The Order of the Weighted Souls

Summary

The Order of the Weighted Souls is an ancient brotherhood of warrior monks who serve as peacekeepers, arbiters, and last-resort enforcers of law throughout the realm. Unlike knights or mercenaries, they do not seek battle, but when forced to kill, they bear the ultimate burden: the name of the slain is etched into their very identity.

Known Members

Lothar Völsung
Hagen Falkenrath
Siegfried Drachenholt
Wulfram Eisenhart
Alaric von Himmelsbruch
Reinhardt Sturmfels
Eckhart Grimmwald
Valter von Dornhelm
Gerwulf Schattenberg
Dietmar Blutstern

Philosophy & Beliefs

The Order believes that every life taken leaves a spiritual weight upon the soul. Killing, even in the name of justice, is an act of sorrow rather than triumph. To ensure that no death is forgotten, a member of the Order takes on the name of the person they have slain, binding their memory to themselves for eternity. Over time, these monks accumulate names like shackles, each one a reminder of the life they could not spare. The more names a monk carries, the heavier their spirit becomes.

Structure & Ranks

The Unburdened – Initiates who have yet to take a life. They train in philosophy, diplomacy, and combat, preparing for the day when they must bear their first name.
The Nametaken – Warriors who have killed and carry at least one name. Their armour and robes are marked with symbols representing those they have slain.
The Veilbearers – Senior monks who carry so many names that they wear veils over their faces, symbolizing their growing detachment from their own identity.
The Weighed – Masters of the Order, those who carry the greatest burden. Some are said to have more names than they can remember, their original identity long lost. They serve as wandering sages, offering guidance and judgment in the most dire matters.

Code & Laws

To Take a Life is to Take a Name. No member of the Order may kill without consequence. Every name taken must be recorded in the Order’s sacred ledger.
Violence is the Last Resort. Diplomacy, wisdom, and restraint are the preferred tools of the Weighted Souls. A monk who kills too freely risks expulsion, or worse.
The Burden is Personal. A warrior monk may never surrender or discard a name once taken. It is theirs to carry until death.
No King Commands the Weighed. The Order serves peace, not politics. They may advise rulers but swear no allegiance to any crown.

Symbolism & Appearance

Members of the Order wear dark, unadorned robes, often embroidered with the names they carry. Their weapons are designed for subduing rather than killing—staves, weighted chains, and blunt-edged swords. Only in the gravest necessity do they draw a killing blade, often engraved with a prayer for the soul it will claim.

The Curse of the Nameless

If a monk ever forgets a name, either through age or arrogance, it is said that their soul becomes untethered, cursed to wander in the afterlife until they can reclaim what was lost. Some among the Weighed are known to retreat into solitude, whispering names in the dark to keep them alive.