Templars of the Geminate Beacons

The Templars of the Geminate Beacons, or the Lantern Knights as they're called colloquially, are a chivalric order of knights with deep ties to Diptism, Church of the Sun and Moon. Effectively, the Templars act as the military of the Church.   In ancient times, after the The Kingdom of Tyvald had been established long enough that the King's own forces began to dwindle, the Templars became the most powerful military organization within human lands, and were largely responsible for the expansion of human lands north into Cape Fortuity and beyond The Bight. Wars between the Templars and militaries of the Fleissland houses and the elves of The Holy Viridian Sovereignty showed their dominance through heavily armored knights that had been well equipped, well trained, and well led by seasoned commanders. In fact, fear by non-human neighbors of The Kingdom of Tyvald of unchecked Templar militancy and expansionism was one of the driving factors behind the creation of The Pious Union of the Awakened, which saw the power of the Templars wane considerably. For centuries, the Lantern Knights dwindled in number and position as peace within The Union led to a decreased role and waning recruitment.   However, since news of the Great War reached The Union, Templar numbers and influence have both increased. Many see them as a necessary evil - a vital part of the inevitable defense of The Union from either The Verum Imperium, The Kingdom of Zelaya, or both, as the likelihood of war spilling over to this side of the Tychi Sea increases. Templar ships patrol the waters of the eastern Tychi Sea, and increasing numbers have been seen in the southern regions near The Border Forts. While The Concordant Piety, having no military arm, has been raising funds to pay mercenaries to defend the border, vast funds have been pouring through the Church of the Sun and Moon to build up Templar defenses in the region. The move is political as it is practical; while border security is a real concern, many within The Kingdom of Tyvald see the defense of The Pious Union of the Awakened by human Templars as a power move that will increase the influence of Tyvald, the Church, and the Templars all at once.   The current High Templar is Ambrose Hale, based out of the Twice-Illuminated Bastion in Vyberg.