Goldpact Knights
The Goldpact Knights is a Guild for Mercenaries, and most Faerûnean Companies are chartered under the Goldpact Knights. The group takes its name from the ancient Paladins of Amaunator who emerged after The Gold Pact took effect.
The Guild serves, primarily, in the Lords' Alliance, but is almost equally popular in the Lands of Intrigue, particularly in Amn, which is arguably ground zero for the renaissance of the church of Amaunator.
Structure
The organization is lead by a Grandmaster and the organization recognizes a number of "Great Companies" (now known as Mercenary Regiments formally). The leader of each of these companies is offered a seat at the Guild Council and carries the title of Goldpact Knight.
The Guild also employs a number of individuals who carry special titles and have great influence over the Guild's decisions, including the Grand Duke of Baldur's Gate, the Baldurian High Priests of Amaunator, Helm, Torm and Tyr as well as Tempus and the Red Lady, and they employ a number of officials who also carry great weight (treasurer, secretary etc.).
Culture
Illuskan
Public Agenda
To provide morally and ethically sustainable mercenary services, available on equal terms, to anyone and everyone.
Assets
The Guild once owned a keep in Baldur's Gate, but they have relocated to a small mansion in Guild district, and now offer the Keep to whichever of the Great Companies currently holds the contract to act as the military of Baldur's Gate - that said, they still technically own the Keep. The guild doesn't otherwise own anything of note, but has amassed quite a bit of wealth.
History
The Goldpact Knights trace their roots to the Order of Paladins who served the Sun God, Amaunator - named after the The Gold Pact itself.
These Paladins were eventually replaced by mercenaries, watchmen, militias and knights and became largely obsolete.
Centuries later, after the church of Amaunator had disbanded and worship of Amaunator had largely ceased, a group of adventurers discovered the tomb of one of these Paladins of Amaunator.
The group had a Cleric with them, known to history only as "Morningstar", who was a War-Priest of Lathander, but converted to the faith of Amaunator and went on to start a secret cult of Amaunator - though this cult persisted through the times, it was largely unsuccessful until Abdel Adrian discovered a forgotten temple of Amaunator in the Umar Hills, near the city of Athkatla in Amn, several centuries later, at which point the cult re-emerged and was recognized as a formal Church.
The group also had a sun-soul monk with them, his name forgotten to the sands of time, but he went on to start a monastery to Amaunator, building it around the tomb of the Paladin they discovered - it is unknown how he fared.
The leader of the group, known to history only as "Sunshield", was a Paladin of Lathander, and he went on to start the Goldpact Knights, which was arguably the greatest success that came out of the bunch. His organization was supported by an immense amount of personal wealth. Rumor has it that Sunshield was a member of the prestigious Silvershield family from Baldur's Gate, and that was what allowed them such a strong political foothold in The Gate from the very conception of the organization.
The Goldpact Knights started as a mercenary company that served as "Frontier Justice". Their concept was to mediate and arbitrate between conflicted groups, using their martial prowess to force their judgement upon people, using the teachings of Amaunator, Tyr, Torm and Helm as guidelines as to how to reach a just outcome - and then they fought to make it so, and charged an amount for their services.
Despite how aggressive this strategy may sound, it was incredibly popular, and their business was booming.
The came to be known as "the Knights of the Gate".
Some time would pass, and the Goldpact Knights grew too large and many smaller groups started breaking off from the main company, and it was at that time that the aging Sunshield decided to reform the company into a Guild.
One of the splinter-factions became the world-famous Flaming Fist company, though they were dedicated to Helm, as are many present day members of the Goldpact Knights.
Iron for Gold
Founding Date
1273
Type
Guild, Fighter / Mercenary
Alternative Names
Knights of the Gate
Demonym
Gold Pacters
Parent Organization
Deities
Location
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