THE TOME OF CHIVALRY

[GoodGuyMatt 7066]

 

 

DER WÄLZER DER RITTERLICHKEIT

THE TOME OF CHIVALRY

Issued by the Herzog of Minitz and Herrenmeister 

in the year of our Lord 1910

 

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SÖHNE UND TÖCHTER VON MINITZ,

 

Founded in the year of our Lord, 1887, the Order of Saint Tylos the Stallion of Reinmar, also referred to as the Order of Saint Tylos, has acted as the first and thus far only Chivalric Order within the Duchy of Minitz.

 

He who his knee bends before the Black Cross, who repeats the Oath of Saint Tylos and raises before his Herzog as a Ritter of the realm, upon his shoulders fall responsibility, glory, and the burden of service and duty. They serve as the very embodiment of the Virtues of the Kanun, the living soul of the Reinmaren ideals.

 

Thusly, let their lives, deeds, and even misdeeds be recorded upon this Tome of Chivalry, so that the generations to come may gaze upon their lives, to learn from their virtues and their sins, to be inspired by the soul of Chivalry, and its holders to commemorate through the eons.

 

Following the establishment of a Minitzian Heraldric culture from Duke Leon I, the identity of the realm’s Ritters now lie not only in their stories, portraits, and exploits, but also in their held Coat of Arms. Such were designed to not only reflect the Ritters’ stories and upbringing, but also reflect their character and intellect, so that through their arms and colors they may reflect the honourable personas that make up the Order of Saint Tylos

 

As such is penned the Tome of Chivalry, may her writing hold true and her ballads remain uncorrupted. May her Ritter be remembered by the children of Reinmar.

 

GOTT MIT UNS!

 

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• SWORN USHTAR IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1882

• SWORN RITTER IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1887

 

Knighted as the first Ritter of Saint Tylos, Marro von Minitz hailed from the distant lands of Freimark, akin to the later-Herrenmeister Johann Barclay. Considered by some as a founding member of what was to later become Minitz, Marro was recruited amongst the first Theoderic’s Warband before the Barony of Minitz was founded. With his presence and military experience, the man assisted the then-Warchief Leon and the to-be Viscount Dietrich of Minitz.

 

He served rigorously, and rumor started from within the Warband that Marro had never missed a single training, rally, or fight when called from his Viscount, even when he was sick. Forever present during his tenure, and a loyal warrior of the Warband, Marro was later dubbed the very first Knight of Miniz after its founding. He was the first and last of the “Ushtar” order, a Chivalric order found in Minitz briefly and unofficially. It was this order that was later to officiate as the Order of Saint Tylos the Stallion of Reinmar, and Marro made to become its first Ritter.

 

Marro was said to be rather close with Viscount Dietrich, seeing him as his own father. Thus, it was not a surprise that after the disappearance of the Viscount, so too did Marro’s presence amongst the Warband. Once again rumor spread that desperation had hit him, and, staunch as he ever was, the then-Ushtar left Minitz and went to search for the kidnapped Viscount. Ultimately, he was never able to find him after years of searching, and it was then that he returned to Minitz, and was made a Ritter of Saint Tylos by Duke Leon of Minitz.

 

• SWORN RITTER IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1887

• ELEVATED HERRENMEISTER IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1887

 

Ritter Johann of Freimark was a young man with a fierce determination to protect his people and his homeland. He had grown up in the small town of Freimark, nestled in the mountains of the Principality of Savoy. He had always dreamed of becoming a knight, like his father and grandfather before him, and so he joined the Freimarkish Military at a young age.

 

During his training, Ritter Johann was introduced to the teachings of Saint Tylos and the Sons of Saint Tylos, a group of warriors who were known for their fierce loyalty and martial prowess. He took to their teachings quickly, and soon became one of the most skilled fighters in the Freimarkish Military.

 

However, the kingdom of Savoy was in turmoil, and the neighboring County of Freimark was not immune to the chaos. The Thanhic corruption of Savoy swept through the region, destroying everything in it's path. Ritter Johann's home town of Freimark was corrupted with the Thanhic plague, and he was forced to flee with the remaining survivors.

 

As he wandered the countryside, Ritter Johann came across a man named Leon Barclay, a seasoned warrior who had the ambition to travel from his own ancestral lands of Reinmar to raise a Reinmaren host. Leon took pity on the young Johann, due to both their ties to House Barclay, and offered to train him in the arts of war. Ritter Johann accepted the offer, and soon found himself learning from the future Duke.

