Book Two

Knights of Christ


Modern Disposition

"A knight must be merciful without wickedness, affable
without treachery, compassionate towards the suffering,
and open handed. He must be ready to help the needy and
to confound robbers and murderers, a just judge without
favour or hate. He must prefer death to dishonour. He must
protect the Holy Church for she cannot defend herself."
     - Lancelot, Vulgate Cycle, Chretien.

NATURE:

     The nature of the Militant Orders have changed little during
the centuries, though they have by no means lost touch with
the times. Military doctrine has adapted to modern weapons
and fighting techniques, as have training and behavioural
codes.
     The knights are still required to be monks - as it is only
through the sacrifice of their freedom that they gain the
blessing of their powers through God. The strict nature of
The Rule has been relaxed slightly, allowing knights to talk
at meals, to wear a variety of clothes, gain wide ranging
information about their Order and retain ties with their
family.
     A much less rigorous form of The Rule applies to Novices
who are often drawn from the diverse general community.
Known as The Code, It allows them to maintain a normal
life outside of the Order, but ensures they lead pious
enough a life to retain some measure of True Faith.

LOCATION:

     Since the re-establishment of the Orders in the 1980s, each
has established headquarters associated with their history.
This link with the past is a sign that these properties have
become Holy Ground, inherently blessed by the Church
Knights' presence. This power now serves to protect the
senior members of the Orders, their traditions, secrets and
supplies.
     While each Order has its headquarters, the combatant
knights are rarely found there. It would be too easy to place
such prominent places under intensive surveillance. Once
the knights are off the Holy Ground, they are vulnerable to
the powers of the undead.
     Knights rely upon the masses for their security. Once an
individual knight has mingled with a community and has a
secure alternate identity, it is extremely difficult to track him
down. A knight is at most danger when actively tracking
down vampiric activity or engaging them in combat - but
the danger of discovery is always there.
     However, each headquarters is an important place of respite
and security. Knights must gather at the centre of their
respective Order to elect a new Grand Master. Vital
assemblies cannot be trusted to any other place.

Hospitallers:
     The militant arm of the Knights Hospitaller has been
granted their old castle on Valletta Harbour, Malta. The
charitable arm of the Order retain their presence at the
Vatican, Bonn, The Hague and London - though all support
their militant brothers as of old.

Templars:  
     The Templars would love to return to the place from which
they derived their name - The Temple of the Mount - but
continued conflict between Israel, the Arab nations and
Christian denominations makes this unlikely. As a result,
the remote Scottish Rosslyn Castle is the apparently
unlikely base of the ancient Order. However, the history of
the survival of the Knights Templar after the Inquisition is
strongly linked with this region - a fact commemorated by
their continued association.

Teutones: 
     The charitable nursing Teutonic Order can still be found in
two European cities: Vienna and Amsterdam. The militant
arm has regained its castle at Marienburg - once the heart of
their vanquished Prussian empire.

DOCTRINE:

     Each Order would only have about 100 combatant knights -
making them a stretched and valuable resource. Novices
number about three per knight, give or take a few. Not all
are combatants, though. Some serve in scientific and
support roles, others can be found in almost all walks of
life.
     Knights are sent to "hot spots" on need, using the
sovereign diplomatic status of their respective Order's to
gain entry to a country or the less noticeable international
espionage network established for the purpose over the
centuries by the Hospitallers.
     Once in a "combat zone", often a city where vampires have
been detected, the knights "disappear" into the general
populace, using their Order's contacts among the Masons,
the Church, paramedic organisations etc for support.
     Active knights must disperse among the population seeking
safety in separation. If one knight is tracked down, he will
be the only one in direct danger. Dead-letter boxes,
ambiguous pager calls and secure mobile phones or radios
are the main means of communication between a dispersed
combat team.  The knights only gather for major briefings
or combat.

Militant Organisation

"Every brother who is professed in the Holy service
should, through fear of the flames of Hell, give total
obedience to the Master; for nothing is dearer to Jesus
Christ than obedience, and if anything be commanded by
the Master or by one to whom he has given his power, it
should be done without demur as if it were a command
from God . . . for you must give up your own free will."
     - The Rule of the Templars, as recorded by scribe John
     Michael at the Council of Troyes, 1128.

