Habit of the Order

Habit of the Knights-Palatine

Paladin Habit by Rank

Knight: Knights wear a white tabard or surcoat and a gray mantle or cloak. Chain or plate mail is expected to be worn at all times, save for at designated times of rest or sleep.

Knight Commander (rank): a black trim or hem on both cloak and surcoat.

Knight Grand Commander: a thick, flared black trim with round embossments between the flares; the Dwarden trefoil with all three colors is stitched into the hem.

Knight of the Iron Halo: as a Grand Commander, but with an iron halo around the Dwarden Trefoils. The large trefoil over the left breast will be encircled by an iron threaded boundary with the abbreviated words "by this iron shield of faith you will defend" If such a knight holds a senior office, this iron circle will itself be encircled by the colors appropriate to his office.

Paladin Habit by Office

Lord Commander: the large Dwarden trefoil over the left breast receives a black circle around it

Lord Bailiff: the circle surrounding the Dwarden trefoil and any rank trim is a burnished copper thread

Lord Prior: The circle around the Dwarden trefoil is silver and thicker, with the abbreviated words "by the Voice, the Spirit, & from the Power, by this Shield, you will conquer" stitched in black into it; all hems are silver

Lord Grand Prior: The Dwarden trefoil is surrounded by a thick ring of gold

Habit of the Serjeants and Men-at-Arms

All serjeants wear the gray cloak of the Order, with deep red surcoats.

Serjeants bear silver escutcheons signifying they have taken the Kargal Oath.

So-called "lance serjeants" or provisional serjeants who have not sworn the Kargal Oath bear the copper escutcheon.

Habit of the Regular Clergy

Although the bodily appearance of the monks of Dwarden is almost completely unregulated, this is not the case for their monastic habit, which is tightly regulated, and taken with great care. The Order of the Beleaguered Shield itself takes great interest in this, and every symbol and prayer of their robes, tabards and mantles can only be made within the strict rules promulgated by tradition and the Grand Draper of the Order himself.

As all native monastic orders in Dwarden fall under the Rule of St. Karant, and are officially governed by the Prior-General of the Order of St. Karant, their Master-General, all regular orders within Dwarden wear a habit that is uniform throughout the country. Indeed, the distinctive characteristics of the Order of St. Karant is so pervasive that it generally extends to all the secular clergy as well, even those who are not members of the brotherhood.

Detailed below are some of the major symbols of their clerical status and rank. During holy rites, clerics who have reached the rank

Habit of the Monks-Militant of St. Karant

The Brothers-Inferior

The Brothers-Postulant or Brothers-Inferior are those monks who have not yet entered the Novitiate.

Postulants: Postulants of the Order, typically comprised of young boys, wear iconic gray shirts, and do not yet wear the trefoil medallion. Their hair is ritually shaved and kept this way, as their training and lives are often quite harsh.

Petitioners: These older boys are permitted to grow their hair. They are also permitted to wear the wicker trefoil medallion. When on military duty, they usually wear distinctive leather mail, and are equipped with small round shields and war hammers.

Aspirants: These young men wear wooden rings of aspirancy on their left little finger, which they may wear for years. When on military duty, they usually wear studded leather.

The Brothers-Major

Novice: The monk is officially granted his gray robes, his gray cloak and gray tabard upon taking the simple vows and becoming a novice, and is entitled to bear a metal trefoil medallion, ideally of solid iron, although it may be painted in this color if metal is scarce. They may also begin to decorate their robes and tabards with their achievements and localized prayers. Novices may also seek ordination into the minor orders at this time. If at all possible, novices are also provided chain mail to wear in combat.

Initiate: The monk may bear a medallion of the Order of the Beleaguered Shield, as he takes the Kargal Oath at this time. The trefoils on their clothing remains colored as to their rank, as per the laws of heraldry of Dwarden.

Brotherhood: Upon taking Solemn Vows, the monk becomes a full brother-militant of the Order. For the first time he bears the trefoils upon his robe, on the left and right breast and on the hood, all in black, and likewise on his adventuring garb. The chain upon his medallion also is to be of thick iron.

Monastic Robes

The monks are granted gray robes, which they wear for most all occasions. This is their habit in times of peace, or when at work. The wool robes of full monks, beginning with novices, are considered sacramental, and are treated with considerable reverence.

