The Order of St. Emma

[Naj 545]

The Order of St. Emma
From Ashes, From Rubble

 

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History
“I do, truly, believe there is peace in our time.”
-Paul I Varoche, Duke of Adria, prior to the burning of Ves.

 

The Order of St. Emma can find its roots in the reign of John I Sarkozic of Adria (circa 1650). The Order, originally designed to be a knightly lodge of nobles, took up its role as the main military force of the Duchy upon the ascension of Josip I Sarkozic, serving as his own personal Bannermen. It was dissolved under Ratibor I Carrion, replaced by the City Watch of Belvitz. It is under our Duke, Adrian I, that we reinstitute these great gentry to their proper order.

 

Charge of Belle’s Hill, The Battle of the Rolling Hills (1660)

 

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Ranking of the Order
“You put the K in Chain of Command.” - Broos Wellis, to Vladan Valic

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Marshal of Adria: The Marshal of Adria serves as the commander and bearer of the Adrian sword. It is his pen stroke that accompanies the seal of St. Emma, and it is his will that sustains the Order and its expansion. He shall be tasked with leading the men of St. Emma in battle.

Commandant of the Marshal: Second to the Marshal, the Commandant is the authority of the Marshal when he is not present. He is tasked with the sustenance of a well-regulated and well trained order of Knights within the Order of St. Emma. Training and skirmishing are under the jurisdiction of the Seneschal and Commandant, as well as the regulation of the finances of the Order. 

Knight of the Order:  The final rank most Ordermen could achieve. A nobleman or gentry of the Holy Orenian Empire and the Duchy of Adria. Any man bearing proper titles may apply for this rank in the Duchy, and Sergeants at Arms of the Order are privy to a nomination for knighthood from the Marshal and Duke to the Holy Orenian Emperor and Grand Knight.

 

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Sergeant at Arms of the Order: The ultimate rank of non-gentry within the Order of St. Emma. Responsible for the day-to-day management of grunts and non-gentry inside the Order. Seen as the executive actor of the Marshal’s will within the rank and file, and tasked with the preservation of the well being of all men within the Order, from the lowliest recruit to the Marshal himself. 

Man at Arms of the Order: A rank displaying the seasoned nature of a non-gentryman within the order. Achieved after a Saint’s Month of service, or 4 years. 

Footman of the Order: A rank signifying a blooded member of the Order of St. Emma. 2 Years of service are required to achieve this rank. 

Recruit of the Order: The default starting rank of any member joining the Order of St. Emma. Not Blooded. 

 

Siege of Ruriksgrad, 1662

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Honors

“I’m an eggshell, protecting the yolk of Felsen.”- Halberdier Nathan Hawthorne

The Grand Crow of Sigmund (200 Minas)- The highest honour available to members of the Order of St. Emma. Only officers are eligible to receive it. The Grand Crow is a golden medallion, affixed to the uniform of the honored man by the Duke himself. If not already a Knight, the reception of the Grand Crow will coincide with a recommendation to the Emperor of knighthood.

The Gold Cross of St. Emma (200 Minas) - The highest honour available to enlisted-men of the Order of St. Emma. Affixed to the uniform of the honored man by the Duke himself, and each awarded cross contains a minor relic cast into the gold. If not already a Knight, the reception of the Grand Crow will coincide with a recommendation to the Emperor of knighthood.

The Silver Cross of Adria (100 Minas)- The Silver Cross of Adria is awarded to members of the Order responsible for saving the life of a member of the ducal family, a noble vassal family, or one of his duke’s councilors. The Silver Cross is blessed by the Pontiff, and affixed to the uniform of the honored man by His Grace the Duke himself.

The Bronze Cross of Adria (50 Minas)- Given for valorous service in battle, the Bronze Cross is blessed by the Pontiff, and affixed to the uniform of the honored man by His Grace the Duke himself.

The Crow’s Shield (50 Minas)- Given for saving the life of a citizen of Adria from threats at home or abroad. In the form of a bronze shield embossed with the arms of the Ducal family, given to the honored man by the Duke himself.

