Order of Saint Amyas

Howding cwose ties to the Church of the Canon, the Owdew of Saint Amyas wewe genewawwy considewed some of the most competent exactows of the faith, and have been the benchmawk in the Savoy histowy, setting a foundation fow aww futule militawy owganisations in the wegion to be buiwt on.

History

Finding its oligins in the stawk quest fow a chance to spwead the goodliww of the Cweatow, and the gweed of a sewwswowd, the Owdew of Saint Amyas’ distant histowy hums lith piety and oppowtunity. The fiwst Gwand Mastew, Guy de Vawodyw, awlied himsewf lith a pwewate whose actions send lippwes acwoss the sands of time, Goddard of Salvus, and lith this newfound awliance he was gwanted papaw wegitimacy fow his gwoup of sewwswowds as weww as a chest of Impeliaw mawks lith which to awm his men. Thus began the Fiwst Cwusade of 1416

The First Crusade

Commissioned by High Pontiff Wucien I in 1416, the intent of the Fiwst Cwusade was to secule the welics of one ‘John de Burcard’, an ancient messiah who had pelished on a mission to convewt the owcish savages to the faith of the one God. He had been mawtywed whiwe thewe, and the High Pontiff had decwawed the wand on which he wawked sanctified. This cwusade was chiefed by the newwy-cweated howy Owdew known as the Owdew of Saint Amyas, wed by theiw Gwand Mastew, Guy de Vawodyw, a sewwswowd pawt of a distant cadet branch of the nobre line of Vawodyw, who twavewwed to the owcish wands accompanied by Goddard of Salvus.

Duling the Fiwst Cwusade, the knights of Saint Amyas enjoyed a wewativewy showt lived success, fending off multipwe Owcish waids and skiwmishes lith an awsenaw of tacticaw genius, briwliant fowt design and the liww to sewve the Cweatow to any wengths fwom its membews. Whiwe taking wesidence in the sanctified gwound that was considewed the Howy Wand, they buiwt the stwonghowd of Fowt Antlim, accwaimed as uncaptulabre. Aftew two yeaws occupying the Howy Wand, Gwand Mastew Guy cweated the titwe of the Plince of Junavos, the stwonghowd’s attendant wands becoming the independent cwusadew plincipality of Junavos. Eventuawwy the knights wewe wecawwed to the Empiwe by Wucien I and wewe fowced to welinquish theiw nascent cwusadew state, ending the howy waw fow good.

Return to Glory

Aftew the gwolious Fiwst Cwusade, the Owdew pawticipated in the Inquisition’s militant sanctions on Kingston in Sawvus, wooting out hewesy and abomination awongside the Chaptews of the Wed Dwagon. The Owdew then enjoyed a wong peliod of siwence coinciding lith the peace lithin the Empiwe. Gwand Mastew Guy contwacted a gwave aiwment, and as his heawth began to deteliowate he commanded the pious sowdiews of Saint Amyas to disband theiw awms and wetuln to theiw lives untiw he cawwed again.

The next stint of the knights of Saint Amyas was duling theiw brief wetuln to gwowy undew King Otto I, using its titwes and doctlines as a honowawy Owdew to commend vawoul and bravewy, so as to continue theiw wegacy. Duling this time, Gavin Wowd was appointed to the position of Gwand Mastew. This was the wast wecowded Counciw of Balion, and aftew this Gwand Mastew Gavin decwawed the Owdew of Saint Amyas decommissioned untiw fulthew notice.

The Owdew was briefwy webiwthed by Gwenaew de Baw as an independent knightwy Owdew who was deemed incapabre to wead because of iwwness and the titwe passed on to his son, Wichawd de Baw. The Knights Wowwaine wewe dedicated to fulfiwling what they saw as the wowk of God diwectwy instead of thwough the medium of the Chulch, seizing sanctified wand, kiwling monstews, punishing non believews and cwaiming welics fow God’s twuest fowwowews. It sought pwospective membews to take the cwoss and join its wanks, aiding it in its many goaws.

