Oath of Saint Salvestro
Blind not in faith, but to the differences of those you serve
Saint Salvestro
Saint Salvestro, Paladin of the Bailum Consilium and member of the Saltkrigere military, served his temple from the late 1300s to the mid-1400s. His legend rose during an essential period of the Saltkrigere Empire's history, as Shellbay had recently been separated from the capitol's territory to ensure "every land had an equal voice." However, the widespread number of Shellbay nobles in the capitol itself meant Shellbay loyalists could go unmatched in the imperial court (similar in function to the modern Augury senate) with a swathe of voting seats being provided to the "new" territory. Along with the prevailing famine across Trinen and paladins who only held loyalty to the nobility, the peasants across the empire suffered from starvation and lack of assistance from their leaders.
It was Paladin Salvestro of the Bailum Consilium who saw the broad injustices and rejected the political role his order had filled for generations. At the age of thirty, his temple banned the distribution of preserved foods to locals, as the nobility requested more for themselves in a time of great political alliances. While not explicitly banned, his contemporaries had also refused to assist nearby lands with raiders, as the farms had insubstantial yields for years. The corruption grew far beyond the tales of heroes he had grown up with, so he left the comfort of the temple walls and traveled from town to town, assisting the locals in any way he could. Initially, his assistance came from healing the injured, repairing fences, and providing blessings. With time, he realized that no amount of aid would help the starved, so he began requesting resources from the temples for banquets while secretly distributing them amongst the people. He requested a litany of fine food products and alcohol but looked to the future as well. Paladin steeds in reserve were requested as mounts but were used to plow fields in the absence of oxen. During a drought, he collected gallons from holy fountains and delivered them to the people. His secret work went on for decades.
The rouse was discovered in his waning years (presumed to be Salvestro's late 60s). Deemed financially irresponsible with goods, a thief of steeds, and a heretic for distributing holy water, Salvestro was damned to death by beheading. The claim caused a stir for weeks, with a minority of vocal nobles and crowds of peasants pleading to let him live; the latter threatened riots. The baron of Shellbay was eventually brought into the matter, who requested Salvestro to defuse the situation. The paladin gave a public speech that night, imploring his supporters not to take action after the coming days. The morning following the speech, Salvestro was privately executed before an assembly of nobles.
In the coming years, locals were inspired by his story, turning to the consilium to become monks or volunteers. It's said that generations of rising peasants would become the majority of the consilium's monks, abbots, priests, and even paladins. In the year 1600, following the rise of the Augury, Paladin Salvestro was ordained the title of Saint, along with a slew of heroes in humanity's history. Due to his devotion to commoners far and wide, regardless of background, he was given the unique title of "the Blind Saint."
"In veneration of Saint Salvestro and devotion to his teachings, I swear to follow the tenets of the Blind Oath. I will put the protected people of Bailum above even my institution; I will scrutinize power and those who wield it, rallying their wealth as charity for the impoverished. I will not shirk my tasks, put them upon others, nor let the tasks of my faith rise in import above my fellow man. May Saint Salvestro provide intercession on my behalf to Bailum, such that I grow worthy of his fields upon death. May he pray for my soul to be free from its cycle of life, and make this my last."
Expectations
Day of the Blind Prayer
Every Ildagur (the last day of the week as per the Standard Augury Calendar), a paladin of the Blind Oath must devote the day to veneration of Salvestro and his ideals. The day begins with the Blind Prayer, in which a paladin recites their original oath. The latter half of the prayer requires the paladin to speak on behalf of those they have helped in the past week along with those whom they desire to assist in the coming days; finally, they ask for intercession from Salvestro on their behalf so that Bailum will provide the strength they require to uphold their oath.
Following the prayer, a paladin is meant to spend the day preparing themselves for the coming week, eating only breakfast and dinner and abstaining from alcohol. One may be expected to journal or draft plans of action based on their prayer, but may also spend the day recovering from strain and stress; this should not be misinterpreted as "relaxing" or "lazing," as recovery is typically understood as stowing oneself away from the presence of contemporaries. That is, Ildagur is a day to isolate oneself so that their planning won't be distracted. In the modern era (ca. 1947 NG), isolation has grown extreme, with the paladins spending the day in small, undecorated quarters akin to a cell, having only the necessary materials for meditation and writing. Meals are delivered by a food pass in the door and no conversation is exchanged.
