Kretingan Order

A recent campaign by the Church of Ignis to destroy the influence of the gods known as the Old Ones has led to the formation of the Kretingan Order, a collection of pagans from the east dedicated to the defense of their religion. Though many villages and towns have been torched under the guise of heretical acts by the Sanctus Guard, many more remain to resist them. A coalition of current and former nations, the Kretingan Order’s biggest benefit is their staunch refusal to give up their faith. They are defiant even in the face of the mighty Church of Ignis, and as such have many experienced warriors. They lack a sophisticated chain of command, however, their diverse, motley assortment of backgrounds hindering their ability to act coherently. While certainly a power in their own right, the order is currently fighting for it’s very existence against the incursions of the Church, and though the neighboring Kronstadti are sympathetic to their cause, they as of yet do not dare risk openly aiding them. Even if the Order can repel the Church, there is doubt as to whether they can continue to coexist once the threat of immediate extinction has vanished. Only time or the swords of the Sanctus Guard will determine their fate.

Geography
The Kretingan Order encompasses nearly a score of former and current countries, a block of buffer states between Stahlheim and the Varesian Confederation to the west and Kronstadt to the east. Their lands experience harsh winters and cold summers, void of too much warmth and sunlight. The lands of the Kretingan Order have large ranges of grassland and forest with few mountains or stony terrain. Kretingan lands are not known for any particular valuable resource, but the lands provide enough for their people to thrive in harsh conditions and with the constant threat of war.

Economy
The Kretingan economy has not been strong since the war started. With farms burning, cities looted and men dying, there has been little opportunity to seek monetary glory. The member countries are reliant upon agriculture to feed their armies, but with few avenues with which to procure gold or equipment for their troops, they must often turn to looting. They strike at established Chapter houses of Ignis, taking gold idols of what they believe to be a false god and striking them down. They would sooner turn to more noble pursuits, but as they fight for their existence they have little choice but to take from their enemy’s sizable coffers and hope that they will have more fortune in the future. Due to the Church’s condemnation of the Kretingan Order, other nations are reluctant to trade with them. Kronstadt seems to be the most likely candidate, though as of yet the Principality has not aided one side or the other.

Religion
The Kretingan people are pagan followers of the Old Ones that most of humanity worshiped prior to the last great March of the Damned. Many people assumed the Gods had abandoned them and so took up a new religion, but those of the Kretingan order know their continued faith shall be rewarded. They worship a multitude of Gods, whether their domains be that of war, agriculture, fertility, or the pursuit of knowledge. Though peaceful and not actively attempting to convert non-members, followers of the Old Ones have been rallied by incursions into their lands by the Church of Ignis. They now cling to their faith steadfastly, praising their Gods and fighting for their very way of life.

Culture
It is difficult to describe the culture of so many nations coalesced together, especially only under such dire circumstances. The various peoples of the Order are all certainly dedicated to their faith, a vast majority choosing to stay faithful rather than convert to the Church of Ignis to avoid a risk of death. They are a hard working people, for all of their nations rely upon farming to survive and make any sort of income. They find joy in simple things due to their frequent lack of available funds, and most from the Kretingan Order are considered skillful storytellers. Much of their culture has been erased during the war, either burned to the ground or propagated as false by those who would turn them away from the Old Ones.

Politics
Politics in the Kretingan Order are somewhat of an enigma, as a multitude of countries and refugees from now annexed countries are a part of the coalition. With such diversity comes confusion, for not every man speaks the same language or wishes to defend the same home. Differing customs contribute to accidental insults and leaders aiming to dominate the conversation on how best to win the war. The Order is a group held together by necessity and faith, and haphazardly deals with issues as they come along. It is impossible to put out a hundred fires at once, but by taking them one at a time the Order hopes to survive long enough to deal with them all. There is no real leader of the Order, though there is the High Council. It consists of one representative from each of the member countries, usually a ruler or other high ranking noble. The head of this council is a representative from the Order’s namesake country, Kretinga, and is viewed with much respect. He is the closest thing to an official leader the Order has, and though it can be difficult to try and rule, others often listen to the Kretingan representative(named 'High Councillor') out of respect alone.

Military
The Kretingan military has an odd assortment of soldiers from a score of cultures, a mix of veterans and fresh recruits, the assortment of armed forces is infamously poor. Most spare money is spent feeding the population, leaving Kretingan soldiers salvaging weapons from the dead, making their own, or relying on unorthodox tactics in battle. Fighters of the Kretingan Order favor light armor and cheap weapons(such as bows and axes), often striking Ignisi patrols before nearby reinforcements can be rallied. A large amount fight from horseback and make for skilled light cavalry, throwing javelins with accuracy before circling about to prevent an enemy from reaching them. The chain of command over the Kretingan forces is shaky, but usually generals are sensible enough to agree. When they are not, however, the results can be disastrous. Troops receiving different orders are not cohesive and cannot win battles. Thus, the Order relies on a strong fighting spirit and hit-and-run tactics that favor their knowledge of their own terrain.

History
The Kretingan Order has existed only for a few short years, formed out of necessity and a desire to maintain a common faith in the face of extermination. But the peoples that encompass the member nations of the Kretingan Order have a long and storied history. The Old Ones that they follow are some of the world's oldest deities, worshipped long before Ignis and widely seen as the world's protectors. Their most staunch followers exist in the lands of the Kretingan Order, men and women from scores of countries devoutly worshiping them. This is how it has always been, and there are some shrines to the Old Ones that predate history both written and spoken. These lands were the birth of the Old Ones, and until the end of the Third Era they were considered holy places of worship for them. The centuries since the rise of Ignis have seen the prestige and mystique of these lands vanish, replaced at first by indifference and more recently with hostility and accusations of heathenry.

Recent Events
The Kretingan Order is in it’s infancy, having only officially existed for two years. Prior to that it was several countries, each vying for survival against the armies of the Church and the Sanctus Guard. Since rallying together, the Order has provided a much more united front and has halted the progress of Ignis’ faithful. This has created a stalemate that both sides are eager to be done with, for once winter comes much death will follow. Without outside aid the Kretingans will not have enough food to avoid famine, and those of the Church used to warmer climates will succumb to the bone-cutting chill. The existence of the Kretingan Order depends upon them surviving and expelling their foe, for elsewise they shall never be truly left to exist in peace.