Order of the Lady
The Order of the Lady is a holy order of knights and paladins who have sworn an oath to Luna goddess of order. They strive to upkeep the law of the realm they find themselves in, so long as it is just. Their tenets are defined by their worship and include vigilance, honour, and most of all justice. Though they are spread far and wide across Calcaria, their main chapter resides in the Cathedral of Jericho in the City of Sancre.
Their motto of "I give my body, heart and soul, to the Lady whom I seek." is an abbreviated version of their oath:
"I give my body, heart and soul, to the Lady whom I seek. No plea for help shall find me wanting. No obstacle will stand before me. No evil will taint the lands bequeathed unto me. When the clarion call is sounded, I will ride out and fight in the name of Liege and Lady. That which is sacrament, I shall preserve. That which is sublime, I will protect. That which threatens, I will destroy, for my holy wrath will know no bounds. Honour is all."Heraldry Their symbols include the crescent moon of Luna, the Lighthouse of Dagda, the closed Gauntlet of Aengus and the pair of scales associated with Cailleach, depending on their particular devotion. They are usually identified by one of these symbols marked either on their armour, cloth, or shields. Recruitment To join the Order of the Lady, a neophyte must have achieved at least the rank of squire, that is, to have been or to be in an ordained knight's service. A knight in this case is anyone who has been granted the title by a recognised lord of a realm, a list that changes continually to adapt to the changing political climate, especially in Albion. It is not unusual to find sects of the Order within kingdoms who are not currently recognised but who continue to uphold its virtues.
Structure
The rankings of the order are as follows:
- Knight-Divine
- Knight-Commander
- Knight-Captain
- Knight-Lieutenant
- Knight
- Squire
History
to be added
Tenets of Faith
The Order's code of chivalry requires that every Knight must follow seven commandments:
- To serve the Lady of Order.
- To defend the domains entrusted to him.
- To protect the weak and fight for the right.
- Always to fight the enemies of virtue and order.
- Never to give up the fight until the foe be defeated.
- Never to break faith with a friend or ally.
- Always to display honour and courtesy.
- A knight may only fight hand-to-hand, with sword or lance; he may not use a missile weapon, unless his foe does as well.
- A knight shall always accept a challenge towards personal combat.
- A knight shall not draw sword against his fellow knights, except in trial by combat or within a tournament.
- A knight shall not allow himself to be captured alive.
- A knight shall not flee from the enemy, nor retreat without proper tactical cause.
Ethics
The Order of the Lady are fierce protectors of the common good and the order of society. Subsequently they despise all that upsets the lawful nature and everything that goes against it. Main enemies of the Order are such abominations as: Lycanthropes (Werewolves, Wererats, Wereboars, Werebears), Monstrosities, Abberations and to a lesser extent druids, dryads, treants and other followers of nature who they deem as chaotic and unfit to follow the law of man.
The heraldry of the Silver Paladins, representing watchful Luna and her three brothers depicted as stars. The red keep represents the Red Cathedral of Jericho.
Founding Date
138AE
Type
Religious, Holy Order
Alternative Names
The Silver Paladins
Leader
Leader Title
Founders
Divines
Location
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
Comments