Dunlop Order of Knights
The descendants of the original Marshal of Coosyork for a long time would decent into the position upon the death of the previous, until Oriel Dunlop The Swift was dethroned by a powerful challenger. Fearful for their safety while remaining in Coosyork, they moved to the small settlement to the south, with some loyal soldiers. To be rid of this possible challenger, the Marshal allowed this. They built a small castle, and began an order of knights, taking on squires and and Pages. Almost two centuries later, the Emperor official recognized the Dunlop Family as nobility of the empire, and by proxy acquired the loyalty of the Dunlop Order of Knights.
Joining the Order begins by submitting yourself as an aspirant, who can attend a twice a week class on Combat, and another on Chivalry. There are also two days of open practice for aspirants to practice with Pages and Squires. Aspirants also are expected to abide by the Code of the Order, and as such provide services and assistance to the order. Aspirants drop their family name, and all ties outside the order. There are a limited amount of space for pages and Squires, so from here its best to describe the Order from the top down.
At the top of the Order is Amery Dunlop Symond the Keen, The Grand Collar who is considered the head of the order, and is second only to the Head of the Dunlop family. Below them are the Grand Commander's. There is no set number of these, though to become a Grand Commander, it is by the decree of The Grand Collar. Normally this is done after a great deed of humility, self sacrifice, or acts of great loyalty and combat prowess. It is not always the case to be rewarded with this, and usually requires all of the above, but it is at the discretion of The Grand Collar, as well as the current head of the Dunlop Family, who must approve the appointment as well. Each Grand Commander may hold a Company of Knights within the order.
A Company of knights which is headed by a Grand Commander, has two Commanders, which are approved by their Grand Commander and The Grand Collar. Each Commander holds 2 Companions which are just considered Knights. Each Commander and Knight may have a Squire and Page.
There are currently 5 Grand Commanders, meaning there are 10 Commanders, 20 Companions, 30 Squires, and 30 Pages. This makes for 36 Knights in the Order and a total of 96 people in the structure of the order, though not all Knights of the order remain part of the structure, and most spend time as a Knight Errant, serving the order beyond the keep. These knights are ranked as Chevalier's, and remain officially apart of the Company they were knight in while apart of the structure unless adopted into a different Company.
There can be any number of Chevaliers in a Company, though moving from Squire to knight is not an easy task. One must prove an unquestionable understanding of the Chivalric code, mastery with at least two of the approved weapons, absolute loyalty to the order, The Dunlop Family, and the Oryn Emperor. A Squire often can be found accompany the Knight, learning from them, and assisting them as necessary. In their down time, they are often practicing or studying with their sponsors page, preparing them and themselves. The Companion or Commander that sponsors the Squire, must nominate the Squire, and so has absolute discretion on when this process takes place. A Squire faces trials, some of them unknown to the Squire, set by Grand Commander of the Company, and their sponsor. If the Trials are failed, the Squire may be cast from the order entirely. If the Squire succeeds, they will be presented to the Head of the Dunlop Family, who makes the final decision, and knights the Squire. When a Squire is elevated, so is the page. In rare circumstances another knights page may be taken on as a Squire, especially if no current page is sponsored by that Knight. The Squire is always in preparations for the day their trials are called.
Pages spend much of there time assisting their sponsor and Squire. They also learn through service and study. They may attend to the Knight at times as well. They are preparing to become the Knights Squire, and are learning from the Squire how to best do that, and what is expected. A Knight may dismiss there Squire or Page from the order at anytime, for any reason.
When a new Grand Commander is appointed, they select from the Chevaliers first to take on two Companions, and will work with them to form the Company, and when the time comes, those two will be put through the approval process to rise to Commander, and take on their own Companions.
If a Grand Commander dies, their company is disolved. Knights loose there pages that return to the rank of Aspirants, but keep the Squire until the squire either completes their trials, or leaves the order, when that is done, they become Knights Errant and no longer apart of the structure, but retain their ranks within the order itself. In some cases, a Commander may be raised to the rank of Grand Commander, at the discretion of the Grand Collar.
These warriors are elite, and Lawful Good, with great loyalty to the Dunlop family, the Empire, and each other. These knights may travel the world following the Chivalric code they were taught, and letting it guide them. Their code allows them to temporarily join any other organization, though they must make it clear that there services are temporary until they may be summoned to some other task. They will not pledge themselves into services that would violate their code.
The Structure remains housed within Long Castle in Springoa Crossroads, in their downtime, you can often find Knights of the Structure wondering the town, and sometimes out on missions for their company, Order, or for one of the Dunlop's. The Structures purpose is to maintain defense of the Noble Family, as well as the Crossroads, as well as pass on their knowledge and ensure the stability of their Chivalric code.
Pages Code
There is no emotion,there is duty.
There is no ignorance, there is honor.
There is no fear,there is courage.
There is no chaos,there is loyalty.
There is no cruelty,there is chivalry.
Tenents of The Order
All within the Dunlop Order are expected to live by the Tennets of the Order, and these aspects continue to be expanded upon as they progress through the Ranks of the Order. The following are the Tennets of the Order:
- Duty: Knights of the Dunlop Order are sworn to uphold their duty to their Order, their kingdom, and the people they serve. They must be ready to act at a moment's notice to defend those in need and to uphold the laws and customs of their realm.
- Honor: Knights of the Dunlop Order are sworn to uphold the highest standards of honor, acting with integrity and fairness in all their dealings. They must never betray their trust or compromise their principles, even at great personal cost.
- Courage: Knights of the Dunlop Order are sworn to act with bravery in the face of danger, standing firm in the face of adversity and never backing down from a challenge.
