Manifesto of the Midnight Legion

====Legionnaire’s Creed====

We of the Midnight Legion, the sovereign military guard of Magnagora, do hereby
swear our allegiance to the Engine and the great Dominion, the taint, the
Megalith in all its manifestations, and the Warlord of our lands.

Shall our lands or planes come into contention, our swords and magicks shall be
the first prepared in the defense and the first prepared in retaliation. We
shall allow none to trespass or defile that which is Magnagora's and we place
our souls and essence at the disposal of the engine, our commanders, and our
Warlord.

Should a weaker body of the basin revolt and wish for a new master, it is our
duty and oath to attempt with all force of might and power that Magnagora can
muster to attempt to waylay outside threats and align those wishing to be
subservient under our banner and colors.

In the spirit of Transformation so that all may know our cause and creeds, we
of the Legion shall uphold ourselves in the strictest fashions within Magnagora
and shall accept death over lesser punishments should we commit infractions
against the laws of our Engine and Warlord. For the legion is the embodiment of
transformation in Magnagora and these elite within our ranks shall not be none
for lesser vices or ignoble demeanors.

I accept these duties and oaths, swearing upon my blood, soul, and body that I
shall remain loyal to Magnagora for all my days and should I deviate from this
oath, may the fates snip my thread and pluck me from the tapestry itself, for I
deserve naught for such treachery.

====Brief Code of Conduct====

-Refer to all superiors as their appropriate title at all times unless
instructed not to.

-Submit to the authority of the appropriate rank for whoever is leading the
defense, offense, or political takeover.

-The Legion aethers are to be kept clean of insanity or other extraneous
banter.

-Requests for a squad hunt will be looked upon favorably by superiors. Should a
superior be able to lead said hunt, then the Legion will go together. Should one
of lesser rank volunteer to lead the hunt for several others, they will be
commended.

-Members who repeatedly do not answer the call for arms over aethers will be
reviewed and sanctioned.

-Members of the Midnight Legion are not to be caught groping, molesting,
touching, kissing, or any other public displays of affection as we recognize
ourselves as the elite of Magnagora and not as primal animals of the communes.

-Respect your peers and treat your lessers with behavior that exemplifies your
training and ability within the Midnight Legion.

-Recognize the difference between those who are known for their diplomatic
abilities over their combat prowess. Respect the differences between the fields
and submit to the appropriate authority given the situation.

-Do not backtalk, argue with, or disrespect members of a higher rank

-Breaching of rank can be reported for review to the Overlord or Generals.

-Should there be a conflict between two members of the Midnight Legion of the
same rank who are attempting to act as leading officers for the defense or
offense in Magnagora's name, know that the leading officer who fails shall be
sanctioned for a poor performance. Accept the mantle of leadership knowing that
the responsibility is in your hands.

-Should there be a conflict between two members of the Midnight Legion in
regards to rank or the challenging of a superior officer due to performance, a
lesser member may submit a private request to a General or Overlord for a trial
by combat for a duel or wargames between those grievenced to determine the
aptitude of those involved between the disputed ranks.

-Members of the Midnight Legion are subject to the laws of Magnagora but with
much harsher penalties, being subject to death for all infractions due to their
standing in the city at the discretion of the Generals, Overlord, or Warlord.

====The Ranks of the Midnight Legion====

In times past in the Midnight Legion, the ranks were much more structured and
subdivided to present a hierarchy for aetherspace, for diplomats, and for the
general army. However, about 235 years after the coming Estarra, Romero of the
Nihilists and Ceren Valtyros worked to restructure the ranks and
responsibilities of those within the Engine's sovereign force. In the absence of
the Fist of Luciphage, Ceren has assumed the role of acting Overlord of the
Midnight Legion and defined the rankings as they currently stand. In the case
that there are multiple officers, whether it be prefects or generals, they
typically know which one of them has more experience given the situation they
will encounter and those who rather pretend to know usually find a swift
demotion in order to refresh their knowledge of how to behave on the field.

