Order of Voln

The Order of Voln is a society devoted to the freeing of undead from the torment they endure on Elanthia. Freeing the undead garners the members of the Order favor. The order was established in 4045 by Manor Lord Fasthr K'Tafali in the region surrounding the Kannalan city of Kedshold. According to loresong, Voln, himself appeared before K'Tafali and instructed K'Tafali and his men in the symbols of the order.

The Order first truly came to the attention of historians with the appearance of the Horned Cabal in the southern region of the Turamzzyrian Empire. Uniquely situated to deal with the menace of the undead, the Order flourished from this time period, playing increasingly important roles in the various engagements with the Horned Cabal over the last century and a half. This has included the Battle of Tyllan and the Battle of Skyreach.

Joining the Order of Voln

Joining the Order of Voln requires three steps.

• First, one must be invited into the Order. Monestaries exist in Wehnimer's Landing and Ta'Vaalor. A rank 26 Master of the Order of Voln can use the Symbol of Invitation, accessed by the INVITE (verb), to offer any character of level 3 or greater a chance to join the Order. Also, in Wehnimer's Landing, the grizzled old warrior non-player character will randomly invite characters of level 3 or greater.
• One must then cleanse oneself of worldly pollutions. This is done by first going to an Order of Voln monastery, stowing the items in one's hands, and then entering a water pool. A message will appear stating that one has been cleansed after a minute or two have passed.
• Finally, one must enter the monastery and find the Grandmaster, where one may take an oath to join the Order. Note that you cannot join the Order of Voln if you are currently a member of another society, such as the Council of Light.
• The Oath of the Order is as follows:

"I pledge to aid and succor the Great Spirit Voln in his mission on Elanthia."

Favor

When a character helps defeat an undead or merely witnesses another character kill an undead, that character gains favor. Favor is a bank of points used to power symbols and advance in the Order of Voln.

Discrete favor values are not displayed in-game; however, there are some ways to measure favor. One currently accepted measure of favor is based on the amount of favor granted by killing a single level 1 undead by oneself. This is called a unit of favor.

The favor gained from killing (or witnessing the kill of) an undead creature is in a number of units equal to the creature's level; thus, a character would receive 1 unit for a level 1 creature, 25 units for a level 25 creature, etc.

A Master (rank 26 member) of the Order of Voln can view his or her favor in an arbitrary measure called spins by visiting the globe in the Master's hall. A spin is approximately 250 units of favor.

Gaining ranks and obtaining symbols

One receives a new symbol for each rank one receives in the Order of Voln. To advance in rank, one must obtain a certain amount of favor, visit a monk on the path to enlightenment, and then complete a task. To check if one has enough favor to obtain the next rank, one can either visit a monk on the path to enlightenment or enter the vision room and PRAY (verb).

The first rank and Symbol of Recognition are given without any task or favor requirement.

Each subsequent rank requires an amount of favor equal to the following:

• Favor required = roundUp((Rank - 1)/3)*600 units of favor

For example, to obtain the 23rd rank, one must first gather

roundUp((23 - 1)/3)*600 = roundUp(22/3)*600 = 8*600 = 4800 units of favor

Order of Voln benefits

Members of the Order of Voln have access to symbols, which are similar to spells, except that they cost favor instead of mana.

The 26 symbols are as follows. To view the favor requirement to obtain the symbol, the task required to obtain the symbol, the favor cost associated with a symbol, or any other details about a symbol, check the particular symbol's page.

• Rank 01. Symbol of Recognition. Detects other members of the Order and undead.
• Rank 02. Symbol of Blessing. Blesses nonmagical weapons and aquamarine wands.
• Rank 03. Symbol of Thought. Broadcasts a message to all other members of the Order.
• Rank 04. Symbol of Recovery. Regenerates 10 HPs.
• Rank 05. Symbol of Courage. Increases AS and MB.
• Rank 06. Symbol of Protection. Increases DS.
• Rank 07. Charl's Throw I. Grants the THROW (verb) a Voln fu usage and stand-up maneuver.
• Rank 08. Kai's Punch. Grants the PUNCH (verb) a Voln fu usage.
• Rank 09. Phoen's Kick. Grants the KICK (verb) a Voln fu usage.
• Rank 10. Symbol of Calming. Attempts to Calm all targets in the room.
• Rank 11. Symbol of Sleep. Attempts to Sleep all targets in the room.
• Rank 12. Symbol of Turning. Fear effect against undead in the room.
• Rank 13. Symbol of Mana. Restores 50 mana while taking 0-2 deeds.
• Rank 14. Symbol of Sight. Grants a brief Locate Person spell.
• Rank 15. Symbol of Holiness. Blesses magical weaponry and burns undead.
• Rank 16. Symbol of Submission. Reduces target's stance and DS.
• Rank 17. Symbol of Restoration. Restores half missing health, capped at 50 HPs.
• Rank 18. Symbol of Need. Broadcasts a cry for help to all members of the Order.
• Rank 19. Symbol of Retribution. Damages target. Can be used while dead.
• Rank 20. Charl's Throw II. Increases the power of Charl's Throw I.
• Rank 21. Kai's Blow. Increases the power of Kai's Punch.
• Rank 22. Phoen's Blow. Increases the power of Phoen's Kick.
• Rank 23. Symbol of Preservation. Lifekeeps target. Can be used while dead.
• Rank 24. Symbol of Dreams. Fall asleep to recover health, mana, and spirit.
• Rank 25. Symbol of Return. Teleport to a predetermined location, usually a monastery.
• Rank 26. Symbol of Invitation. Grants the INVITE (verb), access to Master's hall.

