The Sunsteel Legion stands as the indomitable martial pillar of the Serrakhan Sultanate, its name now well understood across The Sands of Serrakhan. Clad in lamellar Drakkhid-scale armor and bearing spears forged under the banner of burning zeal, they are more than soldiers — they are the lasting legacy of a false-king’s former dominion and now the iron will of a nation born beneath an oppressive sun.
Origins & History
The Legion's inception dates back to the mid-to-late Third Age, shortly after Malekith, the false Sun God, crossed the eastern sea (from Tolria) and landed upon the desolate shores of southern Osira. Among his devout followers were warriors from across fractured kingdoms—zealots, dispossessed crusaders, and exiled lords who pledged themselves to the Holy Order of the Sun. These enforcers were instrumental in the foundation of the Sultanate, carrying out campaigns to pacify and integrate the native desert tribes and nomadic clans scattered across the Sands of Serrakhan.
At their command, the foundations of Shariz were erected from the dunes and carved from sandstone. The Sunsteel Legion, then known only as “the Sunsworn,” gathered slaves and conscripts, enforced tithes, and studied local customs to survive the unforgiving environment they now called home. Over time, they became the backbone of the Sultanate’s military and the blade in the hand of every Sultan.
Armaments & Warfare
In its earliest form, the Sunsteel Legion was outfitted with weapons forged from limited bronze supply and armor from native beasts:
- Bronze-tipped spears, glaives, and khopesh blades served as primary arms.
- Taun-hide shields, painted with sun sigils, protected the legionaries from both beasts and battle with raiders.
- Their lamellar armor, crafted from the scales of slain Drakkhid, offered heat resistance and served as a form of brutal symbolism.
As the Sultanate expanded its power through trade (in the early Fifth Age), the Empire of Bastile introduced Rift-Tech advancements, prompting sweeping military reforms. Legionnaires began incorporating:
- Rift-Rifles, sun-inlaid arcane longarms that channel kinetic Rift Energy discharges.
- Steel and brass-plated cuirasses, often engraved with familial crests, passed down across generations.
Despite the modernization, many veterans still choose to adorn themselves in ancestral Drakkhid scale, honoring the legacy of their forebears who slew the beasts whom armored carapace they now wear with honor.
Cultural Significance & Generational Legacy
Among gilden lineages, it is tradition for a father to pass down his khopesh and armor—often inscribed with house emblems or sand-worn prayers to the sun. For centuries, entry into the Legion was a privilege reserved for these noble desert families and the most devout adherents of the Holy Order. Their exclusivity, however, would be overturned in the Fifth Age.
Reforms Under the Senate of the Sun
With the deposition of Sultan Hakim Atis and the dissolution of Malekith’s false rule, a new era was born (see: Sultans Showdown). Under the guidance of Shanara the Salamander (Lord Protector) and Kairus the Brass (Lord Commander of the Guard), the Senate of the Sun passed sweeping reforms:
- Open recruitment across all provinces of the Sultanate.
- Merit-based ascension, independent of birthright or religious creed.
- Citizen militias integrated into the broader structure.
These changes led to a renaissance of trust and capability within the Legion, allowing the once rigid organization to evolve into a dynamic, agile defense force capable of confronting threats both foreign and domestic.
The Serrakhanian Survey Corps
Founded by Talyen, Avatar of the Sun, the Serrakhanian Survey Corps is an elite expeditionary wing of the Sunsteel Legion, charged with:
- Charting unexplored territory across The Sun Realm and Osira as a whole.
- Establishing outposts, airship lanes, and travel infrastructure across hostile terrain.
- Paving the way to integrate Rift Magic, infrastructure, and arcano-tech into the modern Sultanate.
Composed of notable adventurers such as Olond Galakin, Elana Bright, and formerly Tormund Brightblade + Blizz of the Runewrights, the Survey Corps bridges the gap between the Emris Adventuring Guild and the formal military.
They are pathfinders, rebuilders, and wards of the future, laying the groundwork for a united Osira.
Legacy
The Sunsteel Legion endures as a living monument to the Sultanate’s past sins and future glory. From zealots of a false prophet to protectors of the people, their spears now serve not just the scepter of a ruler, but the sovereignty of a people who have endured centuries of hardship.
Their oath echoes in the streets of Shariz as legionary patrols make their way through the city:
"By the Sun above and the Sands below,
I swear my steel and soul to the sultanate.
My blood is of this desert—its grit in my teeth, its fire in my veins.
Every grain bears the blood of my forefathers, and through its howling winds, I hear their charge.
I stand for those who toil under sun and stars,
I shall not falter through fire, nor cower before shadow.
In peace, I serve. In war, I shield. In death, I endure.
Let my spear strike true and my oath holdfast,
For I am legion—
The Sun made steel."
Modern Sun Guard (Concept Art):
Ancestral Sun Guard (Concept Art):
