Shrine Knights

History
As a result of the devastation of the Revolution, a growing disillusionment with the nobility grew among the smallfolk. Progressively, they began to turn to God for comfort and safety. A new order cult emerged from this disillusioned mass, who called themselves the Shrine Knights. They believed that all, high and lowborn alike, were equal in the eyes of the Gods and that they shouldn't tolerate their excesses.

In the third year AR, Lord Rohar Rollingford and a Shrine Knight approached king Paxtan Dustin of Granbretan and Tavion Caswell of Corona, and proposed creating a monastic order to protect and spread their religion. King Dustin and King Caswell agreed to the request.

With this blessing, the Shrine became a favoured charity throughout Farindon Republic and the other kingdoms, receiving money, land, businesses, and noble-born sons from families who were eager to help with the fight in the name of their God. Another major benefit came in 139AR, when the Grand Master at that time exempted the order from obedience to local laws. This ruling meant that the Shrine Knights could pass freely through all borders, were not required to pay any taxes, and were exempt from all authority except that of the grand master.

Based on this mix of donations and business dealing, the Templars established financial networks across the whole of Farindon. They acquired large tracts of land, they bought and managed farms and vineyards; they were involved in manufacturing, import and export; they had their own fleet of ships.