- Loyalty: Knights of the Dunlop Order are sworn to be loyal to their Order, their comrades, and their kingdom. They must never betray their allies or fail to uphold their oaths.
- Chivalry: Knights of the Dunlop Order are sworn to uphold the virtues of chivalry, including compassion, mercy, and humility. They must treat all people with respect and dignity, regardless of their station in life.
Aspirants
"I, [name], promise to dedicate myself to the principles of duty, courage, loyalty, and chivalry upheld by the Dunlop Order. I understand that the path to becoming a knight is a long and difficult journey, and I am prepared to work hard and learn from my mentors in order to achieve this goal. As an aspirant of the Dunlop Order, I recognize the importance of treating others with respect and kindness, and of using my skills and abilities to serve those in need. I am committed to upholding the honor and integrity of the Dunlop Order, and to being a positive influence on those around me. May my actions reflect the values of the Dunlop Order, and may I always strive to be a worthy member of this great organization."Page Selection
From the Aspirants, individuals maybe chosen by Knights taking on new Pages to join their Squire. Knights and Squires take on the responsability of training and educating the Page.Oath of the Page
"I, [name], do hereby swear upon my honor and the honor of the Dunlop Order of Knights to uphold the principles of duty, courage, loyalty, and chivalry as befits a Page of this esteemed order. I promise to serve my superiors with loyalty and obedience, and to carry out my duties with honor and integrity. I understand that my training has only just begun, and I pledge to work tirelessly to hone my skills in the ways of combat, diplomacy, and leadership so that I may one day become a worthy and honorable Knight of the Dunlop Order. I will always strive to be a shining example of the principles of the Dunlop Order, and I will never dishonor my name, my family, or my fellow knights in my actions or my words. May the principles of duty, courage, loyalty, and chivalry guide me always, and may the Dunlop Order of Knights be forever strengthened by my service and devotion."Pages Training
- Etiquette and Protocol: Pages must learn proper etiquette and protocol, including how to interact with nobility and conduct themselves in formal settings. As they progress, they could be introduced to more complex social situations and expected to navigate them with poise and tact.
- Combat Training: Pages begin learning various forms of combat to defend themselves and their knights. They could be trained in swordplay, archery, and hand-to-hand combat, and as they advance, they could be introduced to more advanced techniques and weapons.
- Horsemanship: Squires must also master horsemanship, as they will be expected to ride into battle alongside their knights. So as pages they would be trained in riding techniques, horse care, and mounted combat.
- Service and Duty: Pages should learn about the duties and responsibilities of a Squire, including serving their knight and fulfilling their orders. They could be assigned tasks such as cleaning and maintaining equipment, caring for horses, and assisting with administrative tasks.
- Leadership and Strategy: As when they become Squires, they will be progressing in their training, so they should begin to learn about leadership and strategy. This could include studying battle tactics, learning how to command troops, and developing the skills necessary to lead into battle.
Page to Squire
When a Knights Squire takes their Trials, the Page will be taking on the Pages Challenge. This would be to them by their Knight, and would require them to use their knowledge and skills in a practical way. This can take many forms, and is usually specially crafted to the specific Page to match the challenges that are needed to test that Page.Squires Oath
"I, [name], pledge to serve the Dunlop Order with honor and distinction. I swear to uphold the principles of duty, courage, loyalty, and chivalry, and to conduct myself with the utmost integrity at all times. As a squire of the Dunlop Order, I recognize that I am bound by duty to protect the weak, to defend the innocent, and to stand against all forms of tyranny and oppression. I will respect the chain of command, obey my superiors, and follow the teachings of my mentors to the best of my ability. May my service be a testament to the honor and excellence of the Dunlop Order, and may I always strive to be a worthy representative of this great organization."Squires Training
- Advanced Combat Training: Knights must be experts in various forms of combat, including swordplay, archery, and hand-to-hand combat. Squires should continue to train in these areas and be introduced to more advanced techniques and weapons. They should also learn how to fight on foot as well as on horseback.
- Chivalry and Honor: Knights are expected to uphold the highest standards of chivalry and honor. Squires should learn about the code of conduct expected of knights, including virtues such as courage, loyalty, and honesty.
- Virtues and Ethics: Knights should also have a strong sense of ethics and morality. Squires should be taught to make ethical decisions, consider the consequences of their actions, and act in the best interests of their Order and the people they serve.
- Service and Leadership: Squires should continue to serve their knights and fulfill their duties, but also begin to develop leadership skills. They should learn how to delegate tasks, manage resources, and inspire others to follow their lead.
- Quests and Trials: As Squires progress in their training, they may be sent on quests or trials to prove their worthiness to become a Knight. These could include tasks such as slaying a dangerous beast, rescuing a captive, or successfully completing a mission with a team of other knights.
Squire to Knight
A Squire takes on the following Trials to become a Knight in the Order of Dunlop.- Combat Trial: The Squire must prove their mastery of combat skills and techniques, fighting against multiple opponents and demonstrating their ability to use various weapons effectively.
- Service Trial: The Squire must demonstrate their dedication to serving others by completing a difficult service project, such as building a bridge or assisting in disaster relief efforts.
- Leadership Trial: The Squire must demonstrate their leadership skills by leading a group of other Squires in a difficult task, such as a battle simulation or rescue mission.
- Knowledge Trial: The Squire must demonstrate their knowledge of history, philosophy, and other subjects relevant to their role as a Knight, such as by completing a written or oral exam.
- Virtue Trial: The Squire must demonstrate their adherence to the virtues of chivalry, such as by completing a difficult task that requires them to display courage, loyalty, and honor.
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