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.

[Greg 1]

The Sword and the Cross: Post 4

Clerical Orders

If the knightly orders directly dominate politics, it’s the clerical monastic and mendicant orders who dominate the way people think, and the way they view their duties to God. The seven independent orders are the orders of St. Augustine (Augustinians), St. Benedict (Benedictines), St. Benedict again (Cistercians), the Blessed Virgin (Carmelites), St. Dominic (Dominicans), St. Francis (Franciscans) and St. Norbert (Norbertines).
Intellectual life is both driven and restricted by the clergy. The bulk of academic work in Europe, outside of training for a career in medicine or law, is undertaken by monks and friars, working in monasteries or at one of Europe’s universities or cathedral schools. This applies especially to magic, which the church does not wish to see in the hands of layfolk. The most academically important orders are the Augustinians, Benedictines, Dominicans, and Franciscans.

St. Augustine
Symbol: Flaming heart pierced by an arrow on the background of an open book.
The Augustinians were founded in 1244, with a focus on community life and pastoral work. They have a strong presence in urban areas and in academia. They have contributed a great deal to European education, theology and philosophy, fusing Christian and pagan Greek ideas. A few have even succumbed to the temptation of paganism, much to the order’s shame. Saint Augustine is patron of brewers, printers, theologians, and philosophers. While Augustinians have wide-ranging academic magical interests, they are known for producing magical potions and prints.
Agustine’s origin as a pagan Roman of North Africa has influenced both the order’s academic work, and their political leanings. They have collected a considerable number of Roman and Neo-Platonic Greek texts and have a scholarly interest in the pagan traditions of Rome and North Africa. Politically, they tend to favor states with a history of both Roman and North African influence, mainly states in the South and South-West of Europe, such as the Italian cities, south France, Aragon, Castile and Portugal.
Doctrinal differences have led them to be academic rivals of the Franciscans, especially at the University of Paris, and to a lesser degree, the Dominicans, especially at Oxford. They are on good terms with the Carmelites, due to their shared dedication to serving the urban poor. The Cistercians tend to view the Augustinians as lax and self-indulgent.

St. Benedict of Nursia, Benedictines
Symbol: St. Benedict’s cross.
The oldest of the great monastic orders, the Benedictines were established in 529 by St. Benedict of Nursia. They are known for their motto “Ora et Labora” (Pray and Work). Monasteries are usually located in rural areas. As one of the oldest monastic orders, the Benedictines held vast tracts of land and wealth, making them powerful political players. Their abbots often acted as advisors to kings and nobles. They have a long tradition of scholarship, with many monasteries hosting libraries and schools.
The order has a particularly strong presence in eastern Europe compared to other monastic orders, and has done much to keep Hungary and Poland-Lithuania loyal to the Vatican. In general, they tend to favor the states of eastern Europe in political disputes. However, there have been tensions for centuries between the Benedictines and the Holy Roman emperors, who have no wish to be subject to the pope. Relationships with the Knights of St. Maurice, guardians of the Holy Roman Empire, are complicated, involving both admiration and resentment.
Over time, the Benedictines have followed the rule of St. Benedict less strictly, and have been accused of laxness. The Cistercians emerged as a reform movement within the Benedictine tradition in the 11th century, seeking to return to a stricter and more literal observance of the Rule of St. Benedict.
St. Benedict is called upon for protection against poison, inspiring his monks to study herbalism. He is called upon for protection against curses, inspiring his monks to study curses and the means by which they can be countered. Benedict is patron of agricultural workers and animal husbandry, leading his monks to often side with the peasants against the nobility. This has put them on good terms with the knights of St. Andrew, St. Anthony, St. George, and St. Martin.

