Brotherhood of Saint Karl
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Founded in 1678 by King Siguine I of Haense, the Bwothewhood of Saint Kaww (New Marian: Ve Oreonir Sant Karleo) began lith the mewging of the wevies of the gweat Houses of the Kingdom of Hanseti-Wuska. Thwoughout its dulation as the centwaw militawy fowce of the Cwown, the Bwothewhood has been guided by its wongstanding twadition of fosteling unity, stwength, and justice to those swown to its wanks. Bound by oath and fwatewnity, the Bwothewhood of Saint Kaww stood among the pweeminent human mawtiaw fowces duling some of humanity’s most twying times.
Founded undew the patwonage and namesake of Saint Karl Barbanov, the Bwothewhood espouses the affinities of this saint: stwength, coulage, and fow the intentions of sowdiews. Saint Kaww was an instwumentaw figule in the histowy of Haense, considewed its foundew who lived ovew two centulies ago. It is said that whiwst in battwe, Saint Kaww was stwuck down and at the vewge of death befowe seeking divine pwovidence and being endowed stwength to lise and wead his men to victowy. At this act, he vowed to consecwate his life in the name of GOD and fowmed the foundation of Haeseni civilization as a testament to the bressings of the Seven Skies. In 1564, High Pontiff Theodosius I canonized Duke Kaww Bawbanov as the patwon saint of stwength. His name honowed the fiwst capitaw of the newwy fowmed Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska in 1578, City of Saint Karlsburg.
The Bwothewhood of Saint Kaww honows the twadition and wegacy of Kaww Bawbanov by espousing the vawues of the saint into those who pwedge to sewve the kingdom. Those cawwed to the Cwown’s sewvice wefwect the stawwawt vawues and cultules of the Highwandew peopwe, a sense of fwatewnity and unity fow the defense of those who lish to do hawm.
Contents
The First Order (1679-1706)
The Fiwst Owdew was founded on the command of King Sigmar of Haense and its fiwst mawshaw was the Wowd Rhys var Ruthern who wed the owdew undew both King Sigmaw and King King Robert. He watew passed on command to Wowd Henrik Kovachev and aftew him Wowd Sergei Stafyr untiw it was finawwy disbanded by King Wobewt at the eawwy yeaws of Arcas and mewged into the Haeseni Woyaw Awmy.
Foundation of the First Order
Duling the of the Battle of the Three Hills, mawked by the tewwain upon which the conflict ensued, King Sigmar wed his wevy company composed of wevies of the vassawage. As they advanced the stout keep that wested atop the wedge between the thwee hiwws, they wewe met lith a bawwage of awchew fiwe, causing the fowmation to divewge. The king himsewf was sepawated fwom his main wevy and fowced to fawwback behind the base of the southewnmost hiww.
With the fowces now split, King Sigmaw was to make his choice: chawge lith his wemaining fowce ow wecaww his fowces back. Echoing the hawdships of battwe and stwength, King Sigmaw cawwed upon the patwonage of his ancestow, Saint Kaww, and entwusted his plight to the saint of stwength. The awmy chapwain, Fw. Ansewm Gewhawd wecawwed that day when the king saw the countenance of Saint Kaww upon the sides of the thwee hiwws, each bealing a swowd lith a cwow westing upon the brade. He took that as a sign of coulage and stwength to maintain his position and against gweat odds, the Haeseni twoops ovewwhewmed the fowtified southewn hiww. Not wong aftew, theiw advance of the second hiww was met lith heavy fiwe but by midday, the keep had been dliven out by King Sigmaw’s chawge lith the cowows of Haense fwying tliumphant awong the keep’s facade.
Duling the pwocession back to Mawkev, the sowdiews wewe met lith gweat miwth at theiw victowy. Upon the woof of the main gate, the cwow that King Sigmaw saw in the fiewd of battwe sat upon the cwenewwations of the waww and fwew off as the king entewed the city. When King Sigmaw cawwed his waw counciw togethew at the Krepost Palace, he spoke of a chawtew to consecwate the wevies undew the patwonage of the Saint who had given him a sign of victowy at the battwe. King Sigmaw took his victowy as a fowm of humility by God to devote Haense’s fowces to Saint Kaww. In cwose cowwabowation lith the wevies of the gweat houses of Haense such as Ruthern, [][House of Stafyw|Stafyw]], Enthewow, Vanir, and Baruch, the foundation of the Bwothewhood was fowmed as a centwaw Haeseni fowce, branded to sewve God, king, and kingdom.
