The Sword of the Twelve

During the Wars of Expansion in the time of the Rise of Clans, the Church of the Twelve found itself in need of warriors to defend the faith. At first, the church hired mercenaries to watch over churches and monasteries on the borderlands, but these mercenaries often proved as problematic as those they were meant to defend against. Primarch Venerous II made a call for warriors who would throw down allegiance to king and country, dedicating themselves instead to the Twelve and the treasures of the heavens. Many answered, especially younger sons of noble lords who stood with no lands to inherit and only glory to seek.
The Sword of the Twelve was founded in the year 73 AF and expanded quickly as word of the order spread. Each knight of the order declared themselves a servant of the Twelve and their church, ready to defend the faith and its people at all costs. Soon, the Sword of the Twelve was leading forays into the untamed wilderness to claim lands in the name of the church and establish settlements for the good of all. In the plains of Ralast, north of the Trade River, the knights had the greatest battle of their young existence in 85 AF (twelve years after their founding) when they fought against a powerful tribe of orcs who were holed up in a fortified city on a hill. After the battle, the Sword of the Twelve claimed the land and on it the Primarch (now Humilitus the I) declared the foundation of the holy city and capital of (the religion of the Twelve) as Japhetheum. To this day, Japhetheum remains the center of the religion and an independent city-state within the kingdom of Ralast.
During the time of the Spellwars, the ranks of the Sword of the Twelve swelled and they played a major part in supporting the Conclave. In the aftermath, the order grew exceedingly wealthy and established forts throughout the Nine Kingdoms. Today, their numbers swell at over 10,000 knights and squires, with many more support persons. They continue to act under the blessing and direction of the church, but additionally often hold lands or forts of their own, owing a dual allegiance to their church and their king (the church that got them a lordship and the king that lets them keep it under the auspices of cooperating with the church). Some members are wholly dedicated to the religious cause, others are members of the order simply for the glory and the political clout, most are somewhere in-between.
* Shield is twelve swords, points facing inward in a circle on the center of the shield. The swords are white (cleansing and purity) while the shield is black (the swords pierce the darkness of the world).
Edicts: The Sword of the Twelve is an official arm of the Church of the Twelve. When pursuing the goals of the church, they will not surrender or retreat, but continue their pursuit until either it is accomplished or they are dead. Further, each member of the order is required to tithe 10% of all their earnings and findings to the church and to always follow the orders of church leadership.