Capt Dragon
Veteran
The most famous of the outlawed orders was the Order
of the Griffon: the guardians of the royal line of Pendor.
They didn't all Die, the Last 9 Knights hand picked by the Last Grand Master were sent away from the disasterous final battle with secret and specific orders
"Take the last of the blood into the "Heart of the Earth" and nurture it until such time as it could again find root."
Those Nine where Seneschal Guy DeVernet
Marshal Jacque D'Ammonsen
Senior Steward Hugh D'Peralde
2 Junior Stewards Jackod Gundersen and Craig MacCrea
Deacons Harolde Smythesen and Jorry Hagertsen
Preceptors Jamie (orphan) and Peter Brown
These Nine were the core and seed for a new enclave of the Griffon Order to remain in hiding at The "Heart of the Earth" until they were again at both war strength (10 Centuries) plus auxilliary foot troops both blade and bow. of 3 times that number
The blood they carried was that of the royal line Jacque D'Ammonsen, Jamie and Peter were all direct blood relation of the Royal Line Jamie the Orphan was closest being the unacknowledged son of the Prince, the others being 2nd and 3rd cousins on the male line. Jamie was taken under the wing by the Grand Master as a favor to the King and knows nothing yet of his Father's real identity, the mother having died just months after giving birth at the hands of an assassin sent by the Snake Cult as was the plague that took so many of the Royal Line Later.
So they took thenselves off to the Hidden Priory and Chapter House, a large underground system of Caves, found many years before on a Pilgrimage by one of the "Seer Saints". He had a vision and for years wandered the world looking for the Heart of the Order. little did he know that the Heart was just that a huge Cavern at the Heart of a Mountain a fair size river pours forth from what became the entrance, the small side pool the saint used to cleanse himself before his weekly ritual was very cold and when he slipped he was dragged off into the current and taken under the overhang into a large underground quiet pool that then fed back into the river. when his eyes adjusted he found a large cave lined with glowing mosses. as he walked back into the cave he saw it lead deeper as he had sufficent light to see and no sign of any occupant was to be seen he followed the light. the river held it width about 20 spears, with a landing on each side of the same amount and a arched cieling of half that. about 300 paces into the mountain he was struck still by what he saw a Huge Cavern , large enough to hold a good size village and its fields about 1000 paces across and the walls and ceilings studded with a variety of Gems He paid little notice at the time to the Gems but knew it would help the Order to have a secret source of wealth that it could rely on. another 1000 paces across the Cavern and into another passage he came into daylight again a very large valley in the center was a small island in the center of a lake the land arouns the lake from shore to foothills was at least a mile making the whole 8 miles long and 4 wide. All of this surrounded by extreme verticle cliffs and slopes several thousands of feet high from this central valley many narrow canyons radiated out and all having small streams feeding the lake to the east were four large and deep canyons that went for many miles and at the upper reaches were glaciers. this site over the next many years became this secret home, the sacred Priory and not even the Royal Line knew of it as the Seer's Vision had a dark ending, he foresaw a time when the only safe place in the world for the Royals would be here , but only if no one knew but the Griffon
at the time of the destruction of the Royal House many knew that the Order of the Griffon used this distant pool as a part of the initiation rites into high office and inner circle. It was noted by some few that many older members often went to the pools for their "last rites" before they died. At least they assumed they died as they rarely were ever seen again. And no one thought anything was unusual about many of the rank and file, though all were long time members and battlehardened veterans making pilgrimages to the sacred pools. Everyone was amazed at the piety of all that they "walked the water" seemingly near freezing for the 6 miles it took to go from the low hills, where the dense forrests started up very gentle grade to the small plateau at the base of the sheer Mountainside.
the work began building terraces and canals for the valley to supply a secure food source for the warriors made workmen and farmers in the name of the Order's need. Many times thru the years the Grand Master thought it was close to the time of need but always the dire threat abated, and the Royal Family could live as was normal and in no knowledge of their sanctuary that awaited their need.
