Nerzovd, Bards and Spirit Warriors
When the Moragai were wiped out by the Wyvern Riders, that infamous organization failed to completely eliminate them to the last man. What was left were the apprentices, those who had not yet achieved full Moragai status authorized and trained to create and use a Mind Sword. Those apprentices were then left to their own devices, to find their way in the world without the guidance and wisdom of their leaders. Some, the oldest and closest to ending their apprenticeship, bonded together. Realizing that there was strength in numbers, they completed their training as best they could and stayed together.
Over the years, they realized that their masters had been selective in allowing people into their ranks. All Moragai had certain psychic abilities in common, specifically telepathy (the ability to read thoughts), psychokinesis (the ability to manipulate the physical world) and extra sensory perception (the ability to perceive things beyond the limitations of physical senses). They started including those with abilities beyond these three into their ranks, training them to the best of their ability. As their numbers grew, they had to organize and created different orders within the greater Nerzovd organization based upon ability. Over the years, their understanding of the entirety of psychic ability grew to perhaps the most comprehensive outside of the Mixtali or Jiorti.
The orders they created are: Merloft, Kozhol, Haelokt, Moershakt, Moerghant (who bear the most resemblance to the Moragai), Bahkt and Zholft (who bear the most resemblance to the Doeneik). Unlike either the Moragai or Doeneik, they have no technique that is unique to their order. Perhaps because of this they are not widely known by the general public.
One of the least understood concepts is that of the Manitou. These spirits are felt keenly and interact freely with the people of Geis. As has already been discussed, those who have the greatest understanding are the Midewin but there are others who also gain benefit from a close relationship to these non-physical children of the Creator. There are others who utilize these primal forces; least seen and understood are the Spirit Warriors while the most common is the order of Bards. They gain certain abilities from the Manitou of Music that are not unlike magic. Lesser than the Midewin, they still use their Manitou-granted abilities to great affect for the benefit of the world as a whole. In theory anyway. The mainstay of the Bardic order is the Bardic Cant, a sort of symbol and sound language that exists on a primal, elemental level. Like music has keys of whole and half tone steps, the Cant also encompasses concepts. As a sharp and a flat are the same tone approached from a different perspective, so too are the different Keys. The Keys of the Bardic Cant are Light/Dark, Sound/Silence, Make/Break, Time/Motion, Life/Death and Knowledge/Emotion. Bards can use the Cant to communicate with each other either in writing, through music or vocal communication. To utilize the Cant for spell-like effects requires sound so a Bard must be able to sing, speak or use an instrument in order to call upon the power of the Cant. Even tapping fingers to produce different tones would enable a Bard to do use the Cant. The Cant is considered by Midewin and Bards to be the language of the Manitou and with it, a Bard can perform great feats including physically entering the Spirit World, although with all things dealing with the Manitou, understanding is key to doing. As benefiting those who devote their lives to the Manitou of Music, the entire world of the Bard is expressed in musical terms. They are travelers; comfortable in the wild and in the cities as they bring their Music to the world.
By contrast the Spirit Warriors are those who have so devoted themselves to a single Manitou that the Spirit will empower them with their power temporarily. This can involve a physical transformation, but such occurrences are rare. Far more frequently, the transfusion of power does not physically alter the Spirit Warrior but they take on aspects of the Manitou they have devoted to. In all cases increases in strength, speed and vitality are seen. Sometimes other attributes are seen such as the ability to manipulate an element or see in the dark or breathe water or fly. Spirit Warriors are found in all cultures but apparently there is no organization of Spirit Warriors. Each finds their way to their devotion by a different path. The relationship between the Manitou and their Warrior is unique for each such bond. The same Manitou often have more than one adherent, each with differing benefits to their relationship.
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