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"Evil is relative. You can’t hang a sign on it. You can’t touch it or taste it or cut it with a sword. Evil depends on where you are standing, pointing your indicting finger. Remember that."

Crystal ❂ Mateus ❂ Empyreum

Ward 8 ❂ Plot 15

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"When next the wayward shadow dost falleth 'pon thine door, then unto us to shall we receive of thee in mine weary place of rest, where we might don thee in the crimson color of night."

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"They are sworn to an oath far more ancient, and far more clandestine than you or I could ever hope to understand. What I glean from their clandestine effort’s is that they do not tolerate, nay, suffer not the imposed will of others upon the smallfolk."

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❂ Origin ❂

In Ishgard at the year 960 of the Sixth Astral Era, a commoner with an unwavering sense of justice by the name of Tryphaniel the Unshod was granted knighthood. It was this same moral fortitude that bid him trail after a clergyman after witnessing the supposed holy man dragging a child and then committing unspeakable acts upon her. The incensed Tryphaniel drew his sword without hesitation, and answered the babbled excuses with a single, fatal blow.Rather than praise his heroism, however, the knight's peers condemned him for slaying a holy member of the church. He was forced to defend his life in a trial by combat, but though he survived, he would be stripped of his knighthood. Unflinching in the face of accusations that he had fallen to darkness, Tryphaniel roared that he would gladly surrender a title that required him to turn a blind eye to a child's suffering. He cast aside his crested shield and continued his crusade for the commonfolk with no thought or fear for what others held taboo. His righteous deeds inspired some courageous few to embrace the path of the forbidden, and thus the legacy of the dark knight was born.

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*even (v.)Old English efnan "to make even, to make level; liken, compare" (see even (adj.)). Intransitive sense of "become even" is attested from early 13c.

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❂ The Myth ❂

It has long been believed that the fallen Knights of Ishgard who went on to form the foundation of the precursor mythos for the ‘Dark Knight’ have held themselves to some form of an Order. Though it is firmly believed that they never truly gather, some have claimed at times to see them marshaling en masse.These claims were further given credence to their long-harbored belief of being true that given that the Temple Knights of the Holy See cannot possibly be everywhere at once, certainly someone or something must be answering the dire need of the Smallfolk. Whether or not this is a credit overlooked for local militia or wayward heroes throughout each era is yet to be fully known.What is often held to be the certainty of the belief behind these aforementioned rumors and stories is that sometime between the reawakening of the Dreadwyrm Nidhogg, Vengeance Incarnate, there was a tale told by elders of local villages before the Calamity. A story woven into song by the greatest and least-known bards of the realm.That when so dire the need of Mankind is truly at its lowest and bleakest state, that the Faithful of the Holy See might turn their eyes downward from the High Heavens to seek out the embrace of the other power’s awake in the heartland. That whomsoever calls out to ‘The Eventide’ shall be answered by their hands ensnaring what beset them with strife and ruin.

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tide (v.)"to carry (as the tide does)," 1620s, from tide (n.). Usually with over. Earlier it meant "to happen" (Old English; see tidings). Related: Tided; tiding.

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❂ The Truth ❂

The date of the First Founding has been lost to the ravages of time, and with Calamities come and gone the weight of history has borne itself down atop the Order. The ‘true’ origin of the Dark Knight’s harkens back to a time now lost to us entirely – even if some history of that age is known.Yet what we are unable to make up for in fact about their birthplace and the true origin of their power, we can rightly make up for in that some of their kind did indeed found an Order to better direct their power. Sometime after Tryphaniel cast aside his shield and others were inspired to follow his example, a host of knights banded together.Calling themselves ‘The Eventide’s Embrace’, and led by the redoubtable Ser Arnoulet de Legrand, a band of seven knights met beneath a tree that had once been the site of an execution. One of their own had been caught and cornered like an animal and brought to the tree to be hung. He died an innocent man without a trial, and so his honor was forsaken.Beneath the gallowed boughs of the hangman’s tree did they swear an oath to one another to never again let an innocent fall to the hands of the ‘righteous’. That if they could not save a soul from death and damnation, that they would answer the pleas of the lost and the broken with bloody vengeance in recompense for their stolen life.

