Order of the
Lion Riders
The Lion Riders is a large sworn sisterhood order of all-female protectors. They are most known to guard the area around the Northern Heights and the central areas of the Ryggrad’n Mountain range. They have four stations around the nation of Hearthmiel and are a force not to be trifled with. There is incredible honor and pride in joining the order. It is said that if you have a warrant from the Lion Riders, it is better to give yourself up than to try to run or hide. Their stronghold, Castle Dauntless, resides at the base of Mount Chanticleer in the province of Hearthmiel.
Contents
1. Background
1.1 Nine Tenets
1.1.1 Bond
1.1.2 Shield
1.1.3 Sun
1.1.4 Hunt
1.1.5 Pride
1.1.6 Arrow
1.1.7 Moon
1.1.8 Tide
1.1.9 Self
1.2.1 Mark of the Keeper
1.2.2 Mark of the Vestal
1.2.3 Mark of the Huntress
2. Traditions
2.1 Hymn
2.2 War Chant
2.3 Ceremonies and Rituals
2.3.1 Anuathera
2.3.2 Feohkai
3.1.1 All-Mother’s Grove
3.1.2 The Stone Claws
3.1.3 Fang Ring
3.2.1 Foothill Watchtowers
3.2.2 The Abstaining Wall
3.2.3 The Doors of Anthesis
3.2.4 Greenhous
3.2.5 Corrals
3.2.6 The Three Lairs
3.3.1 Viaduct Path
3.3.2 Solitude Cloister
3.4.1 Entrance Hall
3.4.2 Atrium
3.4.2.1 Byanzauril
3.4.2.2 Anbari
3.4.3 Banquet Hall
3.4.4 Vestal Wing
3.4.5 Keeper Wing
3.4.6 Huntress Wing
3.4.7 Guardian Wing
3.5.1 Archives
3.5.2 Salvation Hall
3.5.3 Rumination Apse
3.6.1 Archives
3.6.2 Chamber of Henotic
3.6.3 General’s Quarters
3.7 Towers
3.7.1 Tower of Wrath
3.7.2 Tower of Justice
3.7.3 Tower of Mercy
3.7.4 Signal Fires
3.7.4.1 Red — Tower of Wrath
3.7.4.2 Green — Tower of Justice
3.7.4.3 Blue — Tower of Mercy
3.7.4.4 Cyan — Towers of Justice + Mercy
3.7.4.5 Yellow — Towers of Wrath + Justice
3.7.4.6 Magenta — Towers of Wrath + Mercy
3.7.4.7 White — All Three Towers (Wrath + Justice + Mercy)
The Lion Riders take in women who have been abused, assaulted, or have nowhere else to go. The riders welcome any woman they can from any nation or province, teach them how to stand up for themselves if they lack the courage or knowledge, and teach some to read. During their stay, these women are asked to help maintain the castle and even tend to the injuries of Riders. They are also able to learn fighting skills from the Lion Riders or learn to make weapons. Many women who come to the riders seek sanctuary that they can’t find anywhere else. If they have a desire to return to their towns or homes, they may do. These women rarely join the order of the Lion Riders, because joining the order is for life. It also can take a long time to cultivate and train a girl or young woman to become a Huntress or Guardian Elite.
The order of the Lion Riders is organized in four main departments: Guardian Elite, Huntresses, Keepers, and Vestals.
The Guardian Elite are few, but each member is as powerful as they are fearsome. They are the best of the best and pride themselves in being the main providers of safety in the realm. A Huntress will pursue the general dangers that plague citizens, such as bandits or trolls; and of course, they hunt for food. Keepers are the builders and caretakers of Castle Dauntless. Vestals are the religious nun-like women who heal and pray for all women who stay within the stronghold. The Lioness Commander is the sole leader of the Pride and acts as high commander of the order. If a woman desires to move up in the ranks to Huntress or Guardian Elite, or even Lioness General, it is possible, but extremely challenging.