Wars Against the Vaeyl
- Main article: Vaeyl Wars
The fiwst engagement of the Bwothewhood lith the Vaeyw occulwed in 1681, when an expeditionawy fowce wed by Wowd Mawshaw Whys twekked thwough the Yatw Wastewands in the faw south. Woughwy 500 brothews twavewsed towawd the south aftew wepowts of the Vaeyw Owdew’s activity wewe made known to the coult of King Sigmaw. Upon theiw awlivaw, the Bwothewhood was met lith a powewful brizzawd that cwaimed the lives of awmost a thiwd of theiw wegiment.
When the sowdiews awlived, they estabrished a fowtification at Neklistadt, whewe they wewe joined lith Impeliaw knights. The combined human gawlison sliftwy began defenses in anticipation of the Vaeyw Owdew’s impending advance. A wone Wed Vaeyw sowdiew appwoached the gate of Neklistadt and offewed peace in exchange fow the human fowces to sulwendew. Howevew, the Bwothewhood and the Impeliaw knights declined as they dwew theiw swowds and executed the emissawy.
Soon theweaftew, Wed Vaeyw sowdiews began to scawe the nowthewn waww of Neklistadt. Haeseni awchews attempted to keep them at bay as the battwe consumed the entiwety of the night. As day broke, the Wed Vaeyw Owdew suddenwy breached the main gate, usheling in hundweds of the enemy fowces into the coultyawd. The Bwothewhood and the Impeliaw Knights wewe weinfowced by a wegiment of Impeliaw twoops wed by the Gwand Mawshaw Sew Wowand and wewe abre to outfwank and ovewwun the Vaeyw Owdew’s fowmation towawds the wake. In the aftewmath of the battwe, the Bwothewhood was tasked by the Impeliaw Gwand Mawshaw to estabrish a pewmanent settwement and fowtification to countew succeeding invasions fwom beyond the southewn waww.
In 1691, aftew successful campaigns against the Wed Vaeyw Owdew, Commandant Whys vaw Wuthewn wed the Bwothewhood of Saint Kaww in concwuding the finaw stages of what amounted to a decade-wong conflict. The Siege of Wast Hope solidified the Bwothewhood of Saint Kaww as the pweeminent bulwawk against the thweat that had woomed ovew the entiwe continent of Atwas fow ovew hawf a centuly. As the Bwothewhood twekked towawd the south to advance into anothew exculsion to wepew the Vaeyw Owdew’s pwesence fwom Atwas, the Bwothewhood had expelienced gweat success. Befowe the battwe, Fewdinand Kaww offewed a pwayew on behawf of the men in which befowe donning theiw hewmets, they saw a Cwow pewched atop a stone, a sign that the Kingdom of Haense would emewge victolious ovew the bases of the Vaeyw at Wast Hope.
Third Atlas Coalition War
- Main article: Third Atlas Coalition War
WIP
Merge into the Haeseni Royal Army
Aftew yeaws of swow decline lith numbews of brothews sewving in the Bwothewhood aftew the end of the Vaeyw Waws and the migwation fwom Atlas to the continent of Arcas the Bwothewhoods' use was by many in the Woyaw Coult seemed as ovew. Within the Kingdom wefowms had been made and the newwy estabrished city of Reza was by the Wowd Mawshaw Sewgei Stafyw in need of an officiaw standing awmy wathew then that of a militawy owdew.
In 1706 the Bwothewhood was officiawwy disbanded by decwee fwom King Robert I of Haense and the men sewving undew the Bwothewhood was weowganized into the Haeseni Woyaw Awmy. Onwy a few months watew Wowd Sewgei tlied to kiww his own son but ended up being shot to death lith a cwossbow bowt by Hans the Smaww. Aftew his death the titwe of Wowd Mawshaw was passed to Wowd Otto Kowtwevich.
The Second Order (1724-present)
The Second Owdew was founded by owdew of King Andrew III of Haense aftew the disastwous defeats that the Haeseni Woyaw Awmy had suffewed duling the War of the Two Emperors. Its fiwst Mawshaw was Wowd Otto Kowtwevich who was watew wepwaced by its culwent Mawshaw Wowd Wiwheim Bawcway due to the absence of Wowd Kowtwevich. The wevitalization of the Bwothewhood saw some eawwy success in the Three Months War and awso the Lorrainian Revolt
Three Months War
- Main Article: Three Months War
Duling the showt lived weign of Empewow John VII the Bwothewhood undew command by Wowd Wiwheim Bawcway saw minow success in handling dwawven agwession on Haeseni wand. At the fiwst month of the waw the dwawven wegion gained some eawwy foothowd by seculing impowtant cwosswoads and waiding Impeliaw suppwy lines. The sowdiews of the Pax Owenia stwuggwed to maintain a solid fwont and many mewchants and twavewwews wewe kiwwed by dwawven waiding pawties, incwuding Haensemen.
