‘Order’ is perhaps a misnomer here. Most of the knights who wander Franconia today do so as loners. However, they recognise a belonging to some cause, or purpose. This is very important to them, for almost all the orders were set up when bands of knights abandoned their duty guarding the great libraries in their home cities, because they could not accept their ruling Magocrats bending the knee to the Imperials. A few other orders are believed to be from Imperiums that were virtually wiped out, in which case a strong purpose is just as important, to ward of accusations of the cowardice of their own survival.

There are a few orders who have set up shrines, barracks or even temples. Some are heavily guarded and exist as a beacon of hope for those weary of the dishonour of bandits. Other places are kept secret, and squires, or Junkkari as they are known in Franconia, are acquired when a Ridarre Inner Circle Knight deems someone worthy whilst on their travels.

Dark Origins

Like many of the knightly orders that roam Franconia today, the Keepers of the First Tome do not like to talk about their origins, but it is known. They hail from the old Imperium of Lukeneis. The Magocracy there were classic scholars and focused their energies upon the reading of books and can be understood as typical academics. They bent the knee to the Imperials in exchange for hidden lore. During the occupation they became increasingly corrupted, only caring for more knowledge. The knights who guarded the great library still would not abandon them, putting duty above all. When the Imperials left, the Magocracy were heavily rounded on by angry peasants and hunters and the mages released great spells of power from the roof of the great library, to protect themselves, which caused a great slaughter. Upon witnessing this, the oaths of half of the knights finally broke. They took the great keys they were entrusted with and went to unlock the library portcullis. Those who stayed loyal to the Magocracy resisted them. What happened after that no one but the knights know. Needless to say the Magocracy were left mostly left fractured and defeated, though many did survive, as did some of the Imperium’s loyal knights. The capital city’s great library is still guarded by a handful of these souls, who are now utterly lost. These corrupted knights of Lukeneis are notorious for hunting down relics that would bring further power to Henrietta, a powerful mage who seeks to return Lukeneis to dominance with forbidden knowledge. She is much hated for the terrible atrocities that are committed in her name and the slavery she indulges in to further her cause.

Today

It is said that whatever occurred when half of the knights of the Old Imperium did finally rebel, the oath-breakers were eventually forced to flee. Today they fear the wrath of the remnants of Lukeneis, especially her loyal knights. The order thus actively disrupt Henrietta’s search for forbidden lore and lock away any dark artefacts that they cannot destroy. Thus, the location of their central base of operations, a holy temple, is known only to the inner circle. Those who are still only Ridarre Nuo, as opposed to Ridarre Sisapiri, only ever become inner circle knights when they find the holy temple. Squires, Junkarri, are acquired when a roaming inner circle knight deems one worthy, in which case they travel with the Ridarre Sisapiri, learning to become a knight under their tutelage.

For those of the Keepers of the First Tome, the shame of their oath-breaking almost hangs as heavy as their shame for not breaking it earlier. It is believed that on that fateful night, they managed to steal away an ancient book known simply as ‘the first tome’ – no doubt left un-named to protect its identity, should Henrietta discover it. It is widely believed that this is the first book ever read by the first Mage of Lukeneis, and it gave reason to the Magocracy. For the order, the magocracy’s degeneracy has since robbed them of the right to bear it. But, ever watchful and careful, the knights know they cannot keep their temple a secret location forever, thus rather than keep it under lock and key there, every year an inner circle knight who has proven their honour is given the sacred duty of carrying it in secret. And so, it is passed around the order, and even the lands, travelling as the Hunter intended.