THE ORDER OF SAINT PETER

[carebear 1291]

— THE ORDER OF SAINT PETER —

– THE FLAMING ROSE –

 

Issued and averred by

 

Dame Rowena Ivanna Temesch of the Petra

 

In the year of our Lord, 1982

 

 

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In the new era of unity brought by the merging of the Commonwealth of Petra and the Apostolic Kingdom of Aaun into the Heartlander Confederation, it is only fitting that the Knight Orders of both Nations are born anew into one Order. This merge will centralize the Knights, promote Heartlandic cooperation, and renew new life into the Knights.

 

Henceforth,

The Knighthood of The Petrine Laurel & The Knighthood of the Circle of St. Godwin shall merge into a singular knighthood, The Knighthood of the Order of St. Peter, under the command of Dame Rowena Ivanna Temesch of the Petra as Knight Commander. 

 

 

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THE PROCESS OF KNIGHTHOOD

 

The process to become a knight remains largely the same from both previous knight orders. This will only apply to new squires and pages, all current squires will be allowed to continue their training as it began.

 

Pages

Although the process of being a page is not a mandatory part of the path to Knighthood, it can help a child understand the gravity and importance of knighthood. Pages are assigned to knights, who they will become assistants to. These children will receive etiquette lessons, basic combat training, and an education from their assigned knight and the knight’s squires. A page must be the age of 10 or below and, unlike an older squire, is not required to join the Legion of St. Godwin

 

Squireship

To be a squire, a candidate must be age 11. There is no age limit to be a squire. Unless a candidate was a page previously, squires will be chosen from the ranks of the Legion of St. Godwin. A candidate must serve in the Legion for 3 years before their squireship officially begins. Besides being part of the Legion, a candidate must be in good standing within both the Heartlander Confederation and the Canonist Church. They will be assigned to a knight, training and living with them. Squires will be trained in the following skills:

 

I. Squires will become proficient in their skill at arms, working under the tutelage of their knight to learn and master their skills.

 

II. Given the expanded role which a Knight of the Order of St. Peter plays, any squire shall learn how to firstly read, and secondly how to properly write. Be it a missive, bill for the Garmont, or the etiquette of personal correspondence. 

 

III. Horsemanship shall be learned, and a good squire will learn how to maintain and care for a warhorse properly.

 

IV. Speechcraft shall be learned too, given the role which a knight plays within the Heartlands. This includes how to properly address a citizen, lord, or foreign dignitary should the need arise. 

 

V. The Heartlander Confederation is a pious Canonist realm, and as such any squire shall learn the tenets of Canonism, and how to act in accordance with this. 

 

VI. Following this tenet above, a squire shall undergo a pilgrimage alongside their knight and an accompanying priest, connecting further with the spiritual aspect of their profession. A knight is not only a warrior and a scholar, but also a good Canonist. 

 

VII. All squires shall also undertake the pursuit of an art of their choosing, such as mastering the art of speechcraft, woodworking, alchemy, or any art approved by their knight. 

 

Once all these trials and trainings are complete, a squire will undertake the Knights Quest.

 

The Knights Quest

A Knight of St. Peter is an exemplar of the values of the Heartlands, and as such must accrue a degree of renown throughout the Heartlands for their deeds. This journey is not a one-off process, instead being the sum total of many efforts spent aiding those within the realm. Their story must be one which does not ultimately only contain the slaying of a monster, for any sell-sword could do such if well enough prepared, instead, this story must demonstrate the qualities of the knight.

 

Should the knight under which a squire pursues their Knights Quest perish during its duration, the squire shall be overseen by the Knight Commander and allotted the rest of their time under their tutelage. Should they fail in their quest, they shall be required to squire once more under another knight until such a time they feel it fit to be given a second chance.

 

Ultimately, whether the story of renown any squire is worthy of ascending to the mantle of Knight of St. Peter rests amongst the members themselves. Once a squire has completed their Knights Quest, a meeting of the Round Table shall be called. Each knight shall review and judge the story of the prospective knight, with a majority of three-fourths of the vote being required to admit a new knight to the Order of St. Peter.

 

Once a squire has been voted in, the Heartlander Monarchs are made aware and a knighting ceremony will be held. On the night before the ceremony, the squire will undertake a vigil in the Temple of the Exalted Prophets of the Canon to prepare themselves spiritually for the task of becoming a knight. The squire will be required to fast and reflect on themselves in silence. Once the vigil is completed, the squire is ready to be knighted.

 

Knighting

Upon completion of all steps required of a squire, the Knight Commander shall present their legend before the Court or Monarchs. Once the tale has been told, the Monarch, Regent, or Chancellor presiding shall knight the squire, bestowing upon them a Moniker worthy of a Knight of the Order of St. Peter, and the legend that they have told.

 

THE PLEDGES OF THE KNIGHT

THE FOUR CHIVALRIES

 I swear to be Valiant in the face of all Odds.

 I swear to be Fearless in the face of Uncertainty.

 I swear to be Loyal to GOD and Country.

 I swear to be Dutiful to Family and my People.