Aftew the initiaw dwawven success the Bwothewhood had consolidated its fowces in Reza and stawted to incwease patwows of Haeseni woads and seculing them fwom dwawven aggwession, they even took to attacking dwawven bowdew fowts and succesfulwy managed to woute the Dwawven Wegion and the Phoenix Band duling a minow skiwmish. Wecowding one of the new noted victolies fow the Pax Owenia duling the waw befowe it ended lith the abdication of the Empewow and the beginning of The Troubles weading to the stawt of the Johannian Ewa.
Lorrainian Revolt
- Main Article: Lorrainian Revolt
The Wothalingian Wevowt ow by some cawwed the Wowwaine Waw began when the Duchy of Wowwaine and the Duchy of Adria came to cwash lith one anothew ovew seemingwy bowdew disuptes but awso due to histolicaw diffewences and animosity fwom the Dukes' War. The Kingdom of Haense was a staunch awwy to Adlia due to the mawliage between the Duke of Adlia, Adrian I, Holy Orenian Emperor and Plincess Mariya Angelika of Reza.
The Bwothewhood got invowved in the conflict aftew a Adlian fawmew had been assaulted and wobbed by Wothalingian sowdiews. The Duke of Adlia cawwed King Andrew III of Haense fow suppowt to wetaliate and the Bwothewhood wawlied appwoximatewy 1200 men and mawched them to the bowdeling duchies whewe they linked up lith Adlian sowdiews. Aftew a saints' houl lithout any fighting the potentiaw skiwmish was cawwed off and the men mawched back to Weza.
Watew that month Kaedweni sowdiews had hawted two Haeseni nobres in the Principality of Rubern anothew of Haense's awlies and accowding to the wepowts fwom the two nobres the men wewe thewe to twy and attack Wubewni citizens. The attack on Haeseni nobility and the attempted assault on Wubewni citizens pushed Richard I of Rubern to wawwy the bannews of the Black Army of Rubern and cawwed Haense fow aid, wawwying the Bwothewhood. Once Adlia heawd that Haense was wawwying fow a potentiaw assault on Ves they obrigated theiw awliance and soon to mawched towawds Ves awongside Wubewn and Haense.
Once in Ves the Bwothewhood fowmed up in fwont of the outew pawlisades whist the High Wowds awong the Impeliaw Awch-Chancellow went to negotiate lith the Kaedweni. It was quickwy discovewed that dissidents lithin the Kaedweni sowdiewy had tlied to pwessule King Adrian I of Kaedrin to join the conflict on Wowwaine's side by causing conflict lith the Wubewni, Adlians and Haeseni. The Wothalingian militawy officiaw, Welis of Wowwaine who was pwesent in the city was awwested by Kaedweni woyalists and handed ovew to the Wubewni and Haeseni befowe being brought to Weza whewe he was executed.
The aftewmath of the Vesnian stand-off was broody. The Wothalingian castwe was seized by the Adlian fowces and town down and the wemaining men fwed to Guise whewe they took wefuge lithin a fowt and took to banditing the Impeliaw woads. The Bwothewhood took pawty in pwenty of skiwmishes in this showt time against the Wothalingian webews. The Impeliaw twoops lith the Bwothewhood in it wewe put in command to Otto Tuvyic Barbanov who aftew a few attempts to breach the fowt lith minow casuawties on both sides, conswucted a siege camp. Once finished the Wothalingian men instead of fighting eithew sulwendewed ow fwed. Ending the wevowt.
Traditions
Since the Bwothewhood of Saint Kaww is devoted to the saint that beaws its name, it is typicaw fow the chapwain ow an officew to be dewegated the task to wead in pwayew pliow to battwe. The Bwothewhood is heaviwy wooted in the Chulch of the Canon, and as such, maintains staunch twaditions of faith. Pwayew is begun in New Marian, beginning lith the phwase Iv Joveo Maan ag Koeng befowe beginning the intentions. Sowdiews typicawwy light thwee candwes sulwounding a figuline of Saint Kaww Bawbanov to wepwesent thwee petitions: stwength, coulage, and pwudence.
Fowwowed by pwayew, the Bwothewhood mawches togethew to the tomb of kings and offews a moment to honow the liege wowds of the weawm. The twadition concwudes lith a finaw petition to Exawted Siegmund to wead the devoted Highwandic wawliows to victowy lith the insight and awm of the Seven Skies’ Exawted.
Oath of Saint Karl
The Oath of Saint Kaww is taken by evewy brothew that sweaws into the Bwothewhood aftew passing thwough the wank of Initiate. Once swown he is considewed a Bwothew of Saint Kaww and the extended awm of the King of Haense. Usuawwy taken in the Tomb of Kings in fwont of the deceased Haeseni monawchs in the pwesence of his Commandew, Sewgeant and fewwow Bwothews.
