✠ Mortal Flames ✠

The Mortal Flames is an old guild dating a few centuries back, and was seen as the overseers of the cycle of life and death. The guild believes that life is precious, and their death should be celebrated in remembrance to celebrate the life that once was. Hence, it is one of the reasons why the guild holds funerals for the departed. Regardless of history, affiliation, or alignment, the Mortal Flames extend their arms in solace for those who seek to mourn the fallen, and in counseling them to lead them back to their own path, like a lit lantern.

While they mostly preserve this cycle and holding traditional burial rituals, they are also called upon to deal with the supernatural and the lost. They commune with lost souls who wander around Earthland due to their earthbound tether. Thus, the guild is responsible in guiding those lost souls and help them break their earthly chains to pass on to the afterlife. Some of the members are also chroniclers of history. Ever since its conception, they seek to pen the lives of those whose time was over, and in doing so, preserve a part of history that one day, the passages of their time will serve as inspiration or warning for the next generation, and of the future generations until the end of time.

It is their belief that parodying and making a mockery of life through use of nurturing undead thralls are sacrilegious, for it is their belief that life is sacred, and the undead are an insult to this sacred gift.

Centuries past, but not too many, there was an established guild of camaraderie and hope whose sole purpose was to guide the lost souls to find their own way and to preserve the cycle of life and death, driving away the forces that would threaten to upset the scales. They have also dealt with the supernatural and dealings with the afterlife, particularly those who have not passed on due to their unfinished business that they needed to do before moving on to the afterlife. Their ultimate enemies are those who dare parody the beauty of life, regardless of their purpose, as well as those who seek to achieve immortality through the sacrifice of countless lives.

Previously led by Sepulchre, a powerful wizard of renown, he has since then parted ways with the guild to end a conflict in the east which would have carried over to Fiore if left unchecked, as it was his own task to protect Fiore at all costs. Since then, no one knew of his whereabouts, nor does the next guild master dare to venture forth to find him. Since then, the Mortal Flames’ numbers dwindled with each generation, and every guild master has handed them down to the next generation in such a state of discord, their core values now lost in the annals of history. With each passing century, their visions, missions, and goals differ. From Independent, to Legal, to Dark, and back to Independent, each Guild Master has left behind a stain in the pages of its history, ironic that the guild was established to be perfectly neutral and act only in the interest of the preservation of balance.

In the present day, the Mortal Flames seek to find guild members who wish to guide wayward souls to the afterlife. They are in constant need of mages to help with the guild's goals.

The guild’s mark is not just for show. It has a symbolic meaning that pertains to the duties guild members must uphold, as well as what the guild stands for.

• Lantern, an object used which is lit to help its bearer see through the dark. Symbolically, the guild itself acts as a lantern; a beacon for lost souls and the misguided to the light.
  
• Fire. It can be interpreted as the flame of life, passion, destruction, and ultimately, hope. and is used to light up the lantern. Just as easy it is to snuff out the flames of a candle, the frailty of mankind makes it easy for evil to snuff out their flames. The lantern serves to protect the flame within to keep it lit, and it reflects on the guild’s duty to preserve this flame of hope and life.
  
• Skull. Commonly interpreted as death, with the flames of life, the two symbolically pertains to the cycle of life and death. The skull is also interpreted as mortality, which serves to remind us of the fleeting existence of life.
  

These symbols also serve as part of each chapter’s coat of arms when donning their uniforms, as well as represent their respective duties to the guild. The Chapter of Shrouds does not have a place in the guild’s mark, however, they do have their own respective coat of arms.

Guild members who join the guild are expected to exhibit the following virtues.

• Optimism through the most difficult of times. Be the shining beacon of light that guides the sullen and deliver them from the sorrowed darkness.
  
• Compassion in a world of cruelty. The tainted will prey on the innocent, and they shall see the world as skewed and horrible. We must be kind, and respond in kindness, to those who deserve it, for those who need it.
  
• Respect for the dead and those who deserve to be given respect.
  
• Duty must be upheld regardless of circumstances, as we are responsible for delivering wayward souls to the afterlife.
  
• Empathy for the troubled souls who mourn the loss of life.
  

The guild’s goals have been very inconsistent in the past, and has since reformed to meet the goals of the first generation of knights of the Mortal Flames.

• Mediumship. One of the guild’s goals was to help the souls of the deceased pass on to the afterlife and break their earthbound tether to the material. They help resolve lingering attachments so that they may walk into the light, regardless of the history they left behind. Certain employers would find able mages to help with ghosts, but they would always be met with fierce aggression by the mages. It is our job to make sure these lost souls find peace.
  
• Preservation. One of the guild’s goals was to help preserve the cycle of life and death, and that no man, regardless of affiliation and intent, shall ever desecrate this sacred gift that is called life. Necromancers and those who seek to defile the beauty of life are their ultimate enemies, for they make a mockery of this gift.
  
  And it is not only the cycle that they seek to preserve - they also seek to preserve the history of mankind, ones past that may serve as a beacon of inspiration or warning that may serve well for the generations to come, or a message for those who have not passed on. It is their duty to pen the life of a person into tomes through magical means so that its knowledge may be used for the days to come.
  
