The Knights of Rand

26 BU – The Coronation of King Rand
As the siege rages on, the bells ring out signalling Rand Bromin's Coronation. A signal for hope and a break from the constant thoughts of death for the city of Askagard. The Knights of Askagard lined the throne room as Rand entered a room packed with citizens, though Rand noticed they were all human. He had heard of the racial divides even seen some that he dismissed as siege sickness but never truly noticed it till now, this become his mission as a spark flickered which in time would become a bonfire.

The to be Grandmaster was only 17 then, but in time a simple soldier was to be made into one of the founding chapters of a renowned unit and hold a pivotal role in helping Rand with what was about to begin. This is the brief history of Aluminara and the Knights of Rand.

The week proceeding this now notable part in time, Rand was walking the street of his soon to be city. The spirits of its people seemed low as one would expect with a siege as long as this. He saw and learn many things but for this story we will focus on him seeing Aluminara, a young recruit in the army who spent her off duty hours helping those that housing were broken that day of the siege. It did not matter to her who she was helping and was seen just at ease with Trulloc as humans.

The now King Rand immediately after giving his Coronation speech walked into the crowd and placed his hand atop the shoulders of Aluminara and asked her to see him later about an idea he had of which she would play a mayor role in. The Kings standard was a Griffon holding Lilies so he made a new standard of a Lilly in between 2 knights with tower shields, symbolizing the ever need to be the shield and protection of the Kings ideals.

As the siege rages on in the city of Askagard, the King followed the achievements and exploits of Aluminara’s command to see if his faith was missed place as this was just the beginning in his mind.

24 BU – 4 year siege of Askagard broken
As another attempt to break the siege, Aluminara’s forces had charged forth under the command and blessings of the King, surrounded and in desperate need for support, Aluminara seeing as how there is no form of escape, left with only close to her 2nd in command along with their Seneschal and a handful of men valiantly stood their ground and accepted their fate before what could be close to a miracle for Askagard as Trullocs appeared and help lift the siege, Alumiara then witnessed the true miracle of King Rand during the years showing openness to other races with the knights of Rand focusing on citizen relief.

It was official that by the year 22 BU, The Knights of Rand were to be the Kings private army, having expanded its chapters to the towns of Chemer and Troj, under the blessings of Rexelios the God of Trials, The Knights of Rand was to be recognised as the Kings Ideals incarnate. A poem was even made by the Kings own scribe in honour to The Knights of Rand;

As the knights move, so does the earth,

As clear as day the harvesting of souls,

As such as clear as the earth being harvested,

Moving through the wind as a storm,

Ever relentless and never ending,

As inventive as water,

Ever adapting, ever evolving,

In times of war, ever relentless as flames itself,

These are the chosen few, these are the Kings own,

These are The Knights of Rand.

In the years to come after, The Knights of Rand had been there throughout history as safeguarding the Kings exploits in the following endeavors.

21 BU - Chemer
At the sand scrubbed and whitewalls of Chemer, they said the desert could not be conquered, and yet the Knights marched on with the King during negotiations for trade routes of the Chemer-Askagard Accords. And kept them as such by lending aid to those on the road and commanding the guard of it.

19 BU – Troj

At the humid and swamp lands of inhibiting the area of Troj, they said nature could not be tamed, and yet the Knights marched on regardless, through the thick of the swamp to the threats of the creatures within the swamps, and at the end of that year, the Troj-Askagard Accords were sealed. And they kept them as such by lending aid to those on the road and commanding the guard of it.

17 BU – King Rand the Unifier
At the peak of Askagard, with the sounds of metal and cheers of men, witnessed by Grandmaster Aluminara, the King was dubbed by all 3 kingdoms then as the Unifier and sole ruler of all three kingdoms, the Knights resolve grows higher.

Talks of assassination attempts and public outcries becomes a daily task for the Knights, having to deal with the protesters, but regardless, in ever the negative response, the Knights of Rand still upheld their sacred oaths and vows and instead relinquished their earned wealth for the sake of the people and the kingdoms to further King Rand’s goals.

For 7 years, the Knights of Rand were to be renowned and respected on both battlefield and off, having served the King with unwavering loyalty. Something that amazes people the most was the fact that the Knights protected the people, regardless of who they were, the sense of justice as strong as their sense of admiration and loyalty to their King, and this includes the kindness and charity that were influenced upon the knights.

Their armour polished steel or grey leathers and cloth with blue trim and the crest on the left shoulder, they are the right arm of Rand, the helping hand where no one would care for them, and above all, the unquestioning and unflinching army to have ever been brought to the battlefield of any kind, it is stated an area fought over by the knights would be rebuilt by them.

10 BU – Civil War
In the deserts of Chemer and the swamps of Troj, The Knights of Rand faced countless of challenges, with the families in both towns constantly fighting over power and territory, Aluminara splits The Knights of Rand in two, the employment of its Griffin manoeuvre or Kings Shield formation lay waste to any opposition on the battlefield Aluminara and The Knights of Rand Battle tactics, Griffin manoeuvre in which enemy is led to believe as the main force whilst forces behind can easily swoop in from any direction to reinforce the Kings Shield Formation.

The war saw the extent of the land turned into chaos, The Knights of Rand extended their ranks to include master craftsman and their apprentices to help rebuild what is lost in the sometimes destructive battles in the civil war. Many becoming great contributor to the relief efforts.

0 BU – 15 AR – Unification
With the war leaving the cities, King Rand finally realising his dream of unification, the term for war seems so distant now, The Knights of Rand finally because what they were always to be peacekeepers. The realm would know peace for the years to come, like all golden ages, it eventually passes, King Rand, finally coming of age, decides to lay down his crown in pursuit of maintaining the peace he has worked so hard for, a small detachment of the knights were sent as personal bodyguards for the former King who continues to roam around between the three cities in hopes of maintaining the peace.

15AR – 51AR
Between this time, The once renowned Knights of Rand became nothing more the law keepers and the many of the founders got lost in the time of peace to families, new adventures or the simply life. How fast it was for people to forget all that the Knights had done and endured for the realm. Admissions dropped and most people now see them as any other clan. This does not annoy or frustrate many that are left as that volatile time is not one they wish to relive but the standard still stands, with morals and loyalty engraved.

201 AR – Death of a Legend
Everyone remembered the day, for The Knights of Rand, it was said that howls of pain and sadness could be heard from each town chapter of those who remain. Former King and saviour of the realm, Rand Bromin the Unifier has come to pass, in respect The Knight of Rand dawns their ancestral founder armour as a sign of respect. The rumour of a void related attack killing the former king was troubling news indeed.

201 AR – Present
Dawning her ancestral armour handed down by the order of Seneschals within the Knight order, Aluminara reclaimed the Grandmaster of the Knight of Rand making her mark, alongside her is Master and Commander Puppington, Head Seneschal Kerrigan and Lastrites, their task is simple, to uphold the code and laws of chivalry, and above all, make safe the realm in the name of their King and Saviour, the late King Rand Bromin.