For those who choose not to spend the day in seclusion, charitable tasks are typically taken up by surrounding monks and priests so the paladins may remain in accordance with recovery requirements. Perhaps a controversial aspect these paladins must obey is a refusal to don armor or weapons, as it would be considered excessive work. This has caused occasional problems, as paladins on the site of a violent crime must either battle without weapons or find a nearby guard; the rule has slowly led to a phenomenon known as the "scrap paladin." Due to an inability to carry weapons, many paladins jest by carrying miscellaneous blunt items (lamps, fire pokers, platters, etc.) that they can use during a call to action. A joke as it may be, scrap paladins have saved lives on several occasions.
Following the Tenets
As a member of a greater organization, being devoted to the tenets of Saint Salvestro can strain a paladin's allegiances. The oath itself encourages its followers to put the common people above the church, which is unique amongst Consilium oaths. In times of peace and low corruption, a paladin of Saint Salvestro can thrive, as the temples align with their own ideals. However, in times of strife, it's not uncommon for the Bailum Consilium to put itself and people of high esteem over the needs of commoners, just as seen during Salvestro's crusade. When corruption thrives, rules are bent, and many paladins are encouraged to bend their will to the wisdom of their superiors. Ironically, the laws of Shellbay and the Augury explicitly state that no individual has the authority to change the tenets of a Saint's Oath. Those who refuse to bend their will to changing authorities may find themselves shunned, punished, or excommunicated from their temple; such punishments often drive paladin orders to splinter and raise their own orders.
But how strict are Salvestro's Tenets? Loopholes have arisen in the past, as seen with scrap paladins while several other requirements seem suspect depending on the status of civilization at any given time. Below is a common example of a Consilium post board, in which pieces of text directly from the Order of Saint Salvestro are publicly held for scrutiny and input from its members (with the best notes being added to footnotes of distributed texts). The left is the order's text itself while the right is contributions made by passing members. As used by the order, these boards are meant to display that while the requirements are rigid, interpretations of the text will always be fluid. This form of open discussion is unique to the Order of Saint Salvestro.
The tenets of Saint Salvestro are best established in times of peace, to be followed in times of strife. In our darkest hours, we oft abandon what it means to be just and charitable. It is plenty said that the nobility performs their dutiful tasks so the paladins can shoulder the burden of what it means to be "noble;" this text intends to write the definition of nobility so it may not be forgotten in dark days ahead, should we have the misfortune of falling so far.
There is an order by which defiance of authority is just. When none starve in the community, charity may be raised by donation. Give your own strength, knowledge, and finances when the times allow it. It is not untoward in times of prosperity to directly scrutinize the greed of individuals who may impoverish their workers; further, preventative action on behalf of said workers is within the purview of the law but not so far as violent action1. A paladin of Saint Salvestro may go through proper legislative channels, such as requesting the relocation of workers or reporting negligence to the authorities.
If prosperity declines and the people find themselves disparaged- be it unlawful lack of employment to bolster the nobility's wealth, lack of proper aid to the foundational workers of society, or unique cases of violent action- then paladins are expected to respond with elevated magnitude. Violent action is discouraged, but Consilium resources should be concentrated on those affected. With proper tact, Consilium alliances with violating parties are to be halted until the problems are resolved. If action is taken against the acting paladin, the Consilium, or the order of Saint Salvestro, then the cause of strife is to be made public2.
When strife has reached its greatest precipice, paladins may behave in direct accordance with the actions of Saint Salvestro. If pleads to corral resources from those in power are met with silence, then one must follow the tenets of Saint Salvestro indiscriminately above the temple, the books of Bailum, and the law. Violence should be avoided at all costs, but crimes of theft, embezzlement, and direct obstruction of injustice are permissible.
1. Aye, violence is a last resort against the nobility, but is it so against the common folk? Oft not. I promoted no violence in my day but found myself observing injustice from knights, renowned knights, lashing workers for false crimes. On several occasions, these knights placed their own sins upon their workers to avoid punishment. They say that no violence should be committed against the nobility, but such a vapid title holds broad implications. Is "sir" not a title of nobility? Well, on my honor, those nobles saw the lashing brought upon them by my orders.
-Paladin Baccio Sancto
2. When this summary of a paladin's oath requirements is studied, scholars misinterpret this quote more than others, so much so that I feel the need to elaborate. The sin is not taking action against the paladin, the consilium, or Salvestro's order. Rather, the sin is in rejecting the request to make good by those you have wronged. We commonly see crimes against the common folk created by simple distance from their superiors' thoughts. Negligence, while a sin itself, is not a crime of intent. However, when their injustice is brought to the light of day and they refuse to resolve the conflict (and they will fight not to), then their crimes should be brought to the light of day in hopes that justice of the social variety may convince them.
-Priest Giovanni Abate
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