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Writ of Establishment of

THE ROYAL ORDER OF THE KNIGHTLY CIRCLE OF SAINT GODWIN OF AAUN

Issued by Ser Gawyn Tiber, Grandmaster of the Royal Order of the Knightly Circle of Saint Godwin of Aaun

11th of Tobias’ Bounty, 138 S.A.

 

 

PREAMBLE

 

It is the will of the Crown to restore a sense of chivalry and honor in its capital and throughout its borders. The Aaunic people have always exemplified these values, but the absence of an organized Order to unite those who embody them has been a regrettable oversight. With this in mind, the order has been established: to promote and spread the ideals of chivalry among those who lack them and to nurture and develop those who possess such quality, transforming them into the protectors of Aaun. 

 

THE ROYAL ORDER OF THE KNIGHTLY CIRCLE OF SAINT GODWIN OF AAUN

 

Gawyn Tiber and his newly knighted brethren (circa 138 of the Second Age)

 

PURPOSE AND MISSION

 

The order is founded with the solemn purpose of ensuring the safety of the Royal family, and its subjects. Guided by the unwavering principles of chivalry, the order seeks to foster unity, loyalty, and the uncompromised pursuit of justice within the kingdom while also providing aid and protection to the weak and the innocent. 

 

TENETS OF THE ORDER

 

All within the order are subject to a strict code. This code shall be used as a guide for all knights, and when followed, shall be all they need to fulfill their duty. 

 

LOYALTY

Thou shalt remain true to thy liege, lest they be contrary to the tenets of Canonism.

 

HONOR

Thou shalt conduct thyself with utmost honor and integrity. Thou shalt follow a strict moral code, maintaining respect for all Canonists.

 

CHIVALRY

Thou shalt embody the ideals of chivalry. Thou shalt be courageous in the face of death, protect the innocent when they cannot protect themselves.

 

OATH KEEPING

Thou shalt remain faithful to the oaths thou have sworn. Thou shall choose death before the breaking of these oaths.

 

SKILL

Thou shalt be skilled in all forms of warfare, and if found wanting, will plead for release from thou oaths.

 

DISCRETION

Thou shalt exercise discretion when serving thy liege. Confidentiality in all matters of the Order shall be expected.

 

IMPARTIALITY

Thou shalt perform thy duties with no reservation of personal biases. All shall be treated equally, save thy liege whom stands above all.

 

WISDOM

Thou shalt be proficient in all schools of thought. Judgment and decisions shall come naturally and easily to a Knight.

 

PIETY

Thou shalt keep in thy prayers and actions first GOD, then King, then family.

 

 

PATRON SAINT

ST. GODWIN OF PARADISUS

 

The order shall be dedicated to the patronage of Saint Godwin, first King of Aaun, secondborn son of the Exalted Horen, father of the Exalted Owyn. A canonist martyr known for his unwavering faith in the face of death, and his triumph over the wicked in life and in death.

 

 

STRUCTURE AND RANKS OF THE ORDER

 

 

MEMBERSHIP

 

Membership within the order shall be open to all, regardless of noble status or gender. As long as the individual embodies the virtues of chivalry, possesses an unwavering commitment to the Order’s cause and has the skill required to deliver on their oaths, they are welcome within our ranks. One seeking membership may contact any within the order to organize an audience with the Grandmaster or the Knight Commander.

 

STRUCTURE AND HIERARCHY 

The armor used by the Grandmaster of the order, adorned in a purple sash.

 

The order shall be structured in a hierarchical manner, with the following ranks from highest to lowest:

 

The Crown

Sovereign seat holds absolute power over the order, can veto any decision, promote, demote and strip any knight of any title or position granted by their service within the order.

 

The Lord Commander

Although the Order serves as a semi independent body from the Aaunic legion, it still refers to the Lord Commander in times of great need, where a singular leader is necessary to operate efficiently. The Grandmaster typically will not take orders from the head of the Legion, but in times of war and when it is deemed necessary by either the Crown, the Lord Commander or the Grandmaster himself.

