The Church of the Red Knight

[sweetlikesplenda]

"War is won by those with the best planning, strategy, and tactics, regardless of the apparent odds. Any fool can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory with fortune's aid. Only a master strategist can ensure lasting victory. War is a series of battles. Losing a battle does not necessarily indicate the war is lost. In times of war prepare for peace; in times of peace prepare for war."

Symbol: Red knight lanceboard piece with stars for eyes
Serves: Tempus
Portfolio: Strategy and planning
Worshipers: Non-chaotic clerics, crusaders, monks, and warriors of all types
Formed: 1358
Leadership: The Church is lead by Kaitlin Tindall Bloodhawk

History

The church of the Red Knight was not a distinct entity from the church of Tempus until the end of the Time of Troubles. At that point, a small organization of priests and monks split off from their parent church, apparently encouraged by Tempus himself. For decades afterward, many still believed the Red Knight to merely be an aspect of Tempus and Tempurans only barely tolerated their god's dissemination of power, ensuring the church remained relatively small. The Red Knight's heroics, however, ensured a dedicated following in southwest Faerûn. The faith began to come into its own in 1361 DR, after the Horde War of the previous year.

The mercenary paladin Kendera Steeldice also helped spread the faith in the Old Empires thanks to her aid in Mulhorand's conquest of Unther.

Organization

Clergy

The clergy of the Red Knight was also known as the Red Fellowship, and consisted of clerics, crusaders, monks and specialty priests styled as "holy strategists". Members of the Red Fellowship serve in militaries across Faerûn, often as elite commanders, quartermasters and instructors in war colleges. Most paladins of the faith were members of the Order of the Red Falcon.

The clerics of the faith often penned tomes on military strategy. One such book, Master Tactician, was used as a teaching tool, both in the art of war and the Red Knight's secret magic. Holy clerics of the Red Knight could gauge the strengths and weaknesses of their enemies using the analyze opponent spell.

Titles

Regardless of class, priests of the Red Knight were regimented into a hierarchy with corresponding titles. In ascending order of rank these were:

Page
Squire
Knight
Knight Quartermaster
Knight Commander
Knight Captain
Lord Knight
Lord Knight Commandant
Lord Knight of the Red Standard

Gendered titles like Lord Knight were altered for female incumbents and higher-ranking priests preceded their title with their relative rank within the Knight's faith. So the High Priestess of the faith, High Lady Bloodhawk, would have been titled First Lady Knight of the Red Standard. The practice of numerical ranking was abandoned as the clergy grew, however the rank system itself was maintained.

When not on duty, the priests were known for their love of gaming. They disdained games of chance that would be the purview of Tymora, and instead preferred games of strategy that sharpened their minds and their ability to read an opponent. Lanceboard, chess and go, a game imported from Kara-Tur, were favored and were even included in the Queens Gambit festival.

Holy strategists' interactions with priests of other faiths mostly mirrored their deity's own with other gods. Clerics of the Red Knight were popular with priests of Torm and Tyr, due to their shared devotion to discipline and a structured, military lifestyle and they would often jointly oversee naval battles with priests of Valkur. Most of the clergy harbored a certain distaste for clerics of Garagos and almost universally despised Cyricists. Priests of Tempus and those of the Red Knight often found themselves at odds, since many Tempurans disdained planning, and preferred to rush into battle. However despite this, the two clergies remained closely allied.

// ooc: Page is open for any who want to RP around the Red Knight and her new church

[sweetlikesplenda]

As the Gods return from walking among mortals, the region of Baldur's Gate would hear of the restoration of the Bloodhawk Manor, after it was ransacked during the recent times known to some as the Godswar. Word was spreading that the Manor would now have a new name, The Citadel of Strategic Militancy. The previously and rather unknown God, The Red Knight, was beginning to gain traction. Her grand appearance upon Toril during the Godswar had made her a much more well known entity.

With the Gods returning and receiving once more their powers, the Red Knight has begun to develop her church. Ready to show herself to Toril, her voice is heard loud and clear to her followers once more.

[sweetlikesplenda]

In the days the Gods left their mortal time on Toril behind, Aaron Lyonaler can be seen entering the temple. Never losing faith, it was still a difficult time for the Favoured of the Lady of Strategy. Her voice had been a constant for so many years, to lose it during the Times of Troubles, was a difficult test for him. Taking a knee infront of the symbol of his Lady, he bows his head and prays for her guidance, prays that she not leave him again.

[sweetlikesplenda]

Known Artifacts and Interactions of The Red Knight:

Mantel of Strategy:




Recovered after the Amn-Auril Battle.