     The Militant Orders have significant differences in their
religious and combat doctrines. To understand the nature of
this difference, simply look at the relationship between the
Catholic and Anglican Churches. Essentially, they agree to
disagree - from major aspects of doctrine through to minor
elements of Church decor. The same is true of the knights.
     The Teutonic knights converted to Lutheranism during the
Reformation - something for which the Papacy has never
forgiven them.
     The Templars conducted extensive research into the origins
of the Church and came up with a different ideology from
that of mainstream Catholicism - something the Papacy has
never forgiven them for.
     The Hospitallers remain basically Catholic, though they
tend to be a little more broad minded than most. Because of
their first hand experience with medicine, the Hospitallers
have always been a strong advocate of science - something
for which the Papacy has never forgiven them. Internally,
the structure of the Militant Orders are the same. The
Hospitaller's military system was copied from the
Templars, and the Teutonic knights were basically "little
Templars" from the start. This similarity in organisation has
been a major factor in the cooperation between the Orders
during the Cleansing Crusade. The individual differences
between the Militant Orders are described later in the text.
Highest among the Militant Orders is the Grand Master.
The lowest is that of novice. Ranks correspond to the
amount of experience and Faith individual knights attain.
     * Associate:  A member of the public with a Faith rating of
at least one. Usually involved in the service industries, such
as a mechanic, technician, accountant, etc. These members
of the Orders do the general run-of-the mill work which
could compromise a knight.
     * Novice:  Very few people have True Faith - even fewer
attain the higher levels. The Novice is basically an initiate of
the Militant Orders with low levels of True Faith - though
not yet a knight or a monk. Novices must have a Faith
rating of at least 1, progressing past level 4 before
undergoing the knighthood initiation ceremony. While they
benefit from intense training in their fields of speciality, as
well as combat, they are not taught the specific Way's
applicable to each Order. Only fully initiated knights may be
taught their Order's secret powers. Most novices never
attain this honour, but serve their Orders through their
professions - such as doctor, accountant, merchant, soldier,
hacker etc. Novices are the single largest group within the
Orders. They are called upon when needed, operating under
the supervision of a fully ranked knight.
     * Knight Sergeant: The first true knight holds the rank of
Sergeant. They are the lowest ranked initiated knight, with
Faith ratings that must be five or greater. Their Faith gives
them some important powers to help nullify the
supernatural advantages of their enemy, and their training is
comprehensive. There are generally three Sergeants per knight
Lieutenant - the basic cell of the Militant Orders.
     * Knight Lieutenant: These are Brothers of the Orders who
have attained the respect of their colleagues and have had
some experience fighting the Kindred. The Lieutenants
have a close relationship with their men, somewhat akin to
that of a corporal in the standard military. Their powers
increase with their Faith, and to take full advantage of this
their training is considerably more intense. A Lieutenant has
under his command three Sergeants and a Page. In a
campaign, only the knight Lieutenant knows the means of
contacting all his men, and the identity of his immediate
commander. This is follows the "pyramid" security system
which reduces the impact of an exposed Brother.
     * Knight Captain: Directly under a Captains control are
between two to four knight Lieutenants. Strategic command
for particular regions rest in the hands of Captains, as does
command of actions involving more than one Brotherhood
cell.
     * Knight Preceptor: In their territories, the Preceptors are of
equal authority to that of the Master, and only relinquish it
if the Master himself is with them. In matters of policy,
they are led by the Master, but are directly responsible for
the men under their command.
     * Knight Draper: The Drapers duties are not military. He is
responsible for everything concerning the brothers clothing
and bedding, personal equipment and lodgings. The
accounting and maintenance of the Orders is a massive task,
and the Draper has a large personal staff.
     * Knight Commander: He is responsible for the health and
well-being of the brothers, organising the protection of the
wider community and the safeguarding of Holy Relics. The
Commander also oversees any research into physiological
aspects of the Kindred.
     * Knight Marshal: Not only is the Marshal third in
command, but he is also the supreme military commander
controlling the allocation of arms and equipment, deciding
on tactics and strategy, and leading major battles against the
enemy.
     * Seneschal: This is the second-in-command to the Grand
Master. He is the guardian of the Standard, and acts for the
Master in his absence. Generally, he acts as consultant and
as an "authority figure" where needed. If a Grand Master is
killed, the Seneschal acts in his place until a Chapter of
senior knights is held at the first available opportunity.
     * Grand Master: While the most powerful of all the knights,
he is not a dictator. For while every brother is responsible
to him, he in turn is responsible to the Order as a whole.
His position, directly comparable to that of an Abbot, gives
him powers and privileges, but both are limited. In
important decisions he is obliged to consult a Chapter of
knights; and though his voice is influential, he has only one
vote. In matters of war, he has to consult with the knight
Marshal, in matters of health and morale - the knight
Commander, in matters of accounting and general policies -
the Seneschal, and with equipment and procurement - the
Draper.

