Dark Order

The name 'Dark Order' refers to any organization of evil mages attempting dominance of one or more worlds.

Overview

The Slayer Dragons have faced and destroyed numerous evil magicians or manifestations of evil magic, over the Ages of the Alliance; most of these were overcome, and the only serious threat was that of Samuel Fate. Most 'Dark Orders' are white-skinned, black-robed sorcerers or warlocks, obsessed with gaining power and often superstitious in the extreme. Where they cannot practice openly (as a result of industrialism preventing widespread magic), they augment social corruption. Their use of magic is consistent with records (discovered in the Sixth Age) of the Iname.

Structure

Dark Orders form a loose coalition under a single leader, called the 'Dark Lord' (not to be confused with the immortals of that name); itself often male, but not always so. Apostates are killed instantly. Death of a Dark Lord usually means death to most of its followers; therefore a successive Dark Order, on the same world, fails to learn from its predecessor's mistakes. Despite this weakness, they are often deeply rooted in the cultures of their adopted worlds: A.E. Clipson once remarked, 'The Dark Order's always been there; it's a natural part of the imaginative life of the human race'. Ranks within a Dark Order are ill-defined; but the more powerful a member is in magic, the higher its status. Envy is commonplace; but struggles for power are averted by the Dark Lord, who remains the sole internal authority.

Use of Magic

As a rule, single members are magically weak, but the group is strong. Their magic consists largely of causing, exploiting, and maintaining fear in a victim, whereby the victim is made subject to their wills. As a result, most Dark Order believe themselves inheritors of the Iname's power. Ranking members are awed and frightened by the Dark Lord's abilities (which slightly exceed their own), but in other respects, their modus operandi resembles Tower Magic.

Connection to Necromancy

At least one Dark Order, and possibly more, have contained remnants of the Grey Temple, and experiment therefore in genetic manipulation (usually meant to produce monsters). One famous iteration was destroyed by Marcus Ransom in the Fourth Age. Unlike true Necromancers, Dark Order seldom paint their faces (except in cultures requiring this), and typically dress in very-plain clothes.