Kroashent - World of Alvez - The Silverblades

Pictured: Uniforms of Gallian Silverblade Paladins.

Alvez  is home to a large number of peoples, cultures, places and  organizations.  This series is intended to put a spotlight on small bits  of lore to share that world with you.

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Purpose of the Silverblade Company

The  Royal Company of the Silver Blades, AKA, the Silverblade Company is an  elite force of soldiers, diplomats and arkanists organized under the  authority of the Kingdom of Gallia to counter threats against the  Kingdom and its peoples from the supernatural elements of Faerie and the  Bleed, a spiritual successor to the Knights of the Crossroad (Urzh  Kroashent) under Royal control.  The Paladins defend Gallian interests  from threats such as Sluagh, Garwaf and Finfolk, as well as larger  monsters like the fearsome Lou Carcohl or the savage Drakes.  They  recover or destroy cursed or powerful arkane artefacts, and  occassionally recover persons or property lost to the Bleed.  The  Company largely operates in Gallia and its direct vassals, but have a  presence that is felt in all nations of Kornôgel, the Northern  Continent.

Unlike the fully autonomous  Urzh Kroashent, the Silverblades are forbidden by Royal Decree from  constructing castles, waystations or other structures, save for  temporary, emergency situations. Instead, they are garrisoned at  properties owned and maintained by the Crown, or from rented properties  in large urban centers. The majority of its wealth is held by the  Gallian Crown or its noble membership, which pays a large tithe for  entry into the prestigious Company, and most equipment is owned  privately by the noble members of the organization. Lodging and  operations of the Order are typically of a high quality, befitting the  Royal personages who theoretically could reside in the buildings.

Organization of the Company

The  Silverblades answer directly to the King of Gallia, who plays a direct  role in the oversight of the Company, controlling finances, appointing  high officers and even overseeing tribunals of High Justice involving  the membership of the organization.  Directly under the King is the Silverhand,  typically a high noble of Gallia and a full member of the Royal Court.   While acting as the leader of the Company and receiving numerous perks  and benefits, including sumptuously furnished apartments within the  Crystal Palace of Per-Ys itself, they are also symbolically subservient  to the king, symbolized by a pair of lightweight, finely crafted silver  manacles that the Silverhand is required to wear at all times.  The  Silverhand is forbidden to leave the walls of Per-Ys without special  permission from the King himself.

The  Silverhand is supported by the Lords of Silver, who operate regional  commands adhering to the political boundaries of states, as interpreted  by the Gallian crown.  They operate with a high level of autonomy as  authorized agents of the Silverhand and are typically drawn from  Gallian, Anjevin or Flandrezed noble stock.  They are allowed a personal  retinue and lifestyle befitting their noble rank.  They wear a pair of  silver bands on their wrists like the Silverhand, but with no chains  attached to them.

The main body of the  Company are the paladins, who operate as local overseers and field  commanders, authorized officers to maintain control over key military  strongholds or major settlements within a region.  Others operate as  Knights Errant, tasked with the investigation and countering of threats,  both magical and mundane, against the Gallian Crown, and, to a lesser  extent, its subjects. Paladins may operate in groups of up to 5, but  require permission from the Silverhand for larger operations. Paladins  are typically accompanied by one or more (up to 3) squires and a small  retinue of peasant foot-soldiers and servants, as many as befits their  noble rank. They wear silver bands on their ring fingers.

Culture of the Company

The  Silverblades have strong ties with both the Gallian Crown and the Noble  Houses of Gallia, infusing the order with both a sense of national  pride and an air of authority and affluence. Serving in the Order is  considered a great honor and privilege, one sought out by both nobility  and wealthy bourgeois seeking entrance to the world of the Nobles. It is  common for second children to attempt to obtain membership as a  stepping stone to gain their own lands and titles through service to the  Crown. Befitting this high status, the Order is outfitted with the  latest and most high quality equipment, often supplementing the already  generous flow of coins from the coffers of Gallia with personal  fortunes.   The Silverblades  have a reputation, not always deserved, of chivalry and professionalism,  largely tied to their flashy uniforms and noble heritage, rather than  their actual actions, but many within the company strive to maintain  this reputation. However, younger Silverblades can also have an air of  haughty entitlement, overconfidence and ill-preparation compared to  veterans or their equivalents in the similar organizations. The company  membership were sworn not to retreat or move more than four arpents  (about six acre's breadths) from a battle.   The relationship between the Silverblades and the Gallian Crown can  strain relations between errant paladins and parties hostile to Gallian  rule, especially outside of Gallia. The Silverblades are typically  better received in more Faerie-influenced societies than their religious  counterparts as a result of their secular nature and the organization  strikes a cooperative tone, but anti-fae sentiment, especially against  the Korrigan and the Fomorian peoples, is often rampant in the large  segments of the company's membership.   After serving for a set time, members in retirement receive a small payment and the order provided housing.

The  Silverblades have a complex relationship with their "sister" orders,  ranging from regular cooperation to rivalry and outright hostility. The  Company considers its primary rivals, organized along similar  structures, to be the Lethan Order of the Ermine and the Arled Knights  of the Golden Fleece, but this is largely restricted to formal and  diplomatic settings. They often work directly the with Black Order, even  granting control of the Blackstone Vault of Kastell-Angers to the  religious order. They often exist in contention with the Inquisitorial  Order of Albi, viewing the Church's power as an infringement on  sovereignty of Gallia and the Chasseurs de Sang Noir, viewing them as  outlaws and enemies of the Crown.  However, both groups are treated as  allies of convenience in dire circumstances.

History of the Company

The  Silverblades were created during the Black Crown Affair under the  Orders of King Phillipe "le Bel" IV of Gallia, to continue the mission  of the Knights of the Crossroads after that organization was purged by  the King, while also countering the influence of the Church-backed Black  Order. Phillipe, an avid Staunchist (Anti-Faerie Political Doctrine),  with an intense hatred for the peoples of Faerie, saw the Company as a  way of enacting a harsher response to Fae activity, more similar to the  Order of Albi than the Crossroads Knights in goal and tactics. The  Company was first chartered in the suburb of Santouen, in a disused  granary that would become its primary administration headquarters.   Before Philippe could reorganize the new Company to carry out a planned  purge of Fae influence from Gallia, the Battle of Nesle Tower and the  King's subsequent imprisonment in the Blackcrown ended his scheme. His  successor, was quickly coronated and the charter of the Silverblades was  altered, removing overt references to Faerie and the declaration of  open warfare on its peoples. Several Staunchist allies of the King were  removed from their positions, with more moderate leaders put in place.  The charter was signed along with peace treaties with several Fae  entities.   The Silverblades  initially did not allow the inclusion of women or fae in their ranks,  but changed this following the success of their Lethan imitator, the  Order of the Ermine, which allowed both, and began to draw nobles into  the Ermines rather than the Silvers. The Silverblades were quick to  capture the public imagination with their shining uniforms and careful  linking to Heroes of Legend, but have never reached the same level of  influence of the Knights of the Crossroad.

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