House Silversteed

[Ankalagon_ 258]

House Silversteed

“We Are Retribution”

 

The House coat of arms is a silver knights helm, atop a shield depicting a white stallion.

The helm is a depiction of the armor the Silver Knights wear. House colors are black and white of checkered pattern.

 

Not so long ago, the Dreadlands lead one of the greatest coalitions against the Empire of Oren the realms had ever seen. In the name of freedom, and in the name of ending a corrupt rule, House Ruric and many others amassed an army worthy of it’s own song, in a final effort to end the tyrannical rule of the Emperor. History played it’s course, and the Dreadlandic army lost terrible casualties in this final battle. Despite this defeat, the battle would have made our ancestors proud, the Empire would never again regain its former strength. We would not surrender to the broken oaths and muddled lies that Oren would try to plague our lands with. Oren lacked the power to truly secure our borders, and so the Dreadlands remained ever rebellious, ever vigilant, and ever vengeful. It is here that House Silversteed stood its ground, and would stand in proud defiance of Oren, despite the odds.

 

The following words in this charter will serve as the purpose of this house, as hope for the good, and as a warning for the darkness.

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~History

Spoiler

 

Vailor:   In the midst of the Great Civil war, which would eventually become known as the conflict between the Dreadlands and Oren, Avalon Silversteed joined the conflict in the hopes of ending a corrupt rule. Avalon served under Lord Thomas Ruric, first of his name, and worked his way through the ranks. A loyal servant to this day, Avalon proved his commanding ability, and was given leadership titles within the Nortruppen. As the conflict progressed and the Nortruppen gained further ground, Avalon requested to create his own house, just outside the borders of Seahelm, believing perhaps he would better aid the cause. Holding the trust of his King, Thomas granted him this request, and house Silversteed was born. It is worthy to note, that Avalon changed the precedent of taking an oath in Norland. He did not bend the knee, instead he stood and put a fist over his heart. He declared "I serve one man and one man only, Thomas Ruric, not Norland as a whole, nor the family of House Ruric, though I would die for many of them. Should Norland be worthy of it's own name, I shall swear allegiance again to the next king, thus is my promise, and oath I shall uphold until my death." Unlike those in Oren, this house was born from nothing, the lordship given to a man who worked his way from the lowest ranks, and proved his undying loyalty to the free people. The first castle, Silverholt, was constructed just outside Seahelm. When Seahelm was overrun by Orenian forces, Silverholt was burned to the ground, and the free people moved to the Dreadlands. Here, Avalon was granted the title Count of Evermore, which became the new fortress town of the Dreadlands. Out of rubble and dust, House Silversteed built Evermore, in the hopes of creating a new homeland for the free people. Avalon was given Thomas Ruric’s ring, a symbol of the trust between House Ruric and House Silversteed, one that will never be broken.  A decisive battle was fought not long after, one that would prove to be a destructive blow against Oren. Some say the Dreadlands lost, others say it was Oren who fled, regardless it was a day of reckoning. The Dreadlandic dead piled high. House Silversteed lost many good men that day. Avalon, stricken by grief, relinquished his position to his son Ethan Silversteed, and went out into the realm to find peace. He was not seen again for many a year.

 

Isles of Axios: Ethan Silversteed, valiantly took it upon himself to continue his father's house. When the realm fled to the Isles of Axios, Ethan rebuilt what he could of House Silversteed, and joined the new rebellion against Oren. Ethan was killed by murderers and thieves, and the title of House Silversteed was then granted to Ethan’s Son William. William continued House Silversteed’s , fighting victories in the Rebellion, and obtaining lands in Norland. Until that is when William broke the oath to his own house, and to his family. Blinded by a lust for power, he grew increasingly stubborn. He would go missing for several months at a time, only to come back more and more irrational. Towards the final days of Axios, Avalon did not swear a new oath to Jory Ash, and left Norland. William returned yet again from wherever it was he was dwelling, and demanded the Silversteeds follow him instead. They refused, and one by one the entirety of House Silversteed and even many Norlanders left the once prosperous kingdom, to seek out a better life outside the clutches of Jory Ash, the Bastard King who Knelt

 

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~Direct Bloodline of House Silversteed

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Avalon Silversteed:       Alive,    Lord of House Silversteed, Founder of House Silversteed, Current Silver Captain of the Silver Knights

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Ethan Silversteed:     Deceased,    Former Lord Commander of House Silversteed

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William:                             A former Silversteed, however, recently stripped of his name by his Grand Father, and Lord of House Silversteed. William betrayed the house in attempts to seize power for himself, he stayed in Norland against his Grandfather's will, and claimed to be the rightful ruler of the house despite Avalon still being alive. A traitor to the name, William was stripped of his name and title, and he is forever banished from the house Silversteed.

