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THE ORDER OF THE CROW


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Knighthood is a proud weave in the tapestry that is the history of the Kongzem of Haense.

 

To be a warrior of honour who devotes oneself to the welfare of others dates as far back as the Raev King Barbov and the fables of the Ten Bogatyr, from Slavomir Twicedrowned to Szitidor Swordsworn. Since the formation of the Kongzem, the Orders of Knighthood have formed and fallen many times over. It was Andrik II, the Winter King, who first founded the Order of the Golden Gryphon in the fledgling city of St. Karlburg, and it was King Otto II the Prudent who revived them to serve in the city of Alban. It was these orders that inspired the first rendition of the Order of the Crow, the elite warriors of King Andrik III the Unyielding of Reza, only for chivalric knighthood to fall into obscurity until King Josef I the Temperate harkened them back from the grave with the Edict of Knightly Orders in 343ES.

 

 


 

 

THE ORDER OF THE CROW

 

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The Order of the Crow is the foremost chapter of Knighthood in the Kongzem.

 

The Crow Knights, first sworn as liegemen of King Andrik the Unyielding, embody the traditional spirit of chivalric knighthood as the Bogatyr of Old Raev once did. Those dubbed as Crow Knights must also serve as soldiers of the Brotherhood of Saint Karl as the foundation of their fealty to the Kongzem, and alongside their military service they must have mastery of blade, mail, horse, and lance, but also mastery of heart and spirit. The guiding tenet of the Crow Knights is to live not for oneself, but for the Kongzem and those in it -- they abandon their worldly ambitions, and instead toil to build a stronger Kongzem through service of a worthy King, and through hunting out dishonour and evil. They are, in short, the exemplary Haeseni, and through their endeavours, the world is taught to be a better place.

 

The duties of the Crow Knights are many and shifting, but the core roles include the training of squires who shall one day sit on the Table as Knights themselves, to travel across the continent undertaking quests on behalf of the Crown and Kongzem, to participate in jousts and tourneys across the land for the honour of Haense, and to defend the Crown and Kongzem with their lives.

 

 


 

 

CODE OF CHIVALRY

 

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To be a Knight of Haense one must be honourable and to be honourable is to live by the code of chivalry, should any fail to adhere to it then they are deemed unworthy. All members of the Order of the Crow, be they squire or knight, must hold the codes of chivalry close to their heart - it must influence their every action. If a Knight is not chivalrous then they are a knight no longer.

 

I

TO SERVE YOUR KING, AND GOD, IN BOTH VALOUR AND FAITH.

VA SERVE KOENG, AG JOVE, IV BOTH VALOUR AG FAITH.

 

II

 TO PROTECT, AND SERVE, THE WEAK AND DEFENCELESS FROM THE EVILS OF THIS WORLD.

VA KRUSAE, AG SERVE, VE MITEL AG DEFENCELESS UKEN VE EVILS I ZWY WORLD.

 

III

TO HOLD YOURSELF IN THE LIGHT OF GOD, AND LIVE BY HONOUR AND FOR GLORY.

VA HOLD YOUERSELF IV VE LICHTE I JOVE, AG LANZSK DRUZ HONOUR AG DLUM GLORY.

 

IV

TO GUARD THE HONOUR OF YOUR KING, GOD, LIEGE LORD, AND FELLOW BROTHERS.

VA KURSAIN VE HONOUR I KOENG, JOVE, LIEGE HEERZEN, AG FELLOW SARNUVZ.

 

V

TO NEVER REFUSE A CHALLENGE FROM AN EQUAL, AND TO NOT TURN BACK UPON A FOE.

VA NIEDY REFUSE AIN CHALLENGE UKEN AIN EQUAL, AG VA TER REILEJ PUCZ NAT AIN FOE.

 

VI

 TO PROVE ONE’S SELF THROUGH DISCIPLINE, LOYALTY, AND RESPECT.

