Sternhaven Knightly Orders – Bob's Death Campaign

Order of the Knights of the Falcon (Sternhaven Royal Order)

Banner: Royal Blue with Black Falcon rampant; banner to be placed on upper right corner of House sigil.

Requirements: Applicant must (a) be a fighter, cleric, or bard of 5th level or above; (b) pay the equivalent or 1000 in gold or swear 1000 days personal fealty to the Territorial Lord, and (c) be nominated by a Knight of the Eagle or Knight of the Phoenix and have that nomination approved by the Territorial Lord and the Knight Commander.

Rules: Knights of the Falcon must swear to abide by the following rules – (a) Respect the Territorial Lord at all times; (b) Defend the personage and the name of the Territorial Lord at all times; (c) Defend the innocent citizens of the realm; (d) Take up reasonable and just tasks decreed by the Territorial Lord or the Knight Commander; (e) Be an exemplar of bravery in all things; (f) Respect ones martial trainer at all times; (g) Always speak the truth to the Territorial Lord; (h) Remain true to one’s word in all dealings with members of the Orders; (i) Pay a yearly tribute to the Territorial Lord in an amount equal to 500 in gold; (j) In times of civil strife, put oneself and 50 men at arms at the disposal of the Territorial Lord.

Privileges: (a) A warhorse from the Royal Stables until one’s demise; (b) A suit of plate mail from the Royal Armory and Smiths; (c) Protection of one’s family by the Territorial Lord and his agents in time of civil strife or in the event of one’s demise.

Peacetime Duties: (a) Patrol the principality borders and territory; (b) Cooperate with the Knights of the Heavens and the Shire Reave’s for the protection and safety of all citizens; (c) Lead exploratory expeditions on behalf of the Order.

Wartime Duties: (a) Serve as personal bodyguard to respective Knights of the Eagle and Knights of the Phoenix; (b) Serve as lieutenants and captains in the Sternhaven Army, commanding platoon-sized troops (50 to 100 men at arms).

Order of the Knights of the Eagle (Sternhaven Royal Order)

Banner: Royal Blue with Black and White Eagle rampant; banner to be placed on upper right corner of House sigil.

Requirements: Applicant must (a) be a fighter, cleric, or bard of 7th level or above.

Rules: Knights of the Eagle must swear to abide by the following rules – (a) Respect the Territorial Lord at all times; (b) Defend the personage and the name of the Territorial Lord at all times; (c) Defend the innocent citizens of the realm; (d) Take up reasonable and just tasks decreed by the Territorial Lord or the Knight Commander; (e) Be an exemplar of bravery in all things; (f) Respect ones martial trainer at all times; (g) Always speak the truth to the Territorial Lord; (h) Remain true to one’s word in all dealings with members of the Orders; (i) Pay a yearly tribute to the Territorial Lord in an amount equal to 500 in gold; (j) In times of civil strife, put oneself and 50 men at arms at the disposal of the Territorial Lord.

Privileges: (a) A heavy warhorse from the Royal Stables until one’s demise; (b) A suit of field plate armor from the Royal Armory and Smiths; (c) Protection of one’s family by the Territorial Lord and his agents in time of civil strife or in the event of one’s demise.; (d) a lifetime estate of 640 acres of land within the confines of the Territorial Lord’s domain.

Peacetime Duties: (a) Patrol the principality borders and territory; (b) Conduct military drill of troops under one’s command; (c) Perform administrative duties as assigned by the regional Knights of the Phoenix.

Wartime Duties: (a) Serve as personal bodyguard and advisor to regional Knights of the Phoenix; (b) Serve as majors and lieutenant colonels in the Sternhaven Army, commanding battalion-sized troops (200 to 500 men at arms).

Order of the Knights of the Phoenix (Sternhaven Royal Order)

Banner: Royal Blue with Golden Phoenix rampant; banner to be placed on upper right corner of House sigil.

Requirements: Applicant must (a) be a fighter, cleric, or bard of 11th level or above.

Privileges: (a) A heavy warhorse from the Royal Stables until one’s demise; (b) A suit of full plate armor from the Royal Armory and Smiths; (c) Protection of one’s family by the Territorial Lord and his agents in time of civil strife or in the event of one’s demise.; (d) a hereditary estate of at least 640 acres of land within the confines of the Territorial Lord’s domain; (e) bodily resurrection (if possible) in the event of noble death.