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embrace (v.)
mid-14c., "clasp in the arms," from Old French embracier (12c., Modern French embrasser) "clasp in the arms, enclose; covet, handle, cope with,"

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❂ The Lie ❂

There will of course always be those that desire to cast the name of another into doubt, to shift the blame of their guilty conscious onto those who have no stake in their sin. So it was, and so it shall always be. That the pious and ordained of the Temple believe that the sinful birth of this Order of ‘heretics’ rose out of the depths of Old Night.What was foreseen as a justified means to an end was brought further into a state of uncontrolled madness as the most pious and zealous amongst the Faithful turned their ire upon any suspected of entreating with the Abyss. So, any man, woman, or child that was believed to be a vessel for its taint were removed by the flock of the Ice-Maiden.To further add credence to their agenda without cause for unrest surrounding the sudden disappearances of those suspected of the treasonous, heretical acts, the Faithful installed their most fervent believers in places of power. Charismatic leaders that could sway entire droves of naive souls to believing that the Dark Knights were nothing more than demon-tainted monsters.Driving many of the already reclusive knight’s further from the city, and surrounding villages, townships, the Dark Knights of Coerthas embedded themselves into distant safehouses scattered throughout the land to avoid being discovered. Giving rise to the commonly held belief that being thus removed from society changed them further into madmen and brigands.

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"Blessed art they who walketh in the baleful shadow of the Crownless. For they whom adorn themselves not in the splendor of their blood shalt guide us unto they whom cloak themselves in the thin veneer of their own nobility. That we might unseat their misdeeds with promised vengeance."

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"We must wander. That is how it must be We must not gather, say for when it is absolutely necessary of us to do so. We shall continue to fight for the people, for those blameless souls who bear the stain of wrongs they have not committed. Justice, over everything."

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❂ Purpose ❂

A Knight of the Order is sworn to Valor; to be without fear in the face of the Order's enemies. A Knight's heart can know only virtue; to be brave and upright in their dealings. Their might shalt uphold the weak; to safeguard the helpless; to do no wrong and protect the realm. Their word speaks only truth, even if it leads to their death. Their wroth shalt unmake the wicked.

❂ The Now ❂

In the more modern era, the order of The Eventide’s Embrace has taken a departure from the knightly foundation of its mythic past. No more does the Embrace serve as singular stewards for the betterment of the Smallfolk. Serving now as a more secretive sect dedicated to preventing the injustices before they can ever even hope to arrive.Those that find themselves enthralled by stories of the knightly order’s past are given tokens and signs to follow to search out their hidden safehouse throughout Coerthas, and further abroad. There they are – over a period of time – slowly inducted into the organization and shown a great deal of what might yet lay ahead of them during their journey.The ultimate purpose for the order’s continued existence is to now help usher in the ‘new age’ within Ishgard, and the Holy See. Yet there are always those who are wont for a return to the ‘old ways'. Such is why the order, the organization, now pushes for a more silent and secretive agenda of prevention through guiding agents through the various tiers of Ishgardian society.To this end The Eventide’s Embrace shows itself to not only be unseen stewards who prevent monstrous beasts from overrunning the wilds, but as silent watchers embedded throughout every level of society from the waning nobility to the clergy and the Temple, all the way down to the baker’s or merchant’s lining the streets.

❂ And Then ❂

Furthermore, the order has shed many of the antiquated practices and rituals it kept, now that it is more than what it was. No more does it share in the company of those Elezen who were knighted and lost their noble titles. No more does it keep itself simply to the borders of the Holy See.The organization has allowed itself to evolve and grow into something where all might find a home amongst the hallowed and secretive hall’s within their headquarters somewhere in the heart of Coerthas. There, within a place known as The Forbidden Grotto, member’s of The Eventide’s Embrace are being prepared to enter out into the world to continue the ideals set down by the founders of the Embrace.Whether that is a member of the organization stamping out corruption from a bloated taxman over collecting from a struggling village or hamlet, or a crooked priest pretending with the thin veneer of piety that is hurting the flock he needs to be protecting. To reveal the daggers still plotting for a return to a continued war with the Dragons.To carry out the duties of the organization requires tireless planning and is often a thankless labor that will go without reward; though duty itself is reward enough for most, many more require bread and gil for their tithe. Unknown and unseen the organization continues its labors, to see the New Dawn ushered in without fail.

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"There are no self-proclaimed villains, only regiments of self-proclaimed saints. Victorious historians' rule where good or evil lies. We abjure labels. We fight for the people and an indefinable pride. The politics, the ethics, the moralities, are irrelevant."

