Difference between revisions of "Order of the Beleaguered Shield"
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| − | ''Original Notes'': | + | '''Original Notes''': |
''"Based in the fallen lands of Dwarden, the Beleaguered Shields fight almost exclusively within those lands. Dwarden is a hellish land beset with undead, a result of a pagan god's curse. That god's avatar itself still lives within Dwarden. The Beleaguered Shields' mission is to cleanse this land of its curse. Paladins of this Order gain the ability to turn undead, however most steeds fear these rugged holy warriors."'' | ''"Based in the fallen lands of Dwarden, the Beleaguered Shields fight almost exclusively within those lands. Dwarden is a hellish land beset with undead, a result of a pagan god's curse. That god's avatar itself still lives within Dwarden. The Beleaguered Shields' mission is to cleanse this land of its curse. Paladins of this Order gain the ability to turn undead, however most steeds fear these rugged holy warriors."'' | ||
| − | ''Symbol'': A weathered steel shield with reinforced bolts, crossed with a hammer over a sworn coming before the Yathamian trefoil. The Yathamian trefoil bears the golden halo of the Spirit and the silver halo of the Voice, but with both under the iron halo of the Power. | + | '''Symbol''': A weathered steel shield with reinforced bolts, crossed with a hammer over a sworn coming before the Yathamian trefoil. The Yathamian trefoil bears the golden halo of the Spirit and the silver halo of the Voice, but with both under the iron halo of the Power. |
| − | ''Foundation'': 6th century A.M. | + | '''Foundation''': 6th century A.M. |
| − | ''Basic Concept and Structure'' | + | '''Basic Concept and Structure''' |
The Order of the Beleaguered Shield is the sovereign national military order of Dwarden. Due to the centuries-long existential crisis in this land, the Order is the effective government for the entire nation. It is composed of four classes: knights, chaplains, serjeants and men-at-arms. Knights of the order are composed strictly of paladins, which is to say that no non-paladin will ever become a knight of the Order. Chaplains are priests that serve the Order specifically. Serjeants are chevaliers and non-knightly leaders of the Order, serving in important command and administrative posts. Men-at-Arms are those men who have sworn allegiance to the Order. All are dedicated to the destruction of all undead in their lands, especially the arch-enemy of Dwarden, the lich priest-king Thagdion the Mad. The Order traces its roots to the ancient landed knightly class which has always been part of Dwarden society and war. The Order of the Beleaguered Shield is in the 9th century AM an order which unifies the Dwarden resistance against the lich-king Thagdion the Mad. Although there still exist lords and knights with private domains, it is the Order which is by far the bulwark of defense against Thagdion. All the lands not under Thagdion thus fall within the domains of either a bailiwick or priory, led by a member of the Order. Lordly domains and independent knightly lands fall under these jurisdictions. The entire resistance falls under the command of the Grand Master of the Order. Although religiously oriented and extremely close with the national Church, the order is technically secular, and is furthermore sovereign in that it draws no charter or authority from any king or lord. The Order does not intend to rule after any theoretical extirpation of the undead. The basic administrative hierarchy of the Order is represented by the chart below. | The Order of the Beleaguered Shield is the sovereign national military order of Dwarden. Due to the centuries-long existential crisis in this land, the Order is the effective government for the entire nation. It is composed of four classes: knights, chaplains, serjeants and men-at-arms. Knights of the order are composed strictly of paladins, which is to say that no non-paladin will ever become a knight of the Order. Chaplains are priests that serve the Order specifically. Serjeants are chevaliers and non-knightly leaders of the Order, serving in important command and administrative posts. Men-at-Arms are those men who have sworn allegiance to the Order. All are dedicated to the destruction of all undead in their lands, especially the arch-enemy of Dwarden, the lich priest-king Thagdion the Mad. The Order traces its roots to the ancient landed knightly class which has always been part of Dwarden society and war. The Order of the Beleaguered Shield is in the 9th century AM an order which unifies the Dwarden resistance against the lich-king Thagdion the Mad. Although there still exist lords and knights with private domains, it is the Order which is by far the bulwark of defense against Thagdion. All the lands not under Thagdion thus fall within the domains of either a bailiwick or priory, led by a member of the Order. Lordly domains and independent knightly lands fall under these jurisdictions. The entire resistance falls under the command of the Grand Master of the Order. Although religiously oriented and extremely close with the national Church, the order is technically secular, and is furthermore sovereign in that it draws no charter or authority from any king or lord. The Order does not intend to rule after any theoretical extirpation of the undead. The basic administrative hierarchy of the Order is represented by the chart below. | ||
