Goals of the Ley Knights
Ley Knights are utterly dedicated to promoting unity and fellowship between the Aethrin of the present age. They travel all over the world looking for armies, factions, guilds, bands, and adventuring parties in need of synergy, giving everything in pursuit of becoming a living example of the divine harmony of the Heartwood. They advise their fellows to seek out ways to grow their coalition and thereby strengthen the cultivated leylines, which has the added benefit of beating back the Brume. In their perfect world, the people of Myzelis will have learned how to become one people and turn their energies away from infighting and towards a brighter future.
In reality, they often lack the perspective and resources to make meaningful change beyond the martial prowess and combat strategies they bring to any faction they join, and in rare circumstances they can be seen on opposite sides of conflicts, directing their host factions how best to efficiently destroy each other. Still, they continue to try with every fiber of their being, and plenty of the blank pages of history are dedicated to wars that never happened thanks to the wisdom of a Ley Knight in the right place at the right time.
Leaders of the Ley Knights
High Ardori Rhuddinser Gaeli Lemalond
Grandmaster of the Ley Knighthood
Firbolg/Human Ley Knight
Ardori Rhuddinser Xalvidur Casbo
First Knight of the Root
Tiefling/Grey Dwarf Ley Knight
Ardori Rhuddinser Anelen Birathmere
First Knight of the Branch
Half-Pallid Elf/Copper Dragonborn Ley Knight
Ardori Rhuddinser Fenwicc Dorian
First Knight of the Blade
Stout Halfling/Earth Genasi Ley Knight
Gweir Rhoan Halsanthur
First Squire of Ardoricon
Human Expert
Membership and Structure
The Ley Knights are separated into two factions: the
Ardori knighthood, and the
Wealdren squires.
The Ardori are split between three knightly orders:
the
Order of the Flagstone Root, responsible for the defense of Ardoricon;
the
Order of the Verdant Blade, aids the Gylidder Guard and Navy in defense of Gylidd;
the
Order of the Dolan Branch, made up exclusively of those who Quest abroad to provide synergy and harmony to other Aethrin Realms.
All squires are known as “Wealdren,” or by the honorific “Squire;” and all knights are known formally by the title ‘Rhuddinser,’ or the honorific ‘Ser,’ which refers to the Rhuddinwyd (“Heartwood”) Forest at the center of Gylidd, from which all leylines are bound together and begin their journeys out across the breadth of Myzelis.
The grandmaster of the Ley Knights is known as the
High Ardori, and they are elevated to this position by a vote the entire knighthood takes up once every ten years. They have the authority and responsibility to set a mandate for the order, determining which Quests are worthy of the Dolan Branch, which of the Verdant Blade will advise the Gylidder military, and how the Flagstone Root will prepare the defenses of Ardoricon and Inaethriddr.
To aid in these tasks, grandmasters are given the authority to select
Ardori (First Knights) among the three Orders, who serve as the penultimate authority and provide council to the grandmaster. A fourth position on the Grand Council is devoted to the
First Gweir (also known as the
First Squire), whose role is to keep the lofty, heroic goals of the Orders grounded in reality. The Gweir is also an elected position, although the vote is held purely among the Wealdren attendants, who serve the knights by performing maintenance, maintaining the armory, and providing hospitality and sustenance for the Ley Knights and their steeds.
Appearance
Ley Knight equipment often features light green coloring (reflecting the Heartwood and the colors of Gylidd) as well as the symbol of the Ardoricon - a set of six parallel, vertical lines intersected by a lattice of six diagonal lines at their base and connected into three gently curving petal shapes at their peak, reflecting the circular nature of the Ley Lines and the roots of the Rhuddinwyd at the heart of the network.
Wealdren tend to wear darker greens and lighter armor, while the Rhuddinser wear lighter greens and heavier armor. Rhuddinser are also differentiated visually by Order: Knights of the Root wear dark brown leather and have etching on their armor featuring twisting roots; Knights of the Verdant Blade wear white leather and have etching on their armor featuring swords with crossguard, grip, and pommel at both ends; and Knights of the Dolan Branch wear black leather and have etching on their armor featuring deciduous branches teeming with leaves.