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❂ Your Oath ❂

✷ The First Tenet - Never dishonor the order, the organization that is The Eventide’s Embrace. Such is to invoke the wrath of The Eventide.✷ The Second Tenet - Never betray the The Eventide’s Embrace. Such is to invoke the wrath of The Eventide.✷ The Third Tenet - Never speak of your association with The Eventide's Embrace, for it - and your role in it, does not exist to the wider world. Speaking of its existence is to invoke the wrath of The Eventide.✷ The Fourth Tenet - Never steal the possessions of a member of the organization. Ssuch is to invoke the wrath of The Eventide.✷ The Fifth Tenet - Never kill or harm a member of The Eventide's Embrace. Such is to invoke the wrath of The Eventide.✷ The Sixth Tenet - Never kill or harm an innocent, only those who have been marked Such is to invoke the wrath of The Eventide.✷ The Seventh Tenet - Never impose your will upon another who is not your comrade. Such is to invoke the wrath of The Eventide.✷ The Eighth Tenet - Never carry out a task on behalf of The Eventide's Embrace without a veil, none should ever learn of your identity. Such is to invoke the wrath of The Eventide.✷ The Ninth Tenet - Never get caught while carrying out a task on behalf of The Eventide's Embrace, do all you can to avoid capture. Such is to invoke the wrath of The Eventide.

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"No one will sing songs in our memory. We are the last of the The Eventide's Embrace. Our traditions and memories live only in these Annals. We are our only mourners. It is the Order against the world. Thus it has been and ever will be."

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❂ Tier One ❂

✷ The Eventide - The Eventide is an entity separate from the whole – but is the whole. They are a member of the Embrace who is the true leader behind the curtain, and typically a member of the Ishgardian aristocracy. They have inserted themselves into places and spaces where they can learn from those who enact change and see what change is not actually reaching those truly in need. They can therefore arm The Eventide’s Embrace with the information necessary to be prepared to carry out their will.✷ High Marshal - The High Marshall is the ‘hand’ of The Eventide, and they are the force behind the action. They take the information passed on from The Eventide and distribute it to the rest of the whole. From their position as the ‘face’ of the organization they are able to work alongside the Seneschal within a capacity that fulfills the ‘iron rod’ half of the function of leader and commander.✷ Marshal - Where the High Marshal is the ‘hand’ of The Eventide, then the Marshal’s are the fingers of that hand. They are the captains amongst captains who take charge of the lesser commander’s and organize their knightly bands into a fist. The fingers of the hand can direct the weight of the ‘weapon’ they wield towards the target that The Eventide has painted for them.✷ Seneschal - The Seneschal is the Voice Of The Eventide and the head of house for not only The Forbidden Grotto (the base of operations of the Embrace) but also the various safe house’s that exist through Eorzea. The Seneschal serves a position of similar value to a secretary – they keep the numbers in order, file away the important secrets and details pertinent to the function of the organization. They also serve as diplomats in times where cooperation with other organizations is required.

❂ Tier Two ❂

✷ Knight Commander - A Knight Commander of The Eventide’s Embrace leads the various chapters of the Embrace as a figurehead as much as military leader in the absence of a Marshal, or High Marshal. They shall have assigned to their command a Knight Major who shall assist them as an aide much like a Squire might be assigned to a lesser member of the organization. Knight Commanders shall lead their individual hosts in missions as either a force leading from the front or from behind the scenes. If a host should be dispatched far from The Forbidden Grotto or safehouse, a Knight Commander is to be placed in charge of the expeditionary force.✷ Knight Major - A Knight Major of The Eventide’s Embrace commands in the absence of a Knight Commander. They shall lead the assembled host in battle, or in espionage. Outside of the immediacy of a task or mission assigned by the High Marshal, or Marshals, they shall aid the Seneschal with They are responsible for the training of lesser members within the organization and help with the assigning of Squire’s to members of the organization who will be able to both tutor them and further their ascent through the Embrace.✷ Knight Captain - A Knight Captain of The Eventide’s Embrace organizes the organization to a state of readiness in preparation for operation to be carried out. Primarily being responsible for manpower management and organizing groups of individuals together for whatever task is being undertaken by The Eventide’s Embrace at that moment, and or time.✷ Knight Lieutenant - A Knight Lieutenant of The Eventide’s Embrace is an aide for a senior ranking member of an organization. They serve primarily as a similar rank and role of that of the Squire’s but will be assigned to assist more often than not a Knight Commander, Knight Major, or Knight Captain. While also being held responsible for evaluations and monitoring internal relations between 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Degree Knights.

