THE PALATINE GUARD

[Caranthir_ 2533]

The Palatine Guard

“Ex Umbra In Solem”

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The snow flew in all directions, a blizzard most foul had been sent breezing through Atlas in recent times.

 

Even so, a gathering of men walked the southern hills.

 

The dried leaves of winter crunched beneath their steel capped boots as they marched, the tips of their polearms brittle by the snapping cold.

 

Their banners, which flapped solitarily midst the wind, were drenched in a repugnant reddish-brown sludge. There upon the thin linen, though, still flew the violaceous arms of the Vicar of God, its dignified wings frosted over some by a tenebrous ice.

 

A score of men waded through the flurry, determined and hungry, with the objective of reaching their respite. The blizzard had snuffed out any resemblance of humanity in the retainers just as well as their ordeal had.

 

They were tired, they were weary, yet they pushed on. Alike to ants in a downfall, they made for home.

 

For Judeburg

 

For the High Pontiff

 

For GOD

 

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PREAMBLE

 

Defenders of the Holy Father, the Church, and its ancient institutions, the Palatine Guard maintains the law of GOD across the realms of humanity. Tasked as the personal protectors of the High Pontiff, these men serve at the most elite level and pledge their life to the Church. It is further organised to manage the defense of the Church and the keepers of its faith.

 

The Guard is formed as its precursor had been under the High Pontiff Daniel I, to protect the Church in times where its security is not guaranteed without strength and arms. To live and die for the Pontiff and God is the ultimate purpose of the Palatine Guard.

 

 

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THE CODE

 

It is the responsibility of all Palatine’s to give their life for the Guard. Each initiate shall have to repeat this code in their oathing ceremony, with the basic tenants of the Guard herein laid out:

 

I. To serve the word of GOD with faith and devotion.

 

II. To maintain and defend His word until death.

 

III. To embody the virtues of the Exalteds and the Saints.

 

IV. To serve the High Pontiff, College of Bishops, and the institutions of the Church of the Canon with unwavering loyalty.

 

V. To obey without question the word of the Holy Father.

 

VI. To live in the knowledge that to violate this code means death.

 

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RANKS

 

HIGH COMMAND

 

Commandant

The Commandant is the head of the Palatine Guard, and his authority on matters of running the Guard are held as law. The position is retained for life, or until it is abdicated from. The Commandant is appointed by the Palatine Council, chosen from the Vice-Commandants. He can only be removed by the High Pontiff himself, as has a duty to advise the Holy Father and College on all matters military.

 

PALATINE COUNCIL

The Palatine Council acts as the commanding force in the Guard. They are the direct subordinates of the Commandant, and are all appointed by him. Made up of the following, it is they who select the next Commandant.

 

Vice-Commandants

The Vice-Commandant's are the overall commanders of the Guard. Tasked with command on the battlefield, and the management of specific sections and offices of the Guard, they are implemented in an effort to delegate the daily functions of the Palatine Guard.

 

Kaplan

The Kaplan is the highest spiritual rank in the Guard, and acts with the same authority as Commandant, but can be overridden by him. Selected from the fiercest and bravest the Palatine has to offer, the Kaplan becomes an ordained warrior-priest and runs all religious matters in the Guard. The Kaplan has a seat on the Palatine Council, however only one can be in existence at a time.

 

Confanonier

The Confanonier is in charge of all within the Enlisted ranks. He is the one to carry the Pontifical standard into battle, and acts as the paymaster, trainer, and role model to all lower ranks. As with the  Kaplan, there may be only one in service at a time.

 

SENIOR COMMAND

 

First Knight

The First Knight is he who has shown his ability to command in battle effectively. They are considered the advisers to the Palatine Council, and is given command of the Holy Knights. They are to be selected by the Commandant himself, but are not guaranteed a seat within the Palatine Council. On occasion, however, it may be permitted that they sit on the Council.

 

Holy Knights

The Holy Knights are the most elite members of the guard. They carry the style of ‘Holy Ser’, and are chosen from the First Palatines. They are beholden to the First Knight, who leads them into battle.

 

First Palatine

The First Palatine are the most experienced, proven and competent Palatines the Guard has to offer. They are chosen from those who have been decorated on the field, and usually a secondary duty. The First Palatine is a disciplinary role, and as such they are in charge of distributing punishments amongst the enlisted and keeping order.

 

Quartermaster General

The Quartermaster General is tasked with the maintenance of military supplies within the Palatine Guard. They are chosen from Enlisted who are shown to have a keen eye for organisation and logistics. There is usually only one residing Quartermaster, but in certain cases that number may be expanded. It is they who create and keep the records of the Palatine Guard, and work in aid of the Palatine Council in executing their plans.

 

ENLISTED

 

Palatine

The Palatine are veteran warriors of the guard, proven in battle and loyalty. It is they who make up the bulwark of the Guard, and act as the primary rank-and-file soldier within its hierarchy. They are the first of the Guard who are permitted to wear the colours and tabard of the Palatine Guard.

