Monastics Militant of Ilmater

A Brief History

Originating from the Knights of Ilmater, the Monastics Militant of Ilmater were the martial faction of the Church of Ilmater. The existence of the Militant allowed for followers of the faith to assist in the expansion of their order. It is common knowledge that the Monastics Militant was the first such organisation on its scale since the First Great War two eras prior to its formation.
What little we know of the Monastics Militant is taught as cautionary tale among the Ilmatari where although they may take some pride in their heritage their history is greatly seen as a time of shame and corruption of Ilmater's teachings. Something recurring  throughout many sermons and stories is the concept of "Chapters", sects of the Militant that correlated with different variations of the faith. Examples of chapters are The Suffered Guardians, a chapter dedicated to the protection of the Archsufferer and The Brothers of the Cup, Artaemos' own chapter of what appear to be enforcers of the Archsufferer's will. Famously both of these chapters play key roles within the legend of Artaemos' Folly, ironically ending with the disbanding of the Monastics Militant of Ilmater and their assimilation into the Church of The New Triad.


"Ilmatari Knights" are known to of spearheaded the organisation with many of their number being constituted by paladins. It is due to these overzealous warriors and their doctrine being passed down to militia like armies of zealots that the infamous Crusader Purges would occur. During these purges the Monastics would encounter the Triad, wounded and desperate, the followers of Ilmater already had great respect for the churches of Torm and Eilistraee however there usefulness during the crusades cannot be downplayed. Although it is true the followers of Ilmater made great progress against the majority of the Heartlands, the followers of Eilistraee practically crippled the Drow clans with the Tormnian Knights devastating swathes of Goliath barbarians within the Naked Bluffs.

Timeline

____ First Order - Monastics Militant first appears in records
____ Hendraxus Heresy - Monastics Militant prove instrumental in holding back the demonic hordes
____ Unbreakable Alliance - Assisted in forming the Unbreakable Alliance, kingdoms and empires forced to recognise the sheer might of the Church due to the Militant's zealots practically saving the Heartlands and Trivin
____ Great Calamity - Order lost much of their history during the Great Calamity and which side they took during it is largely unknown, many would hope they stood by The New Triad and carried out their will
____ Second Great War - Monastics Militant greatly weakened as the Ilmatari Knights practically sought to eliminate uncontrolled magi and suffered heavy casualties, due to this Penscle don't look fondly upon warforged, seeing them as heretical life
____ Wishful Wars - fucking whack
____ Crusader Purges - Attempted to recapture the old structure of the Unbreakable Alliance era, also just went full crusader on any other pantheons and their followers (Drow, Orcs, Goblins, etc got fucked), also where foundations for the Church of The New Triad laid as the Ilmatari, Tormnians and Eilistraeens cooperated to further their own agendas
____ Civil Wars Across the Land - Generally acted as peace keepers and enforcers of the old laws
____ Cardinal Wars - again acted as peace keepers and enforcers of the old laws
____ Immortal Wars - Monastics Militant participated heavilly, this is known to be the rough time period of Artaemos' Folly, Monastics Militant absorbed into the Order of Justice, Ilmatari Penscle properly formed as successor organisation.

Type

Religious, Holy Order