❂ Tier Three ❂

✷ Knight 3rd Degree - Knight’s 3rd Degree of The Eventide’s Embrace are members of the organization who have spent three months past their first three spent as a Knight 2ns Degree. Once they have achieved this rank, they shall be given the duties of the Undying Of The Hangman's Tree, which is an internal conclave dedicated to the funerary rites of the organization and members who succumb to treachery, darkness, or fall in battle.✷ Knight 2nd Degree - Knight’s 2nd Degree of The Eventide’s Embrace are members of the organization who have spent three months past their first three spent as a Knight 1st Degree. Once they have achieved this rank, they shall be given the duties of The Forsaken Shield Of Old Night, which is an internal organization dedicated to the absolution of those that have been unjustly marked for death.✷ Knight 1st Degree - Knight’s 1st Degree of The Eventide’s Embrace are members of the organization who have spent three month’s past their first two spent as an Accepted. Once they have achieved this rank, they shall be given the duties of The Pale Guard, which is a shield-host formed to defend the area surrounding the location of The Forbidden Grotto.✷ Accepted - The Accepted of The Eventide’s Embrace are Squire’s who have graduated from the ranks of the Squire’s and who have been shown to The Forbidden Grotto by whichever member that they have formally Squired under. Upon recognition they are introduced to the broader network of the organization and inserted into the daily functions and going on within the wider scope of operations. An Accepted shall make up a large bulk of the footmen within the Embrace, and though often the tool by which much bloody work is carried out an Accepted may also serve as an Associate. They may be capable of more or less than what might be asked of them. Therefore, an Accepted shall carry out tasks best suited to their skillset.

❂ Tier Four ❂

✷ Squire - A Squire of The Eventide’s Embrace is a formally acknowledged Novice who has been selected by a member of superior ranking within the organization. They continued to perform the duties of a Novice but carry the acknowledgement that they shall soon become an Accepted and be shown to The Forbidden Grotto.✷ Novice - The Novitiate of The Eventide’s Embrace are acolyte’s who have proven themselves of being considered loosely tied to the organization through their continued efforts. Novices are still forbidden from being shown to The Forbidden Grotto but may serve a higher-ranking member of the organization by acting as a bodyguard, a soldier, an assistant, or serving in a more clerical duty. During this stage they merely perform the role of a Squire without being formally recognized as such until they are selected by a superior ranking member to be acknowledged as such.✷ Initiate - An Initiate of The Eventide’s Embrace is a member of the organization who themselves is not a full-fledged aspirant. They are not formally recognized and are still under a strict and unspoken, wholly unknown to them interview process. An initiate is unaware of the location of The Forbidden Grotto and its corresponding safe houses throughout Eorzea.✷ Associate - An Associate of The Eventide’s Embrace is an outlying party who shares no formal recognition within the organization (or who might under unspoken circumstances or ties) that assist the organization from the outside without ever aligning themselves totally to The Eventide's agenda.

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"There were dreams once upon a time, dreams now all but forgotten. On sad days I dust them off and fondle them nostalgically, with a patronizing wonder at the naivete of the youth who dreamed them. But let them believe what they shall, there is no more harm in it."

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❂ Community ❂

✷ The Eventide's Way ✷The event system for the Free Company is rather simple. We understand that many people here don’t have a whole lot of time to complete an eight hour event, which many Role Playing Free Companies can excel at (and we see nothing wrong with their wont to do so), but we also ground ourselves firmly in the reality of many of us having and needing to work jobs to sustain ourselves. Also, sleep.Because of this we like to impose a strict limit on time with the exception of taking a vote to extend the event beyond the set limit we establish weeks ahead of time. Typically the process is very simple. A day is voted upon and selected, and the ‘storyline of the month’ or ‘bi-monthly chapter arc’ shall be broken up across many days and with post-event write-ups detailing what occurred during each event for those who might have been absent for the last chapter.The events will run for a period of two to three hours with hard stop points that will be narratively cut off to allow everyone time to rest, and recover. With a relatively low-impact system for managing the events they are quick, and easy to complete. We pride ourselves more on the content of the writing, and the themes of our stories, than overly complex systems that might prove to be difficult or daunting to learn for beginners to RP events.

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"It was a night for screamers. A broiling, sticky night of the sort that abrades that last thin barrier between the civilized man and the monster crouched in his soul. Cruel it may be, but most of us enjoy what we do—and the captain more than anyone."