Peacetime Duties: (a) Serve as advisor to the Territorial Lord; (b) Administer sections of the region at the behest of the Territorial Lord; (c) Maintain troop readiness in defense of the realm.

Wartime Duties: (a) Serve as advisor to the Territorial Lord; (b) Serve as colonels and generals in the army of the Territory.

Order of the Knights of the Heavens (Sternhaven Royal Order)

Banner: Royal blue eight-point star on white field; church affiliation on members tunic.

Requirements: Applicant must (a) be a Paladin of 4th or higher level, (b) pay 2000 gp or equivalent to the Knighthood, (c) swear fealty to the County Lord.

Rules: (a) All members must swear to put aside familial affiliations in favor of the Knighthood, (b) each knight must believe in all church teachings and obey all church commandments, (c) each knight must defend their church, but only with reason, logic or verbal argument amongst members of the Knighthood, (d) each knight must respect all those weaker than himself, and constitute himself to be a defender of the weak, (e) each knight must love the country in which he now holds franchise, (f) each knight must wage war against evil with neither mercy nor cessation, (g) each knight must perform scrupulously his feudal duties, (g) each knight must never recoil from his enemy, (h) each knight must be generous, and give largesse to all in need, (i) each knight must never lie, and remain faithful to his pledged word, (j) each knight must be everywhere and always a champion of the right and good against injustice and evil.

Privileges: (a) Free food and lodging at the house of his lord and his vassals, (b) recognition by royal decree for all deeds done honorably, (c) command on an appropriate body of men at arms in service of the County Lord, (d) healing when in need, (e) resurrection if possible.

In addition to these privileges, each member has his name engraved on a silver chalice. These chalices are kept in the topmost chamber of the Tower of the Heavens, surrounding a central, magical chalice that glows with myriad colors. It is believed by some sages that the Knights of the Heavens are protecting a Holy Object, or perhaps a Gate. Why else, they say, would all these holy warriors congregate and gather here?

The Academy of the Arcane | The largest and most powerful group of wizards in Sternhaven, The Academy of the Arcane is led by one Heroditus Constantine, a Knight of the Phoenix and a mage of some note. Most wizards who engage in dweomercraft in the five counties of Ravenwind are numbered on the Academy’s rolls.

However, the ever-increasing power of the Academy has caused some consternation amongst the populace of Sternhaven. Most have seen the power of magic in action, and the Academy is a concentration of that power. There are those who have speculated that Constantine, should he rally the power of the Academy to his cause, could supplant the House du’Arc as the lords of Ravenwind. Nobles not of the House du’Arc have typically kept their own counsel on the matter, and the Prince himself seems unaffected by the idea – he and Constantine are thought to be fast friends, and Constantine a wise counselor to the Prince. In fact, both the rumors and the responsibilities centered on Constantine have allowed the Magister Perthius to fade to the social background, where he is now popularly considered a beneficent, if powerful and otherworldly, mage who rarely interferes in the business of mere mortals these days.

Members of the Academy are entitled to the following benefits: (a) Training in the various Arts at half normal cost. (b) Free use of the Academy labs and facilities. (c) Free food and lodging while abiding in the Academy halls. All Academy members possess the organization’s famous sigil ring. The ring is of plain gold, unadorned save for the Academy sigil – two perfect circles, divided by a line – engraved thereon.

The Academy provides a variety of other services to its members, including: make scrolls available to members for no more than 300 gp per spell level; identify magic items for a nominal cost of 200 gp per item regardless of type; and make book spells available to members for 100 gp per spell level.

In addition to the normal membership, there is a select group of mages within the Academy who serve as a sort of ruling elite. Named the “3rd Midnight” group (after it’s traditional monthly meeting date), these mages serve in positions of power and authority all over the five counties. Membership in the 3rd Midnight organization is by invitation only, and its rolls are not published. Ostensibly, the #rd Midnight group is to provide a forum for the spell-casting elite of the principality and discuss matters of note and importance. These meetings are held on the observation deck of the Academy, and members are reported to pay 100 gp in annual fees to the group.

The Guild of Wizards, Sternhaven Arcanium aka Guild of Staff and Dagger | Although smaller in size, the Guild of Wizards is no less a powerful force in the Principality that the Academy of the Arcane – indeed, in certain circles, it is considered to be far more powerful. Much of that has to do with the Guildmaster of Wizards, the Archmagus Perthius. Perthius personal expertise in dweomercraft is likely to be the most extensive in the Principality, and perhaps the world. Perthius chairs the Council of the Guild of Wizards, and directs the organizations activities and membership.

