Order of the Jackalope
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The Poor-Fellow Soldiers of Sarissa and Rozania (Rozanian: Biedni żołnierze Sarissy i Rozanii), also known as the Order of the Jackalope or Jackalope Order, was a Rozanian Chivalric Order formed by William Buckfort, Duke of Rozania. It originated as a Mercenary Company in 1794 FA but was reorganized as a Chivalric Order in 1 SA.
An Order primarily unknown until the formation of the County of Sarissa, where it would initially operate, but became integrated into Sarissa when William Buckfort became its Count. When William Buckfort's title was revoked by the Commonwealth of Sutica the Jackalope Order would leave to the Duchy of Rozania, a new settlement that was formed by people still loyal to William.
After the Sacking of Róża and the Oisin's Rebellion ended, the Jackalope Order became inactive and more of a social title than an actual Order, especially with the death of William Buckfort. This would continue until the fall of Rozania. With the fall of Rozania, the Jackalope Order became essentially worthless. Until 77 SA, with a surprise rebound by swearing loyalty to the Duchy of Redclyf in the Edict of Pagórek.
The Beginning
The Jackalope Order's first recorded holding was in the County of Sarissa, located in the Commonwealth of Sutica. And reorganized as a Chivalric Order. It gained a purpose after the Third Coup of Sutica where William Buckfort gained power as then Countess Ivarielle was bloodlessly couped by William. It served alongside the Pierwsza Kompania Sarzycka (PKS) which was founded as Sarissa's guard force. When the word that Canonism would be made Sarissa's religion, and the religion of the House of Buckfort being Canonist, an Anti-Canonist revolt occurred in the Sarissan Countryside. The Jackalope Order fought alongside the PKS in the Battle of the Mythos Plains, where the revolt was crushed brutally and oppressively.
Tensions would rise with the County of Sarissa and the Red Company due to the Red Company's conflict with the Barony of the Rhein. A member of the Red Company would be brought to trial over their involvement, with a guilty verdict. To retaliate, the Red Company would make a deal with the Rustlers to launch a raiding campaign into Sarissa. Sarissa would dispatch to the outside of the city of Osanora along with the Barony of the Rhein and a force of Redfists, to fight with the incoming Red Company and Rustlers. The Sarissan forces, despite taking heavy casualties, won a victory and repelled future attempts in the Battle of the Kharasi Oasis.
When the County of Sarissa started a disagreement with the Commonwealth of Sutica, it would renounce its oath to the Sutican Crown, and Sarissa and Old Brynrose would be burned, with the followers of William fleeing to form the Duchy of Rozania.
The Sacking of Roza
Upon the people of Sarissa's fleeing from the Commonwealth of Sutica, they would found a Kingdom that bordered the area now known as Yong Ping. Rozania would quickly form a friendship and defensive pact with Yong Ping, and everything seemed to be going up and getting better for the now Rozanians and their settlers.
It was, however, on a fateful night on 40 SA, that Oisin O'Breathnach Roza, the bastard son and de-facto heir to William Buckfort, who is the Jackalope Knight, had a disagreement with his father over the right for Oisin to marry any woman he wanted. Oisin wanted to marry a fine young woman, but William disagreed, saying that he should pick someone who has better skills.
Oisin, enraged and exiled at the fact his father denied his right to marry who he wanted, declared a rebellion against his father, sparking what is now known as the Oisin's Rebellion, or Usurper's War. The first battle of this so-called rebellion was the First Battle of Louisville, which resulted in a crushing defeat for the elements of the Order participating in it. Where out of the 1,500 Rozanians and Rustler Mercenaries loyal to William, 1,400 would be killed or wounded.
The Order did not participate in the Second Battle of Louisville, as it was led entirely by Clan Redfist in what can humbly be called a 'death-charge' , where nearly everyone involved was killed or wounded.
However, in the next and last battle of the Oisin's Rebellion, the Order partook again. This would be called the Sacking of Róża, which, would result in a total bloodbath for all of the Loyalist Rozanians, the Oisinite's and Sedanians exploited a breach in the Dah'Rini District, and therefore forced themselves into the main-city. The Loyalists were surprised and not prepared for their entire force to breach at once, and this led to almost everyone involved being slaughtered, maimed, or severely wounded, even civilians.
However, after the guilt of the innocent lives being lost, Oisin would flee Almaris out of guilt and flee to Aeldin. Which led to a Pyrrhic Loyalist Victory, despite losing all battles and losing so much.
The Decline
After the Oisin's Rebellion, Rozania would be left as a shell of its former self, with it demoted from a Kingdom to Duchy status. The Order would follow the same path as its nation, its numbers would slowly stagnate, and would seem to carry a more ceremonial role, as it was shown that there needed to be put more resources into the army, not what is essentially a Duke's Guard.
Collapse
The Order of the Jackalope would see no additional use following their loss of the Rozanian Title to the Duchy of Redclyf, and it was largely disbanded following it. It would receive no more orders, or actions until the death of it's Grandmaster, Peralien Maelstorm.
Battle Honors
Sarissan Heathen Revolt (1823)
Battle of Mythos Plains
Red Company Campaign into Sarissa (1828)
Battle of the Kharasi Oasis
Oisin's Rebellion (1836)
First Battle of Louisville
Sacking of Róża
