The Order of the Knights-Marshall

Purpose:

The Order of the Knights-Marshall has a three-fold purpose. The Order’s primary goal is the upholding of law and justice in the lands. To this end, the members of the Order of the Knights-Marshall study law and the systems of government that exist throughout the lands of Elanthia. Through this study, the Knights-Marshall gain a better understanding of law and justice and how the two concepts work together, and how they are, at times, in opposition. Armed with this understanding the Knights-Marshall work to aid those oppressed by injustice and to defend the just laws of the lands of Elanthia from outside aggressors.

The secondary purpose of the order is to provide a ready force to combat the menace of the undead. The existence of the undead is, of course, a breach of the most fundamental law of nature. To that end, all members of the Knights-Marshall must be members of the Order of Voln, and prior to attaining the rank of Marshall, must master the Path of Voln.

The tertiary purpose of the Order, and the one that is least called upon is that of Advocate. The purpose of Advocacy is to provide for any person seeking it, fair and skilled representation in any matter of law arising from conflict within Daingneach Onoir or from without. This service will be made available on a voluntary basis to any person asking for such representation. The details of this service are outlined in the Measure of the Knights-Marshall.



Requirements:

All members of the Order of Knights-Marshall are required to maintain membership in the Order of Voln. Further, Onoir has a membership requirement of 5 trainings to enter.

The special combat nature of the Order frequently draws the interest of Warriors, Clerics and Paladins. However there is no racial or profession based restriction on entrance to the order. All professions have their own strengths to offer in the fight against the undead.



Restrictions:

Resignation from the Order of Voln is grounds for dismissal from the Order of Knights-Marshall, however this is seen as a personal choice of faith and not as a mark of dishonor and the member is free to seek placement in another Order or Guild of Onoir with no stigma attached.

This Order is limited to 15 full members. Upon the acceptance to full membership status of the 16th member, the order must be split within one month. The new order may be formed of up to 5 members, or no more then 33% of the original order, whichever is greater.
Members of the Knights-Marshall may not be followers of any of the Akarti of Lornon. The connection with the Lords of Lornon to the undead is too close to permit a Knight-Marshall to fulfill his duties. There are no other restrictions with respect to religion. Members of the Knights-Marshall may follow any non-Lornon Akarti that does not conflict with the stated goals and purposes of the Order, or he or she may be free to remain agnostic.



Yeoman

A novice member of the Knights-Marshall is a Yeoman. A Yeoman must have achieved 5 training and invested in the order of Voln. A Yeoman is assigned a Marshall or Knight-Marshall as a mentor. Under the tutelage of this mentor, the Yeoman will begin to study the Codes of Honor and Chivalry, as well as the Measure of the Knights-Marshall. The Yeoman will retain this title until he or she receives the approval of his or her mentor, has been a member of the order in good standing for not less than three months, and has reached 10 trainings. Yeomen may be assigned tasks by their mentors to help improve the Yeoman’s understanding of the codes of the house and order.



Yeoman-Marshall

Upon fulfilling the requirements for promotion, the member takes the title of Yeoman-Marshall. At this time the Yeoman-Marshall, having learned the codes of Daingneach Onoir must expand his studies to include the law and justice systems of other organizations and government structures in the lands. This study will help the Yeoman-Marshall to understand the purpose of law and the ideas of Justice. Yeoman-Marshall’s of the Order may also act in the position of Advocate under the supervision of their Mentor. The Yeoman-Marshall will continue in this rank until he or she has attained 20 trainings, has been voted a full member of Daingneach Onoir, has been a member of the order for six months beyond his or her promotion to the rank of Yeoman-Marshall, and has the approval of his or her mentor. The Yeoman-Marshall’s Mentor may assign tasks to aid the Yeoman-Marshall in continuing his or her understanding of the codes of the house and order, or to increase the knowledge of the order in its goals.



Marshall

To become invested as a Marshall of the Order, a member must complete the requirements listed under the Yeoman-Marshall listing. Then he or she will be tested before the Lord Marshall, other Knights-Marshall, as they can be assembled and other members of Daingneach Onoir. The method of this testing is at the discretion of the Lord Marshall in conjunction with the members Mentor.

Once the member has been invested with the title of Marshall, he or she is considered a full member of the Order. Marshalls are allows to mentor Yeomen, may request permission to begin investigations and research projects (as detailed in the Measure of the Knights-Marshall) and lead Order members in combat actions that are consistent with the goals and purposes of the Order. Marshalls may act as advocates for any person requesting assistance without supervision of a higher member in the order; however he or she must seek to notify the Lord Marshall as soon as possible regarding the case.

Marshalls are also required to continue their studies of Law and Justice. These studies will culminate in a written manuscript discussing an element of law that the Marshall has chosen to be his specialty. (For example: One specialty might be the Laws and Justice of the Vaalor Nation, or the Legal Status of the Freeport of Solhaven.) This manuscript will be of sufficient depth and detail to add significantly to the knowledge of the Order as a whole. The Lord Marshall and other Knights-Marshall will review it and the author will answer questions before a panel of Knights-Marshall. To advance to the rank of Knight-Marshall the Marshall must complete this manuscript and defense, and have it approved by the Lord-Marshall. He or she must further master the Order of Voln prior to advancement to the Rank of Knight-Marshall.



Knight-Marshall

A Knight-Marshall is the final rank in the Order. A Knight-Marshall is considered to be a living example of the standards of law and justice. A Knight-Marshall’s behavior is mandated by the Codes of Honor, Chivalry and the Measure of the Knights-Marshall. He is free to pursue investigations or research projects without prior permission of the Lord Marshall (as detailed in the Measure of the Knights-Marshall.) He or she may Mentor a Yeoman, lead Order members in combat actions that are consistent with the goals and purposes of the Order, act as Advocate for any person requesting such assistance without first notifying the Lord Marshall. Details provided in the Measure of the Knights-Marshall.



Symbol:

The Symbol of the Order of the Knights-Marshall is a triptych Scale, Sword and Tome.



Titles:

Lord Marshall

Lord Marshall

Knight-Marshall

Sir or Lady Marshall

Marshall

Marshall

Yeoman-Marshall

Yeoman-Marshall

Yeoman

Yeoman



Measure of the Knights-Marshall


(These documents will be completed by the charter members of the Knights-Marshall if the charter is approved. They will round out the Order and set the codes of behavior for the members. Getting these documents complete will be the first goal of the Order once accepted)

Treatise on Justice

Behavior of a Knight-Marshall

Necessity of the Order of Voln

Guidelines for Investigations

Guidelines for Research Projects

Guidelines for Advocacy