Knights Mendicant

"She was not much to look at when she joined us - shabby armor under a tattered cloak. The battered sheath and tarnished hilt of her sword suggested a vagabond, not a knight. My father kept us well away from her as we traveled, and the company kept her apart when we camped. But two days later when the Avgor came upon us at twilight, she put herself in its path. Her sword when she drew it was bright and her hand swift. She took the brunt of its wrath or we could never have brought it down. The wound she took turned bad by morning and by the next sunset she was gone. We buried her beside the road and set the head of the Avgor to mark the place. I took my oaths in the shrine at the next village. I keep her sword still, and I hope her light as well." - Katyr, Knight Mendicant By the time the prophet Shelim revealed the lies behind the Emperor and the Church of the Eternal Dawn, it was far too late to save civilization. The madness of the Dragons and the collapse of the Empire were complete. Faith in the Church disappeared as the faithful understood it's promises to be nothing but mist. And yet Shelim did not council despair. Many faithful took up his call to preserve what could be, so that the coming Darkness might be lessened and the eventual dawn more bright. The first Knights Mendicant were warriors among the faithful and retainers of great lords in the Empire. They left their keeps and chapter houses and took to the roads, seeking the dangers that crept down from the mountains and out of dark woods to haunt the roads and villages.

Structure

Mendicants have no overarching structure, and anyone may take the path of a Knight Mendicant. Knights usually travel as individuals, though some will band together or join a traveling company, so long as its goals align with those of the knight. Knights Mendicant will always answer the needs of any Shalimic priest, and priests are often the first source of information for traveling Knights.

Culture

Knights Mendicant have neither lord nor land. They own nothing but their gear, which is usually plain and functional. Anyone can take Mendicant vows, but the order provides no training. Those unable to defend themselves do not last long in this life. Vows are traditionally taken for life, but may be taken for a set period of time as a sort of martial pilgrimage. The vow of a Knight Mendicant is to answer any call and face any danger to preserve those in need against the growing darkness, and to do all that they can to offer hope that the dawn shall come again. Vows must be taken in a shrine before a priest. If the priest is satisfied that the supplicant is sincere in desire, the new knight is given a talisman in the shape of a setting sun to mark them as a member of the order. In many settlements settlements where the Empire once held sway, mendicancy is a way to receive pardon for crimes. In these dark days, few things can be trusted, and showing the talisman of a Knight Mendicant is not always enough to receive the trust of a settlement. After all, what prevents a brigand from stealing the tokens of a true Mendicant. For those Knights who demonstrate their dedication though, hospitality is given gladly in most lands. Even in places where a Knight Mendicant might be greeted with suspicion, they can still find refuge in the local shrine. Any Shalimic priest will provide a Knight Mendicant with food and shelter and larger shrines will maintain a craftsman to repair and refit the gear of any Knight who stops there.

Public Agenda

The Knights Mendicant are aligned with the goals of the Shalimic faith to preserve as much as possible against the coming darkness, hoping to make the dawn brighter on the other side. However, in method they are less organized. And many Knights believe that too much organization would undermine the goal. The Knights hold that the best way to prepare the world for the coming darkness and to ensure that as much survives as possible is to inspire common individuals rather than through organizational action.