The order of the Hat's origins and history are cloaked in mystery, having long been lost in the murk of legend. With each retelling of its story, certain details are either expounded upon or omitted at the desire of the storyteller, leaving the integrity of the story a spotty thing at best. Herein lies the most accurate retelling of the old story: for the power of teh hat was not discovered by 9 foot tall titans, nor was teh hat some mythical, jewel encrusted artifact. The origin of TOotH is, and has always been, a simple story, about a simple man and the great power that he would come to command.

The story begins on the planet of Dantooine, in a galaxy far, far away. Terik Krennel, a simple (but not humble) Imperial rifleman, was on a gathering mission in the Force Crystal caves with the mates in his guild. Terik had gained much joshing in his direction for the decorative red headdress that he fashioned, but would never part with. Despite this ridicule, he perservered, insisting that his hat was the height of fashion. This day was no different. As the band performed thier mission, Terik endured many an off-kilter comment on his hat, but shrugged it off. So it went as they worked thier way into the cave, blasting young force adepts and taking valuables from thier smouldering bodies. Gathering, I must tell you, was a very undesireable, but necessary undertaking in that distant land. Filled with monotony, the small squad soon came to be in need of entertainment. And so it came to pass, in the dim light of the crystal cave, that young Terik engaged in a duel of skill with the carbineer, Dmich.

Dmich was quite formidable. He possessed the immaculate combination, one that gave him the power rivalling the gods themselves in might: the much feared and hated dizzy/knockdown. As the battle began and the air filled with exchanged fire, it became clear to Terik that his only chance of winning this duel would be to avoid the dreaded technique altogether. However, Dmich, slick as a blade, saw through Terik's evasive manuevers and was able to anticipate his opponent, With a well placed shot, Dmich was able to send a bolt from his carbine into Terik's midsection with such force as to render him dizzy and his movements impared. Sensing victory, Dmich raised his arm high, and his next shot knocked Terik off of his feet and onto his back. Dizzed, and knocked down, Terik should have been unable to move, indeed, unable to do anything, except to lie flat and wait for Dmich to finish him off.

But it was not to be. And it was in those next few moments, that the legend of teh Hat's power was forged.

Terik would later say simply, that a voice in his head howled for him to rise, and a sense of great power washed over him. Those who bore witness that day would later simply say that what they witnessed was impossible. Yet, impossible or not, what happened next could not be denied: Terik rose almost immediately to his feet, and in doing so, had changed all perceptions of reality and what should or should not be. The onlookers' mouths hung agape as Terik shrugged off Dmich's godly technique as though it were but a mosquito bite, and set forth on the offensive yet again. Dmich was no less surprised, but the canny tactician in him allowed him to recover from this shock much quicker than the others. With no hesitation, he fired off another charged shot, blasting Terik in the chest and yet again stealing his balance utterly. Once again, Terik found himself down on his back, dizzied, and in a no-win situation. But the power of teh Hat would not be denied.

Slowly but surely, like a bad moon, Terik rose to his feet yet again. So amazed were all who witnessed this act, that it was taken to be a sign of a higher power. It was not. It was simply teh Hat--the one that had earned Terik so much ridicule and disrespect. In his moment of need, its power had awakened. Nobody can say for sure what had caused teh Hat's power to manifest itself. Perhaps it was the resonant powers of the Force that were present in those crystal caves; perhaps its power arose from Terik's desperate situation, nobody knows for certain. What is certain, however, is that with the power of teh Hat coursing through him, Terik proceeded to decimate Dmich with a fierce onslaught of Hat-powered ruthlessness that left him prostrate, incapacitated, and utterly defeated. As Terik stood over Dmich, triumphant, those who bore witness could only gather round him, in awe of the power of teh Hat.

So it came to pass, as word of teh Hat's power spread, that others began to flock to it, seeking to unravel its mysteries and discover its greatness. Terik proved to be a worthy proponent of teh Hat's legend, for as time passed, teh Hat embellished upon him even greater power, as he participated in duel after duel, and defeated foe after foe. Its power also became evident on the battlefield, as Terik proved to be a sound combatant, even going so far as to wage a campaign against the fearsome Nightsister tribe in order to better himself. He did these things all while sporting teh Hat, and people began to take note. Naysayers who guffawed at teh hat's rediculous design needed only to challenge Terik or his growing band of followers, for each one soon found themselves on the ground and defeated, smitten by those wielding the power of teh Hat.

Soon, a small group of hat-wearers, spearheaded by Terik, formed the group: The Order of the Hat, or TOotH. The power of teh Hat flourished in this group, but they soon became hated and feared. Simply put, the world was not ready for such power as teh Hat possessed. As soon as someone rallied against teh Hat, they were smacked down as a lesson of respect. Of the guild that Terik was in, those possessing the greatest combat prowess were firm supporters of teh Hat, which drew jealousy and resentment. Such animosity caused TOotH to draw persecution from within the guild--indeed, among thier own fellows, and branded TOotH as an outlaw religion. Within the guild's city, hats were ruled as being against the law, which was strictly enforced by militaristic Praetorians. Even officers who wore teh Hat were threatened with demotion if they wore it or supported TOotH. Yet for all the animosity surrounding it, Terik remained unbowed, and continued to preach the gospel of teh Hat to all who would listen. Those that did, and embraced its power, went off and forged thier own legends in distant lands.

Eventually, Terik, having instilled the power of teh Hat into a handful of devoted disciples, vanished. Nobody is certain where he went. Some say he took a pilgramage to the far off land of Azeroth, in search of an even more unsightly hat with which to further channel its power. Others say that he became one with the power of teh Hat, and his considerable might is now as much a part of that power as teh Hat's own.

His disciples now gather in this land of Ganareth, ready to unfold a new chapter in the story, instill its power into more followers, and leave the mark of teh Hat branded on the face of the world....

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Sybillrah DeGvand ~ Warrior
Guild Master of The Order of the Hat