The Guardians of the Green

The Guardians of the Green are an order of paladins dedicated to Erastil. They are dedicated to protecting the wild places in the world and preserving their secrets. They eschew most "modern" civilization as a whole (though they recognize its function in the world).
Sometimes the order will support the kingdom they are in if the kingdom is fighting against a patently evil foe, but more often than not they try to avoid involving themselves directly in politics. However, it has been seen a few times throughout history that they will step in if needed. Also, they will speak against any kingdom seen doing too much damage to what they understand to be the natural order of things.

Structure

The Stag: The highest male member of the Greens. Each Stag appoints his successor guided by Erastil's will. When the time comes that he must appoint his successor, the Stag retreats into prayer and fasting until he has determined an answer.
The Doe: Where the Stag is the highest ranking male member, the Doe is his mirror. Very often, the Stag and Doe are romantically paired, but not always. However, their relationship is always one of intimacy since they act as a single unit.
The Marshals: Below "The Pair" are the marshals. At each major temple, there is always at least one marshal who communicates directly with The Pair and receives their orders. While the majority of the time, the marshals may act independently, they are under oversight of The Pair and accountable for their actions.
The Lieutenants: Each marshal has lieutenants serving as the heads of their day-to-day affairs in the temples. Smaller temples may only have a lieutenant since the need for a marshal tends to be based on the number of people present in the temple.
The Captains: Captains lead squadrons of six to eight paladins at any given time and are the ones dispatched during times of strife to handle serious trouble.
The Paladins: The rank of "paladin" signifies one who has completed their training and developed a personal connection with Erastil himself. Most paladins are at least twenty-five years of age since it takes about that long for them to learn the combat skills expected of a paladin.
The Hopeful: Those who would like to become paladins must first express their desire to do so, becoming "hopefuls." They are treasured and provided with training once they have dedicated themselves to the paths of paladinship.

Public Agenda

It is well known that The Guardians of the Green are primarily focused on protecting the natural world. They serve to prevent over-development, habitat destruction, over-hunting, over-farming, and general abuse of nature herself. They stand up against any threat that would do substantial harm to what they understand the natural order should be.
When not engaged in conflict, the Greens tend to use their skills for the betterment of those around them, providing healing, protecting the innocent from attack, and generally being assets to the communities in which they serve.

"I calen na- mín emel." (The green is our heart.)

Founding Date

-300

Type

Religious, Holy Order

Alternative Names

The Greens, Greenies (not favorable)