Example image is of a Rhuddinser Knight of the Root, a Guardian of Ardoricon
Becoming a Ley Knight
Ley Knights travel all over Myzelis to share their skills at peacemaking and community building, and in their journeys often come across others with talents that would make for a fine Rhuddinser. Potentials are given a token, letter, or something similar as proof of having earned an opportunity to travel to Inaethriddr to join the order. The stories of the Ley Knights also attract visitors, some of whom choose to stay and learn how to become one of the Rhuddinser. In either case, applicants are tested for basic skills and those who pass these elementary tests are inducted as Wealdren (squires), and given free arms, armor, equipment, a small allowance, room, and board in exchange for service.
The powers for which Ley Knights are renowned the world over are cultivated and honed beginning as early as the first week of their joining, and the process involves lengthy visits to the Rhuddinwyd (which begins mere feet away from the stones of Ardoricon at the heart of Castle Inaethriddr). During these visits, Wealdren are taught to meditate upon the energy of the Ley, which flows up from the heart of Myzelis and through the Heartwood in greater concentration than anywhere else on the planet. Gradually the student learns to use their powers to tap into the connection between not only each other but all life, bolstering their ability to empathize with other Aethrin, flora, fauna, and Myzelis itself. Though their training begins with the tiniest steps here, Ley Knights eventually learn to tap into this power no matter where they go, even in places that magic abandons spellcasters.
The formal ceremonies for recognizing a squire’s knighthood are performed once a year during the
Proving Trials (held on the Holy Day of Aresarka, the
4th of Asha), but in the meantime all members of the order are also trained in combat and tactics as a point of pride and discipline. This makes the transition from attendant to knight a bit easier, although earning the Rhuddinser title comes with many challenges and tests of physical, spiritual, and mental will. Earning the full title of Ley Knight requires a squire to serve at least one year as Wealdren of good standing, meaning they must have comported themselves with dignity and gravitas, accepting the humble station with grace and the same dedication they intend to display as a true knight.
In addition to this, aspiring knights must undertake three
Trials, in no particular order. The aspirant may begin undertaking all three of these trials the moment they become Wealdren, but they will not be recognized for them until the end of their first year. Wealdren may take as long as they wish to complete these trials - which may explain why some squires never do.
In the
Trial of the Root, the aspirant must fight to save at least twenty lives they did not endanger, over the course of three separate acts. Some form of combat is required - rescuing a child from a burning building is certainly knightly but it does not fulfill this quest. The rescues need not be all at the same time, but they must be reputably witnessed - cheating in this regard can result in immediate and permanent banishment from the knighthood.
To pass the
Trial of the Blade, they must confront and overcome their worst fear. This quest does not require combat, and in fact often requires therapy and counseling which is provided by other members of the Order with a talent for psychology. Often the aspirant is confused about what their worst fear truly is, and discovers it only through guided meditation and conversation. The counselor(s) responsible also provide the reputable witnessing required for the completion of this quest.
And in the
Trial of the Branch, they must bring two groups together with a lasting effect. Acting as a sort of final thesis for the Ley Knight aspirant, this quest can be by far the most arduous. They must identify two groups that are currently (or in the case of two groups that don’t already know each other, *would be*) at odds with one another, bringing the names and particulars about potential groups to their mentors for reputable witnessing of their deed. The resolution of the conflict is not the point of the quest, although it is also important. The true challenge for the aspirant is in the difficulty of the task, which should take the majority of the Wealdren’s first year - hence why the input of a mentor is required to make sure the task is not too easy or difficult. Once the two groups are brought together, the Rhuddinser is expected to check in on them from time to time, and is responsible for making sure that their unity is a lasting one.
Tenets
The Code of Ardoricon
Individuals, groups, guilds, nations, and realms are stronger together.
If you draw your weapon, you must be the first to sheathe it.
Neither bear nor leave a lie to linger.
Avoid an easy solution born of pressure and stress, which is brittle and false.
Only promise what is yours to give.
Meditate in equal measure upon the needs of all sides.
Your promise is the armor of your bearing, maintain it at all costs.
There is never a perfect answer, but you must always seek a righteous one.