The Council is made up of five members, elected (with the exception of Perthius) by the general membership on a varying voting scale based on the individual voter’s prowess in the Art. Today, the Five include Perthius, Senior Councilman Ubik Tarragon (charged with overseeing research); 1st Councilman Catalonia (charged with recruitment and training); 2nd Councilman Storm Sharantyr (charged with overseeing the rolls, stock and components); and 3rd Councilman Silvara (custodian of the Scriptorium).

Requirements: Applicant must (a) be of at least Theurgist skill, (b) pay a 1000 gp initiation fee, and (c) pay an annual 500 gp membership fee. Associate members – wizards who meet all the qualifications but live outside the Principality – may join if sponsored by a full member and approved by the Council.

Rules: Members of the Guild of Wizards must abide by the following rules – (a) all wizards of the minimum skill in the Art must join or be expelled from the Principality; (b) debate is encouraged, but no argument – magickal or physical – will be tolerated. In the event two guildmembers become antagonistic, the Council convenes and metes judgment; (c) All members are required to attend at least one guild meeting per annum; meetings are held at both solstices, midwinter’s day and midsummer’s day.

It has been mentioned by many members of the Guild of Wizards that these meetings are not held at Elfpoint Keep – attendees certainly enter the Keep, but most speakers on the subject are certain that attendees do not stay at the Keep. Rumor has it that the main guild facilities are located not at the Keep but in a series of caves in the Mystic Mountains on Mason Isle. These caves have a constant temperature (the better to conduct thermic experiments, or so it’s said), and the area is lit by hundreds, perhaps thousands, of continual light globes suspended on cables from the ceilings. The halls and passages are reportedly populated with living crystal statues, xag-ya and zeg-yi – but the guardian of the hall is the forbidding Tempra. Although descriptions of Tempra are sketchy and often contradictory, all say he radiates a certain sure power and extraordinary competence. He strides the guild passages, seemingly everywhere and nowhere at once and, although he bears no sword, staff or sling, guild members are said to be safe even from dread Orcus’ wand when Tempra stalks the halls.

The White Drakes | Based in Haven, the White Drakes are a group of warriors devoted to fighting evil in all its forms. Initiation into the organization is predicated on the initiate’s ability to subdue a white dragon and make it his or her mount. Membership, obviously, is somewhat limited, and the group currently boasts five members: Maliant the Magnificent, leader of the White Drakes and Ward of the Tower of Sunset; Belgar, Prince of Haven; Prolyn Hastell; Stella Stalkern; and Rossin Rostal.

The Fraternity of the Sea Drakes | The power of Ravenwind is rooted in the sea, and the primary organization of seafarers is the Sea Drakes’ Fraternity. Most seamen of note are members.

Requirements: Applicant must (a) have sailing skill beyond that of the average, (b) pay a 500 gp membership fee, and (c) swear fealty to their Fraternal superior.

Rules: Members of the Fraternal Order of Sea Drakes must swear to abide by the following rules – (a) Promotions are given according to merit. Captains may promote any to the rank of Navigator, or less; Admirals may promote Navigators to the rank of Captain. The Prince, the nominal head of the Fraternity, may promote Navigator or Captains to the rank of Admiral. Demotions may be meted in the same fashion. (b) Reasonable orders given by a superior must be followed to the best of a member’s ability. (c) 10% of all booty taken aboard ship is to be forfeited to the Prince. (d) All members’ ships must be maintained in good order and remain battle-ready at all times.

Privileges: (a) Safe mooring in any Ravenwind port. (b) Immunity to all normal taxes, tolls and tithes otherwise assessed. (c) Free repairs at any of the ports or drydocks of Ravenwind. (d) Free martial training.

Order of Ranks (top to bottom): Prince (Stern du’Arc); Admiral (commander of fleet); Captain (commander of ship); Navigator; 1st Mate; 2nd Mate; Seaman; Novice (journeyman).

The Circle of Concordians | Even the fiercely independent Druids have a hierarchy of leadership, and that hierarchy is called the Circle of Concordians. All known Druids of Hierophant status or greater are said to be members of the Circle, and at their head is His Emerald Highness the Great Druid Lain of Anshar.

The Circle of Concordians has no specific base of operations; each Hierophant level druid typically has his own forest to husband, and these places tend to be both remote and distant from each other. When a meeting of the full Circle is required (a very rate event), Lain of Asher selects the time and place.