How we can protect Eveningstar, and increase our strength

[O-louth]

Honored Lord Bishop, Sir Myrkyr, my fellow brothers and sisters,
Dark times lay ahead, and with the recent missives from Tilverton, there can be no doubt that Lathander will not forgive us, if we sit by and do nothing.

As this is a wider discussion, I place this missive not in the file regarding Tilverton. But I have prayed, I have pondered, and I believe I can see ideas forming, like rays of sun through the stormy clouds on a winter day.

If we stand alone in the coming days, isolated and without allies, then we will not come out of this conflict as victors. I fought one of the Ravens in a tournament, and he alone could cut down three or four knights easily. And I doubt the man is the best Tilverton has to offer.

Even with the most persuasive of Lathanders Clergy, I fear that we can never recruit enough soldiers to survive a full on war with the warchests of Misrim. And with the chaotic, sinful population of Arabel, they have plenty of allies to draw upon.

We can no longer afford to stop spreading our influence by the town boarder. We must look beyond our own, to find the necessary strength to ensure the stability and protection of Eveningstar.

With the Bishops permission, and the support of my fellow brothers, I will begin the first sounderings of establishing a new Knightly Order of paladins, to act as a beacon for all servants of the light, even if they are not devoted to Lathander alone. Such an order would allow us look beyond our own faith for swords, and if it is us who take the first steps in this direction, we will have the most influence towards its purpose.

Such a Knightly order would allow The Church of Lathander to increase its influence upon Arabel as a whole, while officially maintaining the "balancing" act of Arabel between Tilverton and Eveningstar. But it would also severely boost the number of swords we can call upon, if or when we need to.

I am not penning this to resign from the Order of Aster, or show disloyalty. But I have since coming here, seen countless paladins, disorganized, and therefore without any place to look for likeminded fellows.

Right now, our most prominent allies are "the whimsical Tymorans", who could just as easily turn on us, if rumors of a dragons hoarde or some other adventure lures them away. We stand isolated from the Wild Walkers, due to past "angel summonings", and both the Precepts and the Greywatch seem just as likely to side with Tilverton as with us, if conflict should rise in the future.

If you see the merits of this idea, I will gather what paladins and potential soldiers of Light I can, try to organize them into something resembling a group, and through deeds done, rather than soft words spoken, gain the attention of the King and Queen themselves.

-Dawnsquire Evelyn Stillwater

[O-louth]

@o-louth
Fellow knights, Brothers and sisters,
I have yet to hear from any of you, with your thoughts to this idea.

Evelyn

[O-louth]

@o-louth
Next to the warm fire of the Tavern in Eveningstar, The Four has been established. Four paladins, of different creed and oath, bound together by the need to make the world safer, better, more just.
Byron Burke of Ilmater
Julien of Tyr
Tieto of Deneir.

Evelyn Stillwater

[O-louth]

@o-louth

Byron, paladin of Ilmater, Rona Milliron, paladin of Helm, and Richard Edgewood, priest of Helm, have taken up our cause, and stand shoulder to shoulder with Eveningstar.

Stillwater

[O-louth]

@SpiffyMeister @Lord_Acererak @Prof-Misclick @Swifty-Willownall @HDYWTDT

My Lord Bishop Belon, Brothers,
I bring to you a proposal once more. One that we must consider carefully, if we are to prosper.
The Populace have lost all sense of good, justice and courage. The hope that the King and Queen of House Goldfeather, would prove themselves to be the beacon of light, the gathering entity in these dark times, has proven itself to be a vivid dream, that will never become reality. The sacrifice of our Dawnknights, who bled and died to stop the chaos of Gondegal, and create stability, must not be forgotten.

Eveningstar will no doubt prosper under your rule, under the rule of the Church of the Morning. But we stand alone. Even if our cause is just, if we will only accept those who hold Lathander’s light in their heart, we will never find the numbers necessary to make a felt difference beyond our town boarders. I write this not in a state of fatalism, but because I envision that we can become even more. We can become the gathering point of all good souls, the Lighthouse in stormy weather, if we move our focus just a little from the desire to only embrace our own.
I have seen the kindness of your heart, in your transactions with the Mayor of Immersea. I feel the compassion of the Church of the Morning, as we draw swords to face overwhelming odds, in our coming war with Tilverton. And my heart is filled with creativity, when I see that we can indeed gather those outside our church doctrines, if we but open our arms a little.

