Setting: The Sword and the Cross

[Greg 1]

The Sword and the Cross: Post 3

St. James, The Order of Santiago
Symbol: Scallop shell and sword in the shape of a cross.
The Order of Santiago (Order of St. James) was founded in the 12th century to defend Christendom and drive the Moors from the Iberian Peninsula. Today, they dedicate themselves to driving the monsters from Granada, so that it can be a Christian state again. Where the Knights of St. Aemilian, St. George and St. Anthony are concerned specifically with Castile, Aragon and Portugal respectively, the Knights of St. James are defenders of all Iberian Christians. They are highly loyal to the Vatican, and strive to be on good terms with the knights of Aemilian, George, and Anthony.
St. James’ wide patronage has resulted in the order pursuing diverse avenues of research. They are renowned for their horsemanship, veterinary skills, craftsmanship with wood and fur, and herbalism. Holy abilities often involve horses or herbs. The order’s chapter house is in Santiago, close by the shrine of the saint.

St. John the Baptist, The Hospitallers
Symbol: Eight-pointed cross.
The Knights Hospitaller, also known as the Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, were established at the behest of the Benedictines to provide care and protection to pilgrims to the Holy Land. Originally based in Jerusalem, they are today based on the Island of Rhodes. They also administer hospitals in port-cities in southern Italy, originally because these were departure points for pilgrims. A wealthy order, they maintain a formidable navy. The ability to heal is a common holy power.
The Hospitallers have a history of conflict with Venice and its guardians, the Knights of St. Michael, over control of Mediterranean islands. On the other hand, a shared history in the crusades puts the Hospitallers on good terms with the Knights Templar (Knights of St. Bernard) and Teutonic Knights (Knights of the Blessed Virgin).

St. Martin, The Poor Knights
Symbol: Torn cloak.
The Poor Knights of St. Martin are centered in Tours and are most common in France, but maintain modest chapter-houses across Europe and are patrons of numerous hospitals. Until a mere 20 years ago, the Knights of St. Martin were guardians of France. The Knights of St. Joan replaced them in this role in 1433, after Joan revitalized the French war-effort against England and Burgundy when all seemed lost.
Knights of the order are sworn to poverty. They are allowed the property they need to maintain themselves, their steeds and their arms, but are not to accumulate wealth or live in luxury. They are known for developing holy powers that allow them to help and protect the poor, such as powers of healing.
The Knights of St. Martin are champions of the poor, making them frequently politically inconvenient. They look on wealth with suspicion, if not hostility. They seek to curtail the power of the Vatican, who they regard as tainted by riches and luxury. They are rivals of the Knights of St. Joan, and would like to be restored as guardians of France. Wars have made them rivals of the Knights of St. George, who guard England, and the Knights of St. Aemilian, who guard Burgundy. They look down on the Knights of the Golden Fleece and the Knights of St. Michael for their wealth. A shared concern for ordinary people puts them on good terms with the knights of St. Andrew and the monks of St. Benedict, and very good terms with the Knights of St. Anthony.

St. Maurice, Guardians of the Holy Roman Empire
Symbol: Eagle standard.
The Knights of St. Maurice are guardians of the Holy Roman Empire. The order is as widespread as veneration of the saint, and there are chapter houses as far west as Angers in France and Piedmont in Italy.
St. Maurice is patron of infantrymen, leading his knights to side with ordinary soldiers, often to the inconvenience of the nobility. In solidarity with infantrymen, his knights are known for developing holy powers related to defense, protection, and immovability. Maurice is also the patron of weavers and dyers. This has inspired the knights to invest in weaving and dying, and to develop holy powers related to color. It has been said that some of the knights have fraternized with supernatural spiders or other strange weavers.
Like the Holy Roman emperors, the Knights of St. Maurice tire of the domination of the Vatican. They are rival of the Knights of St. Stephen, guardians of Hungary. On the other hand, the have often allied with the Knights of St. Stanislaus, guardians of Poland-Lithuania, putting them on good terms.

St. Michael, Guardians of Banks.
Symbol: Scales.
The Knights of St. Michael are guardians of Venice, Florence, Genoa, and Milan, and have done as much as they can to prevent bloodshed between these rival states. Michael is patron of bankers and soldiers. His knights protect and promote banking, especially in northern Italy. Grateful donations have made the order rich. Inevitably, with so much money at stake, there’s some history of corruption. Michael’s patronage of soldiers has put his knights on good terms both with citizen levies and professional mercenaries. Inspired by Michael’s angelic nature, his knights are known for developing holy powers related to light and wind.
The Knights of St. Michael are loyal to the Vatican, largely out of a love of stability and order. They are sometimes rivals, sometimes allies of the Knights Templar, whose banks compete with, but do business with, the banks of northern Italy. The Knights of the Golden Fleece respect the knights of Michael for their wealth, while the Knights of St. Martin look down on them for the same reason.

Saint Peter, Guardians of the Holy Father.
Symbol: Crossed keys.
The Knights of Saint Peter (Milites Sancti Petri) were founded by Pope Leo IX in 1053. The knights are guardians of Rome, and of the papacy. Generous donations from the pious ensure that they are a wealthy order.
Peter is patron of fishermen, net makers and shipbuilders. This has inspired his knights in a number of ways. They are known for developing martial holy abilities that involve snaring and entrapment. They involve themselves in the matrices of politics, all the better to defend the papacy, and try to catch the pope’s enemies. Strangest of all, some have used Peter’s affinity for ships as grounds to toy with the barriers between worlds.
The knights of St. Peter are fanatically loyal to the Vatican, though they also have influence over it, and in 1418, ended the Western Schism in the church by deposing one pope to install another. They are on icy terms with those knightly orders who have grown large enough to prefer their own authority to that of the pope, especially the knights of Andrew, George and Maurice.