St. Benedict, Cistercians
Symbol: Crane.
The Order of Cistercians was founded in Burgundy in 1098 by a group of Benedictine monks led by St. Robert of Molesme. Believing that the Benedictines had become too lax and worldly, the founding monks were seeking a return to a stricter observance of the Rule of St. Benedict, emphasizing manual labor and self-sufficiency. They are named after their first abbey at Cîteaux in Burgundy. Their patron saint is St. Benedict, like the Benedictines.
Cistercians are known for their austere lifestyle, dedication to agricultural work, and distinctive white habits, which earned them the nickname "White Monks". Despite their individual poverty, their large agricultural estates have made them likely the richest order in Christendom. While Cistercians rarely involve themselves with the universities or cathedral schools, some have been accomplished scholars, and many monasteries contain extensive libraries. The tendency for monasteries to isolate themselves has lead some to be eccentric in their scholarship.
There have always been tensions between the Benedictines and Cistercians, born of Cistercian criticism of Benedictine laxness. Other monks tend to react to Cistercians depending on how they feel about laxness in general, and how they feel about the Benedictines. Cistercians might be held up as an object lesson in what monks should be or looked down on as simplistic.
Their presence is strongest in Burgundy, France, England, and the Holy Roman Empire, though they have only limited presence any further east. They tend to favor these states in political disputes, especially Burgundy where they originated. The Knights Templar have their roots in the Cistercian movement, and their patron saint, Bernard, was a Cistercian. Templars and Cistercians have traditionally supported one another. Like the Benedictines, Cistercians tend to sympathize with agricultural workers and peasants, which can strain relations with the rich and powerful, but has made them friendly with the knights of St. Andrew, St. Anthony, St. George, and St. Martin.

[Ramidel]

Interesting.

I imagine that universities then have a somewhat uncomfortable place in Christendom, as students are clergy and thus permitted to study magic, but also...well, shockingly secular.

As for the Mongols, historically they were an extremely tolerant paganism before Islam got ahold of them. The Golden Horde might continue to be a mix of Tengriists and Buddhists who comfortably rule over the Russian princes? They still have functional magic and have not unleashed Hell, but they are still in terminal decline as their sub-khanates break off and the Russian princes start getting ideas.

[Greg 1]

Originally Posted by Ramidel

I imagine that universities then have a somewhat uncomfortable place in Christendom, as students are clergy and thus permitted to study magic, but also...well, shockingly secular.

Clergy dominate the study of magic, but it's still heavily restricted. I should definitely add more detail about the access you can get without going into the church.

As for the Mongols, historically they were an extremely tolerant paganism before Islam got ahold of them.

To keep the setting themes consistent, I have to make sure that I keep paganism scary in a way that Islam isn't. Muslims worship the same God as Christians, and it's the right god. Those other gods though...

The Golden Horde might continue to be a mix of Tengriists and Buddhists who comfortably rule over the Russian princes?

As I understand it, they were largely Muslim by 1455. But yes, I suppose they are still shaking down Christians for a few years yet.

[Varyon]

Originally Posted by Ramidel

I imagine that universities then have a somewhat uncomfortable place in Christendom, as students are clergy and thus permitted to study magic, but also...well, shockingly secular.

Universities were originally religious institutions of learning. Their secularization is a more recent phenomenon (although it's recent roughly in the same sense the United States of America as a nation is a recent development in world history). The time period of the setting matches up with them still being firmly religious in nature (and the nature of the setting leaves them less likely to become secular than in our own world, I believe).

[Ramidel]

Originally Posted by Varyon

Universities were originally religious institutions of learning. Their secularization is a more recent phenomenon (although it's recent roughly in the same sense the United States of America as a nation is a recent development in world history). The time period of the setting matches up with them still being firmly religious in nature (and the nature of the setting leaves them less likely to become secular than in our own world, I believe).

What I meant by "shockingly secular" is that university students are not known for their piety. They're clergy, but they were known for abusing clerical Legal Immunity to get away with unruly behavior because nobody really tried to control them. Drinking, dueling and all sorts of debauchery. Now add the question of learning magic by virtue of being clerics.

[Varyon]

Originally Posted by Ramidel

What I meant by "shockingly secular" is that university students are not known for their piety. They're clergy, but they were known for abusing clerical Legal Immunity to get away with unruly behavior because nobody really tried to control them. Drinking, dueling and all sorts of debauchery. Now add the question of learning magic by virtue of being clerics.

Oh. Yeah, those seem like the last people you want to give access to magic. Particularly if pagan magic seems to be easier/more powerful than Christian magic, as has previously been implied - those seem like the type who would experiment with paganism to enhance their magic and wind up overrunning the university with monsters. So maybe the Church in this setting are a lot more careful with who they let into their universities, and/or are a lot stricter on them.

