Editing Thronebearers of Calanfer

The '''Thronebearers of Calanfer''', or just '''Thronebearers''', are a Knight Order in the service of the Eternal Throne of [[Calanfer]]. 

== Overview ==
Thronebearers are the primary Knight Order of Calanfer. Serving as both diplomat and soldier, they excel at politics and protecting their charges from court politics, However, they are considered weaker than other Terandrian Knight Orders in terms of military strength, as most of their training also involves education of court politics and social conventions. They were founded with the concept that they should be good at many tasks relating to diplomacy. 

They cost the crown tens or hundreds of thousands of gold coin annually to maintain. They are considered a net gain to the areas they patrol, and occasionally generate profit by slaying monsters with valuable parts or locating treasure.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2023/04/09/9-41-pt-1/ Chapter 9.41 (Pt. 1)]</ref>

Princesses of Calanfer are typically accompanied by a minimum of four Thronebearers. In a group assigned to be bodyguards, at least one must be capable of magic.<ref name=":1">[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/07/17/9-07/ Chapter 9.07]</ref> A group of ten Thronebearers is called a Ray of Dawn.<ref name=":4">{{VERef|10.00 L}}</ref>

By Thronebearer doctrine there needs to be at minimum three Thronebearers at all time for royal protection each with their own role; the Fool, Blade, and Bodyguard.<ref name=":4" />

=== Ranks ===

* Grandmaster of the order
* Lightherald - champion of the order
* Great Knight - one rank below the Lightherald<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2024/05/11/10-14/ Chapter 10.14]</ref>
* Knight Resplendent / Radiance Commander - High ranked member, below unique individuals and personal Knights of the monarchs
* First-Knight - leader of a group of Thronebearers
* Thronebearer
* Lightholder - The lowest rank of Thronebearers

==History==
Over four thousand years ago, Calanfer and [[Noelictus]] were at war, with the Thronebearers part of Calanfer's forces.<ref name=":3">Gravesong Book One</ref>

Two centuries ago, the Dawn Concordat's forces had broken against four armies. Archmage [[Az’kerash|Chandler]] arrived to help, intending to stall the enemy at Krawlnmak’s Pass. The Thronebearers and the Lightherald refused to retreat, pledging to hold as long as the Archmage did. They defended him as he raised the dead, then charged with him as he engaged with his rapier. They won the battle, having broken an army of four hundred thousand at the pass.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2021/04/04/interlude-paradigm-shift-pt-2/ Interlude - Paradigm Shift (Pt. 2)]</ref>

==Chronology ==

=== Gravesong ===
A contingent of Thronebearers led by Ser Dalimont escorted Princess [[Seraphel du Marquin|Seraphel]] through Noelictus for her wedding to the earl of Ovela. They were ambushed by a cabal of [Necromancers] who mistook the group as the escort of the local [Lord] of [[Afiele]], [[Lantal Afiele|Lantal]]. Seraphel managed to stall long enough for Lord Lantal and his men to arrive and killed the cabal, with only the [[Feren|leader]], Feremont escaping. The [Princess] and the Thronebearers stayed in Afiele until a better escort could be arranged and fugitive [Necromancer] was hunted down.

During their stay in Afiele, they looked down on the local retainers despite how they had saved them due to their wounded pride. To solve this, Lantal requested their aid in hunting down the [Necromancer], and would allow them to show off when putting down the local undead.

While at a tavern, some Thronebearers overheard [[Cara O'Sullivan]] disparaging the concept royalty, provoking a debate between her and them. The debate grew heated until one of the [Knights], Ser Vimel, tried to attack Cara. He was stopped by Feremont, who put him to sleep, and they left the establishment. They returned once they realized that Feremont was the necromancer they were searching for, but he was had already left.

When the village of Qet was attacked, the Thronebearers accompanied Lantal and his forces on Seraphel's orders. They fought the ghouls and [[Crypt Lords]] the villagers had been turned into, but were forced to retreat when they faced a [[Draugr]] and it killed one of them.

They fought in the siege of Adreissel with the people of Afiele against thousands of undead raised by Feremont from the compromised Tomb of Afiele. The walls were eventually felled by a Zombie Giant and they were forced to evacuate with Seraphel.

