The Knights of Tupaux
The Tupaulian Church have not been able to maintain their control over their followers through their blessings alone. In service to the Church is an order of knights who make up the military arm of the Church of Saint Tupaux.
The Knights of Tupaux have been defending the faith and its followers since the very first knight swore to defend the Saint himself. This order of warriors and spies has followed the church loyally, fighting its wars against any heretic that might oppose them and ensuring its dominance.
However, the order of knights themselves actually predates the church. Before Saint Tupaux discovered the Spirits and founded the Church, the Knights of Tupaux were known by another name. Travelling the lands as the Order of Les Dieux Célestes, the knights were followers of the star gods that were once worshipped in Bastique. They acted as the protectors of the mountains and the relics rumoured to be hidden within them.
Today, the Knights of Tupaux are separated into two divisions. The Inquisitors act as the Churches secret police. They are sent out on missions to hunt down heretics and anyone who acts against the interests of the Church. Due to the fact that they have been incredibly thorough in their work, they are not called upon to perform this duty very often anymore. This is because the threat of the Inquisitors is more than enough to stop any would-be heretics in their tracks. Instead, the Inquisitor's spy on important figures in both Serpé and Bastique and relay information back to the Archons. When not performing these duties, they have also been tasked with seeking clues as part of their investigation into the whereabouts of the relics that they once protected.
The other division is the Chevaliers which acts as the Churches standing army. They are responsible for protecting the Cathedral, the lands surrounding it and the roads leading to it. As well as this, should a heretic amass an army to stand against the Church, they will find themselves faced with the best trained and best-equipped army in all of Bastique. As heretics are rare in Bastique at present, the Church has taken to loaning out their forces to the city-states in exchange for sizeable donations or, in some special cases, favours. The Chevaliers are made up of several units of footsoldiers, archers and cavalry and currently have 5,000 able-bodied knights ready to fight at a moments notice.
Structure
The Knights of Tupaux have two leaders, one for each division. These two leaders answer directly to the Archons, from whom they receive all of their orders. The leader of the Inquisitors holds the rank of Grand Inquisitor. They are responsible for the management of the various squads of Inquisitors, as well as the logistical management of the division. The Inquisitors operate in squads of four, which are each led by a High Inquisitor. The High Inquisitor is responsible for leading their squad while out in the field.
Leading the Chevaliers is the Lord Commander. They manage assignments and responsibilities to the rest of the army and are responsible for leading the Church to victory in times of war. They are also the more public face of the Knights, as the Grand Inquisitors work relies on them being able to operate in the shadows, unseen.
Adopting a method used by the Serpéan military, the Lord Commander has taken to bringing on advisors onto their personal staff. These advisors hold the rank of Knight-Captain and are tasked with aiding the Lord Commander in whatever way that they need, either by advising on strategy and planning or giving out the Lord Commander's orders.
Beneath the Knight-Captains are the three leaders of their respective unit, the First Horseman, First Footman and First Archer. They lead the units more directly than the Knight-Captains and Lord Commander, taking charge in the field. The Firsts are usually the most skilled horseman, footman or archer, respectively, in their unit. This however is not always the case, as skill at arms does not necessarily always make one the best leader. In times such as this, the better leader is given the position of first instead.
Should it be necessary that a large detachment of forces are required, the Firsts are able to lean on the support of the many senior knights throughout the army who are referred to as Sergeants. This position is given to those with the most experience or those who were the most talented in their field but did not have the leadership skills to make it to First.
Culture
All of the Knights are devout followers of the Tupaulian Church. They are trained to believe that everything they do is, as their motto suggests, for the glory of the Saint. It is this religious fervour and zeal that pushes them to stand at the ready to receive any order that the Church may bestow upon them, ever unwavering in their loyalty.
It is common practice amongst the Knights of Tupaux to recruit anyone, regardless of their place in society or where they may come from. As such you will often find the third son of a Dublean noble rubbing shoulders with a Sylvish peasant. This has been known to cause many issues in the barracks amongst raw recruits, however, this behaviour is quickly drilled out of them over the course of their training.
Assets
While they serve the Church of Saint Tupaux, the Knights are incredibly wealthy in their own right. This is due to the funding that they receive from nobles across the continent to ensure that their child can earn a place in their ranks, as well as to provide that child with the best equipment and supplies.
The weapons and armour worn by the knights are fashioned out of the finest and strongest metal available, shipped straight from the mines of Serpé. The metal shines so brightly that it is almost white. This trend of having access to the finest equipment also extends to the horses that they ride. Bred in the village within the Cathedral's grounds, the horses are all incredibly strong and fast for their massive size.
For the Glory of the Saint
Type
Military, Knightly Order
Alternative Names
Order of Les Dieux Céleste, The Saint's Shield, The Churches Fist, The Bright Knights
Training Level
Elite
Veterancy Level
Veteran
Parent Organization
Location
Notable Members
Comments