The Knights of the Silver Chalice
Lawful Good Secret Society
The Knights of the Silver Chalice are an organization dedicated to the noble ideals of Chivalry, The Reverence for the Goddess Dol Arrah, and the protection of Holy Relic known as the Silver Chalice of Dol Arrah. Ultimately, partisan loyalties and the wealth of aristocratic order were enough to tear it apart during the Last War. The Knights of the Silver Chalice have many members that are still alive and quite a few pretenders to the sacred rank but the knighthood itself, is extinct.
Background: The Knights of the Silver Chalice were founded by Galihon, the youngest son of Emperor Galifar and the only one that was not bequeathed a kingdom when the Emperor divied up the rulership of the Five Kingdoms. Galihon probed the ancient relics of the Dragons for a holy secret that would lead him to perfect Spiritual Enlightenment. Galihon, thus, found the Silver Chalice that he brought back to his father before he perished.
The Silver Chalice, according to legend, contains a drop of blood from the Platnium Dragon avatar of Siberys from before the Demon War. The relic possessed the power to raise the dead and bestow the status of Paladin upon any drinker that was of Lawful Good alignment. The Silver Chalice's defenders then set about the task of defending the whole of Khorvaire from the horrible ranks of Demonkind and the undead.
The Knights of the Silver Chalice's greatest member is Tira Mirron, whom went boldly forth to bind the horrific awakened spirit of Tsagourra that arose from the mirk and mire in Thrane. However, this action actually weakened the Knighthood of the Silver Chalice in the long run as much of their former duties of protecting the nations of Galifar from evil were subsumed by the fanatical new converts to the Silver Flame.
The Knighthood of the Silver Chalice gradually began accumulating vast amounts of wealth as membership became more about aristocratic pedigree than sincere desire to fight the forces of Darkness. Nevertheless, it continued to produce a number of true Paladins throughout its history and the name still is a curse to many of the Lords of Dust. Ultimately, it would be the last war that destroyed the organization.
The Knights of the Silver Chalice would be divided by the Last War with more than half of the organization resigning to fight in the War. Aundair, Karrnath, and Thrane all seized the wealth of the organization in order to help pay for the vast costs of the Last War. Most of the surviving members were slain in Cyre when the Mourning happened and only a small faction remained in both Throneport along with Breland. For all intents and purpsoes, the Knights of the Silver Chalice ceased to exist.
As a note, many relics of the Knights of the Silver Chalice are lost and a constant source of hope for treasure hunters. The Argentum and Mage Hounds are especially obsessed with seeking out relics of the organization in hopes of being able to use them for their own benefit. Thrane, rightly or wrongly, believes that they are entitled to all extant relics of the faith despite the fact that they don't worship Dol Arrah.
The Chalice itself was stolen by Zachery, a Knight of Pyriel along with the Sword Demonslayer.
Members: The Knights of the Silver Chalice tended to draw their members from the second and third sons of aristocracy of the Ir'Wynarn line. Many children of monarchs of Galifar's Five Nations, knowing they wouldn't inherit the throne, went on to honorable careers in the organization and interbred their lines with other members. Members were expected to take vows of chivalry, nobility, etiquette, piety, and defense of the weak. They were allowed to own property but expected to tithe. Some of them were quite romantic figures and most never took vows of chastity, let alone celibacy.
