Ruby Vanguard

The Ruby Vanguard is a secret organization that seeks to release Predathos from its prison in Ruidus and allow it to destroy all of Exandria's gods "to ensure a better future for all of Exandria". It is led by Ludinus Da'leth, who ostensibly communicates with Predathos.

Description
The Ruby Vanguard believes that by achieving its goal of setting Predathos free from Ruidus and allowing it to destroy the gods, it is "letting nature to run its course" and restoring a natural cycle, thus "ensuring a better future" for Exandria. Its members characterize Predathos as a natural predator of the gods; they additionally believe that, in turn, the gods see mortals as their own prey, rather than as their children. They claim the gods have lost the right to call themselves such, and they wish to live "untethered" from the gods, believing that it is currently impossible to live free from their influence now.

Their leader, Ludinus Da'leth, ostensibly communicates to Predathos, and through him, the members are confident that Predathos does not threaten life on Exandria, only the gods, as they believe that Predathos feeds only on divinity. Members also do not see themselves as worshiping Predathos as their god, seeing it specifically as a "liberator".

The Vanguard considers itself "not aligned but not necessarily opposing" the Grim Verity, though they find the Grim Verity "lacks vision" and their ultimate goals are diametrically opposed, but the Grim Verity actively seeks to stop the Vanguard. Like the Grim Verity, members of the Ruby Vanguard are opposed by the temples of Vasselheim, and are being hunted by their Judicators.

Before Campaign 3
By 836 PD, seven years before Campaign 3, the Ruby Vanguard was building three Malleus Keys, devices relating to Ruidus, in the Feywild and the Shadowfell, at the point where these planes overlapped with the nexus point in Marquet for the Apogee Solstice in 843 PD. Ludinus was collaborating with Otohan Thull and the Unseelie Court on the project in the Feywild. Ira Wendagoth subsequently left this project and began working against Ludinus and Otohan; Birdie and Oleander Calloway additionally stole the Moontide Crown from this device, delaying progress.

Campaign 3: Bells Hells
In 843 PD, Bells Hells discovered that Ludinus was working with Otohan Thull and the Unseelie Court on work relating to Ruidis through Ira, who left the Unseelie Court project. They learned more details of the Vanguard's work in Marquet, the Feywild, the Shadowfell through members of the Grim Verity.

Tuldus and two other members of the Ruby Vanguard attacked Bells Hells at the home of Ebenold Kai in Yios; the Vanguard had been searching for Ebenold for a while and, seeing Bells Hells behaving suspiciously, followed the group into the house. Bells Hells captured Tuldus and, by magically charming him and reading his thoughts, learned of the Ruby Vanguard, its goals, and the name of the Malleus Keys. They contacted Ryn, a member of the Grim Verity, and turned him over to her.

Ahead of the Apogee Solstice, cults allied with the Vanguard acted as distractions to draw attention away from the Vanguard's work with the Malleus Keys. This included the Elder Cross Cult, the new Carrion Breach, and a splinter group within the Children of Malice. Keyleth discovered and stopped another such group, the Cult of the Dark Heart, at Terrah.

When Bells Hells infiltrated the Tishtan excavation site, they found that many of the workers and guards were either Paragon's Call or Ruby Vanguard. A number of the Ruby Vanguard members on site were themselves Ruidusborn, some Exaltant, and it was common for them to speak telepathically.

Known members and allies

 * Ludinus Da'leth
 * Otohan Thull
 * Tuldus
 * Genomia