VA PROVE AUWEN’S MANALLO STATRY DISCIPLINE, LOYALTY, AG RESPECT.

 

VII

TO RESPECT THE LAWS OF THE LAND YOU RIDE UPON, AND THOSE PLACED IN AUTHORITY.

VA RESPECT VE JURAZ I VE LUND VY RIDEMAVRE NAT, AG WYZOREN PLACED IV AUTHORITY.

 

VIII

TO REMAIN TRUE TO YOUR BLOOD, AND TO THE LAND YOU’VE GROWN UPON.

VA REMAIN PRAHDA VA SANGKRUVEI, AG TO VE LUND VY’VE GROWN NAT.

 

IX

TO BE STRONG, TRUE, AND SWORN TO THE KING, AND THE CROWN.

VA OE RAAT, PRAHDA, AG SWORN VA VE KOENG, AG VE KRAWN.

 

X

AT ALL TIMES, SPEAK THE TRUTH

BECVEK JEAZIK VE TIER

 

 


 

 

Knightly Duties

 

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While Crow Knights are bound by the Haeseni Chivalric Tenets that governs the conduct of all Knights, there exists duties and honours bestowed upon Crow Knights outside of their standard military service, which generally include:

 

• To comport oneself with honour and patience, and act as a role model for all Haeseni citizens;

• To undertake quests to ensure the Kingdom’s safety, such as slaying dangerous beasts within the land; 

• To take on squires and to train and educate them as the Kingdom’s future generation of Knights;

• To guard and escort those in need;

• To champion and defend those unable to do so themselves, and ensure the weak are not exploited;

• To participate in tournaments across the land for the prestige of Hanseti-Ruska;

• To fulfill quests for reputable nations;

• To protect the royal family in the absence of Marian Knights;

• To be the Kingdom’s finest warriors.

 

 


 

 

Squireship

 

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The Order of the Crow has a set of strict standards for those who seek to join the Table. For a commoner it is much more difficult to achieve a position as squire, however it is not impossible. In order for a commoner to be considered for squireship they must be enlisted within the Brotherhood of Saint Karl with an unblemished record; they must also have committed some form of heroic deed that the Knights table agree is valiant enough to be permitted entry as a squire.

 

In order for a noble to be considered for a squire, they must also be part of the Brotherhood of Saint Karl for a minimum of 8 years with an unblemished record. Nobles are not automatically guaranteed a position on the table simply due to their bloodline, they must prove to the Table that they are worthy to join amongst their ranks.

 

In order for a Crow Knight to take upon a page, the child in question must have the approval of their parents. The choice of taking charge of a page is ultimately up to the discretion of the Crow Knight and when they reach the age of maturity the table will vote on whether they will be granted the position of Squire.

 

Once a squire has been accepted by the Knight’s Table they will then be trained until their mentor knight feels that they are able to complete the trials. It is at the discretion of the mentor knight when they take the trials but one must not rush them into it unprepared. 

 

 


 

 

The Trials

 

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Once a Knight believes that they have taught their squire all that they are able to pass on, they will commit them to the five trials which will put their training to the test. A Squire must complete all five trials and, once their mentor knight has deemed them worthy, are able to complete the trials at their own pace; however should they take too long then their position as squire will be revoked. 

 

The Trial of Chivalry - A Knight must be a warrior of unquestionable honour, and thus a squire must undertake the Trial of Chivalry. A squire shall undertake their Trial of Chivalry by traveling across the realm and completing a chivalrous for 3 people, 1 person per reputable nation - one can not get tasks from the same nation more than once or from within Haense. The aspiring squire must obtain their signature in the book given to them alongside a description of the deed that they had done, their mentor may assist them in finding tasks to complete.

 

The Trial of Faith - A Knight must be a pious and devout follower of God, and thus a squire must undertake the Trial of Faith. A squire shall undertake their Trial of Faith by locating a member of the Holy Canonist Church and complete a task for them in relation to the faith. A squire must obtain the signature of the High Pontiff to confirm their completed deeds.