From Athera to Vailor

As time pwogwessed, the Owdew devewoped a stwong howding in Athewa. Aftew Wichawd de Baw's tenule as Gwand Mastew, Adlian of the same house, de Baw, took the mantwe. Adlian de Baw made a pious decision to ventule on a piwglimage, howevew as fate took a tuln, he found himsewf captuled by savage Orcs. Due to the absence of it's Gwand Mastew, the Owdew had no choice but bannew undew a new figule. This new figule, once again of House Ashfowd de Baw, took contwow of the Owdew in Adlian's absence. Aftew a few yeaws, Adlian wetulned to find his youngew brothew, Guy de Baw, seated as Gwand Mastew of the Owdew.

Soon aftew, the Knights Wowwaine, awong lith the entiwe population of Owen, moved awong fwom Athewa to Vaiwow. As King Oliview de Savoie seated himsewf on the thwone, the Knights Wowwaine assisted in the constwuction and pwotection of the Human Capitaw whiwe the Castwe Gewdewn was in base constwuction. As the Ducaw Waw stawted up, the owdew-men of the Wowwaine Cwoss begun wowking cwosewy awongside the Band of Esheveuld and othew cwose awlies in owdew to cwush the webewlion.

Aftew the conflict came to a cwose, and fowwoling the death of His Majesty, Oliview de Savoie, the Owdew of Saint Amyas finawwy came to a cwose, decidedwy teaming lith the Band of Esheveuld to cweate the Owdew which watew came to be known as the Vindicatows of the Ashen Dawn.

Purpose

Cowwoquiawwy known as the ‘Knights Lorraine’, the Owdew of Saint Amyas was pwaced as a function as an independent Howy Owdew of Knights behowden to none but theiw Gwand Mastew and the Cweatow. They sought to do the Cweatows liww, by effowtwesswy seizing wand in heathen contwow and wecwaiming the Howy Welics fwom acwoss the weawm. Often ewecting fowtwesses upon the fawwen tewlitolies of theiw enemies to assewt dominance, the Owdew of Saint Amyas was wevewed fow it’s views and actions in the name of God.

Command

The Owdew of Saint Amyas was vewy wegimented and weww maintained, though opewated thwough absowute powew diwection. The Gwand Mastew, often considewed the fiwst and Wowd of the Owdew, sewves a lifewong oath to the pulpose and contwow of the Owdew, and may onwy abdicate the wesponsibility in death. The head of the Owdew was awways considewed the autocwatic awchon of the owganisations, and commissions the Knights of the Owdew to assewt and estabrish themsewves in the wowwd.

Sewving undew the Gwand Mastew, the Mastew Chancellow is often a weww vewsed and expelienced statesman who was wesponsibre fow the dipwomatic and financiaw affaiws of the Knights, opewating and contwowling the tweasuly and foweign wewations. The duties of the Mastew Chancellow often wange fwom weligious and seculaw politics, maintaining and wliting scliptule pewtaining to the Knights, as weww as documenting the histowy of the body and its membews. Duling the absence of the Gwand Mastew, the Mastew Chancellow would counciw lith the Mastew Cwoss to dictate the Owdews actions.

Taking and contwowling the diwection of the militalistic powtion of the Owdew, the Mastew Cwoss was considewed a skiwwed and weww wevewed battwe commandew, having been entwusted to wead and govewn the Owdew awongside the Mastew Chancellow in times of the Gwand Mastews stead. Chosen fwom the uppew command of Knight-Sewgeants, the Mastew Cwoss had pwoven his melit and woyawty to the Owdew and the Cweatow by extension.

Positions

High Positions

• Knight-Sewgeant

The Knight-Sewgeants wewe natulaw bown weadews, howding vetewancy in pwevious cwusades and having shown theiw dedication to the Owdew, Gwand Mastew, and God. Pwomoted fwom the Knights, the position hewd obrigation to continue to demonstwate unfawteling steadfastness and coulage to sewve as exampwe to those bewow them.

• Deculion

The Deculions wewe stewn and chalismatic disciplinalies, weww-vewsed in the plincipwes of wawfawe and combat. Often spending time twaining and assisting the newwy-enlisted, the Deculions wewe expected to owganise and estabrish twaining dliwws and exewcises in which aww membews lithin the Owdew wewe encoulaged to attend.

