Eternal Order

The Eternal Order is a knightly order in service of the god of the dead, Kelemvor, founded in the late 14th century DR. The Church of Kelemvor created this order to seek out and destroy powerful undead that tax the powers of the normal branches of the church. Among their members are paladins, clerics and some doomguides. They also employ a number of support staff.

These Death Knights are sworn to hunt down and destroy powerful undead, operating from their base, Soul's Rest, a hidden keep in the Sunset Mountains outside the ruins of Iriaebor. The keep is heavily fortified and houses all aprox. 50 members of the Order, their recruits and their support staff. Though at any time approximately half of the members are away from home on missions, performing their sworn duties.

The knights' knowledge of the undead is arguably unmatched in the Realms, and their more intellectually inclined knights seek both to understand the nature of death and learn more about those who choose to cheat or defy it. Their library at Soul's Rest is rumoured to be house one of the more extensive collections of tomes on these subjects. Access to the keep, or even knowledge of its location, is restricted to the order's closest allies and staff.

Since the destruction of Iriaebor in 1484, the order has become more and more dependent on long distance trade for supplies, making them reliant on keeping the good graces of the expanding neighbouring realm of Elturgard. Thus, they feel obliged to assist the Order of the Companion in all matters relating to the undead. They are, however, more at ease dealing with the nobles of Berdusk than with the the High Observer of Torm in Elturel when it comes to business.

The Knights are away from their keep as often as they are present, never ceasing their hunt for the powerful undead of Faerûn

The Death Knights are based in Soul's Rest, a hidden keep in the Sunset Mountains outside the ruined city of Iriaebor

Structure

The order has a hierarchical organization, led by the Grand Master and his Council of Masters, veteran members of the order. The main bulk of the order's members consist of the Knights and the Sargeants. The Knights are recruited from noble houses all across Faerûn, while the Sargeants are able commoners that have been recommended or proven their worth on the training ground or the field of battle. Both Knights and Sargeants can rise to the ranks of Master, and several of the order's most prominent Grand Masters started their service as Sargeants.

In theory, the Order's various Commanders report to the Master of the Cause, Ehlen Jakan, but in practice they report directly to Grand Master Gorstar Dundragon and his council. The Master of the Cause is the logistical officer in charge of mission support and often deal with finance, negotiations, diplomatic conundrums and any squabbles and problems the order has with local authorities and nobility on their journeys and in the pursuit of their cause.

The positions in the Council of Masters is oft filled by veteran Commanders tired of life on the road, using their vast experience and connections to help their Order from a more comfortable position at Soul's Rest. This way, they can contribute to the training of new knights and recruits as well. The exceptions have traditionally been the more operational positions Master of the Hunt and the Master of the Cause, often forced to a life on the road, as well as the Master of the Keep, who deals with the keep's security and any local hostilities or conflicts.

The Master of the Cause, Master Ehlen Jakan, hard at work at his desk

The Quartermaster, Master Heward Azzo, juggling the order's strained resources to the best of his abilities

Ranks

ORGANIZATION CHART NOT AVAILABLE

The Death Knights spend a significant amount of their time out on the hunt, often to the remote corners of Faerûn

Master Varant, the Master of the Library, is rumoured to have been there when Kelemvor ordained the first Grand Master and founded the order in 1368 DR

Culture

Through rigorous training and discipline, these knights develop powerful undead-fighting powers. They often operate alone or in small bands for long stretches of time, making them both resourceful and independent.

Most of the order's recruits are humans and half-elves hailing from the Western Heartlands or cities in the Lords' Alliance, but dwarves and elves have also been known to be drawn towards the service.

Members of the other races seldom join this disciplined martial order, but a few notable exceptions exist. They are often drawn to the order due to their egalitarian approach to rank. Any member can become a master or grand master, if they earn the respect of their brothers and sisters.

Only noble knights are able to join the ranks of the prestigious Death Knights, but the order is open to all

The recruits have to pass the rigorous training regime of Master Anselm Alston

Hunting the undead can be grueling work

Public Agenda

Charged with the destruction of powerful undead.

History

The order was formed and controlled by the upper hierarchy in the Church of Kelemvor sometime before 1370, when Kelemvor became the God of the Dead, but it has since become more independent from the church as the order proved their worth and the church's political priorities moved elsewhere.

As the main places of Kelemvor worship is located in Ormpetarr and Ormath a considerable distance away, the Order mostly coordinate their efforts with the church's chosen at the Temple of Kelemvor in Baldur's Gate.