Sworn of the Axe
All the efforts of The Ordo Dracul are for naught if it cannot protect itself from those who would do it harm and steal its secrets. Those Dragons who swear the Oath of the Axe are the covenant’s most honored members, the first among equals according to the Rites. To them go the first spoils of battle: first choice of victims and first claim to properties seized. In return, the Sworn of the Axe are expected to place their unlives on the line for the Academy. If vampire-hunters are on the trail of a fellow Dragon, the Axe is Oathbound to intercede and defend their fellow Dragon no matter the cost to their own number. In times of violent conflict, the word of these martial vampires is supreme; a Dragon who disobeys them in matters of war and defense can expect to suffer immediate destruction. If exceptional mercy is shown, the miscreant can still look forward to an unusual amount of pain and suffering that will forever burn the memory of her insubordination into her flesh and soul.
The Sworn of the Axe looks to Mara, Dracula’s first bride, as their founding member. Strong, cunning, and sated only when blood runs hot and deep, she ruled the Axe until the late 18th century, at which time she vanished from the covenant’s records. No Dragon claims to have seen her since, but she is not forgotten. On the contrary, Mara is revered by the sub-order she once ruled in a manner not unlike Joan of Arc. Images depict her as a fearsome beauty drenched in blood and wading into the storm of battle assured of victory, regardless of the nature of her foe. She is the Dragon rampant, noble and true, yet at the same time brutal and unfamiliar with mercy. Many of the Sworn of the Axe seek to emulate her ways, particularly female members of the Axe, who often see themselves as incarnations of Mara. Dedications to the first bride are also common, usually before battle, but also when weapons are being cleaned or stowed away. This kind of religiosity is not unusual for a military order, but the Sworn of the Axe recognize the unease it sometimes creates among other Dragons and tend to keep their most visible veneration private.
Membership in the Axe is by invitation only. A prospective candidate first and foremost must be an exemplary warrior, able and willing to launch herself into the most gruesome skirmish with her only concern being the task at hand. She must not balk when told to kill, no matter who the target is, and she must stand in the way of any enemy who dares to threaten The Ordo Dracul or its members, regardless of the circumstances. If an Axe is told to murder the Prince, there should be no hesitation and no delay. Once a candidate has impressed two Sworn of the Axe, her name will be put to a vote at the next muster — the monthly meetings the group holds to conduct its private business. A simple majority of “yeas” is needed, though the highest-ranking Axe reserves the right of veto. If an unsworn Dragon is invited to join the ranks of the Axe and rejects the offer, officially there are no consequences. “It is better to pass the cup of valor untasted than to poison the chalice with unclean lips,” wrote Dracula. In practice, however, there can be all types of subtle recrimination; and, given the complex nature of covenant politics, even the smallest cruelties can cause ripples in the Danse Macabre.
The Sworn of the Axe looks to Mara, Dracula’s first bride, as their founding member. Strong, cunning, and sated only when blood runs hot and deep, she ruled the Axe until the late 18th century, at which time she vanished from the covenant’s records. No Dragon claims to have seen her since, but she is not forgotten. On the contrary, Mara is revered by the sub-order she once ruled in a manner not unlike Joan of Arc. Images depict her as a fearsome beauty drenched in blood and wading into the storm of battle assured of victory, regardless of the nature of her foe. She is the Dragon rampant, noble and true, yet at the same time brutal and unfamiliar with mercy. Many of the Sworn of the Axe seek to emulate her ways, particularly female members of the Axe, who often see themselves as incarnations of Mara. Dedications to the first bride are also common, usually before battle, but also when weapons are being cleaned or stowed away. This kind of religiosity is not unusual for a military order, but the Sworn of the Axe recognize the unease it sometimes creates among other Dragons and tend to keep their most visible veneration private.
