Prologue
Before you start reading you might want to keep the following things in mind. In this piece of the text I will be trying to give a short explanation of the situation in which the story takes place: It's in a futuristic US where a piece of land (large piece of land) has been returned to the natives. Some Europeans aided them in rebuilding their society and still live there in settlements and farms that are usually neutral and left alone. Most of the settlements are scattered throughout the territory, divided in little groups.
However, not all the settlements are completely neutral. One settlement has a close bond with the Katari tribe. The warriors of the settlement (called Guardians) have fought side by side with Katari warriors in various battles. There are different ranks within the Guardians:
- Guardians (the normal group of Guardians, their main occupation is security of the settlements and the area around it, they do not participate in the real battles if only to defend the settlements themselves which hardly ever turn into a battle field)
- Elite Guard (consisting of about 50 Elite warriors that have received good training from Katari Templar and tribe members. They fight side by side with the Katari tribe members in the event of an attack. Their main task is to aid in the defense of the Katari territory
- Imperial Guard (Elite Guardians who show great skill and determination are put into the Imperial Guard. The group travels throughout the area, training and maintaining security as they go. Honor has a high value for them and they will sacrifice their lives if needed which also explains their main message: Dulce et Decorum est Pro Patria Mori (How sweet and fitting it is to die for one's country).
The Katari tribe is a tribe of Indians that have live in the mentioned area. Their hero of ancient days is Karim, an elite knife fighting warrior who was eventually slain in battle because he let his emotions get the better of him. Karim was killed when he went insane because the love of his life was killed. Karim, convinced of his own skill, tried breaking through the lines of his opponents to kill their leader. He was slain however while attempting to break through the lines. Confused as he was he could not defend himself with all his skill. Despite Karim getting killed the Katari still honor his memory. The elite warriors of the Katari, the Templar, carry the blood of Karim.
Within the Katari tribe itself there aren't actual ranks. The older men and the most courageous warriors have a high position. Highest are the Templar. Elite warriors that wear black cloaks and are specialized in fighting with one type of weapon. The Templar are divided in groups:
- Master Templar (the leader of the Templar, he has the most Templar blood of all)
- Senior Templar (a Templar that has already given blood to a Templar and has introduced that Templar to their customs)
- Templar (Elite warrior that has been introduced to the ways of the Templar)
The Templar are said to "bear" the blood of Karim and are also referred to as blood bearers instead of Templar. The bearer of the blood gains extreme skill and agility along with enhanced physical and mental fitness and durability. The amount of blood a Templar carries is partly responsible for how much their skills are enhanced. The Master Templar carries most of the blood but his own blood is vital to his survival as to body would die without it.
When introduced to the rank of Templar, a word is scarred in the arm of the new Templar. A Templar ready to advance in the ranks or a Senior Templar then makes a horizontal cut below his own word and exchanges the blood by pushing it against the word. Because of the ability of the Templar blood to create scar tissue, the word remains on the arm of the Templar, separating him from the other warriors. Due to this enhanced ability, Templar wounds heal quicker then the wounds of normal warriors however the recovery means a scar. Therefor, Templar are usually covered in scars. The longer they're Templar, the more scars they usually have.
The Templar are feared all over the battlefield due to their quick approach and deadly skill. Templar are known for their ability to face and defeat large amount of enemy warriors without help of allied forces. The first Templar, Karim, is said to have once defeated 50 enemy warriors without being slain himself. Not many have fought a Templar and lived to tell about it. It is said that whoever sees one will die.
The ways of the Templar are covered in mystery and the only explanation that is offered to the main visitor is the information at the public computer which offers a very poor definition: Templar - Elite stealth warrior