The Adamantine Arrow is the oldest and youngest of the orders - founded during the Hellenistic Era in Circa 200 BC, and then refounded in 1945 after the second world war, the Adamantine Arrow is an order that believes that conflict is magical, and while many orders contain soldiers, the arrow is the only order that can claim that all it's members are soldiers, warriors, and militants.

Core Belief: The Adamant Way

The Arrow follows the belief in the Adamant Way, a philosophy divided into five precepts - phalanxes that make up the hand, and together can be forged into a fist.

• Existence is War: Conflict inspires growth. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, and the arrow acknowledges this, realizing that by embracing conflict and overcoming obstacles, growth is achieved. Conflict to the arrow does not always mean combat, though it certainly can - it can just as easily be a debate between two forces, or a test of knowledge that must be overcome.

• Adaptability is Strength: True strength is not an unyielding wall or unstoppable train, but an ocean with endless depth, and rivers which bend around the wall and flow beyond it's weak points until it crumbles. The Arrow believe that to be completely focused on only one strength is to expose oneself to weaknesses from other attacks, and so they are trained to be generalists. To them, a jack of all trades, master of none, is better ultimately than a master of one.

• Service is Mastery: Power corrupts and is the path by which the mighty fall. The arrow then believe that the path of wisdom and enlightenment comes through service - not to another, but to mandates, causes, and higher purposes. They believe that only by abandoning one's selfishness can they understand their place in the universe.

• The Supernal is the Self: By signing their name upon the tower, the Awakened literally have become a part of the Supernal Realms. Their mind and soul are a microcosm of he universe and magic, and as such each challenge overcome, each oath fulfilled, each victory obtained is designed to place one closer to their spiritual ideal.

• Enlightenment is honor: It is not just the end result, but the journey by which you reach the means. By following the path of honor, a warrior expresses their intentions - unimpeded by distractions and uncompromised by the temptations of the fallen world. By maintaining honor, a mage will never lose sight and remains in harmony with their perfect selves.

Magical Symbolism: Attack and Defense

The Adamantine Arrow incorporate the tools and practices which incorporate it's martial philosophy, though not all wars are martial in their eyes. Adaptability is strength, and anything that can be used as a weapon has a place in arrow symbolism - just as anything which can be used as protection, even if that protection is only symbolic as in the case of amulets and dreamcatchers. The Adamantine Arrow embodies the Ungula Draconis, the Talon of the Dragon, in the Diamond's Atlantean Symbolism and see themselves as righteous warriors who fight to keep the flame of human power alive in an age of darkness.

The Arrows are sometimes referred to as the military of the Awakened, but in truth, they are more like a collection of martial arts schools: lineages of masters, each training their students' bodies in hopes of breaking them enough to allow some enlightenment to seep through. The seeming chain of command for the Arrows is really a complex web of respect and honor, with each Arrow aware that his brethren are watching to see that he upholds the highest virtues espoused by the Adamantine Arrows.

Titles in the Arrow

The following are a number of possible ranks that might be given to members of the order. Note that due to the change between editions, the prerequisite status of each rank has been raised to accommodate the changes.

• Talon (1): Those who have survived Arrow apprenticeship, and the fundamental rank of the order. They are expected to be humble, honorable, and obedient to their elders.
• Banner Warden (2) A special position that those who achieve some renown in the caucus may petition for, in order to become a banner warden for his cabal. When he does, his duties as an arrow are lightened so that he may focus on the defense of his cabal.
• First Talon (3) Those who achieve this title are officers within the Caucus, given responsibility over a group of lesser ranked Talons.
• Thunderbolt Guardian (4) - A Mentor who not only trains the other talons, but applies their knowledge for the good of the Caucus. Usually, they are made up of experts who spread their expertise to the other members of the caucus. Traditionally, only a Thunderbolt may teach the Adamant Hand.
• Adamant Sage (5) - A title given to the finest of generals or a second degree master. The adamant sage leads the caucus and advises the Hierarch. Not all caucuses have a proper adamant sage - sometimes no one measures up and the position is filled by someone unworthy or a council of Thunderbolt Guardians end up selecting among themselves and the highest ranking First Talons a substitute when the role is necessary.

Factions

The following are a number of sub-factions and philosophies that exist in the arrow, expressing different perspectives and ethics.

The Black Tower: An order of crusaders who bind themselves to a cause, believing that devotion to a worthy cause hones the spirit and that fulfilling an oath strengthens the supernal.

The Council of Dragons: The subtle hand of the of arrows, these wise dragons and cunning tactician believe that in addition to knowing what is right and acting upon that knowledge, there exists a second wisdom of knowing what is *true* and acting upon that - and that these facets are not always the same.

The Crucible: This faction of the arrows embrace that existence is war to an extreme, throwing themselves in the fire of the crucible. They espouse the ideal that the best defense is a good offense, and that Heroism is a Mandate from the Supernal.