Knightly Orders
[Articletoc]
Introduction
Across the continent of Aestis there are dozens of Knightly Orders, some are the elite soldiers of a particular city or kingdom such as the Fifth Legion of Dran or the Honourable Company of Trail Keepers in the Mill Lands. Others, like the The Hipostic Knights are independent of the rule of any crown (though the Hipostics have traditionally had strong ties to the Aruhvian Church. Some, like the Iron Army of the Arching Mountains are orders shrouded in mystery, and this article is simply a primer in exploring the origins and traditions of chivalric warriors and the banners they fight under. You can read all about the Knight character class here.The Legacy of the Vannic Empire
The legacy of the Vannic empire on the development of chivalric orders in Aestis is immense. The traditions of the Solustine, Hipostic and Iron Army Knights can be traced directly to the Vannic Empire, along with the Hammerborn of Wardenhal and the Axe Guards of Hothis. Later orders like the Trailkeepers in the Mill Lands draw less directly from the values of the Vannic Empire but are nonetheless influenced by them. The only order to predate the Vannic Empire are the enigmatic Knights of the Ember Legion. The one city state that claims to be the inheritor of the Vannic Empire's chivalric codes more than any other is the city of Dran. The extent to which this is actually true is questionable, as Dranian rulers have consistantly ignored the Precepts of Naltherin, the first rules laid down by the Vannic Empire to govern the actions of knights.The Precepts of Naltherin
The first Knight Commander of the Vannic Empire was Austramis Naltherin, who led the Vannic Armies against the Fey in the final battles of the War of the Southern Margin. Naltherin is presented by later Vannic Hagiographers as a determined and ruthless man whose sole purpose was to help his masters, the emperors, build the Vannic Empire on the bones of the old world of the Fey. In reality, he was quite different and his encounters with the Fey had transformed him, so much so that he attempted to end the wars and find peaceful coexistence with the first folk of Aestis. His attempts to create a middle ground between the Fey and humans were consistently undermined by Vannic Emperors and, the Fey believed, the Keeper's own infiltrators, the Shuravai. On returning to Daeuss Kaa, Naltherin spent the rest of his days in quiet contemplation, and years later produced the precepts. Yenai (meaning sight in Vannic): A Knight must be able to see inside his enemy and see inside himself. A Knight must be able to see that he and his enemy are one. Othar (meaning death in Vannic): A Knight must be able to transcend death, to recognise that death has no meaning and to lose all fear of it, but have a respect for it at the same time. Granah (meaning fortitude): A Knight must endure physical, mental and spiritual trials in order to have worth. Knights that have not faced Granah are referred to as Hydens, or 'Ornamental Squires.' Dosei (meaning humility): A Knight must be humble to their core and see others as equal in their humanity. Knights who lack Dosei are those who are triumphant or vengeful in victory. Shaada (meaning master): A Knight must respect their master, be that a teacher or a lord.Naltherin Rituals
Every knightly order that has ever existed Aestis has had its own version of Naltherin rituals. These practices, based in the precepts of the Aruhvian faith govern the initiation of novice knights, preparation for battle, the burial or cremation of fallen comrades and the act of accepting surrender.Initiation
The earliest initiation rites established by the Knights of Daeuss Kaa involved sacred Ratheker oil, where a droplet of the oil was daubed upon the brow, the bottom lip and the solar plexus of a warrior knelt before their lord. Ratheker oil is still widely used by the The Hipostic Knights and in many House Jarls in Ghotharand. When Lendraedus, the Archimandrite of Arc in the year -558 condemned the use of oils and an unguents in initiations as superstition and a heresy, the use of the oil was abandoned.Preparation for Battle
Across Aestis, the what remains of the dwindling connection between knightly orders and the Aruhvian faith is held together by the Sacrements of Steel, the pre battle blessing of swords, shields and helms. In Skaris, the sacrements are treated as a heresy, as it is assumed that the Keeper has already decided who will live and who will die in the fight to come. The idea that one might seek to influence the outcome of the battle by gaining favour with the Keeper beforehand or asking for his aid is an anathema to Skarisi thought. In the year 295, when the belief in Saints and sacrements has been widely discredited by the events of the Sundering, many soldiers still ascribe to the ritual of the sacrements regardless. For many, the blessing of swords by an Aruhvian priest is beneficial to their morale if nothing else. There are variations of the sacrements across Aestis, including the burying of swords in the snow for nine hours on the eve of battle in the Vire, the cleansing of swords by the Pheffist priests of Del'Marah, the absolution of the blade in Oloris (forgiving the spirit within the sword for the lives it will soon take).The Fallen
Knightly rituals that began with the Knights of Daeuss Kaa emphasised the nobility of those who had fallen in battle, especially those who had sacrificed themselves for their comrades or fought to the death in impossible circumstances. Those knights who had 'fallen in glory' were honoured in word and song and when Dancare was built their remains were exhumed and taken there by way of tribute to their memory. Those who died of natural causes were honoured based on the history of their service and wealthier knights would sometimes in their later years would hire a small entourage of heralds, archivists, hagiographers who might re-tell and potentially embellish stories of valour. The Arcish orders took a very dim view of such frauds as it downgraded the idea of the valourous death itself. Knights in the year 295 of all orders and cultures tend to be very mindful of their reputation and the place in the public imagination that they might hold if they were killed in battle.The First Vannic Orders
Vannic society was a martial one, with knights and their orders being granted special status and acclaim. The emerging Aruhvian faith recognised knights of renown as saints and propagated the idea that those of exceptional valour and worth sat alongside the Keeper in the Celestial Realm. This claim can be traced back to Orlathes the third Archimandrite of Dancare, though it is greatly disputed by the Carathene Order. The primary order that served as an honour guard to all emperors were the Knights of Daeuss Kaa.- The Knights of Daeuss Kaa
- The Order of the Netherin Line
- The Solustine Knights
The Arcish Orders
- The Durean Guard
- The Templespire Swords
- The Hipostic Knights
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