Venquis

The Venquis Order is a widespread yet elusive faction of monster-slaying warriors found primarily in Benevis. They orient themselves with Nikina and fight in his name, often supported by the Red Temple and ruling figures. They follow a strong code of ethics and conduct, and train in a wide variety of weapons -- though it is common for Venquis to specialise in the use of a particular armament. They usually work undercover, tasked by authorities to remove recognised monsters that are too close to civilisation. During Black Storms they usually either act as bodyguards for important figures if they are out on missions, or will fortify their own centres of operations against impending monster attacks.

History

Etlas is an archaios deep in the highland forests north of Fortria in the Kingdom of Margon, and in 212AL it was inhabited by a horde of monsters under the command of a Giakdon. A knight named Erindur, who claimed to be one of the God-King Renin's distant descendants, took his most capable companions to be blessed by the Red Temple, and then went to face the monster horde in Etlas. A fight broke out and the small host of elite warriors fought their way into the ruins, where they faced off against the commanding Giakdon outside the main entrance. Legend says Erindur slew the Giakdon, and the Giakdon slew Erindur with one another's final blows. The monsters fled after the Giakdon fell, and the remaining knights claimed the ruins in the name of the Child God Nikina and the Red Temple. They found a wide variety of Manamorian artifacts and treasures within Etlas's depths and sold them to the Red Temple, using the coin raised to found their own order called the Venquis, meaning 'Vanquishers'.

The Six Kingdoms

Found deep in the mountainous forests north of Fortria, Etlas is the most inhabited of the archaios after Alacas. Preserved by the surrounding forests to shield it from harsh weather, it still supposedly still contains many enclosed spaces, and has historically been known to house the Venquis order; as such, common folk are not allowed anywhere near it. Legend has it that the first venquis actually won the ruins from the clutches of monsters that lived there back in the days of the Nor Vastin Kingdom, around 500BD, and that the remains of the Giakdon that guarded it remain within the Paladin as a show of their authority against monsters.