 

Under Leon's tutelage, Ritter Johann became a skilled and deadly warrior. He passed all of the knightly trials with ease and was soon knighted by the future Duke of Minitz. He was now a true Knight of Minitz, and he swore to protect his people and his homeland with his life.

 

Ritter Johann thus began the task of building the Order of Saint Tylos. He worked tirelessly to establish principles and precedent of how a knight ought to behave to defend the homes and livelihoods of his people. He also was thus proclaimed by Duke Leon as the first Harrenmeister of the Order, tasked to protect and defend the people of Minitz. Herrenmeister Johann knighted the first batch of Minitzian Ritters, amongst them were Yvian Galken, Wilhelm and Teft Barclay. After years of service, Johann was replaced as Herrenmeister by Ritter Wilhelm in 1887, joining the Council of King Charlie I of Aaun as his Royal Marshal.

 

• SWORN RITTER IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1898

• ELEVATED HERRENMEISTER IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1902

 

Ser Wilhelm Barclay was a knight of Minitz, known for his impressive hunting skills and his devotion to Duke Leon. Born of Reinmaren descent, he was an avid hunter, often spending his days riding through the countryside in search of game. He was particularly renowned for killing the great brown bear of Minitz, a feat that earned him much respect and admiration from the people of Minitz. After the resignation of the sitting Harrenmeister, Ser Johann, Duke Leon seated Ser Wilheim as the next Harrenmeister on account of his loyalty.

 

Aside from hunting, Ser Wilhelm was also an experienced sailor and spearfisherman, which made him well-rounded and well-loved by his fellow knights. He served Duke Leon for most of his life, proving himself to be a loyal and trustworthy knight in battles and in peace. Despite his many accomplishments and his unwavering service to the duchy, Ser Wilhelm remained humble and dedicated to his duties, never losing sight of his love for the people of Minitz and his commitment to protecting them.

 

After servitude as a true hero of Minitz, Ser Wilheim undertook a pilgrimage to Kalden, to live a monastic life. He is remembered for his bravery, his skill, and his devotion to his Duke and his people. He will always be remembered as a true gentleman, an excellent rider, and a hunter with unparalleled skill. 

• SWORN RITTER IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1898

• ELEVATED RITTER-KASTELLAN IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1903

• ELEVATED HERRENMEISTER IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1906

 

Born to a humble Haeseni family on the outskirts of the north. With his father being a soldier, Yvian was dutifully taught the blade and dually taught the teachings of canonism by his mother until her untimely passing. At the age of eighteen at the behest of his now passed father, Yvian would venture off into the heartlands in search of a knight to squire under.

 

Coming to Minitz he would then squire under Johann Ritter Barclay for numerous years as he completed his trials. When he was twenty-four he had finally completed his trials and was knighted, becoming a Ritter of the Order of Saint Tylos. Immediately starting service as he fought with Ottomar von Asterheim and Sir Wilhelm Ritter Barclay manning the guns against Bold Blue at Yong Ping.

 

He then rose through the ranks in the coming years, being promoted to Ritter-Castellan at twenty eight, he was assigned to safeguard the land from tower Osttrum, doing so dutifully for many a year. Handedly arming and armouring the sons and daughters of Minitz.

 

It was then, at the age of thirty one that Sir Yvian Ritter Galken would be ordained as the Herrenmeister of the Order, taking charge after Sir Wilhelm's resigning and thereafter pilgrimage. His tireless service still continues, through the Siege of Atrus to the continued forging of arms.

 

• SWORN RITTER IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1898

• ASCENDED TO THE SEVEN SKIES IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1901

 

Teft was found as a baby in Reinmar by a small, and not noteworthy, band of mercenaries. Growing up with this band, the future Bailiff learned to defend himself quickly, the path of his life balancing between him picking up a spear and fight, or dying of starvation since the early stages of boyhood. Teft was never satisfied by this, however, and after meeting a fello traveler Damon, the duo set off together until eventually the call of blood drew Teft to Minitz.