 

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Customs & Regulations:

“Sometimes when I close my eyes I cannot see.” 

 

Customs of the Rank

Adrian Salute- The right fist clasped, placed over heart, and held there until the salute is returned.

Church- The Ordermen’s uniform should always be worn, clean and pressed, to service. No sins against the Creator are to be permitted in the House of God, under threat of corporal punishment.

Nobles- Nobles of the realm should be addressed politely according to their rank and station. If you are not sure how to address a noble, at least use the courtesy address of “Sir” or “Ma’am”.

Superiors- Any soldier or officer of higher rank than oneself should be addressed as “Sir”.

Uniform regulations- The regulation helm is optional, but otherwise the regulation Orderman uniform is required to be worn at all times in public spaces in the Empire unless instructed otherwise. Criminal activity is of course prohibited for members of the Order, but Ordermen caught committing crimes against the duchy or empire in their uniform will, at least, lose a hand and be expelled from the guard.

Duels- The conflict resolution of choice for most knights, two gentry in such a situation shall find themselves subject to any duel format of their choice, so long as it abides by the codex of Adrian duels, which offers a variety of options for what constitutes a win and loss, and what punishment or reward they receive upon the decision.

Regulations and Bylaws

 

Spoiler

 

1. On the Validity of Command

   1. The Chain of Command shall always be, in order of least to greatest, Recruit, Footman, Man at Arms, Sergeant, Knight, Commandant, and last but not least, the Marshal himself.

   2. The Marshal’s word shall only be superseded by the will of the Duke himself.

   3. The Marshal shall always bear a seat on the Privy Council of the Duke of Adria.

   4. The Office of the Marshal shall hold the word of the Knight Magistrate as the decider of its official stance. 

   5. The Marshal of Adria adheres to and respects the will of the Pontiff of Canonism. 

2. On the Nature of Marshal

   1. The Marshal shall be elected by the Duke of Adria.

   2. The Marshal shall be dismissed by the Duke of Adria if and only if any of the following are true:
      The Marshal acts in direct defiance of the Duchy.
      The Marshal fails to benefit the expansion and sustenance of the Duchy.
      The Marshal is found guilty of violating the bylaws of the Order of St.
      Emma by court martial. 

3. On the Morality of Knights

   1. A Knight of Adria shall be hereby required to:

Preserve the integrity of the Duchy of Adria, and the well being of his Grace, Adrian I. 

Hold himself and his peers accountable to the code of chivalry adhered to by all the gentry of the Imperial Crown.
Hold himself in a pious and righteous state, and adhere to the will of the High Pontiff concerning all matters of the Canon.

Always maintain the cleanliness of his blade and armor.

Donate 1/10th of his income to the Canonist Church.

4. On Respect Warranted

   1. A non-gentry soldier in the Order of St. Emma is expected to treat all of his superiors with the utmost respect, regardless of experience or maturity.

   2. A man of the gentry is expected to treat his lessers with the maturity and poise warranted to the man, for the benefit of the Duchy and Order.

   3. When addressing superiors in the Order, any given member is required to utter the title the addressed bears. 

   4. Any two knights in disagreement are entitled to a duel, which must be observed by and organized by the Knight-Magistrate.

5. On Just Punishment

   1. A Knight-Warden of the Order of St. Emma is hereby entitled to arrest any member of the OSE, given the circumstances are dire and arrest is necessary. 

   2. Upon arrest, detained soldiers shall be subjected to a court martial trial.This trial shall consist of the plaintiff and defendant in this case a warden and the accused, making a case for themselves in front of the Knight-Magistrate. 

   3. If the Magistrate finds that a Court Martial is necessary, the punishment of such action shall be the dishonorable discharge and banishment of the accused. No owed payments shall be dispersed to convicted ex-soldiers. 

   4. The OSE shall commit to fair and reasonable trials, and any Magistrate operating without fairness and reason shall be in violation of this law. 

