Red Exemplars
The Red Exemplars are the most elite military unit in all of Nebulum. Their heritage is rumored to go back even to Ka of the Lunari before Nebulum where the unit would have been known as the White Exemplars. The Red Exemplars are dedicated only to the prophecies and each other. They will not fight for kings but are often found fighting alongside armies which are battling against the armies of the dark enemies. While there have been many members throughout history, the unit rarely exceeds fifty men.
Rituals
While the Red Exemplars command total respect from the common people, they do have some practices which many find to be barbaric in nature. One of these involves the cutting of their forearm in memory of their fallen. This ritual takes place during the battle as their comrades fall. On rare occaisions, Red Exemplars have been known to cut their arms before battle. In this case, they will not survive because it would be dishonorable to live when already remembered as dead.
Prophecy
The Red Exemplars are mentioned in at least one of the prophecies. In the three lines which tell of the defeat of Nazada, it also says:
Red ones lead, for honor charge
Interestingly, that prophecy so altered the Red Exemplars, that for a single day, their ranks rose from the standard fifty to fifty-thousand. On that day, the path to Nazada was paved with their bodies and the road to victory stained by their blood. After that prophecy was fulfilled, it was said that the Red Exemplars would never again accomplish so great an endeavor.
While there are the prophecies which fortell the future of the world, there are several small prophecies or sayings which are said to speak of the Red Exemplars. One set of three lines from the Lunari tells of how the Red Exemplars will always continue even if they are completely destroyed.
timadi fasara nolo derenti one comes from many timadi bene mo dere one stronger than all kalato timidi fasara jesaru by one comes victory
Another prophecy which is thought to refer to the Red Exemplars are the four lines carved on the doors of the tunnel in the Fortress of Nasad. It is because of this prophecy that no king dares to use the tunnel even in the midst of the common political wars which sometimes plague that land.
times lend much to our light friend contend with rock a path to mend an end the shining red defend and send the broken world to mend
There are probably other prophecies which mention the Red Exemplars but they have been lost.