From the History of the Bound Blade: Origins

In the year 872 of the Red Age, in the time of Emperor Hulmul IV, 122 years before the birth of Otto IV, a five-score horde of beastmen crossed the Murky River under the cover of night and besieged the small town of Gotstanz. A lone rider escaped before the town was isolated by the invaders. He rode hard to Westenfort, the domain of Duke Von Kurtz. The rider reached the castle by nightfall, and in front of Von Kurtz and his knights, bid the duke to unleash his forces on the beastmen. But the people of Gotstanz had fallen out of favor of Von Kurtz, being unable to be pay the duke’s heavy taxes. Von Kurtz refused to risk his knights against the horde.

The noble’s harsh decision did not bode well with all of his knights. Eight pious men defied their lord and rode out to save Gotstanz. In the rolling fields outside of town, alongside Raven’s Lake, the eight knights broke the hundred-strong siege and sent the beastmen running back across the Murky River. As the sun fell on the blood-drenched fields, only one knight, Sir Ivon von Marin, remained standing.

Branded an outlaw by Von Kurtz, Sir Ivon travelled east. Ivon swore that his blade would never be bound from protecting the innocent. So long as he lived, only justice would bind his blade. Ivon traveled between the castles of various lords, requesting that they release their most pious knights to aid him in crusade to protect those in need. The men who rode under Ivon became known as the first Knights of the Bound Blade. Their lack of steady income led to the knights of Rhur to mockingly label them “the Silver Knights”, as few carried more than a few silver coins in their pockets.

Today, the Order of the Bound Blade recruits men and women from all levels of human, hobbit, elf, and hill dwarf society. The majority of its recruits still come from Rhurland nobility. The Bound Blade has embassies in three cities. The Order is led by Knight-General Lucus Thul. Recruits undergo a one-year indoctrination program, consisting of both martial, moral, and religious training. After their novice year, young knights (known as “paladins”) go out alone or in small groups to bring justice to the world.

Religion is one of the greatest components of paladin indoctrination. The desire to bring balance and order to the world must be present in all recruits, and it is usually magnified by deep faith in the Six Sols. Some paladins choose to bind themselves to one deity, usually under the justice of Sol Illuminous or the protection of Sol Indomitus. Most revere the full pantheon, inspired to bring order to the mind, body, and soul of the civilized races. Despite the religious nature of the paladins, the Order has no association with the Hexsol Church.