The Draconian Order
The Draconian Order
This Order is said to gain it's name from an individual called Draco, who was an Athenian law scribe in Athens under whom small offenses had heavy punishments.(Draconian laws).Drakon Δράκων, also called Draco, was the first recorded legislator of the City of Athens. He considered Death the appropriate punishment for most offenses and for this is remembered as being highly authoritarian. Draco is said to have, in actuality, been a Golden Dragon, but this is only a rumor. He was later ostracized from the City and went to Aegina Island. Upon this island, he was slain by a Cloak of Suffocation - that, when worn, chokes and suffocates the wearer.
The Draconian Order has done nothing overtly to to dispel this idea of Draconian Laws being restrictive and tough and have used it as a way of spreading their reputation for upholding law.
In reality, over the centuries, the Draconian Order has reduced it's reliance upon one view point of law - and has become more flexible in it's recruitment of other alignments to balance out it's approach to law so as to reduce the wanton killing of it's members.
The Draconian Order is now actually formed out of Nine Sub-Orders - each named after a different dragon type, and each sub-group governed by an individual Archon. The Draconian Order therefore can be known by many names.
In structure it still maintains a membership of 400 active knights at any one time, as was established by Draco and they are collectively known as the Council of Four Hundred. Again, this maintains the original title established by Draco in Athens. The rulership of the sub-orders falls to the Nine Archons, and the overall Order Master is the High Archon of the Gold Dragon - which is apart from the other nine.
The purpose of the order is to replace verbal law and approximations of rules with a written law book - to provide a structure for each settlement and each community to base their rules upon. It is not a strict law text but rather a set of common sense guidelines for community rule. (Even Chaotic Doomsmen (Judges) have found the principles to be acceptable). The Draconian Knights act as mobile doomsmen judges, bounty hunters, establishers of new communities, and investigators throughout the Continent. Being only 400 in number they are often needed in They dispense judgements throughout the realms acting as mobile doomsman for different communities. The extremes of Draco have long been recognised and now each judge/doomsman is expected to be of any alignment. The law itself is considered Neutral - but the variety of judgement is now far more diverse and balanced.
The Sub-Orders
The Order of the Black Dragon (CE)
The Order of the Black Dragon is essentially the Black Knight Order - it is the Order Colors under which any knight of the Draconians can travel and not display their banner or shield - effectively rendering them 'incognito' during the travels when on sensitive missions or needing to avoid undue attention during an investigation.
Order of the Black Knight Spells
Guarding of the Breach/Shield of the Breach Spell The knight can stand in any hole in structure and become like a human wall - this includes bridges - the black knight can increase AC by all his parry options whilst still attacking for 1 round/level.
The Order of the Blue Dragon (LE)
This is the beginning order and is the largest mainly consisting of those Knights who have found themselves in the Order - their shields are said to denote a flaming arrow - and that this goes back to the first summons to court issued by Draco in ancient times. The flight of a burning arrow signaled the start of a Court proceedings during the Olympiad. But it is also said to allude to the idea that a randomly shot arrow will fly true towards a law-breaker and shows the impartiality of law.
Those Knights using the Blue Dragon Banner are said to be dedicated to bringing law to the deserts of the world.
The Order of the Brass Dragon (LG)
The Order of the Bronze Dragon (CG)
This sub-order is said to focus on the
The Order of the Copper Dragon (LG)
The Order of the Gold Dragon (LG)
This was said to be the true form of Draco and out of respect for that the Gold Dragon Order is always held in reserve for the Grand Archon only - there is no active knight other than the Grand Archon of this Order.
The Order of the Green Dragon
The Order of the Emerald or Green Dragon is said to focus extensively on the application of written law to the wilds of forests and jungles with a concentration on foresting communities. They are often accompanied by Brownies in their efforts to bring a sense of correct order to the wilderness folk.
The Order of the Red Dragon
The Order of the Silver Dragon
The Order of the Silver Dragon is an easier model for the giving of law - they often focus on law administration in large populated areas and ensure the smooth running of communities within their jurisdiction. The more elderly among the order are said to focus on this area.
