Lands of Tyranny
Order of the Rose
The Order of the Rose is a Knightly order born in the western parts of the Empire dedicated to helping people that are in need of assistance: the poor, the sick, the weak, the undefended, the unjustly accused. They follow the stereotype of the 'White Knight', or the 'Knight Errand', vowed to right the wrongs and protect those who can not defend themselves. Of course Elves and Dwarves are usually excluded from receiving such aid, as they are not considered to be people at all.
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The Knights are sworn to Minerva 'The Mother' and by proxy also the rest of the deities of the Empire, even though they usually only refer to the goddess in their prayers and rituals. The Knights are often called 'Paladins of The Mother' by the common folk who hold them in high regard. Chaste and righteous, the Knights not only offer their arms and strength, but also their resources and riches.
The symbol of the Knights is a red rose, and often the buildings belonging to the Order are adorned with them, as well as with other red decorations.
Ranks of the Order of the Rose
Novitiate: A person not sworn to the Rose but performing duties and responsibilities in hopes of becoming sworn as a squire.
Squire: A person who has sworn to the Order and has a Knight directly over them overseeing their training and progression. Multiple Squires can be assigned to one Knight. This position eventually leads to knighthood.
Knight: A fully sworn member of the Order of the Rose that has been deemed fit to operate and wear the full armor of the Rose and take on their own squires. Promotion of Squires to Knights requires the validation of a Knight Captain for their Oath swearing.
Knight Marshall: A fully sworn Knight of the Rose who serves as the second in command of the chapterhouse itself or oversees a garrison attached to an established chapterhouse with at least 1 other Knight serving beneath them. When a Knight Captain is killed or leaves the chapterhouse, the Knight Marshal may petition the Knight Commander for interim and subsequent promotion to Knight Captain.
Knight Captain: A fully sworn Knight that has at least 2 Knights and a total of 4 oathsworn members serving under them may found a chapterhouse. Knight Captains are approved by the Grand Master after the knight in question writes a letter to and is vetted through the Knight Commander for the Region.
Knight Errant: A Knight who is not a part of any chapter in the region where they are located. This position type is not intended to be a permanent one and should be a stepping stone towards joining or founding a chapter. Knight Errants are directly under the supervision of the Knight Commander (NPC) over that region. Knight Errants are not beholden to any Knight Captain in the region unless and until they join the chapter said Knight Captain is head of. By the same token, no other chapters in the region are responsible for anything the Knight Errant may do while active in the region. The Knight Errant is effectively on their own and have no real backing should they run afoul of the law or any Noble/other entity.
Knight Commander (Narration NPC): A fully sworn Knight of the Rose who has been appointed by the Grand Master to oversee chapters and Knight Errants in a particular Region.
Other positions:
Medica: A member of the Order of the Rose that serves as chief healer/surgeon. This person my be squire or fully sworn knight of the rose
Quartermaster: A fully sworn knight of the rose that oversees trade, supplies and basic commerce
Chaplain: While not a member of the Order per se, Chapterhouses and even Garrisons at times have priestesses or priests of Minerva residing in them, especially when in locations that are more remote, and lacking dedicated temples, or that are deemed unsafe. These individuals are often called "chaplains".
Chapterhouses and Garrisons
Chapterhouse: A chapterhouse must have at least 5 oathsworn members, including at least 3 Knights (one of which serves as Knight Marshall). The other 2 members may be additional Knights or Squires. A chapterhouse may have any number of Novitiates and staff that serve beneath them, but they do not count towards the 5 oathsworn members required to establish a chapterhouse.
Garrison: A chapterhouse may then establish additional facilities connected to but outside the chapterhouse, known as garrisons. Each garrison will maintain their own supplies, materials, treasury and armory (and OOCly exist as a separate clan despite being ICly connected to the chapter house). A chapter’s Knight Captain promotes a fully sworn Knight to Knight Marshall in order to oversee the garrison. A garrison must have at least 1 Knight Marshall, 1 Knight, and any number of additional Knights, Squires, or Novitiates and staff that serve beneath them.
Chapterhouse and Garrison Locations: Knights who seek to establish a chapterhouse and become Knight Captain must write an IC letter to the NPC Knight Commander. In their letter, Knights should include the proposed IC location of their chapterhouse with justification and explanation for that location since the location should make good tactical sense. Garrisons are left to the discretion of the Knight Captain of the governing chapter but should also be within reason and at the very least reported to the Knight Commander for tracking. However, garrisons should help secure an area and establish their own base for trade and thus should be at least 3 grid spaces away from any chapterhouse with 2 full squares between them (all builds must therefore adhere to base building rules for the server).