Then again, a university that has suddenly been overrun by monsters is just begging for the intervention of some intrepid adventurers, so it's a ready-made plothook. For more subtle campaigns, maybe there have been some monster sightings/encounters in town and the investigation leads the party to the university, where a secret cabal has been experimenting with forbidden, pagan magic. There's plenty you could do with this.

[Greg 1]

Originally Posted by Varyon

Oh. Yeah, those seem like the last people you want to give access to magic...So maybe the Church in this setting are a lot more careful with who they let into their universities, and/or are a lot stricter on them.

I should definitely write more about the way the universities operate.

I'm imagining them being very strict about who can study magic and what they can learn.

Then again, a university that has suddenly been overrun by monsters is just begging for the intervention of some intrepid adventurers, so it's a ready-made plothook. For more subtle campaigns, maybe there have been some monster sightings/encounters in town and the investigation leads the party to the university, where a secret cabal has been experimenting with forbidden, pagan magic. There's plenty you could do with this.

Yes indeed! :) There are lots of rules governing who can study magic and what they can study, but rules were made to be broken.

[Greg 1]

The Sword and the Cross: Post 5

The Blessed Virgin
Symbol: Cloaked shield.
The Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, better known as the “Carmelites”, was founded on Mt. Carmel in the Holy Land in the late 12th century. The Carmelites emphasize contemplative prayer, community life, and devotion to the Virgin Mary. Their spirituality is deeply rooted in the mystical tradition. The Carmelites contribute to theological education and are involved in the intellectual life of the Church, with notable scholars among their ranks.
Carmelites have on occasion had rivalries with the Dominicans over preaching rights and influence in urban centers. On the other hand, they tend to be on good terms with the Franciscans, as both tend to urban poor. The Carmelites are one of two major religious orders devoted to the Virgin, the other being the Teutonic Knights. Though the orders have no shared history, this has given them a common bond, and they have often helped or defended one another. This, in turn, has caused tension between the Carmelites and Poland-Lithuania, along with their guardians, the Knights of St. Stanislaus.

St. Dominic
Symbol: Lily cross.
The Dominican Order, also known as the Order of Preachers (Ordo Prædicatorum), was founded by St. Dominic de Guzmán, a Castilian priest, in 1216. St. Dominic established the order to preach and combat heresy. They have often been involved in inquisitions. Over time, they have increasingly contributed teaching and academia. They have a significant presence in universities and cathedral schools and are known for producing influential theologians and philosophers, including Saint Thomas Aquinas and Saint Albertus Magnus. They are unique in the way that they combine a commitment to scholarly study with active ministry, emphasizing both intellectual rigor and pastoral care. They have been influential in reintroducing pagan Greek ideas to intellectual life, much to the horror of some. Dominicans and Franciscans in academia have clashed over the Dominican’s openness to pagan ideas, with tensions especially high at the University of Paris. Their inquisitional work has given them much opportunity to collect restricted texts, including heretical or blasphemous works.
The Dominicans role in inquisition and theological education gives them significant political influence. They tend to favor the states of the Iberian peninsula, especially Castile, origin of St. Dominic. They seek the promotion of universities and cathedral schools and the suppression of heresy.

St. Francis
Symbol: Tau cross.
The Franciscans were established by St. Francis of Assisi in 1209. The order emphasizes poverty, simplicity and humility, and devotes itself to preaching, pastoral care, education and scholarship. They are known for their compassion to the poor, and their love of animals and nature. They are highly involved in academia and the order has produced famous scholars like Duns Scotus and Roger Bacon. They are particularly liable to study magic related to healing, animals and plants.
The poverty of the Franciscans has not prevented them from having political influence and involving themselves in political matters, particularly in Italy. They are known for mediating conflicts and advising rulers. Some have been known to be biased towards Italian interests. They have been critical of the openness some academics have shown to pagan ideas. This has brought them into conflict with the Augustinians and especially the Dominicans, especially at the University of Paris.

