Many Myths and legends surround the Templar Knights.
Two groups exist that I acknowledge:
{Knights}
~Grand Master~
Knight (Valkyrie)
Knight (open)
Our knights do not follow the history guide lines exactly. They are sponcered in this realm by the Lady and Lord and they in returned gave them the riches they needed for existance and a home to call their own.
The knights were an unusual order in that they were both monks and soldiers, making them in effect some of the earliest "warrior monks". Members of the Order played a key part in many battles, and the Order's infrastructure innovated. The Order grew in membership and power throughout the midleages.
The Templars and Order's highest office was that of Grand Master, a position which was held for life, though considering the warrior nature of the Order, this could be a very short period of time.
The Grand Master oversaw all of the operations of the Order, including both the military operations in war, and the financial dealings in the Order's of the Dragons.
Grand Masters could also be active military commanders, though this was not always a wise choice. As seen by the fate of the defeated Grand Master who ended up beheaded.
There were three divisions of brothers in the Templars:
Calverly
1. The knights, equipped as heavy cavalry Under the authority of the Grand Master. (wore a black Mantle)
2. The Sergeants (Serjens), equipped as light cavalry and drawn from a lower social class than the knights (wore a brown Mantle aka cloak) These are under the authority of the Grand Master.
Rangers
3. The order of the Dragon, ranger division— the rural brothers (frères casaliers), who administered the property of the Order, and the frères de métiers, who performed menial tasks and trades Under the authority of Talyn. Archers, scouts see {the Order of the Dragon page}
The Faction
4. The fraction, usually wizards and priests who were ordained priests and saw to the spiritual needs of the black templar and the Order of the Dragon they also have a company under them of foot soldiers. In order to take a life one must appreciate it first.
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Aries {Black Knights} and of the Order of the Dragons (Latin: Pauperes commilitones Christi Templique Solomonici), popularly known as the Knights Templar, Are one of the most famous of the Templar military orders.
The Templars used their wealth to construct numerous fortifications throughout the Holy Land and were probably one of the best trained and disciplined fighting units of their day. They were also famous and easily recognized, with a white surcoat with distinct red cross emblazoned above the heart or on the chest, as seen in in the avitar of the order and the templar knights.
Initiation into the Templars {Both black and Dragon}
was a profound commitment, and involved a secret ceremony. Few details of the rituals are known at the time, had to be of noble birth, of legitimate heritage, Or lesser to be in the brown coatsand had to be willing to sign over all of their life's dedication to the Queen they were sworn to.
Further, joining the Black Knights and the Order required vows of obedience, honor, loyalty, and life long commitment to the Queen. For the warriors of the Order, there was a cardinal rule of never surrendering. This fearless uncompromising nature of the Templars, along with excellent training and heavy armament, made them a feared and elite fighting force in medieval times
EXPULSION FROM THE BLACK KNIGHTS
This was the highest punishment a Templar Knight could expect. Upon expulsion from the order he had an obligation to join the Faction order and it was believed that by joining this monastic order, the expelled Templar would save his soul.
Below are the infractions of the Templar laws which could give rise to expulsion:
Divulging the Chapter's meetings to any non member of the knights or Order
Committing an act of heresy or denouncing the Black Knights, Order of the Templar, the Fraction and the Queen
Conspiring or making false charges against a brother
Leaving the Temple house for more than four days without permission
Fleeing the enemy during battle while the Beauseant was flying or without permission of the Grand Master
Losing the coat of the order was a penance of shame. Taken from guilty brother were his coat, weapons and horse. He would also be forced to eat off the floor, do menial tasks and be generally separated from his brethren. This penance befell any that committed these infractions:
-Fought with another brother
-Lost or murdered a slave
-Killed a pack animal or lost their horse due to their own neglect
-Injured any Christian person out of anger (not by accident)
-Had sex with an unmarried woman.
- Not seeking Permission from the Grand Master or Queen to marry (elopeing)
- Threatened to join another realm(usually out of madness or anger)
-Leaving your post at night in anger
-Throwing their Templar coat to the ground in anger
-Loaned any Temple assets without permission of the order
It is important to note that all the above crimes could be forgiven in very special circumstances. If a brother repented with sincerity of his bad actions and providing the brethren agreed he would be restored with his coat and weapons.
