#q'ar

Extract from ‘Gods, Duty, and Men’ by Bartholemew Lillan

[Old text found in the forbidden section of the Saeya State Library dated from Year 5 of The Cassian Era]

Q’ar is one of the only Old Gods that people still follow today, whether they admit it or not. Q’arian principles dictate a life in pursuit of Justice and Truth. The Order of El Guard are among the most devout followers of the Q’arian faith.

Q’ar itself (himself?) is depicted as a large humanoid Kraken type creature and it is thought that this is how The Kraken, in a modern Llynadell calendar, came about.

The Kraken as a month is a time for revenge, which people readily and wrongly associate with justice. It is a time for telling others hard truths and both of these things are at the core of Q’arian beliefs.

The Q’arian belief system is closely bonded with an unwavering urge to rid the world of evil through action. At the very core are a previously unknown set of principles that, through careful research, I can outline for you dear reader.

Bring criminals and wrongdoers to the authorities

Be truthful, have the conviction to go through with your promises

Evil actions are unacceptable in any form

Punish the wicked through righteous actions

Purge Evil from the world in my name (Q’ar)

Smite the evil with my holy Wrath

Any action performed with a righteous heart and a clarified will is not evil

All is Permitted in my name (Q’ar)

The main principles don’t come in any particular order and are closely associated with truth and justice. The main theme seems to suggest that if in your heart you feel you’re doing the right thing then do it. It is no wonder then that this religion fell by the wayside owing to the fact that it revels in anarchic and chaotic situations. The last principle of Q’ar is particularly troublesome as it gave rise to people who used it as permission from God to be evil shits!

Executors of Q’ar - a sort of religious police.These fanatical faithful chase down those who would spurn Q’ar in favour of alternative lifestyle choice. They believe that after a person has taken the Oath of Q’ar it is binding until death. Oath-breakers are pursued relentlessly and tortured in ways beyond human imagination. I only know this from the extensive research and debriefing reports from the Executors themselves.

Extract from The First Order: El Guardian Knights by Bartholemew Lillan

[A very dusty book that is falling to pieces...]

Sometimes known as El Guardian Knights, or the First Order, this Holy Order of Paladins was founded before the advent of the Human Empire. Eminent scholars agree that their primary function was that of protectors and guardians. When Humanity was still a young race this Ancient Order defended the small Human villages and towns during the Elvish Age in 758Ea.

Historians have discovered cave drawings and scrolls that depict The Order of El Guard as colossal, hulking men wearing bearskin or a different favoured animal, shown as wielding a massive club or similarly brutal two-handed weapon. In more modern tapestry their tales of valour and bravery have been painstakingly stitched into legend. The majority of Academics agree that early Humans would have succumbed to Orcish Invasion if not for these men.

The earliest recorded El Guardian Knight is known to have been ‘Jordanus Ellgvarden’ he followed the teachings of the First Incarnation of Q’ar and together they wrote down the creed we know today.

The Order of El Guard take a solemn vow to protect the weak and uphold good. The Order is based on 3 Sacred Tenets passed down from the God Q’ar an Ancient Human deity of Judgement and Guardianship.

A Knight must do his duty as commanded by the will of Q’ar

A Knight must be just and fair, a Knights behaviour must be the highest example of how to live a pious and noble life.

A Knight must protect those unable to protect themselves even if it means The Knight will come to harm, or death.

There are few who follow the Order of El Guard today but those who do are found in the military or in the employ of The Emperors Guard. They are the most elite soldiers and battlefield commanders who, in the Human Era, work as an extension of the Emperor’s will. Only a fool would argue with an El Guardian Knight.

The Oath* that those wishing to join the Order of El Guard must take goes thus:

I promise in the Light of Q’ar to do no wrong I swear on The First Rise to fight until The Last No man may break me No blade will stop me From completing my duty I pledge my life and soul in service of Q’ar To protect those who cannot do so themselves And to slay those who would harm them

*translated and re-translated many times over