[contentblock id=srlm-hdr]
The Verdurine Order, sometimes known as the green knights (sometimes confused with the “green knights”/Order of the Trident of Gwinn by commoners) is a sect of the organized Green Church in the southern heartlands of Gladnor. The order is officially maintained through local contributions and traditions in the eastern area of the Duchy of Fhayl in the Raolin Baronial capital city of Maycot. While not an actual order of Knights recognized by the High King, they organize themselves internally as an order, with the roots (the clergy/political arm) and the branch (the military arm) run by two differing factions. A major stronghold of the Verdurine Order is called “Mother’s House”. A minor fort, the least of which has as few as one actual knight and a dozen or so brothers- and sisters-at- arms, is sister’s house, while each great political center of the Order—also its greatest fortresses—is known as Grandmother’s House. The order has long traditions in assisting the Order of Davros and its druidic sect. As such, it even attracts some of the Pine Tribesmen – the few remaining human nomads of the Pale Plains. As well as this, it is an open order – half elves and even elves are welcome. While no elves usually voluntarily join, several outcasts can be found in the history of the order – those seeking penance and absolution. These are often short lived members.
Leadership: Verdames and Grensieurs
Grandmothers House: 1 (in the fortified city of Maycot)
Mothers House: 3
– The original and still standing “She-Wolf’s Den” is a natural cavern, a sacred place and only a few senior members know of its location in the Fhaylen Marches
Sisters House: 6
Military/”Branch”: By tradition, a young squire is eligible to be ‘Tested’ in their fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth spring. (Those who join the Order as teens or adults instead face Testing in their first, second, and third spring after a full year as probationers.) Also by tradition, no one passes their first Testing. Exceptions have occurred, but each is legendary…not always in a good way. Will, like most, does not become a passed-squire in his fourteenth spring. The “Testing” is different, and attended by a few senior members of the order – mostly the Root sect.
Time of Traveling as a knight-sabbatic
RANKS:
The Gaian sects often use euphemisms and ellipses (such as “a green belt” or “the green belts”) to refer to the Verdurine Order. This is in small part a deliberate obfuscation—those not in the know who overhear a chance remark will continue to be ignorant, in much the same way (though not to the same degree) that thieves’ cant protects thieves. In larger part, it is simply that many in the Green Church are a bit squeamish about these hard-eyed killers—each a more deadly predator than any wolf.
A Knights Tale – Will Durian [contentblock id=srlm-ftr]