Recruit- The recruit is a recent induction and the newblood of the Midnight
Legion. They are tasked with the attempting to learn new reflexes, learning the
political structure of the Basin and Magnagora, and attempting to train
themselves in some aspect of the aforementioned branches of the previous
Midnight Legion. Despite the condensed rankings system, recruits learn where
they stand whether it be aetherspace gunners, minor aides to diplomats, or
budding fighters to which they will be held accountable for in their duties for
the remaining terms in the Midnight Legion. Other responsibilities include
gathering power, esteem, or other basic grunt work throughout the Engine.

Legionnaire- The most numerous of the ranks. These battle-hardened soldiers and
trained spokesmen of the Legion tend to be confident and able in their
abilities. They are most commonly trusted with being able to present a
formidable defense as well as support for the higher ranking members within
combat or political situations. They are also expected to guide the recruits
should they wish to ascend the ranks further.

Prefects- Tasked with the inspection, the upkeep, and the general training of
the lower ranks, the prefects are established diplomats to villages or minor
commanders in their own right. They have not only earned the full confidence of
the Legion in their ability to not only defend themselves or their points of
view, but they have also behaved appropriately according to the laws of the
Legion and the expectations and regulations of their superiors. The ranks begin
to thin here as the political machinations of the Legion show as lesser races
are not typically granted this rank.

Generals- As much of a political position as it is a combative one, generals
are expected to hold themselves up in any manner of situation whether it be on
the field of battle or within the council chambers. Generals have successfully
led raids or converted entire villages to the Engine's sway. Much is expected of
generals and many are long respected or known before ever achieving this rank
and those bestowed this rank have long been well known champions, authors,
previous Warlords, or have shown aptitude and servitude for the Legion for
decades. The generals are also usually held responsible for the punishment or
review of those in lesser ranks after battles.

Overlord- The Overlord is the pinnacle of the Midnight Legion but not
necessarily in combat prowess. The Overlord is expected to lead at all turns
should he be about in times of need or during an assault and his opinion in
combat or the political dealings of the Iron Council involving the treaties
between other cities and communes is not only well received but also
acknowledged and most often abided by. The Overlord is simply appointed by the
Warlord and he answers only to the sovereign leader of Magnagora. The back
dealings of the Iron Council call for this due to the conflicting agendas that
sometimes emerge from the guilds and orders.

====Functions of the Guilds within the Legion====

Ur'guard- Ur'guard typically are found on the front lines of the Midnight
Legion's formation, falling in behind their superiors and using either their
aptitude with necromancy to afflict and slay the enemy through crucifixion or
using their traps to allow their fellow soldiers to slay the enemy. They also
keep to the front of the lines to prevent weaker minded individuals from being
beckoned by Celestial beings or entranced into other parts of the battlefield. A
swift elbow from an armored ur'guard will keep most of those who might be
enchanted off from formation in line.

Nihilists- Defenders of the Cosmic Plane, Nihilists play an important part in
reporting the defense of Nil to the city should demons come under attack. Due to
the power tied into the Cosmic plane, those of the Nihilists face heavy backlash
from not only the Legion, but their own guildmates should they not provide
adequate protection or warning in the case of an assault. The Nihilists most
commonly fight alongside their demon thralls and the ur'guard, working with the
warriors in attempt to crucify or with the thralls to rip the enemy to shreds
through ritualistic torturing. The Nihilists also serve another particular
function of being able to lure weak-minded enemies away from their larger groups
through beckoning the enemy with a demon's promises of power or reward. Many an
army has met their end as their leader chased the demon's false promises into a
deadly trap.

Geomancers- The mages of the Engine are held to a high degree of responsibility
for combat or political situations as the spread of the taint amidst the
battlefield or even within a village can not only hinder the enemy but provide a
strong morale boost to the spirit and body of their fellow legionnaires.
Geomancers face much more judgment than some of their peers as it is much easier
to spot an inferior geomancer than it is to spot those of other guilds and for
that reason they either rise or burn within the Legion. The mages work well in
conjunction with Necromancers who typically nail the victims to a cross while
the Geomancer opens the very earth beneath them to swallow them whole.