In battered armor, they stayed with Princess Seraphel when she stood with Afiele against the [Necromancer]. They protected her and Lord [[Culin Afiele|Culin]] as they advanced.<ref name=":3" />

=== Ghostsong ===

===Volume 7===
Thronebearers are present in Phel's Light, a port city in [[Pheislant]], when a funeral barge carrying the remains of Knights from various orders arrive.  [[Dalimont|Ser Dalimont]] is specifically mentioned and would have witnessed [[Cara O'Sullivan|Cara's]] performance when she went to the docks to pay her respects.<ref name=":0">[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/05/06/7-21-kq/ Chapter 7.21 KQ]</ref>

===Volume 8===
The Thronebearers fought along with the other members of the Dawn Concordat against [[Ailendamus]]. The Knightly Order started off by avoiding use of their high-level knights,<ref name=":2" /> but even the high-level knights and Lightherald had to join the battle eventually. They fought together with the forces of [[Tyrion Veltras]], The [[Order of Seasons]], and [[Eldavin]], but even still it was a hard battle. Their Lightherald died fighting against one of Ailendamus' Great Generals, [[Merila]]. A new Lightherald was temporarily chosen from the battle using a long distance [[Boon of the Princess|[Boon of the Princess]]] on [[Rabbiteater]].<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/03/17/8-74-dr/ Chapter 8.84 DR]</ref>

At the same time, another group of Thronebearers had journeyed to [[Izril]] in hopes of finding [[Lyonette du Marquin]].<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2021/09/26/8-45-o/ Chapter 8.45 O]</ref>

==Military Strength==
The Thronebearers are a fairly large [Knight] order, comprising of at least several thousand members and possibly over ten thousand.<ref name=":2">[https://wanderinginn.com/2021/02/14/8-07-l/ Chapter 8.07 L]</ref> They are led by their champion, the Lightherald of Calenfer. A member with the rank of First-Knight is at least Level 20.<ref name=":3" />

===Armor and Weapons===
Thronebearers wear golden armor polished to a bright shine.<ref name=":0" />  They are capable of concentrating their auras in order to coat their blades in magical light and effectively attack ghosts.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/05/13/7-23-lm/ Chapter 7.23 LM]</ref>

===Training===
Thronebearers serve as diplomats and bodyguards.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2021/05/30/8-24/ Chapter 8.24]</ref>  As such, Thronebearers take lessons in combat, language,<ref name=":0" /> and runecraft.<ref name=":1" /> They exercise for two hours daily.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2021/02/10/8-06-rt/ Chapter 8.06 RT]</ref>

===Lightherald===
The Lightherald is the most powerful member of the Thronebearers. Their power is derived from a variety of external factors including the most highly enchanted armor and greatsword from Calenfer's army as well as a Blessing given directly from the king of Calenfer. Their strength is highest at the dawn and weakest at night.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/03/12/8-69-te/ Chapter 8.69 T]</ref>

==Members==

===Known Members:===

*[[Boreid]]
*Collins - Illuminance rank<ref>{{VERef|10.48 VS}}</ref>
*[[Dalimont]]
*Iltorst (''Deceased'')<ref name=":3" />
*[[Isni]]<ref name=":4" />
*Julius<ref name=":3" />
*[[Kyetne]]<ref name=":4" />
*[[Lormel]]
*[[Loxlet]]<ref name=":4" />
*Merene<ref name=":3" />
*Nifvta<ref name=":3" />
*[[Sest]] (''Deceased'')
*[[Thiborist]] <ref>[[Huntsong Chapter 12 — Seraphel]]</ref>
*Tobb<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2023/10/24/9-63/ Chapter 9.63]</ref>
*[[Ushar]]
*[[Vensha]]
*Vimel Laudrel<ref name=":3" />

==== Lightholders ====
*[[Neranthei]]<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/10/07/7-50/ Chapter 7.50]</ref> - Assigned to [[Seraphel du Marquin|Princess Seraphel]]

==== Knights Resplendent / Radiance Commanders ====
* [[Thilowen]]

==== The Lightherald of Calanfer ====

* Currently vacant

==Trivia==

*It is the practice of the Order to return the bodies of their Knights home rather than burying them where they fall.<ref name=":0" />
*A common expression is ''"Never challenge a Thronebearer in court. Find him on the battlefield and beat him to death."''<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/06/28/9-03/ Chapter 9.03]</ref> Similarly, there's also "''Never challenge a Thronebearer off the battlefield.''"
*One tactic used by the Thronebearers is the Fool, the Blade, and the Bodyguard. Three Thronebearers take different roles: the Bodyguard protects their charge, the Blade eliminated the threat, with the aid of the Fool who throws themselves into danger to occupy the threat.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2023/11/26/9-67-pt-1/ Chapter 9.67 (Pt. 1)]</ref>

==References==
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[[Category:Groups/Organizations]]
[[Category:Knighthood Orders]]
[[Category:Thronebearers]]
[[Category:Thronebearers of Calanfer|*]]
[[Category:Terandria]]
[[Category:Calanfer]]