Background
Nine Tenets
A set of rules the Order of the Lion Riders follow. Breaking these tenets results in suspension from the Order. Breaking these rules repeatedly leads to expulsion.
A Rider practices Sisterhood and loyalty through hardship, never cruelty. A Rider is bonded with her Sisters, and they with her. A Rider shall never kill one of her Sisters.
Bond
A Rider protects the ones who need it most, including her Sisters and herself. She guards her heart and her mind.
Shield
A Rider nourishes and uplifts herself and her Sisters with light and warmth.
Sun
A Rider provides for herself and provides for her Sisters, just as a lioness hunts for the pack.
Hunt
A Rider shall take satisfaction in herself and what she does, and the Pride will take care of her.
Pride
A Rider shall pierce through the toughest challenges and press ever onward.
Arrow
A Rider is conscious of fallacies and never deceives her Sisters. Together, Riders are the light in the darkness.
Moon
A Rider knows that the ebb and flow of life will change. She decides when to flow with the current, or swim against it.
Tide
A Rider reflects on the spirit. She connects with and understands herself in order to do the same with her Sisters.
Self
The Mark of the Rider
Once a recruit is granted access into the Order, they become known as a Rider. Each Sister in the Order will have an overseeing benefactor who will sponsor a new Rider. This relationship is known as Lioness and Cub. For a Rider to be assigned a specific rank in the Order, they must earn three separate badges known as Shards to obtain the full Mark of the Rider. These Shards are even in size and, when woven together, create the image of one of the six-petaled flowers from Byanzauril, the Aegis Tree.
The Mark of the Rider badge, and each Shard, is awarded to the Cub by their Lioness while they are training to become either a Keeper, a Vestal, or a Huntress. While it is required to wear this badge at all times, it is not required to have it showing at all times. This is so that others in and out of the Order may easily recognize the Rider and their rank, or so that during times of sleuthing and covert operations, one may blend.
Obtaining the rank of Keeper, Vestal, and Huntress comes with its own specific requirements and challenges to be overcome.
A badge woven in grass-green thread with an icon indicative of a tree at the center. To earn this Mark, a Rider must:
Serve meals to Sisters and survivors for one month
Learn to build, repair, and maintain the stronghold
Master the animal pens and the Lion’s Den
Mark of the Keeper
A badge woven in indigo-blue thread with a symbol of a blue open palm at the center. To earn this Mark, a Rider must:
Complete and chart 40 hours of service tending to survivors within Castle Dauntless.
Master herbal and alchemical remedies
Successfully tend to the wounds of Fang-Ring combatants
Mark of the Vestal
A badge woven in currant-red thread with a symbol of an arrowhead at the center. To earn this Mark, a Rider must:
Pass a trial by combat
Complete a mission with assigned Lioness
Earn a lion in the sacred bonding ceremony known as Anuathera
Mark of the Huntress
To become a Guardian Elite or General of the Lion Riders, there are slightly different qualifications.
Guardian Elite:
Hunt a deadly beast with a bounty and bring back a trophy from the kill.
Pass the Feohkai combat challenge
General:
Must already have passed the Feohkai challenge
State the case for assuming rank for General
Be elected by the majority
Be granted as successor by the former general
As stated in the Order of the Lion Rider bylaws: “When, in the case of sudden departure from the former general and no successor has been named nor an election may be held, an Acting General may assume the position of General until there may be a time for an election.”
Traditions
Song, Ceremonies, & Rituals
War Chant
Spoken in Ancient Patalian, only used when Lion Riders take up the spear and the shield and plan to unleash their full might in battle. Lion Riders will use this chant to challenge the opposition, daring them to face the Riders against their great enchanted beasts.
Leader-
Anua’i en ti ra!
Li’oni Cav’ari ka’ua inu!
Vel’iye aku sum’vita o ari!
All Together-
A’oo! A’oo! A’whe raas’a!
Nah’me naru whe’o! Nah’me naru woh’itan!
Hi’ya a’ha! Naru hitike i wahaki’e aniwe!