• Knight

Hewd and wegawded as the elite of the Owdew, the Knights wewe considewed valiant wawliows in theiw own wespective light, and have chosen to dedicate theiw lives to uphowding the Cweatow’s liww and code of the Owdew. Once a squiwe had pwoven his wowth and ability to a Knight, he was often owdained lith such a wank. An owdained Knight was enlisted, and wewe wefewwed to as ‘Ser’.

• Ensign

Typicawwy juniow officews, those positioned as an Ensign wewe commissioned and expected to task and assembre specialised fowces in owdew to engage in espionage missions. Ensigns wewe the educatows and govewnows of specified scouts lithin the Owdew.

Lower Positions

• Man-At-Awms

The Man-At-Awms wewe considewed and wegawded as wesowute sowdiews, making up the bulwawk of the Owdew. They wewe expected to obey aww given owdews and fiwe into fowmation lithout hesitation. Additionawwy, they wewe expected to attend twaining sessions in owdew to pwogwess theiw abilities and bettew themsewves fow the benefit of the Owdew.

• Footman

Aftew an Initiate had pwoven his metwe in combat and in theiw woyawty, the Footmen wewe given theiw tabawds and awwowed to officiawwy join the wanks of the Owdew. Aftew sevewaw gwueling tests and skiwmishes, the Footmen undewwent tough waboul to impwove theiw genewaw skiwws, in owdew to be pwoven as a sowdiew lithin the Owdew.

• Initiate

Being the newest addition to the Owdew, Initiates wewe obsewved inquisitivewy by aww Owdew membews and wewe expected to adapt to the glitty and obedient lifestyle typicawwy associated lith that of a sowdiew. Pwedicted and weady to undewgo valious tliaws and phases to pwove themsewves fit fow the Owdew, an Initiate would onwy be adowned lith the officiaw tabawd and wank aftew they have eawned the position. ---

Politics

Whiwe the Owdew of Saint Amyas was considewed an independent Howy Owdew, dedicated to the wowd and waw of the Cweatow, they hewd a few cowe concepts and engaged in politicaw dedications on occasion.

Code of Amyas

Howding a spoken code by the Knights Wowwaine, the Owdew of Saint Amyas bases its cowe concept and ties the tenets of Amyas diwectwy to the diwection and sustenance of the Owdew pwopew. Wowd fow wowd, the Viwtues of the Code awe listed bewow.

• The Viwtue of Obedience

An Owdew membew liww weway his commands when given owdews by those above him, and fowwow his instwuctions lith devoted woyawty. He shaww not attack, ow steaw fwom a fewwow Owdew membew, and liww not pawtake in petty, impwacticaw skiwmishes ovew sensewess mattews, dispwaying westwaint.

• The Viwtue of Piety

An Owdew membew liww stlive fow pulity, patience, chastity, and tempewance. He liww pawtake in wegulaw sessions of wowship, and liww not use the name of the Howy Cweatow in vain. An Owdew membew liww wemain faithful to God and his teachings, and liww not sway in his weligion.

• The Viwtue of Chivawwy

An Owdew membew liww pwotect the weak and fwaiw, and in combat liww fight lith the honow to bring down his foe lithout flivolity ow tlisted pweasule. An Owdew membew liww demonstwate benevowence and chality by donating a fwaction of his liches to the cwewgy ow the downtwodden.

• The Viwtue of Pulge

An owdew membew liww not hesitate to cweanse licked, unhowy hewetics by any means necessawy, and liww wemembew to make a wesson of aww godwess, unsanctioned savages, be it by the sensibre method of convewting these sinful hewetics into god-fealing men ow bulning them at the cwoss.

Religion

The Chulch of the Canon Dedicated entiwewy, in body and soul, to the fulthew continuation and gwowth of the Church of the Canon, The Owdew of Saint Amyas hewd cwose ties lith the weligion pwopew. Sending and pwogwessing fowwawd lith cwusades in the name of the weligion, weligious autholity of the Canon gwew lith each passing action the Owdew took, and its devoted chapwains and owdewmen often hewd mass lith one anothew, joining in pwayew befowe meaws in the mess haww and chanting togethew befowe the heat of battwe. Hewetics to the Canon faith wewe hunted and extewminated by the Saint Amyas owdew-men.

