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Ever since the beginnings of civilization, humanity (which includes demonkind, for this post) has needed protection from the monsters of the world, the Chaotics. All over the world different groups rose and fell with the passage of time, but some have stuck around into the modern age. Among these are the Nameless Sentinels, a worldwide organization known for their integrity and battle ability.
Creation and Spread
The Sentinels are somewhat analogous to what you think of when you hear the word "knight", and may even be described as what would've been the knighthood in modern times, without the religious overtones. They're an ancient order, first created back when centuries were still referred to in the single digits, and formed out of a small military belonging to the township of Oar's Rest.
The first recorded Sentinel was captain of the guard, a large minotaur named Tonethel. Inspired by shows of larger military force he remembered from his past, he decided to turn the guardship of Oar's Rest into a brotherhood of warriors, and the Nameless Sentinels rose out of these beginnings. As the might of the Sentinels grew so too did their popularity, and their skills were soon looked to by surrounding cities. Tonethel trained anyone who would join, knowing help wasn't only required around his home, and so groups of Sentinels were sent out to other places, and to other places from there, and over time they became the worldwide fighters we know today.
Oar's Rest is still around, and is the hub of power for the brotherhood as a whole. The council is seated here, and many new members are also inducted here.
Job
The Sentinels are, for the most part, specialized Chaotic killers. They train to take on the monsters that few others would dare to, and their weapons are specially enchanted for this purpose (as one great weakness of a Chaotic is magic, completely lacking it themselves). This was the reason behind their creation, and a large part of why they spread so far, so fast, as Chaotics can be found anywhere something is living.
Sentinels are generally for-hire in the short term or the long term; some cities maintain populations of Sentinels on guard for the duration, as a constant force of protection. Other times local chapters may be contacted to kill trouble Chaotics and then return home. This makes them a blend of mercenary and military, a lifestyle that's suited well to their training and upbringing within Sentinel villages and cities.
Chaotics are not the only thing they go against, however. They're also available for more "mundane" tasks requiring highly trained fighters. Police forces may have a Sentinel or two on board, and some have been contracted for fights against other threats, magical in nature or otherwise. These are considered extracurricular, and are up to an individual's discretion. Don't expect them to bow down to the force of money or power however; they are not guaranteed "hitmen" if the cause is not just.
The Masks
Seeking to create a unique fingerprint for themselves, masks were made an early trademark. This is where the "Nameless" in their title comes from, a reference to the concept of anonymity. Conceal the fighter and it becomes less about who they are, and more about what they can do; this has also been some measure of safety for a Sentinel, in areas less friendly to demons (or demonic areas less friendly to humans). Though these days the masks are more a symbol than a utility, they remain an integral part of recognizing a Sentinel.
Naturally, Sentinels aren't the only group to use masks, so there are some key similarities to help you tell the difference between one of them and one of someone else. A Sentinel mask is almost always an animal of some sort, usually based on one native to the region of the given settlement. They tend to be solid in color overall, with abstract accents in symmetrical patterns of another, contrasting color. Additionally, seemingly random lines may be seen, usually in red but not always; these are marks made by the mask's owner in representation of scars they've received, either blows to the mask itself or to their facial/head region. The masks are most often made of resin, wood, or modern industrial plastics; metal is rarely used anymore, though it was popular during a period of time of the masks being part of an armor setup. Bone is also used, and there are whispered rumors of Chaotic parts being redeemed for masks, but this has yet to be solidly proven, as Chaotics tend to vanish after death. (Still, there are persistent tales of skilled warriors, Sentinel or otherwise, being able to take prizes through the use of magic...)
The masks themselves are worn for a wide variety of situations. Travel, battle, ceremony, and more; tradition doesn't say much about when it can or can't be worn, so long as it is kept up as well as anything else the Sentinel owns. The mask is their identity, and is as important as anything else about them.
Weaponry
Most Sentinels tend to favor bladed weapons. This is partly a holdover from their beginnings, and partly because of the ease of enchanting blades over other forms of weaponry. From there the possibilities are endless, running the gamut of swords, daggers, naginata, katar, rope whips, and anything else you can stick a blade on. In the modern age some do prefer other weapons, particularly with the work they do, but by and far blades are most popular.
