Order of the Blazing Dawn

The Order of the Blazing Dawn is a lightsworn, militant order that has risen to prominence in several areas of conflict in Azeroth. Its origins are not shrouded in mystery; their original number came from the Scarlet Onslaught who defected to the Argent Crusade during the War in Northrend. After the inaction of the Argent Crusade against the Forsaken during the Second Battle of Andorhal, the founding members abandoned the Argent Crusade to forge their own path forward.

From the group of nine, Sir Silas Peasbury was chosen as their leader becoming the first Grand Master of the Blazing Dawn.

Since their founding, the Order has expanded exponentially. As a group of aggressive paladins and warriors whose origins stem from the Scarlet Crusade, the group revised their doctrines in order to better fit within broader recruitment base. While the group still mainly recruits Humans, Elves, Gnomes, and Dwarves, there are a number of Draenei, Worgen, Orcs, and Undead within their core organization and any number of races within their auxiliary.

The Blazing Dawn is divided into Chapters that operate out of bases throughout Azeroth. There are five major, fortified locations that host the majority of the Blazing Dawn forces:

* Daybreak Keep - Howling Fjord, Northrend
* Temple Isle - Island in the Great Sea
* Wildwood Hold - Feralas
* Highdawn Monastery - Stromic Highlands, Stromgarde
* Blazehold - Tirisfal, Lordaeron

In addition, Chapterhouses can be found in Stormwind, Darkshire, Thelsamar, Ironforge, Stromgarde City, Dalaran, and Shattrath City. Other camps and forts can be found in places where conflict is thickest, especially when the Order has been asked to aid or it simply desires to pursue its own interests in the area. These camps and forts are considered to be extensions of a particular Chapter or Chapterhouse.

# Founding Members

* Silas Peasbury
* Chaunte Coombs
* Francina Hayes
* Brianne
* Arkhan
* Solange Tyndall
* Bryana Whitley
* Daniel Sherman
* Melonis Heartburn

# Organization

## Branches

The Blazing Dawn has four primary branches: the Militancy, Admiralty, Prelacy, and Stewards.

### Militancy

The Militancy are the ground forces of the Order. The vast majority of the membership of the Order resides within the Militancy -- ranging from lowly squires and caravan guards to the highest Templars. Their leader is the Lord-Militant.

### Admiralty

Also called the Blazing Admiralty, the Codex writes that this branch is under the auspices of the Militancy. However, this branch has been given wide-ranging authority due to the spread-out nature of the Order and the importance of maintaining an independent fleet. Their leader is the Lord-Admiral.

The Admiralty has three designations for its fleets: Militant, Trading, and Supply Flotillas. Although at current the Militant Flotillas are often spread thin to guard their Trading and Supply Flotillas, they will often come together in order to form a larger fleet for a Grand Campaign.

They are known to operate a number of Third War and Interwar era Frigates. They also operate the most non-Order auxiliary.

### Prelacy

The Prelacy make up the religious figures of the Order. Few in number, they ensure that they religious doctrines of the Order are followed to a strict degree. The majority of the Prelacy are simple monks and priests.

There is a sub-branch of the Prelacy called the **War Priory**.

The War Priory are chosen from militants who demonstrate the greatest fervor and zeal and are given the task of maintaining the religious zeal of Militants on the front lines. They are given the title of War-Prior and although answer to the Militancy in the field, they are expected to obey the Prelate-Superior first and foremost.

The War-Priory is also in charge of the Order's non-Light magical membership -- such as mages. Some War-Priors are skilled Mage Hunters and Spellbreakers are designated as such.

### Stewards

Finally, the Stewards of the Order are the mostly civilian, non-combatant roles of the Order. They are in charge of all logistical, financial, and administrative aspects of the Order. Despite lacking a martial aspect, they are considered to be among the most important branches of the Order. They are led by the Seneschal.

## Chapters and Chapterhouses

Outside of the branches, the primary units of organization are Chapters and Chapterhouses.

### Chapters

A Chapter is the largest independent unit of organization in the Order. All Chapters have representation of some kind of each branch and they represent the primary holdings of the Order in the world -- each Chapter holding a plot of land equal in size to that of a Barony or larger. Although the Codex recommends that a Chapter be no larger and no more powerful than that of a feudal county, there is no strict rule.

Each Chapter is led by a Chapter Master, who holds supreme field and administrative command of their Chapter. Barring any direct orders from higher leadership ranks, Chapter Masters are given free-ranging power to expand their Chapter and the Order's power while undertaking the general orders of the Grand Master and Lord-Militant.

There is a primary base of operations for each Chapter -- requiring it be located near the coast to have access to the Admiralty's supply flotillas.

### Chapterhouses

Chapterhouses are the smaller of the independent units of organization in the Order. Chapterhouses are often simply places where the Order has representation -- such as Stormwind, Ironforge, Thelsamar, Darkshire, etc. They can also be simple Forts or Camps independent of that of a Chapter in a place where the Order deems it necessary to be represented, such as the Twilight Highlands.

Chapterhouses are led by the most senior-ranking member of said Chapterhouse.

# Structure

## Leadership

### Grand Master of the Order

The Grand Master of the Order is the penultimate leader of the Order, considered the 'Head Militant' and 'High Lightsworn' -- in essence, controls the Order with absolute power. In name, the Grand Master may exercise their authority by declaring campaigns, establishing new Chapters and Major Fortifications, undertake diplomacy, determine Order course, et cetera.

The Grand Master must be elected by the High Siblings; knighted members of the Order. The title is a lifetime appointment; the Grand Master must die or retire from the position. Any High Sibling may put forth their name for election, however in practice only the Chapter Masters have ever been elected.

