A Retreat in Stranglethorn Vale

Brethren,

I simply wish to inform you all that I will not be activating my Guild Seal in the coming days due to a contemplative retreat I will be entering after this letter reaches the Guild Archives.

I have opted for a hidden cave I have found near the shores of the Southern Savage Coast in Stranglethorn Vale. I will not be available at all, even in case of an emergency, unless of course you are able to find me...

I pray for your forgiveness as this may very well be perceived as a lack in duty. May the Light bless you all.

Yours in the Light,
-Sir Bartholomeo Burlguard
Secretary.

((I may not be on much these coming days due to committee/community work I must busy myself with, and a desire to change my playing pattern on World of Warcraft for the time being. Remember to keep having fun! If you're not having fun playing a game anymore, why are you playing?))

War Measures

Brethren,

The Order of the Knights of Stormwind is officially at war.

As you all know and have been aware of, Celley the Fel is a relentless enemy of the Kingdom and the Order and her exploits seem to make her more of a threat than what was initially anticipated.

After a brief meeting before the hearth of the Stonefire Tavern in Ironforge, Lady Anira Theranarr has issued the command that all within the Order are to take the necessary precautions when travelling within Stormwind City at night, and that any sight of Celley the Fel must call for swift and immediate action: thus, we warrant that Celley the Fel must be killed on sight.

Much bickering has plagued the Order's logistics, and we believe the time has come to end it once and for all and unite to defeat our common enemy. And by unity, unity within the members of the Order is not the first and only objective, but also unity with the rest of the Kingdom.

Master Wood of the Command Center has issued a warant to our Order to have access to the City's military arsenal. A request negated at first, but granted thanks to the aid of a contact within the House of Nobles.

Brethren, now is the time to end this threat* against our Kingdom, nay, our world once and for all. Now is the time for war measures.

Yours in the Light,
-Sir Bartholomeo Burlguard
Secretary.

Post-scriptum:
*: Though many of the Order considere it bizarre that a Sprite Darter gone rogue can elevate to such diabolical, maniacal proportions, one must recount the tale of all those tyrants who have had their origins in youth and innocence.

A Disgusting Discovery

Brethren,

As I was going through my mail today, I received a package from an anonymous expedient. Therein I found a blood-ridden head of a newly fallen Draenei.

By the badge and ring found within the bag that held the head, it appears this poor creature was an officer of some sort dealing with the Exodar. Further attached to this gruesome package I found offical reports written in Draenei, therefore I cannot understand them. But by the sketchy drawings made on the reports, and by the graphology of this man's writting, they appear to be of an extremely important matter.

I do not know who this is from, and I cannot seem to trace any magical imprint on the documents. Though I do have my suspicion. I will return the head to the Stormwind Guard and attempt to have them decipher for us the meanings of this disgusting discovery on behalf of the Order.

Any future results on this investigation will be posted here immediately.

Yours in the Light,
-Sir Bartholomeo Burlguard
Secretary.

The Return of Dame Ratele Vailor

Brethren,

After many weeks of questionning on the current state of our missing sisteren (and officer), Dame Ratele Vailor, the Holy Light grants us a magnificent gift of her return among us.

On behalf of the Order of the Knights of Stormwind, I wish to welcome you back among us, Dame Ratele, and we hope to have you among our ranks for many times to come!

Yours in the Light,
-Sir Bartholomeo Burlguard
Secretary.

The Approval and Completion of the January Reformation ((Out-of-Character Post))

Friends,

We would like to officially announce that the January Reformation has been revised by the administrative body of the guild and has been completed with the approval of the draft today, January 14, 2008 by our current Guild Master/Mistress.

Gratitude fills our spirit, as a we thank all members who have contributed to this reformation of our guild and have gracefully took some of their time to listen to us during the consultations and contribute to the understanding of our current situation.

You fill find the amendment to the constitution has been carried out as planned in the draft below.

Let us now look onwards towards the future, and enjoy together a newly found atmosphere of coherence and harmony in our passion for roleplaying.

Your friend,
-Denis Y. Boulet
(Sir Bartholomeo Burlguard)

Draft of the January Reformation ((Out-of-Character Post))

Friends,

I humbly present to you all this draft of the January Reformation, which consists of an amendment to the second section of our constitution*: III. Rules and Laws of the Guild.