Heresy and Relations with the Empire
The Order is very old, its roots preceding the rise of the Empire and its pantheon of gods. At the beginning the Knights of the Order were vowed to Lilith, some subtlety in their traditions and prayers still hinting at that to this very day, and in spite of the fact that most present day Knights are fervent followers of Minerva, a remnant still secretly holds true to the old ways. Referred to as the Heresy of the Lovers, these errant Knights see Minerva and Lilith as being two sides of the same entity. The Heresy is of course punishable by death, and the Inquisition would gladly see all of the Knights burned at the stake in order to ensure that they could eradicate every last seed of this taint, but they are also well aware that the knights are shielded from such drastic action by their extreme popularity and even appreciation in the church of The Mother, which is the main monetary patron of the Order.
Knights and even squires have to take oaths when they join the Order of the Rose, stating the principles that should guide them. These oaths are to be pronounced in a temple or at least a sanctuary of Minerva, and usually are accompanied by a blessing of a Priestess, though in the absence of one, a Fatebinder is involved at least for the Knightly oath, while for squires a senior member of the Order is often a good enough substitute.
The Knights are often faced with hard moral dilemmas when their vows to protect the vulnerable and offer charity to the weak come onto conflict with the Laws of the Empire, and by extension the teachings of The Father. The order often finds itself disarmed and forced to stand down in the face of Justice and its representatives, as well as other members of the Faith, although some Knights have been rumored to still try to protect the common folk against seemingly unjust accusations from the very strict and often deadly, but surely merciless justice of the Overlord.
Oath of the Knight
"I, [Knight's name], do solemnly swear to uphold the principles of the Order of the Rose, dedicated to the noble goddess Minerva. With her wisdom as my guide, I pledge my sword and my soul to the pursuit of justice over punishment, to defend the downtrodden and the weak. I vow to be a beacon of hope in times of darkness, to wield my strength not for personal gain but for the betterment of all. I shall champion truth, integrity, and compassion in all my deeds, and I shall never falter in my duty to protect those who cannot protect themselves. In the name of Minerva, I pledge to honor my fellow Knights, to support them in times of need, and to stand united in our sacred mission. May my actions always reflect the virtues of our goddess, and may my heart remain steadfast in the face of adversity. This oath I make freely, without reservation, and with utmost sincerity. So swear I, [Knight's name], in the presence of Minerva and my brethren, now and forevermore."
Oath of the Squire:
I, [Squire's name], do solemnly pledge my loyalty and service to the esteemed Knight of the Rose whom I am privileged to serve. In the radiant light of the goddess Minerva, I swear to uphold her teachings and the values of our noble Order. With unwavering devotion, I shall support my Knight in all endeavors, aiding them in their quests with steadfast determination. I pledge to be their shield in times of peril and their guide in moments of doubt, always striving to assist them in achieving their noblest aspirations. Furthermore, I vow to honor and respect the traditions and customs of our Order, upholding its principles with honor and integrity. I shall stand beside my brethren, offering my aid and camaraderie in the pursuit of justice and righteousness. Should the day come when I am deemed worthy by the sworn or our esteemed Knight Captain, I shall embrace the sacred duty of knighthood with humility and courage. Until then, I shall endeavor to prove myself through my actions, ever striving to embody the virtues of Minerva and the ideals of our Order. This oath I make freely and willingly, bound by my word and my honor. So swear I, [Squire's name], in the presence of Minerva and my fellow brethren, aspiring to serve with unwavering dedication and valor.
How to Play
Defend and help other Humans that are in need, defend them and their freedom when they are oppressed...but what will you do when this will contrast with the strict and merciless justice of the Empire? Will you hand in the people you are supposed to protect, will you stand aside and watch, or will you risk your life and the existence of the entire Order, to save the few? Most members of the Order share the same 'Human supremacist' views of the rest of their kin, and even the rare few that are more open minded still share a bias towards helping humans first, and anyone else second.
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Bonus: Members of the Order of the Rose start with an extra set of weapons/armor at character creation that must represent their faction armor.
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Equipment & Dye Combination for Order of the Rose:
Author: By Rashan, uniforms by Emily, Oaths thanks to Curiositea
Uniforms by Emily