The Order of Silver Knights

The Order of Silver Knights is not your typical Knightly organization. It is a group of wizards who band together to share information, for companionship, to influence world events, and to stand against the machinations of Morgonth. The Order is ancient, it's beginnings going back certainly to the last age, and perhaps farther back than that. It's origins are certainly lost in antiquity, though the information may still be known to the Order itself. If it is, they don't share.

It is also unknown currently how many members the Order has. Though certainly their fastness, The Tower of the Ages, could house at least 8,000, it is doubtful there are this many presently. Like all things in the world, the Order is in decline despite their ongoing testing and recruiting/training efforts.

The Order is shrouded in mystery, and its inner workings are not commonly known amongst the populace. Its leadership is elected by a council of representatives of each faction of knights, though how many factions there are, and their specific beliefs and functions are not cataloged here.

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The Tower of the Ages

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What is commonly known is that there is a recruiting arm and a diplomatic arm, a militaristic arm, and an information gathering arm. These different arms of the Order take their marching orders from the acting head of the Order, at least in theory, as almost certainly they each have their own leadership structures.

It is common knowledge that there is a diplomatic envoy from the Order to each of the kingdoms of the South. (The lands of men and elves, who are free and Oppose Morgonth). Some places are on more friendly terms with the Order than others though, so these envoys could be little more than persons with no real influence, all the way up to actual advisers and councilors to Rulers.

The militaristic arm, has rarely in recorded history acted as one unit in a battle. They tend to spread out, as single Wizards or small teams, to the standing armies and navies of the world. Acting as advisers, and magical firepower as needed. Sometimes several teams at once will be dispatched to a 'hot spot' to quell a difficult problem, or counter an incursion of the creatures of The Enemy.

The recruiting arm is self explanatory, responsible for moving town to town, testing the young to find those with an aptitude, negotiating with their guardians, and convincing them to come to the tower for education and training. It is thought that the recruiting arm is also responsible for all training and education. While it is not confirmed, most people think these traveling recruiters also work for the information gathering arm of the Order.

The information gathering arm is the eyes and ears of the Order. The use of homing pigeons and secret codes is their stock in trade, and they also recruit others to watch for them. Their effectiveness is unknown to the world at large, but it is certain that they try to keep their agents watching the crossroads and capitol cities at least. Some believe that every inn has someone listening for the Order, and every King has an ear of the Order amongst his servants. While this is surely an exaggeration, how close it is to truth, is unknown.

The Order of Silver Knights is widely disliked and feared amongst the general populace, these days. Fairly, or unfairly, they bear the blame for a lot of the worlds current ills. Since The Breaking, many have blamed them for the cataclysm, as it was their First Knight who caused it. Of course, not everyone dislikes them and even those that do will generally show them some respect, if only out of fear of "being turned into a newt."