Harnessing the power of the soul, 2 sorcerers named Petrichor and Pollux became the first Martial Artists and established the arts of Ki Manipulation and Magicism 4000 years ago. They rejected the foul practices of black magic and shunned the limited wizardry for a deeper understanding of the human being. Harnessing the energy of life itself, the energy of the soul, the 2 sorcerers laid the foundation for the Sanctum of Prostasia. From the hordes of explorers making the long and treacherous journey to their secluded sanctuary, Rasalhague was the finest and extended the teachings of his masters. Together, the trio is still referred to as the ‘First Three Masters of the Martial Arts’.

For millennia, the Sanctum of Prostasia taught a deep understanding of the soul to its disciples. Helping those in need and spreading knowledge of the human spirit were the main goals of its masters. But, at the turn of the first millennium AD, this all changed. A group of enigmatic aggressors picked apart the spiritual guides. One by one they killed many an important figure before the Sanctum could even realise what was going on. The subsequent war against this Cult of Assassins decimated the Sanctum of Prostasia. All of the cultists were once disciples of the Sanctum or students of those disciples. The very knowledge they spread ended up nearly destroying them completely.

The few Ki Manipulators, Magicists, and Mystics who lived through the decade long struggle found themselves split into 2 distinct groups. Hence began the era of the Eye and the Order. Unlike their predecessor foundation, these 2 decided to disappear from the eyes of the world. Deeming the knowledge of spiritual energies too dangerous for any common man (or as they call them, “plebeians”) the 2 organizations began to observe humanity from the shadows. They only intervened when calamities struck, or when one of their own kind was causing any trouble.

The dichotomous beliefs of the Eye and the Order spawned a deep seated mistrust amongst their members. Both organizations wanted to avoid any more conflicts and wars like the one they were forced to fight against the Cult of Assassins but ended up creating new and unforeseen problems. Residing in one place, the Eye believed it best to observe in silence and act only when necessary. On the other hand, their counterpart, with no real base of operations, decided to keep things in order by any means necessary. This led to needless animosities, skirmishes, and even all out wars.

One of the Eye’s strategies to counter the Order’s more global outreach was the initiative known as the Outsiders. Since the war between the Eye and Order nearly 500 years ago, the Outsiders had been in charge of dealing with any rash and violent actions of the Order. They also acted as mediators between the Eye and the myriad of Cults living around the world.

In the 1990’s, a war mongering brute, infamous with the name ‘Basilisk’, stood up to oppose the Eye. The struggle lasted many years and brought about many a tragedy. When the dust settled after the enemy was finally put down, the Outsiders were ruled as the sole culprits who had allowed the Basilisk to grow right under their nose. Subsequently, the dissolution of the Outsiders was ordered. This has brought about a plethora of problems for the Eye. Keeping the Order tamed or deliberating with the Cults, without the Outsiders, the Eye found itself short of operatives, experience, and knowledge of the world to counter these problems.

Extreme measures were needed, and a strict rule was employed. The new leader of the Eye seemed overly harsh to some of his peers, but he was exactly the man they needed in this delicate time. He kept things in check. The world remained out of trouble until a bounty hunter began to stir up some trouble…