Ranks and Responsibilities
Player characters joining the ranks of the Ley Knights can either start as a Wealdren Squire (with the suggested background of
Soldier, but with Persuasion instead of Intimidation) or as a Ley Knight (with the suggested background of
Knight, with three commoner retainers). Equipment purchased at first level is entirely up to the player; light/medium armor and ranged weapons are common for those who plan on remaining Wealdren, while heavy armor, polearms, and shields are very common among the Rhuddinser. Much of this equipment would be affixed with the color (pale green) and/or the symbol of Ardoricon (shown above) as a badge of pride and purpose.
If the character starts as
Wealdren, they may be at any point in the process of their first year of service, or they may be a Wealdren who has foregone the glory of the knighthood on track to becoming the next First Gweir (first squire). Wealdren are not required to directly attend a Ley Knight - their service may take them all across the world in pursuit of the same goals as they seek to complete their own Proving Trials, or find suitable challenges for others who wish to ascend.
If the character begins as
Rhuddinser, the player should consider the story of how they passed their Proving Trials of the Root, Blade, and Branch. They should also determine for which of the three orders their character is best suited: the Order of the Flagstone Root, responsible for the defense of Ardoricon; the Order of the Verdant Blade, which aids the Gylidder Guard and Navy in defense of Gylidd Island; and the Order of the Dolan Branch, made up exclusively of those who Quest abroad to provide synergy and harmony to other Aethrin Realms. All Rhuddinser are of one of these orders, and only the High Ardori transcends the factions.
As the character gains levels in Ley Knight (Purple Dragon Knight/Banneret), their renown with the faction also changes. This recognition is contingent upon their continued adherence to the Code of Ardoricon.
- At 1st Level in the fighter class, the applicant becomes Wealdren (a squire).
- At 3rd Level in the fighter class (when a Ley Knight formally gains the archetype as well as the “Rallying Cry” ability), the Wealdren officially becomes a Novice Gweir or a Rhuddinser, depending upon the path they are pursuing. Rhuddinser are then selected for their faction focus in one of the Orders: Root, Blade, or Branch (Knight of the Root, Knight of the Blade, etc).
- At 7th level in the fighter class (when a Ley Knight gains the Royal Envoy feature), both Wealdren and Rhuddinser are recognized for their completion of advanced training that grants them the ranks of Ardent Gweir (Ardent Squire) or Ardent Rhuddinser (Ardent Knight of the Root, etc).
- At 10th level in the fighter class (when a Ley Knight gains the Inspiring Surge feature), Wealdren and Rhuddinser are recognized for their increased proficiency of the Ley Energy with the ranks of Ephoric Gweir (Ephoric Squire) or Ephoric Rhuddinser (Ephoric Knight of the Root, etc).
- At 15th level in the fighter class (when a Ley Knight gains the Bulwark feature), Wealdren and Rhuddinser are recognized for their mastery of the powers of the Ley with the ranks of Master Gweir (Master Squire) or Master Rhuddinser (Master Knight of the Root, etc). They are also now eligible for selection by the High Ardori (Grandmaster) for selection as the Ardori (First Knight) of their respective orders.
Once a Ley Knight learns to meditate upon the powers of the Ley, the skills cannot be rescinded by any power the faction possesses. Wealdren or Rhuddinser who fail to live up to the Oath of Ardoricon are still perfectly able to use and train their Ley Knight powers, but all living Ley Knights will consider them
Anathemic and advise all Aethrin against relying upon their former comrade’s twisted sense of unity and - likely - equally twisted powers of persuasion. Anathemic Ley Knights may eventually earn their way back into the faction after proving themselves once more to the order (a Quest that will have difficulty commensurate to the depth of their betrayal of the principles of Ardoricon).
Ley Knights Elsewhere in Myzelis
While the vast majority of Wealdren and Rhuddinser are found on Gylidd Island, it is not at all uncommon for Knights of the Dolan Branch to be seen in other Realms (see Goals of the Ley Knights above). However, it is uncommon to find them gathered in groups outside of Gylidder territory, as they are much more likely to operate alone as advisors to already existing factions or diplomats moving between two or more groups at odds with each other. They are given latitude to decide how best to serve Myzelis by working as closely with factions outside the Ley Knight orders as they need to, so long as their service follows the Code of Ardoricon.
