Knights of Ithil

The Knights of Ithil
The knights were one of largest orders in the Ithilien Empire and were part of the reason Solitude was built where it is, they were first known as the Ithilien Order which was a guild of warriors that created their own city with the help of Solomon, first outcasts of the northlands commoners and soldiers alike met and went to Solitude. The order at first was mainly focused on creating safe passages for people that traversed the land but later became a sanctuary for all sorts of men and women, from skilled knights, and black smiths to scholars and architects, they became the city garrison and its standing army. Trained by Solomon himself they mastered the way of the sword, drilling day and night always vigilant.

But they later moved west to the city of Gondolin where it was based, the order had nine grand masters that bore nine gems of long life gifted to them by Jace the Redeemer. Aside from that they also had weapons and armour made of mithril (True Silver). Their name came not from where their order was but from what they called themselves the Ithil Maikae (Moon Blades) in the tongue of southern men.

Formation
The order was founded in 537 AD and was later renamed and transformed into The Knights of Ithil in 1027 AD. Religion formed it and had a great impact on what it became, before a warrior guild, now a haven for the holy and home of the finest knights to have ever walked in the south. Many of the scholars in the south came from there and was the reason why the Ithilen Empire was so powerful and advanced. They were based in Gondolin and had nine Grandmasters but when they had ten founding fathers. The City of Gondolin was where their armour and weapons were forged in forges almost as fine as the elder forge, where steel was cast and refined into the finest armour.

Knights and Paladins, Scribes and Doctors all were their and all were lending a hand to the people and the empire. Although the Order was known for having great scholars many of the great philosophers and innovators came from beyond it's borders and claims, and were loosely or not at all related to the knights.

Customs
The nine grand-masters would each choose a successor before they died and often that successor had to prove themselves to be worthy of both the role and the armour and weapons that came with. A set of mitril armour forged by the one of the greatest smiths in the land bearing a gem of long life, a mithril sword that could cut through any armour and shatter any shield.

Each grand-master would have their own party of knights. 50 Paladins, 200-250 knights and 40 scribes and doctors. Each one was tasked with keeping peace and tending to the needs of the people around in their regions. Setting up bases and outposts aiding farmers and hunting bandits. When war came they were the first to respond and the first to take on the wave of enemies that came.

When the order was first created the first nine swore and oath to a man whose name was long forgotten and they had to honnour his call for aid or call to arms, no matter where he would be. They had scoured all the south lands in search of him. The first so that he may lead them once more and overcome the threat ahead.

End
After the destruction of Gondolin and the city's downfall in The War of Darkness (992 AD), the order was disbanded and its members scattered (997 AD). After that the remaining members that were still active became known as the Rangers of Ithilien, destroying supply lines raiding orcs, forming their own resistance. But when the Orcish threat was seen they were the first to lead the charge and guide the free peoples to fight.