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In effect, the Order governs the lands of Dwarden not currently fallen to the undead. The Order functions under the theory and the auspices of a permanent national military emergency. | In effect, the Order governs the lands of Dwarden not currently fallen to the undead. The Order functions under the theory and the auspices of a permanent national military emergency. | ||
| − | ''Serjeantry'' | + | '''Serjeantry''' |
Since the Thousiersian invasion, the institution of serjeantry has become a major element in the Order. Effectively of the yeomanry, this Thousiersian social class quickly became an important part of the Dwarden social order, filling in the void of the ever decreasing size of the knights. Before serjeantry, men-at-arms served the Order of the Beleaguered Shield, serving knights of the Order. Unfortunately for the Order, knights and the knightly class from which they came were becoming rarer with the passing years, and an institution was needed to help fill the gap. By Cecil's time, serjeantry is a respected social class, with serjeants filling numerous important posts. Legal advocates, important vassals, fortress commanders, supply managers and many other important positions are all filled by serjeants. Most serjeants are however but other warriors, junior to knights, who serve individual knights or knightly commands. Dwarden serjeants should not be confused with the military sergeants of Pompiersian armies. Serjeants are not simply noncommissioned officers, and many are more military than administrative. Those of knightly wealth and position, but not able to achieve knighthood through paladinship, are more likely to earn serjeantry than men-at-arms without such social status. It should be noted that many serjeants are the non-paladin sons of powerful Order knights, whom without the paladinship are unable to achieve knighthood. Thus barred, they may pursue ever more increasingly important and powerful positions of serjeantry. | Since the Thousiersian invasion, the institution of serjeantry has become a major element in the Order. Effectively of the yeomanry, this Thousiersian social class quickly became an important part of the Dwarden social order, filling in the void of the ever decreasing size of the knights. Before serjeantry, men-at-arms served the Order of the Beleaguered Shield, serving knights of the Order. Unfortunately for the Order, knights and the knightly class from which they came were becoming rarer with the passing years, and an institution was needed to help fill the gap. By Cecil's time, serjeantry is a respected social class, with serjeants filling numerous important posts. Legal advocates, important vassals, fortress commanders, supply managers and many other important positions are all filled by serjeants. Most serjeants are however but other warriors, junior to knights, who serve individual knights or knightly commands. Dwarden serjeants should not be confused with the military sergeants of Pompiersian armies. Serjeants are not simply noncommissioned officers, and many are more military than administrative. Those of knightly wealth and position, but not able to achieve knighthood through paladinship, are more likely to earn serjeantry than men-at-arms without such social status. It should be noted that many serjeants are the non-paladin sons of powerful Order knights, whom without the paladinship are unable to achieve knighthood. Thus barred, they may pursue ever more increasingly important and powerful positions of serjeantry. | ||
| − | ''Examples of Serjeantry'': | + | '''Examples of Serjeantry''': |
Serjeant of the Fisc | Serjeant of the Fisc | ||
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| − | ''Knighthood'' | + | '''Knighthood''' |
A knight commander can grant the basic knighthood, but only bailiffs and above can create a knight commander. Knight grand commanders can be created by a grand prior. A Knight of the Grand Halos can only be created by the Grand Master. Knighthood in the Order is not equivalent to the hereditary knighthoods of Dwarden, which are technically knights banneret. Knighthood in the Order does however elevate one and his perpetuity to the equestrian class, often allowing first-born sons to enter into the serjeantry, whether in the Order or with lords and knights banneret of the land. | A knight commander can grant the basic knighthood, but only bailiffs and above can create a knight commander. Knight grand commanders can be created by a grand prior. A Knight of the Grand Halos can only be created by the Grand Master. Knighthood in the Order is not equivalent to the hereditary knighthoods of Dwarden, which are technically knights banneret. Knighthood in the Order does however elevate one and his perpetuity to the equestrian class, often allowing first-born sons to enter into the serjeantry, whether in the Order or with lords and knights banneret of the land. | ||
Revision as of 06:02, 1 November 2014
Original Notes:
"Based in the fallen lands of Dwarden, the Beleaguered Shields fight almost exclusively within those lands. Dwarden is a hellish land beset with undead, a result of a pagan god's curse. That god's avatar itself still lives within Dwarden. The Beleaguered Shields' mission is to cleanse this land of its curse. Paladins of this Order gain the ability to turn undead, however most steeds fear these rugged holy warriors."
