「 Who are the Sentinels? 」
The Sentinels are a group of people devoted to Shinrai, a Goddess of law, order, truth, justice, and what some may regard an odd sense of mercy and protection. Standing up for the weak against the oppression of evil magics, which is generally all magic that is not put to use in the strict, monitored service of others. Blessed Sentinels are those who have gone through rigorous, violent, physically, and mentally demanding training so that they can learn to use a caster's magic against them ( more explained below ). All are welcomed to join and those casters willing to subject them to Shinrai's law are used as tools in a quiet, but bloody, cloak and dagger holy war to exterminate those that use magic for selfish purposes.


     「 Shinrai 」

Shinrai is the minor goddess of law, order, truth, justice, and her own brand of mercy and protection. She believes that the world is a broken, wild place and it is up to those capable and strong to put it right. Truth is the bane of the chaos in the world and justice is how wrongs are made right. The strong should always show mercy to those less fortunate, while in turn, those less fortunate or less capable should strive to better themselves and provide however they can to those who are doing what they cannot.

She is not a forgiving Goddess and there is no such thing as a white lie. Corruption and chaos starts with such little things, worming their way into the mind before blossoming into inner demons that require personal pain and sacrifice to cleanse. For Shinrai, there is no too far, but frequently not far enough in eradicating the chaos of the world. The root of the problem, largely, stems from the wild and selfish use of magic. Born to those of impure souls, it is up to her Sentinels to bring those casters to heel and either show them a better way - teach them how they can better serve their fellow mortals in harmony, law, and order - or there is no point to them existing. Chaos cannot be allowed to thrive, in any form.

Shinrai lives on her own minor plane and frequently traffics with her Blessed Sentinels. There is absolutely no question whether or not you are favored by her. If a blessed Sentinel has strayed from the path, they will be hunted by their brethren and Shinrai's gifts taken - before their life is ended.


     「 Blessed Sentinels 」
There are some that become Blessed. They different from those normally in service to Shinrai and her call to cull the chaos and rampant magic use in that they are quite literally blessed with a unique ability she grants. Blessed Sentinels are capable of capturing a mage / magic user when a spell is directed against them. The magic directed at them becomes like a leash, chaining the caster to the Blessed. Granting them control. This makes Blessed Sentinels very deadly against magic users. The control is absolute until the Blessed frees the magic user, often requiring great personal pain on both sides.

This bond is very one sided. The magic user becomes, fundamentally, a slave to the Blessed. Any thought or action that goes against the Blessed's wishes creates indescribable mental pain. Though Blessed can, and frequently do, physically punish the caster attached to them, it is not necessary to control the caster. Rather, physical pain is often used as a training technique. Attempting to teach the caster how to be of service to their fellow mortal.

Blessed are not shy about using a caster under their control as a weapon, either. Sentinels, Blessed or otherwise, do not believe that there is anything hypocritical in such a thing. Once captured, a mage becomes a tool to be used until they are broken.

Blessed Sentinels can be of any race or gender. They are easily denoted by their faintly blue and white feathered wings, much the same as Shinrai's. She bestows them when the Blessed gain her favor - and they are ripped off should that favor be lost. Right before said Blessed is executed before the community.


     「 Organization & Location 」
Based mainly out of Connlaoth, the Sentinels travel in small camps of about 8-15 members. The camp is led by one or two Blessed. Beneath them is one Exalted. This is a senior Sentinel, generally responsible for administrative responsibilities. They see to training of new Sentinels at the camp, communication with other camps, resource procurement such as new horses, food, shelter, and whatever else the camp might require. Any targets or mages that the camp has are under the direct supervision of the Blessed.

Honor Guard are those Sentinel selected for a particular task, often accompanying a Blessed on a hunt, whose sole purpose is to provoke a mage into using their magic. Often at the expense of their life. They're incredibly devoted to both the Blessed and the Cause. If they survive, the Honor Guard hold a place of high regard in the Sentinels and will do so until they die. Akin to wingless Blessed.

Beneath the Exalted are the Sentinels. Trained fighters and armored escorts of the camp. They provide assistance to the Blessed in whatever they may require and keep the camp safe, otherwise. They make up the majority of the camp and are devout to Shinrai and the Code of Conduct.

The camps never remain anywhere for long. Sentinels are aware that their presence in not usually welcomed for long, seeing the world as a broken and dangerous place. They are few and the world is full of enemies. Being on the move is for the best. They do not actively seek out conflict, but choose choice targets based on priority and how dangerous or powerful a mage might be. The stronger a magic user, the more likely a Blessed will want to fight them.


