Rod and Shield
Motto
Might and Right
Symbol
A traditional symbol of this Order is a battlemage's rod and shield
The Manifesto
The Order of the Rod and Shield holds the following to be true:
- Magic can determine the outcome of battles and wars
- Magical power is essential in ensuring both the security, and necessary expansion of the Empire
- The Empire's enemies are capable of using magic, and the Empire must be able to counter them
The Order of the Rod and Shield therefore exists to:
- Promote the understanding and practical application of magic in military situations
- Encourage magicians to use their powers in defence of the Empire, even if they are not a warrior by calling
- Guide the use of Conclave resources for strategic and tactical use
Membership of the Order
The Order of the Rod and Shield is one of the oldest in the Conclave. They work hard to advance the use of martial magic. Many of their number are battle magicians, and it is common to see a Dawnish warwitch, an Imperial orc warcaster and a Varushkan Warden all rubbing shoulders during their meetings. They lobbied for the creation of the post of warmage, and they are the order who has provided the most magicians to that post. Indeed, a warmage from an order other than the Rod and Shield may come under pressure to join their ranks.
There is occasionally some conflict within the order between magicians who are versed in offensive spells and rituals; those whose magic is better suited to battlefield support, such as healing; and those who focus on providing enchantments to strengthen military units, campaign armies or create fortifications. For the most part though they are united by their shared understanding of the importance of magicians fighting for the Empire.
They are often at odds with the Order of the Golden Pyramid because that order sees them as encouraging magicians to be the servants of the Empire rather than receiving appropriate recompense and recognition for their skills. They often compete with the magicians of the Unfettered Mind for the position of Dean of the Lyceum, recognising that by gaining that position they can help research and codify the many powerful battlefield and strategic rituals that will help the Empire triumph over it's foes.
More often than any other order when it comes to gambits, the order tends to have more gambits than it can raise, and these gambits are often time sensitive - after all, there is no point enchanting a cadre of Navarr thorns after they have returned from a battlefield. It is common for members to approach other orders and arrange trades so that the Rod and Shield can get access to the Conclave's reserves to perform the powerful enchantments or battlefield rituals they find so useful.