Dorei Order

The Order of Poor Knights and Fellow-Soldiers of the Dorei River, referred to as the Dorei Order, is a secular, chivalric military order dedicated to the defense of the New Empire and its frontiers. It originated with the Dorei Militia, an international association of knights and volunteer soldiers founded in 799 that defended the villages of the Dorei river valley from Orcish raids and banditry when the feudal rulers of the land were unwilling to provoke the Orc Khans. With the start of the Second Orc War in 819, the Militia became the core of an allied army that rose up against the Orcs. Despite being a voluntary militia, it came to be the prime organizers of the war effort. This was helped by its diplomatic support from the Confessors, its access to resources and financing from the wealthy Templars, and a relationship of goodwill with the people of the valley. The Militia had, for almost twenty years, been the sole group standing up to defend the people, and many volunteered to join its ranks rather than serve the harsher conditions of feudal service. From the Militia's leadership emerged the future empress, Arya Hafwen, and her inner circle.

After the Orc War, the Militia disbanded. Most of the volunteer soldiers joined the Imperial Army, with the promise that they would be freed from all other feudal obligations. The knights refounded the militia as a chivalric order, organized itself on monastic principles similar to the Templar Order, but with a secular purpose and not dedicated to a contemplative religious life. It was recognized as a sovereign order of knights, and its Grandmaster represents the Order in the Imperial Assembly.