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The
warrior code of this Order is founded squarely on
the principles of justice and fairness. Naturally,
as nobles, the Templars' opinion of justice
contrasts markedly with that of the common folk, but
it cannot be argued that the Templars often willingly
fight for those who have no others to defend them.
Templars of the Everlasting Light defended the plague-struck
village of Hafbad when no other would, and members
of their Order gave their lives to defeat the mighty
Shaggoth Brakorth in the Worlds Edge Mountains. Despite
such deeds, the Order has passed into history for
another, less glorious reason: the Templars of the
Everlasting Light are cursed.
The secret of how they became thus afflicted is
locked within the Order's records, but speculation
has it that they offended some deity while on crusade
in Araby. Whatever the cause, they find themselves
thrown from their horses at inopportune moments; swords
break as a deathblow is delivered; and seemingly stable
earth turns to marsh or quicksand once the hooves
of their steeds touch it. Only a member of this Order
(Kurt von Tzalza) could be struck in the eye by a
ricochet that was fired behind him. Only a Grand Master
of the Everlasting Light (Sigismund Drak) could be
dumped unceremoniously into a cart-load of manure
during a victory parade in Altdorf, the only such
cart for many miles around. Only one Chapterhouse,
in the entire history of the Empire, has vanished
into a yawning chasm as the result of a freak earth
tremor. There are many more varied accounts of this
ill-fortune in the histories of the Empire. Nevertheless,
the Templars of the Everlasting Light never want for
recruits. To a certain class of nobility, it is better
to belong to a famous Order, however unlucky it may
be, than to one whose name is unknown beyond the walls
of their Chapterhouse.
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