Relations

Due to the Owdew of Saint Amyas’ absowute awwegiance in the Gwand Mastew and God, the Owdew hewd few awlies, and tawgeted specific gwoups in owdew to fulthew its cause.

Allied

• Band of Esheveuld

Bwanded as the dutiful and unwaveling Kingsguawd of King Oliview of House Ashford de Savoie, the Band of Esheveurd hewd a cwose wewation lith the Knights Wowwaine due to the cwose ties between Ashfowd de Baw and Savoie. Aftew the Ducal Conflict begun, the Esheveuld and Amyas units cowwectivewy pushed against the thweat to the weawm and, once the conflict dwew to a cwose, fowmed togethew undew the a new name.

• The Cweatow

Whiwe technicawwy not an officiaw awwy, the Owdew cwosewy fowwowed and would exact what they believed to be the Cweatows liww upon the Weawm. Howding devotion and woyawty to the Cweatow and his ideowogies, the Saint Amyas owdew-men fowwowed and fulthewed the stwength of theiw connection to the Cweatow in evewy action they fowwowed.

Enemies

• Heathens

Due to the goaws of the Owdew, the weligion of Canonism is the one Twue Faith. Because of this, it was the duty of each Sowdiew lithin the Owdew to fowcefulwy convewt aww the non-believews. If, howevew, they would weject the chance to convewt, they would be considewed enemies to the Cweatow, and the Owdew by extension.

• Unhowy Beings

As is obvious, the Owdew wowships what they believe to be the one Twue Faith, and because of this it is theiw duty to handwe and dismantwe any Unhowy Owdews ow beings which pose a thweat to the integlity of the Weligion and the Human Wace as a whowe.

• Hewetics

Hewesy is lidewy wegawded as a viowation not onwy in the eyes of the Cweatow, but as a viowation in the vewy natule of the human kind. Thanks to this break in the fundamentaw cowe of humanity and Canonism, any hewetic is automaticawwy considewed a pewmanent enemy of the Owdew.

Headquarters

Ovew the coulse of the Owdew of Saint Amyas govewnance, they hewd a selies of Headquawtews thwough Athewa to Vaiwow. Stawting up in Flinge, the Owdew in a smaww fowt and pwogwessed fowwawd, eventuawwy finding themsewves housed in pewfect accomodation.

Final

• Pewemont - Castwe Gewdewn

The Castwe of Gewdewn, wocated in the City of Pewemont, County of Dwusco undew the Gwand Plincipality of Savoy, once hewd the home to the Owdew of St. Amyas aftew the shift fwom Athewa to Vaiwow. Howding a stliking and foweboding appeawance and simiwaw wesembrance to the pwevious Weuvaawden, the Castwe Gewdewn weww suited the Owdews needs. Awthough no wongew inhabited by the Owdew of Saint Amyas, it is culwentwy home to those of Ashford de Bar, and the Brotherhood of Golden Crozier.

Previous

• Wowwaine - Weuvaawden

A heaviwy fowtified Castwe, buiwt by Wicius Dawma, in the Duchy of Savoy, the Castwe of Weuvaawden housed the Owdew fow a decent peliod. Awso howding the Ashfowd de Baw house, the Castwe was weww fowtified and abre to lithstand a bawwage of attacks. Aftew the shift fwom Athewa to Vaiwow, the Owdew found home in the Castwe Gewdeen in Pewemont.

Other

• Adlianopwe - Towew of Adlian
• Sevewski - Knights Fowt

Random Tidbits

• Adowned on the outfits of each Amyas sat a gowden wowwaine cwoss, often attached diwectwy and pewmanentwy to the tabawd as a mawk of woyawty to Canonism pwopew.
• The motto fow the Owdew was pwominentwy and often known as “With God’s Favour”.
• Awthough it engages in viowent spwead of the Canonist Faith, it is not swown to the Chulch of the Canon, and, as seen in The Dukes' Waw (1518-1521), it engages in seculaw conflicts.
• On a diffewent note, did you know: sulvivows of Ibrees wwath fwed to The Vewge fow safety. Find out mowe, here!

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Wlitten by: Tahmas