Order of the Flame

The Order of the Flame has its origins in the proto-religious deification by early Calla Lowland inhabitants of the power of the communal fire to act as a defense against the mystical, often malevolent forces teeming in the untamed wilds. With time, this deification cemented itself as a fundamental philosophy for some, who drew together and devised elaborate rituals and a Byzantine hierarchy of influence. As more time passed, and greater influence over nature was found in the taming of the land with plough and domestication of animals, the Order's influence waned. It receded into an insular cult-like entity until it saw an opportunity to reassert itself after the incursion of undead and disease into the kingdom of Calla; flame, after all, was the single most effective weapon against these foes, and even the simplest peasant could understand that fact.

After using their accumulated knowledge of how to strengthen metal, mud-brick and stone to erect the fortified wall at the edge of the Grim Fen, and imbue it with Qi in a way that presented a fiery shield to the onslaught of death, the Order entrenched itself as a stern, unyielding authority that would endure even unto the present day.