Then when it struck and the Order spirited them last blood away it stood safe and secret for them after a few generations passed the "Light of the Blood" and the Grand Master and the Inner Circle came to the knowledge that they could not stay away from the world forever. So they began, a few at a time, to send The Order in the disguise of the common man, traveling workmen and craftsmen of great skill, traveling Merchants and some just as Vagabonds but all very deadly when bothered or put upon by bandits. Since the Order had always had members from all areas of the old Kingdom they easily could pass as the peoples that they used as cover. always low key always giving fair deals that left the purchaser thinking he had the better. they watched, they listened and gathered information for the future, towards they day they could come out in numbers (though still in disguise). They knew the future king must know his people, live with his people, if he was to again be King of his people.
They kept meticulous records of families and lineage for that future time They were as careful as they could be to maintain those lines but accidents do happen and now only two lines were alive and when time came they would be ready, they had over the years realized the benefits of a dual Monarchy and it seemed to work now as we come to the present day the Order carefully watches over one Royal family in the world while they keep the other safe in the Heart as each child of the Royals comes to majority male and female they are taken secretly to the Heart to be awakened to who they are The Royal Parents having never hinted to them knowing it would mean all their deaths should they be exposed by a careless word or slip of the tongue.
Until today Our unknowing Royal offspring has flown the coop as it were. being stirred by the injustice as well as the unbelieveable council to be patient by his seemingly cowed parents. he has set off to right the world, The wise and patient Elders and Sage councilors of the Order were taken completely by surprise, what to do? Well They are working on a way to educate the wayward youth, in the mean time all plans are on hold. The immediate need is to get him protected, lest he get himself killed before he can be reasoned with. So off go special hand picked and heart sworn teams of harded warriors of the Order's finest. The Grand Master's Orders: join up with the idiot's... er his Royal's foolhardy Movement and stay close and protect him at all costs ... until we can figured out what to do next. The Grand Master along with the Royal Elders had planned at least ten more years before any possibility of moving to announce the Return. So many variaibles, so many factions, so much could go wrong , and not enough Men to fight everyone at once .. and that was just the evil factions, not to count the Good but ignorant Nobility. So many plans now thrown to the wind. Both the eldest Royal and the Grand Master looked to each other and said in Harmony " Children, they'll be the death of us", and the Oldest and Holiest in the Chamber, the Seer, stirred himself and gave a small chuckle and looked at all around, speaking softly "I see no better reason to die than for these Children, they are our oath an hope."
So my proposal is an elite group just for the player and to arrive as volunteers 4 to 6 at a time when his renown hits 100, and every 20 renown thereafter. Mid range and higher but not the top level as of yet, after the second town is Captured then top troops could be arriving at one per group max the rest from levels 1 thru 4l. They would still be "cloaked Shields" and after the player becomes revealed as the King they uncloak to reveal they are the "Order of the Griffon". then The Lords that are available to be vassels will have a few Lords of the Griffon among them
the troops tree for foot starts at the "recruit" level and go up 5 levels and are called: Iinitiate the mounted Page
Preceptor Squire
Deacon Stewarts Brother Knight Griffon's Light
Iron Warders Guardians Chevallier Giffon's Wings
Guard of the Heart Blood Guards The King's Own Golden Griffon
weapons of foot troops start with one hand swords and shield with a mix of bows. then next (preceptors) better one hand w/shields and thrown pilar, the Deacons hand and half w/targets on forearm and bows the Iron Warders are axes w/bows and Guard of the heart have Crossbows and 2 handers here is split stewarts are spears and Guardians are Halberds and Blood Guards are Pikes with appropriate swords/axes for close work except The pikes have heavy short swords. appropriate increases in chain to half to plate or banded
the mounted after it splits the Brother Knight and up that line are all 2 hand heavy Axes w/lance and are medium to heavy shock troops Griffon's Light and up are all Swords w/lance and bows or thrown with a charge then stand off and use the artillery
this is a first draft
of the Griffon: the guardians of the royal line of Pendor.