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❂ The Thankless Labor ❂

Event Style
✷ To accept a task from The Eventide, one must visit Chapter House and find their way beneath to the Meeting Hall during one of the organization’s rare gatherings within the city. Tasks will not be accepted out-of-game, but upon acceptance they shall be messaged to a player through the Discord Server for further details and summaries.✷ Tasks handed about by the ever mysterious Eventide are designated as either self-directed or guided. Guided tasks will involve one DM, while self-directed missions will be accompanied by a PNG File Contract with a separate post that elaborates upon a general outline for the participants to follow when navigating the mission.✷ Tasks exist as a way for characters uninterested in larger-scale, longer-format events to still engage with The Eventide’s Embrace beyond reading post-event write-ups. Participants are encouraged to use these missions as opportunities to engage with other characters and have the chance to write together outside of chatting together in voice or playing other games outside of FF14 (which we seriously and actively encourage you to do, by the by).✷ Depending on a mission's risk and complexity, it will be worth a certain amount of Ignominy, Notoriety, Infamy, and Fame Points. This is denoted by the number beneath the task’s card on the PNG scroll that shall be handed out to those involved. Certain tasks will yield greater benefits related to The Eventide’s Embrace (as well as in-game advancement through the promotion of members for active involvement).✷ A task must be completed within a time span of two weeks, to a month after accepting it from the Marshals, or Seneschal. At least two people need to be involved in a task for it to be deemed completed. (This is to dissuade "solo climbing" the ranks or power-playing the system.) All missions yield the same number of points to each person involved. The only exception is a narrative Heroic Moment that is given out by the DM, much like an inspiration point/luck point.✷ To fulfill a task, please post in the corresponding Discord channel with proof of having completed your assignment; this can be in the form of a roleplay log accompanied by (if desired) a written excerpt, a GPose (which we recommend and encourage! Always a great excuse to practice), or illustration depicting the events of your session. Upon fulfilling your mission, a special announcement will be posted to feature your accomplishment (unless requested otherwise for in-character purposes).

❂ Contract Reference ❂

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"When I reflect on my companions’ inner natures, I usually wish I controlled one small talent. I wish I could look inside them and unmask the darks and brights that move them. Then I take a quick look into the jungle of my own soul and thank heaven that I cannot."

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Task Board
✷ There are varying degrees to the difficulty of each task put forth to the board each month by the reclusive leader of The Eventide's Embrace. Each task requires insight, thought, and careful planning. Some may decide to go for a more brute-force style of combat, and tactics. While others might desire to prolong the search and completion of their task to funnel more effort into stealth and establishing connections.

✷ Legendary Duty - A legendary duty is one that is broken up across a major story-chapter installment. These will take many months to complete.✷ Professional Duty - A professional duty is a multi-team event that takes place over a period of a month, or longer. These are not meant to be undertaken by teams of two.✷ Expert Duty - An expert duty is a more challenging variety of task put forth by the organization to those within it who are confident enough to undertake the duty with those more familiar with moderate tasks, and even beginner tasks.✷ Moderate Duty - A moderate duty is a relatively challenging task put forth to test those that have only completed beginner tasks to see if they are truly prepared for more rigorous work.✷ Beginner Duty - A beginner duty is light work. Anyone can complete this duty with little to no effort.✷ Varying Changes - These will always be subject to change, they are the Wild Card of the selections available and may change suddenly and without warning.

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"In the night, when the wind dies and silence rules the place of glittering stone, I remember. And they all live again To have a chance to see those faces I once knew brought back from the memory of a dying man. Oh, that would be too much, of that, I am sure."

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❂ The How To ❂

✷ How We Run It ✷The System: The event system for the Free Company is rather simple, as mentioned in an earlier section. We firmly believe in not overly complicating things or adding unnecessary bonuses or modifiers to boost attack or defensive roles. These will typically just bog down combat and confuse players who are not familiar with D&D (Dungeons And Dragons) and their more stream-lined system for 5E (Fifth Edition).Because of this we have decided to ultimately go with the in-game rolling system already provided to us by Square Enix. To this end, we have decided to ultimately go with the in-game rolling system already provided to us by Square Enix.we shall take a moment to provide a few brief examples as to how that will work for you (the player) in our gaming system for our version of Free Company Role Play events.Whether it is investigation checks being done by the player, or combat, the general rule of thumb that a Natural One (Critical Failure) is the worst possible outcome remains the same. With the general opposite end of that spectrum being a Natural TwentyThe Rolling System: 1-999, with 1 being a Critical Failure and 999 being a Critical Success for all rolls.In combat scenarios, such as duels, the players will roll first for Initiative - this will determine who rolls, and attacks first. To keep things simple, it is our opinion that the best of three roll offs is the victor of the duel.

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"Oh, 'twould be marvelous if the world and its moral questions were like some game board, with plain black players and white, and fixed rules, and nary a shade of grey. But the world is not so plain. It is far darker, and scarier than we care to admit."

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