     「 Code of Conduct 」
The Code of Conduct in what the Sentinels live by. The rules by which they use to guide their life, passed down by Shinrai and writ in a small, white leather bound book that most will keep on them. It's not particularly thick, roughly 30 pages. Most of it provides examples and small anecdotal stories in how the Codes should be applied. There are also guidelines for punishments, should certain codes be broken and to what degree. Since the Codes are rather strict, and to break one generally results in lashing - for minor infractions - or death for the major ones.

Codes:
- Do not lie, either knowingly or by omission.
- Do not cheat
- Do not steal
- Obey Sentinel authority - referring to superiors only within the camps, not outside law enforcement.
- Everything in moderation - referring to alcohol and other physical altering substances. Indulgences are allowed, loosely.
- Observe and report - referring to caution in engaging in fights that you are either not ready for, or ill prepared for. Fights should be prepared for, not suicide runs.
- Magic should never be used for selfish purposes, as some Sentinels are magic users. They are usually especially repentant and try very hard to be especially selfless.
- Confession cleans the consciousness.


     「 Training & Recruitment 」
Sentinels come from all walks of life, from everywhere. They can be magically inclined or not, of any age. Most have been the victim of some sort of tragedy and are saved by Sentinels or have come into contact with them during some sort of good will task. Either way, there is a period of Apprenticeship in which the hopeful recruit must spend some years in service to the camp, learning the Codes of Conduct, abiding by them, and learning service to others and humility. During this time, they'll also steadily become familiar with a weapon of choice, armor and gear upkeep, and how to tend to things around camp.

There is no set time for this apprenticeship. Once a Sentinel deems someone ready, the become a mentor and claim responsibility for the apprentice. They begin rigorous physical training, moral lessons on the codes, and frequent forays with their mentor on scouting missions, supply runs, and other tasks that might be assigned to them. Trust and honesty is very important between mentor and trainee. If at any time a mentor thinks their trainee has failed, or cannot continue, it's often seen as not only a failure of the student, but of the mentor as well. The trainee will be demoted back to their apprenticeship, should they wish to remain.

At any time, trainees or apprentices in the camp are free to go.

Sentinels are those recognized by the Blessed of their camp and recommended by their former mentor for review. The Blessed may wish to spar with them, to test their skills, to question them on ethics and morals, or task them with a minor mission. Once more, if a Blessed grants the trainee the rank of Sentinel, they become responsible. I.E. A Blessed is responsible for the actions of all the Sentinel in their camp.

Blessed only ascend if they are asked for by Shinrai personally. Another Blessed will show up to take them to Shinrai's realm - a golden gated portal the Goddess creates. There, the Goddess infuses them with her gift, a very painful process, and grafts their wings onto their body. The newly ascended Blessed will spend a time in the holy realm, learning from a senior Blessed to harness their new gift and how to use their wings, before they return to the mortal plane.


     「 Sentinels Outside Camp 」
Sentinels outside of their home camp are taught to be observant but not to engage unless they absolutely must, or it's self-defense. They look at this all like a holy war, but one that must be fought carefully. Not to throw their lives carelessly in ill-planned engagements. This means they might dress down for supply runs and try to blend in with the crowd and they'll stay out of most fights that might take place around them, even if it involves a magic user. A sentinel is more apt to report that magic user back to their camp, so a real plan can be put into place to capture them, then simply attack.

If a Sentinel is attacked, the fight is to the death. There is no such thing as being caught alive and they would not expect to be rescued. The overall War is seen as greater than their life and they would not, generally, believe their one life is greater than the whole.

Generally, Sentinels and Mordecai are neutral toward one another. They are after the same goal, they just go about it under drastically different methods. A Sentinel will not willfully hinder a Mordecai, and they expect the same courtesy in return.


     「 Additional information 」
Created in conjunction with @Heartaflame. If you have any questions, comments, or the like, feel free to either PM me, respond here, or hit me up on discord. If you have a character you'd like to add, or a plot you'd like to see with this group, likewise hit me up. ^_^ Should be a lot of fun.


     「 Character Reference List 」
Blessed Yukina - played by SanctifiedSavage



     「 Thread Reference List 」
Beware birds of a feather - SanctifiedSavage / HeartofFlame
     「 Yukina goes on a hunt for Kanimir