Knights of Enirra

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THE KNIGHTS OF ENAERAI 

The Order of the Knights of Enaerai is military society of dedicants
to the ideals of balance. These dedicants have taken the most solemn
and binding of oaths to live a balanced life and serve the greater
balance by seeing it maintained in the world around them.
   
The paramount duty in mainting the balance is to keep an equilibrium
among the Great Houses who would horde the Stones of Power.  The 
Knights seek to limit the influence of the Stones by keeping them as
seperate and divided as possible.  The Knights make full use of any
means available, but are organized as a military order, as force can
often be the only means of intervention in House affairs.
   
The life of a knight is a difficult one, requiring much dedication,
fortitude, and perserverance.  It should not be chosen lightly.  
Those who are neutral in both alignment and ethos may become Knights
of Enaerai, if they are deemed worthy of the order.  However, any who
are tainted with imbalance by the practice of spirit or void magics
will not find entrance.  
    
Enaerai is held by the order as a the guiding deity of balance, though
no active worship is required.  Knights observe Mettenday, the the 
first calendar day of every month on the standard Avendarian calendar, 
as a day of rest, recuperation, and assembly.  No efforts to actively
enforce balance are made on Mettenday.  The Knights are based in the 
Fortress of the Eye, a stronghold in the western Brintors.
    
Adventurers interested in joining the Knights of Enaerai should
address a note to KNIGHT, detailing how their history, past deeds, 
and current abilities make them a fitting candidate.

KNIGHTS 2

The Organization of the Knight Order

The Order of the Knights of Enaerai is organized in a simple fashion, to
function effectively as a military body in carrying out the task of 
maintaining the balance in Avendar.
 
Knight Ranks:              Knight Leadership:
 True Knight                Knight Lord/Lady
 Veteran Knight             Knight of Ilthar
 Seasoned Knight            Knight of Idris
 Steadfast Knight           Knight of Mett
 Knight of Enaerai
 Knight Acolyte
 Knight Initiate
 Knight Enlistee
   
The ranks are based on the amount of service given to the Order. The
leadership roles are held among the knights, and the task of directing
the work of the knights is theirs.  In the absence of leaders, the
senior ranking knight directs the work.
   
LEADERSHIP
  
The Knight Lord/Lady is chosen by Irionne, the Chief Priest of
Enaerai, when the post becomes vacant. The Knight Lord/Lady is
responsible for all that happens within the Order, but may name
three Knights as Ilthar, Idris, and Mett, to assist in particulars
of the work.
   
Duties of the Lord/Lady:
 - lead the knights in the work of maintaining balance 
 - recruit and induct new Knights
 - keeping the Order informed of significant happenings among
   the Knights and throughout the realm.  
 - uninduct knights who prove unfaithful or unfit for the Order
 - appoint the Knight of Ilthar, Knight of Idris, and Knight of Mett
   
Duties of the Knight of Ilthar:
 - serve as the battle-leader, second in command under the Lord/Lady
   in military actions
 - master the stratagems and tactics of battle
 - help knights train skills and advance abilities
   
Duties of the Knight of Idris:
 - serve as a lore-master for the knights
 - master and help develop the philosophies of balance
 - instruct newer knights in their duties and in the ways of balance
   
Duties of the Knight of Mett:
 - serve as the master of reconnaissance and information-gathering
 - keep Lord/Lady and Order informed of information regarding Houses
 - serve as the diplomatic envoy, second under the Lord/Lady in
   diplomatic matters and actions 

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Handling Knight Interactions:

As a rule Enaerai doesn't appear in Avendar to mortals. Interactions and guidance of knights is generally handled through the NPC Irionne, former priest at the temple of Enaerai who now serves as healer in the knight fortress. Irionne has typically been played as a seemingly senile and doddering old water scholar with occasional moments of clarity and wisdom.

When Enaerai does favor a promising knight with interaction, it is through Enaerai's immortal room (1261: A White Plain), where Enaerai appears in vision-like fashion to the knight through the tri-stone upon the hillside. In even rarer cases Enaerai comes through the tri-stone to interact with a mortal. However, in Enaerai's concept of balance, immortal interaction should be limited less it exert undue influence, and so as painful as it is, Knights are given fairly free reign to run the order (unless they really muck things up, in which case they may be disbanded for a time, as happened in the summer of 2002).

Origins:

The knights began some two years after Avendar opened, as a player-led group coordinated by me (Dovolente). I had been brainstorming ideas about a militant order dedicated to upholding balance, and another player (Stimmy) had developed the idea of Enaerai, a balance deity, and we decided to collaborate and invite other players to join us.

The initial group of knights was led by my character Tessolos, and met in the arien way inn. There were eleven or twelve players involved after a few weeks, and the concept impressed Jolinn enough that he kindly added a temple of Enaerai and a knight compound to Earendam.

The first group of knights eventually died out, but an occasional player or two would take up the role.

When I re-immed in the fall of 01, I chose to take Enaerai as my immortal role, and made the knights a more formalized part of the game. The knights now form something between a band of Enaerai followers and a House (they have they various house features in the code, aside from a vault that utilizes the stones of power. -Dov