ORDRE DU PETRINE LAUREL

[Petsch2k 1851]

 

ORDRE DU PETRINE LAUREL

IN REGARDS TO THE SWORDS OF ST. EMMA,

The Swords of St Emma have served dutifully, with honor and dignity. By the will of the Arch-Duke and his council, the time to unify the two branches has come, in order to establish a strong unified Order. So sworn, in the name of the Crown and the Laurel.

The Swords of St. Emma is hereby disbanded.

Any remaining brother who swore their sword to the Swords of St. Emma shall be summoned before the Knight-Captains and Master-Sergeant of the Order, there to be evaluated for service. Each man shall be judged by his discipline, loyalty, and years upon the field, and thereafter granted the corresponding rank befitting his station within the levy of Petra.

 

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THE PROCESS OF KNIGHTHOOD

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.

Squire

To be a squire, a candidate must be age 14. There is no upper age limit to be a squire. Unless a candidate was a page previously, squires will be chosen from the pool of Man-at-Arms. A candidate must serve in the Lévée Commun and reach the rank of Homme d’Ordonnance before their squireship officially begins. Besides being part of The Levée, a candidate must be in good standing within both the Commonwealth of the Petra and the Church of the True Faith. 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 Petrine Laurel 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 Petra. This includes how to properly address a citizen, lord, or foreign dignitary should the need arise. 

V. The Commonwealth of the Petra is a pious Canonist polity, 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. 

VIII. All aspiring knights will be well versed in the culture, geography and institutions of the Commonwealth. Squires will be tested on these topics by completing a test of knowledge administered by their knight mentor in a method of their choosing. 

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

The Knights Quest

A Knight of the Petrine Laurel is an exemplar of the values of Petra, and as such must accrue a degree of renown throughout Petra 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 the Petrine Laurel 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 Petrine Laurel.

Once a squire has been voted in, the Archduke or Archduchess is 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 Monarch. 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 Petrine Laurel, and the legend that they have told.

 

 

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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.

 

 

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KNIGHTS

KNIGHT VALUES

All Knights of the Petrine Laurel 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 Ruling Family of the Petra

II. To uphold Canonism and its beliefs

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

IV. To act with honor and chivalry

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

 

KNIGHTLY CHAPTERS

The Order of the Petrine Laurel contains two chapters within it. These are the Chapter of Rapids, the Chapter of Brooks, and the Chapter of Waves.

I. The Chapter of Rapids stands as a military and armed force, upholding the laws of chivalry, their pledges and duties

II. The Chapter of Brooks stands as a literary and civil force, upholding governmental and civil institutions, history, and literary works. They may be asked to fulfill duties of the Chapter of Rapids if they are capable.

 

KNIGHT DUTIES & RULES

I. The Knights of Petrine Laurel are not only well-trained combatants but may be utilized in many different ways. 

II. The Archduke or Archduchess 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 the Commonwealth of the Petra, Kingdom of Numendil and its allied nations in conflict, generally seeking to end bloodshed. The Knights will work closely with the levy on this matter.

IV. Each knight is expected to seek out a successor. Knights may only have one squire at a time.

V. Knights may be expected to go on missions and investigations for the Crown or Nation. If they must be gone for a long period of time, they may temporarily allow their squire to train under another knight until they return.

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 90, although they are allowed to retire earlier if they wish.

 

KNIGHT COMMANDER

The Knight Commander is the head of the Petrine Laurel and is in charge of the Petran Military, having the final say over the Laurel. The Petrine Laurel shall vote for their preferred choice of Commander and it shall be confirmed by the Archduke or a Regent.

 

 

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THE LEVÉE

 

 

The Levée 

 

The Knighthood does not stand alone. Their honor is upheld by a host of men and women who form the Order’s true strength in war. The levy, the Men-at-Arms and the Sergeants. the professional soldiery who march beneath the banner of the Commonwealth.

 

Where knights embody the ideals of chivalry, and values held dear by the Commonwealth, it is the Levy that bears the grind of campaign life: they dig the trenches, man the walls, hold the line, man the patrols and bleed in the clash of a shieldwall. The Sergeants keep them disciplined, trained, their steel clean and sharp.  Those who wish to attain the status of Sir or Dame, must first learn the ways of war. They must join The Levy and serve a minimum of 5 years and reach the rank of Homme d’Ordonnance / Man-at-Arms, only a professional soldier may enter the ranks of our Knighthood.

 

✧ Maître-Sergeant (Master Sergeant) ✧

The veterans of veterans. With a decade or more of service, these men and women are the steady hand of the Order. They have weathered countless campaigns and are entrusted with guiding younger sergeants and recruits alike.

Requirement:

Spoiler

• 10+  years of service.
• Must demonstrate leadership of sergeants and levymen.
• Reputation as disciplined and reliable.

✧ Sergeant ✧

 

 

Seasoned veterans who have proven themselves time and again in the line of duty. A sergeant is entrusted if needed to take command and lead the men in battle, to keep the order, and carry the banner of Petra with honor. They are smiths, forging our men into hardened steel, they instill discipline, loyalty, and drills. A Knight can rely upon a Sergeant with zero doubt.

 

Requirement:

Spoiler

• 8 years of service minimum.
• 5 CRP events led as sub-commander.
• Lead 3 CRP Trainings or 3 PVP trainings
• Trusted to command patrols and squads.

 

✧ Homme d’Ordonnance (Guard / Man-at-Arms) ✧ 

The professional soldier, hardened by years of service. These guards know the ways of war, and the threats that stalk the lands of the Arch-Duchy, from marauders to darkspawn of the realm. They are disciplined, loyal, and steadfast. The Order can readily rely upon a Man-at-Arms to hold the line and safeguard the 

Realm.

 

Requirement:

Spoiler

• 5 years of service.
• Must have CRP Combat Experience
  • 1 Player v Player
  • At least 1 darkspawn CRP encounter.
• Must have completed 1 Class of Canonism
• Must have completed 2 Classes of General Knowledge of Petra 
• Must have completed 2 darkspawn trainings
• Must have completed 3 crp trainings
• Must have completed 3 PVP trainings
• Displays discipline and loyalty.

✧ Levymen (Recruit) ✧

Newly Levied into the Order.

 

Petran men and women freshly called to arms, the levymen are the lifeblood of Petra’s military. They come to the Order untested, untrained, bearing a little more than their oath and steel. Their objective is simple: to learn the ways of war, the ways of the Order, to endure the drills and hardships of becoming a Homme d’Ordonnance.

 

No minimum requirements:

Spoiler

• Expected to prove worth in CRP before advancement.
• Must undergo training:
  • 1 Class of Canonism
  • 1 CRP training 
  • 1 PVP training 
  • 1 General Knowledge of Petra training

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[MrGarden 295]

Somewhere an old Matthew Galken grumbles as he got up from his couch using his High Density Boomsteel War-Hammer as cane to walk  "Do you think they will take me in again?" He spoke to the shadow in the corner of the room "It is a soldier duty to die in the field, not in a old and small house. Not even my grandkids come visit me." He continues to grumble as he walked the roads of Petra