The Order of the Northern Cross
The Order was originally formed to protect travelers from bandits or raiding parties from enemy nations. At the height of its day the Order was able to field an army of 32,000 men. The Order in its heyday received hundreds of recruits monthly. This allowed the Order to set up eight castles and six forts along the borders. But all good things must come to an end. The Order started receiving less and less recruits and constantly fighting foreign invaders caused the Order’s numbers dwindle to less than 8,000 men. This barely covers the number of men needed to man the castles and forts. Though few in number the Order has maintained its strict discipline and traditions. They’ll not hesitate to fight anyone who disrespects their Order. The Order launch regular patrols throughout the Borderlands form its castles and forts.
Structure
Grand Master: It’s the responsibility of the Grand Master to run the Order as a whole. It is his duty to promote or demote members of the Order accordingly, but also to oversee the political relationships of the Order in order to receive recruits. Public relationships are also maintained by the Grand Master. In battle the Grand Master would lead the Order’s entire army. He would have a personal retinue of 2,000 men.
Marshall: The Marshall is the second highest member of the Order. And is traditionally voted the next Grand Master after the previous one dies. It’s is the duty of the Marshall to inspect all the castles and forts of the Order in order to keep them from falling into disarray. He too has the power to promote or demote Order members; will usually do so with the Grand Master’s permission. In battle the Marshall would be responsible commanding 2,000 men.
Master: There are only fourteen masters in the Order. It’s their job to oversee the castle or fort that they are assigned to. In battle Masters would command 2,000 men each.
Knights: Knights represent years of dedication to the Order. They have mastered both foot combat as well as mounted combat. Knights have a high code of honor and discipline. Most Knights will take a Squire to train to someday be knighted.
Squires: Squires are Knights in training and are normally paired with a Knight to learn from. A Squire will only be knighted when his mentor believes that he is worthy of it.
Men-at-Arms: There isn’t much separating a Man-at-Arms from a Knight. They usually have the same equipment, training, and battle field experience. The only difference is that a Man-at-Arms just haven’t been knighted. Therefore, they aren’t bound by the same code of honor as the Knights. This is why Men-at-Arms are said to be feared more than Knights.
Sergeants: Sergeants serve as the backbone to the Order. It’s their job to keep all Footmen and Recruits in top physical shape. They will drill these men into the ground daily in order to do so. There are fourteen Sergeant-in-Arms in the Order. All the castles and forts have one of these men. Sergeant-in-Arms only report to their respective Master. Not even Knights will dare to challenge a Sergeant-in-Arms authority.
Footmen: Footmen are men who have been initiated into the Order. They’re form the bulk of the Order’s army.
Recruits: Men who want to join the Order and must go through a grueling basic training and initiation process to do so. Recruits are usually assigned mundane labor tasks until they are initiated. Hazing a Recruit is quite common in the Order.
Yeomen: Yeomen are treated the same as Footmen. The only exception to this that the Yeomen specialize in archery. The Yeomen core of the Order tend to grab initiates as soon as they can and being their archery training as soon as possible.
Non-Combatants
Now the Order has many members who serve a supporting role. It’s the duty of these individuals to keep the Order running when it wasn’t in a time of war. Just because these men don’t do the majority of the fighting doesn’t mean that they don’t know how to fight. All of them are given training with swords and crossbows.
Stewarts: are the men who perform the upkeep of the forts and castles. Like cleaning and cooking for example.
Hospitallers: are the surgeons and aids who are responsible to care and healing of sick or wounded members of the Order.
Hospitallers training is equivalent that of a Knight. Which means they are capable horsemen and fighters. They just choose to heal rather than kill.
Engineers: are the ones who build and upkeep structures that the Order need built.
Culture
The Order is highly militaristic. It prides itself on strict discipline and continuous training. Even with its dwindling numbers it continues it duties of protecting citizens of the Borderlands.
Public Agenda
The Order's only agenda is the protection of the citizens of the Borderlands.
Military
Knights and Men-at-Arms: Chainmail hauberks, coifs, leggings, and gauntlets. Great Helms and Barbuta style helmets are used by the Order. Blue surcoats with white crosses are worn over the armor to show allegiance to the Order. Kite shields with the same pattern are used as well. Weapons include broadsword, war hammer, flange, and battle ax are used as secondary weapons. If mounted a lance is the primary weapon. If dismounted halberds are the most common followed by great swords and Dane axes.
Squires: are armed similar to Knights and Men-at-Arms except they don’t get a helmet just the mail coif and only carry a broadsword and a shield. This is even if they’re mounted or not.
Sergeants: Sergeants only have the hauberk and coifs for armor. The surcoat is worn as well. They tend to have Kettle helms and spangenhelms with a nose guard for helmets. They typically have spears and heater shields and carry a broadsword as a backup weapon.
Footmen: Foot men tend to just have a padded gambeson with a cross on it for armor and a spangenhelms with a nose guard for a helmet. They are equipped with pikes and short swords for weapons and have a small buckler for a shield.
Yeomen: The only armor the Yeomen wear is a Brigandine. They also wear a simple archers hood. They prefer mobility as protection and tend to stay out of heavy combat. Their best weapon is the longbow using bodkin tipped arrows. As a backup weapon they tend to use axes or short swords.
Recruits: are only given a padded gambeson marked with a cross for armor, a leather coif and a shield and a spear. Recruits are typically given the job of supporting the Yeomen if they are attacked.
Till the bitter end.
Founding Date
4-13-1200 DA
Type
Military, Knightly Order
Capital
Alternative Names
The Order
Training Level
Professional
Veterancy Level
Veteran
Leader
Leader Title
Parent Organization
Deities
Location
Official Languages
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Related Species
Related Ethnicities
Friendly
The Order and The Rangers have great respect for each other.
Neautral
Strained
The Imperial Army tends to look down at the Order for it's "old-fashioned" ways.
Looks interesting, but it's a little hard to read! I'd suggest maybe breaking it up into paragraph bits; especially all the ranks Good luck with Summer Camp :D
Creator of Araea, Megacorpolis, and many others.
Thank you for your helpful suggestions.