They didn't all Die, the Last 9 Knights hand picked by the Last Grand Master were sent away from the disasterous final battle with secret and specific orders
"Take the last of the blood into the "Heart of the Earth" and nurture it until such time as it could again find root."
Those Nine where Seneschal Guy DeVernet
Marshal Jacque D'Ammonsen
Senior Steward Hugh D'Peralde
2 Junior Stewards Jackod Gundersen and Craig MacCrea
Deacons Harolde Smythesen and Jorry Hagertsen
Preceptors Jamie (orphan) and Peter Brown
These Nine were the core and seed for a new enclave of the Griffon Order to remain in hiding at The "Heart of the Earth" until they were again at both war strength (10 Centuries) plus auxilliary foot troops both blade and bow. of 3 times that number
The blood they carried was that of the royal line Jacque D'Ammonsen, Jamie and Peter were all direct blood relation of the Royal Line Jamie the Orphan was closest being the unacknowledged son of the Prince, the others being 2nd and 3rd cousins on the male line. Jamie was taken under the wing by the Grand Master as a favor to the King and knows nothing yet of his Father's real identity, the mother having died just months after giving birth at the hands of an assassin sent by the Snake Cult as was the plague that took so many of the Royal Line Later.
So they took thenselves off to the Hidden Priory and Chapter House, a large underground system of Caves, found many years before on a Pilgrimage by one of the "Seer Saints". He had a vision and for years wandered the world looking for the Heart of the Order. little did he know that the Heart was just that a huge Cavern at the Heart of a Mountain a fair size river pours forth from what became the entrance, the small side pool the saint used to cleanse himself before his weekly ritual was very cold and when he slipped he was dragged off into the current and taken under the overhang into a large underground quiet pool that then fed back into the river. when his eyes adjusted he found a large cave lined with glowing mosses. as he walked back into the cave he saw it lead deeper as he had sufficent light to see and no sign of any occupant was to be seen he followed the light. the river held it width about 20 spears, with a landing on each side of the same amount and a arched cieling of half that. about 300 paces into the mountain he was struck still by what he saw a Huge Cavern , large enough to hold a good size village and its fields about 1000 paces across and the walls and ceilings studded with a variety of Gems He paid little notice at the time to the Gems but knew it would help the Order to have a secret source of wealth that it could rely on. another 1000 paces across the Cavern and into another passage he came into daylight again a very large valley in the center was a small island in the center of a lake the land arouns the lake from shore to foothills was at least a mile making the whole 8 miles long and 4 wide. All of this surrounded by extreme verticle cliffs and slopes several thousands of feet high from this central valley many narrow canyons radiated out and all having small streams feeding the lake to the east were four large and deep canyons that went for many miles and at the upper reaches were glaciers. this site over the next many years became this secret home, the sacred Priory and not even the Royal Line knew of it as the Seer's Vision had a dark ending, he foresaw a time when the only safe place in the world for the Royals would be here , but only if no one knew but the Griffon
at the time of the destruction of the Royal House many knew that the Order of the Griffon used this distant pool as a part of the initiation rites into high office and inner circle. It was noted by some few that many older members often went to the pools for their "last rites" before they died. At least they assumed they died as they rarely were ever seen again. And no one thought anything was unusual about many of the rank and file, though all were long time members and battlehardened veterans making pilgrimages to the sacred pools. Everyone was amazed at the piety of all that they "walked the water" seemingly near freezing for the 6 miles it took to go from the low hills, where the dense forrests started up very gentle grade to the small plateau at the base of the sheer Mountainside.
the work began building terraces and canals for the valley to supply a secure food source for the warriors made workmen and farmers in the name of the Order's need. Many times thru the years the Grand Master thought it was close to the time of need but always the dire threat abated, and the Royal Family could live as was normal and in no knowledge of their sanctuary that awaited their need.
