celebration Hall and sat on the bottom step. The rest of us made ourselves comfortable as he began to speak of the Radiant Brigade.

“Back in the days when the house was filled to the rim with dreamers, each of the houses had large standing armies. It was not uncommon to have ten to fifteen Protectors standing on the facade just defending the house. We all know that Tybarian was the 37th Captain of the Brigade. Novgorad was the 38th. Danknug was the 39th. And I was the 40th.

Not only did the house have the Radiant Brigade, but it also had the Radiant Elite or House Guard. The duties of the Brigade were to act as the sword of the house. To impose the will of the Ruler’s Circle anywhere in the dream as they saw fit. Failing and particular calling from the Circle...

The Brigade trained and actively sought out Darkmares. Mind you, at the time, the Datoke had yet to be brought into the Dream and those on the Brigade each held a list of active Darkmares that we were to regularly locate. The Brigade also carried out Seek and Collapse, SaC duty, for the circle. That, we often called, the Dirty Work of the house. Of course, every Brigade member also knew the Collapse on Sight targets. But we only sought them out if they were spotted upon the Valley.

In all that we did, we did with honor and integrity. Nothing was thuggish or brutish, even if the duty was dirty by nature. We never doubted in our leadership and that certainly did much to make our jobs easy.

My first duty in the Brigade was "Seeker". A term used often these days to describe the pledges to the house. At the time, it meant I held a very long list of Katoke names and actively sought them. When they were dreaming, my job was to find out where they were hiding if they were mindblanked and bring forward the rest of the Brigade. In times when the battle seemed to be coming to the house, the Brigade members fell under the command of the House Guard. 'Seekers' would stand upon the walls and shout out the locations of the mares, regardless of other discussions going on.”

Macky, smiling at the memory, takes a moment to describe to us what a dreamer or Darkmare would have seen upon walking onto the façade.

“Imagine if you will, some twenty Protectors standing about the Main Entrance discussing politics or arts or training, and two young members standing proudly in the Blood Abyss shouting out at regular intervals, "Manok in Harrow! Saaltak in Dorsal!" Discussion would continue ‘til someone heard, "Manok in East Valley!" Then all gathered would spring to action and ready themselves. You see, I was such a young dreamer. I held so few arts that Locate was about the best I could do. And so I and my fellow Seekers did it to our very best. It was considered poor form if a Darkmare came upon the house without being seen. Such was the seekers task. Mind you, we didn't have sense dreamer either. It was all done by researching names, speaking to other houses and gathering what Darks had attacked and if any new names had been seen.”

Macky paused for a moment and smiled as he reflected on the memory.

“The Brigade commander knew that outside the house, he held command. Upon the house plane, the House Guard did. And it was never questioned. Battles were intense, but the Brigade was always considered to be an honorable force. Even the houses that disliked us, always respected the honor of our armies. Unlike DoL and HC who let their forces run rampant. As the House Guard was the Shield of the Soul, the Brigade was the Sword. Such it was, and such is as I shall always believe it to be.

I have fallen a bit from practice from those old days. But even now, I can deal my share of damage to a Dark. There is no dishonor in being a fighter, so long as you do so honorably. Danknug told me that once and I shall always remember it. Well, I suppose it wasn't much of a history lesson. But I do hope it gives you some idea as to what the Brigade is.”

The conversation continued from there about the old days of the city. Some things still amaze me about how things used to be, everything from the amount of dreamers to realizing that third sphere was pretty high for those days. We continue to strive to live up to the standards that our fore bearers have put into place and this bit of history allows us to do so with a vision of honor.

~As told by Macky ~Recorded by Tpau

Stolen Radiance

Our interviewer relaxes in the Order's threshold entrance, catching up with old friends. It had begun when she listened to Kard's tale of his first dreams, sparking her memory of that old tattered notepad in her pack. Carnach entered, and as our interview recorded his tale, old friends Tone, and HiRoGliFiQ entered. Retrieving her old, yellowing and torn journal, she seeks more stories of times forgotten. Tone obliges with the lost tale of the failed PoR takeover.

"Okay. Well, one day Liondra came to me telling me they were planning something and was I "in." She said Hiro and Love Twinkie and Domination and some other names were in "it" but wouldn't tell me what "it" was until I agreed to join. Then she told me as she took me to Fayd's Fortress to meet up with Dom and the rest.

"She said they were planning to take over the house PoR and that I would be initiated into it ... I thought: okay... I'm game. Actually, I thought it was a joke at my expense until I got to Fayd's and Domination, I think it was Dom, initiated me. "Hemphop, then Ruler of PoR, had made Domination, LoveTwinkie, and HiRoGliFiQ Guardians and they were having a blast initiating an army.