((DM Mimic))

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Red Ruby Cut Knight Chess Piece:


Discovered while investigating a small, destroyed Hamlet south of Baldur's Gate. Left as a sign of The Red Knight's favor for strategies used during the Amn-Auril Battle.

((DM Ink))

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The Red Knight blesses a meeting:


During discussions between delegates from BG and Amn, during which Amn wished to build a military tower/outpost in Northern Amn, a prayer was spoken and The Red Knight blessed the meeting.

((DM Arkanis)

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Communion during the Devil War:


While communing with The Red Knight in an effort to discover an artifact to aid Baldur's gate during the Devil War, The Red Knight answered questions to guide in the search.

((DM Loki))

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The Red Knight's Blessing in battle:


During the Amn-Auril Battle, the soft sound of a galloping horse would be heard. Those of The Red Knight's faithful would have heard it much louder. A sign of her being pleased with and blessing the battlefield.

((DM Ink))

[Mork]

After many years upon the road and in the shadows of hostile walls, the Initiate of Red Falcon Order returns to the Citadel. The spear is battered, the armor scarred, yet the cause remains unbroken. I bent knee to many battlefields, and each was a board upon which Her strategy was writ.

Knight Ignatius bearing markings of Red Knight is seen around Friendly Inn mingling with travelers or visiting Baldurs Gate marketplace and asking about recent news. Apparently he returned home from long lasting campaign on some Order business and is trying to adjust to situation on the coast.

[Mork]

Making contact with Page of the Church Ignatius visits Baldurs Gate City to find no shrine of the Red Knight that he remembered standing in Tempuran Temple before his departure years ago. Sands of Tempus Arena rise as heavy boots walk the path while two of the Fellowship talk about the past and how the City has changed.

[Mork]

It was confusing for one raised in the City to walk it's streets after many years away. New buildings raised, some demolished, some rebuilt. Eventually followers of the Red find the shrine in the Citadel of the Flaming Fists within Temple to Tempus. Unexpectedly a third faithful joined their prayers.

---

[doctorsimon4]

Dawn breaks slowly through the city’s haze, casting golden light across the outer stones of Tempus’ temple. Within the southern alcove, the Red Knight’s quiet hold, Kaelthar stands with his helm beneath his arm. Page moves through the shrine ahead of him, cloak set aside, sleeves rolled. She works without sound, replacing chalk, wiping down boards marked with old strategies, straightening benches, and setting the lanceboards to ready.

They trade a few quiet words, no ceremony between them, only the ease of comrades long accustomed to the same cause; the same silent game. Two pieces of the Red Knight’s design, set once more into place.

[Mork]

Sounds of clashing steel rarely end in Shrines of War. Red Fellowship seems to be recently overactive displacing sand in training area.

[Mork]

A group of friends meet in Balduran market raising voices of mixed cheer and seriousness. Name "Falcon's Wing" is mentioned. Stern Paladin bearing markings of Red Knight explains various Laws of the Land, a discussion turns heated when Laws of twisted places are mentioned.

- When in doubt follow Order.



What instead follows are shouts of arguments but all seem to be enjoying their company and act in relaxed manner. Somewhere in between all that fall words of compliance.

- I'm in.
- So sure...count me in

Four hands raised and four voices heard while Knights face suddenly paled.

- What did I just get myself into...

[sweetlikesplenda]

Lord Lyonaler has of late spent a great deal of time within the walls of Kaitlin Bloodhawk's castle. With the return of Bloodhawk to her ancestral home after the end of the God's War, she found it in ruins. Repairs have been underway to restore it to the focal point of the newly formed church dedicated to The Red Knight. During his visit Aaron spoke with leadership relaying details of the battles he had lead and participated in the past. Discussions were held over maps to show troop placements and directives used during the tri-pronged Assault on Tymount during the Devil War as well as the following defense of the walls of Tymount from Devil counter-attacks, while defedning His Grace Duke Eltan during the final assault on Dragonspear, tactics that had gained him favorable signs from the Red Knight during the assault on the Aurilite Temple among other battles and many other conflicts over the years.



Having been the bearer of relics of the Red Knight, such as the 'Mantle of Strategy', as well as many other of her favors as well as his years of faithful service to the Red Knight, Aaron had been extended several offers by Kaitlin Bloodhawk to join the Red Falcons over the years. For a time this decision had been put off due to other engagements, but it seems the time had come and that Lord Lyonaler would indeed join The Order of the Red Falcon during his visit with Kaitlin Bloodhawk. While there he also spoke to Kaitlin about his own intentions to build up a school and alter to the Red Knight within the fort at Radiant Crossing. This school would work alongside the Order of the Red Falcons.