The Dragon Knights

The Knights of the Silver Dragon, otherwise known as The Dragon Knights are a monastic and military order based around a number of keeps granted to them throughout the region, though namely out of Dragonheart Keep. The land that they occupy is their own and they act independently of the lords that otherwise entirely surround their small enclaves. Although they make sure to appease these lords so that they do not have the lands revoked.

Actions & Duties
The Knights actions and duties depend on what local lords allow them to do. During times of war they act as supplementary forces to local lord's armies, typically as commanders although during times of war or strife they are often pressed into regular service in slightly higher ranks than is typical. Since their founding the Dragon Knights have been involved in a number of struggles to keep hold of their lands and have often been forced to perform work for lords that is typically not for those of their station.

In peace however the Dragon Knights typically act as advisors, fire fighters, investigators, healers, information archivers, and scouts for local lords, themselves, or for anybody in need of the above. The Dragon Knights often keep a detachment inside particularly troubled, in-danger, or highly magical settlements to ensure that people are safe from both monsters and adventurers looking to deal with said monsters. Waypoint in particular was one settlement that they kept a number of individuals at, namely Knight-Investigator Daven, who was murdered by a Mind Flayer, Knight-Archivist Talin, and Knight-Martinet Alofrit however they were pulled out of town by Alofrit after he was insulted by some adventurers, much to the dismay of Talin.

History
The Dragon Knights were founded many centuries ago as a religious order devoted to a Dragon God known only as The Silver Dragon, its members are forbidden from saying or writing its actual name and thus its name has fallen into obscurity. The original purpose of the order was simply worship and protecting those who would need it, they do not discriminate between those that follow their faith and others and simply want to protect as many lives as possible. The order has come quite far from their original roots, most do not even worship The Silver Dragon anymore and only the oldest of Elves could tell you what the order did in its early days. It is known however that the order was started by a group of Knights in Dragonheart Keep, They declared independence from their local lord and were set to fight a bloody battle with him before a missionary from the order begged and pleaded with the noble to understand their reasoning. So swayed was he that he converted to their faith, gave them most of his keeps, abdicated his throne and joined them as their Grandmaster, Since these days of legend the Dragon Knights have waxed and waned in power, occasionally being granted a keep occasionally having one seized, though the last few centuries have not been kind to the order.

The Manticore War
There are numerous examples of times when the Dragon Knights have almost been obliterated by both monsters and nobles. The time when the Order came closest to extinction though was just over a century ago during the Manticore War. Where a local lord, threatening to completely abolish the order if the Dragon Knights did not serve him in his war against his rival, conscripted nearly the entire order into his army. The Manticore War saw the order sustain heavy casualties, nearly eighty percent of the order died in combat, with over half of those casualties being sustained in one battle, The Battle of Red Rain, where Manticores under control of the enemy threw the Knights off cliffs to their doom. The order is still yet to recover completely, and people are too afraid to rejoin the order for the fear that it may happen again.

Knight
The most basic rank that all Dragon Knights have been at some point. It lacks any specialization but is extremely important to the order as the face of the order to the general public. Known knights include:


 * Knight Norixius Torinn
 * Knight Andromedus†
 * Knight Leo†
 * Knight Magellenic†
 * Knight Olympian†
 * Knight Titan†
 * Knight Trian†
 * Knight ??? (Partially transformed into a Mind Flayer, calls itself Knight but that might not be its actual rank)
 * Knight Otlehmeztli Talash (Known only from records up to a decade old)
 * Knight Wulfard (Unknown rank)
 * Numerous Knights killed in Gandolan.
 * Numerous Knight killed in Wings Keep

Knight-Archivist
Knight-Archivists are a relatively high up rank in the Order, in the Specialization of Organisational Knights within the Shrewdness Doctrine of the order. Knight-Archivists perform many functions but their most key is storing information for historical records and keeping dangerous magical items... or beings under lock and key to be studied. Known Knight-Archivists include:


 * Knight-Archivist Talin (retired)
 * Knight-Archivist Callous†

Knight-Investigator
Knight-Investigators share the same specializations as the above rank, but are two ranks above it. They deal with mostly investigating murders, strange traces of magic, and capturing magical monstrosities. They're extremely knowledgeable about the arcane world but rarely have the ability to perform magic themselves. They often serve in advisory roles to mayors or barons. Known Knight-Investigators include:


 * Knight-Investigator Daven†

Knight-Martinet
Knight-Martinets are high ranking members of the specialization Organisational Knights, and the Strategy Doctrine of the order. They handle discipline, carrying out a role similar to Military Police within the order. Nothing escapes their scrutiny, they are often intimidating, nitpicky, and tough. If you were to be wearing your medals wrong you'd be spitting in their face. Their usual tasks include ensuring that discipline is maintained amongst Knights, planning routines for order members, determining what skills are important to train and who should work where. Known Knight-Martinets include:


 * Last Martinet Promoted.

Knight-Dictator
Knight-Dictators are the highest ranking members of the specialization Organisational Knights, that follow the Strategy Doctrine. They handle regimenting, control military police of several keeps, and control supply lines for active combat. They're often extremely vicious for even the slightest deviation from their set paths can lead to disaster. Crossing a Knight-Dictator is a good way to receive enough disciplinary exercise to last an Elves' lifetime.


 * Knight-Dictator Xaviri (Status Unknown, presumed dead due to last recorded existence being several centuries old.)
 * Knight-Dictator Alofrit Doulact†(Promoted from Knight-Martinet)

Knight-Marksman

The trackers and hunters of the Dragon Knights, armed with bows and occasionally rifles these dangerous ranged combatants are trained to use spells such as Hex in nonconventional ways, breaking the very foundations of the weave. They're often extremely ruthless or generous, with little to no in between.


 * Knight-Marksman Aldevi†

Knight-Occultist
Knight Occultists study the arcane and supernatural, and know that the best way to combat such things is to adopt them yourselves. They are often some of the most zealous members of the order, believing their faith their ultimate protection against evil.


 * Knight-Occultist Lysander

Speculatores

 * The head of the Cavalry in the order. The Speculatores are some of the best horsemen the world has ever.