 

The Trial of The Scholar - A Knight must be wise in the ways of Haeseni culture and history, and thus a squire must undertake the Trial of the Scholar. To complete this trial, the Knight Paramount or Knightly Lore Keeper shall question a squire on customs and history in Haense to assess their knowledge. Knights must also be assessed on how to address nobles and leaders not only within Haense, but across the land, and proper court and national etiquette, alongside language, so as always to represent the respect and honor of Haense. In addition the squire will be tested on their knowledge about the beasts that roam the realm. The aspiring squire will be given the appropriate history books to study from.

 

The Trial of Bogatyr - A Knight must be prepared for the unexpected and able to tackle any situation that they face, thus they must undertake the Trial of Bogatyr. In order for a squire to complete the trial of Bogatyr, their knight mentor will pick one of the ten Bogatyr trials. The Knight mentor is required to set this trial up for their squire.

 

The Trial of The Sword - A Knight must be skilled in arms to defend the Kingdom, and thus a squire must undertake the Trial of the Sword. In this Trial, a squire shall be required to duel several Knights to demonstrate their ability in arms.


The Knights Quest - Once a squire has proven themselves in the Trial of Chivalry, the Trial of Faith, the Scholar, and the Sword, they shall progress to their final challenge - the Knight’s Quest. This Quest shall be assigned by the Crown or the Knight Paramount and consist of the squire being sent on a journey on their own to put their abilities to the test. The Knight’s Quest can be anything, but will often include tasks such as slaying a great beast, retrieving a fabled treasure, or traveling to an uncharted land. The squire must return to Haense with a trophy of their exploits as their final test.

 

    The main focus of the training is to prepare the squire for their trials. It is important for the squires to be mainly independent when taking on their trials, as it shows their personal growth. If they need their mentor every step of the way, then both squire and mentor have failed. The squire would have failed in learning and the mentor would have failed in teaching. The squire trials are not only a test of the squire but are also a test of the mentor. Once completing their trials, the squire would soon be knighted and the mentor had completed his or her duty of training.

 

 


 

 

Structure

 

The Order of the Crow consists of an unspecified number of men and women who are styled as ‘Ser’ and ‘Dame’ in recognition of their valiant service to the Brotherhood of Saint Karl. Once one becomes a Knight of the Order they must still adhere to the basic military hierarchy of the Brotherhood when engaging in military operations. Once one becomes a Crow Knight they are a Crow Knight until death, all Knights who sit at the Table must wear the armour and tabard provided to them when representing the Crown with things such as tournaments, meetings and royal court.

 

The Page

A page is a young boy or girl who wishes to one day become a knight, usually around the age of eight years old. They are a unique type of ward, in which a knight takes one on and keeps them within their own hold, and from there they are educated by the knight upon various topics, such as; manners, houses, heraldry, history, etc.

 

The Squire

A squire is a usually a boy or girl but can sometimes be older, who has been taken on by a knight to learn more about the ways of knighthood, usually around the age of fifteen years old. During such time, they hold no sort of authority, or rights, that knights of the order may hold. While under the knight they will be taught much more practical, and theoretical, learnings, such as; tactics, swordsmanship, chivalry, duties, horsemanship, armament, etc. The page and squire both adorn the same armaments.

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The Crow Knight

A knight is a man or woman who has either through his squireship, and turned the age of at least twenty-one. Once knighted, their fealty is sworn to the King of Haense, and expected to uphold all chivalric tenets of the order. A Crow Knight is still a member of the Brotherhood of Saint Karl and are expected to attend rallies and training with them.

 

The Lore Keeper

The Knight Lore Keeper is a knight who is in charge of ensuring both squires and knights are taught on relevant matters such as history, beasts and a plethora of things. They are charged with keeping records of the Order such as notes from previous Knight meetings and keeping the Knights Atlas up to date.