 

 

 

 

                                                                              ___________________________________________________________________________________

  ~Silver Knights and Nortruppen Cavalry charge at the battle for Seahelm~

 

~Ethan Silversteed leading the coalition charge against the Orenian line~

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~Relics and Artifacts of House Silversteed

Avalon Silversteed’s cane:   Designed to be a hidden blade, the cane was last seen with Ethan Silversteed.

 

The Red Dragon Ring of Thomas Ruric:  Given to Avalon by Thomas Ruric himself, as a sign of the friendship and trust Thomas endowed upon Avalon. It is a ruby ring with a Dragon carved into it, likely of dwarvish make. The Ring was last seen upon the finger of Avalon Silversteed.

 

House Silversteed Family Sword:  Made and Forged by Ethan Silversteed, Used in many battles, and has been passed down to William Silversteed, it has a black handle, the hilt is curved at the end, and the crossguard is thick steel. The blade itself is folded steel, layer after layer this sword is a sleek and simple weapon of retribution.

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~House Silversteed Armed Forces

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Structure of the Armed Forces

New Bloods join or are recruited by Sergeants or Captains. New Bloods, Footman,

and Soldiers are all assigned to one Sergeant. Each Sergeant serves under one Captain.

 Once a Sergeant has 10 troops under their command, they will no longer be able to

obtain additional troops. A Captain, their Sergeant and the troops under this Sergeant

iscalled a Contingency. Therefore one Contingency has a maximum of 12 men,

a Captain, a Sergeant, and 10 troops ranking Soldier or lower.

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~Ranks~

Below is all the basic information for each rank,

prior to joining or ascension to a rank, read about that rank here.

 

Standard Uniform: http://www.minecraftskins.com/skin/11135487/silversteed-regiment/

 

Spoiler

New Blood:

A newly recruited member of House Silversteed who has sworn the oath of allegiance in ink and in front of a Silversteed, or a captain of the house given recruiting rights. The task of a New Blood is to obey all commands, and observe the goings of the house. If deemed worthy of the title, a New Blood will be promoted to the rank of Soldier by a ranking officer no lower than the rank of Sergeant. New Bloods will be given the basic uniform, if seen without the uniform, there will be a consideration of removing the New Blood from the house.

 

Footman:

A Footman rank is given to those who have proven their active loyalty to House Silversteed, and prowess in combat. A Footman does not have any commanding authority, and cannot command a New Blood, or any rank, in any form. If a Footman proves their undevoted loyalty to House Silversteed and Norland, and if they show further prowess in combat or battle, they will be promoted to rank of Soldier. Footman wear the basic uniform.

 

Soldier:

A Soldier is a trusted and proven worthy member of the House Silversteed force. They are expected to fight without fear on the battlefield, and maintain their position despite any odds. A Soldier is an unwavering sword who will not flee unless commanded otherwise. A Soldier is not permitted to command anyone outside of their own squad, and does not have the right to promote. They may report if they believe a New Blood or Footman in their Contingency deserves a promotion. A Soldier will remain under the command of their Sergeant until they are promoted. In order to be promoted a Soldier must display unwavering capability on the battlefield, and the ability to inspire as well as follow orders to the letter. Only then will a Soldier be chosen for leadership.

 

A Soldier has a second option other than promotion to Sergeant. If a Soldier meets all the requirements, of valor and loyalty, they may request to undergo the Silver Trials in an attempt to join the Silver Knights. If they succeed they will forfeit their rank as Soldier and join the Silver Knights. If they fail the Silver Trials, they will retain their rank as Soldier, and will have other opportunities to attempt the Silver Trials once again.

A soldier wears the improved uniform.

