The Knightly Orders
Mar 10, 2013 15:05:11 GMT -5
Post by Grandmaster on Mar 10, 2013 15:05:11 GMT -5
The Order of the Escarbouche - Secular Order of Knights
The Order of the Escarbouche has been in existence since the formation of the Kingdom of Demeria. The Order has had a long tradition of loyalty, perseverance, and skill. Drawn from nobles (and very rarely commoners), pages and squires inducted into the Order receive training that provides a noble gentlemen with the skills not only to lead but to be a decent gentlemen. While it is military order, it is also chivalric and all knights swear to uphold both the Code of Chivalry and their Oath to the King or Queen of Demeria.
The Code of Chivalry
All knights swear to uphold the following code:
- To serve the liege lord in valor and faith
- To protect the weak and defenseless
- To give succor to widows and orphans
- To refrain from the wanton giving of offense
- To live by honor and for glory
- To despise pecuniary reward
- To fight for the welfare of all
- To obey those placed in authority
- To guard the honor of fellow knights
- To eschew unfairness, meanness and deceit
- To keep faith
- At all times to speak the truth
- To persevere to the end in any enterprise begun
- To respect the honor of women
- Never to refuse a challenge from an equal
- Never to turn the back upon a foe
Any knight fails to uphold the code or gives gross offense to the code may be imprisoned and/or dismissed from the Order.
Organization
Depending on the age and skill of the inductee, all nobles first admitted to the Order are granted the lowest rank of page or stepped up to squire. Either way, the inductee is given to a Knight, who will be their trainer and mentor until the inductee is ready for the trials. The training includes fighting styles, use of weapons, military history, strategy and tactics, the Code, diplomacy, reasoning skills, courtly graces, and horse riding. The page and squire will also be responsible for maintaining his mentor’s horse, weapons and armor.
When the mentor feels he or she is ready, the squire will face the trials in which they demonstrate their mastery of skills and knowledge. Upon successful completion, they are granted the rank of apprentice knight. They may or may not be assigned to a different knight to complete their training. It is at this point that the apprentice knight chooses a specialty. The specialties include:
- Infantry leadership
- Cavalry leadership
- Royal Guard leadership
- Siege leadership
- Archery leadership
- Scout and intelligence gathering
Once the apprentice has chosen his or her specialty, they are assigned to the appropriate mentor to complete their training. Once the training is complete, the apprentice knight undergoes another series of trials to prove their mastery. If they succeed, they are granted the rank of the Knight. Knights are often given command positions pertaining to their specialty where they are responsible for the command, administration and training of companies.
The Order of the Escarbouche is headed by the Knight Commander, a man or woman that has proven exemplary leadership and skill throughout the years. The Knight Commander answers only to the King or Queen.