Obsidian Order
Overview
The Obsidian Order is a secretive faction headquartered within the north slope of Rainbow Mountain. Unlike the open and accessible complex of the Order of the Orange Flame, the Obsidian Order’s stronghold is a sealed fortress, its dark stone façade adorned with obsidian and aquamarine inlays. Its cavernous halls extend deep beneath the mountain, hidden from the world.
Though little is known about its inner workings, the Obsidian Order is deeply embedded in the balance of power across New Orange City and its surrounding regions. Its members are rarely seen, yet their influence is undeniable, ensuring that conflicts are mediated, justice is enforced, and certain ancient secrets remain buried.
The Obsidian Complex
The Obsidian Order’s stronghold is one of the most mysterious structures in the world. Unlike traditional fortresses, its facade appears organic, as though the stone was bent, flexed, and shaped by an unknown force. The rock formations have a smooth, muscular quality, leading to speculation that the complex was not built, but grown through means lost to time.
No windows break the structure’s seamless design, and outsiders are strictly forbidden from entering. Those who have approached its unyielding doors have found no visible means of entry. The aquamarine inlays that decorate the fortress are said to symbolize the Order’s core tenets: clarity, balance, and the preservation of order. At night, these inlays emit a soft glow, further deepening the complex’s eerie and mystical aura.
Origins: The Bakajin Tribunal
The Obsidian Order traces its roots to the Bakajin Tribunal, an ancient stone tower at the base of Rainbow Mountain. The Tribunal was a place of judgment, where lawbreakers were tried and punished accordingly. Those found guilty were branded with the title of Bakajin, and legend tells of a terrible curse placed upon them—one that rendered them unable to interact with others, touch objects, or even speak until their sentence was fulfilled.
Over centuries, the custodians of the Tribunal evolved into the Obsidian Order, adopting their own rigid system of justice and secrecy. While the Tribunal itself faded into obscurity, its philosophies shaped the Order into the shadowy enforcers of balance and power that exist today.
Purpose & Philosophy
Unlike the Order of the Orange Flame, which believes in protecting power through secrecy, the Obsidian Order enforces balance through direct intervention. Its members believe that power is not inherently dangerous, but that it must be managed, distributed, and wielded carefully to prevent chaos.
The Order’s members are hand-selected and trained within the mountain, rarely seen but always present. They are known to mediate disputes, enforce justice, and suppress knowledge deemed too dangerous for the world to hold. While many believe the Order operates in the shadows, those who have encountered them firsthand speak of an unshakable presence— watching, listening, waiting.
Rivalry with the Order of the Orange Flame
For centuries, the Obsidian Order and the Order of the Orange Flame have clashed over power, relics, and ideology. Their philosophical divide is absolute—where the Orange Flame believes in hiding and safeguarding power, the Obsidian Order believes in managing and wielding it for the greater good.
Though direct conflict has been rare, their rivalry plays out in the hearts and minds of the people. Both Orders seek to shape the course of history, but where one seeks restraint, the other embraces intervention. Over the years, both have secured powerful relics, ensuring they do not fall into the wrong hands—or into each other's.
The Order Today
The Obsidian Order’s influence continues, even as the modern world changes around it. While the Order of the Orange Flame has restored its stronghold and opened its doors, the Obsidian Order remains locked away, an enduring enigma. Some whisper that its members still walk among the people, shaping events in ways unseen.
The truth, as always, is known only to the Obsidian Order itself.