The Order of the White Dragon
The Order of the White Dragon or Wyrm is dedicated to spreading written law to the tundra, arctic and snows of the World. This is one of the most arduous of Sub-orders with many a knight losing their lives and their mounts to the snows of the World and the peoples who dwell among them.
Coats of Arms and Armorial Bearings
Initial Coat of Arms (Pre-Level 4)
A single flaming arrow rising bendwise on a blue field.(Azure, an arrow singular bendwise points to chief dexter inflamed proper)
Symbolism of the Flaming Arrow
The Flaming Arrow was a representation of both the worst judgement - death by fire AND also used to start all legal judgements and proceedings - although the Draconians are famed for their strictness (among their enemies), it is actually their fairness in applying judgements that they are actually recognised for in folklore.
All members below Knighthood (4th) are considered Prodigies of the Prismatic Dragon/Draconian Order - and are chosen by an unknown force, which is said to throw them into battle - often without any idea where or what they will wind up doing. It is said to be a part of the initiation into the Order to put would be knights (prior to 4th level) into situations that endanger their ability to manage the situation, as much as their physical body. (Or perhaps it's just dumb luck) philosophers are divided on the issue, but each Knight is said to have had a harrowing or degrading start to their career.
At Level 4 the Knight is officially deemed an Esquire and is formally appointed into the Order of the Knighthood as a Law-giver. At this stage - upon achieving this level, the Cavalier is expected to undertake the Draconian Order Ritual.
Level 4 + Coat of Arms
At level 4, the Knight or Cavalier is now allowed to use their own Coat of Arms which can include elements of Familial Crests, Earned Changes to their Armorial Shields, a version of the Order's symbols they have earned, or a combination of the three, if they so choose. They may also use the title 'Law Giver' as their honorific 'Law Giver NAME' - should they so choose.Level 4 + Knightly Edict
The Knight Law Giver must spread some form of organisational principles to society. Some are dedicated to this type of behaviour in a zealous manner and often are found to be followers of Athena. However, most of the Draconian Order simply seek to make communities safer to a greater rather than a lesser degree. The law giver level cavaliers believe in loyalty and friendship, and are willing to lay down their lives to protect their allies and the societies that they seek to form. In the words of observers - they judge like clerics, study like wizards, dress like paladins, fight like warriors, and swear like drunken barbarians on a stag night, but they are noble through and through. Law as a right to live for all is one of their mottos.Initially in the Order, entrants into the Order are known as Errant Knights (as opposed to Knight Errants which are formally within the Order). This title is said to be linked to the idea of a loosed arrow being allowed to fly it's course as the main armorial bearing for the first three levels of the Knight's career. Once the individual receives their Knighthood at 4th level, they are permitted to change their armorial bearings to their family or personal escutcheon/armorial symbols. The Errant Knight must be ready to scout out dangers to those they may be required to guard.
Skills
The Cavalier of the Signalers start with Trail Signs as a Bonus Proficiency at level 1.
At Level 4 the Knight becomes a Dragon Knight. At this point, the Knight is visited by a Movanic Deva - which will issue the Errant-Knight, with an Oaken Chest of Investiture, before disappearing. Any ennobled individual can then issue the rite of knighthood. The Knight when invested into the Order at the level of a Dragon Knight, is now part of the Close-Quarter Escort/Prisoner Escorting and Bounty Hunter sections of the Order. At Level 4 the newly accepted Squire (Esquire) into the Order receives any two (2) of the following secondary skills as bonus skills (no cost) to develop their skill-set for scouting out fugitives and gaining information from them.
Information Gathering 1 Intelligence Special The Complete Thief's Handbook (pg. 18) CThief 18
Intimidation Bully 1 Strength 1 The Complete Thief's Handbook (pg. 19) CThief 19
Intimidation - Persuasion 1 Charisma 1 The Complete Thief's Handbook (pg. 19) CThief 19
From this point forward the Knight/Cavalier gains the following:
Survival Skills
It is expected that should they have to safe guard prisoners or escort others to safety - that the Knight can at least keep their charge alive. Therefore, a Draconian Order cavalier gains a bonus to all Survival Rolls due to their skill in the wilderness escorting prisoners that they have captured. This allows them to provide food and water for his allies or to protect allies from harsh weather, he receives a bonus on the check equal to 1/2 his cavalier level (minimum +1). NOTE: The Cavalier is expected to learn some forms of survival skill and then this bonus applies.Equipment
A cavalier belonging to the order of signalers becomes skilled at long-distance communications and elements of scouting for identifying gangs of lawbreakers and fugitives. As such, all signalers start with signalling equipment for free - this includes one or more of the following: Fire Arrows, Whistling Arrows, and Smoke Arrows for use as auditory or visual signalling. Other items often used by Signalers include the use of colored smoke signal chemicals, whistles and chimes that duplicate the sounds of animals and birds, or mirrors for signalling. These items are bonus items given to the Knight at the start of their career.