Then when it struck and the Order spirited them last blood away it stood safe and secret for them after a few generations passed the "Light of the Blood" and the Grand Master and the Inner Circle came to the knowledge that they could not stay away from the world forever. So they began, a few at a time, to send The Order in the disguise of the common man, traveling workmen and craftsmen of great skill, traveling Merchants and some just as Vagabonds but all very deadly when bothered or put upon by bandits. Since the Order had always had members from all areas of the old Kingdom they easily could pass as the peoples that they used as cover. always low key always giving fair deals that left the purchaser thinking he had the better. they watched, they listened and gathered information for the future, towards they day they could come out in numbers (though still in disguise). They knew the future king must know his people, live with his people, if he was to again be King of his people.
They kept meticulous records of families and lineage for that future time They were as careful as they could be to maintain those lines but accidents do happen and now only two lines were alive and when time came they would be ready, they had over the years realized the benefits of a dual Monarchy and it seemed to work now as we come to the present day the Order carefully watches over one Royal family in the world while they keep the other safe in the Heart as each child of the Royals comes to majority male and female they are taken secretly to the Heart to be awakened to who they are The Royal Parents having never hinted to them knowing it would mean all their deaths should they be exposed by a careless word or slip of the tongue.
Until today Our unknowing Royal offspring has flown the coop as it were. being stirred by the injustice as well as the unbelieveable council to be patient by his seemingly cowed parents. he has set off to right the world, The wise and patient Elders and Sage councilors of the Order were taken completely by surprise, what to do? Well They are working on a way to educate the wayward youth, in the mean time all plans are on hold. The immediate need is to get him protected, lest he get himself killed before he can be reasoned with. So off go special hand picked and heart sworn teams of harded warriors of the Order's finest. The Grand Master's Orders: join up with the idiot's... er his Royal's foolhardy Movement and stay close and protect him at all costs ... until we can figured out what to do next. The Grand Master along with the Royal Elders had planned at least ten more years before any possibility of moving to announce the Return. So many variaibles, so many factions, so much could go wrong , and not enough Men to fight everyone at once .. and that was just the evil factions, not to count the Good but ignorant Nobility. So many plans now thrown to the wind. Both the eldest Royal and the Grand Master looked to each other and said in Harmony " Children, they'll be the death of us", and the Oldest and Holiest in the Chamber, the Seer, stirred himself and gave a small chuckle and looked at all around, speaking softly "I see no better reason to die than for these Children, they are our oath an hope."
So my proposal is an elite group just for the player and to arrive as volunteers 4 to 6 at a time when his renown hits 100, and every 20 renown thereafter. Mid range and higher but not the top level as of yet, after the second town is Captured then top troops could be arriving at one per group max the rest from levels 1 thru 4l. They would still be "cloaked Shields" and after the player becomes revealed as the King they uncloak to reveal they are the "Order of the Griffon". then The Lords that are available to be vassels will have a few Lords of the Griffon among them
the troops tree for foot starts at the "recruit" level and go up 5 levels and are called: Iinitiate the mounted Page
Preceptor Squire
Deacon Stewarts Brother Knight Griffon's Light
Iron Warders Guardians Chevallier Giffon's Wings
Guard of the Heart Blood Guards The King's Own Golden Griffon
weapons of foot troops start with one hand swords and shield with a mix of bows. then next (preceptors) better one hand w/shields and thrown pilar, the Deacons hand and half w/targets on forearm and bows the Iron Warders are axes w/bows and Guard of the heart have Crossbows and 2 handers here is split stewarts are spears and Guardians are Halberds and Blood Guards are Pikes with appropriate swords/axes for close work except The pikes have heavy short swords. appropriate increases in chain to half to plate or banded
the mounted after it splits the Brother Knight and up that line are all 2 hand heavy Axes w/lance and are medium to heavy shock troops Griffon's Light and up are all Swords w/lance and bows or thrown with a charge then stand off and use the artillery
this is a first draft
)
