Knights of the Garden

Housed within The Cloister of Gardens are the Knights of the Garden. The Knights number exactly 100 and are all Paladins. They are lead by Grandmaster Nisra Thrahak, a wily old mountain dwarf. 50 knights remain at all time to defend the Cloisters. The remaining 50 roam Dorwine, usually in pairs. These knights dispense justice and defend the innocent. Although they are essentially vigilantes their conduct is condoned by everyone. The Knights are known by the flower garlands they wear about their helms at all times. To join the Knights one must renounce all worldly ties and submit to a series of ordeals to test adherence to the law. Then begins a 7 year training process which combines spiritual and martial training before the swearing of the final oath and receiving the gold armour and the flower garland for which the Knights are famed. The Knights of the Garden are the heroes every child dreams of and there are many stories of legendary Knights and their battles against evil.

Structure

The Grandmaster sits at the top, reporting only to the Abbot of the Cloister. Beneath the Grandmaster the structure is relatively flat with Knights in the field expected to act independently in accordance with order rules.

Culture

The Knights all pledge themselves to uphold the laws of Dorwine, without distraction. Therefore they surrender all ties with their family and pledge themselves to celibacy. The Knights are known for their devotion to the law, their incorruptibility, their ease in social situations and their Battle Song of the Knights of the Garden which they perform before going into battle. Every Knight has their own coat of arms, which is a variant of the order’s and every Knight wears golden armour and a garland of flowers (at all times, even when out of armour).