Sacerdotal robes are often richly detailed with religious iconography and symbolism, and stylized Dwarden writing. The style, colors, and designs used are highly identifiable to those in the Order, and are usually hand stitched by either themselves or by specialists who take it as a solemn duty.

Senior monks and clerics often have richly adorned robes.

Ordained monks, whether ordained into the minor orders or holy orders, generally wear stoles for religious ceremonies, reflecting the colors of their tabards.

The Choir Monks

Sub-Deacons: Trefoils on both sides of their chest and hood, ringed with a circle nine times broken, in black.

Deacons: Trefoils on both sides of their chest and hood, ringed with a black circle. Their cloth belts are gray, with nine thick black stripes.

Archdeacons: Trefoils on both sides of their chest and hood, ringed with a thick black circle, with the abbreviated words "by the Voice, the Spirit, & from the Power, you will conquer" stitched in black into it in copper letters. Their cloth belts are black.

Priest: Trefoils on both sides of their chest and hood, ringed with a silver circle. Their cloth belts are silver.

Archpriest: Trefoils on both sides of their chest and hood, ringed with a thick silver circle, with the abbreviated words "by the Voice, the Spirit, & from the Power, you will conquer" stitched in black into it in black letters. Their cloth belts are silver.

Bishop: Trefoils on both sides of their chest and hood, ringed with a thick purple circle, with the abbreviated words "by the Voice, the Spirit, & from the Power, you will conquer" stitched in black into it in black letters. Their cloth belts are purple.

Archbishop: Trefoils on both sides of their chest and hood, ringed with a thick purple circle, with the abbreviated words "by the Voice, the Spirit, & from the Power, you will conquer" stitched in black into it in black letters. The purple ring bears flared gold borders. Their cloth belts are purple, with flared gold borders on top.

Trefoil Medallions of the Dwarden Faith

Trefoils of faith are given to the monks to wear around their necks. Only full brothers-militant are permitted to wear the trefoil mounted on a thick iron chain.

Brother-Superior: An iron ring surrounds their trefoil, painted dark red.

Brother-Commander: An iron ring surrounds their trefoil, painted black.

Abbott: An copper ring surrounds their trefoil.

Prior (clerical): A silver ring surrounds their trefoil.

Grand Prior (clerical): A gold ring surrounds their trefoil.

Master-General: A gold ring surrounds their trefoil, studded with amethyst jewels.

Habit of the Brothers-Militant of the Shield Perilous

These elite clerics wear black robes for service, and black tabards and mantles for adventuring garb and war. The liturgical language on the robes of their deacons, both sub- and arch-, are in red. Priests and above use silver.

Habit of the Order of St. Kalmantane the Redeemer

These clerics wear white robes, or white tabards and mantles for adventuring garb and war. Their liturgical language of their priests is in black. Their bishop utilizes gold writing over black.

Habit of the Secular Clergy

The vast majority of the secular clergy of Dwarden hold their secular holy offices while being Brothers-Militant of the Order of St. Karant, although Thousiersian, Pompiersian, and clerics from other lands and rites are not completely unknown.

While holding office, the robes of such a cleric are black. In combat, a secular cleric is entitled to wear a gray tabard to show his loyalty to the Order of St. Karant, if he is a member of the Brotherhood. If he is not, he wears all black. The liturgical language and symbology woven on the robes, tabard and mantle of a secular cleric are white, but become golden if of episcopal rank.

Habit of the Squires and Pages

Lord-Lieutenants: Squires who assume mastery of a commandery are held as Lord Lieutenants. Their heraldry depicts the crossed sword, axe

Squire-Lieutenant: Sometimes squires fail to become paladins, but wish to continue service as leaders in the Order, but not as men-at-arms or serjeants. These men are on occasion offered the opportunity to remain squires throughout their lives. They wear the gray tabard embroidered with silver shield.

Squire (junior): Upon selection for training as a squire (16-17 yrs. old), they wear a gray tabard with the copper shield. Their hair is closely cropped.

Page (senior): As pages age and they grow in strength, squires are eventually returned to other forms of service or are selected to continue their training as a potential knight of the Order. Upon being selected to continue, they wear a simple plain tabard and belt.

Page (junior): Junior pages (11-13 yrs.) wear the gray robes of the Order.