 

Sergeant:

A Sergeant is now of commanding position, and has time and again proven their loyalty to House Silversteed, and their leadership ability. A Sergeant will be given command over 10 men at the maximum. Soldiers and other troops will be assigned to a Sergeant by their Captain. If a Sergeant wishes to be promoted to the rank of Captain, they must maintain their troop cap of 10 units, if this cap is not met for several days, they will not be considered for promotion. If a Sergeant is able to maintain this number, through recruiting and running drills for their unit, they will be considered for promotion by other Captains and all members of the Silversteed direct bloodline. A Sergeant is allowed to promote within their own ranks, however must obey all decisions made by their captain. A Sergeant may only promote an individual once every 2 days. Sergeants will also be brought into meetings, and other councils held by the leadership.

 

A Sergeant also has the option to take part in the Silver Trials to see if they are worthy of becoming a Silver Knight. If successful in completing the trials, a Sergeant will need to relinquish their former position, and find a suitable replacement of the appropriate rank.

 

Sergeant Uniform will be given to the achieving rank

 

Captain:

The Captain rank is very difficult to reach, and is one of the highest honors to achieve in the Silversteed house, apart from being a Silver Knight. A Captain is in charge of one Sergeant and their respective units, creating a maximum cap of units under one Captain of 11. A Captain is expected to enforce and maintain this unit cap, and will be considered for demotion if they fail to do so. A Captain and the unit they preside over is called a Contingency. A Captain has complete authority over their Contingency, and thus may promote, demote and recruit as necessary. A Captain is expected to run drills regularly, which may change, however should mostly consist of combat drills and formation tactics. Captains hold a position of great honor and great responsibility, a Captain who is deemed unworthy of this position will be quickly replaced. If you are chosen to become a Captain, think carefully as this position will not allow you to take on the Silver Trials ever again.

 

Captain Uniform will be given to the achieving rank

 

A Lord or Lady Silversteed:

This is less a military rank, but may have military implications. A Lord or Lady of House Silversteed must be of the direct bloodline to House Silversteed. Captains and any rank below must obey an individual of this rank, however, this position is not one of commanding importance. Therefore, if a Lord or Lady of the house gives an order, it is to be obeyed, however can be countered by the authority of the Lord Commander. This rank only means an individual is in the bloodline of House Silversteed, and therefore, those who hold this position should not use their power to command unless truly necessary. On the battlefield, should the Lord Commander fall, any Lord or Lady Silversteed present will assume direct command of the army. This position is one of formality, and Lords or Lady’s of the house should not conduct themselves overly in military affairs, unless given another military rank by the Lord Commander. A Lord or Lady of the House may engage in council affairs, and diplomatic missions, but must be given a separate rank in order to fully conduct in military affairs separate from the battlefield.

 

No specific uniform

 

Lord Commander, Baron of House Silversteed:

The Lord Commander of House Silversteed is the acting Lord Paramount of the house. There is no rank above Lord Commander, and the position can only be held by a bloodline member of House Silversteed. The Lord Commander only answers to their betters in the House Ruric, whom we are vassals of.

Currently this position is held by William Silversteed, and will be held by him until his death. The Position will then be given to his next of kin who is fit for the position, and of age. Should there be multiple, the position will be given to the eldest, ect, regardless of gender.

 

No specific uniform

 

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~The Silver Knights of House Silversteed

Spoiler

 

The Silver Knights of House Silversteed

(Note: There is no OOC sign up on this page, it must be done through rp with the Silver Captain or you may apply

on the Silver Knights post under guilds and organizations, if it is not there the post is likely being updated for new tourney rules and trials)

 

This rank is one of the highest honors to achieve in House Silversteed, and in the Kingdom of Norland, for only the best will be able to complete the trials and become a Silver Knight. The Trials will be explained in more detail below. The Silver Knights are the pinnacle of skill and ability on the battlefield. The Silver Knights are the pride of House Silversteed, and must have unparalleled skill on horseback and in melee combat. A Silver Knight may not hold any other position, and their service is for life or until they are unable to carry out their duty. The Captain of the Silver Knights is the exception, as they are able to hold different ranks and positions in the House that the Lord Commander gives them. The current Silver Captain is Avalon Silversteed, who will hold this position until his death or until he is no longer able to carry out his duty. This position is elected, for a new Silver Captain to be chosen, the Lord Commander, all members of the Silversteed bloodline, and all captains of the army, must be present. The Duties of the Silver Knights are as follows:

 

~When not called upon, they are expected to travel the Kingdom of Norland, protect the people and resolve disputes among the people if possible.