While there is no real check on the authority and power of the Grand Master, a vote of no confidence may be held by the Chapter Masters and a new election may be called.

**List of Grand Masters**

1. Sir Silas Peasbury - Elected 28 L.C., Died 31 L.C.
2. Dame Francina Hayes - Elected 31 L.C., Retired of grievous wounds '34 L.C.'
3. Dame Genivee Bentley - Current Grand Master, Elected 34 L.C.

### Lord-Militant

The Lord-Militant is the second-highest Militant position of the Order. They are an Advisor at the High Table, sitting to the right of the Grand Master. They, alongside the Seneschal, are considered the 'seconds-in-command' to the Grand Master. Unlike the Seneschal, the Militant Superior is chosen by and among the Chapter Masters.

The authority of the Lord-Militant is wide-ranging; while not on Grand Campaign, it is the Lord-Militant's duty to ensure all Chapters are strengthened, trained, and prepared to undertake Grand Campaigns. While on the Grand Campaign, the Lord-Militant has the highest battlefield authority, thus requiring the position to have a high degree of tactical skill.

The Lord-Militant is a lifetime appointment; only death, retirement, or dismissal by either the Chapter Masters or the Grand Master may end their duties. Of the

**List of Lords-Militant:**

1. Dame Chaunte Coombs - Mountain Dwarf, Died due to grievous injuries in minor skirmish in Northrend
2. Dame Solange Tyndall - High Elf, Retired, current Seneschal
3. Sir Norwell Graeme - Lordaeronian Human, Died during the Siege of Lordaeron City
4. Dame Kaileigh of Strom - Stromic Human, Died in Drustvar, Kul Tiras
5. Sir Allard Fletcher - Kul Tiran Human, Dismissed for incompetence
6. Dame Galatea Hastings - Dark Iron Dwarf, Current Lord Militant

### Seneschal

The Seneschal of the Order is an Advisor at the High Table, sitting to the left of the Grand Master. While the position requires some military expertise, the majority of the position is largely administrative and logistical -- it is due to the Seneschal and their Stewards that the Order has been able to spread out.

Authority of the Seneschal revolves primarily around their own sect -- the Stewards -- which ensures each chapter is supplied. The influx of gold from campaigns, trade, or any other source is also managed by the Seneschal -- making them the treasurer of the Order.

The title is appointed by the Grand Master for life; only death, retirement, or dismissal may end the duty of the Seneschal.

**List of Seneschals**

1. Dame Bryana Whitley - Retired
2. Dame Solange Tyndall - Current Seneschal

### High Admiral

The High Admiral is the master of the Blazing Admiralty and an Advisor at the High Table, sitting to the right of the Lord-Militant. They are in charge of the Militant Flotillas, Trading Flotillas, and Supply Ships that make up the Blazing Admiralty.

The Order's bylaws declare that the High Admiral is under the authority of the Lord-Militant, but in practice the Admiralty has been given far more authority due to the spread nature of the Order -- this allows the High Admiral himself to have a higher degree of authority. Under normal circumstances, the High Admiral is appointed by the Lord-Militant, but recent Lords-Militant have allowed the Ship Captains of the Admiralty to elect their leader.

**List of High Admirals**

1. Sir Daniel Sherman - Current High Admiral

### Prelate Superior

The Prelate Superior is the highest religious authority of the Order; they are an Advisor at the High Table, sitting opposite of the Grand Master. Despite the religious nature of the Order, the Prelate Superior plays a far lower role and has very few duties and authorities. It is up to the Prelate Superior to maintain and enact religious doctrines required for the Order's faith.

The Prelate Superior is a lifetime appointment; unlike other positions, the title is succession based; the next most senior member of the Prelacy takes the position upon the death or dismissal of the Prelate Superior.

The Prelate Superior supersedes the Lord-Militant when it comes to the militant ranks of
the War-Priors; while the War-Priors are answerable to the Militancy, they are members of the Prelacy first and foremost and obey the Prelate Superior without question, even over the commands of the Lord-Militant.

One quirk of the Prelacy is their mainentance of the War-Priors; the only militant rank of the Order to be outside of the Militancy.

### Chapter Master

Also called 'Masters of the Order', Chapter Masters are the leaders of each Chapter. They are Advisors at the High Table; two Chapter Masters sit to the right of the Grand Admiral and three sit to the left of the Seneschal. They are subordinate to the Lord-Militant on during campaigns and on the battlefield.

In terms of Authority, Chapter Masters exert control over what territory their Chapter occupies. According to the Codex, this is meant to be no more than the equivalent than that of a County, as a feudal comparison. However, in most cases the extent of authority is much greater and is largely dependent on the distance between the Chapter and the Order Headquarters.

Chapter Masters are expected to be only adhere to the Codex and any general orders by the Grand Master and Lord-Militant. Otherwise, they are free to be as ambitious or cautious in their approach to expansion of their Chapter's territories, goals, et cetera.

The Codex declares that appointment and assignment is determined by the Grand Master, however in many cases the Grand Master will allow the Chapter to elect their Chapter Master.

**Current Chapter Masters**

* Sir Arkhan, the Mountain that Shines - Human(Presumed), Chapter Master of the Stromic Highlands
* Dame Adrien Sherman - Lordaeronian Human, Chapter Master of Tirisfal
* Dame Ahnuze, the Deathbreaker - Dark Iron Dwarf, Chapter Master of Howling Fjord
* Sir Drakorn Highguard - Mountain Dwarf, Chapter Master of Feralas
* Dame Melonis Heartburn - Blood Elf, Master of Temple Isle

### Rank and File

* High Sibling
	+ Low Sibling
		- Initiate
			* Recruit