The Order of the Platinum Chalice ¶

Overview ¶

The Order of the Platinum Chalice is the knightly arm of Bahamut’s faith in Aru’Mas. While the temple in Temple Way serves as a ceremonial and administrative hub, the Order’s true work takes place in the city’s streets. Its members dedicate themselves to the protection of the innocent, the mediation of disputes, and the pursuit of justice tempered with mercy.

Though small in number compared to the entrenched Pathite Orders, the Chalice is visible and active in poorer districts, where their presence has earned both admiration and enmity.

Structure ¶

Knight-Commander: Currently held by Sir Ardan Marric, the dragonborn paladin who founded the Chalice. Though age and past wounds have lessened his role in the field, he continues to serve as the Order’s spiritual leader.

High Chalice-Bearer: Oversees rituals, priestly instruction, and the administration of the temple.

Chalice-Bearers: Clerics and priests who lead vigils, heal the sick, and support the knights in spiritual duties.

Knights of the Chalice: The martial arm of the faith, consisting of paladins, sworn knights, and secular warriors who have taken vows.

Squires and Initiates: Lay followers in training, many drawn from humble or refugee backgrounds who seek purpose in Bahamut’s service.

Works and Activities ¶

District Patrols: Knights regularly patrol Driftmoor Haven, the Spillway, and occasionally Ragmarket, providing protection where the city watch is weakest.

Arbitration: The Order offers free, impartial mediation of disputes. This practice is central to their holy day, the Day of Justice, but is carried out throughout the year as well.

Protection and Charity: The Order maintains soup kitchens, shelters, and safe houses for the destitute, funded by tithes and donations.

Visible Vigilance: Members wear silver-blue tabards marked with a chalice spilling flame. Their presence is both reassurance to the vulnerable and warning to oppressors.

The “Gather and Give” Principle ¶

The Order interprets Bahamut’s draconic edict of Gather and Give through strict communal responsibility:

Knights: Expected to carry fine arms and armor, but spoils of conflict are tithed to the Order for redistribution to the poor or for communal defense.

Clergy: All offerings and donations are directed into relief efforts, framing prosperity as a trust to be shared.

Lay Followers: Merchants and artisans tithe portions of their earnings, while laborers often contribute through time, skill, or service. Refugees are encouraged to first seek stability, then to give back when able.

Relations ¶

Church of the Threefold Path: The Pathite clergy tolerate the Chalice’s presence but regard them as rivals for influence. Some accuse them of reckless activism, while others quietly admire their courage.

Other Temples: Space in Temple Way is contested, and disputes often arise with neighboring shrines, particularly those charging for arbitration or blessings.

The Nobility: The Order’s popularity among the poor makes nobles uneasy, and some view the Chalice as a destabilizing political force.

Criminal Gangs: Groups such as the Iron Boots and Dragon’s Claws regularly clash with the Order. To the gangs, the Chalice is both a hated enemy and a mark of honor to stand against.

Founder: Sir Ardan Marric ¶

Origins: A dragonborn paladin who arrived aboard a Starleaper vessel nearly four decades ago.

Vision: Marric claimed to have received a vision of Bahamut’s chalice spilling silver flame across Aru’Mas, cleansing it of corruption.

Legacy: Marric purchased the hall that became the Platinum Chalice’s temple and personally led early campaigns against gangs and corrupt officials. Though now elderly, he continues to serve as Knight-Commander and spiritual leader.

Prospects ¶

The Order of the Platinum Chalice remains small but influential, particularly in districts underserved by civic authority. Their willingness to confront both gangs and corruption has won them admiration among common folk and suspicion among elites. Should their numbers continue to grow, the Chalice could become a decisive force in the civic and spiritual life of Aru’Mas, challenging the monopoly of Pathite Orders. Type Religious, Holy Order Location Temple Way …

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