The Knights of the Deorum Hominis

The Knights of the Deorum Hominis are a politically neutral organization that are actually five separate orders. Each is tasked with representing and defending a different aspect of the religion. Referred to simply as the Orders, their cultural role in the Western Kingdoms that worship the Deorum Hominis (both Pepinians and Eleutherians) is as an independent militant arm of the faith that is meant to defend the good and innocent, and uphold peace through order. Each order is sworn to support a subset of values that rarely if ever conflict with other Orders.

Knights of Nobility (Milites Regium)

This order of knights swears to the aspect of the divine that represents royalty and leadership spend their time serving Royal Families around the Western Kingdoms. They believe that the leadership of humankind and the laws of that leadership in themselves create a force for good. However, the order will resign positions that run contrary to the protection of good, law, or other anathematic ideas. While they do derive their funding from those that they guard, the funds go into a common pool so that they are not compromised by demands of the wealthy over their knightly goals.

My First Assignment had me working for a minor noble family acting as a mentor for a 10 year old boy that they had spoiled rotten. I tried to guide him until the day I saw him kick a dog for entertainment and I turned him over my knee and gave him the spanking he so badly needed. His caterwauling brought his father out. He looked at me and turned around and left again. After that the boy seemed to get his act together, at least around me. ~ Sir Miles Stoneswift, Milites Regium

Knights of the Father (Milites Pater)

This smaller order tends to wander the Western Kingdoms called to helping men reunite with their families or prospective brides. They are sometimes attracted to war zones to help warriors that wish to find or to return to their families. Sometimes they are seen escorting the remains of fallen men to their loved ones. They can often be found praying in crossroads in the hopes that they may be led to where they are needed most. The Milites Pater finds abusive or drunken fathers to be anathema to their beliefs, and will not mince words with such a man, and have been known to pummel, or even arrest the worst offenders.

I trekked 3 days to bring the poor man's ashes home after he had died serving in a levy that got involved in a border skirmish. The widow and his three daughters bawled their eyes out in their little hovel that cold winter day. I could see that they didn't have enough firewood to last the winter so I stayed a week to get enough chopped and get them through. It made the trip worth it to know I made a difference. ~Sir Helmut Swartzenschild, Milites Pater

Knights of the Mother (Milites Mater)

This order protects mothers and young women of age. They have a significantly higher number of female knights in their order. These knights can be found protecting mothers and families lead by mothers from danger. In a war zone, they are often found as guards in an armies follower camp, or in vulnerable villages on the front lines. This order is distinct from but often works closely with, the Milites Puer (below). The Milites Mater supports the empowerment of mothers and women of age, but they believe that with that power comes responsibility. For example, they are known to stand for the rights of a woman to speak her mind, but not to use her tongue to achieve selfish or evil ends.

I knew I was in deep gong when they cornered me behind the tavern. I had served them enough beer to know they were drunk. I knew what they had in mind and that they were likely going to hurt me getting it. The first one opened his belt with a leer on his face while the other two held me. There was a blur of light and next thing I know she was helping me stand. I swear the sword was made of holy light! She told me to go inside, that she would take care of the bodies. She did and left that night. The next morning there were three more Dames of the Milites Mater there, one for each man, visiting their widows and making sure they were just as cared for as I was! ~ Anonymous tavern server

Knights of the Child (Milites Puer)

This order protects and defends the young, the infirm, the simple, and the poor. Unlike the other orders, they swear vows of celibacy. They are most often found in towns or cities watching out for and over the traditionally disenfranchised children or the infirm of mind and body. They are the least likely to carry a slashing or piercing weapon, preferring instead to carry bludgeoning weapons on their city patrols. This order runs many orphanages and often recruit as well from the ranks of those they have benevolently raised. In addition, they sometimes raise funds by serving as part of a town or city patrol. The Milites Puer find abandoning or abusing those they protect to be anathema, and while they avoid killing or crippling, they are not beyond teaching someone doing the abusing a lesson.

I was so hungry and running as fast as my little feet would carry me. I bolted around the corner and ran right into him. I think every inch of him gleamed in the sunlight, even the leather! He picked me up, plucked the fruit from my hands, and gave it back to the stall owner. Then he took me in at the chapter house, fed me, clothed me, and raised me. He was a good man, better to me than anyone else had ever been. Of course, I took the vows when I reached my majority, how could I not? ~Sir Gosse de Letitia, Milites Puer

Knights of the Sage (Milites Sapientis)

This order understands that the highly skilled or highly educated spend most of their lives practicing their craft, and little time doing the things that allow them to defend themselves. They are considered the wealthiest of the orders as those they protect often are quite generous with their own talents in return. They are often found protecting artisans, mages, sages, and other highly specialized or educated professions. They are often found escorting discovery expeditions and they have been known to serve as military advisors to Kingdoms or City-States that reward and prize these professionals as well. In addition, having become a wealthy order they sometimes even secretly act as patrons for those they consider clever. To the Milites Sapientis, they find those that are willfully ignorant to be anathema. This extends to anti-intellectualism or others that might harass those they protect. They are the least likely to act directly with violence (though they are more than capable of it) but instead will work behind the scenes politically to achieve their ends.

We donated enough money to the Milites Sapientis that two of them came along on our expedition. When we reached the shore of The Great Rainforest they camped with us, ate with us, walked with us, carried more than their share of the gear for us. Then when that two legged thing came out of the forest with a head full of eight inch daggers for teeth and comically stubby arms they died for us too, buying us enough time to get back to the boats and get the hell out of there. ~ Anonymous member of the ill fated Florentine expedition to The Great Rainforest

Type

Nobility, Military

Form of Address

Sir