A’whe naru hepiste! A’whe naru nak’ama!
En’kal mahnia nila! Ikpa a naru oki’ika!
Vum’ela ubu myjail’e a val’iosa!
Kuke’i nuu i oz’ula! Me chan’te a’whe akila!
Leader-
Val’iosa Ot’suko!
Sisters-
A’oo! A’oo!
Leader-
Val’iosa Ot’suko!
Sisters-
A’oo! A’oo!
Translation
Sisters, take up arms!
Lion Riders fight this day!
Go forth, guardians of mortals!
Charge! Charge! We are spears and shields!
See our muscle! See our pride!
Behold! Our fury and beauty shines!
We use our fists! We use our claws!
Bend your knees! Submit to our might!
We live to fight! We die to protect!
Stand tall and proud! With courage we win!
Strength in the Pride!
Charge! Charge!
Strength in the Pride!
Charge! Charge!
Hymn - ‘Sing, Sisters, Sing!’
A song sung at the start of each monthly feast and special occasions.
Sing, oh Sisters, sing! (Sing, Sisters, sing!)
Let freedom ring. (aah)
Where pain left its scar, (Sing, Sisters, sing!)
we carry it far. (aah)
Through hardship we stride, (aah)
we endure, we bide. (aah)
So carry stories
faithful and free.
(Oh)
Rise, oh Sisters, rise! (Rise, Sisters, rise!)
‘Neath roaring skies. (aah)
We vow by the spark, (Rise, Sisters, rise!)
to banish the dark. (aah)
With hearts bound in might, (aah)
we race to the light. (aah)
Each heartbeat a flame,
Each vow held the same.
Together we stand,
together we fall.
Anuathera
The Bonding Ceremony known as Anuathera is a required rite of passage if a Rider wishes to be granted the rank of Huntress, Guardian, or General. It is a highly dangerous task as Dauntless Lions are bigger and more vicious than standard Great Cats of the wild, and not all cats are interested in bonding with a Rider. If successful, a rider and their mount will be bonded for life. If a Rider’s mount dies, they may attempt bonding with another. However, a mount will refuse to bond with another if their Rider dies. In the Ancient Tongue, Anuathera roughly translates to, “sister and beast.”
Feohkai
When a Sister wishes to challenge for a specific rank or title, they may invoke the rite of Feohkai, which translates to, “council fight” in the Ancient Tongue. Long ago, the Feohkai would be initiated by a Sister taking off her gauntlet and hitting their chosen opponent in the face. If either combatant backed out of the challenge before it began, it was seen as a great dishonor. In recent times, the Feohkai is no longer initiated by hitting one another with a gauntlet, but by breaking an arrow in front of their opponent’s face. The number of Feohkai challenges dropped significantly, being invoked only once in the twenty years since the War of Horrors.
Castle Dauntless
Near the Castle Grounds
All-Mother’s Grove
A dense evergreen forest high in the northern ranges, where the land climbs into the jagged granite spires of the Venstre’lem Mountains. Towering sequoias and a multitude of conifers rise like cathedral columns, their trunks twisted by centuries of wind and weather. From afar, the Grove appears as a crown of green draped across the shoulders of the towering Mount Chanticleer.
The terrain is rugged and steep, carved by ancient glaciers into narrow ridges, sudden drop-offs, and hidden bowls where snow lingers even in late spring. In many places the forest clings to the incline at impossible angles, roots gripping the granite as if holding the mountain together.
All-Mother’s Grove is sacred to the Lion Riders not simply for its beauty but for its living presence. The wind behaves strangely here. Some days it carries the scent of grasslands from far below. Other days it roars in the canyons as if something enormous prowls unseen.