FORMING A CHAPTER

     A Chapter of 12 members is necessary to decide any major
issues affecting an Order, to elect a new officer or to invest
a new member. The seniority of knights present should
reflect the seriousness of the issue: for example, the 12
should be senior officers and preceptors when electing a
new Grand Master - while the Chapter can simply be an
assembly of 12 knights from a particular preceptory when
judging an applicant for novitiate status. The process is
formal, rooted deep in the histories of the Orders. The most
senior knight is allowed to choose one other to help him
select a further two members. The assembled four then
must select another four. The assembled eight must then
choose four novices. The assembled 12 must then choose
another - usually a member of the clergy (the Orders do
have their own) - to act as Chaplain (essentially a chairman
who also leads the prayers). The full chapter must consist
of eight knights and four novices. These represent the 12
Apostles, and the Chaplain the guidance of Jesus Christ.

Novitiate

"Once you know that the Church is being continually worn 
down by such a succession of disasters and by so many 
deaths of the sons of God as a result of the oppression of 
the pagans, we believe that not one of you will lie low. We 
urge you . . to do your utmost to defend your brothers and 
to liberate the Churches."
     - Pope Calixtus II, 1123.

     Becoming a novice is no small honour. It is a sign that a
person has True Faith and a high degree of intelligence and
skill - each rare enough possessions in these troubled times.
     The Initiation Ceremony is designed to bring the applicant
under Gods scrutiny. As a novice or knight, the measure of
one's Pious behaviour is reflected in the Blessings available
to them. Essentially they are placed under Gods judgement
- effective immediately, not only on Judgement Day.
Apart from True Faith, there is little or no restrictions on
who can become a novice. However, gaining entry to the
Militant Orders requires a high degree of dedication,
devotion and commitment - something which many people
are unable to give.
     Becoming a novice involves putting one's own life - and
those of their families - at risk. For fighting the Kindred is a
bloody business. It is a case of find or be found. Kill or be
killed. This risk cannot be over-emphasised. This is not a
monastic Order where monks can lock themselves away from reality
in a safe and controlled artificial environment. Church
Knights are at the forefront of the fight against evil. As a
result, they are frequently exposed to the "underside" of
humanity - a compassionless world of crime, corruption,
greed, lust and debauchery.

ASSOCIATES

     Often trustworthy people may not want to commit
themselves to the strict and demanding life of the Church
Knights, but still desire to provide assistance where
possible. These people can be recognised as associates,
linked to an Order through prayer and irregular contact.
     Associates can be called upon for non-combat related tasks
at any time - though they do not have to respond.
Essentially, they provide a place of respite, care and
support in times of need. Often, they will be asked  to use
their skills or community influence to prepare the way for
the arrival of fully fledged knights and novices.
     No secrets of great import are trusted to these people -
mostly for their own protection. If an associate feels in any
way threatened, the Order to which he is linked must
respond to protect them and their family.

BECOMING A NOVICE

     There is no rigid method of becoming a novice of any
Order. Usually, first contact is made through
recommendation and necessity. For example, active knights
in a region may urgently require medical assistance. A
trusted (and vetted) priest may recommend a doctor in his
congregation as being a pious and good man who would
treat the wounds without question. Thus, the doctor
becomes an Associate - a trusted and valued "friend" of the
Orders.
     The experience the knights have with this doctor and their
observations of his behaviour may prompt the senior officer
to invite him into service. If the response is positive, the
good doctor must open up his past to scrutiny and
repeatedly demonstrate the degrees of willingness and
resilience necessary for acceptance.
     Once the senior knight (usually a Knight Captain) is
satisfied, the applicant can then be taken to the nearest
Preceptory for further questioning and analysis. The Knight
Captain must recommend the applicants service and take on
all responsibility for his behaviour and safety.
     People who have actively sought out the Militant Orders to
become a knight or novice are looked upon with suspicion.
Usually this means they have an alternate motive - personal
revenge or aggrandisement being the most common.
Occasionally such people are plants, put there to try and
infiltrate the Orders.

