Order of the Flaming Rose

Template:Order Infobox

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The Order of the Flaming Rose, sometimes simply The Order, is a powerful militant religious knightly order, featured only in world of game series. Built upon the deteriorating Order of the White Rose under leadership of sir Jacques de Aldersberg. At first knights were mostly based and organized in kingdoms of Aedirn and Temeria but later, after uprising in Vizima, king Foltest confiscated Orders assets in his realm to finance repairs and they were forced to move further north to Redania and even Kaedwen.

The primary purposes of Order is to defend the downtrodden from evil and spread the belief in the Eternal Fire ^[1]^[2], but they are also sometime serving as brute force to hunt down heretics and police force.^[3]

History

The Order was formed in 1268 with help of Redanian Intelligence Service^[4] from secular Order of the White Rose, which was operating in Temeria for centuries but instead of staying true to his ideals, knights of White Rose became more and more interested in getting donated lands from local nobles and transient accumulation of asset. Attaining membership required only the donation of one thousand Novigrad crowns to the order's treasury.^[5]^[6]^[7]

To uphold the law, maintain peace, and ensure survival of Nordlings from the predicted White Frost, Sir Jacques de Aldersberg decided to reform the shape of the organization entirely.^[8]

Foundation and reformations

The order has undergone a major reform during the wars with Nilfgaard. After the death of Grand Master Rudolf Valaris his cloak pinned up a charismatic leader known as Jacques de Aldersberg. De Aldersberg's aim was to protect the people from monsters and other evils, and to promote belief in the Eternal Fire. The Order's headquarters were located in Vizima, with numerous commanderies spread across the whole of Temeria and Aedirn.^[3]

The Order was reestablished with the help of Dijkstra and Oribasius, to counter the rising power of sorceresses, who were organizing themselves and growing in might. Furthermore, Redanians intentionally refused to grant a charter to the main commandery of the Order, thus preventing a strong organization from planting roots within the country's borders.

File:Army.jpg

Campaign against nonhumans.

At its start the Order of the Flaming Rose was underestimated and treated too lightly. The Grand Master was calculating and cunning, but he was above all a fanatic. In that time the Order aimed to gain as much power over people's souls as possible. To achieve this, the Order waged secret wars with other clandestine organizations, such as the Lodge. The persecution of witches and freaks was but a prelude to the real attack, which was later directeded against the mages.^[9]

New Grand Master and lands

After Geralt killed the first Grand Master. The order dissociated itself from the politics of its former leader, changing even the setup of its coat of arms - since than the rose is no longer burning, but instead is surrounded by a golden ribbon. The order resigned from all their previous possessions and was completely relocated to Redania by Radovid V. They even stopped killing monsters, last of which were werewolves from Tretogor forest.^[10] They were invited to the peace talks at Loc Muinne, where they camped outside of ancient vran metropolis as they supported the peace of the negotiation and provided protection.^[11]^[12]

The Order also took part in "witch hunt" that followed after summit.^[13] With Siegfried of Denesle as Grand Master, the Order undergone crucial reforms in their foundations and came under the protection of Redania with Radovid V in charge who promised the Order land close to Roggeven, where Siegfried started to build a new stronghold Barienmurg.^[3]

File:Geralt against fallen ones.jpg

Fallen knights.

Time of division

During the Third Nilfgaard War, they were sent by Radovid V to the front (when war with Nilfgaard reach the Pontar), where many once a mighty knights bled. When the king took over their lands and fortune to finance the war, those nobles and knights who survived founded the Mage Hunters or were arrested.

But some of them elected a new grandmaster and become fisstech dealers and bandits watching the roads attacking the caravans of Redanians. Because of their deeds under the leadership of their new Grand Master (very different deeds than what they are supposed to do) they became known as Fallen Knights.

There is also small group of remnants, appearing only by simple name Knights of the Order, under the leadership of Sir de Löwe, these knights guard against radical faction.^[14] As Geralt could hear from the Master's speech, this sect of Order returned to the politics from time of Jacques de Aldersberg, and although they have not changed their coat of arms, they bare shields with rose from the time of first Grand Master.^[2]

Reunification

State of Order in Blood and Wine Expansion to be added

The Witcher

Glossary Entry

The Order of the Flaming Rose

"The Order of the Flaming Rose was established after the war with Nilfgaard by a charismatic leader, Jacques de Aldersberg, on the foundations of the deteriorating Order of the White Rose. De Aldersberg's aim was to protect the people from monsters and other evils, and to promote belief in the Eternal Fire. The Order's headquarters are located in Vizima, with numerous commanderies spread across the whole of Temeria.

The book "People of the Shadows" reveals some secrets regarding the genesis of the Order of the Flaming Rose. According to the author, the Order was established with the help of the Redanian intelligence service to counter the sorceresses, who were organizing themselves and growing in power. Furthermore, the author believes that Redanian intentionally refused to grant a charter to the main commandery of the Order, thus preventing a strong organization from planting roots within the country's borders.

According to the author of "The Aftermath of the War", the Order of the Flaming Rose is underestimated and treated too lightly. The Grand Master may be calculating and cunning, but he is above all a fanatic. Furthermore, the author believes that the Order aims to gain as much power over people's souls as possible. To achieve this, the Order wages secret wars with other clandestine organizations, such as the one founded by the sorceresses. The persecution of witches and freaks is but a prelude to the real attack, which will be directed against the sorceresses."

Source

Speaking with Siegfried in the sewers
The Aftermath of the War
Cults and Religions of the Nordlings
The Flower and the Flame
Shadow People, or the story of His Majesty's Secret Service

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

Glossary entry

Order of the Flaming Rose

"This knightly brotherhood originating in Temeria initially followed sublime ideas. It could not have been otherwise, as it was founded on the basis of fighting corruption and depravity in the Order of the White Rose - a declining association that, in effect of those reforms, was then transformed into the Order of the Flaming Rose.

Unfortunately, strong racist tendencies, even strengthened by the leadership of Jacques de Aldersberg, turned the new order into a nest of intolerance. It's role in the Vizima Rebellion still remains morally ambiguous. "

Source

The Rose and the Flame

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Although the Order does not appear in the game, it is mentioned several times, and even Geralt mentions brotherhood when he talks with Triss in Lighthouse.

Hearts of Stone Expansion

Having resorted to banditry and drug manufacturing, "fallen" knights from the Order feature across the landscape east of Gustfields.^[15]

Heraldry

First Order coat of arms (in The Witcher game) New Order coat of arms (in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings game)

Notable members

Grand Masters

Jacques de Aldersberg (The Witcher)
Siegfried of Denesle (The Witcher 2)
Ulrich (The Witcher 3) - radical faction
Siegfried de Löwe (The Witcher 3) - moderate faction

Direct members

Knights and Counts:

Fallen Knights:

Knight Eric von Kidon
Knight Petyr Nayhaer
Knight Antoine Pfeil
Knight Ernst Goltz
Knight Anselm
Lieutenant von Herst

Afiltiates

White Rayla
Reverend Hugo Balde

Trivia

Order was, before the death of Jacques, killing monsters for free. Now they don't have enough time to do that.
One of the ongoing battles in the original game is the question of Geralt's loyalties. He can choose to side with the Order, taking a stand against the Scoia'tael.