KNIGHTS VIGILANT
The Knights Vigilant were formed during the second decade of the Araby Crusades, in response to increasingly bold Orc and Goblin
raids which threatened Brettonia's eastern holdings. The pride of Brettonian chivalry were away fighting to reclaim Estalia from the
southern invaders, and without the steel core of knightly cavalry to sustain them, Brettonian border militia and yeomen were hard
pressed to hold off the green-skinned marauders. In 1498 I.Y., a particularly large and vicious host of Savage Orcs and Forest
Goblins erupted from the dense woodlands at the foot of the Grey Mts. and cut a swath of wanton destruction across the Brettonian
heartland. Hastily-marshalled forces composed mainly of peasants, foresters and lowborn men-at-arms were dashed aside by the
racing horde of wild greenskins mounted on foaming, snorting boars and enormous chittering spiders, led by the powerful shaman
Thuzzgarsh and his War Wyvern, Chompa.
Word came to the port city of Bordeleaux that Thuzzgarsh's howling mass of Orcs and Goblins were headed directly for the coast,
and would surely be at their gates within seven days. The city's defenses were under the charge of the Lord-Marishal Theodule de
Bordeleaux, a great knight who had fought valiantly in the Crusades as a young warrior, and who had returned home after winning
considerable renown and suffering grievous wounds which put an end to a lifetime of adventure. Inspecting the walls, Lord Theodule
realised that the defenses would not withstand an assault by arachnids, flyers and the terrible power of the Waaaggghh!. He
determined to intercept the invaders outside the city. Lord Theodule gathered together a force of knights who had been brought
home from the crusades after suffering severe injuries or contracting illness in the southern lands. Many had fought with him in
Estalia, and as they rode out through the Eastern gates, scarred veterans who sported here an eyepatch, there a handless wrist
with reins looped around the shield-straps, Theodule knew that these iron-grey, iron-nerved men would not shrink from the
onslaught of monsters and crazed humanoids. Behind them followed the armed citizenry of the town, armed with bows, halberds and
axes.
The two armies met at the river-ford of Beaupoule. As the chanting masses of Orcs and Goblins surged across the narrow ford, the
veteran Knights spurred forward to meet them at lance's point. The savages were driven back from the banks and into the shallows.
Unable to secure both ends of the ford, the greater part of the greenskin army was bottled up on the far side of the river, which the
Brettonian citizens showered with missiles. The Knights fought on with sword and mace, refusing to yield the bank even when
assailed from the skies by Chompa and Thuzzgarsh. By midday, internecine fighting had broken out among the frustrated mobs on
the east side of the ford. Taking to the air to avoid the intense pain from the energies unleashed by the upsurge of Waagghh-energy,
Thuzzgarsh abandoned his onslaught against the tiring but defiant knights. At that moment the Brettonian rearguard arrived at the
battle, and quickly set up the town's artillery on the west bank. As the incessant volleys of arrows were joined by cannonballs and
war-machine bolts, the squabbling, leaderless greenskins turned their beasts and streamed back to the forests. Scarcely a handful
of knights remained holding the bank, but the ford -and the city- remained in Brettonian hands. Lord Theodule was rewarded richly
by the King, who instated him as the first Grand Master of the Knights Vigilant, an order dedicated to the defense of Brettonia's
borders.
The Knights Vigilant are doughty warriors, all of whom have already distinguished themselves in at least one foreign campaign or
perilous quest in strange lands. Their honour thus secure, they may in good conscience remain at home, patrolling the marches and
forming Brettonia's first ling of defence. These veterans are often somewhat burdened by old wounds and encroaching age, but they
are remarkable for their resolute defiance even in a realm known for the bravery of its warriors.