ACCEPTANCE

     To accept a new novice into the ranks of the Church
Knights, a special gathering of the local Chapter must be
convened. The local knights can meet at any church, or
even their local preceptory if convenient. In the presence of
the knights and a member of the clergy, the new novice
must declare his desire to join their ranks and commit his
life to God. The novice must vow to uphold the tenets of
The Code - though the Rule of Poverty does not yet apply.
     The applicant novice can then choose the Order he is to
become a member of and declare the means by which he
can serve best. All novices and knights of the Order he has
chosen have the right to question the applicant - and even
demand demonstrations of skill and knowledge.
     The most senior knight of his chosen Order will then
administer a portion of the Investiture ceremony used for a
full knight:
     "You seek what is a great thing, but you do not know the
strong precepts of the Order; for you see us from the
outside, well dressed, well mounted, and well equipped,
but you cannot know the austerities of the Order. Can you
bear these things for the honour of God and the safety of
your soul?"
     The novice must reply in the affirmative, stating he will
bear all things in the service of God.
     The ceremony concludes with the senior knight stating:
"Go, may God make you worthy men."
     The equipment which belongs to his position among the
knights will then be presented to him: his novitiate robes, a
bayonet, handgun and communications gear.
Once a Novice is accepted and undergone their essential
military and occult training it is likely they will return the
community, not to be called upon for several years for
anything other than refresher courses. Others may be forced
to discard their previous lives altogether - so vital is their
contribution to the Order.

TRAINING

     If a Novice proves suitable, he/she will be taught the skills
found in Fighting Techniques over two years - often
involving excursions to the African Horn for extensive field
training.
     All novices are then taken away for intensive paramilitary
and occult training.
     Training includes:
          Firearms/sword handling
          Personal security
          Vampire/Mage/Lupine/Faerie Law
with compulsory specialisations in one of (detailed in
Character Creation):
          Signals
          Munitions
          Medical
          Intelligence
Once the basic course is completed, the Novice may then
choose a field of speciality. This can range from brain
surgery to bomb disposal - so long as his new Order will
benefit. Only full knights of higher True Faith levels are
taught the advanced Rituals and Prayers which serve to
negate many powers of more senior vampires.

Investiture

"It was not pedantry, . . . observance of the Rule, but
custom, and faith, and obedience to their monastic vows,
all of joined together with their duty as warriors of Christ to
make their Order, and without which the Order would not
be."
     - The Last of the Templars, William Watson.