 

~The Silver Knights are the only House Guard of the Silversteed family, and high ranking officials. They have the sole trust of the Silversteed bloodline to protect them when in danger. No other may hold this trust and position. If an individual wishes to be a House Guard of the Silversteed family, they must undergo the Silver Trials and succeed.

 

~The Silver Knights are the cavalry of House Silversteed on the battlefield. When ordered they will charge against any foe without hesitation, and this makes them a terrifying foe to face.

 

~Silver Knights can only command those in the rank of Soldier and below, and only answer to House Silversteed members and the Captain of the Silver Knights. They are expected however to not order around individuals unless necessary.

 

 

The Silver Trials:

Any individual may request to undergo the Silver Trials, however, they will likely not be accepted unless

they have ascended to the rank of Soldier in the House Silversteed force. The Trials may change,

however will follow a similar format as below.

 

~The melee, for several days under the supervision of the Silver Captain and other Silver Knights, an applicant must be able to fight off several opponents at once, and prevail. These tests will get progressively harder. If an applicant is able to do well in these tests, they will be permitted to move on.

 

~A applicant will be chosen by a Silver Knight to become their squire. The Silver Knight will teach the applicant the ways of the Knights, train them in single combat, and take them on patrols. At this stage the applicant and their Silver Knight teacher will get a horse for the applicant, one that is fast enough and has the stamina to perform well in battle. If the Silver Knight believes the applicant is ready, they will be permitted to move on to the final phase.

 

~The Applicant will now prove their ability in horse combat, performing jousts against other applicants and knights, races, and prolonged horse combat. These tests will often change to ensure optimal performance. If the applicant is deemed worthy and has passed all the tests, they will be knighted by the Captain of the Silver Knights, and the Lord Commander of House Silversteed. This will earn them the title of Knight of the Realm, Silver Knight, and allow them to join the ranks of the Silver Knights.

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~The Code of House Silversteed

Any and all who are either a member of House Silversteed, or in service of House Silversteed, military or otherwise, must abide by this code, should it cost them their life.

 

~Protect the innocent, and those who cannot defend themselves, no matter the instigator. No villain is above our retribution.

 

~Commit no crime, except in the defence or pre emptive defence of good, or if ordered by a ranking member against enemies of the realm.

 

~Follow all orders given by a superior rank, and by any member of the direct Silversteed bloodline.

 

~Respect the laws and traditions of the land they are within.

 

~Harm no individual solely because of their race, gender, or religious beliefs.

 

~Theft will not be tolerated, and will result in immediate expulsion or demotion by several ranks.

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Signed~

                          ~Avalon Silversteed, first of his name, founder of House Silversteed, Lord Paramount of House Silversteed, Lord Grandfather and Silver Captain of House Silversteed.

 

 

 

 

[Anisgar 585]

William reads the charter that his Grandfather made "This is only marks the beginning of House Silversteed." William smiles and rides back to Fort Fahr to show the rest of the Silversteed Guardsmen the charter 

[Darks099 16]

Connor begins to read the Charter a smile on his face 
"SILVERSTEED PRIDE!"
He shouts as he begins to walk to the Sparring pit

[DarkElfs 160]

SilverSteed PRIDE!

[BasicDoctor 91]

Smiles reading charter, filled with Silversteed patriotism he chants, "Ave  House of Silversteed! Ave William Silversteed! Ave Avalon Silversteed! Ethan would have been proud. . ."

[Askuzai 505]

Atturi reads the silversteed lore "Hmmm I remember the time when Avalon was around, I think Ethan was only 13 at the time when his father left. Hard times because Ethan was very annoying at the time." he says to himself as he gets close to the bottom. "Wait.... Avalon outlasted his son?" he shrugs and goes about his day, maybe to see the rise and fall of Norland once again, As theyve risen and fallen about three times so far since he first knew of them back in Vailor. Silversteed pride.