St. Norbert
Symbol: Crossed crooks.
The Norbertines, also known as the monks of St. Nobert, or the Premonstratensian Order, were founded in 1120 by St. Norbert of Xanten in Prémontré, France, and strictly follows the Rule of St. Augustine. Norbertines are canons regular, meaning they live a communal life dedicated to prayer, the celebration of the Eucharist, and pastoral work. They combat heresy, revitalize the faith of the laity, and promote peace and reconciliation among enemies. The order played a key role in the Christianization of regions around the Elbe and Oder rivers.
St. Norbert founded the Norbertine Order on principles of love, selfless sharing, and radical hospitality. This meant that their abbeys are often centers of refuge and support for the poor and travelers. Many have advocated for the poverty of the clergy, bringing them into conflict with not only other orders, but the Vatican itself. Since they follow the Rule of St. Augustine more strictly than most Augustinian monks, the tend to look down on the Augustinians as lax and worldly. Founded in France, the Norbetines are disposed toward the French, and many are indignant that Prémontré has been in Burgundian hands since 1435. The order has spread widely, and while its presence is not strong in Italy and Spain, Norbert is revered in Eastern Europe and is patron saint of Bohemia. The Bohemian monarchy has long been a particular patron of the order, inclining the Norbertines towards Bohemia.

[Greg 1]

The Sword and the Cross: Post 6

Other Orders by Region

Aragon

The Knights of St. George are Guardians of Aragon.

St. Cyprian
Symbol: Bishop's miter and staff.
The monastery of the Order of St. Cyprian is in Catalonia, near Barcelona. St. Cyprian of Antioch (c. 3rd century) was a sorcerer before converting to Christianity, and his monks study wizardry and the means by which it can be countered. They are highly secretive about their studies, knowing well the dangers of magic.

Bohemia

Bohemia, under Duke Ladislaus the Posthumous, is subject to the Holy Roman Empire.

St. Wenceslaus
Symbol: Crown of Wenceslaus.
The Knights of St. Wenceslaus are guardians of Bohemia. Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia, is celebrated for his piety, efforts to promote Christianity, and his dedication to the welfare of his people. He’s remembered as “Good King Wenceslaus”. His greatest enemies were pagans and his knights are keen to root out traces of paganism.
It is said that at the Battle of Chlumec in 1126, Wenceslaus appeared in the sky, riding a white horse and wielding a flaming sword, rallying the outnumbered Bohemians to defeat the forces of the King of Germany. Wenceslaus’ knights are known for developing holy powers related to flame. They resent the Knights of St. Maurice for supporting the dominating power of the Holt Roman Empire.

St. Barbara
Symbol: Tower with three windows.
The Sisters of St. Barbara are neither a military nor an academic order, but they have military and academic importance. Barbara is patron of mathematicians, armorers and artillerymen. The sisters collect texts on all of these subjects and study the theory as part of their devotion to the saint. They have often advised agents of the crown, supporting the success of the Hussite war machine. While women may not be academics, they are permitted at the universities, and the mathematical excellence of the sisters makes them sought after by other mathematicians. Their magical researches into mathematics can lead to strange effects on space and time. They maintain an abbey near Holašovice.

St. Christopher
Symbol: Man with child on his shoulders.
The friars of St. Christopher maintain a friary in Prague, but travel extensively. They offer hospitality and protection to pilgrims and other travelers. Christopher is patron saint of travelers, and his monks have studied a variety of magics to aid traveler safety. Some have experimented with opening portals to other realms.

St. Vitus
Symbol: Rooster.
The monks of St. Vitus maintain a monastery near Pilsen. Vitus is patron of dancers and those with epilepsy, leading his monks to make a study of the human body, particularly the muscle system. Some have developed extraordinary physical abilities and their skill in unarmed combat is famous.

Burgundian Netherlands

This part of the Netherlands is in the possession of Burgundy.

St. Christina the Astonishing
Symbol: Shackles.
The Sisters of St. Christina the Astonishing occupy an abbey near the town of Sint-Truiden. Christina’s life was marked by severe asceticism and self-mortification, an example followed by her nuns. Christina’s miraculous return from the dead to describe the terrifying she had seen on the other side inspires her nuns to study death and necromancy.

St. Dymphna
Symbol: Sword and lamp.
St. Dymphna is patron saint of those afflicted by madness. Her nuns maintain an abbey near the town of Geel, where they study madness and the means by which it can be cured. They also tend to a number of patients who are housed at the abbey. It goes without saying that some of the results of their studies have been strange indeed.

Burgundy

The Knights of St. Andrew are guardians of Burgundy.