Membership in the Axe is by invitation only. A prospective candidate first and foremost must be an exemplary warrior, able and willing to launch herself into the most gruesome skirmish with her only concern being the task at hand. She must not balk when told to kill, no matter who the target is, and she must stand in the way of any enemy who dares to threaten The Ordo Dracul or its members, regardless of the circumstances. If an Axe is told to murder the Prince, there should be no hesitation and no delay. Once a candidate has impressed two Sworn of the Axe, her name will be put to a vote at the next muster — the monthly meetings the group holds to conduct its private business. A simple majority of “yeas” is needed, though the highest-ranking Axe reserves the right of veto. If an unsworn Dragon is invited to join the ranks of the Axe and rejects the offer, officially there are no consequences. “It is better to pass the cup of valor untasted than to poison the chalice with unclean lips,” wrote Dracula. In practice, however, there can be all types of subtle recrimination; and, given the complex nature of covenant politics, even the smallest cruelties can cause ripples in the Danse Macabre.
Structure
Stations of the Axe
The Sworn of the Axe have their own special offices that are modeled in large part on those typical in a religious fighting order of old. Although variations and other offices certainly exist, the following are the most commonly found: Companion, Dragon Knight, Commander, Vigilant Dragon, Rising Dragon, Rampant Dragon or Grandmaster, Warden.Culture
Custom and Ceremony
The Sworn of the Axe values honor and martial ability above all other virtues and is in the habit of staging events to shower glory upon those who deserve it. Some of these ceremonies can be quite elaborate and may be open to the entire Academy, but the majority are private affairs intended only for those Dragons who have taken the Oath of the Axe. Simple commendations are usually incorporated into the monthly muster, but truly noteworthy service is rewarded in a special ceremony in order to ensure the honored Dragons receive the full attention they deserve.The most important ritual is the promotion of a Companion to a Dragon Knight. To prepare for her elevation to knighthood, the Companion must first hold vigil for a full 24 hours, from sundown to sundown, without lapsing into slumber. She remains alone — but observed — and is expected to meditate upon the meaning of her promotion in a manner similar to preparing for a chrysalis. If she is unable to remain vigilant, she is expected to excuse herself and wait at least one year before she may (or may not) be summoned again to the knighthood.
After the vigil is completed, the Companion takes a special bath to wash away all that remains of her former existence. She then dons a pure white robe and enters the ceremonial hall where the rest of the Axe Sworn await her. She kneels before the Rampant Dragon, who then speaks to the gathering. The Grandmaster puts a series of questions to the knight-to-be, who answers them in the affirmative, essentially taking a second Great Oath to the Sworn of the Axe. Once done, a mortal victim is brought forth, and the Grandmaster decapitates her with a special axe. The victim’s head is then held over the kneeling Companion and shaken so that the white robe is drenched in blood as the Grandmaster speaks the ceremony’s final words, dubbing the former Companion a Dragon Knight. The newly-made Knight rises and is permitted to consume the victim’s blood, which has been consecrated to the Axe, to Mara, to Dracula and to The Ordo Dracul. The Axe-Sworn also observe the following special traditions:
Awards of Weaponry: Besides promotions and verbal commendations, the Sworn of the Axe honors its greatest warriors by awarding them weapons — something they can use to further their cause. In more traditional Academies, swords, knives and axes are most common. These are usually made specifically for the intended recipient, but are sometimes old weapons of great value or significance; one Dragon Knight in Toronto was supposedly given a Samurai’s blade appraised at $1.8 million (before it was stolen from the museum where it was displayed). Less traditional Axes sometimes give gifts of rare or expensive firearms, though, given the limited lethality of such weapons, blades are still more common.
Heraldry: The Sworn of the Axe make much use of heraldic devices, and each Dragon Knight is granted her own coat of arms upon promotion to that position, one that usually includes elements from the Knight’s clan and possibly the Mentor’s and sire’s. The rules governing the use and display of a Dragon’s blazon are complex and very specific — one Axe Sworn is usually assigned the duty of Herald. Most allow it to be worn on the flesh, and so tattooing one’s coat of arms on the chest or arm is relatively commonplace.
Red or Scarlet: The color of the Axe is red, for it symbolizes the blood they draw and the Vitae that burns with fire in combat. Only the Sworn of the Axe are permitted to wear red when formally attired (such as for ceremonies — not just puttering about the chapter house). Dragons who violate this rule can expect to have the offending garments or accessories immediately removed and destroyed on the spot by any Axe who happens to notice.
Type
Military Order
Ruling Organization
Leader Title
Parent Organization
Related Ranks & Titles
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