The Order of the Blade

The newest of all the Houses of St. Humakt, formed in 1616 ST at the proclamation of the institution of the Church as the official state religion. Generally it was regarded by the other Houses of St. Humakt as an intrusion into their traditional ways by setting up a Church contruct as a House. Even some pro-Henotheist Humakti challenged the idea, but Surantyr is a persuasive Archbishop.

The Order began with the personal blessings of Bjarn Hellfire, a Temporal Incarnation of St. Humakt up until his demise in 1618 ST. Swords were drafted into the Order, joining in return for promises of wealth and power for their support. Many Warrior Caste members of the Church joined St. Humakt merely to swell the numbers of the Order. At the time the creation of the Order was all people could talk about - news like none other - but since that time the commotion has died down. The Order, apparently, is here to stay whether Orthodox Humakti like it or not.

Officially, the House acts as a Protectorate of Otkorion, defender of the lands. Officially it is apart from the control of the Church Militant - one of the maxims involved in its creation is to protect Otkorion from attempts by the Church itself to abuse its power! Unofficially, the House is controlled by the Archbishop, and is little more than an attempt by the Church to quell Humakti Independence and to gain direct influence over Swords within the cult by having them join the Order.

There are two ways to join the House. The first is by excellence - it is a mark of skill and mastery to join the Order. The second is by invitation, influential Swords are offered great rewards to join - giving the Church greater control of St. Humakt's cult. Even the dullest Sword (pardon the pun) knows that the power behind the Order is Surantyr.

Organisation and Composition

,p> The Order of the Bldae is organised into two tiers, the Council of Swords and the Assembly. The Council rules the Assembly, and is empowered to send members of the Assembly on missions to ensure Otkorion's security. There are seven Swords who stand on the Council - when one retires or dies, another is appointed by the six remaining Swords (with a lot of intervention on the part of the Archbishop and Bishop Cardy of Fiesive). Everyone else, Sword and initiate alike, are part of the Assembly.

Generally anyone can join, unless a Council member objects, or an Assembly member challenges them in one-on-one combat and defeats them. Of course, should an Assembly member fail in such a conflict, his position in the House is lost to the winner and he is disgraced. The only actual requirements are to undergo a ritual much like that of becoming a Sword. The ritual requires you to have at least three skills required to become a Sword at 90%+ or one skill required to become a Sword at 130%+. Any who join the House and complete the ritual gain three points in the Mastery Rune (seemy HeroQuest rules). Normally only staunch Henotheists join, although Surantyr offers personal rewards to Swords to join the Order. He is always knowledgeable about what the Sword needs/desires, sometimes offering money, sometimes magic, sometimes something more personal to the candidate. He even makes offers to Swords in other Houses, poaching them away into the Order!

Members of the Order must pledge their allegiance to the protection of Otkorion, the virtues of Humakt Orlanthsfriend and the protection of the Henotheistic way, to which St. Humakt is the Angel of Death. They must also pledge themselves to obey the orders of the Assembly - to disobey is to be cast out of the House and risk Excommunication.