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ye_olde_npc) wrote2011-07-07 03:21 pm
ye_olde_npc) wrote2011-07-07 03:21 pm
Church Knights (C/P'ed here just in case)
Knights of the Church, Paladine Order, Militant Arm of the Saint Elimine Church.
History
"And they shall know no fear." - Archbishop Bheid, on the founding of the Paladine Order.
With the defeat of the Kingdom of Bern and the end of the conflict, the Church had recognised the need to have its own military. Requisitoning mercenaries when the need arose was useful, but it could was not ample to handle sudden outbreak of hostilities. Furthermore, the protection of its missionaries and travelling clergy would be more suited to its own militant arm, rather than loaning local troops, or hiring more mercenaries. Said military could act as a policing force in areas under its own jurisdiction, rather than relying on outside help.
The Church in Etruria had thus requested for some of the Kingdom's knights to train aspiring monks and clerics without the talent of Light magic in the usage of more conventional weaponry. Barracks were set aside in the outskirts of Aquleia for said training.
Even as the first batch of monks and clerics were converted into combatants, the instructors, with the blessings of the Church, began to enroll teens as novices. Aside from combat training, they also received religious lessons from the clergy present at the barracks. Thus the first generation of Church Knights were born.
The barracks were slowly restructured and fortified, and within two generations, they became the Paladine Motherhouse, the chapel-fortress of the Paladine knights. Chapterhouses were built and maintained in major cities of Etruria as the Order grew in size, some of them even located on borders to act as last-minute rest stations for knights, church members, and those in need of aid. Church Knights were often seen accompanying missionaries, standing guard over chapel and churches, and tasked to track down bandit groups when Etruria's milita was not in position to respond quickly enough.
At present time, it stands as a significant force in its own right, even if it is still considered a minor military when compared to the standing armies of the various nations.
Organisation
"We shall know no fear." - Motto of the Paladine Order.
A Preceptor leads the Paladine Order, and enjoys ecclesiastical rank equivalent to a Bishop. This means that he answers only to the Archbishop, can take part in deliberations of the Church, and allowed voting rights during ballots. As the knights are considered members of a religious order, a Preceptor would be allowed to bring along a small group as his personal staff during such assemblage. However, most of the time they do not, for the presence of armored knights during deliberations always seem to bring about a nervous undertone in others. He is always elected by the Church, after being given a list of candidates by senior members of the Order.
Furthermore, to prevent complications, by accepting the position of a Preceptor, said individual would no longer be eligible for Archbishopship, even after he or she has retired or resigned from the position.
The path to become a Church Knight begins when one is between ten to twelve. He or she would enroll into the Order as a Novice, and receive both combat and religious training. At the end of the novitiate (which takes a few year), those deemed not suitable to be a Church Knight would be transferred to the Church itself for more non-combatative training, or allowed to leave the Order and do as they desire. The rest would be Knight-Errands, allowed their own armor, but not yet rating a 'Sir' or 'Dame'.
After the probation period (ranging from a few months to years), they are expected to swear their vows and be Knights Paladine proper. At this stage, there is usually no rank to denote one Knight from another, except titles like "Quartermaster" and such. However, the Preceptor do assign knights to command other knights, and such are recorded in rolls kept by the scribes. It is usually assigned by seniority and experience, though at times merit do factor into such deliberations.
Knights are allowed their own residance, though it is expected of them to stay in their assigned chapterhouses most of the time. They are under the payroll of the Church, and given an allowance that is not meager, but neither can it afford them much luxuries.
Political Position
The Church is supposedly neutral in affairs of the sovereign states, though with the large population of Etrurians amongst the Order, and Aquleia as the de-facto headquarters of the Church, any move against Etruria would likely force the Church to deploy the Knights as aid for the Kingdom.
Archbishops have authority over a Preceptor, though it is unlikely that they force the leader of the Order to certain acts. He or she is, afterall, more well-versed in military affairs.
A/N: Points to consider is that should it be the only militant order? Or should there be one in Bern as well? Since there is a St Elimine Church there too (reference from Ellen's conversation). And perhaps Ostia/Ilia?
