Order of the Armati Devotio

Sometimes called 'The Knights Devotee', the esteemed Order of the Armati Devotio is a militant religious organization.

Consolidating their might within tall fortress-chapels, the order regularly sends armed patrols across the land; Either to defend the civilized peoples of the area, or to pacify aggressive uncivilized peoples.

Structure

A religious hierarchy, the order determines the ranks of it's members firstly by their devotion and accomplishments in the name of the order, and secondly by seniority within the order.

The order consists of 8 recognized ranks:

• Grand Prior - Highest office within the organization. Acts as a supreme military and religious authority. There can only be one Grand Prior at any time.

• High Prior - Second only to the Grand Prior, High Priors each watch over and command a group of fortress-chapels and the people serving therein.

• Master Chaplin - Serving beneath a High Prior, the Master Chaplin is in control of a single fortress-chapel. Organizing the activities and daily operations of these strongholds, unless given an overriding order by his High Prior.

• Sergent Chaplin - Serving a Master Chaplin as a field commander and second in command, these tend to either lead the away teams of a fortress-chapel, or in turn lead at the chapel while a Master-Chaplin is indisposed. There can be as many as 5 Sergent Chaplins at any one fortress-chapel.

• Paladin - The enforcers and elite warriors under the direct command of a Sergent Chaplin, up to 50 Paladins at a chapel, and in turn each controlling a squad of up to 10 lesser members.

• Vitez -The largest group within the order, making up more than half it's total number. Each Vitez is sworn to a Paladin, serving him and those above him in the hierarchy. These soldiers preform a vast array of duties, both within the fortress-chapels, and on the road including keeping watch, hunting, foraging, tracking targets, preaching to passers by, and body-guarding higher ranking members. After at least 5 years of service, a Vitez may recite and swear the Oath to a Chaplin and become a Paladin. There are three smaller subgroups within this rank, all equal in standing but serving different duties.
  
  • Order of the Quill: Archivists, Scribes and Historians. Any Vitez that can read and write in 3 or more languages will serve at least 1 year in this order, assisting the organization by recording histories and transcribing documents.
  • Order of the Whetstone: Smiths, Merchants, Carpenters and other craftsmen. Vitez with trade skills usually spend 2 or more years in this order, assisting the order through trade and by maintaining their fortress-chapels and equipment.
  • Order of the Dagger: Hunters, Farmers, Herdsmen and Warriors. The most common Order within the Vitez, and seen as the more general purpose of the rank, 'Daggers' as they are known serve as hunters, foragers, farmers, animal keepers and the basic foot troops of the order. In some rarer cases, 'Daggers' are tasked with tracking and retrieving prisoners or criminals, though only skilled trackers and those that can show discretion are given such delicate tasks.

• Squire - The rank just before Vitez. Each is trained and assessed by a Vitez directly, and only after 2 years of training and study may they be tested by a Paladin for the right to advance within the order. It is at this point they begin learning the Oath of the order.

• Page or Novitiate - The lowest rank within the order, these are typically young, hopeful members not technically yet part of the hierarchy. A Page is a potential member who was recruited and vouched for by a Vitez, Paladin or Chaplin; While a Novitiate is someone who attempts to join the order under their own merit. These trainees tend to spend most of their day acting as servants and assistants for all the higher ranking members of a fortress-chapel. After 3 years of service, sometimes less for a Page with proper merit shown, they are officially joined to the order as a Squire.
  
  

Culture

A strict, militaristic and theocratic meritocracy.
Members are judged by their superiors to determine worth on the grounds of Faith, Devotion, Fervor and Dedication.

Faith is measured by the ability and willingness to preach the tenets of the order, particularly duty, honor, honesty and courage.
Devotion is measured by the willingness of a member to follow orders, and place the needs of the order above their own.
Fervor is the willingness of the member to participate in combat for the order and the faith, the willingness to shed blood when needed.
Dedication is the willingness for a member to sacrifice themself for others, be it in combat or in some other emergency. To place others before ones self.

Public Agenda

The Order of the Armati Devotio is always trying to spread order into the chaotic parts of the world.
They believe that Courage, Duty, Honor, Honesty and Devotion can curb the wild tendencies of all sentient peoples, and march across the land spreading these precepts to the wild peoples of uncivilized territories.

Assets

Control of 22 small Fortress-chapels, 6 larger Fortress-chapels, and the Grand Chapel at Steepegate.
Arms and Armor for all active members, including a mix of:
swords, axes, maces, shields, polearms, light crossbows, bolts, shortbows, arrows, javelins and daggers.


Around 6,800 active members;

• 1 Grand Prior
• 6 High Priors
• 28 Master Chaplin
• 86 Sergent Chaplin
• 688 Paladins
• 4146 Vitez
• 1382 Squires
• 460 Page/Novitiates

Founding Date

-407 CE

Type

Religious, Holy Order

Capital

Steppegate

Alternative Names

Knights Devotee, Swords of Dedication

Training Level

Trained

Veterancy Level

Decorated/Honored

Leader

Czugne Brightflame

Leader Title

Grand Prior

Government System

Theocracy

Official State Religion

Church of Devotion and Duty

Parent Organization

Church of Devotion and Duty

Divines

• Czugne Brightflame

Location

Steppegate