Priest-Knights of Marth

[Squirrel]

The Priest-Knights.

No religious authority within Ithecal has ever had the privilege of being a peaceful organisation. The Ethelyndarian Church before it commanded soldiers by the masses under the guises of their commanding officers, blessed directly by their God-Immortal's mark and sent to holy battle against the enemy in Her name. Even in this current day the Grand Zealotry still carries such weights, and the remains of the Ethelyndarians control a small personal force, little more than glorified bodyguards for their God-Immortal and her holy offspring, yet it is still a military presence, prestigious and taxing. In the founding of the Church of the Sword and Shield, soldiers who climbed the ranks and swore their soul to the cause of righteous mortality were soon assumed to be such a force, and so the Priest-Knights were recognised, but their name did not come into the repute it has today by average soldiers. It came about from a particular battle, known as the Battle of Marth, which solidified the Priest-Knights as a significant force.

Today, the Priest-Knights operate directly under the orders of Arm Sanctus. They are no longer ordinary soldiers, but true knights, granted authority by the Echelons to carry out their missions in the name of bettering the Empire.

[Squirrel]

The Sworn.

Though collectively they are referred to as Priest-Knights, there are three distinct orders that all knights fall into, depending on their personal preference and skillset. No one order holds power over the other, and it is often very useful to have members of different orders working in tandem, since the variety of mortality is what gives it an advantage over singular all-powerful beings, as the doctrine dictates.

Sworn-Swords are the attackers, known to be the most offensive and the most boisterous of the Priest-Knights, taking on the initial charge and the most dangerous of missions. They are most often proficient duelers and adept at single combat - and though they are all referred to as Sworn-Swords, there is no true limit to what weapon they choose when it comes to effective combat. They are also the best 'lone wolf' knights of the unit, and as such are the smallest of the three. Those that choose this role are often the most skilled combatants and tacticians, with an understanding of investigative and intelligence works.

Sworn-Spears are the most commonly associated with Arm Militum matters, often known as Battle-Priests. They command battlefields and inspire troops in times of crisis, and are most often chosen to follow on with patrols, being assigned to bands of troops and working directly alongside the commanding officers. Even when technically outside the military chain of command, Sworn-Spears are given a great deal of respect for their work, and their word often earns deference, if not obedience. Therefore, leadership, tactics, teaching and a healthy dose of clinical and medical skills are greatly appreciated.

Sworn-Shields are missionaries. Sent to other cities and around the world to teach the good of the Armatae Praesidium and create sects of their own in their name, they are the most free and the most independent. As such, high amounts of leadership and teaching, as well as meditation and possibly even fieldcraft are considered great help for those that choose this role, as well as an important sense of independence, wanderlust and devotion to the cause.