   5. If the Magistrate is accused, the Duke of Adria shall appoint a judge to oversee the occasion. 

 

 

The Charge of Whitepeak, 1668

 

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Book of St. Emma’s Songs
“The Pen is stronger than the sword, but not the torch.”
--Timeo de la Baltas, upon The Burning of Ves

 

Spoiler

 

Battle of the Milvian Bridge
Marched we did, and fought we had
For what we thought was right,
Daniel preserve us, Emma prevail,
For the Waldenians arrive tonight!
The bridge stood clear,
Stood we did, held our ground
Against Dwarven waves we held,
Our hearts and courage sound!
Amidst the smoke she stood,
Sword in hand, Cross on shield,
Her horse stabbed through by pike,
No, the Vladov would not yield!
It was our push, our fire
That burnt their city down,
To Waldenia! To Waldenia!
To take the heretic’s crown!
 

Brelus Defiant
There would be no quarter today.
De sola betrayed,
Our kinsman slain,
Ilatia will rise in flames.
There will be no surrender this morn,
For the day is young,
Our songs yet sung,
We’ve yet our fill of gore!
March against Olivier!
March against the Tyrant!
March against the Whoresons!
Brelus shall stand Defiant!

 

From Ashes, From Smoke

Tales of  three men hold us,
Our legacy that of our leaders,
One who led, One who fled
One who faced the axe for us.
Hugh, our eagle, our savior,
Where have you rested your wings?
Vacant throne, the great crow
Hath flown home to his creator.

Siguine, Coward, traitor to the cause!
He flees, he flees! The Barbanov betrays!
Lead us to defeat! Let not history repeat!
For the cousin crow has withdrawn!
Franz, oh Franz, faultless in life!
You did no wrong but love,
Love our kin, it was your sin!
Your death began our strife!
From Ashes, From Smoke,
We fled our homes, the fires
Burned, siege engines churned,
Cries for help were heard, none spoke.

The Boar and the Burgher
Coin versus Sword!
The Boar versus Burgher!
Valic against the Gradic!
Exploited words,
The Pontiff’s fervor
Struck Sabo deep into ****!
The Boar took his men,
Sabo’s lament,
The chain round his leg did weigh!
With a kick and a cry,
The Burgher did fly,
And sink to the bottom of the Bay!

The Mad Duke!
Death to traitors! Death to cowards!
The young duke did proclaim.
Save us, Hugh, Save us, Emma,
The unready boy did exclaim.
Vilacz did loom, and weigh heavy it did,
The Ivanovich ready for blood.
The madness seeped into the poor boy’s head,
And his ramblings did wallow in mud.

He fled in the night! He fled in the night!
The bells did ring in the church.
The Bracchus returned, Bracchus did not learn,
And Josip did send him more words.
His heart grew heavy, his head weary,
The Young Duke did collapse on the morrow,
No mercy from Belvitz, Ilatia
Celebrated, all to the end of their sorrows.

 

To Ashes Once More
Lament for Chekhov,
Lament for days passed.
Lament for the best of,
What little life we had.
Woe to Antony,
Woe to the false,.
Woe to the bodies
In these flaming halls.
Varoche, the sin!
The embodiment
Of Decadence!
The failure of men!
Adler! You Brute!
He who kills our men!
He who took our loot!
Forced us from our Beds!
We shall rise again!
We shall rise again!

 

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[1_Language_1 1671]

Former Sergeant Antanios Rutledge salutes the MIGHTY Order of St. Emma from the Seven Skies.

 

[Catdog]

[amyselia 2962]

The debilitated former duchess of Adria drawls illatian obscenities to the mass of foreign cultists surrounding her deceased figure, entertaining them with her imperious designation.

“L’inteligente! Paul’s Adria did not have a militia, as it’s failures showed when they simply attempted to swing a sword.” She’d laugh with great pomp, allowing the parchment free venture through the uninspired air of the crypts, “It pleases me to see the Order restored; Perhaps this iteration will prove itself to be less idiotic.”

[ApplePieKathy 561]

Vesna the Older Carrion, an Adrian Woman frowns from the seven skies

 

[kenring 25]

Emma Vladov smiles the suns smile from the seven skies

[Guest]

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.