Blades of Shiyama
An elite fighting force that lends their services to the dragon children. They specialize in fighting daemons, and deploy their fearsome Binding Mirrors to weaken and trap them. The company's founding is shrouded in mystery. The truth is passed down from leader to leader....
Founding
Many centuries ago, Shiyama marched into the realms of chaos alongside her fierce legion. The chaos gods deceived the dragon, and she perceived her own army as a horde of blithering daemons. She decimated her own forces with ease, slaughtering most and scattering the rest into the mind-bending heartland of chaos.
Shiyama's trusted right-hand-man, Ying Shi, barely escaped with his life. Severely wounded, he and a dozen other men braved the harsh wastes and returned to Grand Cathay. By the time they arrived, only three members remained. Upon re-uniting with other survivors, Shi noticed that none of them had any recollection of their journey beyond the wall. More disturbingly, they had no memory of Shiyama.
Outraged, his companions set out for the imperial court, to demand answers from the emperor and empress. Ying had a bad feeling about the situation, however, and sneaked away in the night. When he next saw his companions, they had suffered the same fate. They had no memories of Shiyama, nor the time they spent beyond the great bastion.
Ying Shi spent the rest of his life reconnecting with his former brothers-in-arms, convincing them to take up arms alongside him, and forming a small, yet elite band of mercenaries that fight in the name of Shiyama, the Spirit Dragon. He called this new company the Blades of Shiyama. He leveraged his experience fighting in the chaos wastes to turn his company into elite daemon slayers.
On his deathbed, Ying Shi recorded his story and the truth of Shiyama in a book. He sealed the book with a lock. He gave his successor the book and key, having them swear they would pass the book down to their successor when the time came. This is how it's been for centuries. The leader of the Blades shoulders the burden of knowledge, and ensures their soldiers are always prepared to fight the forces of chaos.
The Whispers
A relatively recent phenomenon- after several years of service the leader of the Blades will begin to hear the voice of Shiyama in their dreams. She offers them guidance, and suggests courses of action. It is up to each of them to determine the true nature of these dreams, and whether or not to follow the susurrations.
Special Equipment
Binding Mirrors
Large bronze mirrors mounted on wagons. These mirrors have been enchanted by alchemists, and have a special binding property. When a daemon is slain, the mirror absorbs the energy that formed it. This effectively traps the daemon within the mirror. The only way for the daemonic energy within to escape is if the mirror is cracked. When not in use the mirrors are covered in thick canvas and bound by ropes. Very few are allowed to look upon a Binding Mirror- even within the Blades. Those that handle them have heavy mental fortitude, trained to ignore the voices emanating from the mirror.
Shiyama's Lament
A shimmering blade carved from the tooth of Shiyama. How this tooth came into the possession of the Blades is unknown. A lesser daemon struck by this blade is unbound, instantly dying. A greater daemon suffers grievous injuries that cannot be regenerated under any circumstances.