And feel free to point out holes, or ask for details that I should have added.
History
"And they shall know no fear." - Archbishop Bheid, on the founding of the Paladine Order.
With the defeat of the Kingdom of Bern and the end of the conflict, the Church had recognised the need to have its own military. Requisitoning mercenaries when the need arose was useful, but it could was not ample to handle sudden outbreak of hostilities. Furthermore, the protection of its missionaries and travelling clergy would be more suited to its own militant arm, rather than loaning local troops, or hiring more mercenaries. Said military could act as a policing force in areas under its own jurisdiction, rather than relying on outside help.
The Church in Etruria had thus requested for some of the Kingdom's knights to train aspiring monks and clerics without the talent of Light magic in the usage of more conventional weaponry. Barracks were set aside in the outskirts of Aquleia for said training.
Even as the first batch of monks and clerics were converted into combatants, the instructors, with the blessings of the Church, began to enroll teens as novices. Aside from combat training, they also received religious lessons from the clergy present at the barracks. Thus the first generation of Church Knights were born.
The barracks were slowly restructured and fortified, and within two generations, they became the Paladine Motherhouse, the chapel-fortress of the Paladine knights. Chapterhouses were built and maintained in major cities of Etruria as the Order grew in size, some of them even located on borders to act as last-minute rest stations for knights, church members, and those in need of aid. Church Knights were often seen accompanying missionaries, standing guard over chapel and churches, and tasked to track down bandit groups when Etruria's milita was not in position to respond quickly enough.
At present time, it stands as a significant force in its own right, even if it is still considered a minor military when compared to the standing armies of the various nations.
Organisation
"We shall know no fear." - Motto of the Paladine Order.
A Preceptor leads the Paladine Order, and enjoys ecclesiastical rank equivalent to a Bishop. This means that he answers only to the Archbishop, can take part in deliberations of the Church, and allowed voting rights during ballots. As the knights are considered members of a religious order, a Preceptor would be allowed to bring along a small group as his personal staff during such assemblage. However, most of the time they do not, for the presence of armored knights during deliberations always seem to bring about a nervous undertone in others. He is always elected by the Church, after being given a list of candidates by senior members of the Order.
Furthermore, to prevent complications, by accepting the position of a Preceptor, said individual would no longer be eligible for Archbishopship, even after he or she has retired or resigned from the position.
The path to become a Church Knight begins when one is between ten to twelve. He or she would enroll into the Order as a Novice, and receive both combat and religious training. At the end of the novitiate (which takes a few year), those deemed not suitable to be a Church Knight would be transferred to the Church itself for more non-combatative training, or allowed to leave the Order and do as they desire. The rest would be Knight-Errands, allowed their own armor, but not yet rating a 'Sir' or 'Dame'.
After the probation period (ranging from a few months to years), they are expected to swear their vows and be Knights Paladine proper. At this stage, there is usually no rank to denote one Knight from another, except titles like "Quartermaster" and such. However, the Preceptor do assign knights to command other knights, and such are recorded in rolls kept by the scribes. It is usually assigned by seniority and experience, though at times merit do factor into such deliberations.
Knights are allowed their own residance, though it is expected of them to stay in their assigned chapterhouses most of the time. They are under the payroll of the Church, and given an allowance that is not meager, but neither can it afford them much luxuries.
Political Position
The Church is supposedly neutral in affairs of the sovereign states, though with the large population of Etrurians amongst the Order, and Aquleia as the de-facto headquarters of the Church, any move against Etruria would likely force the Church to deploy the Knights as aid for the Kingdom.
Archbishops have authority over a Preceptor, though it is unlikely that they force the leader of the Order to certain acts. He or she is, afterall, more well-versed in military affairs.
A/N: Points to consider is that should it be the only militant order? Or should there be one in Bern as well? Since there is a St Elimine Church there too (reference from Ellen's conversation). And perhaps Ostia/Ilia?
And feel free to point out holes, or ask for details that I should have added.