 

Here he found home, and his diligence soon earned him a place amongst the then-Count’s Council as the second Bailiff of Minitz. During Teft’s tenure, many new houses were built in the Barony of Brandthof as the population increased rapidly; property policies were further put in place to ensure stability and order. During this time, it soon became clearer and clearer to Warchief Siegfried Barclay that Teft’s blonde hair and noble facial features too closely resembled those of the Barclays. Such theory was supported by the gathered Barclays at the Moot, and, upon the suggestion of Ser Uther, the boy was subjected to trial by ordeal, and thrown into the lake. If he floated, it was to be deemed a sign of GOTT that the man was indeed a Barclay.

 

And so he floated. An undeniable fact of his lineage, Teft was later identified to be one of the Barclay youth that was lost from the Reinmaren line of Barclay. He was oathed in 1899 by then-Count Leon I of Minitz, serving dutifully until his sudden disappearance in 1902, and after some years was pronounced dead, murdered by the scion of House Vilac.

 

• SWORN EHRENRITTER IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1902

 

Born to Johanna and Ser Vanhart Barclay, and grandson of Saint Johann Barclay, there was never doubt within the Duchy of Reinmar that Wilheim, who adorns the reversed name of his uncle, Ser Konstanz Wilheim, would grow to be a most competent fighter. Although trained in the sword, befitting of his status as a Lord of Hanseti-Ruska, Wilheim had shown mastership of combat through mace, particularly a morningstar he owned since his younger years. Reports also suggest the man was greatly skilled with a bow, proving such when he felled a bear and a Crowdrake with almost exclusively a bow in his earlier years as a soldier.

 

Despite his martial prowess, Wilheim was not knighted in the typical manner. Rather, he stands as an honorary Ritter of Minitz, an honor bestowed upon him as per the Adlerpakt, due to his status as Duke of Reinmar and Prince of Sutica. With his signature being one of the two to originally grace the document alongside Herzog Leon Barclay, he was the first Duke of Reinmar knighted as part of the familial pact.

 

• SWORN RITTER IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1902

 

Set to inherit the Duchy of Minitz from his father, Brandt always had the expectation of becoming a Reinmaren warrior as all his forefathers before him had done. As such, he joined the Warband at the young age of fourteen, and began his military career. At a young age, the Baron lost his left eye to his own brother, Ottomar. During the first jousting tournament of Minitz, celebrating the marriage of King Charles I of Aaun, Brandt's horse faced against his younger brother's. So was Brandt unhorsed, falling down on the ground. With rage he got up on his feet, and challenged Ottomar to a fight, thus gaining his honour back as per the old Reinmaren ways. In line with these same traditions, the brother who against his younger kin lost, would also give the latter claims to his titles and to the inheritance as Chieftain. Knowing this, Brandt instead proposed that, in exchange for disclaiming the title of the Barony of Hussen, and thus inheritance to the throne of Minitz, his brother would instead extract his left eye. The left eye was specified, symbolizing the eye lost from Sir Brandt Barclay, first of his name and founder of the Brandtian cadet line of Barclay from which the House Barclay von Minitz descends. Thusly, Brandt, eager and warmongering, yet equally young and inexperienced, lost the fight, and his eye was cut by his brother during the Leonite Moot that same year.

 

Due to his bookish and scholarly nature, Brandt was curious about many of the wonders of the world, leading him to gather a following soon after due to these qualities, both as a leader and for his wisdom. Despite his status as the heir to the Duke of Minitz, Duke Leon insisted that his son pass all the trials of knighthood as all other knights. He passed all of his tests successfully, and thus was knighted at the age of nineteen. During his knighting, he is said to have been favored by God.

 

It was during the First High Moot of the Reinmaren, called forth by his father, Leon, that Brandt took upon himself the initiative of extracting the blood price from the Vilac brothers, who had slaughtered Sir Teft Barclay, Brandt's kinsman. It was also from this same moot when the song "REINMARIA" was written by the Reinmaren poet and skald Ludwig Katzak, in which Sir Brandt was refered to as the "Bosnan". Coming of olden Reinmaren origin, the moniker is used to denote someone of short-temper and militaristic tendencies, usually coupled with explosive rage, a trait usually passed down through the Reinmaren people of Bosna-Banard as a common trait. Thus was the Knight known as Brandt the Bosnan.