     This dramatic and emotion-charged investiture ceremony is
designed to ensure the applicant has a True Faith rating of at
least five and is absolutely committed to a life of complete
devotion to the Militant Order. When the Rule of the
Templars (later to be adopted by the Militant arms of the
Teutones and Hospitallers) was created at the Council of
Troyes in 1128, so was the basis for what was later to
become known as the Investiture. While the ceremony grew
and evolved throughout the decades, its present form is
based upon that used about 1290 and recorded by young
knight called Gerard de Caux. According to de Caux, the
ceremony begins with the presentation of the postulant
before an assembled chapter of knights led by at least one
Knight Preceptor. The most senior officer among the
chapter of knights makes the following speech:
     "Good brother knights, you see well that most of you have
agreed to make (this man) a brother; if there is any one of
you who knows any reason why he should not, in law,
become a brother, let him say it now, for it is better that
such a thing should be said before rather than after this man
has come among us."
     If there are no objections, the postulant is then taken to an
adjoining room and questioned by the eldest and most
senior knights of the Order. He is asked formally if he
wishes to join the brotherhood of warrior-monks, and, if
replies in the affirmative, then shown "the charitable
commandments and the great hardness of the house (The
Rule)."
     The postulant must be made to understand clearly that upon
entering the Order he would "willingly undergo everything
for God and would be the servant and slave of the house
for ever, for all the days of your life."
     Then the postulant is asked about his marital status, any
binding vows or commitments, unpaid debts, the state of
his health and whether he was bound legally to any
organisation or man. If any of the replies were not
according to The Rule, the postulant must be barred from
entry. Once the elders are satisfied with the answers, they
return to the chapter without the postulant to recommend
him to their service. The postulants replies are repeated to
the gathering so that no subversive rumour may disturb his
welcome to the ranks. The Master, or the officer in charge,
then asks the chapter if they wish "in the name of God"
that the man should join. The reply from the chapter should
be:
     "In the name of God, let him do so."
     Only then is the postulant again allowed into the
chapterhouse. Kneeling in the pose of prayer, he must
make this formal request:
     "Sire, I have come before God, before you and the
brothers, and I beg and require you in the name of God and
of Our Lady to accord to me your company and the benefits
of the house, as one who will henceforth always be its
servant and slave."
     The Master then replies:
     "Good brother, you are asking a great thing, for you see
only the outer shell of our religion; you see that we have
good horses, good harnesses, good food and drink and
clothes, and it may seem to you that you will be at ease
here. But you do not know the strong commandments
which are within; for it is a difficult thing that you, who are
lord of yourself, should make yourself the servant of
another. You will hardly do anything that wish: if you want
to be in Europe, you may be sent beyond the seas; if you
wish to be in Acre, you may be sent to Tripoli, or Antioch,
or Armenia. If you wish to sleep, you may be awakened,
and if you are wakeful you may be ordered to lie down.
Good brother, can you suffer well all these hardships?"
     The postulant should answer:
     "Yes, I will suffer all that is pleasing to God."
     The Master responds:
     "Good Brother, in our company you must not seek lordship
or riches, nor honour, nor bodily ease. You must seek three
things: to renounce and reject the sins of this world; to do
the service of Our Lord; and to be poor and penitent.
Will you promise to God and Our Lady that hence-forth, all
the days of your life, you will obey the Master of the
Temple and any commander placed above you?
That you will live in chastity, without personal property?
That you will uphold the good customs of this house?
That you will help, in so far as you are able, to conquer the
Holy Land?
That you will never leave the Order, neither through
strength nor weakness, neither in worse times nor better?"
     If the postulant is still determined to join, and if the chapter
still agrees, then the Master must pronounce the words of
acceptance:
     "In the name of God, of Our Lady, of St Peter (or the
Order's particular patron saint) and of our father the pope,
we accord to you, to your father, your mother and all those
of your lineage whom you wish, the benefits of this house,
as they have been from its beginning and will be until its
end. And you, you accord to us all the benefits which you
have and will have; and we promise you bread and water,
and hardship, and work, and the poor robe of the house."
     As the master speaks, members of the chapter bring the
new knight the robes of the Order and place it over his
shoulders. After this, a sword belonging to the Order is
handed to the knight which he must unsheathe and hold
before him hilt-up - forming the sign of the Holy Cross.
"Take this sword; its brightness stands for faith, its point
for hope, its guard for charity. Use it well."
     The Rule of the Order is read aloud as the new knight
kneels before the altar. Once completed, the most senior
knight concludes with: "Go, may God make you worthy
men."

The Code

"I tell you, the Lord has not done this for any other
generation before, nor has he lavished on our fathers a gift
of grace so copious. Look at the skill he is using to save
you. Consider the depth of his love and be astonished,
sinners. . . He comes from heaven to help you in your
necessity. This is a plan not made by man, but proceeding
from the heart of divine love."
     - St Bernard of Clairvaux, 1147, De laude novae militiae

THE MODERN RULE

     The strict monastic code of the 12th century no longer
applies to all members of the Militant Orders. Novices and
associates are bound by a separate, though similar, doctrine
known as The Code. This Code reflects the strictures of the
Ten Commandments, Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven
Virtues. These can be found in the Character Creation
section in the chapter on Piety.
     Modern knights, however, must live a monastic life of self
sacrifice based upon The Rule, without the era-specific
regulations (this will be explained at the end of the chapter
The Rule ).
     The Code provides a philosophy more in keeping and
sympathetic to modern ideology while still promoting the
essential Christian tenets of Faith. However, the sacrifices
detailed under The Rule are a vital component of gaining
Holy favour and the blessings of miraculous powers. Once
a novice understands the meaning of, and is prepared to
accept, the full Rule as his means of worship - only then is
he eligible to gain full knight status.

The Code Of Service:

     New initiates vow to become a servant and slave of the
Order for ever. The essential promises  are to renounce and
reject the sins of this world, to do the service of the Lord,
and to be poor and penitent. Loyalty and obedience is the
core of everyday life. The Militant Orders were among the
first to introduce the concept of instant obedience to military
service. Novices are taught that obedience could make the
difference between victory and defeat in an ever-changing
battlefield environment. Many battles were lost during the
Middle Ages because secular knights led their own charge
against the enemy, ignoring the orders of their battle
commander. Often, the only difference in the quality of the
Warrior Monks and normal knights was their fighting
discipline - not individual skills.