A Sentinel's weapon is an extension of themselves, often carrying a name, and almost always customized to the individual carrying it. Hometowns will always have a skilled weaponsmith living there, either someone trained specifically in the art or someone who has retired from active duty and now acts as support. Training with a weapon begins at a young age, often just before puberty, but may happen sooner if the trainee is deemed ready.
Most Sentinels are advised to carry additional weapons besides their specialty, in the interest of variety and for cases of emergency.
The Nameless
Though Sentinels are a honorable lot as a whole, it would be unrealistic to expect all to hold to this standard. This is where "The Nameless" come in. These are Sentinels that have gone bad, either using their skills for crime or outright turning their back on the order. A rogue is stripped of the Sentinel title and simply left as "Nameless" in official records. The word is then put out to all active members that this individual is dangerous, and is killable on sight. Someone who has been claimed as a Nameless can clear their nameheh, but it's a long and drawn out process.
Jadosi
Needing a way to communicate on the battlefield and in private, a language all their own was created early on. This is Jadosi, taught alongside English (or whatever the local majority language is) to all Sentinels growing up. It's a language that is a blend of words and gestures, allowing for both verbal and silent communication. It can be considered a second language for all Sentinels.
As an OOC note, Jadosi is based on, and sounds like, Simlish.
The Tragedy at East Hollow
Roughly three years before present day a horrible event befell East Hollow, a Sentinel town found in the northern mountains. It was during midday when innumerable Chaotics swarmed out of the forests and hills around the village, crashing through the walled gates and out into the streets.
Though everyone who was able rose up to fight, in the end it was for naught, and East Hollow fell under the weight of the monsters. Over 65% of the citizenry didn't survive the fight, and most of the town was destroyed before all the Chaotics were finally taken out or chased off. This was one of the worst tragedies in Sentinel history, certainly in modern times, and there's hardly one around that hadn't heard about what happened here. No one knows for sure, though, where all those Chaotics came from, or why there was so much destruction in a place known for Chaotic killers.
Today East Hollow is still around, and is well on the path to recovery. The Sentinels who chose to remain behind have dedicated themselves to rebuilding the village. It's open to visiting parties on official business, but is otherwise closed to the public in these times of restoration.
Sentinel Characters in Demons.exe
Daniel Kanegem
Adrian X
Carys Tudor
Benjamin Travers
Sena (in training)
Creation and Spread
The Sentinels are somewhat analogous to what you think of when you hear the word "knight", and may even be described as what would've been the knighthood in modern times, without the religious overtones. They're an ancient order, first created back when centuries were still referred to in the single digits, and formed out of a small military belonging to the township of Oar's Rest.
The first recorded Sentinel was captain of the guard, a large minotaur named Tonethel. Inspired by shows of larger military force he remembered from his past, he decided to turn the guardship of Oar's Rest into a brotherhood of warriors, and the Nameless Sentinels rose out of these beginnings. As the might of the Sentinels grew so too did their popularity, and their skills were soon looked to by surrounding cities. Tonethel trained anyone who would join, knowing help wasn't only required around his home, and so groups of Sentinels were sent out to other places, and to other places from there, and over time they became the worldwide fighters we know today.
Oar's Rest is still around, and is the hub of power for the brotherhood as a whole. The council is seated here, and many new members are also inducted here.
Job
The Sentinels are, for the most part, specialized Chaotic killers. They train to take on the monsters that few others would dare to, and their weapons are specially enchanted for this purpose (as one great weakness of a Chaotic is magic, completely lacking it themselves). This was the reason behind their creation, and a large part of why they spread so far, so fast, as Chaotics can be found anywhere something is living.
Sentinels are generally for-hire in the short term or the long term; some cities maintain populations of Sentinels on guard for the duration, as a constant force of protection. Other times local chapters may be contacted to kill trouble Chaotics and then return home. This makes them a blend of mercenary and military, a lifestyle that's suited well to their training and upbringing within Sentinel villages and cities.
Chaotics are not the only thing they go against, however. They're also available for more "mundane" tasks requiring highly trained fighters. Police forces may have a Sentinel or two on board, and some have been contracted for fights against other threats, magical in nature or otherwise. These are considered extracurricular, and are up to an individual's discretion. Don't expect them to bow down to the force of money or power however; they are not guaranteed "hitmen" if the cause is not just.
