Lessons From the Grand Sage: On the Gods (Temple Knights)
Celdos reveal, your grace.
The gods act in many ways. Rarely do they act directly.
Much more often, rather than shows of direct power, they rely upon the actions of their trusted servants and the day-to-day works of the faithful. For most purposes, this is sufficient.
But the world is seldom peaceful. Evil creeps into the hearts of men and dark powers toil against life itself. At times, a strong sword arm and a will of iron are needed to see the will of the Trine through.
For this, there are the Temple Knights.
Officially founded during the reign of Evander the Resolute, last of the Four Good Emperors, they are the militant arm of the Temples. Each of the Trine has their own force of Temple Knights. Neither Elak nor Dagwos have knights sworn to their service.
They all share a handful of duties – protecting holy sites, defending the priesthood, and championing the faithful. Beyond this, each order is focused on widely differing tasks as befits the deity that they are sworn to serve. Certain sects may arise with the orders focusing upon one specific duty above the others; most Temple Knights, however, can be seen as ‘generalists.’
First are the Temple Knights of Lumanox – the Hospitallers. Once the most numerous of the orders, they suffered greatly at the hands of Empress Soleil. Their primary monastery in Dulinor was destroyed by the Empress, along with a large share of their full members.
(edit: found the artist! @onaxart)
Blessed by the gods of life and death, the Hospitallers walk a fine line between the two. Luman tasks them with matters of healing. They are battlefield medics and traveling master surgeons. Nox tasks them foremost with putting the dead to rest, making them the continent's finest undead slayers.
Generally, their Truesilver blades are meant for the dead – with oaths to not harm the living – but a rare few professions are their eternal enemies. Necromancers are slain on sight by Hospitallers, and torturers are as likely to meet the same fate as not.
Next are the Temple Knights of Celdos – the Wayfarers. Most often seen in metropolitan cities or on the road, they are considered a lucky omen by any who travel.
(art by cremi draws on instantgram)
Their duties are the most eclectic of the Temple Knights. Primarily, they are charged with ensuring the safe travel of wanderers, scattering pirates and bandits, and protecting Celdorite Caravans. In addition, they find themselves as translators and scribes. Some are tasked with collecting rare or lost texts for libraries, or searching for long lost ruins.
There is no telling exactly what a given Wayfarer will be doing at any given time. But the grand majority of them spend their time traveling, with only a rare few being tasked to guard truly precious sites of knowledge.
Finally, the Temple Knights of Boucassan – the Arbiters.
(art by @redlerred7)
An uncommon sight in royal courts, the Arbiters ensure the just application of law and are often seen representing the weak against their masters. They investigate accusations of corruption and mediate disputes between rebels and lords. They are also charged with upholding the customs of war: they guarantee the safety of truces and ceasefires, oversee prisoner exchanges, and ensure treaties are upheld.
As the gods of justice also possess the power to dissolve oaths, lords who earn the Arbiters' ire often find their vassals and levee troops abandoning them.
Arbiters are the most heavily militaristic of the orders. Each wears the heaviest armor they have access to, often being covered head to toe in plate armor. Further, as masters of Spirit, their fury is unmatched in much of the continent.
Do not earn the ire of the Temple Knights just as you would not their masters.