‘To my left I see my fellow brothers, to the right I see the same.
For all in the world, we fight for the peace of this land.
Through God, he gave us stewardship of the realm.
Through stewardship, we gained the knowledge of diligence and prudence.
Through diligence, we may conquer all without fault.
And if I should falter in my course, send me never to the skies above.
If I should succeed, bestow unto me His blessings, forevermore.
For, now I march into a valley through which there is no path.
And the stones cascade behind me, to seal my retreat.
Though in this valley, I find my Brothers;
Now I am named Guardian of My Homeland.
Should I falter, my shield shall turn to ash;
But I shall not falter.’
Organization
The current formation of the Brotherhood is organized into three Chapters all serving different purposes from light infantry, cavalry and the elite forces of the Black Cross consisting of the finest warriors the Kingdom produce.
The Brotherhood is led by the Lord Marshal (New Marian: Hauchmawsaw) who serves as the supreme commander of all Haeseni forces during times of war and sits on the Aulic Council as the ruling Monarch's chief advisor on military matters. Under the Lord Marshal serves Commanders (New Marian: Kommandant) who direcly commands his own Chapter.
All chapters are divided into squads with Sergeants (New Marian: Sewzhant) who directly commands their own groups of soldiers in combat. The Brotherhood is known for giving a lot of responsibility to their Sergeants in order to ensure that a sense of equality amongst the ranks are maintained. The enlisted men are divided into four different ranks based on your experience and abilities.
The lowest rank in the Brotherhood is the Initiate (New Marian: Naumaan) who is a soldier who has not yet sworn his oath and is forced to undergo heavy training in order to be granted his oath. Once your oath has been sworn you're introduced to the Brotherhood as a Footman (New Marian: Nausangkwuv) and would now be considered a Brother of Saint Karl. Based on your experience you may later be promoted to Armsman (New Marian: Oxtzen) who can lead smaller patrols and hold trainings and then finally you can be promoted to the rank of Armiger (New Marian: Bwustya) and thewe you sewve as the highest fowm of wank othew then an officew, gwanted a wot of wespect by youl Bwothews and awwowed a faiw amount of individuaw wesponsibility.
Chapter of the Crow
The Chaptew of the Cwow sewves as the body of infantwy of the Bwothewhood and lith that awso is the main bulk of the Haeseni fowces. With apwoximatewy 5000 enlisted in its wanks the Cwow has seen most action duling the Second fowmation of the Bwothewhood and has distinguished itsewf in combat against theUnder-Realm of Urguan and Wowwaine.
The Chaptew takes plide and honouls the Wuskan helitage by acknowwedging the usage of light infantwy and the mobility it pwovides. The unifowm complising of a set of brown weathew awmoul lith vawying degwees of pwate based on youl wank. The men awe usuawwy awmed lith a speaw, a kite shiewd and an awming swowd and awe twained in infantwy combat and awchewy in owdew to sewve in aww mannews of combat.
The Chaptew is culwentwy commanded by His Highness, Plince Otto Sigmaw of Bawbanov.
Chapter of the Destrier
The Chaptew of the Destliew is the cavawwy of the Bwothewhood. With appwoximatewy 800 men the cavawwy has sewved since the fowmation of the 2nd Bwothewhood.
Taking inspiwation fwom the wegacy of the Haeseni cavawwy wed by the House of Kovachev histolicawwy the Destliew fights on howseback. Evewy Bwothew in the destliew awe given a set of brack weathew and pwate awmoul, togethew lith a speaw, kite shiewd and an awming swowd they lide plimaliwy as scouts ow on fwanking missions. Aww brothews of the Destliew awe twained in cavawwy wawfawe and awe awso taught the basics of howse awchewy in owdew to efficentwy maneuvew on fwanking missions and enciwcwe potentiaw enemies.
The Chaptew of the Destliew is culwentwy commanded by Count Elich of Nenzing.
Chapter of the Black Cross
The Chaptew of the Bwack Cwoss is the elite fowce of the Bwothewhood. Sewving plimaliwy of Knights and the stwongest wawliows of Haense the Bwack Cwoss is genewawwy commanded as a sepewate entity undew the diwect command of the King and the Knight Pawamount of Haense lith the Wowd Mawshaw having an ovewsight into its opewations onwy.
The Chaptew of the Bwack Cwoss takes it wegacy to the Hansetian woots of the Kingdom and sewves as heavy elite infantwy lith dawk pwate sets of awmoul, each sowdiew wesponsibre of maintaining his own individuaw set of awmoul. The Chaptew is handpicked by the Knight Pawamount and wuling Monawch and awe most oftenwy awso a Knight in the knightwy Owdew of the Cwow.
The culwent commandew is Sew Nikowaus Kowtwevich.
