THE SCARLET CHAPTER

[Norman Osborn 247]

 

The Scarlet Chapter

"The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death, a road to either safety or ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected." - an unknown Easterner commander whose name has been lost to the tides of history.

 

The sigil of House van der Sainte-Blandine: a blossoming red grapevine.

 

Introduction

 

A squadron of Sainte-Blandine crossbowmen ambushing a YPA patrol near the road to Rozania.

 

Sainte-Blandines were warriors long before the establishment of the Scarlet Chapter. Originally beginning as a holy order known as the Legion of Godfrey, they scoured Almaris, using asymmetrical warfare to root out infidels, heretics, and other enemies of the faith. Prince Olivier Renault found use for these stray fighters, giving them highly dangerous missions to carry out behind enemy lines. The Sainte-Blandine family carried them out to the letter, and so the Prince saw fit to elevate them to nobility for their service to the state.

 

Deimos Colborn van der Sainte-Blandine was the Patriarch of the family, and therefore the one to receive the title grant. Fashioning himself as the Baron of Caer der Hodenn, he began recruiting and drilling an army out of his castle known as the Scarlet Chapter.

 

The Scarlet Chapter was named as such due to the red capes that Sainte-Blandine bannermen wear over their armor, being inspired from the fact that red is one of the main family colors coupled with black. They are seldom worn during battle however, instead acting as a kind of dress uniform that members wear during formal meetings. 

 

Actual command of the levy was largely delegated to Deimos’s son and heir, Philippe Hakon van der Sainte-Blandine, who held the rank of Commandant. After Deimos’s abdication a few years after his title grant, Philippe inherited the title and subsequently unrestricted authority over the family’s army. Organizing massive recruitment drives, Philippe seeks to grow the Scarlet Chapter into a formidable fighting force worthy of the Prince’s favor.

 

Sainte-Blandine military doctrine is built on the idea of contracts, a system where new recruits swear themselves to the Chapter for a period of six years, where they are prohibited from joining other levies or leaving the line of duty without leave. This agreement is treated as both a legal contract and a religious oath, with a priest acting as witnesses. Leaving the Chapter without permission during this time is regarded as perjury, desertion and sacrilege, and therefore punishable by death.

 

There are considerable rewards that make this restriction worth it, however. Members of the Chapter are entitled to free housing and a monetary salary, allowing for rapid social advancement that would otherwise not be available in the civilian world. Many soldiers sign on for more contracts simply because of the bonds they have made in the Chapter; one finds their most dependable allies in the battlefield, after all.

 

Chain of Command

A Lieutenant sporting his darkened plate mail and battle-tattered cloak.

 

The military hierarchy in the Scarlet Chapter is simplistic in nature, lacking many of the filler ranks of most armies. Officer ranks exist solely for the delegation of troop command so that one man does not have to shoulder the burden of the entire army, meaning that the number of Lieutenants exists proportionally to the overall size of the Scarlet Chapter. If the Chapter’s size is diminished, fewer Lieutenants will be appointed. If the Chapter’s size is massive, there can exist many Lieutenants.

 

Due the highly militaristic nature of House van der Sainte-Blandine, quite a few members of the family end up joining. Blood relatives do not get paid, as it is considered a purely volunteer job on their part, but on the other hand they are free to leave any time they wish without being considered a deserter. Furthermore, Sainte-Blandines that enlist are instantly instated as Lieutenants, even if no men are available to be assigned to them. The Chapter is nepotistic in this regard, yet the chain of command is overall a meritocracy. If a Sainte-Blandine is unfit for the Chapter, they are expected to resign, or be expelled by the Baron if necessary. 

 

The Baron of Caer der Hoden or his Regent holds absolute authority over the House’s military. He is able to appoint and remove Commandants and Lieutenants at will, and his orders supersede all in the Chapter. He is responsible for paying and housing his men, administering discipline, and providing a sense of direction for the Chapter.