 

THE PLEDGE OF SEVEN MERCIES

 I swear to Feed the Hungry.

 I swear to give Drink to the Thirsty.

 I swear to Clothe the Naked.

 I swear to Harbour the Harbourless.

 I swear to pay Visit to the Ill.

 I swear to allow Meetings to the Imprisoned.

 I swear to Bury the Dead.

 

KNIGHTS

KNIGHT VALUES

All Knights of the Order of St. Peter are held to a high standard of honor and loyalty, dedicating their lives to upholding the values of chivalry and the laws of the realm. Alongside the oaths that they swear upon their knighting, their duties are as follows;

 

I. To protect the Royal Families of Alstion and Temesch of the Petra

 

II. To uphold Canonism and its beliefs

 

III. To protect the defenseless, and the people of the Heartlands

 

IV. To act with honor and chivalry

 

V. To work to dislodge and keep out darkspawn and evil from the lands of the Heartlands.

 

KNIGHT DUTIES & RULES

The Knights of St. Peter are not only well-trained combatants but may be utilized in many different ways. 

 

I. Certain Knights may be assigned as Governors of the different regions of the Heartlands, to watch over the homesteads, settlements, and vassals that live there. These knights are called Seated Knights and make up an advisory council to the Knight Commander, called the Round Table. Seats are granted to knights who have proved their loyalty and exceptional service over many years. Seats are a privilege and can be taken away from a knight who breaks their oath or remains stagnant in their position.

 

II. The Dual Monarchs may ask the Knights to sit as advisors on their Council, with their view from their direct experiences among the Heartlands

 

III. Knights will be called upon to act in defense of both the Heartlanders Confederation and its allied nations in conflict, generally seeking to end bloodshed. The Knights will work closely with the Legion of St. Godwin in this matter.

 

IV. Each knight is expected to seek out a successor, whether they are seated on the Round Table or not. Knights may only have one squire at a time.

 

VI. If a Knight has not actively gone on patrol, participated in tournaments, or gone to knight meetings for 5 years, they will be stripped of their Knighthood unless the Knight Commander is made aware of the reason for their absence. If a Knight breaks their oath, they are also stripped of their knighthood. If it is a severe infraction, there may be more consequences

 

VII. Knights are required to retire at the age of 75, although they are allowed to retire earlier if they wish.

 

SEATED KNIGHTS

Seated knights are an integral part of the Order of St. Peter, as they make up the Round Table. The Round Table is the advisory council to the Knight Commander and is trusted to help make decisions along with the Commander. This council does not serve as a higher authority than the Crown, as decisions made by the Round Table cannot override any orders issued by the Dual Monarchs.

 

The Round Table is made up of 11 seated knights, who are each granted Governorship over different regions of the Heartlands. These knights will protect and serve the region they are assigned to, communicating with any vassals or towns that may inhabit the region. Seated knights are also expected to help any patrol that goes through their region, either from the Order of St. Peter or the Legion of St. Godwin.

 

These 11 Governorships are as follows;

 

The Seat of Ladyr, the northern region across the river from The Acadamy of Hohkmat and the base of the military and knights. This seat is to be held by the current Knight Commander.

 

The Seat of Val De Lagne, the capital of the Petran Province. 

The Seat of Mount Catrinne, the mountain region surrounding the Memory Tree.

The Seat of Solland, the area directly south of Val De Lagne and Mount Catrinne.

The Seat of Mardonlands, the region around the river cave and valley.

The Seat of Marchlands, the areas encompassing Lemon Hill, and some lands to the south.

The Seat of Franklands, the region of Enswerp, and the mountains the Franks inhabit.

The Seat of Langkette, the mountainous region near Merryweather.

The Seat of Horen’s Reach, the capital of the Aaun Province and the Holy See.

The Seat of Aschenwald, the region north of Whitespire.

The Seat of East Florentine, the region of Floodplains east of Horen’s Reach.

 

[OOC: This map shows rough borders and is not accurate to where tiles end]

 

KNIGHT COMMANDER

The Knight Commander is the head of the Order and is in charge of the Round Table, having the final say over the Order. The Order shall vote for their preferred choice of Commander and it shall be confirmed by either of the Monarchs or a Regent.

 

 

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S I G N E D,
 

HIS ROYAL AND APOSTOLIC MAJESTY, Charles II, King of Aaun, Prince of Alstion, Duke of Vienne, the Lowlands, Balemena and Corazon, Margrave of High Peak, Count of Whitespire, Enswerp, Florentine and Talentine, Baron of Blanchet and Virdain, Protector of the Realm

 

HER ROYAL MAJESTY, Adalia I, Queen of the Petra, Princess of Abrana, Marquise de Val d’Estenou, Duchess of Valfleur, Countess of Temesch, Torm Marian, and Moere, Viscountess of Mies, Baroness of Garmont, Vallagne-en-Petra, Eagles Peak, Brasca, Hrenthorne, Resmore, and of the Phoenixspire

 

Her Royal Highness, Dame Rowena Ivanna ‘The Valourous’ Temesch of the Petra

Knight Commander of the Order of St. Peter, Princess of the Petra, Countess of Clermont