A History of the Order of the Knights of Stormwind (Part 1)

Brethren,

On the occasion of the New Year's celebration in part of the Feast of Winter Veil, I humbly offer to you all a perspective of the past with this current brief history of the Order. I commend the following to any and all who are desirous to learn of our great honourable chivalric order.

The Founding

The Order of the Knights of Stormwind was founded by a lone paladin by the name of Sir Unther Winterwolf on August 26, 2007. The founding members were a few of Sir Unther's own brothers-at-arms. Among these, one would become Sir Unther's right-hand; Sir "Richardd" (sic) as he called himself.

The Untherian Era

Sir Unther Winterwolf, having succesfully created the guild proceeded to strengthening its structure. Taking upon himself the title of "Lord-Protector" and granting his right-hand the title of "Lord-General", they both continued the Order's recruitment process, recruiting only paladins and noble knights. Shortly after the founding, the guild counted for itself 12 members and continued to expand.

Among this dozen of paladins joined a Second and Third War veteran, Sir Bartholomeo Burlguard of Stormwind City, former reclusive monk of the Brotherhood of Northshire. He would become the young guild's source of structure and strength along with its Guild Master.

It is with the coming of this new member that came the suggestion to expand the outreach of the guild to bolster its numbers and diversity that we know of today. At the founding, the guild would accept only Human paladins. With the coming of Bartholomeo's suggestion, this expanded into accepting all races of the class of paladin and priest (to act as chaplains of our cause - the first non-paladin member and first chaplain priest(ess) to join us was the silent Sister Frizzie that we all know of today). Eventually the expand took the toll of accepting all races and all classes (including those classes usually shunned by the Light-worshipping people, i.e.; warlocks and rogues), rendering the diversity that we know of today.

Participating in the recruitment effort of the guild, Bartholomeo was elevated to the rank of Honour Guard and then Honour Guard Captain, earning the trust of Sir Unther and Sir Richardd with his fervent desire to establish the guild and protect it and its membership.

As the guild was growing, it needed to grow not only in size and strength, but in credibility. It is due to his lack of valour* and lack of honour that Sir Richardd the Lord-General was banished by Sir Unther the Lord-Protector (Guild Master) after a trial of judgement which was carried out with respect and with dignity.

*Note: Sir Richardd used to beg on the public streets to buy an official tabard design for the guild.

With this small schism in the administration, Sir Unther needed to reconsidere and rethink the general structure of the guild. It is in the catacombs of the Cathedral of Light (where Unther often used to go to meditate) that he declared his desired new structure for the young guild, introducing the concept of "Chapters" to the guild's structure.

"Chapters" were a structural concept simular to "sub-guilds" within one general guild. The leader of each chapter was to be known as a "Chapter-Master" and had the power and perrogative to choose for his chapter a headquarter, call meetings and events, and etc. They were designed to organize and accomodate a guild with massive numbers. The very night this structure was dictated by Sir Unther, Sir Bartholomeo was installed as first Chapter-Master. He would call his chapter the "Guardians of Freedom".

From this restructuring of the guild began the golden age of the Untherian era, with the Order's greatest moment of growth in membership.

Among these members arose the Kaldorei, Dame Xaify whose loyalty to the Lord-Protector elevated her to the rank of Honour Guard Captain and the Draenei, Dame Jaibles who was found worthy by the Lord-Protector to become a Chapter-Mistress. She would name her chapter, the "Chapter of Hope". Later on, a young aboriginal Human by the name of "Onepaw" (renamed "Ragnar" by Sir Unther) would become the Lord-Protector's own pupil and future Chapter-Master of an untitled and empty chapter.

These five, Unther, Bartholomeo, Xaify, Jaibles and Ragnar would become the administrative body during the Untherian era.

With much already established, it was felt that the Order needed a change in its divisive structure and a constitution, and thus with Unther's dictation of policies, rules and laws, Sir Bartholomeo quickly proceeded to the formulation of a charter which would later earn the recognition of the King and His Majesty's royal seal. This charter would become the objective basis of the Order, thus giving it an independant character of its own, instead of being of a subjective nature, the creation and dictation of one individual.

New members, new alliances with other guilds, this was the original and young days of the Order.

The Usurping

As the Order continued to grow in numbers and character, it needed for its leader a certain charisma, a certain sociability and certain work-ethic as being Guild Master is not at all an easy responsability.

One evening as Sir Bartholomeo was doing his usual work, he was disheartened and desired to leave the Order as he felt his work of bulding the guild was going unappreciated. Upon sharing his concern with the members, they were alarmed and began telling him that he was their true leader and that they knew nothing of this "Lord-Protector" who sat on the thrown wearing the crown of mock-nobility. Also, the membership had recently began to voice subtle but steady their dissatisfied opinion with Sir Unther Winterwolf. Some members left altogether or considered leaving soon.

Bartholomeo, energized and enthused by this unsuspected number of supporters, called for an urgent meeting at the Westbrook Garrison (the Order's headquarters) where nearly all of the currently available members came and joined in the movement to voice their desire. Some desired to break away and create a new guild. Some desired to stay and simply remove the leader. Some were absolutely confused. Some were frustrated. The contraversy and confusion aise, only one left the guild that evening: The Lord-Protector himself, Sir Unther Winterwolf.

Leaving in an absolutely shocking act, Sir Unther resigned, assigning his right-hand, Sir Bartholomeo as Guild Master, and simply left, not desiring to speak to the members, hear their desires or face changing his ways. He left that evening with a concealed anger, which would later bring about in him a desire for vengeance for an act he would later perceive as a betrayal.

Thus, with the departure of its founder and the elevation of a new leader, begins the next era of the Order of the Knights of Stormwind.

To be continued...

Yours in the Light,
-Sir Bartholomeo Burlgaurd
Secretary.