The Vindicators

"This is not a zealous cult, and this is not an extermination of immortals. It doesn't matter what Tyr says, it doesn't matter what Shar says, it doesn't even matter what Ao says. Vindicators exist t' tell all mortals everywhere tha' our souls are home in th' crystal sphere, and our bodies are th' inhabitants of Aeria. When any being wants t' take your life and world away from you, you unite th' people, you bring them together, you plant your feet firm on th' ground, and when th' gods tell y' to move, you say; No, you move." -Marius Shire


The Vindicators

The Vindicators are an ancient league just over two-hundred years old that focus on the protection of the mortal inhabitants of Aeria. The group is and always have been composed of unique adventurers, mages and heroes, capable of tapping into the third weave of magic; Surge, allowing them superhuman abilities. Of course, in modern-day Aeria, most of the information about the faction and its founder is unknown and lost in time, while the link between Surge and the Vindicators is unheard of. Nowadays, people believe Surge to be totally unrelated, that some families just happen by chance to be potent with the use of Surge, just like a bloodline may be with the first weave.

The Vindicators are generally unorganized and hidden from the public, but they are advised and guided by a grand-master Vindicator whom is capable of accessing portals to the Vindicator's plane of existence, and is in turn guided by the diety of Surge and the Vindicators; The Arbiter.

One may argue that it is hypocritical for Vindicators to be guided and powered by a god, when the factions' goal is to achieve autonomy for mortals so they may not be controlled by dieties, but The Arbiter's mysterious origin and nature ensure that the Vindicators' ultimate goal is not corrupted.

Learn about The Arbiter here.


Founded by Marius Shire in 586 MoP during his travels around all of Aeria, The Vindicators study Magic, Combat, Lore and History to develop full problem-solving abilities, and to be able to handle any opponent. Marius devised a joining ritual which is unknown to any outsiders, but as a result, only he, and anyone he titles as the Grand Master of the Vindicators, may recruit members into The Vindicators. Strict and cautious, Marius only allowed the skilled to join, and always ensured that new recruits were to serve under a Vindicator Master; a veteran member who teaches the recruit all there is to know. Although The Vindicators only travel in groups of 1-3, their power is from experience and talent, not numbers.

Aeria is a dangerous place; a Vindicator must overcome many challenges.


Surge
While "The Weave" commonly refers to the first and original weave of magic, Surge is in fact the third weave of magic, available exclusively to Vindicators and descendants of Vindicators. Surge was originally created when Marius Shire used a blade of pure living Dorifium to sever a link from the original weave of magic and shaped to become an entirely new weave. With The Arbiter as an anchor-soul for Surge, it was Marius Shire's legacy and greatest creation, what he claimed to be "the key to mortal freedom".

A Vindicator that has fallen from the order's teachings and into corruption can be remarkably dangerous.


Powers
Think 'Jedi' if you're having trouble understanding this section
The Vindicator's joining rite allows a unique and permanent physical connection with magic, allowing Vindicators certain powers. The powers of a Vindicator take several years to develop, and the risk of overconfidence is high. Many newly recruited Vindicators have before gone on a power high from these abilities even while they only just received them, or worse, have gotten themselves killed by picking fights with other powerful beings in Aeria. The powers are listed below.

-Heightened physical state; (A character must post an application for this power to be able to use it on-server as of May 27th; 2010.)
Vindicators are granted the agility and strength to utilize a unique acrobatic form of melee combat exclusive to Vindicators, where they perform dexterous, athletic flips and jumps, as their combat style is devised to help dodge attacks alongside parrying them, as Vindicators have the strength to swing a weapon with notable speed and power.

This strength boost is very similar to that of a vampire, but the potential limit is much greater, ranging to Herculean-limits, but such a thing is such a rare oddity it's not worth considering yet.

-Magical Energy Manipulation; (A character must post an application for this power to be able to use it on-server as of May 27th; 2010.)
Surge is a different application of magic than Mystra's weave, and therefore a skilled user can use Surge to affect magic and magical devices. The two main applications of this power is stimulating magic, which controls it to the extent of activating it. This includes activating magical traps, or opening locks imbued with magic. The other application is disrupting magic, which affects and interferes with magic already in effect. This can be used to protect against spells, or to overload magical devices.

This is a Surge-user's most difficult power. The power is dangerous if the user is inexperienced on how energy manipulation works, and requires a developed connection to Surge. The only way a newly joined Vindicator would be able to use this power is if they are some sort of messiah in terms of magic.

-The ability to mask their own alignment, thoughts and ever so slightly, their powers;
Vindicators know that avoiding a fight is just as important as winning one, and during diplomatic work, sometimes it is best to keep the other party unaware of their true nature, as to prevent a fight based on any misunderstanding.

-The power of detecting loss of life, and magic;
Vindicators can nearly smell death, being able to pick up where a murder took place. Should an individual be directly responsible for many deaths, it would be easy for a Vindicator to notice. Magical detection comes naturally, of course.

-Summoning outward telekinetic energy- the Surge Blast;
All Vindicators are capable of gathering the powers of Surge enough to create a blast of kinetic energy from out of their hands. Varying on the strength of the blast, it can be like a harmless knock back spell, to an explosion of devastating outwards force, powerful enough to topple buildings. Users are able to spend more time charging their burst to achieve more powerful results, but a skilled and/or talented user of Surge may release a devastating discharge of Surge immediately in very painful and challenging attempts. Performing a powerful blast of Surge without properly charging it and steadying one's self results in powerful kickback, usually resulting in reckless Vindicators breaking some of their bones, even with their toughness.

The Surge Blast is a kinetic force that pushes the victim back, but a skilled user could re-purpose this power. Some innovative Vindicators have been able to use the Surge Blast to propel themselves higher in midair, effectively performing a double jump.

The Vindicators unfortunately have no more passive, automatic resistance to magic than any other human, though they do know to rely on willpower, equipment and their own magic to combat it.

Vindicators grow to be very strong, physically and mentally. Here is Marius Shire; the first Vindicator.


There are weapons powered an enchanted by Surge, they are like normal enchanted weapons, except not being normal weave, the enchantment is at full power in the hands of a Vindicator, and are increasingly harder to disenchant. (Bear in mind, normal enchanted weapons are already very, very hard to enchant. Enchants by Surge are only of minimal power, unless in possession of a person connected to Surge or has a crystal that reacts positively towards Surge, because Surge enchantments require a constant connection with Surge to be fully operative.

A Vindicator using Surge to enchant her sword.


The Vindicators once had a sanctuary located in Talibar, but ever since the Talibarian Legion's persecution of the Vindicators, it has been abandoned for quite some time.

Spoiler:

Ranks
Apprentice: The lowest rank of the Vindicators, put under the teachings and responsibilities of a Vindicator Master until they learn to control their new found powers.

Master: When an apprentice's master has decided that they have sufficient control over Surge and their responsibilities, the apprentice becomes a master right away, given the privilege to have students of their own. The veteran masters who have proven their prowess countless times, usually by training several apprentices, are granted the ability to recruit new members, but must take those new recruits as their own apprentices.

Grandmaster: There is one single master in the Vindicators that has been granted the knowledge and power of affecting the main conduit of Surge directly, the ability to access The Vindicator's realm as a free power and a divine true-connection to Surge.

Several Masters confronting a fallen Vindicator.