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The Knights-Errant of Heironeous
Posted on Tue, September 11, 2001 by Toran
MerricB writes "Of the Paladins of Heironeous who became wanderers after the rise of the House of Naelex in the Great Kingdom.

Author: MerricB




The Knights-Errant of Heironeous

by MerricB (merricb@yahoo.co.uk)
Used with Permission. Do not repost without obtaining prior permission from the author.

During the height of the Great Kingdom's power, the churches of the brother-gods Heironeous and Hextor continually strived for ascendancy. One must not assume that because a god is aligned with evil that normal people will automatically condemn them and their followers - War was considered a nasty business, and if the followers of Heironeous were more high-minded about the entire business, well, the followers of Hextor were more effective in battle against the Great Kingdom's enemies.

In any case, once the House of Naelix rose to power (about 437 CY), the favour of the Emperors of the Malachite Throne turned decidedly towards the Church of Hextor and the darker Oeridian deities. The Church of Heironeous found itself losing significant support from the populace, and finally was forced from Rauxes altogether, the Church of Hextor taking over the Cathedral of Heironeous.

The survivors of the purge - for such it was - scattered to lands still uninfected by the taint that had overcome the House of Naelix. A certain group of them chose to remain wanderers, and fight evil as they could and as their abilities allowed. So began the order of the Knights Errant of Heironeous.

The Knights Errant are not an organisation as such, but more of a loosely bound group of like-minded paladins that wander the Flanaess. Their only allegiance is to Heironeous, though some still retain feelings for their homelands and prefer to protect those areas than wander more widely.

The Order is quite refreshing in one aspect: they tend to be more intelligent than most servants of Heironeous. This means that they will avoid a battle they don't think they can win. Though by no means cowards, they do prefer to act with common sense foremost in their minds. This is not to say that a Knight would not sacrifice himself for the cause of good, just that they don't do it with the monotonous regularity that the other Orders tend to display.

There is no leader of the Knights Errant. Individual masters travel alone, or equally commonly, with a young squire they are training in the Knight's Code. The Order has grown away from its origins, and no retaking of the Great Kingdom en masse is foreseeable in the near future, though individual knights occasionally wander into that area on missions of Weal.

The Knights Errant rarely take any permanent home until they feel they have grown too old for the fight. At that point, they renounce all trappings of their old status, and live simply - though most still give aid to those they consider worthy of it.

The Knights Errant are most common in the western half of the Flanaess, but can be found elsewhere. Of their number, Gillian the White (LG human female Pal7) has recently gained fame for several expeditions against slavers and followers of Hextor on the Wild Coast.



Note: Aerdy, Heironeous "
 
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Re: The Knights-Errant of Heironeous (Score: 1)
by MTG (mtizoc@canonfire.com) on Sun, February 24, 2002
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I recall reading this article shortly after it was posted, but as I read it now, I think that the Knights Errrant that may have fled en masse to the Prelacy of Almor.

We know little of that land, yet it seems to me that Farenne of Shining White may have been a subject of the Nyrondal king more from geography than anything else. While her fealty is to Rel Mord, did she once look to the Prelate for leadership?




Re: The Knights-Errant of Heironeous (Score: 1)
by Man-of-the-Cranes on Fri, March 22, 2002
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.ManoftheCranes.com
Do you see the Knights Errant as referring to themselves as such? As if they were a part of an organization, albeit a loose one?

How do you envision their relationship with the rest of the Church? Heironeous has risen back to considerable power in various locations, and is a very militaristic and lawfully structured organization. Would these Knights Errant be viewed as rebels? Backslider? Vigilantes? Or perhaps in a better light as visonary crusaders walking their own path?

Cheers
Man of the Cranes



Re: The Knights-Errant of Heironeous (Score: 1)
by MerricB on Fri, May 10, 2002
(User Info | Send a Message) http://merricb.com
Interesting points. The Knights Errant, although they don't directly refer to themselves as such, are called that by whatever companions they might have.

The Knights Errant are more devoted to their individual codes than to any church hierarchy. Many of their number seek advice from the Church of Heironeous, but do not place themselves under the command of the Patriarchs of Heironeous - they will accept guidance, not orders.

Many are instructed by their masters (remember the master-squire relationship) of the weakness of the church as a whole when it struggled against the rising powers of the Church of Hextor, and how vulnerable an organisation can be when all its pieces are in one place.

Thus, they prefer to remain free agents in the service of Heironeous.

As a rule, most of the Knights Errant travel in lands that do not know much of Heironeous, and where his priests would be in danger.

Cheers,
Merric




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