Click here to go back to Knight of Morning

The Church of Knight of Morning

An introduction:

The Church of the Knight of Morning is different from region to region. Many cities and some villages have their own idea of what and who this Knight of Jar'dior is. Despite the differences in the names and visages of the honored statues and artistic displays of the Knight, all but the most fanatical place more emphasis on the almost universal values and teachings than on the identity. 

This difference may not be noticeable to outsiders. Within the church, however, followers would consider the differences between the churches in Darian o'Dell, Drakeston and the AS YET NOT NAMED DWARVEN CITY to stand out as obvious. 

These values and teachings are both complex and simple. While each region seems to have slightly different variants, all display the same basic principles. 

The Legacy of Light: 

Hold to your faith with dedication and joy so that others may find comfort. 
Be true to your word in all that you are. 
Obey the just orders of rulers and tread not against laws that keep just peace. 
Honor the deeds of others and boast not of your accomplishments. 
Be generous with those less fortunate while being a firm mentor. 
Let not your courage waver before foe or tedious task. 
One's nobility must rest in their heart, with their every action, not just within sight of Kings and Harpies. 
Bring no undo pain, wield not justice sharper than the crime, and let mercy in one's words and deeds offer light through the darkness. 
Let deeds not be founded on what is wanted, but instead on what is right. 
Hide not your dignity, your honor, your breeding or your faith. 
Be always the example of all people's consciousness made mortal with proper dress, armor, weapons and manner. 
In the chaos of life's challenges; be at peace in your heart, in your thoughts and rally forth others in reason and righteousness. 
Fear not death in the service of great causes. The fearless champion leads others even in absence. 
Offer courtesy to all, but with special reverence to women. 
Protect the weak, aid the poor, and tolerate no cruelty to pass within your sight. 

It is important to note that while chivalry seems to be the root core of both the Knight of Morning and Dimikar, the interpretation of identical concepts may be very different, sometimes violently so. It is because the followers have such stark similarities that they may find themselves forming strong friendships, just as the differences may bring them to deadly blows over matters that others may consider minor. 

As the old saying goes: " When it comes to Jar'dior and Fan'taween, you can always depend on the knights of their champion Aspects to be honest, generous and protective of the defenseless. This is how they are the same. 

How they are different is in the way they view justice. Followers of the Knight of Morning will act with restraint and deal justice equal to a wrong that is done. Among the knights of Dimikar, a wrong is dealt with in two ways: indentured servitude or death. Death is the more common sentence, as it is rare to find a knight of Dimikar with the patience to contemplate the just length of servitude. 

After all, one is called the Knight of Morning for a reason; he embodies the ideas of rebirth, hope, mercy and justice. His antitheses, however, is known mockingly as the Knight of Mourning. While he may offer order, mercy and justice, he lacks the tolerance needed to foster hope or joy."
Clerical Ranks:
There are two paths within this church; the Knights Order and the Ordained Clergy. 

Page/Neonate 

1st Swordsman/Initiate 
2nd Shield bearer/Servant 
3rd Page-Veteran/Aspirant 
4th Squire/Acolyte 
5th Chevalier/Deacon 
6th Knight/Father 
7th Knight Templar/Minister 
8th Priest 
9th High Priest 
10th Priest Templar 

Holy Patriarch 

A cleric who has not been initiated, but does faithfully serve, will remain a Neonate. Once ordained, the cleric is afforded the clerical rank of Initiate. A member of the Knights Order who is still learning the ways of Chivalry and remains true is a Page. Once a Page is under the tutelage of a Knight, the instruction of arms and armament begins and they become a Swordsman. 

Players who wish to RP as an ordained cleric or as part of the Knights Order may take the liberty of selecting the appropriate rank from the appropriate Aspect up to the 3rd rank. For a character to rise to 4th through the 7th rank they must undergo ceremonies as detailed below. No character will be elevated over the 7th rank unless they started the character as a Page/Neonate and have excelled in RP and OOC leadership to justify such a prestigious role. 

Please note, clerical ranks ARE NOT governed strictly by character level or character experience. Clerical ranks are very much IC and will include specific duties, primarily by fostering RP and acting as leaders and/or advisors to others. 

For ease of RP for rituals and to show dedication to their faith, however, some level requirements do apply for assignment of church rank. 

Page/Neonate: Must make an honest, heartfelt, oath to live by the teachings of the Knight of Morning. 
Swordsman/Initiate: Must be able to use a sword and place an RP post of their training/lessons in the forums involving at least 1 other PC. 
Shield bearer/Servant: Must be able to use a shield and place an RP post of their coming to the defense of another involving at least 2 other PCs. 
Page-Veteran/Aspirant: Must be able to wear full-plate and use a bow and place an RP post including at least 3 other PC's in which they perform some worthy deed. 
Squire: Must be taken under the tutelage of a Knight. This should be RP'd and posted in the forums. Acolyte: Must be accepted to serve within a temple by a Father or higher PC or DM controlled NPC. 
Chevalier: Must receive the blessings of a PC priest or DM controlled NPC, but is still considered under the tutelage of the Knight. Deacon: Must have earned the trust of the local church members and have the approval of the Father or Minister assigned there. 
Knight: Must be Dubbed by a King (DM controlled) or by a trio of Knight Templar PC's. Father: Tends his local church members from a temple or shrine that is assigned him by the approving Priest. 
Knight Templar/Minister: Must be promoted by a trio of PC High Priests or a DM controlled Priest Templar.
How to greet the clergy:

Clerics, in general, are treated with respect simply for their position as Holy Men or Women. Even when one wishes to be disrespectful, it is considered rude and common to do so without style. In fact, some of the 'best disrespectful' persons follow or exaggerate the niceties of greetings and add subtle comments designed to keep the cleric off balance or uncomfortable. 

It is considered bad form and ill luck to court the disfavor of a holy person and the greetings offered are meant to show proper respect. 

Until one becomes an Acolyte they are not addressed beyond polite notice. Those who greet an Acolyte should offer a smile and greet them according to their assigned duty. Acolytes are often tasked as Light Keepers (tending candles), as Trustees (collecting tithe and tribute to the church), as Alter Keepers (keeps the shrine/temple neat and orderly), as Greeters (greets people at the door and helps the elderly to their pews) and other simple duties that need to be done which help teach responsibility. 

Deacons help to run the daily functions of the temple/shrine they are assigned to. They are also properly greeted with a smile and polite notice, though it is customary to offer them a firm handshake and to learn their given name. 

Fathers serve a community as head of the local temple or shrine. Fathers should be greeted with respect, by name, but a handshake should not be offered unless the father is offering them. Even in rowdy public gatherings, a Father should not be crowded. 

Ministers travel from one church to another as guest speakers until they are assigned to help a Father, or even take over, in a church that may be in duress. Often, they travel together in small groups. Greeting them should start with a respectful half-bow. If a Minister offers his hand, one should touch their forehead to it if their station is Deacon or lower, Fathers and other Ministers would just offer a firm handshake. 

For the Priests, et all... bow fully if below their station, take a bow to one knee if two stations lower and if more than 3 stations lower than the priests, take to both knees. If a priest offers his hand, one should accept it and touch their forehead to the knuckles. 

If one wishes a blessing, they should take to both knees, bow their head and have a hand raised for the Priest to take, gently squeeze the priest’s hand to receive the priests other hand onto the top ones head, then whisper the matter that one requires blessings on.

Go Back