Order of the Golden Hawk

The Order of the Golden Hawk is a roleplaying guild on Alliance Moon guard U.S. The guild roleplays as a Lightsworn Paramilitary Order attached to the Church of the Holy Light and the Clergy of the Holy Light.

The Order takes inspiration from both lore and real life sources. The main inspiration of the Order is that of the Knights Templar, with hints of the Knights Hospitaller mixed in. The Knights of the Silver Hand also take a role of inspiration. Finally, the real life Turkopoles during the Crusades were an inspiration for the in-house Sellsword Company: The Weighted Blades.

The main goal of the guild is a Crusade Military Order feel to World of Warcraft, and provide a high quality of immersion and cohesion. However, while this is mainly a roleplaying guild, we also enjoy out-of-character things such as PvP and comradery.

"Those who hide away from the Shadow -- those who shrink with fear as the New Scourge invades your land -- those who wish to take up the blade; know that you are no longer alone. There are many evils in this world, and the Shadows of the North loom over us, even today. Desperate men and women continue a valiant fight against the Forsaken -- now considered the New Scourge -- in the North. 

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''Everyday, the New Scourge advances on land, water, and even in the sky against the defenseless. Where once the land was lush and green, full of life and crops, is now dreary, dead, and corrupted. Where men and women raised their children in comfortable homes, are now lifeless and gone. ''

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''This war has taken so much from us. It has taken Darrowshire, it has taken Stratholme, is has taken Stormgarde. It has taken sons and daughters of Lordaeron, Gilneas, and Stromgarde. It has dimmed the Light when we need it most. ''

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<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"">But it has left us with legends. Do you recall when Sir Aelric Gallahad boldly held the line against the endless Scourge as citizens of Lordaeron fled across Thoradin's Wall into Stromgarde? Or how Saint Eldanesh conquered Naxxramas? Or perhaps when Sir Alekander the Iron-jawed charged the field with twenty men at his back, not knowing if reinforcements were going to come? ''<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"">

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<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"">These heroes, these legends are looked upon in times of darkness and need of hope. They fill men and women who would once doubt with courage. But the lines are thinning. The Cause is losing fuel. ''<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"">

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<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"">The Lightsworn Order of the Golden Hawk has formed in order to take the fight to the Shadow. The Shadow in the North can no longer be so bold to attack our people. Its masters, the Forsaken and Horde, shall soon hide in the shadows in order to stay away from the Light; the Light shall hold us! ''<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"">

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<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"">War takes from us. But it leaves us with legends, it leaves us with heroes. ''<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"">

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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"">And heroes never die." <span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"">

History
For full history, please see this page.

Ecclesiastical Allies
Clergy of the Holy Light

Secular Allies
Blood of Lordaeron

Arathorian Coalition

The Scarlet Hammer

House Sunwhisper

The Three Branches
The Order of the Golden Hawk is comprised of three branches: The Knightly Branch, the Clergy, and the Sergeanty.

The Knightly Branch
The Knights make up a small portion of the Order; revered with special privileges and often called 'High Brothers and Sisters', they form the heavy cavalry of the Order. This strong branch consists of men and women who have been born both high and low in their Kingdoms. Headed by the Knight-Captain, they are often gallant in battle and prefer to die than be captured.

Current Knight-Captain: Vacant

The Clergy
As a Lightsworn Order, we are nothing without the support of the Church. The Clergy is filled with Chaplains, who are ordained Priests that have the support of the Church. They are typically trained in the ways of the Light, but by no means are they as high as the Bishops.

Where the Knights are the sword in which strikes the enemy, and the Sergeanty is the armor which protects the body, the Clergy provides spiritual attunement which protects the mind. They are led by the Head Chaplain.

Current Head Chaplain: Vacant

The Sergeanty
The rank and file of the Order, these typically low-born men and women make up the non-knighted, non-ordained foot, archers, light cavarly, magi, and those who work in professions rather than in weapons or magic. A large percentage of the Order stands within the Sergeanty, which is headed by the Master of Arms.

Current Master of Arms: Davrin Wallcroft

The Weighted Blades
The hired mercenaries that the Order employs, they are a mercenary company created specifically to aid the Order in its endeavors. The mercenaries are allowed to employ Night Elves, along with Druids, Shaman, and Death Knights.

The Weighted Blades takes inspiration from the Turcopoles -- locally recruited mercenaries in order to act as the light cavalry of the various Crusader Orders and armies.

Current Mercenary Captain: Sir Hershel Greyson

Council

 * Grand Master - Supreme commander and administrator of the Order
 * First Sword - Second in Command of the Order, and leader of the Magificent Seven
 * Champions - Individuals who have proved themselves with dedication and battlefield prowess who rise about Honor Guard. Typically field commanders.
 * Master of Arms - Master of the Sergeanty
 * Knight-Captain - Master of the Knights
 * Head Chaplain - Master of the Clergy
 * Chapter Masters - Individuals who lead small sects of the Order assigned in certain, crucial locations.

Veteran Ranks

 * Honor Guard - Men and women who have sworn vows of chastity and poverty in order to protect the Grand master and the Council Members. Only six can Ordermen can attain the rank of Honor Guard, and they are considered part of the Magnificent Seven.
 * Veteran - Members who have risen above the rest to prove themselves dedicated, loyal, and steadfast agains the Order's enemies. They are few in number and are often looked upon for advice and wisdom.

Lower Ranks

 * Sworn Sword - The rank and file of the Order. The Sworn Swords make up the backbone of the Order, being full members with full privileges
 * Initiate - The first rank before swearing the oath of the Order. They watch and learn how the Order is conducted. The Initiate must participate in a Proving in order to gain the Sworn Sword rank.

Non-Official Ranks

 * Sellsword - The Sellsword is a rank in which every member of the Weighted Blades receives upon joining. They are not allowed to rank up, and are often temporary members given a contract for one month.
 * Trial(OOC) - Alts, people who haven't joined in-character, or OOC friends of the Order.

Grand Master
Lord Throstan Andro (Throstan) ==== ====

The First Sword
Vacant ==== ====

The Champions
==== ==== Sir Branor Heward (Branor)

Alladran Swiftmantle, the Blackwolf (Alladran)

Ofillia Delligatti, the Shadow (Ofillia) ==== ====

Knight-Captain
Vacant ==== ====

Head Chaplain
Vacant ==== ====

Master of Arms
Davrin Wallcroft (Wallcroft) ==== ====

Mercenary Captain
Sir Hershel Greyson (Greyson) ==== ====

Chapter Masters
Vacant