 

The Commandant acts as a second-in-the command of the Baron. They are tasked with arbitrating disputes between Lieutenants and Footmen whenever the Baron is unavailable. Different Barons treat their Commandants differently. If the Baron in question is an experienced commander, the Commandant is more of a right hand man. If the Baron does not have a military education however, the Commandant can find themselves delegated with command of the entire army, being vested with all the military authority the Baron has. They receive a salary of 30 minae just like lieutenants.

 

Lieutenants are Footmen that have proven themselves to possess the spark of leadership. They are assigned command of five to eight Footmen by the Baron, with whom they are charged with keeping focused and disciplined. They can also command Footmen under another Lieutenant, but only if said officer does not contradict the order. Due to their added responsibilities, they receive a salary of 30 minae.

 

Footmen are inductees that have partaken in the initiation ritual and are now serving their first six-year contract. These make up the vast majority of the Scarlet Chapter. They are assigned to a Lieutenant, who acts as their superior officer. They receive a salary of 20 minae.

 

Inductees are outsiders that show interest in joining the Sainte-Blandine levy. Since they have not sworn their oath yet, they are not promised to the Chapter and do not receive payment or protection, but at the same time are free to go their own way should the military life not be to their liking.

 

Secondary Ranks

A depiction of an aged combat trained brandishing a sparring sword.

 

There are a number of specializations in the Chapter which are not subject to the chain of command, but act more as a designation of skills that the soldier is adept at. Examples include field surgery, combat, equestrian practices and engineering. The Baron and the Commandant decide together who deserves this designation, with the Baron ultimately having the final say. 

 

Field Physicians are practiced healers that are skilled in both immediate first-aid and long term recovery. Most of those bearing this title tend to have a prior background practicing medicine before joining the Chapter, though it is not unheard of for members with limited knowledge learning from existing Field Physicians and earning the designation themselves.

 

Combat Trainers stand out amongst their red brothers as exceptional fighters, having slain numerous foes and possessing experience in a wide variety of weapons. As such, they are the ones that Footmen usually turn to when seeking to hone their skills, and are the hosts of great training sessions.

 

Equestrian Workers are those among the Chapter that can breed war-horses. A valuable skill, alongside a highly profitable one. Equestrians are given the resources and time to breed these stallions, with steeds of sufficient quality being requisitioned by senior command for usage by the Chapter at large.

 

Forgemasters are tasked with making sure that the Chapter’s armory is well stocked with weapons and armor. They are provided with the materials and workstation needed to produce this equipment, and are requisitioned certain quotas to fulfill.

 

War Engineers use ingenuity and science to help the Chapter in battle. They are expected to be able to build trebuchets, raise palisades, dam rivers and construct siege towers in a short span of time through collaborative teamwork and forethought.

 

The Sanguine Oath

 

A depiction of the Commandant fighting in a skirmish on horseback.

 

Inductees pledge themselves to the Scarlet Chapter during a ceremony known as the Sanguine Oath. Witnesses to the ceremony tend to be tight lipped about it, thought it is said by former bannermen to be considerably more gruesome when compared to the initiation ceremonies of other armies, involving ritualistic execution of prisoners before Inductees speak their vows. All that is known is that it is done with a Canonist priest as witness, hallowing the Sanguine Oath as a divine pledge made not only before the Sainte-Blandines, but before the Creator himself.

 

This ritual bears great cultural significance for House van der Sainte-Blandine, as it binds the bannermen and the house they represent together. In the most informal sense, all Scarlet Chapter bannermen become honorary Sainte-Blandines after taking their oath. This is why the Chapter is so fierce as to punish those who break their oath; the contracts that bannermen sign are not mere legal agreements, but highly personal promises made before their new family and the Creator.

 

Enlistment Information

Prospective Inductees waiting for a ship to Caer der Hodenn so they might take their oaths.

 

The Scarlet Chapter is a socially accepting group, as far as Savoyard militant orders go. Anyone is free to take the oath and will be treated well so long as they can keep up with the physical and mental demands of the Chapter, alongside showing respect for the Savoyard culture and way of life.

 

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