Abbatia is a kingdom on the edge of nothing. Constant threats present themselves to travelers, and even townsfolk, throughout the realm. To lessen the potential devastation created by humanoids, Barathian raids, etc. The King maintains a large body of soldiers, three orders of knights, and also mandates the maintenance of provincial and local militas. The major bodies of soldiers and knights are described below.
The Knights of the Pillar: Paladins of Tyr (AKA. Knights of the Hand)
The Knights of the pillar are followers of the northman god Tyr. Their membership is open to members of both genders and all races. They have established two strongholds, one at the stone pillars that mark the northern boundaries of Abbatia and one along the eastern edge of the kingdom near where the plains give way to the desert. They patrol the roads of the kingdom primarily in those areas, meting out the king’s justice, clearing the roads and fields of danger, maintaining village and roadside shrines and arbitrating disputes.
Knights of the Hand are all empowered by the King of Abbatia to deliver justice and are known for doing so. They are the most likely both to hand down a death sentence and to execute it on the spot. Their sense of justice and honor is unswerving and justly feared by bandits throughout their home range. They usually travel in groups of 2 to three knights, each accompanied by a squire.
Knights of the Hand are predominantly left handed, in tribute to their patron Diety. All wear a black glove or gauntlet on their left hand at all times, to symbolize the sacrifices that must sometimes be made in the name of justice. Knights commonly ride light war horses and are protected by splint armor and meduim shields. Knights wield either long swords or flails. Squires are also mounted on light war horses but wear brigandine armor and carry small shields, spears, and long swords. Occasionally, Knights of the hand will carry javelins or light crossbows for ranged attack, but many consider this vaguely dishonorable.
Knights of the Star: Paladins of Ceria (aka. Moonslayers)
The Moonslayers are an exclusively female order dedicated to the Goddess Ciria (Goddess of the moon, dreams, sleep, and fortune). They patrol the roads and cities of Abbatia exclusively at night, traveling in groups of 2 to 6 on foot or by horse as fortune dictates. They have been extended the right to enforce the King’s Justice, but only when there is no reasonable way to bring an offender before the king or a Knight of the Crown. More than one bandit ambush has been sprung on a group of riders traveling late only to turn into a slaughter when the Moonslayers revealed themselves.
The Knights of the Star follow no set code of honor, prefering to allow common sense to dictate how they do good. This means that legal loopholes will rarely find any place with these women, yet pleas for mercy will find fertile ground, if the accused is truly a victim of circumstance. Knights of the Star have no squires, instead there are Maiden and Dame Knights the former being the younger, and less experienced.
Knights of the Star are most often armored in chainmail covered in breastplates and kilts reminiscent of Imperial soldiers. They carry curved scimitars, bolas, daggers and small shields. Knights Maiden will also carry a sling while Knights Dame will carry short bows. The Moonslayers are an austere and charitable group and are normally found on foot, though sometimes, when funds permit, they will purchase mounts for riding. They never fight from horseback.
In addition to these holy warriors, Abbatia also supports a body of Knights loyal to the king alone. Additionally, each provice is empowered to maintain a vicountal guard to maintain order in the region...
Knights of the Crown (aka. Kingsmen)
Exclusively Male, the King’s Men patrol the roads of Abbatia doing good where they can and dispensing the King’s Justice where needed. Each knight is accompanied by as many as 10 squires and 20 servants, making their presence conspicuous. Though they are empowered to demand aid from any citizen of Abbatia, they will only do so in dire need, preferring to pay for themselves and their retainers wherever possible. In some cases, 2 to 4 knights will travel together, often trailing a sizeable baggage train. This is an exception, however, as most knights will only keep 2 or 3 squires and an equal number of servants.
The Kingsmen adhere to a chivalric code of honor and will deal with others on the basis of that code. One proviso of their code, however, allows them to bypass the requirements of chivalry if facing an opponent who has themselves already broken the code. While the King’s Knights have the power to declare a death sentence in criminal proceedings, they prefer to refer such cases to the King’s Judgement when possible.
Knights of the crown are mounted on heavy war horses and carry heavy lances, medium shields, horseman’s maces, daggers and javelins. They are armored in field plate, often magical, while their horses wear leather barding, though only in battle. When traveling, they will usually only wear chainmail over padding for comfort. Squires ride light war horses and carry horseman’s maces, javelins, light lances and daggers. Squires will be equipped with chain or leather armor depending on the knight they serve. Members of the baggage train will most often carry staves, spears, or short swords in addition to short bows or slings and be armored in padding if at all.
Vicountal Guards
Each local Vicount is empowered to retain a body of men to help keep the peace in his or her province as well as to support the king in times of war. The nature and composition of these noble guards varies from township to township as do the guards’ duties. Some act like undertrained, ill equipped knights while others hearken back to Imperial traditions, forming elite infantry units who not only fight but also take part in civic projects and disaster relief. Vicountal Guards are included in the disussion of each of the provices.
City Militas
Every town of any size has at least a poorly trained milita. The milita is responsible for keeping order and for forming the first line of defense against humanoids and upstart warlords. Their training and equipment vary from city to city. All local militas are also responsible for policing outlying towns that are not able to raise a milita of their own.
Abbatia's varied religions
Overview of Abbatia