Order of the Falcon

The Order of the Falcon is a human order of assassins during the Age of Steel and the Age of Knowledge. Their emblem is a silver falcon on black, commonly a mantle. They are also distinguished by their use of the falcon blade, a heavy sword resembling a cutlass.

History
The Order of the Falcon dates back to the Dark Age when it was one of four orders serving the Empire during its invasion of the Northlands. The others where the Order of the Lion, the Order of the Orcas and the Order of the Wolf. With the forming of the Northern Empire the order settled in Damasa, from which they lead a successful invasion of the orc-controlled land of Gwendellor. In the civil war that followed the withdrawal of the Empire back to the Southlands they where on the loosing side and where expelled from Damasa.

Age of Steel
In the early Age of Steel the order tried to regain its power by conquering the neighboring Dukedom of Duiden. The invasion failed and the order was left badly weakened, barely able to keep hold over its own lands. More friendly relations with Duiden was established and the order spent years rebuilding its strength while battling the remaining orcs to the north.

Age of Knowledge
In the Age of Knowledge the order's hold over Gwendellor is absolute. Through slave labor provided from the war with the orcs the land has been modernized but much of its potential is now wasted as corruption runs rampant through the ranks of the order. With the forming of the Commonwealth any hopes of becoming the dominant nation in the region is squandered and after a bitter, bloody war the order loses its holds to the Commonwealth. Many members are executed for their crimes against the people of Gwendellor and only a few escape, never to be heard from again.

Age of Information
After being gone for more than a century, in the Age of Information the order has returned. It works in the shadows and out of sight but for what purpose remains unknown.

Organization
The order is led by a grand master and four masters who together form the Falcons Head. The most elite among their ranks are known as 'paladins' and the senior members as 'knights' or 'magistrates'. During the Age of Steel the order was one of the few organisations outside Damasa to retain any level of magical expertise in the Northlands. Like their neighbors the gnomes they have always been keen to combine technology and magic.

Traditionally, new recruits where taken at an age of 5 from their parents and brought up within the order. Put through an excruciating training regime, many novices die before completing their training. With manpower a rather scarce commodity this just puts further emphasis on the elitist ideology of the order.