ro_bann.gif (2162 byte)

rose1.gif (30953 byte)

(Volonimannh Kharus-Hay uth Ras degh Lor A-Lann Draco Paladine)

(The Most Noble Order of the Rose
and of the Divine Father Draco Paladine)

 

 

The Ranks of the Order:

insignia

Title Min.Level

Description

High Justice.gif (7750 byte) High Justice 15

The High Justice is the supreme head of the Order of the Rose: he epitomizes the ideals of honor guided by wisdom, virtue and justice that are the basements of the Order. His power and prestige in the Knighthood and in the whole Solamnia is second only to the Grand Master. Being the head of the Knightly Order devoted to Paladine, he is also a figure of moral outstanding, and the blessing of Paladine is always with him, even if his divine powers are lesser than those hold by the holy High Clerist. He is also the Commander in Chief of the Army of the Rose, and holds supreme authority in any legal matter (concerning feudal, civil or penal rights, or the interpretation of the Measure) brought before the Council of Knights, subject only to the opinion of the Grand Master. The insignia of his rank is the golden Scale of Justice, surmounted by the Ring of High Knight, (an ancient golden ring, embedded with a star ruby with a Rose engraved on the gem) which he wears as a symbol of rulership over the Order.  Ascension to this title does not mean the resignment of other political and feudal duties: should the High Justice need it, a close family member will take over the rulership of family lands as Prince Regent.

Lord of Justice.gif (7696 byte) Lord of Justice 14

Very often the King of one province, the Lord of Justice is a Knight of paragon for anyone living in Solamnia: a wise politician, an enlightened governor and a man of piety and of compassion, honourable and just. He embodies the ideals of wise leadership and good government, a strong arm in defence of the poor and the oppressed, and a helping hand to his people. He strives to apply the moral and political teachings of Paladine, and to live up to the greatest man which ever lived, Vinas Solamnus. The Order of the Rose is for him a strong tie to the Land of Solamnia and to the other rulers, who are by the Measure his brothers in the Order. His insignia of rank is the Golden Scale, surmounted by the seal of the Knighthood. In battle, he leads a Division, composed by 4 Battalions. Very often the Knights of his Division are originary of his Kingdom or Province.

Master of Justice.gif (9546 byte) Master of Justice 13

The Master of Justice is very often a Prince or a Duke, and governs a large feudal territory. He is a model among the Knights of Solamnia, both a politician and a fierce warrior, who follows the divine teachings and walks on the path of justice and wisdom. He can display on his mantle a badge portraying  a golden dragon surmounting the golden scale of justice. He leads in battle a Battallion, composed by 4 Brigades.

Lord of Roses.gif (7061 byte) Lord of Roses 12

The Lord of Roses is the general of a Brigade, composed by 7 Squadrons (about 85 Knights). Almost always a Duke, he governs a large territory with a gentle but firm hand, protecting his people and vassals with his military strenght, his prowess in battle, and governing them with justice and compassion. The insignia of his rang is a rose, surmounted by the seal of the Knighthood.

Archknight.gif (9070 byte) Archknight 11

The ArchKnight is a messenger and special agent of the High Justice and of the Grand Master. Often an ambassador of the Council of the Knighthood, he can be sent in special missions, or to any ruler of Solamnia to enforce the will of the Council, to judge especially intricate matters, or simply to notify any act of the Grand Master or of the Council. He is also a champion of the Knighthood, a glorious hero who walks Solamnia in a perpetual quest. The people bows at his passage, and the golden ring with the diamond, symbol of the ArchKnights, grants free passage all over Solamnia.

Master of Roses.gif (8994 byte) Master of Roses 10

Any such Knight leads in battle a Squadron, composed by two Roses. He can be appointed ruler of a County, or he can administer justice under the rulership of other feudatories. He can bear on his mantle a badge portraying a golden dragon surmounting a rose.

Keeper of Roses.gif (9190 byte) Keeper of Roses 9

The Keeper of Roses is the Leader of a Rose, the basic unit of the Army of the Rose, and leads in battle 4 Knights of Roses. He can be appointed with the leadership of a barony. He can display on his mantle a badge portraying a panoply of a sceptre and a rose. He is always a Knight of skill, valiant and proud, a veteran of many and many battles, all fought honourably and gloriously in the name of Paladine and on behalf of Solamnia. Very often he is a Baron, and leads in battle the Patrices who are his vassals.