St. Gideon, Knights of The Golden Fleece
Symbol: Golden Fleece.
The Order of the Golden Fleece was established 25 years ago in 1430, by Duke Philip the Good of Burgundy. Philip created them to serve as a counter to the power of the Knights of St. Andrew, guardians of Burgundy. While the fleece in the order’s name officially refers to the fleece of the prophet Gideon, associated with signs from God, the knights also associate themselves with the pagan Greek hero Jason who quested for the golden fleece of the ram Chrysomallos. The Knights of the Golden Fleece are known for developing powers inspired by pagan mythology, causing some criticism and suspicion.
The Knights of the Golden Fleece revel in luxuries and displays of wealth but are nevertheless an exclusive and elite fighting force. Not lacking in courage, they can tend to be glory hounds. Philip finds them much easier to work with than the Knights of St. Andrew, who are too concerned with defending ordinary people.
The Knights of the Golden Fleece are passionately loyal to the papacy, to Burgundy, and to Philip. They wish to temper the power of the Knights of St. Andrew, but not when doing to will endanger Burgundy, which Andrew’s knights guard. They hope to one day be strong enough to replace the Knights of St. Andrew as Burgundy’s guardian order.

Castile

St. Aemilian
Symbol: Banner and sword.
The Knights of St. Aemilian are the guardians of the Kingdom of Castile. They are engaged in driving away the monsters from Granada, that it can be a Christian kingdom once again. Standing in the tradition of the Cid, the knights of Castile have long regarded themselves as the epitome of chivalric excellence, and the Knights of Aemilian see themselves as the cream of the crop. They are known for developing holy powers that augment their knightly skills, all the better to show that they are the perfect knights.
The order is loyal to the Vatican, partly because of contact with terrifying forces from beyond Christendom, and partly because their commitment to knightly perfection makes any appearance of disloyalty unthinkable. Founded to aid the reconquest, they promote aggression against pagan forces wherever possible. As guardians of Castile, they are rivals of the Order of St. George, who guard Aragon, and the Order of Anthony, who guard Portugal.

St. Raymond, Order of Calatrava
Symbol: Red Greek cross with fleur-de-lis at its ends.
The Order of Calatrava, also known as the Knights of St. Raymond, and known colloquially as the “Fighting Cistercians”, was established in 1158 by King Sancho III of Castile, who granted the fortress of Calatrava to Raymond, abbot of the Cistercian monastery of Fitero. Initially created to defend the fortress against the Moors, it has become a significant force in the Christian Reconquista of Spain. It is closely affiliated with the Cistercian abbey of Morimond, which provides spiritual guidance. They are known for developing holy powers related to prayerful meditation.
Above all else, the order seeks to promote the interests of the Cistercian order, and only after that, the interests of Castile. It also dedicates itself to driving the monsters from Granada, that it may be a Christian land once again. They are loyal to the Vatican, as the Cistercians teach them to be.

St. Jerome
Symbol: Lion.
The Hieronymites, also known as the Order of Saint Jerome (Latin: Ordo Sancti Hieronymi) were founded in the late 14th century at Valdeverdeja, near Toledo. Just as Jerome was a translator and Biblical scholar, so his monks store and translate texts. They possess numerous very rare books.

St. Raphael
Symbol: Staff and fish.
The friars of Raphael occupy a friary and hospital in Córdoba, though they travel extensively. Raphael is patron of travelers and healers and his monks offer help and healing to visitors and the sick. They are famed for medical skill, and many have studied magic related to healing or the protection of travelers. They are on good terms with the monks of St. Christopher, who also protect travelers, and friars of the two orders will often visit the other.

Denmark

St. Canute
Symbol: Three crowned blue lions.
The Knights of St. Canute are guardians of Denmark and are almost all Danish. Canute’s status as patron of brewers has inspired some wealthy knights to invest in breweries, producing ale that’s often said to be the best in the world. According to folktales, it’s even sought out by elves and trolls. They find the courage of their Viking ancestors inspirational, and are known for developing holy abilities similar to the abilities of berserkers.
The Knights are loyal to Denmark and to King Christian I. They would like to see the Vatican have less control in Danish matters. As guardians of Denmark, the Knights of St. Canute are rivals of the Knights of St Maurice, guardians of the Holy Roman Empire, and the Knights of St. Stanislaus, guardians of Poland-Lithuania. They also have traditional rivalries with the Knights of St. Andrew, guardians of Scotland; Edmund, once guardians of England; Patrick, guardians of Scotland; and Olaf, guardians of Norway.