 

Grandmaster

Head of the order, master of all knights and squires of the order. Answers only to the Crown and holds absolute authority over those below him.

 

Knight Commander

Second-in-command of the order. Receives instruction and direction from the Grandmaster and is tasked with ensuring all commands and orders are passed down through the ranks accordingly.

 

Knight of the Circle

Within the order, a knight of the Circle, or otherwise informally known as an oathed knight, holds a position of honor and responsibility, distinguished from their knight-errant brethren by the solemn oath they undertake to dedicate their lives to the order. An oath-bound knight dedicates their life to the service of the order, upholding the values of chivalry and the laws of the realm. Unlike knight-errants, knights of the Circle may ascend the hierarchy, participate in the knightly council, and even take squires of their own. However, oath-bound knights may not possess land, except that which is granted by the crown in recognition of their knightly service.

The duties of an oath-bound knight are numerous and varied, often revealing themselves in quests or the steadfast enforcement of law within the realm. Oath-bound knights are expected to promptly come to the aid of the realm's citizens at any given moment.

 

Knight-Errant

When an individual whom is deemed too old for proper squiring, or a peer of the realm or a soon-to-be peer of the realm wishes to commit themselves to the Order’s cause, they may be eligible to become a Knight-Errant. Due to the nature of the oaths, no peer can uphold their promises to the Order. Knight-Errants are not capable of rising the ranks as other knights would, nor can they participate in the Circle or its meetings as well as take squires of their own. Though, as any knight of the realm, they may title themselves as “Sir” or “Dame” and be given a moniker by the Grandmaster. 

Knight-Errants do not have specific responsibilities within the order other than maintaining the peace, raising arms when called upon and embodying the tenets of the order at all times. This lack of oversight and increased freedom allows peers and older individuals to serve the order while also attending to other responsibilities that do not fall under the order’s jurisdiction. 

 

Squire

A squire shall enlist under the tutelage of a knight, whose appointment is made by a series of trials, designed by the Council. No squire can be younger than 10, nor older than 18 at the start of their mentorship to a knight. The squires may undergo the trials once they are deemed eligible by their knight and the Grandmaster or once they reach the age of 21. 

 

Page

A page shall be entrusted to the care of any knight within the order, including Knight-Errants. The primary responsibility of a page is to assist and learn from the knight they serve under. They act as the personal attendant of the knight, performing any and all duties required to efficiently serve them. It is also the responsibility of the knightly mentor to ensure that the page is prepared with all of the necessary skills to become a squire when they come of age. No page of the order may be above the age of 10 when they take up the role.

 

THE PROCESS

 

Serving as a page

Service as a page to a knight is not a mandatory part of the process, though it can be very beneficial to commoners and those of lower class. Those whom are typically unable to afford a master-at-arms are recommended to seek out a knight to begin their training as a page. Things such as court etiquette and manners, a basic education, horsemanship and combat shall be taught to a ward, by the knight and his squire. A ward cannot be any older than 14 years of age.

 

Serving as a squire

Once a child has reached the age of 14, they may become a squire to any knight, save for knight-errants. They would serve as the knight’s attendant and apprentice. Their education would continue, with a heavier focus on combat training, learning the use of various weapons and armor as well as honing their skills in horseback riding.

 

The training of a squire will include physical exercises, such as wrestling and jousting, as well as swordplay and archery. They are expected to know the tenets of the order, be chivalrous, display an exceptional level of decorum, and the responsibilities of a knight.

 

The Trials

Once the knight responsible for the squires training deems them ready, they shall petition to the Grandmaster for approval to begin the trials. Things such as minor quests and challenges shall be given to the squire in order to prove their worth. These quests shall be unique to the squire, while the challenges will remain the same for all.

