Welcome to the Order of Sera. My name is Angelo Dimarco, Headmaster.
Currently, I am looking for a place to set up. Should any lords be interested in housing this order within their lands, please contact me immediately.
We are a collection of all races and nationalities, and we call upon more than just swordsmen here. Currently, we have need of Warriors, Philosophers, Herbalists and Healers, Alchemists, and Scribes. All it takes to join is commitment to maintaining peace, freedom, and justice throughout the world.
To tell you a bit about the order, I'd like to say that our ultimate goal is to bring balance to the world in which we live. It is commonly understood that permanent peace is unattainable, as there will always be someone who desires to cause malice. We do not aim to revolutionize the world. We just want to make it better for all those who live in it. This can be obtained through other means than combat.
Our membership will be limited to those who see violence as a last resort. Our aim is to be able to mediate on conflicts, both local and global, and to provide for those in dire need. Members are expected to swear to a life of poverty, forsaking any luxuries and obtaining only what they need for the affairs of the order, but more will be explained in the doctrine.
All who are poor and oppressed are welcome to our aid.
All who seek to rid the world of evil shall be free to walk these halls.
The defense of Peace and Justice by means of Diplomacy and, only when necessary, combat, is our primary goal.
Our secondary goal is to research our world and learn about the lands through Alchemical and Historical pursuits, and to design a Grand Archive of Worldly Knowledge.
Applications:
Those who wish to join the Order of Sera should submit an application, as follows:
The Grand Doctrine of The Order of Sera
Preamble: Though I have walked through the valley of the shadow and witnessed much chaos and strife, I have feared no evil, nor sought outright to rain fire, pain, and anguish down upon it. For such a cruel extermination is itself an act of evil. Peace should always be sought first by diplomacy, and second by combat. Neutrality is a difficult path, but to follow it would bring you balance and inner peace, which would, with enough effort and commitment, turn to worldly peace as well.
The Laws of the Order:
-Members are expected to live a life of charity.
-Members are expected to forsake Luxury goods, only seeking out what they need.
-Members will adhere to the teachings of the Headmaster, and the decisions of the Master Council.
-Members will not seek to cause harm to others, or to achieve personal goals that do not reflect the goals of the Order.
-All laws of the land shall be respected and upheld, even in the wilds.
-Members are free to come and go as they please, unless on official business, which takes precedence above free will.
-Members will respect people of all races. Tolerance, Open-mindedness, and Impartiality are expected qualities.
-Concerning the Undead, it is widely understood that this force cannot be negotiated with. Therefore, all members of the order are expected to defend the world from attack by this dark enemy. Use of violence against this enemy is expected, and allowed. the primary goal of Knights who go to combat against the Undead is the security of the people within the area attacked. Evacuation is a primary goal, followed directly by engagement. If evacuation is impossible, form a defense perimeter around those who cannot fight, and defend them with your life. We must ensure we save as many as we can.
Structure
The Order of Sera shall become a place where many different pursuits are undertaken for the sake of Justice and the Defense of the Innocent. As is such, members will be divided into groups depending upon their strong points. There are Four Main Ranks within the order; Master, Knight, Apprentice, and Initiate.
Master
A Knight who has trained an Apprentice to Knighthood, shown promise as a beacon of light in right action, as well as a gift of knowledge and tolerance and Arms training shall be considered for the Rank of Master. Masters will be hand selected by the Headmaster, and may serve on the Council.
Knight
Those who have shown promise as an Apprentice shall be asked to perform trials, usually consisting of a Trial of Body, Mind, Heart, and Flesh. Upon completion of these trials, the Apprentice shall be granted the Rank of Knight. Knights are able to carry out missions for the Order, and are allowed to take on their own Apprentice.
Apprentice An Initiate who shows promise as a Swordsman and a will to do good in the world may be noticed by a Knight or master for Apprenticeship. These lower ranked members will accompany their trainer on his assignments and learn from him the ways of the order. Once their mentor decides that the Apprentice is ready to face the trials, they shall be able to do so.
Initiate The lowest Rank of the order, Initiates are the youthful hopefuls who train up their skills in battle and in mind with hopes of gaining Apprenticeship.
Sections of Study
Guardian
Those who prefer to take up arms against the dark forces of the world shall be placed into the Guardian Corps. This section of the order produces fine swordsmen and capable warriors.
-Combat Instructors:
Members who are veterans of combat and have achieved the rank of Master shall instruct those in use of the Sword and the Bow.
-Peacekeepers:
Knights who wish to become Peacekeepers will be assigned a post within the world. Here, they will assist local authorities in maintaining order and solving civil offenses. Actions abroad should be reported to the Council or Headmaster regularly.
Consular
The Consular Knights of Sera are those who focus not on combat, but on the ways of the Spark and the pursuit of Knowledge. These Knights should be those who are interested in pursuits of the Mind and Earth.
-Ambassadors:
These Knights are expected to be the face of the order wherever their business brings them. They will work closely with local lords, serving as Advisers or Diplomats.
-Healers:
The Healers will work to discover and perfect healing techniques through Magick or through herbal remedies. They will serve in places impacted by disaster, and by treating the wounded in times of war.
-Lore Keepers:
The Scribes and Historians of the Order shall form this branch of service. Those who would seek to research historical texts, study anthropology, and the elder scripts shall be placed here.
-Researchers:
The Alchemists shall work within this branch. They would be in charge of studying the world around them, including its structure, base elements, and the origins and the mystery of the Spark, which gives people the gift of Magic.
Sentinels
The Sentinals are Knights who wish to balance both pursuits of Strength and Intellect. Sentinels will work to investigate matters of injustice and deceit, and to rectify and bring the matters to light.
-Investigator:
The Investigators will be hand selected by the Headmaster. Their job is to uncover mysteries and threats to the world and bring them to the attention of the Order. Once evaluated, the Headmaster will notify the local lordship and decide on what to do next.
-Shadow Corps:
The Shadow Corps is a secret group which reports directly to the Headmaster. It is their task to use stealth to infiltrate enemy strongholds and eliminate specific targets or to gather intelligence.
Concerning Times of War
The Order of Sera and its members will work to find a peaceful solution to every conflict before it boils over. Ambassadors are responsible for hearing the disputes of each side and deciding where to proceed. If peace cannot be obtained through diplomacy, the Order will remain neutral unless Civilian lives are at risk.
During wartime, Knights will be given posts within the military as allowed by the Lordship and Government.