Holy Violence: 

     This concept was developed during the 4th and 5th
centuries, and was widely touted during the time of the
Crusades. Its basis was that violence was not evil, but was
morally neutral. Moral colouring was drawn from the
intention of the perpetrator, which could be loving - or
hatred.  Any perpetrator of Christian violence had to have
the right intentions. They also needed a just cause, because
violence could only be resorted to in response to previous
injury in the form of aggression, menaces, tyranny or
invasion. Acts of violence had to be authorised by a
legitimate authority, who could be a minister of God or a
king. Fortunately for the knights, most preceptors also held
the rank of minister - so they could order their own
violence. However, Christ's intentions for mankind are
believed to be at risk if violence is overused. Essentially,
violence against the pagans was considered an act of
Christian charity and loving concern.

The Code Of Parley:

     The code of parley is designed to avoid unnecessary
conflict. Essentially, the code calls for Novices to hold
discussions with the enemy before combat becomes
inevitable. Militant Order members and their enemies meet under
a flag of truce to discuss their differences, often in the
presence of an independent intermediary. In the Cleansing
Crusade, this involves an initial declaration to a domain that
the knights are present - ready to accept any vampire's
repentance, or to kill them. The code does not end there.
During the course of conflict, Parley can also be called for
extraordinary matters, issues of honour or surrender terms.
Knights and Novices are compelled to answer such a call - under
truce - but not to answer all questions or agree to all
demands.

The Code Of Courage:

     Courage is possibly the single most important tenet
applicable to any knightly Order. Courage in the face of the
enemy is what makes a knight different from the
footslogger or mercenary, and is a compelling tradition
moulded by the blood of knights over countless
generations. About 2000 knights Hospitaller successfully
defended Malta against 40,000 Turks in 1565. At the end of
the battle, 600 Hospitallers remained - but only 10,000
Turks left the island alive. In another battle, 200 Templars
valiantly stood against a massive invading army. Only two
lived to tell of the defeat. Such traditions are compelling,
and many a Novice's honour is based on the concept.

The Code Of Fighting Proficiency:

     Honing skills with the sword, lance and bow occupied
most of a knights spare time during the Crusades. Similar
principles apply today. Skill with the blade, guns and
martial arts are a constant arena of competition among the
warrior monks. Much honour and status is gained through
proficient skills, but honour is also gained through
innovative ways of avoiding their use.  A Novice or Knight
who cannot demonstrate high standards of combat skills is
retired from active service into administration.

The Code Of Piety:

     This is the dutiful devotion to God and observance of
religious principles. Aside from being warriors, Templars,
Hospitallers and Teutones are primarily monks. All are
required to take an oath, including monastic principles such
as chastity and perpetual worship. Prayers had to be offered
to God at regular times each day - though knights in action
or on a mission were permitted to offer silent homage.
Novices, while not full monks, are still Churchmen of rank
and status. They are permitted to be married - though this
does make life difficult, like any soldier. Personal
possessions are also permitted.

The Code Of Honour:

     The concept of personal integrity, allegiance to moral
principles. It includes strict observance of all other tenets of
chivalry. Personal honour is not the issue - but the honour
of the Order is everything. An Order's prestige is enhanced
through acts of social service, courtesy and tolerance.
Novices must never do anything to bring the honour of his
Order into disrepute.

The Code Of Generosity:

     A willingness to give away one's money and time freely,
without expectation of reward or favour. Generosity toward
the poor, infirm and generally needy is a vital part of a
Novices honour and oath. Ensuring the physical and
spiritual safety of the innocent populace is a prime concern,
and is the underlying cause of the knights existence.

The Rule

"Have I not been obedient to the Rule? The Rule is the 
bones of my body, it runs from my feet to my head, and it 
is in my arms; these fingers. . . The Rule is my marrow. 
Am I not also garbed in the Rule, for it tells me what I 
wear/ The Rule is within me and about me. It is my hand 
when I fight and tells me what my weapons are. Within and 
Without."
     - The Last of the Templars, William Watson.