The Masks
Seeking to create a unique fingerprint for themselves, masks were made an early trademark. This is where the "Nameless" in their title comes from, a reference to the concept of anonymity. Conceal the fighter and it becomes less about who they are, and more about what they can do; this has also been some measure of safety for a Sentinel, in areas less friendly to demons (or demonic areas less friendly to humans). Though these days the masks are more a symbol than a utility, they remain an integral part of recognizing a Sentinel.
Naturally, Sentinels aren't the only group to use masks, so there are some key similarities to help you tell the difference between one of them and one of someone else. A Sentinel mask is almost always an animal of some sort, usually based on one native to the region of the given settlement. They tend to be solid in color overall, with abstract accents in symmetrical patterns of another, contrasting color. Additionally, seemingly random lines may be seen, usually in red but not always; these are marks made by the mask's owner in representation of scars they've received, either blows to the mask itself or to their facial/head region. The masks are most often made of resin, wood, or modern industrial plastics; metal is rarely used anymore, though it was popular during a period of time of the masks being part of an armor setup. Bone is also used, and there are whispered rumors of Chaotic parts being redeemed for masks, but this has yet to be solidly proven, as Chaotics tend to vanish after death. (Still, there are persistent tales of skilled warriors, Sentinel or otherwise, being able to take prizes through the use of magic...)
The masks themselves are worn for a wide variety of situations. Travel, battle, ceremony, and more; tradition doesn't say much about when it can or can't be worn, so long as it is kept up as well as anything else the Sentinel owns. The mask is their identity, and is as important as anything else about them.
Weaponry
Most Sentinels tend to favor bladed weapons. This is partly a holdover from their beginnings, and partly because of the ease of enchanting blades over other forms of weaponry. From there the possibilities are endless, running the gamut of swords, daggers, naginata, katar, rope whips, and anything else you can stick a blade on. In the modern age some do prefer other weapons, particularly with the work they do, but by and far blades are most popular.
A Sentinel's weapon is an extension of themselves, often carrying a name, and almost always customized to the individual carrying it. Hometowns will always have a skilled weaponsmith living there, either someone trained specifically in the art or someone who has retired from active duty and now acts as support. Training with a weapon begins at a young age, often just before puberty, but may happen sooner if the trainee is deemed ready.
Most Sentinels are advised to carry additional weapons besides their specialty, in the interest of variety and for cases of emergency.
The Nameless
Though Sentinels are a honorable lot as a whole, it would be unrealistic to expect all to hold to this standard. This is where "The Nameless" come in. These are Sentinels that have gone bad, either using their skills for crime or outright turning their back on the order. A rogue is stripped of the Sentinel title and simply left as "Nameless" in official records. The word is then put out to all active members that this individual is dangerous, and is killable on sight. Someone who has been claimed as a Nameless can clear their name
Jadosi
Needing a way to communicate on the battlefield and in private, a language all their own was created early on. This is Jadosi, taught alongside English (or whatever the local majority language is) to all Sentinels growing up. It's a language that is a blend of words and gestures, allowing for both verbal and silent communication. It can be considered a second language for all Sentinels.
As an OOC note, Jadosi is based on, and sounds like, Simlish.
The Tragedy at East Hollow
Roughly three years before present day a horrible event befell East Hollow, a Sentinel town found in the northern mountains. It was during midday when innumerable Chaotics swarmed out of the forests and hills around the village, crashing through the walled gates and out into the streets.
Though everyone who was able rose up to fight, in the end it was for naught, and East Hollow fell under the weight of the monsters. Over 65% of the citizenry didn't survive the fight, and most of the town was destroyed before all the Chaotics were finally taken out or chased off. This was one of the worst tragedies in Sentinel history, certainly in modern times, and there's hardly one around that hadn't heard about what happened here. No one knows for sure, though, where all those Chaotics came from, or why there was so much destruction in a place known for Chaotic killers.
Today East Hollow is still around, and is well on the path to recovery. The Sentinels who chose to remain behind have dedicated themselves to rebuilding the village. It's open to visiting parties on official business, but is otherwise closed to the public in these times of restoration.
Sentinel Characters in Demons.exe
Daniel Kanegem
Adrian X
Carys Tudor
Benjamin Travers
Sena (in training)