*: The Official Royal Charter of the Order of the Knights of Stormwind

On role-playing:

• All characters in the guild must be based on Warcraft lore and on Warcraft lore only. (You may not roleplay as a Super Saiyan, Harry Potter's twin brother or a Half-Gnome/Half-Draenei/Half-Harpy.)
• All characters must make sense*. (*"make sense", to be reasonable or comprehensible) (You may not roleplay as a Human who has seen the Sundering personally and once dated with Queen Azshara, who has wrestled with Illidan Stormrage when he was 12 or be Sargeras' bastard child.)
• All characters must be possible within the range of the aforementioned lore. (You may not roleplay as a Night-Elven mage, for example)
• While roleplaying, avoid "god-moding"*. (*roleplaying as an overpowered character. For example, you should be able to take hits during a roleplayed fight and not dodge all of them and kill the character you're dueling with in one single, goddly blow. You may not play a character who is all-knowing [omniscient], all-powerful [omnipotent].)
• All roleplaying with non-members of the guild is encouraged and falls within the perrogative and liberty of the roleplayer. How the member of the guild roleplays with the non-member is entirely between the mutual consensus of the two.
• All characters in the guild should, in some way or the other, be compatible* with the lawful good allignment of the guild and in harmony with the ideals of honour, chivalry and loyalty/service. (The Order of the Knights of Stormwind is an confraternity of knights, defenders and civil servants of the Kingdom of Stormwind and its allies [The Alliance], your character should blend into this collective identity.) (*By "compatible" we mean, any characters who can work with and within an organisation of a lawful good alligned identity. Thus, allignments such as neutral good, chaotic good and lawful neutral are acceptable, granted the character does not contradict the ideals, goals and purpose of the chivalric order and his or her role in the guild makes sense.)

Once this draft has been examined and approved by the administration of the guild, it shall take effect immediately and anyone not conforming with this article of law may not join the guild or may no longer be a member of the guild.

Your friend,
-Denis Y. Boulet
(Sir Bartholomeo Burlguard)

The January Reformation ((Out-of-Character Post))

Friends,

It has come to this. Our guild, The Knights of Stormwind has been through much, and throughout we have always been able to grow and expand together after any obstacle we have been faced with. Well my friends, a new obstacle has emerged before us now and this one will define us as a guild within the roleplaying community for many months, nay, years to come.

Recently, with the marked interest decline within our roleplaying guild, we have come to considere and look upon the current state of our guild's roleplaying style and method. As you are all aware, since it's founding we have been a guild established under a freeform style of role-playing, thus, exposing us to a risk of roleplaying within rather nonsensical storylines and amongst downright rediculous character personas.

We feel this risk has endured it's consequences and wish to end this threat to the livelihood and entertainment of our roleplayers through a series of policies and guidelines that would allow us to switch from a freeform style of roleplaying to a more suitable formalized style, issueing rules and regulations on how one should and should not roleplay in this guild.

Such policies would imply enforcing on all members to have character based on Warcraft lore and eliminate any megalomaniacal and vainglorious characteristics to a roleplayer's character (otherwise known as "god-modding"). And these policies would be assuredly defended with utmost zeal and fervour.

We therefore will be proceeding throughout the coming days (starting today, January 12 2008) to a series of consultations with the members concerning this issue and gather from you all your thoughts, feelings and opinions about this matter. This is our way of ensuring you of the democratic nature of our guild.

More changes may equally come to be as this current reformation is proposed and brought into effect, such as enforcing non-members of our OOC channel, TKOSooc to leave or create a new, passworded one altogether.

Thus in conclusion, I would propose that you embrace with us these changes and accept a veritable rebirth of our guild's essence: that of a noble, honourable, chivalric order. A confraternity of knights, servants and defenders of the Kingdom of Stormwind, its allies and its populace.

Your friend and fellow role-player,
-Denis Y. Boulet
(Sir Bartholomeo Burlguard)

Post-Scriptum: ...Frankly folks. How many orb-wielding, tentacle-swinging, wing-flapping, demon-blood-drinking, draconic Draeneis or Sprite Darters will it take to convince us that we've distanced ourselves from the old ideal of a chivalric order?

