Being a Hierarchy of Positions
Within the Church
by Dave

At their summer encampment before the Battle of King's Ford, from left to right, an unidentified knight of the Tower; the Seneschal Sir Frederick de Aldored, Bearer of the Seals of the Mithrandic Church; Lord Paul, Marshal of the Church; and one of his squires, Geoffrey Fields.

This is a brief sketch of the major offices within the Church Militant, which of course fall into various duties and Commanders in the realm and domain of the lands of the King, Artis Cornifex I, being in the environs known as Landsrue and the protectorate of Wundt.

Archimandrite

The first Archbishop of the Church. The word and dignity of the Archimandrite yields only to the King in the field, and then only where the aims and principles of the Church do not conflict with the material concerns of His Majesty. He is the King's personal celebrant and advisor on the spiritual realm. He is the Counselor General and Senior Officiant of the Archbishoprics, Abbeys, Monasteries, Chapter Houses, towns and anything bearing the Church's sigil. He is the Word and Deed of all matters of the Church and the First Justice within the Church's legal system. He is the senior knight and highest ranking Commander of the Lord of Light's Militant Arm. He is generally granted the distinctions and attendances of an Earl of the realm in secular matters. His fiefs are the Landsrue Town Library, the town Priories West and East, and the Royal Chapel in Castle Rising. The First Archbishop is generally drawn from the prestigious and demanding See of Landsrue Town. The Archimandrite is elected by a Convocation of the Church's Abbbots, Abesses, Archbishops and representatives from the Orders Militant. The Archimandrite serves for life.

Grandmaster

The leader of the Church Militant. The First Sword is selected by the Grandmasters Ordinary of the Militant Orders who serve the Church. The authority of the Grandmaster Exalted yields only to the Archimandrite on the field. He is the Archimandrite's personal sword, escort and Champion. He is generally granted the distinctions and attendances of a Duke of the realm in secular matters. He leads the armies of the Church when in the field. He is senior over any brother Grandmasters from the various arms of knighthoods within the Church like the Orders of the Tower, Stars, Holy Flame, and Golamira, and other Arms of the Church Militant.

Seneschal

The Seneschal is a distinction granted to a knight par excellence within the body of the Church Militant. His military duties include the control of the mints and dispersal of the Church's revenues where military matters are concerned, the maintenance and keeping of the Holy Liveries of Mithras (The Septagrammaton), advising and supporting the Grandmaster when he is present, and standing in his place when he is absent. The Seneschal can act as the Archimandrite in military matters, but has no jurisdiction over any of the non-militant service orders. The Seneschal bears the Seal of the Church for the Archimandrite and is the Church's representative at court. He is also charged with the correspondences of the Church between its Orders and any nations, countries, or interests that it has abroad, save only the personal missives, which are handled by the Archimandrite's Secretary of Chambers. The Seneschal carries the Septagrammaton into battle, and shoulders the responsibility of being the rally point of the vanguard of the Lord's army. He is the right arm of the Church. He is generally granted the distinctions and attendances of a Baron of the realm in secular matters

Marshal

Keeps and maintains the Horse Farms, the Armories, the Grainaries, Forges, Mills and anything that can logistically be used in the pursuit of fielding the army of the Lord of Light. Essentially the Quartermaster General of the Church. The Marshal is responsible only to the Archimandrite, Seneschal or the Grandmaster. The Marshal can act in a limited capacity for the Seneschal, and in the absence of either the Grandmaster or the Seneschal is the Senior Commander on the field. The Marshal is the Church's Champion, as his sword is the first into any fray, and his responsibility is to be the example and proof that a Knight of the Church 's honor and bearing are second to no other. He issues the rules and conditions for the Commanders (Rules of the Order). He traditionally commands the vanguard.

He is the First Knight and sets the standards for knighthood and service for the Church. One of his brother knights is occasionally appointed as an Undermarshal, which is usually at temporary assignment for a specific purpose. He is generally granted the distinctions and attendances of a Baron of the realm in secular matters

Kasaliers

Kasaliers are farm managers who breed, train, maintain and condition the horses, mules and food animals necessary for the Church's mission. They answer to the Marshal and are knights. Some of them are sinecure for long service or knights who can no longer fight or ride. There is a Master Kasalier under the Marshal who is in charge of the camp and baggage train.

Drapers

The Master Draper supervises the resources and manufacture of cloth, tack, or any thing that requires cloth or leather. He is over all the drapers who serve the Church, who are usually Sergeants.

Master of Sergeants

The Master of Sergeants is charged with the livery and maintenance of the Church's sergeantry, the keeping of the lists for service and duties for those who answer the Church's call as soldiers, is charged with keeping the household accounts for the various service orders and the training facilities for recruits. He is usually a knight raised from the sergeantry of the Church for valor and service.

Commanders

Each Commander is a Church Knight Banneret (Thick Pennant) specifically appointed to provide protection and service to their county, specifically March, Karlsbad, Dalrys, P'eiml Town, P'eiml Port, Kessel, Landsrue Town and some smaller chapter houses that guard highways, fords, moveable Faires and preserves such as the Ancaster horse farms. They are charged with areas where there is not a strong presence of law, or where a neutral non-political force would be more welcome, and also they are set over assets critical to the Archimandrite such as the Church Mints, Armouries, Grainaries, Mills etc. They are the law in their domain, and are answerable to the King in regard to secular matters, and the Archimandrite in nonsecular concerns. They assess and wield the power of Low Justice; levy labor tolls; recruit and train yeomen for the Church; pursue the lawless; maintain, plan and complete works for the public good; support the poor; protect and nourish any Church entities in their fief; and provide for the weal of the Kingdom and Church.

The domain of Landsrue Town is a specific responsibility which is sharply defined by the gates of the East and Western walls. The two Knight Bannerets who ward these portals are under the aegis of the Archimandrite there.

The Commanderies of P'eiml are specific to the Coast Eastern. Whereas this is a mixed area, the town Environs and the sea lanes off the coast are guarded respectively by the serjeants and marines that serve as yeomen for the the Warden of the Coast.