The Knights of the Torr

Slogan: 'Let sleeping dogs lie.' (or something like that referencing Magian)

Introduction

The Knights of Amotorr are a semi-secret society or brotherhood within the Sanctuary of Amotorr. On the surface, they pose as a charity organisation operating within the, but are, in fact, guardians of a sacred series of caves: The Ouma Caves.

The beginnings of the brotherhood date back to when the the Druids were disbanded and persecuted following Thane Thingor Gremane's edicts. The Knights took over the sacred duties of guarding the Alviars' ancient site from the local druids who were responsible for its guardianship.

This is the time when Clan Hoershal gifted the Amorvale to the The Sanctuary.

The Amorvale Druids had left the Amotorr Tower fall into disrepair to hide the secret entrance to the caves and had settled in a nearby homestead on the outskirts of the nearby village of Benamor.

The homestead was raised to the ground by the local Hoershall clansmen (to please the new powers that be). The Druids were chased (or killed) from the area. Ruins of the extensive fortified farm (bastide) can still be seen in a place called 'Rootbinders' Keep'.

The Knights' number varies according to the times but is around 15. The number is kept low on purpose. The younger Knights are only privy to some of the brotherhood's secrets. Some are not initiated until much later in their career and dedicate themselves to the charitable actions of The Torr's Mercy.

The Knights come from all over Alven but principally from the north and eastern clans. The southern and western clans are usually deemed too politically involved to be cognisant of the dangerous secrets of the Alviars. Even the Holy Seer, himself, Lochan Stonesworn a southerner, is not aware of the sacred duties of the Knights and the Ouma Caves' secrets.

Organisation and Structure

Not all Knights make their allegiance to the brotherhood public. The only members fully visible within the Sanctuary are the leaders and the members of the Torr's Mercy.

Leaders

The leader of the brotherhood is Tide's former mentor, Woden Feldnor. Woden wanted Tide Moran to join the brotherhood, but he chose to take Flo's call and join Clan Derwilde and a new life in Farden (Tide, despite Woden's attention and care, had always felt marginal and out of place at Amotorr.)

Within the brotherhood, his title is 'Sentiwar' - an old world for guardian, but his title is kept secret from anyone else within Amotorr.

The Sentiwar is seconded by another two called Knight-Guardian. At the moment, the Knights-Guardians are:

- Knight-Guardian Avalis Foxhollow, a close collaborator to Woden.

- Knight-Guardian Galeon Branwynd. Galeon is Amottor's Ollam (most famous and decorated bard) and is secretly a high-ranking brotherhood member. His brash and superficial outlook on life is a front. Galeon is a poet and idealist who is totally committed to the cause.

Other Known Knights

Skolers are well-placed to mentor potential Knights as they look after fosterlings and truthseekers' education. Many Knights come from the Wisemen.


- Desker Creston Ferncairn is one of the newly sworn Knights. He is not aware of the caves' secrets but has dedicated himself to its guardianship under the influence of Woden Feldnor. Woden took a renewed interest in the young Desker when Tide left the sanctuary for Denholm House. His close relationship with Galatis Mielika Swanth complicates his duties to the Knights.

- Bard Featheryn Aldrige - Physically imposing and a peerless horsewoman, Featheryn is a Bard with strong ties to Galeon and Creston. She is also secretly part of the brotherhood. Her physicality and martial prowess make her a rarity within the sanctuary. She is also a very gifted singer.
Characters will see her hooded or masked but will recognise her - her physique and horsemanship set her apart.

Public and Hidden Agenda

Publicly, the Knights of Amotorr are a charitable organisation. They provide resources and services to the local community of the Amorvale.

- medical care (potions etc.)

- instruction and scribing (literacy)

- support in times of hardship (food, shelter etc.)

See article on The Torr's Mercy.

The Knights' duties also include an all-round watch over the Ouma Caves (done effectively but secretly) and the artefacts they contain:

- the Carnyx of Morgan

- the Cauldron of Don

... and, of course, its canine guardian, Hell's Cur Magian.

