The Most Holy Order of the Shield Knights of Siccara
In the Origins of Knighthood, the three Patron Gods of Knighthood visited Tesalon Gareth in the place that his Keep would eventually be built after the flight from Serpantol. Though the story has been found in its entirety with the manuscript that I now use as my basis for this study, so too do the two intertwine, and so things might be mentioned that does not correspond to the Knighthood of today that seems to remember only the Patronage of Nadrik, yet such is not how it was.
Each of the Three, Siccara, Nadrik, and Austinian did come before the man Gareth and grant unto him a knowledge of the future, a battle of good versus evil that would come to pass, and the need for an order to encompass the most important virtues to stand as the spearhead to the final battle.
For this honor, each of the Gods was granted a division in Gareth�s vision. A branch to represent the nature and cause of the Three. First of these to be granted this honor was the Lady of Healing, Siccara. In reference to her gentle protective nature, and her granting of the powers of healing and defense, Gareth entitled his first division the Most Holy Order of the Shield Knights of Siccara. In the passage of time, few recall this patronage, and the Order of the Shield, most favored of Siccara and First of all Knighthoods became simply the defensive forces and scouts of Gareth�s Keep. Such is not as the original vision of Gareth�s forsaw however.
In the Vision of Knighthood, all Squires upon completion of their tasks, and acceptance into the brotherhood of Knighthood were granted the title Defender of the Shield, and the rank of full Knight of the Shield. The Knights of the Shield were to be the bulk of the members of Knighthood, as the Keep�s Mission is one of protecting the Innocent more so than the Slaying of evil, which is only done in situations where evil will not be swayed from it�s dark and self serving Course.
As a Defender and Knight of the Shield, duties of these men and women were to consist primarily of patrolling and protecting those charges that fell into their Protectorate. All castles and cities controlled by the lands of Althainia are under the protection of the Knights of the Shield, and it is their charge to watch over such. It is a well known legend that as long as Knighthood stands, Althainia shall do so, but here in the original text do we see that it is not the Knighthood as a whole that is mentioned, but specifically it is written that �As long as a single member of the Keep, true to the Ideals and Tenets of the Shield doth stand, still, even so shall those under Gareth�s charge live on, and Hope shall grow anew.� While as with all philosophical statements it can be argued that this does not directly mean that Althainia shall never fall, it is still shown that as long as one member of Knighthood still lives, those that Knighthood protects shall live�whether this means literally or figuratively in our hearts, only the future might know.
The Knights of the Shield form the backbone therefore of the Vision of Knighthood, and would be the majority of all members of Knighthood. Filled with the ranks of the newest, youngest, and often youngest Knights, this division is normally filled with idealism and goals of grander things. It is the right of the Knight of the Shield to wear the insignia of the Shield on his tunic, and at the time of the Knighting it becomes acceptable and expected for the Knight to develop or begin to use either his own familial coat of arms or a crest of his own design.
It should be noted that although currently the standing within the Knights of the Shield grants only the title of Knight of the Shield and the Officers therein, this was not originally the Vision of the Knighthood. Within the Shield, Knights of the Shield were to be granted their own titles and recognition dependant on deeds of just and goodly nature and reputation thereby. First of these as previously mentioned was the title of Defender of the Shield, given to all those who were Knighted. However upon becoming proven of Valor, it was the right of the High Clerist, known as the General of the Shield, to grant those Knights under his charge a variety of titles to reflect upon such reputation.
As all entrants into the Order of the Shield Knights of Siccara were given title of Defender of the Shield, those Knights who further proved their worth to the Shield Knights were often granted the title of Sceptre Knight. The Sceptre Knight was often times placed in charge of squadrons of Defenders of the Shield, and other subordinate members of the Keep be they squires or pages. It was expected that each Sceptre Knight was he himself a master of a location within the defensive radius of the Knighthood, and when combat occurred in these areas, the Sceptre Knight was seen often as the Commander of the goodly forces in that area. Sceptre Knights were rarely summoned forth when the Army of the Shield was called forth into other areas as they were to remain in the area of their dominion and hold defense for the innocents there so as to not leave them without protection. The symbol of this status was quite simply the Shield of their division overlayed with a three orbed Sceptre. It was the primary duty of the Sceptre Knights to maintain defense of the home should the lines on the Field be broken to allow for protection and rescue of besieged Knighthood forces.
Those Sceptre Knights that proved adept enough, filled with honor and virtue, were often times granted the title of Shield of Shields. Granted the right to command Shield Knights in battle these were often times those Shield Knights that were being groomed to begin the task of Officership within the Shield. These Shield of Shields were often times summoned by the High Clerist to attend to the officers and to learn from them in the field, at times being asked to take over lesser officers� duties in order to test their mettle within the Shield.
