A Lesson upon the Eclipse - Knighthood Split

Sir Rassilon Shiroken, Lady Khamisin Shiroken, Sir Meroveus Grayhawk, Drakonn Garat, and myself, Lady Datai d'Aggravaine, Lorekeeper, gathered in the Shrine to Austinian of Sir Rassilon's keeping to discuss the split between the Knights of the Eclipse and our order.

Sir Rassilon began:

I choose this topic because it strikes me as particularly meaningful to our current order. And indeed to many similar ones. It is the second chapter in the history of the Knighthood. And it deals with many difficult issues, many more than I had anticipated. To briefly summarize, the first chapter of the Knighthood's history was its founding by Tesalon Gareth, our Keep is named in his honor. But as with all things, his time comes to an end. And he looks to the future.

Enter San Gohdam, who entered the Knighthood to rise up the ranks and become the Lance General (or its equivalent in those days). It was he who was selected to succeed Tesalon Gareth. And this is where our troubles begin. Or rather, his do.

San Gohdam was a brave man and a cunning strategist. But it is said he was a poor diplomat and not necessarily the wisest of men. But his heart was true and he was placed in charge of the Knighthood. To further understand what comes next we must learn of Serpantol. Specifically, how the Empire of Serpantol was growing corrupt. It was a long-reaching, very old Empire, secure in its power despite the newly forming yinn menace to the north. And its politics were mired in corruption. This was what San Godham entered into when he found he had an Empire to protect... that he questioned. And being a man of action, San Gohdam was not content to let things remain as they were. He challenged the bureaucrecy, the Empire's ruling council, at first asking and then demanding the resources and leeway to strike out against the yinns. He was refused. In the end, he could take it no longer. He stepped down and left Gareth's Keep for good.

Sir Rassilon then asked of us:

I wish to pause my lecture now a moment and pose a question for discussion. How you all feel regarding that decision San Gohdam made?

And Sir Meroveus replied:

It seems a wise choice. Having identified a need, and having exhausted formal channels with which to pursue a solution to the problem, leaving Knighthood (under the control of Serpantol) to take action is a sound choice.

Sir Rassilon says softly 'I thought much the same when I learned the history of the matter'

Sir Meroveus continues to consider:

Given the premise, I don't think we ought to judge the outcome, just the decision. We don't have the luxury of seeing the future when -we- make decisions, after all. It's important to see how a "good" decision now can be corrupted later, and I think you dilute that if you apply the future of a decision to its making.

Here I interjected to wonder, as I tend to personally think on this topic:

What is interesting, however, about that time are the accusations of corruption against the Empire, which I don't doubt, but was San Gohdam part of those problems himself?

To which Sir Rassilon replied:

That's an interesting question... and there are some unproven historical records that Tesalon Gareth -may- not have perished of old age shortly before San Godham took command... but it has never been conclusively proven.

And I said:

Well, murder is a little strong. There are plenty of other ways to be corrupt or wrong more subtly or even innocently than that.'

Sir Rassilon remarked:

Just something I came across. But no there's no evidence of San Godham strong-arming politicans to get his way or the like. But its wholly within the realm of possibility.

And then I spoiled the ending in true bardic run of the mouth:

You say 'What is known, however, is that when he did finally leave the Knighthood, he was turning to evil.'

Sir Rassilon politely shushed me and continued:

Anyway, we'll continue. It is said San Godham's leaving the Knighthood was witnessed only by Privus the Good, who became the Third Lord of the Knighthood in his place. Under his reign, the the Knights and Serpantol went through a period of unrivaled peace and prosperity. This too is something worthy of a good question. Given the climate of Algoron, whether or not it was wise. Privus implemented many programs that cut the strength of the Knighthood, and did not have them ready to mobilize quickly, as his predecesors did.

Meanwhile, San Gohdam organized his own Knighthood of sorts. He moved operations to what is now Verminasia. It is likely sometime now or slightly later he began to fall to the sway of Darkness. This is most evident by his singular vision. It is said he saw the sun's blinding rays overshadowed by the moon passing overhead, cutting off its power in place of its own, and thus named his new organization accordingly.

Eclipse.

Although they eventually, and formally, fell under the sway of Necrucifer, Eclipse was originally perceived and organized as a power check against the Knighthood and Serpantol, that would continue to protect the Empire but free of any sorts of laws or restrictions. This new order, following a simple 'ends justify the means' axoim, quickly began to devolve into the straightforward brutality and order through strength that we have come to view as typical for followers of Darkness.

By its very nature, Eclipse was not a lawful organization, it had set the precedent of breaking laws. Its members were thus driven only by selfish gain, personal glory, or power through violence. Numbers which soon swelled as they began to accept demihumans into their ranks. Despite this, as former Knights, many early Eclipsians were well-trained and moderately well-organized, and thus were a growing threat despite their small numbers. And now, a new question to pose:

Based on this, how now does the peaceful approach of Privus the Good look as a Knighthood policy?