Cacophony- The songsters of the Cacophony are generally seen as more of a
supportive member on the field of battle but their acumen for casting plagues
and disease have long caused fear in the hearts of enemies. The mere screeching
of their songs causes much more pain and suffering in those tortured or bound.
Also, the moral support of a cacophony on the ears tends to provide similar
effects of a geomancer allowing those of the Taint to heal at a much faster
rate. One strong aspect that is not shared with mages is the particular rhythm
that emerges with one of this fell guild on the field, and that is the ability
to hit at a much faster rate due to the general catchiness of their songs.

Ninjakari- This stealthy guild provides a strong offense to the Midnight
Legion. Though not as durable as their warrior counterparts, the Ninjakari are
able to cause serious deformations to the bodies of their enemies causing them
to be unable to heal properly against the further onslaught of the Legion. They
also have use of their espionage skills to slip in and out of villages or
organizations to gain a bearing on numbers, listen to the plans of enemies
without ever being detecting, and even go so far as to assume the face and shape
of an enemy. Many an enemy has wondered why a friend has turned on them in the
battlefield only after it is too late.

====Who's Who of the Midnight Legion====

Overlord Ceren Valtyros- The current overlord of the Midnight Legion has taken
up the position within the last decade. He has long been in a position of renown
within the Basin and has excelled as a combatant of both the Ur'guard and of the
Geomancers. The current champion of the Geomancers, the Overlord is also an
Avatar of Fain and has served Magnagora for many decades under various warlords.
He was also a high candidate in several seal events during the last ascension,
nearly winning the wargames finale on his own against a team of three including
Shuyin, Vathael, and Desitrus. The Overlord has gone unopposed for some time and
there is not a recent confirmed duel or wargames where the Overlord stood
against any team or opponent who could defeat him.

Thoros d'Murani- A feared and vicious avatar of the Lord Fain. Thoros was once
Warlord before the current standing Lady Nariah of the Nihilists. Thoros who was
once a Celestian along with our Overlord Ceren, turned to Magnagora and has been
both a Nihilist and an ur'Guard. Thoros' presence alone on the battlefield
causes the enemies numbers to swell in a horde-like fashion as they hope to take
him down with odds as much as ten to one or more, or they diminish entirely,
content to raid or attack at hours when the Demigod slumbers.

Lanfayr d’Murani- A vicious Ninjakari and previous Tongue of the Lord Fain.
She has recently slumbered long from the realms but is none to take down quite a
few enemies in a quick succession.

Daevos Feyranti- Daevos has led the ur’Guard for many years and is a feared
Demigod and respected battle commander. He quite often exhibits fits of
annoyance or anger at the younger members of Magnagora for their lack of
motivation in the political affairs or battles and has been known to tell fellow
Demigods to step up and fight more often.

Romero- A younger general of the Midnight Legion, Romero has kept the title of
Fist of Luciphage for most of his adult life. He excels in the ranks of the
Nihilists and was none as Fain's tongue for quite some time and even held the
rank of Overlord temporarily.

====Life in the Legion====
The Legion provides rewards to its members in the form of promotions,
recognition, and provides additional access to funding for the learning of
skills or the purchasing of artifacts. The prestige associated with rising in
the ranks of the Legion opens doors to possibilities for positions as city
ministers or representing the guild on the Iron Council as a voice to sway
votes.

A strong sense of comradery is found in the Legion and relationships are often
recognized within the ranks as people find friends or relatives who though had
previously forgotten from their trip through the portal. This comradery stems
further as those of worth are sought after to join families, smaller
organizations, or pressed to aid the Engine in other ways.

The Legion quickly recognizes those within who have strong bearings in certain
fields and the officers tend to push those within to accomplish tasks outside
the military field. The Legion recognizes that it is a cog of the Engine, one
that turns many others and for that reason the officers not only teach the
skills required of combat but also teach respect, etiquette, and other social
norms required of 'finer' and more eloquent life of Magnagora.

But for as many of those who use the Legion as a stepping stone to greatness,
more than double that number use the Legion as a final plunge into obscurity.
The Legion requires great character and tasks of those inducted and many have
failed or been unable to live up to the requirements and responsibilities
expected of them.

However, those aspiring recruits should not let this idea falter them in their
aspirations for those who truly seek greatness will find it within the Midnight
Legion.