Masters (rank 26 members) of the Order of Voln may enter the Master's hall which includes:

• Access to a scrying-type effect centered on a few rooms via the tapestry (in Wehnimer's Landing)
• Access to teleportation centered on a few rooms via the tapestry (in Wehnimer's Landing)
• Access to a favor-measuring globe
• The ability to trade a deed for favor via the globe

Voln Symbol Realignment (Not Yet Implemented)

Rank	Symbol Name	Thumbnail Description
1	Symbol of Recognition	Identifies other members of the Order and any undead present. No favor cost.
2	Symbol of Blessing	Bless weapons, including magical metal/enchanted weapons, and other combat gear used to strike undead. Enchant bonus bless is limited to member's (Voln rank * 2). Eg., Rank 10 member can bless maximum +20 (4x) enchanted gear.
3	Symbol of Thought	Transmit thought message to all members within range.
4	Symbol of Diminishment	Temporarily reduces a targeted undead creature's DS, TD, and CMAN defense by -1 per rank with a maximum penalty of -26.
5	Symbol of Courage	Increases member's Attack Strength +1 per rank (Max bonus +26). Duration of 10 seconds per rank (stackable).
6	Symbol of Protection	Increases member's Defensive Strength +1 per rank (Max bonus +26). Duration of 20 seconds per rank (stackable).
7	Symbol of Submission	Forces undead to offensive stance and lowers DS -1 per rank. Uses the standard success resolution system.
8	Kai's Strike	Allows unarmed combat attacks to damage undead creatures without the normal requirement of blessed gear. This is a passive ability and has no favor cost.
9	Symbol of Holiness	Direct damage attack against undead using the standard success resolution system.
10	Symbol of Recall	Restores spells after death. Must be invoked while dead. No benefit if member voluntarily departs.
11	Symbol of Sleep	Targeted or mass disabling attack used against both undead and living creatures. Uses the standard success resolution system. Player friendly.
12	Symbol of Transcendence	For 30 seconds member will take damage as if in an incorporeal state.
13	Symbol of Mana	Restores 50 mana. Initially, no deed cost. 3 minute cooldown period.
14	Symbol of Sight	Locate other members of the Order within range.
15	Symbol of Retribution	Direct attack against undead when member is deceased. When used while living will reactively flare if struck by an undead creature. Uses the standard success resolution system.
16	Symbol of Supremacy	Bonus of +1 per two Voln ranks to AS/CS/CMAN against undead creatures. Duration of 10 seconds per Voln rank - (stackable).
17	Symbol of Restoration	Returns up to half of a members health point loss. Minimum +10/Maximum +50 HP recovery per use.
18	Symbol of Need	Transmits an image of the member's location to all other members within range. Can be used while dead.
19	Symbol of Renewal	Immediately restores 1 Spirit Point per use to the member. Hard cooldown period of 2 minutes in which the symbol cannot be reactivated.
20	Symbol of Disruption	Casts an aura around user and group members. Any noncorporeal undead struck will sustain penalties to AS/DS/CS/TD/CMAN
21	Kai's Smite	An unarmed combat attack, activated via the SMITE verb. Will temporarily pull a non-corporeal undead creature into corporealness. Will make corp undead more susceptible to damage.
22	Symbol of Turning	Targeted or mass attack causing states similar to fear effects with possible instant death result. Uses the standard success resolution system.
23	Symbol of Preservation	[Self [Lifekeep]]. Can also be used on other characters.
24	Symbol of Dreams	Member enters a sleep-state during which time there is increased recovery of health, mana, spirit and reduced stats from Death's Sting.
25	Symbol of Return	Immediate Teleportation of member or member's group (certain areas will only allow individual transport) to the nearest Voln outpost.
26	Symbol of Seeking	Teleportation (similar to the Master's hall tapestry) from a voln outpost to an undead hunting area within the general vicinity. No favor cost.

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See Also

• Voln review saved post authored by GM Coase dated 7/4/12

External links

Gemstone IV Order of Voln for Dummies