Sir Meroveus asked:

Could you perhaps expand upon these peaceful policies?'

Sir Rassilon clarified as he could:

Unfortunately there's no historical information on the exact policies but the end results later in history are evident enough. How the yinn sweep through Serpantol and ravage it, and Eclipse later becomes an organization on par with today's Shadow.

I remarked:

I suppose peace doesn't need mean an end of defenses. Because Lord Privus was friends with San Gohdam, he may not have conisdered Eclipse becoming a threat. Or San Gohdam could have delibertly decieved him in that matter.

Sir Rassilon replied:

Very true, and because those two shared a friendship open war was never declared between the organizations.

Sir Meroveus asks:

The timeline is a bit foggy to me. This lack of war, is this during the period where Eclipse was openly pillaging, or before?'

After sorting through his notes, Sir Rassilon found a precise answer:

The history says Eclipse started out without pillaging and looting. That came later. Obviously the peace wasn't -perfect- across Algoron.

Anyway, as stated, Privus and San Gohdam were friends. This remained despite their organizations, their faiths, most everything becoming opposed. So there was tenative peace between Knighthood and the Eclipse. Until Privus the Good passed away, and Lord Croyden Versuviuss was named his successor. After that is when troubles really began. San Gohdam declared the Knighthood was unfit to protect the people, and Eclipse was to take their place. Some of his followers felt the same way, many were former Knights as well. The rest, well... they were of a considerably more questionable moral fiber. This was known as the 'Brotherhood War'.

Knighthood had suffered losses from its peaceful programs and its loss of members to Eclipse, and were still engaged in borders problems with the yinn to the north when the darkness attacked. It can be argued that, had what came next not come, San Gohdam would have crushed Gareth's Keep. Indeed, he was on the threshold of it, right at the drawbridge, when this event occurred.

Malice.

History is full of ironies, and I can think of few bigger than the one that a splinter organization would be the downfall of a splinter organization. Malice arose from those who wanted to rule instead of protect, and justified the end of that as the means for backstabbing San Gohdam. Literally.

Those still loyal to the idea of Eclipse then left the battlefield, taking his body with them, and continued under their usual doctrine until they were destroyed decades past. Malice tried to claim the Keep but with their forces divided were unable to. They were, however, able to cut down Lord Croyden, in the tower that now bears his name. He took more than a few with him.

That is largely the end of that particular chapter in our history. A Fifth Lord of the Knighthood was selected, and he had a lot to think on I imagine.

I remarked:

A chapter of splintery splinter groups. Yet the orginal tree still grows, I reckon.

Sir Rassilon replied:

It does, and continues strong and proud to this day. So we should give our thanks to those who helped guide us here, and those who've fallen in its name.

Sir Meroveus considered:

A cautionary tale for those who would deviate from protocol, regardless of the desired outcome.

Sir Rassilon thought that:

Not exactly what I had planned when I came up with this lesson. I'd like to propose a different one. Tesalon Gareth, bless him, fought a defined enemy, and worked hard to create an organization that personifies the Light under the wise guidance of the holy Trinity. I respect him for this but I am beginning to think he got it easy. A defined enemy, a red dragon, for example, is easy to fight. Less so to win, of course... but an enemy like politics, like laws, like order can be considerably more difficult. Surely we can agree there is the possibility it could happen again. Our Generals are human, after all, as are our Emperors and leaders of all sorts. They are not perfect beings.

I replied:

This is true, I suppose then we need remember what we are, and stay true to it.

Sir Meroveus continued to think:

I suppose if you traced that back, then the lesson would be against corruption. Corruption of individuals and ideals?

To which Sir Rassilon replied:

Exactly so, and also similar to what was spoken of earlier... we cannot know what consequences come of our actions, so we must be prepared to accept and deal with them instead.

I decided to ponder Lord San Gohdam's plight:

We often speak about how once a person makes a mistake, they continue to do evil because they are ashamed, or wish to hide the mistake.. or something along those lines, could it be that at some point that's what San Gohdam felt? He realized, maybe, he shouldn't have left, but continued to walk the path he did, too ashamed to come back and say "whups, my bad?"

Sir Rassilon seemed to agree:

Eloquent, but possibly true. Looking back at the history I feel sorry for him. He seems less mad tyrant and more misguided victim of the Dark Damiyo.

Sir Meroveus says solemnly:

Aye, perhaps so. Humility being the most fleeting virtue, and pride always ready to jump in?

Rassilon says softly:

I think we had a lesson on that somewhere in the Knighthood archives... "the instant you feel you are humble you have lost it"

I remarked to Sir Rassilon:

A quintessential case of corruption by said Dark Damiyo, to find a malcontent, and then poke and jab it some more.

Here our teacher remarked, and what brings us to a fitting end and lesson to this history lesson:

Which is why we all must be vigilant against such.