 

• SWORN RITTER IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1902

 

Born as the son of a simple farmer Irid lost all he had known when orcs destroyed the village he lived in. medieval german knight artWith all those he knew slain he was taken in by the Canonist church to be raised. Mercenaries guarding the trade caravans that passed told tales of the outside world to Irid. Once old enough Irid left the church to find his way in the world. After living in Helious for a few months he found his way to Minitz. Being welcomed by the community he chose to squire under Johann Barclay. After a time Johann passed Irid to Yvian to finish his training. During his time as a squire he was approached by Brandt Barclay and was made a Hirdman. Irid then finished his trials and became a Ritter under the rule of Duke Leon I.

 

  

• SWORN RITTER IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1902

• ELEVATED RITTER-KASTELLAN IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1909

 

Hailing from Aeldin, the man that would become Sir Robert Stroheim was born into a lavish and cushy life as the first born son of a Noble family, House Cervidae. Wanting little else but to crack skulls and get drunk amongst friends, he often clashed with his parents. A strain developed over the years until, when politically engaged to a girl who was the product of generations of inbreeding and looked the part, he decided to cut ties with his family, and fled to Almaris.

 

Getting intoxicated in a tavern with the coin on hand, he was discovered by a soldier of Minitz, who’d later go on to become his tribe brother, Damon Stroheim. The two drank the night away, and when they came to, Robert accepted an invitation to Minitz.

 

Minitz has ever since been his home, and in line with his talents and passions, the man undertook a position of arms, and progressed to be a Reinmaren, then a Chieftain, then a lawman, then a Knight, maturing over the years from a carefree drunkard into a man of principle, duty, and honor. With unflinching loyalty, and with the warhammer as his tool of destruction, as iconic and prominent as the Stag that decorates his armaments, when they’re both present in battle, one may witness his wrath.

 

• SWORN RITTER IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1902

 

Born to a Heussen mercenary in lands of yore, Maxwell was trained in rough swordplay from an early age. A pious and principled man, he highly reveres the ancient Vander Code and the teachings of Owyn. At the age of nineteen, he migrated to Almaris in search of a Waldenian homeland. Serving therefore in Aaun under Leon I of Minitz, he squired under Yvian Ritter Galken and was knighted at the age of twenty-three.

 

After being elected as one of the first Lawmen of the Minitzian Landtag, Sir Maxwell spent many sleepless days and nights studying the complex nature and word of the Grand Kanun. Rumors started spreading that he learned its contents by heart after a few months, able to preach and execute its law with high efficiency. After his first term as Lawmen, the Ritter was elected as the third Lawspeaker of Minitz during the Seventh Leonite Moot, chosen unanimously by his fellow tribesmen.

 

 

 

 

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GOTT MIT UNS,

 

His Grace, Leon Brandt Barclay Herzog von Minitz KRE, GMSTSR 

Duke of Minitz, Count of Neu Brandthof, Viscount of Tucay, Baron of Boriënwald and Brandthof, Lord of Durres, Harvest Lord, Protector of the Aaunic Heartlands, 

High Chief of the Reinmaren

 

 

His Excellency, Yvian Ritter Galken HMSTSR

Herrenmeister of the Order of Saint Tylos the Stallion of Reinmar, Kastellan of the Westturm

 

[argonian 12840]

"I love Sir Marro von Minitz," says a fan of Sir Marro von Minitz.

[MadOne 3422]

Brandt Barclay read the post of the knights, smiling to himself as he saw an entry under his own name. He prays for the wellbeing of many future Ritters to come, who will be added onto this document.

[Sarven 1717]

"Ah, yes, I remember those times.." Yvian would ponder back to the cannonade against Bold Blue before then resuming to more present thoughts "May the future bring many more capable sons and daughters of Reinmar, the tome ought grow bigger."

[Frymark 2792]

Henry read through the pages with the excitement only a child could manage. There and then, he made himself a promise; One day his name would be found at the pages of the Tome.

Edited February 6, 2023 by Frymark

[satinkira 5929]

A fan of Sir Robert of House Cervidae screeches excitedly

[TotallyNotSaint 137]

Teft's spirit smiled down as the tome was being written, glad that somebody would remember all his fellow knights in the years to come.

[MokoMochi 445]

Audrina von Theonus finally reads the tome in the midst of her trials. A smile forms as she read the name Irid. The Waldenian women took time to study all the ritters before her and would feel motivated more than ever.