The Lion Riders believe the trees whisper warnings and blessings, that the All-Mother’s spirit moves in the shifting light. When the sun sets behind the granite spires, the long shadows of the trees stretch like protective guardians toward Castle Dauntless
The Stone Claws
An area filled with sharp, jagged rock formations in the forest around Castle Dauntless used for the training of Lion Rider youths. Watched over by bat-eared totems of monstrous snarling faces, those in the Order willing to improve themselves and make ready for the Fang-Ring will enter the sparring pit. This ‘pit’ is twelve paces in diameter, surrounded by the jagged rocks of the Stone Claws, all painted in sleek striped patterns of red, blue, and green.
The long-presiding Pit Master oversees the training, even sparring every so often. She lives in a hut of stone and planks perched over the Stone Claws sparring pit.
Only the Pit Master may grant a Cub vying to be a Huntress her Shard of combat, ensuring her readiness for Anuathera. Passing the Pit Master’s challenge is taxing and physically demanding. But one must be ready to bond with a Great Cat in the intimidating arena known as the Fang Ring.
The Fang Ring
A circular arena (standing 60 paces across, or a 150 ft diameter) filled with sand and stone. Sharp, jagged interior edges force combatants away from the perimeter, pushing them into the fray. Warriors may train by sparring with one another, or completing specific challenges such as overcoming an obstacle course or fighting in a tournament. The Lion Rider Trials were once only held in the Fang Ring, but are now held all across the realm at designated outposts. The Fang Ring serves as a proving ground for the Order, where Lion Riders can attempt to tame, or earn their lion companion in a sacred trial called Anuathera, or the Bonding Ceremony. On rare occasions, Riders will fight one another in competition for various ranks and titles in a challenge known as the Feohkai.
Ground Level - Exterior
Foothill Watchtowers
Outposts along the Embracing Road that travels through All-Mother’s Grove which leads to Castle Dauntless. Here, survivors and those seeking shelter may stop and ask assistance to the stronghold. Whether they need an escort or a short rest, there is room available in these watchtowers. However, vagabonds and beggars sometimes use these sheltered outposts and are shooed away unless they have licensed tokens to beg.
The Abstaining Wall
A tall, thick wooden palisade encircling the entrance to Castle Dauntless. There are stairs leading to parapets and lookouts along the wall. The main gate has two double doors that swing inward and a simple wood beam lock. Within this wall is a courtyard of sorts where residents may train in combat or attendees may seek solace by breathing the fresh mountain air unimpeded by the worries of the outside world. While the Abstaining Wall has been impregnated during battle, the Doors of Anthesis (the primary entrance just beyond) never have.
The Doors of Anthesis
Twin overlapping double doors standing sixteen feet in height and hewn from a singular petrified redwood tree. The Doors of Anthesis are set upon a gear system which allows them to be retracted up into the castle wall by two women at once while working a crank. The doors open at dawn and close at dusk.
Both of the doors are set within a giant triangular threshold of gray carven stone. The threshold itself is decorated with the nine iconic symbols associated with the Lion Rider Tenets -along with other sleek, symmetrical, and linear designs- with the logo of the Lion Riders carved upon the keystone. In the event of a siege, all Riders are called within the confines of Castle Dauntless and the Doors of Anthesis remain closed. They have never been breached.
Greenhouse
Made of glass and wrought iron, the greenhouse of Castle Dauntless is a circular structure sitting just outside the eastern castle walls housing various herbs and crops that sustain not only those in the Order, but all survivors who seek refuge even into the winter months. Keepers and even some survivors are put to work to assist tending to the gardens.
Corrals
On the western side of the castle sits the stables for livestock which include a multitude of animals. Though it sits on the opposite side of the Lion’s Den away from the large carnivores, it is still heavily guarded.
The Three Lairs
Large open-mouthed lairs with natural platforms forming what are now used as stables and shelters for the Dauntless Lions, Tigers, and Panthers. There are no doors or fences allowing the Great Cats to come and go freely. Each species is separated, and their enclosures are curated for them specifically. There are conflicting origins for these three lairs, with some legends stating that the legendary lion Jaahes and his pride settled here. Other tales state that the lion enclosure was once a cave and was hollowed out by the first Riders when they settled on the mountain, the remains of which were used to create the enormous fireplace inside. In colder months, these lairs are occupied by large braziers to help warm the felines and protect them against the elements.