Duties also include being aware of what people know about Amotorr within the sanctuary such as watching the historical records in the Bookhoard (library), and the scientific output produced by the Seers at any time.
This is where being a Desker is useful. The ancient tomes mentioning or hinting at the caves and their treasures are kept securely in a unique tunnel of the cave.

Culture, beliefs, relationships

Alviars' Secrets

The Knights know that the artefacts they guard are ancient objects of power made by the the Ancestors or Alviars. In the past, these objects were said to have been gifted by the gods - why the names attached to them (Carnyx of Morgan, Cauldron of Dron etc.)
However, the Knights believe that the Alviars were in direct contact with the gods and the gods' powers still infuse in the artefacts.

The same is thought about the famous Powerrods or Rod of Power. The Caves did contain one Powerrod, but it was safely committed to The Repository when the Knights took over the guardianship of the Caves.

The Rod is called: Draigheari - the Blackthorn. According to Skolers, the wood it is made of is unknown in Alven: either it comes from another part of the world or a species that has now vanished. No one yet has wielded its runes, and it sits lifeless within the Arkivon's repository.

Peacekeepers

The Knights of the Torr see themselves as apolitical and peacekeepers of the Clanlands. As such, their link to the Sanctuary is second to their sacred duties. Happily, their allegiance to the organisation has never been questioned as the Ouma Caves are a well-kept secret.

The Knights are aware of the powers contained within the objects in their keep. In the hands of the proper rune wielder, they would become as powerful as any Powerrods.

Their mission is to keep the knowledge of such powerful magic away from the rest of Alven. The Knights do not trust either The Arkivon Article or the clans to handle such artefacts: Thane Gremane put a moratorium on the Powerrods of Alven but nothing is set in stone as regards the other power objects strewn among the Clanlands.

Powerful artefacts, in particular rings, have made their impact in recent history, and the Knights are well aware of what this would mean for the balance of power within Alven. See The Mersow Ring and The Plague Wars.

Story and Possible Leads

Flo and her party will stumble into the caves - by mistake? ... or when chased by assassins. The Assassins will be mauled by Magian who seems so docile before! Woden and another Knight (Creston or Featheryn, on duty that night) will catch up with the party before they get lost in the caves.

Woden will explain briefly what they have seen and swears them to silence: they become honorary knights, which pleases Tide's boyfriend immensely (Name? WTF?). F
eatheryn/Creston will then lead the party out of the Amorvale through the mountain?

Flo will need to convince Woden of her intentions: she lets him know about Myst's Powerrod and what it could mean for Alven and the upcoming The Frithlag.Flo's mission dovetails with the Knight's Beliefs ... etc.

Bonus: they are shown the beautiful library, the Knights' Bookhoard, and the secret Armory, called colloquially, 'the Chest' for warchest - Keeper Featheryn is very protective of the ancient tomes, but they might get a few nice weapons from the warchest before they leave.

Assets

The Knights' Bookhoard

As well as the Objects of Power under their guardianship, the Knights keep an ancient library - Creston and Featheryn are very attached and protective of it. Tomes that mention the Caves and any kind of Objects of Power are kept safe there, away from any treasure hunters or ambitious clansmen.

Secret Armoury or the Chest

The Knights also keep a well-stocked armoury. Seers are not usually allowed weapons on their person - which makes them less of a threat to other organisations such as the Arkivon (who usually underestimate Sanctuary Seers for that very reason, being primarily a martial outfit).

The Knights are an exception. They regularly train in the caves and are very good martial artists /cavaliers - in general. Their Guardian status implies they must be able to defend the caves if the times ever come physically.

History

Mentioned in the introduction. Maybe one more detail to add - where do they get their mission and precepts?
From their founder: Knight-Chosen Airel Brightsee. Airel wrote the secret seminal book: Peace in Alven, rhe hidden and sacred tome of the Knights - kept on a pedestal within the Knight's Bookhoard - details the duties and beliefs of the Knights of Amotorr.

The link between the Amotorr Druids and the Knight-Chosen is not very clear, but it is often thought that Airel Brightsee might be one of the discredited druids who chose to pledge allegiance to the new masters of Amorvale and become a Sanctuary Seer.