• Celebration and Completion. In their tradition, death must be celebrated to remember the life that once was, which is why up until now, the guild offers funeral services for the deceased. The guild is also required to ‘complete’ this cycle by giving back to the earth. Either through cremation or burial, it is the guild’s duty to return their mortal husks back to the earth so that life shall spring anew, according to the guild’s beliefs.
  

While the guild as a whole is tasked to prevent anyone from desecrating the sacred gift of life, each chapter has their own role to play, whether they console the mourning, hear the dead, or lay down the deceased to their final resting places, and even leading the charge against those who dare defile the sacred beauty of life.

The Lamplighter ( Guild Master ) - The leader of the guild, whose role is to keep the blazing flame of hope from being snuffed out. They are also responsible with dealing and delegating tasks to its members, and has the ultimate say in the decisions of the guild. This flame is passed down to the most worthy of Aces should they decide to step down and retire or quit.

The Paragons ( Aces ) - The most qualified among the ranks of each chapter, and considered the strongest champions of the guild. Should the guild’s flame flicker and on the brink of dying, it is the Paragons’ duty to rekindle the flames of hope.

The Chapter of Skulls - A chapter assigned to protect the cycle of life and death, and remind everyone the frailty of mortality. Their duty to the guild involves laying down the deceased to their final resting place and to protect it from the would be defilers of the dead, such as graverobbers.

• Paladin
  
• Gravekeeper
  
• Pallbearer
  

The Chapter of Flames - A chapter assigned to preserve the burning force of life, their duty solely to keep the flame alive. They are mostly mages who are willing to support the guild by mending wounds and protecting guildmates to help preserve their life.speakers.

• Confessor
  
• Reverend
  
• Priest
  

The Chapter of Lanterns - A chapter assigned to steer the lost souls back to their proper paths, as well as help lead the lost souls to the light and break their earthbound chains. They usually consist of proficient counselors, charismatic leaders, and speakers.

• Chaplain
  
• Shepherd
  
• Deacon
  

The Chapter of Shrouds - A chapter tasked in communing with the dead that they may pen their lives into tomes. They are those capable of treading across the veil of life to hear the whispers and secrets of the dead that their knowledge may prove useful to uphold the guild’s duty as the guardian of this cycle.

• Librarian
  
• Scribe
  
• Conjurer
  

Acolyte ( Beginner's Rank ) - A newly registered mage begins at the rank of an acolyte. They have the potential to join either of the 3 chapters, or if they meet the criteria, they may join the secretive chapter should they be invited.

In order to be part of the Mortal Flames, prerequisites must be met in order to be a part of the guild. Guild members are also expected to follow the guild laws.

• Acolytes are asked to provide an introduction thread detailing the reason why they wanted to join the guild IC. A guild official, either the Lamplighter or one of the Paragons are to respond and recruit them IC, but they don't need any sort of invitation to be a part of the Mortal Flames.
  
• Necromancers and mages who control the undead are prohibited and will be executed on sight. The living dead such as liches and spirit contractors/manipulators are to explain themselves and are taken into consideration.
  
• Acolytes don't need to don their uniforms during official missions, but members of each Chapter are required to do so. Guild members don't need to don their uniforms when off duty or when in unofficial jobs.
  
• Members are expected to follow orders from the Paragons and the Lamplighter, but they may act in their own discretion when necessary.
  
• Practicing necromancy is prohibited and members caught doing so are subject to immediate execution or banishment, whichever is more fitting.
  

The guild used to have forward bases near the outskirts of every major town, with Gravekeepers keeping watch of the cemeteries and graveyards on each town. Now, only the main headquarters remain, which is stationed by the lake of Clover Town. A bridge connects the gap between the island the guild is stationed in and the town, and a wide graveyard is located behind the guild premises. Rich flora and trees decorate this island to spruce up the guild's exterior. Colorful stained glass windows are visible from the outside depicting the

These images serve as inspiration for the guild's conception. These are temporary and will be removed once the guild is established, and will be removed should the owners wish to remove them. I do apologize if I have not asked for permission as sources for these are unknown,

Uniform and Chapters Concept Sketches by Knight Owl:

Uniform Inspiration:

This is my guild suggestion in order to fill the independent guild slot following the disbanding of the previous guild. I was inspired mostly by the concept art of one of the artists on Twitter and has an influence on the direction of this guild idea, but the concept are isn't the only thing helping me in the conception of this suggestion. Special thanks to Tammy for her veritable fountain of knowledge about goth stuff. However, making this guild idea bear fruit is impossible without support and interested members. If you would like to be a member of the guild, or if you have any questions, send me a PM in this site, or send me a DM on discord (Username is Owlsteoporosis#7139).

Pledged Members
Knight Owl
Noctis Rose*
Eli
Mathis

Donations
Knight Owl - 100,000 Jewels
Ryuusei - 31,437 Jewels
Eli - 1,000,000 Jewels
Naphtali Mido - 10,000 Jewels


Total Funds
1,141,437 / 10,000,000 Jewels