The Knightly Order of the Coin
The Knights of the Coin are beholden to no master save themselves. They see war as a business, and the Order functions more like a merchant's guild in many respects than a traditional knightly order. The Knights do uphold a strict code of conduct, because honor and reliability are better for business in the long run. The membership is made up of soldiers of fortune, exiled knights from other lands, and bold adventurers seeking the thrill of combat. Those with the wealth to do so often hire Knights of the Coin as bodyguards, as their defensive abilities and contractual obligations make them highly effective at this task.
Symbol: The black gauntlet over a platinum coin that serves as the Order’s heraldic symbol is often seen upon the shields of its Knights.
Backgrounds, Goals, and Dreams: The knightly Order of the Coin was borne from a coalition of separate mercenary companies who wanted to rise above the rest. The environment of the Dragon Coast, with its constant power struggles and unstable political climate, provided the perfect place for a reliable mercenary group to thrive. The code of conduct originally began as a way of gaining more business-contacts (a mercenary that swears to honor his contact is much more reliable and therefore much higher in demand), but has since become an ingrained code as strong as any other.
Led by a Council of knights, the Order has proven very successful since its inception. Most of the groups in the region accept them as a neutral force and do not hold any grudge against them for their part when hired by opposing organizations. The most notable exception to this rule are the Night Masks, a thieves guild run out of Westgate. Its Inner Circle has a long-held grudge that may trace to a single event but more likely has to do with the fact that the Night Masks activities are frequently foiled by mercenaries hired through the Order.
The Order of the Coin’s fortress lies north of the road between Westgate and Teziir. An ancient castle built of gray stone, the keep is known as The Repository. All important business meetings are held inside in what once served as the throne room. One of the knights on the Council usually listens to the offer and deliberates on it, though it isn’t unheard of for even the entire Council to convene for matters of extreme import. For most other business, the Order uses agents it has scattered throughout, allowing them to make judgement calls on what business to take.