On Sister Astharoshe Asran's Abduction

Brethren,

I bring you grave news. Our beloved Sister, Astharoshe Asran has been abducted as she was wandering the coasts of Tanaris. From what we are able to gather from her kidnappers, she is to be sold to a fold of Orcish warlocks for their necromantic rituals. We are not certain where the ship from Tanaris is bound, but we have reason to believe she is sold in a live slave auction in Ratchet sometime in the near future.

We would commend, in the name of the Order and the Kingdom, any of the brethren who can retrieve our missing sisteren to do so by any means necessary.

An honorarium is offered to any member or non-member who is able to retrieve our Sister safely.

Notes:

• Her abductees refer to her as "the demon".
• She has lost her Guild Seal off the coast of Tanaris.
• Her abductees would appear to have been based in a cave nearby the shores of Tanaris.
• It is presumed that she is going to be sold in one of the Steamwheedle Cartel's establishment in Kalimdor.
• Her abductees aim to sell her at a group of necromantic Orcs, presumably the Shadow Council, that is, if they still operate openly in Orgrimmar... (See the history of the Shadow Council)

Yours in the Light,
-Sir Bartholomeo Burlguard
Secretary.

A Summary of the History of the Order of the Knights of Stormwind

Brethren,

The whole of the history of our Order may be summarized in the following:

The Untherian Era was a time of foundation and establishment. (August 28 - September 20, 2007)
The Bartholomean Era was a time of maturation, ripening and great growth. (September 20 - October 20, 2007)
The Lethanian Era was a time of preservation, addition and perfection of already existent structures. (October 20 - December 19, 2007)
The Aniran Era is currently a time a time of feasting, of enjoyment of the establishment efforts past, throughout however, growth and expansion continue. (December 19, 2007 - ongoing...)

Thus, each era has it's unique character in its growth. In other words, each chapter of our history has contributed in making the Order what it is today.

Yours in the Light,
-Sir Bartholomeo Burlguard
Secretary.

On the Wedding of Anira and Jorrik

Brethren,

Yesterday over the windswept mountain-tops of the Hinterlands on Aerie Peak was celebrated the sacrament of the holy matrimony under the sanctifying grace of the Holy Light. The following consists of a retelling of the events for members of the Order unable to attend.

Beginning at 7:45 PM in Aerie Peak was the wedding of our gracious Guild Mistress and Commander, Lady Anira Theranarr and our good Brother, Jorrik. The Draenei couple were united in a ceremony combining both the Human, or Azerothian religion of the Holy Light with that of the Draenei tradition.

The ceremony began with an entrance rite, with the procession of the celebrants, and finally the bride and groom to be, an introductory blessing bestowed upon the congregation by the Draenei priestess (and co-celebrant of the wedding ceremony), Lilian opened the official proceeding of the ceremony. Afterwards was heard a reading from the First Book of the Light, a psalm in praise of the Holy Light's divine grace in matters of love and conciliation with one's soulmate.

The summum of the ceremony was of course the official rite of marriage in which were asked questions on the consent of the two presented to the Holy Light and on their will to be wed to eachother. The cloths were blessed as the celebrant wrapped their hands together as a symbol of eternal union and in a climactic act of love in the ceremony the two kissed softly as a representation of their love for eachother.

Grace was rendered to the Holy Light for all the blessings imparted on the newly weds and the congregation that evening through praise and worship. The ceremony was drawing to its end with a final nuptial blessing, a sign of peace and a purifying blessing imparted on every member of the congregation. Priestess Lilian proceeded with her final blessing, entailing with Dame Zsuzsa, with a shamanistic blessing. The celebrant having left the premise, each member of the congregation proceeded to giving their own personal and private blessings on the newly wed. (Dans un grand manque de cohérence et une grande perte de temps. L'Église de la Sainte Lumière n'accorde aucune importance sacramentelle à ces bénédictions profanes.)

Finally, I would like to address my thanks to the newly-wed couple for entrusting upon me and the Church of the Holy Light such an important and blessed ministry. I solemnly impart my personal blessings upon you both, as a friend, a Brother and a Guild Master emeritus. Light be with you. Light be always with you.

Yours in the Light,
-Sir Bartholomeo Burlguard
Secretary.

A Note on the History of the Order of Knights of Stormwind

Brethren,

As a post-script note to the history I have recently written, I would like to state that this history is entirely written from my own perspective and from the information I was able to gather, as other sources of information to write this history were unavailable to me. Thus, this is a roughly-objectified narration of the history of the Order and can therefore contain errors, anachronisms and a variety of biased informations.

