Page 206 - Lords of Madness: The Book of Aberrations

for the chapter house to be virtually deserted at most other NPC Reactions
times. The order members have other duties and responsibili- The knights who serve in the Topaz Order form only one of the
ties scattered all over the region, and even those who don’t have knightly orders, martial societies, and dedicated fellowships
other duties are frequently engaged in efforts to ferret out the to be found in a typical human kingdom. Not many common
secret strongholds of their sworn enemies. folk know the specific cause or composition of the Topaz Order,

The order recognizes four ranks: Brother (or Sister), Guard- and so commoners view topaz guardians in much the same
ian, Sunwarden, and High Sunwarden. Brothers and Sisters way that they would view any temple-sworn knight or paladin
make up about two-thirds of the membership; these are the in the service of Heironeous. Good-aligned people look upon
fighters, clerics, paladins, and others who have sworn alle- topaz guardians as valorous defenders of the common good—a

giance to the Topaz Order, but who have not actually taken little overzealous or aristocratic to be really likable, perhaps,
levels in the topaz guardian prestige class. Brothers and Sisters but admirable nonetheless. Evil-aligned creatures detest the
are the foot soldiers of the society, called upon to crusading zeal of the order, and regard topaz guardians as self- HUNTER CHAPTER 9
join companies attacking aberration strongholds, righteous inquisitors who insist on making others adhere to THE ABERRATION
but otherwise left to their own devices. their ridiculous standards of conduct and morality.
Guardians have taken levels in the The topaz guardians get on well with
prestige class. They are champions, com- the abolishers of the Circle of the True;
manders, and agents who have no other members of the Circle hold a help-
duties in the church of Hei- ful attitude toward topaz guardians,
roneous. The most even if they sometimes think that
experienced guard- the guardians are a little too fo-
ian in a chapter is cused on master aberrations as
appointed the chap- opposed to the entire abomina-
ter’s Sunwarden, or ble class of monsters. Keepers
leader. A Sunwarden of the Cerulean Sign are also
is considered equal in rank to friendly toward members of
the high priest of a temple of the Topaz Order. While they
Heironeous, but defers to the believe that the guardians have Illus. by M. Phillippi
ranking cleric of the temple an overly simple notion about
that hosts his chapter house. how to go about opposing the
Sunwardens who lead chap- machinations of aberrations,
ters of more than twelve the keepers certainly respect
members, or who have been the topaz guardians’ determi-
especially recognized by the nation and zeal.
head of the order, are referred Naturally, any master ab-
to as High Sunwardens. The erration aware of the order’s
leader of the Topaz Order is existence views its adher-
Grand Sunwarden Jasminder ents in the worst possible
Aree (LG female human light. Aboleths, mind
paladin 7/topaz guard- flayers, and other such

ian 10), who governs the aberrations are without fail
Hall of the Supernal To- hostile to the topaz guard-

paz, a fortified abbey located ians and all who travel with
near Verbobonc. them.

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THE TOPAZ DIADEM work against the wearer of a diadem.) Unlike the spell, a diadem
All topaz guardians wear a magic headband known as a topaz offers no protection against summoned creatures.
diadem. A diadem confers a +1 sacred bonus to AC and a +1 Diadems are created for members of the Topaz Order, and
sacred bonus on saving throws against attacks made by or function only for characters of the topaz guardian prestige class.
effects created by evil creatures. It also blocks any attempt to As a wearer gains levels in the topaz guardian prestige class,
possess the wearer or to exercise mental control over the wearer his topaz diadem likewise grows more powerful; see the topaz
by means of enchantment (charm) or enchantment (compul- guardian prestige class description.
sion) effects, as described in the spell protection from evil. Moderate abjuration; CL 9th; Craft Wondrous Item, bless,
(Some enchantment spells, such as hold person, do not require magic circle against evil, creator must be a member of the Topaz
the caster to actively exercise mental control, and therefore still Order; Price 12,000 gp.
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