 

The Knight Martial

The Knight Martial is one below the Meyster Knight with slightly different responsibilities. The Knight Martial is in charge of the upkeep of Hallaburg Castle, ensuring it does not fall into disrepair and that the castle has adequate space for the Orders mission. The Knight Martial is also charged with ensuring all Crow Knights are equipped with the weaponry and armour that they need.

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The Meyster Knight

The Meyster Knight is the second in charge of the Order of the Crow, acting in place of the Knight Paramount when he is absent.

 

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The Knight Paramount

The Knight Paramount is ultimately in charge of all Knights amongst the Order. The Knight Paramount has the ability to strip Knights of their knighthood should they act in a way that is against the Orders chivalric tenants. They are able to accept squires without approval of the Table and hold tribunals for any Knight who brings shame to the Order.

 

 


 

 

The Knights Table

 

The Knights Table is a core principle of the Order of the Crow, all pledged Knights will sit on the table at some point in their life. The Knights Table is where new squires are accepted, where plans are drawn up and where important matters are discussed. Once a squire has been knighted by the Crown they will then sit upon the table and have the ability to bring up issues or vote on important matters, whereas squires only have the ability to speak if addressed and can not vote. The Knights table no longer has a maximum number of members but its members usually sit around 12 people, this is up to the discretion of the Knight Paramount or collective decision of the Table. Those who reach the age of 70 are asked to take a step back and allow for fresh blood on the table, they are still permitted to attend meetings of the Knights table but can not vote.

 

Those who are honorably discharged are granted the position of Elder Knight. The Elder Knight are very familiar with the Knightly Order as they have been around for a long time in the Hanseti-Ruska Realm as a Knight. Their wisdom, their judgement, talent and from their experience they endured over a long period of time, they are the most observant of the bunch, insightful and knowledgeable in their trade.

 

 


 

 

The Oath

 

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A Squire who completes their Five Trials and the Final Quest shall kneel before the Crown and the Royal Court to speak the following vow and be dubbed a Knight:

 

Crown: Do you, [Name], swear now upon the blade of Gaius Marius, the first Hochmesiter of our earliest order, that all you say now is true, and that you have come to receive your Knighthood?

Squire: I do.

 

Crown: The truth is the burden of all Knights, one that only the diligent can bear. Will you be true in all things, even if it may lead to your demise?

Squire: I will.

 

Crown: To bear this burden, a Knight must be strong. Will you be strong of spirit, and resilient to all forms of temptation? 

Squire: I will.

 

Crown: In order to be strong, a Knight must be brave. Will you be courageous against your enemies, and defend the helpless even at the cost of your life?

Squire: I will.

 

Crown: In order to be brave, a Knight must have honour and loyalty, lest he fall to sin. The Knight must be above reproach, his/her honour and allegiance unquestioned. Will you be honourable and loyal to Godan, to your King, to your Kongzem, and your people?

Squire: I will.

 

Crown: When you take this oath, you shall no longer be a man/woman. You shall be a Knight, invested with holy responsibility by Godan Himself. Do you accept this holy mission?

Squire: I do.

 

Crown: And so you swear to be brave, strong, and true, as all Knights must be?

Squire: I so swear.

 

Crown: Do you swear to be honourable and loyal, and to never forsake your vows nor your allegiance?

Squire: I so swear.

 

Crown: And do you swear to uphold all which is good and holy, and to honour Godan in all your actions?

Squire: I so swear.

 

Crown: Then I shal you to your oath, and if ever you part with it, may you also part with your life. I name you Ser/Dame [Name] [Moniker] of the Order of the Crow. May Godan keep you and uphold. Rise now, not as a mere subject, but as a Knight of Haense.

 

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Knight is given their personal weapon, forged by the Royal Smith, as their badge of office.

 

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Edited by The Knights Table
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