Any submission of errata to enrich the quality of this history is greatly appreciated.

Yours in the Light,
-Sir Bartholomeo Burlguard
Secretary.

A History of the Order of the Knights of Stormwind (Part 2)

The Bartholomean Era



This era begins with the official coming-to-power of Sir Bartholomeo Burlguard. Initially after the usurping, not all members were comfortable with the new Guild Master, or rather, were not certain of his ability to lead. Some desired immediate changes, immediate actions while others desired time for the dramatic departure of Sir Unther to calm and the dust of it to fall. Some feared the decline of the Order and feared that the usurping would be the harbinger of the Order's demise. Destiny would not have it so.

In fact this era rose to be a peaceful age and age of growth, where the members appreciated much freedom through the newly democratic character of the Order.

The Guild Legislature appeared, giving a chance to members of the Order to voice their opinions through the democratic motion of secret ballot when a certain proposal was issued. Most of the Order's changes (if not all) came about from this very structure, thus making the members truly in possession of legislative power, and the administrative Guild Master and Knight-Generals in charge of carrying out this legislative motion through executive action.

Through the Guild Legislature came about the new Guild Tabard design (the elected design originally proposed by Sir Lethan Teradial) and a redefinition of the ranks of the Order.

Also through nominations proposed in the Guild Legislature came about a number of new Knight-Generals:

• Sir Lethan Teradial
• Dame Ratele Vailor
• Dame Laern
  

Thus at the height of the Bartholomean era, Bartholomeo ("Grand Knight" - Guild Master), Xaify (Honour Guard Captain), Jaibles (Knight-General), Lethan (Knight-General), Ratele (Knight-eneral) and Laern (Knight-General) formed the administration of the Order.

This era was equally the commencement of various ceremonies, such as the ceremony of knighting, which was attributed to an effectively squired member through the tutorage of a full-member (rank of Knight and higher), for which purpose (the education of pages and squires into the ways of chivalry) the Guild Academy was created.

The ritual gesture known as the "Laying Down of Hands" was characteristic of the Order's ceremonial tradition and were the usual way through which a member would receive his promotion in a higher rank.

An era fulfilled with a variety of inprovements and enhancements to the character of the Order, it was probably the time where the guild matured the most and earned most of its credibility and renown (mostly due to its intensive diplomatic campaigns with other guilds of simular import or ideal). However, as all things in the world of Azeroth, change is the only constant and Sir Bartholomeo Burlguard would not be able to carry out his duties as Guild Master for much longer.

He departed one day to the spirit realm on the calling of the Holy Light where he traversed to the other world through the cold and eldritch portal of death. His departure came about after having secured for the Order a future under the leadership of the brilliant Kaldorei, Sir Lethan Teradial, making him the first non-Human, non-paladin Guild Master.

Thus concludes a fulfilled era, an era marked with the Grand Knight's motto: "The guild does not serve the Guild Master. The Guild Master serves the guild."

The Lethanian Era

With Sir Bartholomeo gone*, some members were saddened by the news and this influenced the lives of many, but this emotional tide would soon turn as the era came to a healthy expansion in a number of ways. Indeed, a guild cannot permit itself to remain stagnant, it must constantly entertain its members with ever new content. This would be assured with the pioneering spirit of Sir Lethan Teradial who would introduce to the Order such features as a banking system for the Order, allowing the members of the Order to share their wealth.

*Note: He would later return in the last days of the Lethanian era, oddly a day after Lethan had planned to entrust the care of the Order to Lady Anira Theranarr.

Also new to the Order would be a redefinition in the rank-structure as well as new members of its administrative body, thus making the following members the Order's executive general council:

Lethan (General - Guild Master), Ratele (Knight-General), Laern (Knight-General), Zsuzsa (Knight-General), Calixis (Knight-General) and Anira (Knight-General).

Overall, the Lethanian era was another chapter of good times for the Order and eventually came to an end with the appointment of Dame Anira Theranarr as the future Guild Mistress of the Order, making her the first female to ever hold this position. With this succession of power to Lady Anira Theranarr begins a new era and the current one: The Aniran Era

À suivre...

Yours in the Light,
-Sir Bartholomeo Burlguard
Secretary.