The Dagon Errancy

The Esoteric Order of the Knights of the Temple of Dagon

Elusive, mysterious, and brilliant. The order’s reputation tends to precede itself. Renowned record keepers, knights, and mystics from beyond the waves, the Dagon Errancy seeks to gather knowledge of the old times, and perhaps some of the more perverse and occultish artifacts left from times gone by. Each Chapter House is co-led by the Harbour Master and the Bibliothecary. The HM taking care of the more military and administrative matters, and while the Bibliothecary tends to the records, artifacts, and spiritual care of the men.
They are a collection of semi-autonomous knights, clerics, and bibliothecaires that have come together for the preservation, collection, and advancement of knowledge of the Old Ones and the Old World. Though members of the order take vows, they are not necessarily monastic, even though they are attached to the Cult of Dagon.
As servants of their unseen lord, Dagon, the Dagon Errancy is always quick to establish its holdings close to water, where one can always find a shrine to the Undersea Lord. Following rites spelled out in the archaic and horrid language from the Necronomicon, they regularly offer tribute of the relics and artifacts they’ve recovered to Dagon, and are always search for more. Though most outsiders do not readily see what these artifacts are in exchange for.
While they can be closed off and off-putting, the Dagon Errancy is a technologically advanced faction, especially by comparison to other civilizations on Aeortha. They are willing to trade and learn from most of the people they come to encounter, and are ever searching for secret treasures hidden by time.
“It is not my skill, nor the grit of my sailors that guides this ship across the waves, but the providence of Father Dagon! The Deep Ones aid us in this battle, and so our foes shall be consumed by the deep!” ~ Lord Admiral Bailey White before the Battle of Whitharbour

Hierarchy

The Ordo Militant:

1. Lord Admiral: The commander of all chapters and fleets of the Dagon Errancy. They are the stern hand of Dagon. Elected from the Chamber of Harbour Masters who help govern the sprawling order. They are the commander of one of the vastest navies around, the Lord Admiral serves as the protector of the vastness and depth of the ocean, a most hallowed charge only given to the most capable.
2. Harbour Master: The Harbour Master is the administrative and military head of any Chapter Harbour. They are appointed from the Knight-Captains of a Chapter, and are typically blessed and enthroned on the Captain’s chair by the Chief Bibliothecary of the Chapter Harbour that they will be leading. They are experienced, cunning, and capable of the out-of-the-box thinking that has preserved the Order all these centuries. They are entrusted with the guarding a section of the seas, a most sacred duty for any Order member, the Harbour Master works closely with the Chief Bibliothecary for the discovery and collection of ancient relics.
3. Knight-Captain: After cutting their teeth in battle, and showing intense devotion to Dagon and his servants, a Knight-Errant may be recommended by his/her peers to be promoted to the rank of Knight-Captain. These are the backbone of the order. Serving as leaders to their squads, they regularly go out on expeditions, recovery missions, assaults, etc.
4. Knight-Errant: After serving under a knight for four years, Aspirants are promoted to the rank of Knight-Errant and given the title “Ser/Dame.” Knight-Errants are assigned in groups of six to a Knight-Captain. They are the bulk of the military for the order, and serve as explorers, soldiers, sailors, and whatever else their commanders deem necessary for the harbour.
5. Aspirant: Essentially a squire. They are taken into the order around the age of 10, these children begin the first steps of knighthood. Learning how to maintain armor, court etiquette, and the spiritual life of the order. Normally assigned a Knight-Mentor around the age of 14.

The Ordo Secretum

1. Supreme Bibliothecary: The Keeper of Secrets and the Warden of Mysteries. The Supreme Bibliothecary acts as the oracle of Dagon, and is respected as such. They head the vast University and Library in Miskatonic Hold, and spiritually guides those who live under the protection of the Order.
2. Chief Bibliothecary: When a Bibliothecary gains the knowledge, fortitude, and zealotry necessary for understanding of the mysteries, the Supreme Bibliothecary calls the elect home to Miskatonic. There, the Chief-Elect undergoes a rite so treasured and guarded that only the Supreme Bibliothecary and those who have gone through it know its contents. It is during this ceremony, the Chief Bibliothecary is presented with a personal copy of the Necronomicon. They are responsible with the study of it, and the organizing of expeditions and research ventures that bring the order closer to their Aquatic God. Chief Bibliothecaries co-lead Chapter Harbours in conjunction with the Harbour Master. They are responsible for heading the religious services, and maintaining the library and scribe stations in the base as the Ordo Militant brings in more things for research and cataloging.
3. Bibliothecary: When he/she is deemed ready, a Scrivener is promoted to the rank of Bibliothecary. Responsible with the spiritual and intellectual well-being of their brothers and sisters in the order. It is during this time that the mind and soul are prepared for the secrets of the Necronomicon. While still not being allowed to read from it, they are orally taught certain prayers and rites from the book from the Chief Bibliothecary of the Chapter Harbour.
4. Scrivener: After being thoroughly schooled for some 6 years, the Acolyte takes his first Bibliothecary vows and becomes a Scrivener. These members of the Secretum are responsible for copying ancient manuscripts, maintain records, and various other clerical duties in the vast libraries and laboratories of the Order.
5. Acolyte: The first step a person must take to understand the mysteries of the old ways. Acolytes are taken in around the age of 10, and are succumbed to rigorous schooling on all the known subjects, especially languages.

The Cult of Dagon

“We are all pawns in a game older than the stars, our role is to simply go where we are being placed.” ~ Supreme Bibliothecary Lazarus Goodwin (Writings of the University Fathers, Vol. 1)

The Cult of Dagon is a mystery, perhaps even to its followers. The central book, the Necronomicon, does not even contain much information on Dagon himself. Information on him has been discovered through other sacred writings and relics, much less lethal to the human mind. Much of the Necronomicon details horrors beyond human comprehension, ideas and thoughts that would drive the strongest willed to madness, and yet the Dagon Errancy bibliothecaries are able to read it with relative ease, given the circumstance.
The reason seems to be Dagon is the most benevolent of the many Old Ones who hide in the shadows of reality. The most willing to make a deal and protect his followers. Through his celestial knowledge, Dagon adherents are able to command many aspects of the Necronomicon, and even use it against those that it details. This is done through certain spellwards that Dagon has taught the Ordo Secretum, that are placed in the mind of Chief Bibliothecaries that provides a safeguard for them as the study the dark secrets.
Thus is the paradox of the Dagon Errancy, in service to an Old One, yet enemies to the Old Ones. The Cult is organized around individual ministers of local congregations, who are ruled over by Archministers who are then headed by the Synodus Ministorum, which is presided over by the Supreme Bibliothecary. It is up to the care and guidance of these clergy to protect the flock from the whispers of the malevolent Old Ones, and to make sure that Dagon is pleased by regular worship and sacrifice.

Lord Admiral:
Supreme Bibliothecary:
Motto: “Into the Abyss”
Capital: Miskatonic Hold
Major Harbours: Innsmouth Reach, Dunwich Point
Membership: Approx. 20,000 Professed Members

Type

Military Order