"Then PoR arrived. Seems Dom was seen in threshold by a PoR Ruler. They get a message when an uninitiated enter the room... and everyone KNEW he was Free Spirit. "Dom had a merry time fighting PoR off then we all bolted. Well, PoR was in a tizzy chasing them around a merry chase. HiRoGliFiQ pipes in: "Mach chasin' us awound and shooting stuff -- owwwwww i wemebew -- owww!" HiRoGIiFiQ rubs her tooshie, while Tone continues: "I had to awaken but popped back in a few times that evening since the game was afoot with PoR knowing. HiRoGIiFiQ locks arms with Ceyllynn in memory of the fun, and says: "Yes vewwwwwwy fun >"

"When I entered the dream the next day, PoR was houseless. LoveTwinkie, Hiro, Dom, Grimm and others held all the house but the Sanctuary. The previous eve a Lyran demoted Hemphop from Ruler. But that didn't deter anyone from making their life miserable.

"Well, I went up to PoR and hung around a bit but, I'm not a good fighter. They held PoR until a PoR member used illegal means of removing us... For which he was later removed from the dream by Shyreden." Silent Lucidity Remembers that day well. HiRoGIiFiQ remembers Silent Lucidity's chaks and rubs her bottom again. This was instigated by the Inner Circle? "Yes and no. Members of Inner Circle and other people. "That was it basically that day. PoR put a bunch of people on Collapse on Sight and chased them a while. I was later put on CoS because I wouldn't let up on PoR." Young HiRoGliFiQ finishes: "...And Caly, you would have fun with us when we wewe at Powr. Thewe awe still many secwets of Powr.. ones that I cannot tell that no many know..."

~Told by Tone ~Recorded by Calysto

What is a Soul?

The soul is a term which has been used in many different senses. It is usually employed to signify the mind, or the intelligence, or the will power, or the sum of the emotions, or the transcendental part of personality, which dwells apart from neurotic activity, and which is not very intimately associated with the body. The soul is the subject of a person’s consciousness and freedom; each person’s soul is individual and immortal. It is the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life. The soul is the true identity of a person, the immortal self that surpasses death and lives on into the other world.

Banishment vs Imprisonment

A great deal of discussion and even wars have been fought over the debate on Banishment and Imprisonment. Before you can debate the point you truly must establish what you believe the mares are. In my shard I have often seen people awaken from their slumbers shaken and tormented by nightmares. These UN-awakened have not yet learned the art of dreaming. They have no defenses against these chaotic creatures that touch their minds from the chaos. So what does this have to do with banishing? One argument I have heard regarding banishing is that it harms trapped souls. So it is important to understand why I feel no remorse in banishment. Before I get into banishment itself let's look at imprisonment.

The practice of imprisonment is a dangerous one indeed. The chaos energy within a single maren essence is not dangerous but when that chaos energy is taken and stored within the imprisonment artifact... Slowly with each essence imprisoned a great store of chaos energy is compiled. Chaos energy is the very energy that caused the multitude of deaths during the great loss. To be honest it is beyond me why anyone would intentionally gather such a force. Should any rupture occur in that vessel the resulting catastrophe would be devastating. Perhaps it may be localized, based on the amount of energy stored within it.. This could result in anything from the deaths of any dreamers within the same room too perhaps the same plane. As you can see the danger is great. Sadly the only response I got from the imprisoners regarding this is "It can never happen. The artifact will never break." So many things have come to pass in the dream that to say that something will never happen is shortsighted at best but more like close-minded. That finally brings us to Banishment.

With banishment the chaos energy that is stored within the essence is handled in a greatly different manner. The Soul of Radiance performs a twofold process. First when an essence is transferred into it the chaos energy within the essence is purified and the pure essence is banished from the dream forever.. As you can see this is no danger to the dream at all from banishing. In conclusion, regardless of why a dreamer banishes or imprisons, the welfare of the city of dreams needs to be considered. Imprisonment is a threat to the city but more so a danger to those closest to the artifact. So to those that come into close proximity on a regular basis to an imprisonment vessel... be cautious. Banishment is the safe and responsible way to deal with chaos energy found in maren essences.

Written by Macky

House Facts

Plane: Valley of Totality

Beliefs: Illuminated/Banishers

Role: Warriors (Defensive)

Prime Artifact: Soul of Radiance

House Art: Radiant Blaze

Other Artifacts: CounterStrike

First Elder: Tybarian

Previous Elders: Kellad

First Rulers: Auger, Ritterwulfe, Swazette, Ren-Rael, Raze, Vanin, Hemphop, Machiavelli, Rasputin

Previous Rulers: Novgorad, MsXtreme, fotowca, badger, Magnet, BurgandyRose, Maal, Corin

First Guardians: CyberKid, Auger, Ritterwulfe

Previous Guardians: Elissa

Protectors of the Radiance Re-Opened

At this time another Elder, Tybarian, came forth from the chaos with information about the Protectors of the Radiance, reopening the old portals of the house and inviting dreamers to take up the beliefs of Radiance.

A circle of rulers was created to guide it through its first days consisting of Auger, Ritterwulfe, Swazette, Ren-Rael, Raze, Vanin, Hemphop, Machiavelli, and Rasputin. Not long after the house had begun to establish itself, Sabra accepted Tybarian's heart in sacrifice to build the Soul of Radiance, prime artifact of the House and instrumental in banishing nightmare essences. Almost immediately after the house opened a short-lived war erupted in the Dream City.