The Lion’s Den
A rock formation situated on the western side of the castle that appears to have been hollowed out into a bowl-like shape.
The Tiger’s Retreat
A wide lair filled with tall grasses, wispy trees, and craggy boulders situated on the eastern side of the castle.
The Panther’s Nest
A lair filled with a myriad of trees and arching rocks cradled between the castle and the mountain on the northern side.
2nd & 3rd Floor Exterior
The exterior of the second and third floors of Castle Dauntless is lined with a series of roofwalks and terraces bordered by parapets and balustrades.
Viaduct Path
A terrace on the second floor that follows the viaduct which encircles the castle. It is primarily used for sentinels who patrol the walkways, but some residents of the castle have been known to escape the interior for a breath of fresh air.
Solitude Cloister
A courtyard on the third floor situated between the mountain and the castle where Vestals and other residents often take constitutionals and seek solace high above the noise and chatter of others. As the name suggests, the courtyard is a covered cloister quadrangle.
1st Floor Interior
Entrance Hall
Just on the other side of the Doors of Anthesis lies a dimly lit corridor flanked by sconces ceremonial candles. The walls are lined with a colonnade curving upward to an arched roof. This hallway leads to a circular threshold, roughly 12 ft in diameter, with a stone slab that remains suspended, keeping the rest of the castle open, unless during times of crisis such as a siege.
Atrium
A cavernous space where most events occur, with curving walls and the great tree Byanzauril, the Braid of the All-Mother standing in the center. The atrium opens to the sky which shines down on Byanzauril, giving fresh air and allowing the smoke from the many roaring fires to escape. There are curving staircases on the left and right side which lead to the second floor and its balcony which overlooks the atrium.
Byanzauril
(Braid of the All-Mother, Strand of Myjaila, the Aegis Tree) A giant ancient twisting tree akin to the willow which stands in the middle of the atrium within Castle Dauntless, reaching to the open sky. The tree is of an unknown age and flowers once every ten years, so it is imperative that the seed storage is kept under lock and key so new saplings may be grown.
Anbari
(Blood of the Aegis Tree, Byanzauril’s Dew) Little bulbs of sap and resin dripping from the bark of Byanzauril. This powerful yet sticky material may be plucked or scraped from the tree and used in a variety of applications. The resin is often utilized by the residents of Castle Dauntless and processed into soaps and varnish. On occasion, the sap is used for its healing properties treating sores and wounds, even lowering one’s heart rate. Tales say that if the sap is chewed like fruit leather over a period of time, it will permanently increase one’s vitality. Some have attributed this ingestion of Anbari as to why those in the Lion Riders are stronger and taller than most women on the continent. The most popular application of Anbari is the extraction of its oils, which are then used to quench Pantherine, in the forging process.
Banquet Hall
Through a door on the far end of the Atrium and opposite side of the Entrance Hall lies the large Banquet Hall. Inside is an arcade of columns surrounding long tables which are arranged around a great octagonal fire pit. This is the primary dining area for residents of the castle. Typically it is a dimly lit and quiet area, but it springs to life when great feasts are held celebrating triumphs and festivals.
At the far end is a gigantic fireplace hewn from the living rock of the surrounding mountains, which at first glance looked like a massive pile of stone. The opening, only four strides in width, is dwarfed by the boulders from which the surrounds were built. A single boulder serves as the mantle above the grate. There are frames and plaques of horns and antlers, and mounted heads of ferocious beasts. Above it all, roughly the same size as the boulders, is the skull of a dragon. There are nine icons scrawled in snow-white paint symbolizing the Nine Tenets of the order: Bond, Shield, Sun, Hunt, Pride, Arrow, Moon, Tide, and Self. Riders will sit for hours meditating on each tenet.
Vestal Wing
To the front left of the Atrium is the Vestal Wing, where Lion Riders who are designated as Vestals reside. In this wing of the castle lies the infirmary and the bathhouses. It is a place of calm and of healing where Vestals may care for the wounded, whether it be an inward or outward injury.