Draconian Doomsman (Judge)
At 6th Level, when becoming a Knight Bachelor, the Draconian Knight becomes a Doomsman and MUST also take the secondary skill of:
Law 1 Wisdom 1 The Complete Book of Paladins (pg. 74) CPal 74
AND MAY also take:
Jousting 1 Dexterity +2 The Complete Book of Paladins (pg. 72) CPal 72
The Sixth Level Knight/Cavalier of the Draconian Order (Doomsman Level) will then be given a Libram of Law, which allows for the Knight to act as a Doomsman/Judge in the sentencing of criminal cases - they are effectively Judge, Jury and Executioner, a true Doomsman.
Note when used on Undead - this Libram appears to burst into fire and allows the Knight/Cavalier to turn non-lawful Undead, Demons and Outlanders as if they were a Priest of three levels lower than their current level. If the creature or being is Lawful - than the Cavalier has no effect on them.
Known Parameters
None are really known of the Order as it has not been witnessed in the Atlantean Sphere of activity for at least 460 years. The only known elements of the Order include that it has strong connections to communications and abilities to learn languages and codes easily.Dragon Slaying
The title of the Breath Weapon type and Slayer as a suffix is permitted to be used in the order as a result of this achievement. So a slayer of a Blue Dragon is a Lightning Slayer. The killing of an evil dragon is said to hold great significance in the order. Those knights succeeding in such a feat are permitted to wield enhanced weapons capable of applying damage of the type of dragon that they slew. This Draconian Order exclusive set of spells allows the knight to cast the Druid Spell Flame Blade on their own weapons of specialisation once per day - however - the damage type will MATCH THAT of the Dragon they slew. The damage of the spell is IN ADDITION to any other damage dealt by the blow during the spell's duration - note that this can be cast only once per day per type of dragon having been slain. (Not for every dragon slain). So some can cast it several times per day if they have slain more than one dragon types. The Slayer title is also appended to add the other dragons involved, but an Acidic Poisoned Lightning Fire Slayer is a very rare knight indeed.
Membership
This Order consists of Cavaliers, Druids, Scouts, and Rangers is focused on the signaling and communications between law enforcement units and at the military (the two always work together). They are a hybrid form of Order and very flexible in terms of membership, rules, codes and operating parameters.
Numbers of Members
Maximum 400 Formal Order Members - unknown number of auxiliariesAffiliations
Unknown - thought to be Elven in origin, but elements of their group appear to match Zeusian and Athenian Style Justice, other elements appear to draw on Apollonian and even Martian (Mars) based justice systems.Benefits:
All Draconians gain equipment that allows for distance communications and have a natural affinity for tracking and locating designated fugitives from Justice. It is often thought that their survival skills are as much about Hunting down foes, as it is about enabling the survival of their charges. They therefore not only protect others but also actively seek out outlaws that would endanger their Kingdoms and Principalities.Limitations:
None KnownSummary
Very little is known of the Order. Their order only requires that their members maintain their sense of what is right - and fair - not necessarily forcing justice on situations they do not know everything about. It is said that they are closely aligned with Bodyguard Units of various races and cultures - often forming elite Guards for rulers of communities and even Kingdoms. But little else is known. The Draconian Guards of Argo are rumored to have gained their title from this Order, whilst their opponents state that the title simply shows them to be an authoritarian group.Alignment Limitations
Any good or neutral alignment is permitted. Rumors of evil Draconians have not been refuted.
Founding Date
unknown
Type
Military Order
Demonym
the Sign
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