Knights of Saint Æsc

Dedicated to protecting and training the common folk of Arda, the Knights of Saint Æsc have found renewed purpose in the Frontier Lands, where evil humanoids along with all sorts of other dangers abound.

Structure

The Knights of Saint Æsc are led by the Marshal General, advised by a council of twelve marshals. Each region is led by a general and advised by a marshal. Each country is guarded by a brigade led by a colonel, and each city is guarded by a company led by a captain. Each company is divided into one or more platoons led by a lieutenant assisted by a sergeant, with each platoon divided into one or more squads each led by a sergeant. Marshal’s are the lore keepers of the Knights of Saint Æsc, and seldom lead forces into combat.

Public Agenda

The Knights of Saint Æsc are dedicated to defending the common folk and training them so that they can defend themselves. Consequently, the Knights of Saint Æsc are viewed as protectors of the common folk.

Assets

As each member of the organization is required to tithe to knighthood, and the knighthood is quite large, the knighthood is quite wealthy. Most of the money collected is used to buy equipment, horses, arms and armor, so each company is well stocked. Each knight is paid a stipend of 10 gp a month.

History

The Knights of Saint Æsc were founded centuries ago, before the mangen began to settle in the New Kingdoms. Æsc was a warrior in the Old Kingdoms who felt that the common folk should be able to defend themselves, not just from the monsters that roamed the lands, but from tyrannical governments as well. He founded his first school for training the common folk in an old barn, and his lessons on the use of simple weapons became very popular with the common folk. Before long Æsc had attracted the attention of other warriors who agreed with his ideals, and they began setting up new schools wherever they could find room.

In time Æsc died and was sanctified for his good deeds by Laki. By then the organization he had started had taken on a life of its own. A central academy on the site of that first barn was established, to train trainers, now called captains, for the common folk. The very best of these captains were offered the opportunity to go onto receive additional training to become knights. During Æsc’s life they were known simply as the Knights of Æsc, and they travelled the land defending the common folk, and teaching where they could.

When the mangen began to colonize the New Kingdoms, the Knights of Saint Æsc and the captains also made the journey, to ensure the common folk could protect themselves in the new and dangerous lands. At first captains and knights were still trained at the central academy in the Old Kingdoms, but after a few centuries the decision was made to establish a new academy in the New Kingdoms. Soon the Academy in the kingdom of Delonnah began training all the knights and captains for the New Kingdoms.

Naturally when settlers began making the journey to the Frontier Lands, Knights of Saint Æsc and Captains of Æsc went along to ensure that the common folk could defend themselves in the new and dangerous lands. Before long captains were setting up training halls in every community that could support them, and that they could find a captain for. Many of the knights traveled to the Frontier Lands because that’s where the real need for them was. Today the Knights of Saint are well established and represented in the Frontier Lands.