Keeper Wing
To the front right of the Atrium is the Keeper Wing, where Lion Riders who are designated as Keepers reside. In this wing of the castle lies the kitchen, the store room, and workshop where Keepers may find the tools they require for castle maintenance.
Huntress Wing
To the back left of the Atrium is the Huntress Wing, where Lion Riders who are designated as Huntresses reside. This section houses many beds, wardrobes, and racks for weapons and armor. This is where Rowena first resides when she enters the Order of Lion Riders and where Shiyeera Coeurre resided for many years.
Guardian Wing
To the back right of the Atrium is the Guardian Wing, where Lion Riders who are designated as Guardians and Elite reside. It is very reminiscent of the Huntress Wing, though it contains less bedding as these ranks are rarer. Where Guardians Lille, Anjali, Diana, and Makani resided for many years.
2nd Floor Interior
ARchives
Castle Dauntless’ library sits on the eastern side of the castle. The Archives contains scrolls and tomes of various topics including books on healing and useful herbs, diagrams of combat maneuvers, a copy of ‘Creaturae en Patalia Mundi’ by Fingil Darvineaos, several books on poetry, and maps. There are some records and old books that no other place on the continent has, including the Grand Library of Etudex, nor the Library of Hyarimor. The Archives continue to the third floor.
Salvation Hall
A long curving hallway that encompasses nearly the entire second floor of Castle Dauntless surrounding the atrium. This hall contains over one hundred rooms for new arrivals seeking refuge. The hall, and every room within, is designed in such a way that each new arrival may find the balance between connection and privacy, depending on what is needed. Each room functions as a small “home” which includes many provisions and either a single or double bedroom with a connecting door between select rooms, creating a “suite” for instances where a woman has multiple children.
Rumination Apse
A quiet recess of the western side of the castle, where those seeking meditation and introspection may visit. This is the most comfortable area of the castle, with many overstuffed chairs, rugs, pillows, and blankets. The light is soft The Rumination Apse is the most popular room for groups of survivors to meet where they are led through healing seminars to assist in processing their grief and traumas. There are considerable wall partitions which ensure soundproofing for private conversations between Vestals and survivors, or for group meetings.
3rd Floor Interior
ARchives - 3rd Floor
The second floor of the Archives, which rests on the third floor of the castle, contains a multitude of records regarding arrests and case files for the Order. There are a few books which are locked away, with the keys belonging only to the General.
Chamber of Henotic
This octagonal room is for private briefings and meetings with the Elite and the General. The Conference Chamber echoes the designs found throughout the castle. It is a well-lit area with a chandelier and sconces. At the center is a semicircle table, with the seat of the General at the center. It is usually covered with maps where the Riders may discuss tactics or missions. Off to the side is a door that leads directly to the General’s Quarters.
General’s Quarters
The General of the Lion Riders must be swift, hardy, decisive, and take many under her wing. Her quarters must reflect this. Inside are red banners with the Order’s insignia, with a small bed with a frame of stone, a large drafting table for maps, desks for case files, and an excellent view of the surrounding areas, particularly the Fang-Ring and the Lion’s Den.
Towers
Tight spiral steps rise up and up from the third floor of the castle, with landings every so often for guard lookouts to patrol. At the top of each of these towers is a small room with three beds (one for a Vestal, one for a Keeper, and one for a Huntress), chamber pots, and a chest of enough supplies for the three scouts to reside in each tower for a month without having to take the many stairs every day.
On each wall of the chamber is a mosaic mural made from miscellaneous items such as clam shells, bones, stones, glass, tiles, and ceramics. Each depicts a figure from the constellations which represent the ideals of each of the towers’ namesakes, Wrath, Justice, and Mercy. There is a rumor that there is an ancient powerful artifact that was once separated into three pieces and somehow hidden within each of the murals.
