Defunct Knightly Orders

- Ed 2/11/10, responding to query about such orders (in addition to the Order of the One, see Chessenta section), notes that many others are NDA • The Order of Mount Waterdeep (1342 DR to 1354 DR?): a handful of undercover maverick nobles, both defiant "younger sons" and "old wastrel uncles," who wanted to keep the nobles firmly part of the government of Waterdeep (and curb the growing power of the guilds), plus "cherry pick" non-noble entrepreneurs and rising social powers in the city, individuals whom they admired the wits, skills, and achievements of, to invite them into the ranks of nobility through marriage, to keep the nobles "capable and formidable." The Order acted as undercover matchmakers and busy "social networkers" at the clubs and revels of the nobility, and as vandals against guild activities that sought to sap or usurp the power and rights of nobles, as well as hampering undesirable "wannabe" nobles seeking to join the ranks of nobility by any means. They were never numerous, and were opposed by some nobles who resented the idea of anyone at all seeking to influence who became noble and who did not, and by guilds. They were also infiltrated by Calguth's Claw, an alhoon (illithilich)-led cabal that sought to gain influence over particular noble houses, to have them sponsor and hide Claw slaving activities. Piergeiron set Mirt, Asper, and certain other agents upon the Order, to shatter it, and they succeeded . . . though some members survive, and at least one of them hopes to refound the Order, if he ever manages to get free of a curse, and a certain shapeshifting dragon stops hunting him . . .