Side by side with us, stand paladins of Ilmater, Deneir and Helm. Followers of Chauntea, the blessed mother of our Father Lathander, who look at the spreading of Talonas plagues, but have not themselves the power to face it alone. They are all lost, for they have no place to call home. They roam the countryside, never unified, because no one has the will to unite them. To bring them under one unified banner, to do good. We could be that home. Eveningstar could be that home for them. We, the Church of the Morning, could be that beacon of light that gathers those willing to do what is right, even if the cost is dire.

At some point, the House of Goldfeather will in no doubt themselves try to reap the benefits of establishing a knightly order, under their rule, sworn to them. Or someone outside the church will have the strength necessary to accomplish this, and we will stand on the wrong side of a brilliant idea, simply because we did not ourselves take the first step.

The Order of Aster will forever be sworn to the Church, that should not change. But opening the doors of Eveningstar to others of like mind and body, is an opportunity we should not waste. I do not see this as diminishing the influence of Lathander. We would instead show that the Sun welcomes all good folk who wish to live in its warmth and unite against the forces of darkness.
And we would finally have the chance to spread our influence way past our own boarders, and into the very heart of Arabel, increasing our influence many times over. All of it, under your authority, in Lathander’s name, and as Lathander’s church as the very top of the hierarchy.

If we win this war, I hope you will at least consider the idea, for we will not win without the assistance of paladins and soldiers outside our own ranks.

Dawnsquire Evelyn Stillwater

[O-louth]

@o-louth In order to elaborate on the idea further.

The Knightly Order of "Whatever name suits his Lordship"
Entry requirements: Paladins of Lathander primarily. Layswords of Lathander a possibility.
Secondary paladins of faiths that supplement and accept the doctrines of Lathander. ​
((If Multiclassed, paladin must be the primary class, the same rule the old KoTMS had)).

The pillars of the order:

• Life: To preserve and protect life in all its forms. The Order hunts down necromancers and undead, as well as unnatural forces such as demons and devils in equal measure. Even if it clashes with the self proclaimed authority of the Precepts.
• Justice: To bring justice and the rule of law to every corner of the land, especially the rural villages. Inside Arabel, they offer the role of impartial judgements, challenging the Greywatch in their vigilante methods. Outside, they act as judge and executioner when needed.
• Inspiration: Nobless oblige. They promote goodness, valor and self sacrifice. They walk the talk, seeking to inspire others to aspire to be better. They hunt down monsters, foul beasts and relics of the past, displaying them in Inn of Eveningstar for all to see.
• Mercy: They focus heavily on Lathanders redemption, going to great length to enforce criminals to change their ways, or pay the price.

Paladins of the order are granted a uniform, but are allowed to change the colors of this VERY distintive uniform, to show respect to the deity who grants them their powers. ((The old KoTMS did similar, which was cool, offering unity + diversity)).

The Order does not hold authority in Eveningstar, beyond the scope of their mandate, leaving the Church of Lathander full control of its settlement, but Knights have proven themselves trusted enough by the church to be given minimal lawenforcement priviledges.

Ranks:
Squire: (entry, similar to awakened)
Knight Errant: similar to Dawnsquire
Knight: (Dawnknight)
Knight, anointed: Noble priviledges.

They shall be based out of the Inn in Eveningstar, and use the place to display their collected trophies for all to see.
((They can use the prestige chest of Lathander, as that is where they collected their prestige. For ease of establishment, give them a key to a locked room in the Inn, and a small persistant chest, or just let them use the room in the temple. They can be allowed to use the prestige store of Lathander, but dye their uniforms in appropiate colors, if it must be done with MINIMAL dm involvement and changes))

-Dawnsquire Evelyn Stillwater