Should the High Clerist, known as General of the Shield, be pleased with the actions and reputation of the Shield of Shields, it was to be expected that the Shield of Shields would find him or herself granted the title of Lord or Lady of Shields. The Lords of Shields, known as the Lieutenants, were given full rights to the responsibilities of leadership on the field, and in times of war were granted command of a Brigade of up to two full squadrons of Shield Knights. Addressed as either Lord or Lieutenant, these men were often the front line commanders in defensive actions of the Knighthood and often times other divisions would defer to these Lords of Shields in such actions of defense. These men and women who rose to the title of Lord or Lady were recognized by the Shield standard with a Crown overtop. The Lords and Ladies of Shields were mostly heroes and defenders of noble and just virtue that had proven themselves quite worthy of the right to lead in combat, but still yet were those exceptional few amongst the Lords and Ladies of the Shield granted even to higher status.
Should the High Clerist, known as General of the Shield, be pleased with the actions and reputations of their Lords and Ladies of Shields, these too would find themselves placed above others in the field to cause others to rally to their banners. These chosen few Lords and Ladies who were granted promotion, were granted the title of Master Clerist, and was granted command of an entire Battallion composed of up to 5 full Brigades of Shield Knights. In support of the near 600 Knights each Master Clerist, known as Captains, commanded, they could call forth a number of men at arms to meet the needs of the army. The insignia of the Master Clerist is the Shield being held in the talons of a Bronze Dragon. These Master Clerists were heroes of note, respected for their bravery and valor in defense of their homes and the lives of the innocents under their protection. Of these Master Clerists, one or two at most were chosen as the most favored of the High Clerist, known as the General of the Shield. These were set above all other Shield officers and were often being groomed to directly succeed the High Clerist in the event of the death of the General or the retirement thereof. These chosen for this rank and privilege were called the Lord Clerists and were second only in rank, right, and reputation to the High Clerist himself.
Referred to as either Colonel or Lord Clerist, these most highly reputed Shield officers were mostly granted land titles as nobility of the Protectorate and was therefore a feudal lord in and by his own right. As a Lord or Lady of Althainia, as well as the Lord Clerist, these officers could call forth the command of a full Division of Shield Knights, nearly some 3000 strong. The Lord Clerist was known by his insignia of the Shield over a Sunburst. These officers were referred to in all matters pertaining to the defensive forces of the Knighthood and were among the most noted of heroes of the realms. Fame and reputation surrounded these Lord Clerists as a blanked of light, and from their deeds, great sufferings were often alleviated or attacks thwarted. But above even these was the greatest of all Shield Knights.
The High Clerist, known as the General of the Shield, is the commander in chief of the Army of the Shield. Chief of 5 full Divisions of Shield Knights, 15,000 Knights heed his call in battle, and follow his orders with utmost discipline. He is part of the Council of the Rose, and First of all Knights honoring Siccara even should he or she call another patron. He or she is equal in status to the other two Generals of the Holy Order, the High Warrior, known as the General of the Lance, and the High Justice, known as the General of the Crown, and all three are subservient only to the Grandmaster of the Knighthood. A position that remains open to this day since the death of Tesalon Gareth. The symbol of his or her position is a bronze ring, embedded with a brilliant star emerald, the symbol of a shield engraved upon its surface, which he or she wears as a sign of his or her guardianship of the entire branch. The High Clerist is also recognized as a Baron or Baroness of the Protectorate, Althainia, and holds the rights, responsibilities, and privileges pertaining to therein. The High Clerist is probably one of the most loved people on Algoron for his or her deeds and most assuredly one of the most loved in Althainia for there above all else do the deeds of the High Clerist and his men reside. He or she is generally a hero for the ages, and often their names are recorded in history for one great cause or another.
In summation, even within the Shield Knights there were expected to be recognitions of deed and valor. From Defender, to Sceptre Knight, to Shield of Shields, to Lord of Shields (Lieutenant), to Master Clerist (Captain), to Lord Clerist (Colonel) and to High Clerist (General), the Most Holy Order of the Shield Knights of Siccara, dedicated to bring healing and protection to the peoples of the Protectorate and the innocents of the world is to stand forever as the bulwark and strength of the Knighthood of Gareth. First of the Knighthoods, and based on the ideals of Healing the Ills of Algoron and Defending the Innocent, Favored of Siccara, these are the Knights of the Shield.
Historical Note:
The Order of the Shield is the first step in true Knighthood, the Order that any Knight may gain entrance into simply by working through the duties of pageship and squire hood. It is also the Order that Knights must work through in order to one day petition for �Higher� Knighthoods. Though the Shield is the beginning of Knighthood, and would appear to be the Lowest of the Knighthoods, it is also the foundation of the entirety of Gareth�s Vision, and certain legends and stories prove that the Shield more than carries its value to the Knighthood as a whole.
It is of further historical note to mention the Shield of Tesalon Gareth, which was passed on from High Clerist to High Clerist throughout the history of the Knighthood and was said to wear the shield would protect the High Clerist from all those who would not battle the High Clerist on foot in melee combat, was apparently lost during the First Cataclysm. Though the ring of the High Clerist continues to be passed down from generation to generation, this Shield remains at large, and would be of great import should such be found.