Knight of Roses.gif (8328 byte) Knight of Roses 8

The Knight of Roses is a Knight who has eventually achieved mystic elevation. In the period in which he was Novice, Knight of Tears, of Mind and of Heart, he was a venture Knight in search of glory, wisdom and enlightenment. Now he is a truly ranking member of the Order of the Rose, and can begin his true career, both in the Army and in the government of Solamnia. A Knight of Roses is part of a Rose, the basic military unit in the Army of the Rose. The insignia of his rank is a badge representing a rose surmounted by a great helm. Even if he is a cadet son, almost always he is charged with the rule of a castle or small town, as a Patrice.

Knight of Heart.gif (8187 byte) Knight of Heart 7

The Knight of Heart has reached the third stage of progress: he has learnt to follow his heart, where virtue and honor dwell. His knowledge of the Measure is even deeper, because he now understands the profound meaning of it, the spirit of the laws of the Knighthood and of the moral teachings of Vinas Solamnus. So, he now understands that honor resides not in the cold observance of the laws and precepts, but in the strive to act, to live, to fulfil the spirit of them, the secret meaning and teachings that the gods themselves have given to the Knighthood by the writings and the whole life of the Great Vinas Solamnus, but also by the deeds, more or less famous, of all the heroes of the knighthood, and also of any knight who has served Solamnia and lived up to his duties. His insignia of rank is a heart surmounted by a great helm.

Knight of Mind.gif (8491 byte) Knight of Mind 6

The Knight of Mind has reached the second stage of the mystical evolution: the Mind is the gift of the gods, the instrument that allows the virtuous and pious to recognize the path of justice and honor; Mind is the light that sets apart good from evil, that pierces the darkness of ignorance and indolence, and forces the Initiate onto the destiny of grace Paladine has prepared for him. The Knight of Mind has finally understood the profound and beautiful architecture of the Measure, which regulates the life of all Knights. After a long study, he knows by heart a vast portion of it, and is able to get the wisest interpretation possible from the words of the great Vinas Solamnus. His insignia of rank is a great helm surmounting an open book of the Measure.

Knight of Tears.gif (8487 byte) Knights of Tears 5

The Knight of Tears is at the first stage of enlightenment: he has understood that suffering and pain is not a curse, but the blessing of the gods, who use it to teach piety to mortals, as well as the difference between good and evil, beauty and ugliness. He is no longer afraid of pain and suffering, and knows how to use it to gain inner strength, determination, and fortitude. Tears become a manifestation of virtue, a symbol of renounce, like those wept by Vinas Solamnus when he joined the Rebellion: he left behind his former loyalties, rank, family, he was ready to face the loss of his hard-conquered prestige and position in the Empire of Ergoth in order to pursue justice, virtue and honor: the tears are the symbol of all he sacrificed to follow what he deemed right. The insignia of his rank is a badge portraying a great helm and three drops of tears.

Novice of Roses.gif (4385 byte) Novice of Roses 4

The Novice of Roses is a reborn Knight, who strives to acquire the wisdom necessary to recognize justice and act honourably. As an initiate on the road to enlightenment, he dresses humbly with a plain white tunic, whose only ornament is the badge, displaying a red rose: red is symbol of valour and courage, which is the starting point to acquire true knowledge of oneself and of the ways of Paladine.

 

Historical Note:

The Order of the Rose is the highest and most selective Order of the Knights of Solamnia. Only the most noble, experienced, and wise can ascend to its ranks. Wisdom and justice, prudence and moderation, compassion and fearless valour, outstanding morality: these are the least requirements, other than ancient nobility.

Legends hold that, at the end of his Quest of Honor, Vinas Solamnus knelt in the Whitestone Glade, on Sancrist, and received the investiture by the three gods of the Knighthood, Paladine, Kiri-Jolith and Habbakhuk. When he raised, he saw a beautiful rose of gold blowing in the spot he had been kneeling. He so decided to name the highest Order of the knighthood in this way, to remind Solamnia of this sign of divine favour: and so Paladine took the golden rose, and gave it to King Vinas, who embossed it on his ancient plate armour, over his heart. From then on, the Grand Plate of the Rose has been the armour rightfully owned by the High Justice of the Order; sadly, in the days following the Cataclysm, it was lost.

 


Text © Matteo Banchio, 2001

"DragonLance", "Knights of Solamnia", and most of the names quoted are trademarks or copyright owned by TSR, Inc. - Wizards of the Coast. All Rights Reserved.

The pictures in this page are drawn by the PC videogame: "Dragonstrike" and are copyright owned by TSR, Inc. and Strategic Simulation, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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