Gliseah Soulguide

While it is a challenge to find any modern preacher of the Sacred Order willing to say it, the old records do not lie. Lumaya’s own immortal Firstborn – the Lightbringers – once fought at the head of the Order. Dusty, rotting tomes buried in libraries in Velyzar, Aravia, and Yakai all proclaim the names of these otherworldly warriors, reciting their deeds with pride, and quoting their adherence to the Sacred Order’s dictates. The Lightbringers have long since abandoned the Sacred Order, however, and one of their number is Gliseah. Head ringed with an auric halo and laurel, clad in golden armor, possessed of wings seemingly made of razor-sharp blades and ice crystals, and wielding a magical spear called Icepiercer, she has been an enemy of evil since the Great Divorce. In the early days of the Sacred Order, few Lightbringers could match Gliseah’s zeal in fighting the forces of Darkness. For years, she was one of the heads of the Sacred Order’s militant forces, combating Demonspawn and Undead wherever they emerged. Under her watch, the Sacred Order prospered, welcoming in rogue bands of would-be heroes, and training them to be fine, faithful warriors. Despite her success, Gliseah’s single-minded commitment to duty made her inflexible, and her discipline could not be matched by her mortal comrades — or even by some Lightbringers. Ultimately, she gave her position of supreme commander to a trustworthy mortal, and her fellow Lightbringers agreed to obey the new leader’s commands. At first this change was successful, but as time passed, the Sacred Order changed, transforming from the organization the Arbiter had created. Its preachings against the Skinwalkers grew harsher and harsher, climaxing in the Red Crusade in which not only did warriors of the Order slaughter and banish Skinwalkers, but Lizardmen, Orcs, and Ogryn as well. It was this event that caused Gliseah to leave the Sacred Order out of shame. She flew north, alone, in search of others who may have had the same change of heart. After many years, Gliseah arrived at a frozen lake, drawn by the sound of battle. On one side roared a magnificent beast of ice and rime, back to back with a towering warrior clad in plate armor, wearing a crimson, fur-lined coat, and armed with an immense greatsword. Encircling them were a number of individuals. They were draped in black robes, wreathed in dark magical energy, and followed by hordes of shuffling Undead who seemed to obey their every whim. Necromancers. Gliseah dived down to the aid of the beast and the warrior. Together, the three fought and slew the necromancers, after which their few remaining Undead collapsed to the ground, inanimate. After the battle, Gliseah marveled as the beast talked with great knowledge and kindness. He called himself Tatura Rimehide, and Gliseah learned that he had spent many years observing Teleria, and defending the Winterlands from Demonspawn and necromantic incursions. The warrior was another Lightbringer, called Sir Nicholas. He told Gliseah of his mighty hall in the Winterlands, from which he protected the region against the forces of evil. Gliseah was overjoyed upon hearing his tale, for his kindness and righteousness were legendary and she told him she had hoped to find someone like him, like herself. Together, these heroes talked of events across Teleria. Gliseah spoke of her sadness and rage following Sacred Order’s Red Crusade, and talked of her decision to turn from the world. Bonding with Sir Nicholas and Tatura Rimehide, Gliseah found a renewed desire to fight injustice wherever she found it. Defending the Winterlands together, this mythical trio continues to be spoken of in legends that give hope to the innocent and the suffering, and cautionary tales to all who would seek to do evil.