The Official Roll of the Praiseworthy Peerages of the Church of Westrun and All Erenth

Paladins in Erenth serve the Church and are bound to a specific Prefect when they are first knighted. But after demonstrating faithful service, they may also be invited to join a Peerage, and having been released by their Prefect to do so, must swear a new oath to that brotherhood.

Once that oath is sworn, the Paladin's loyalty is to his Peerage. This loyalty will transcend his previous commitments to Church and crown, house and spouse. The only things he holds above that loyalty is his personal commitment to piety and the precepts of Law and Goodness.

After joining a peerage, in addition to the regular tithe that the Paladin pays the Church, he also tithes to his order.

Under Canon Law, there are never more than 12 paladin members of any of these mysterious orders and each of them may have a cleric chaplain pledged to it, as well. When you consider that each paladin usually has a squire or page, who is also sworn to that organization, this fixes their maximum number at 25 members.

• Peers of Brede,
  commonly called The Judges Guild
  
• Order of Penitent Knights of Poverty,
  commonly called The Oxmen
  
• Noble and Seeking Peers of Randolus,
  commonly called The Seekers
  
• Order of Watchmen and Guards Upon the Marches,
  commonly called The Guardians
  
• Holy Order of the Sword and Rose,
  commonly called The Ruskin
  
• Order of the Dawn,
  commonly called The Greenmen
  
• Pious and Impoverished Sons of Charity,
  commonly called The Protectors
  
• Sworn Brothers of the Canon,
  commonly called The Brown Brothers
  
• Avenging Knights of the Inscribed Hearts,
  commonly called The Red Avengers
• Holy Order of the White Dove,
  not yet known commonly by another name.

Avenging Knights of the Inscribed Hearts

The Chapel of this Peerage is in the city of Rath in the kingdom of the same name.

The Avenging Knights exist to mete justice to those who have unrighteously killed Priests and Consecrated Women, as well the Poor, the Widowed, the Orphaned, and unguarded, unarmed members of the faith. They will also seek vengeance on those who damage church property or make target of holy buildings.

The Red Avengers keep the One-score rule:

1. We will first obey whatsoever is lawful and good.
2. We will wear foremost the armor of obedience to the Order.
3. We will be armed foremost with the sword of divine judgment.
4. We will recognize our charges as these: the poor, widows, orphans, churches and clerics.
5. We will not own more than two steeds.
6. We will keep no pet nor patron nor paramour.
7. We will adorn ourselves with no ornament beyond the red ink of our inscribed hearts.
8. We will occupy ourselves with no reading beyond the Canons.
9. We will divert ourselves with no games of chance beyond the risk of death in battle.
10. We will practice no trade nor skill save the preparation of war.
11. We will not drink except it be water or medicine or the ceremonial wine.
12. We will never speak poorly of a charge, nor permit a man to do so unchallenged.
13. We will take no children as squires for they cannot be protected if led into harm.
14. We will each sponsor a pauper person with our wealth.
15. We will each sponsor a widow with our wealth.
16. We will each sponsor an orphan with our wealth.
17. We will each sponsor a church with our wealth.
18. We will each sponsor a cleric with our wealth.
19. We will eat no more than what is necessary to heal and live.
20. We will be found in a church or holy place each Sunsday.

The symbol of the Peerage is a ring of thorns dipped in blood.