     The Rule is the tortuously detailed document stipulating
every element of a Church Knight's life. When compiled in
1127, during the formal recognition of the Order of the
Temple by the Pope, it was made as comprehensive as
possible. The original 72 articles of its original Latin
version covered everything the councillors could think of,
from general religious procedure to the knight's daily diet.
Its religious aspects were similar to those of any monastery,
and were generally Benedictine in tone: The brothers were
to pray together at appointed times each day, or, if they
were absent from the Preceptory, to recite various numbers
of paternosters. Meals were held in silence, and silence was
maintained at night. The brothers were instructed to care for
any sick or elderly members of the Order, and to have mass
said for the souls of their dead; and after the death of a
brother, they were to feed a pauper for 40 days. They were
forbidden to hunt any animal except the Lion and other
dangerous beasts which have threatened a community.
Hunting was considered too close to the life of an ordinary
knight, and threatened to awaken sinful pleasures within the
knights of Christ.
     The Rule stated: "The company of women is a perilous
thing, for through them the ancient demon denied us the
right to live in Paradise; and therefore women may not be
received as sisters into the Order. . . and we believe it is
dangerous for any religious man to look too much at
women's faces. And so none of you should presume to
kiss a woman, neither widow, nor maiden, nor mother, nor
sister, nor aunt, or any other woman; therefore knights of
Christ must flee from women's kisses."
     The Brothers were forbidden to act as godparents, the
councillors fear was that a longing for normal family life
would be stirred in the knights by the relationship. Partly
for the same reason, children were forbidden from entering
the Order.  This portion of the Rule does not apply to
modern knights.
     The Templars were from the beginning determined only to
accept mature men who came forward on their own wish
and conviction.
     Their clothing was regulated, according to the Order's
particular uniform. Brothers could not have any personal
property; everything was held in common. A gift to any one
brother was a gift to all; not even a personal letter could be
read privately. Personal pride was seen as one of the root
causes of jealousy and strife, and sought to prevent its
appearance anywhere within the Order. No pennants on
lances, no jewels on armour, no pointed shoes, no
excessive talking or laughter. Instead, poverty, chastity and
humility were demanded. But even above these three
qualities was obedience.
     A system of practical punishments was included, ranging
from small penances through to humiliating acts such as
eating one's food off the floor. Some were expelled from
the Order, others were starved to death in cells.
     Everything in the Rule was intended to bring about, if
necessary to enforce, a communal way of life - an
abrogation of the individual in favour of the corporate
Order.
     The most honoured Churchman of the Crusades, St
Bernard, summed up the philosophy of the Militant Orders
in an open letter calling for recruits.
     "The warriors are gentler than lambs and fiercer than lions,
wedding the mildness of the monk with the valour of the
knight, so that it is difficult to decide which to call them:
men who adorn the Temple of Solomon with weapons
instead of gems, with shields instead of crowns of gold,
with saddles and bridles instead of candelabra: eager for
victory - not fame; for battle not for pomp; who abhor
wasteful speech, unnecessary action, unmeasured laughter,
gossip and chatter, as they despise all vain things: who, in
spite of their being many, live in one house according to
one rule, with one soul and one heart."
     The Rule of the Templars was based on the Rule of St
Benedict of Nursia (Benedictine Monks) and the Cistercian
Monks, of which St Bernard of Clairvaux was a member.
Its initial form was created by St Bernard and Hugh de
Payns at the Council of Troyes, about AD1128.
     The original Rule was essentially the following:

     To become a knight an applicant must have been of legal
adult age, a volunteer, and debt-free.
     Applicants must serve at least one full year as a Novice
before attempting to become a Knight.
     A knight required at least two horses, one a war-horse
and the other a lighter breed for travelling. Each knight
needed at least one squire to help him into his equipment
and carry extra weapons and his heavy shield (which was
worn hung around the neck during battle), one hand used
on the reigns and the other on his weapon. The squire (or
during the earlier years, sergeant at arms) required his own
horse and basic weaponry.
     A Templar could have no personal possessions other than
those provided by the Order (such as his armour). This was
defined as three horses, clothing, two towels, a hat, two
shirts, a long-sleeved tunic, a white robe, a white robe lined
with wool for winter, chain mail, white surcoat with Rose
Crosse, a helmet, and horse tackle, with the sword, shield,
lance, knife, axe and mace of his trade. Other personal gear
allocated to each knight (basically the first "kit-bag" since
Roman times) included a bedding, a swag and eating
utensils. The modern equivalent of this equipment list is
defined in the chapter Uniform and Equipment.
     No clothing was allowed to have any form of decoration -
the emphasis on quality other than gaudiness. This
uniformity provided a strong esprit de corps - (which
essentially means the opposite to humility).
     Knights were permitted to eat meat and were forbidden to
fast.
     The major prayers for the day were conducted during the
morning, leaving the afternoon free for training and
maintenance of their craft.
     Knights keeping watch, or travelling, were given
exemptions from attending chapel for prayers - though
suitable number of paternosters (essentially prayer-
formulas) had to be spoken or thought of at the appropriate
times.
     Designated chores had to be completed in the morning
and afternoon which involved cleaning and maintaining
their gear, inspecting their horses and weapons proficiency.
Any knight who failed in these duties or was found with
poorly maintained equipment was disciplined.
     The concept of full and immediate obedience enforced
among the Knights of Christ was a unique concept of the
time. Most secular knights simply obeyed a command when
it suited them. Many battles were lost because of impetuous
charges at the wrong time by small groups of knights,
causing confusion among the main body.
     A Knight was denied maintaining associations with his
family.
     A knight was forbidden to act as a godfather as it may
invoke feelings of family outside the Order.
     Knights were not allowed to kiss or embrace any woman
(including mothers and sisters), and they were not
permitted in any house where a woman was giving birth.
     Homosexuality was considered a serious offence.
     St Bernard stipulated that white lambskin girdles were to
be worn by the knights at all times as a reminder of their
vows of chastity - even when going to bed.
     No-one was allowed to see a Knight's naked body.
     Knights were not allowed to bathe - this being considered
an "effeminate" affliction.
     The dormitory had to have a lamp burning all night.
     Knights had to cut their hair short - but Templars also had
to wear a beard. Beards were considered signs of virility
and masculinity in the Middle East, helping promote a
respectful image among their enemies.
     Pope Innocent II issued the bull Omne datum optimum
which essentially made the Templars inviolate from any
earthly authority other than his own. No king or priest had
any legal power over a Templar - something that caused a
great deal of jealousy and conflict later in the Order's
career.
     No one could ask a Knight to swear an oath.
     They could appoint their own priests.
     The Orders were exempt from paying local taxes and
tithes.
     Any gift given to an individual Knight belonged to the
Order as a whole.
     Debts among individual knights were not permitted.
     The Rule also demanded a knight immediately attack any
enemy they sighted. This was usually over-ridden by
another tenet of the Rule: that of obeying orders and not
acting outside one's authority. However, this rule did cause
problems at times.
     Knights had regular training - with specific fields and trial
courses established at each base. Parading and
synchronised movements were also practiced. Most
movements centred around their orders particular battle
standard.
     Militant Order funds were prohibited for use in
ransoming. (It still happened, on occasion - with the excuse
that the money was not that of the Orders!).
     Fighting to the bitter end was expected - and happened if
the commander did not give the order to regroup. Retreat
could only be ordered if the knights were outnumbered by
more than 3 to 1.
     Strict punishment was invoked if a knight discussed the
Order's business with outsiders. He was not allowed to
question his Order's authority.
     Knights were not allowed frivolous talk, and speech was
prohibited at meal times.

"All the commandments which are said and written above
are at the discretion and judgement of the Master."
     - The Rule of the Templars, as recorded by scribe John
Michael at the Council of Troyes, 1128.

THE MODERN RULE

     Essentially the Modern Rule is the same as the above, with
only era-specific or overly harsh requirements removed.
     * The tenets of Omne datum optimum no longer apply
because the Pope's worldly authority has diminished
greatly since the 13 century.
     * Short hair and long beard are not required as they
represent nothing. Many knights choose to follow this
tradition, anyway.
     * The benefits of bathing have long been established and
the attitude "cleanliness is next to holiness" has taken root.
     * The specified equipment has been changed to suit modern
needs.
     * Knights do not have to wear a lamb-skin girdle to
demonstrate their chastity. Their Faith and Piety is before
God - any breach in this trust is reflected in their loss of
status.
     * The Malta Synod removed the Church Knights right to
appoint their own priests. This remains the domain of the
Cloth.
     * Not being in a house where there is a woman giving birth
may actually conflict with other tenets of Pious behaviour.
This restriction has been dropped, though other rules
concerning women still apply.
     * Knights may maintain associations with their family - but
they must recognise this can put them at risk. Such contact
must be discreet and appropriate.