Serelohim

[Oni]

The Serelohim, the men and women who have undergone the training and studying to become protectors of the Elohim, the Faithful. It is typically a life-long career given the amount of time it typically takes to become one, in the traditional sense at least. Not all members of the Serelohim are knights, though this is often based upon the particulars of the Subdivision and Order they belong to. The majority are Knights however and the task of becoming a Serelohim is long and often tedious, and typically found to be the easiest from the earliest.

In the most ideal situation the best choices for the process are the following: Children who are without parents, are of poor families, or sent to the church are the most typical candidates. Though it was once a common and widely spread occurrence in which nobles would send their children to become knights to better their family name. Until age seven they are taught many things from speech, writing, counting, and whatnot. Trained from the young age of seven they study and train whilst serving as a Paige in assistance to a Squire. Around the age of fourteen a Paige is permitted to become a Squire, the personal attendant to a knight who takes them on. As a Squire the child would learn the ways of battle and war, the ethos of the knights, deeper and more complicated aspects of religion, horseback training, and many other things. In turn they would serve the knight as a shield and arms bearer, tend his horse, carry his flag into battle, clean and cook for him and so on and so forth. Eventually around the age of twenty-one a Squire who has proven themselves would be knighted in a dubbing ceremony. Once a Knight they are sent to a confirmation of faith and than if all is well they become a Serelohim and are assigned orders based on which Order they are of.

Though of course there are others who have lead other lives before their choice to become a Serelohim. These individuals often go through the process of training, religious confirmations, studying, and proving themselves in both controlled and uncontrolled situations. Often it is a much shorter process, it doesn't take twenty-one years for example, but it is a far more scrutinized and difficult task overall. And at times it is far more dangerous given the final acts of proving oneself often times include battle and/or the slaying of a fearsome beast.

[Oni]

Serelohim are broken down into several large categories, a subdivision, each complete with their own specific internal Orders. In a typical sense the Orders are made of up of Serelohim who are formed into squads or bands, these are usually lead by a Master-At-Arms or Sergeant or similar ranked person. These squads or bands in turn are lead by a knight captain or commander that in turn answer to the council for that subdivision. These councils are formed from the leaders of the Orders of that Subdivision. In turn these subdivision councils each chose several representative who are sent to the capital to hold counsel with the others and with the Keeper of the One at various points of the year or during times of crisis.

Serelohim are known to desire to act accordingly and often seek orders from a higher rank and this could lead into issues if one is not aware of who has what power. In the most extreme case, all Serelohim answer to the Keeper of the One who resides within the capital. The Keeper of the One is the most wise and powerful of all the Serelohim, and deals directly with the King and his Primus. The current Keeper of the One is a Vestlig known as Jonathan Manrange.

The following is the typical rank system:
Keeper of the One > Capital Council representatives > Order Leaders > Knight Captains/Commanders > Regional Stationed Serelohim* > Master-At-Arms/Sergeant Knights > Serelohim > Squires > Paiges

To note in addition, each subdivision being equal to the other, unless situation warrants otherwise – i.e. normal warfare means all are equal, but if the foe are fellbeasts the Greycloaks may take lead.

*A Regional Stationed Serelohim is one that has been assisgned to a location, typically a town or city, and is not known to travel from it unless in rare times. They are considered to be the Serelohim sought out most often for information about locals, situations, and whatnot. An example of one of these is Serelohim Mars of Vaikne.

[Oni]

The Primary Subdivisions of the Serelohim are:

The Serelohim – All are part of this subdivision at some point and many remain within it always, it is also the largest of the subdivisions. Most Serelohim encountered are of this subdivision. It contains the largest number of Orders and has taken part in the most crusades.

A small list of the Serelohim Orders, though far from complete:
-Order of the Shining Blade
-Order of the Obsidian Bulwark
-Order of the Crimson Cloak
-Order of the Great Eagles


The Knights of the Rhosyn – The Oldest of the “True” Subdivisions, they have existed since the beginning of the Age of Dragons. These knights are the most specialized of the Serelohim, often handling situations no other Serelohim could, and often are among the least encountered, their numbers are among the smallest. Their Orders are named after the types of Rhosyn found throughout Aynnor, a Rhosyn is a type of flower akin to a rose but larger and typically host to many properties.

A small list of the Rhosyn Orders, though are far from complete:
-Knights of the Dusk Rhoysn
-Knights of the Dawn Rhoysn
-Knights of the Aelur's Rhosyn
-Knights of the Azureus Rhosyn


The Greycloaks – The Subdivision created by the Hero-King Iatros Ravenmantle in Six-Hundred and Sixty-Seven of the Age of Shadows. These are the Serelohim form of the Volven though without the need of the Lyblæcawicchis Trials, their skills and abilities in dealing with fellbeasts and their masters comes from faith in Ilîhum and years of painful training. Of the Subdivisions they are the youngest and their numbers hang in the middle of the Serelohim and Knights of the Rhosyn. Typically only those chosen from the Serelohim are permitted to join the ranks of the Greycloaks, but exceptions have occurred. Known more commonly as Greys, their orders play off the cloak portion of their name.

A small list of the Greycloak Orders, though are far from complete:
-The Hunter Cloak (As in, Grey the Hunter's Cloak)
-The Travelers Cloak (As in, Grey the Traveler's Cloak)
-The Winter's Cloak (As in, Grey the Winter's Cloak)
-The Tattered Cloak (As in, Grey the Tattered Cloak)


It should be noted there are more subdivisions but these three are the most primary and encountered. They may be posted here at a future time.

[Oni]

Crusades:

Crusades are holy wars launched by the Church of Ilîhum in attempts to retake the western continent of Wyrre, especially the eastern half which is known to currently host a portion of Myrtorc's forces. The recruitment for these battles begins every five years and are volunteer-based given that it is possible one will not return from these battles and could do other good here on Eirene instead. Once enough manpower is obtained ships are launched from the southern city of Wycche after all those taking part are added to the great tomes containing the names of all the known Crusaders and if they have made it back or not. The ships sail westwards and make landfall within a week's time in most cases. From there the battles can range from obtaining a foothold to establishing bases to slaying as many fellbeasts and undead as possible or simply survive long enough to retreat. The trip to and from are not even safe, occasionally bringing ruin to a great victory or destruction before it can even begin.

Survivors of these crusades are healed both physically and as much mentally as possible by the church. Many requiring months of therapy to recover from their time in the crusade. Rewarded for their efforts and given the means to honor their friends and allies who did not return. Most often Crusaders are marked with a crest for their efforts, so that others may know they gave more than others have to rid this world of Myrtorc. These crests are in the form of tattoos usually found on the chest or arm of the Crusader, they tell specifically which crusade they were in and if they were successful or not.

Despite the risks, the church has managed to reclaim a small portion of the southeastern coastline where several heavy forts are being constructed. These locations are often under attack and often the manpower needed to continue is requested.



For example the Crusader crest on Ceodore Hoarkeg:
A black falcon facing to the east with a silver sword crossing it from them west.

He was part of the Crusade known as the Shade Falcon Coastal, a battle to attempt to claim the southeastern shore's southern point known as the Shade Falcon given its shape and the known fellbeasts of dark coloration that dwelt there. The eastern facing falcon tells that the Crusaders hit heavy resistance and the silver sword crossing it from the west informs us that the Crusaders were victorious.