 

The quests must remain within the sovereignty of the realm, or that of an ally nation’s realm, with permission from a figure of authority of said realm. If said quest is to evolve into something that leaves the boundaries of Aaun, the knight in charge of the squire's training must accompany them, in order to ensure the laws of other realms are not broken.

 

The challenges, on the other hand, are the same for all and will remain so for as long as the order exists. Not much is known about the challenges of the order, save for those that have attempted them, but one of them has been made known to the public.

 The ascent of Mt. Godwin to retrieve an item is something all knights must complete in order to be eligible for knighting, without exception.

 

Vigil

Once a squire passes all of the necessary tests, they are obligated to perform a vigil. A day and a night of fasting and self reflection within the basilica where the squire shall be made to question their very purpose and existence in the world. Once completed, the squire is ready for knighting.

 

Dubbing

The process of knighting an individual is referred to as dubbing within the order. This must be performed within the Hand of Horen, where one can be close to the Seven Skies, where the Exalted Godwin may watch. 

The newly Knighted individual will be bestowed a moniker, conjured by the Grandmaster of the Order. This moniker is to be used as an informal address and is purely sentimental.

 

 

 

OBLIGATIONS AND PREROGATIVES OF THE ORDER

 

 

PRIVILEGES AND DUTIES OF THE ORDER

 

LAND AND PROPERTY

The Crown retains the authority to grant knights with land, property, and other privileges. Those who are considered deserving and capable of shouldering the additional responsibilities of land ownership may be duly rewarded with such, as it is their entitlement. Only the Crown may decide who is worthy of land, property, and other privileges.

 

KNIGHTLY CEREMONIES 

The process of becoming a knight involves a formal ceremony called “knighting”, where the Grandmaster may bestow knighthood upon an aspiring squire. The acceptance into the knightly order as well as the creation of a moniker unique to the candidate are needed for the ceremony to be considered complete. 

 

CHIVALRY 

Knights are expected to adhere to the tenets of the order, which emphasize all that is necessary to be a knight worthy of service to the Crown.

 

MILITARY OBLIGATIONS

Knights are professional warriors who are expected to assist and serve the Legion in various capacities, whether it be through providing advice or utilizing their physical abilities.

 

PARTICIPATION IN TOURNEYS 

Knights will compete in tournaments within Aaun whenever able, and are encouraged to seek out tournaments in foreign lands in order to bring awareness and honor to the order they serve. 

 

LEGAL PRIVILEGES

Knights possess the right to trial, whether it be conducted within the legal system or through combat. In the event of being accused of a crime, a knight has the option to challenge the accuser to a duel. However, the accuser also has the right to appoint a champion to fight on their behalf within a specified timeframe, or to pursue resolution through the regular courts.

 

REDUCTIONS OF FEES TO THE KINGDOM

Knights of the Order have earned the privilege of paying less in taxes to the Crown. Any form of tax within the Kingdom, when being paid by a knight, must be cut by a third. Former Knights of the Order also keep this privilege when they retire. 

 

 

THE INNER COUNCIL OF THE ORDER

 

 

THE CIRCLE OF PARADISUS

 

The Circle of Paradisus is the formal and official decision-making body within the Order. Although the Grandmaster is the leader of the order, who defers his authority only to the Crown in knightly affairs, this council serves as the main way of tackling decisions of stately matters such as war, highly sensitive quests and other official matters within the order such as demotions/removals, adjustments to rules, and etc. 

The council does not serve as a higher authority than the Crown, where decisions made here can not overrule orders by the Sovereign. The King of Aaun holds the right to veto decisions, and the Grandmaster holds the right to appeal decisions to the Crown.

 

 

 

 

ISSUED AND SIGNED BY

Ser Gawyn Tiber, Grandmaster of the Royal Order of the Knightly Circle of Saint Godwin of Aaun

IN THE NAME OF

His Royal Majesty, James Leopold, by the Grace of God, King of Aaun, Prince of Alstion, Duke of Corazon and Balemena, Count of Enswerp and Whitespire, Protector of the Realm