Heldannic Knights -- Company of the Orb
by Bruce Heard Company of the Orb
This sect includes in general abbots and commanding knights who
have served on Heldannic warbirds. They call themselves Fellows of
the Orb. The more illustrious members, known as The Witnesses, are
those who have actually served in outer space, following the belief
that they came closer to the divine realm of their Immortal Patron.
A cheerful and boisterous ceremony awaits those who return from
their first assignment in space. Their names are engraved on a
metal plate, and hung on the Wall of Fame, inside the sect's main
rallying hall in Freiburg.
The purpose of the sect is to gather, organise, study, develop,
and protect all knowledge about outer space. The sect administrates
a highly- restricted and well-hidden library and a workshop
available to Witnesses. Witnesses are also required to give a
complete account of what they found and observed while in service
outside Mystara's Skyshield. Although membership is not an
obligation, warbird commanders send into space are chosen from
Fellows of the Orb or Witnesses.
The Company of the Orb is a legitimate sect that is governed by
The Heart, since outer space is viewed as a sort of holy land. It
is believed by most to be a stuffy, high-brow military club for
warbird officers. Activities related to outer space, the library,
and the workshop are, however, known only of the Witnesses and the
three Primates. The sect has full jurisdiction to immediately
pursue and at their entire discretion, eliminate thieves and those
who learned too much. The sect commands at least one warbird and an
experienced crew, and has authority to commandeer others if an
important discovery is at hand, provided warbirds are not put at
risk in doing so.