Symbol: A weathered steel shield with reinforced bolts, crossed with a hammer over a sworn coming before the Yathamian trefoil. The Yathamian trefoil bears the golden halo of the Spirit and the silver halo of the Voice, but with both under the iron halo of the Power.
Foundation: 6th century A.M.
Basic Concept and Structure
The Order of the Beleaguered Shield is the sovereign national military order of Dwarden. Due to the centuries-long existential crisis in this land, the Order is the effective government for the entire nation. It is composed of four classes: knights, chaplains, serjeants and men-at-arms. Knights of the order are composed strictly of paladins, which is to say that no non-paladin will ever become a knight of the Order. Chaplains are priests that serve the Order specifically. Serjeants are chevaliers and non-knightly leaders of the Order, serving in important command and administrative posts. Men-at-Arms are those men who have sworn allegiance to the Order. All are dedicated to the destruction of all undead in their lands, especially the arch-enemy of Dwarden, the lich priest-king Thagdion the Mad. The Order traces its roots to the ancient landed knightly class which has always been part of Dwarden society and war. The Order of the Beleaguered Shield is in the 9th century AM an order which unifies the Dwarden resistance against the lich-king Thagdion the Mad. Although there still exist lords and knights with private domains, it is the Order which is by far the bulwark of defense against Thagdion. All the lands not under Thagdion thus fall within the domains of either a bailiwick or priory, led by a member of the Order. Lordly domains and independent knightly lands fall under these jurisdictions. The entire resistance falls under the command of the Grand Master of the Order. Although religiously oriented and extremely close with the national Church, the order is technically secular, and is furthermore sovereign in that it draws no charter or authority from any king or lord. The Order does not intend to rule after any theoretical extirpation of the undead. The basic administrative hierarchy of the Order is represented by the chart below.
Grand Master
Grand Priory
Priory
Bailiwick
Commandery
In effect, the Order governs the lands of Dwarden not currently fallen to the undead. The Order functions under the theory and the auspices of a permanent national military emergency.
Serjeantry
Since the Thousiersian invasion, the institution of serjeantry has become a major element in the Order. Effectively of the yeomanry, this Thousiersian social class quickly became an important part of the Dwarden social order, filling in the void of the ever decreasing size of the knights. Before serjeantry, men-at-arms served the Order of the Beleaguered Shield, serving knights of the Order. Unfortunately for the Order, knights and the knightly class from which they came were becoming rarer with the passing years, and an institution was needed to help fill the gap. By Cecil's time, serjeantry is a respected social class, with serjeants filling numerous important posts. Legal advocates, important vassals, fortress commanders, supply managers and many other important positions are all filled by serjeants. Most serjeants are however but other warriors, junior to knights, who serve individual knights or knightly commands. Dwarden serjeants should not be confused with the military sergeants of Pompiersian armies. Serjeants are not simply noncommissioned officers, and many are more military than administrative. Those of knightly wealth and position, but not able to achieve knighthood through paladinship, are more likely to earn serjeantry than men-at-arms without such social status. It should be noted that many serjeants are the non-paladin sons of powerful Order knights, whom without the paladinship are unable to achieve knighthood. Thus barred, they may pursue ever more increasingly important and powerful positions of serjeantry.
Examples of Serjeantry:
Serjeant of the Fisc
Serjeant Seneschal
Serjeant of the Armory
Serjeant of the Fair
Serjeant of the Hunt
Surgeon-Sergeant
Grand Sergeant of the Seal of the Order, a position currently held by the Barons of Karthane
Knighthood
A knight commander can grant the basic knighthood, but only bailiffs and above can create a knight commander. Knight grand commanders can be created by a grand prior. A Knight of the Grand Halos can only be created by the Grand Master. Knighthood in the Order is not equivalent to the hereditary knighthoods of Dwarden, which are technically knights banneret. Knighthood in the Order does however elevate one and his perpetuity to the equestrian class, often allowing first-born sons to enter into the serjeantry, whether in the Order or with lords and knights banneret of the land.
Knight of the Grand Halos
Knight Grand Commander
Knight Commander (granted the honorific "sir")
Knight