At the top of the towers are large braziers where beacons of red, green, or blue fire may be lit, wherein different types of messages may be sent instantaneously across long distances, especially to Lion Rider outposts and regional watchtowers of the province.
Tower of Wrath
The westernmost tower, where the beacon of red fire sits. The mural inside the chamber depicts the zodiac sign, Ananeo the Firebird burning a castle of legend. Beneath the flaming structure kneels the evil king who betrayed Ananeo by trapping her and stealing her powers.
Tower of Justice
The center tower, where the beacon of green fire sits. The mural inside the chamber depicts the zodiac sign Uhltati the Wolf protecting creatures of the forest from a darker wolf. Beside him stands another constellation, Vitaecanth the Stag, the first-crowned of all creatures, observing.
Tower of Mercy
The easternmost tower, where the beacon of blue fire sits. The mural inside the chamber depicts the zodiac sign Eheu’wai the Manta taking islanders under her mighty wings and leading them to a prosperous land.
Signal Fires
🟥⬛️⬛️ Red — Tower of Wrath
Meaning: Under Attack
The red flame is volatile and strobing, a war-color produced only by the Tower of Wrath. When lit, it signals that Dauntless or a nearby settlement is under direct threat. Riders return to the castle immediately; Survivors shelter in the Salvation Hall under lock and key.
⬛️🟩⬛️ Green — Tower of Justice
Meaning: Riders Dispatched / Mobilization
A steady green flame, bright and unwavering. The Tower of Justice uses it to declare that Lion Riders have been formally deployed, either to patrol the highlands, to mediate disputes, or to answer a summons of law. It represents order in motion and signals that the huntresses ride with authority.
⬛️⬛️🟦 Blue — Tower of Mercy
Meaning: All Are Welcome / Sanctuary Granted
This soft, far-casting azure light signifies open gates and safe refuge.
Travelers, wounded soldiers, and even remorseful enemies may approach without fear of reprisal. Blue is lit during storms, famines, or moral festivals, when Dauntless extends its hearth.
⬛️🟩🟦 Cyan — Towers of Justice + Mercy
Meaning: Parley; Safe Passage Declared
A rare pale-cyan flame, created only when the Towers of Justice and Mercy harmonize their lenses. It announces a lawful peace-call: weapons sheathed, tempers lowered, truths spoken. Enemies may approach under protection; emissaries travel unhindered; negotiations begin under oath. Cyan is considered sacred, a covenant flame that binds both sides to honesty and restraint.
🟥🟩⬛️ Yellow — Towers of Wrath + Justice
Meaning: No Quarter
A harsh gold blaze, sharp as steel. Wrath and Justice together signify that the Riders pursue a target who has violated sacred law. Those who spill innocent blood, desecrate the mountains, or break an oath of protection. No quarter will be given; the guilty are to be subdued at any cost. This signal is feared across the realm.
🟥⬛️🟦 Magenta — Towers of Wrath + Mercy
Meaning: Warning; Something Has Gone Very Wrong
A haunting violet-magenta light that spirals irregularly, unnatural and unsettling. Wrath and Mercy rarely act in tandem; when they do, it means their mandates are in conflict. This flame signals catastrophes, moral or magical: cursed beasts, plague, violations of dark blood magic afoot, and especially losses of multiple Riders. All nearby outposts and civilians who can view the light will prepare for the unseen.
🟥🟩🟦 White — All Three Towers (Wrath + Justice + Mercy)
Meaning: All Hands; Siege Mode; “Warpower”
The full white blaze. Pure, blinding, radiant as the stars. It is only lit when Castle Dauntless enters siege mode, or, what as the Riders would say, “We are at Warpower.” Every Rider, recruit, elder, and sister is summoned. Gates lock. Armories open. Survivors are hidden away, perhaps even ushered into the Singing Caverns within the mountain. The last time all three flames burned was during the height of the War of Horrors when the Dark Lord Aldrivar and his Abyss Cultist laid siege to the castle. Rumors say Mount Chanticleer itself trembled.