 

Gendarmerie

The Gendarmerie are those who have been newly initiated, and are now fully fledged members of the Guard. They have been deemed ready for combat, but are still considered a recruit within the Guard. The footmen must obey and respect all those above him in the hierarchy, and must first receive a word of recommendation from a Palatine or above before they can display the Guards colours in battle.

 

Initiate

The initiate is the unoathed of the order. They receive basic training until the time at which their loyalty can be proven, and they can take an official oath in the sight of God and the High Command. The initiates are not officially in the Guard until the moment at which they have been inducted.

 

 

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SELECTION

 

For entrance into the Palatine Guard, one must be above the age of fourteen, male, and a member of the Church of the Canon. Those who serve the Guard do so through two routes:

 

Via Consideration

To be initiated into the Palatine via consideration, one must first apply to the Guard if they fit the requirements aforementioned. They will be given lodgings, sufficient equipment for their rank, and basic training provided their application should be accepted. If they pass as an initiate, they will be oathed and inducted to be a Gendarmerie.

 

 

Spoiler

 

MCName:

Name:

Age:

Race:

 

 

Via Recommendation

Any on the Palatine Council can choose a worthy individual to serve in the Guard. They will be inducted into the Palatine directly, rather than having to train as an initiate. This honour is particularly rare, and only those who are renowned for their skills, traits, or standing are sought out in such a way.

 

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OATHING

 

When an Initiate has passed their trials, and proven themselves capable of joining the order in full, they shall undergo a ceremony, which shall take place in a recognised chapel and is to be attended by the Kaplan and Commandant. There, the initiate shall take a new name, and swear his oath to the Holy Mother Church and to the Guard. The following is based on transcripts of the oath made by initiates of the last Palatine Guard.

 

Priest:

Lo! And behold, for GOD seeks guardians for His flock. You, whose fate is to serve at the fringe of His light, and defend those within from the encroaching abyss.

Yet know this fate is the will of the Creator, and as you take upon yourself the mantle of His flock’s protection, you take upon yourself a new name.

 

Commandant: Your tenets.

Initiate: (Lists the tenets.)

 

Priest: Ye, who have been deemed fit to guard His flock, mutter unto me the Saintly entity which your very personage seeks most to embody.

 

Initiate: (Personally chosen Saint.)

 

Commandant: You shall know him as your Patron.

 

Priest:

Ye, who have been deemed fit to guard His flock. As the Code and the Creator’s light entwine themselves with your very being, rebirth!

Now mutter unto me that name which shall be thine Palatine Name.

 

Initiate: (Chosen Palatine name.)

 

Priest: Now pray unto the Skies (chosen name) and give your oath to GOD, and to the Holy Mother Church.

 

Initiate:

The initiate takes a knee.

 

If I should falter in my course, send me never to the skies above

If I should succeed, bestow unto me His blessings, forevermore

For, now I march into a valley through which there is no path

And the stones cascade behind me, to seal my retreat

Though in this valley, I find my Brothers

Now I am named Guardian of His Flock

Should I falter, my shield shall turn to ash

From the shadow into the light.

 

Priest:

The priest anoints them in holy water.

 

Ex umbra in solem. Rise.

 

---

 

[OzYmandi 647]

The once Neophyte Edmund regrets leaving, but is now proudly serving the Legion.

[Imperium 3495]

Rhys smiles as he learns of the newly formed order, “In the Name of God.”

[lemonke 6014]

MCName: Gioia24

Name: Maya Hiro D’eril Noirette Vitreous Warde

Age:  Quite Young

Race: Halfling 

[Adjuvanos 13]

.

[eulersnumber 26]

MCName:

ExplorerEze

Name:

Charles Guillen

Age:

 17

Race:

Human

[Papa Liam 960]

MCName:

Papa_Liam

 

Name:

Caius Roswell-Rubens

 

Age:

59

 

Race:

Human

[Accrayer 27]

MCName:

Accrayer

 

Name:

Robert Savill

 

Age:

20

 

Race:

Human

[OrbsofGold 43]

 

MCName:Mythicfantasy

Name:Algass

 Age:63

Race:Highlander

 



[Archbishop 1784]

 

On 12/9/2018 at 6:05 PM, ExplorerEze said:

 

 

On 12/9/2018 at 8:20 PM, Papa Liam said:

 

 

3 hours ago, MythicFantasy said:

 

”Accepted and oathed.”

 

On 12/9/2018 at 6:04 PM, Adjuvanos said:

 

 

14 hours ago, Nero_Roman said:

 

 

On 12/9/2018 at 6:02 PM, Goblinberg said:

 

 

”Report to Carolustadt Cathedral”

[Parker 390]

MCName: DelendeEst

Name: Gwyn

Age: Young

Race: Human.....

 

[Caranthir_ 2533]

11 hours ago, Parker said:

MCName: DelendeEst

Name: Gwyn

Age: Young

Race: Human.....

 

“Report to the Carolustadt cathedral.”

(add me on disc Caranthir#1962)

[OzYmandi 647]

MCName: OzYmandi

Name: Baldwin Norfolk

Age: 21

Race: Human

[osumanduas 1442]

Moved to The Great Library. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.

 

If you feel this is a mistake, please contact myself or any FM and we'll restore it.