Empire Knightly Order Creation Tables

In the grim darkness of vaguely Medieval Europe, there are no superhuman bands of smurfs or rolling battalions of tanks to preserve mankind against the horror. The only things that a man can truly rely on are the strength of his arm, the keen edge of his sword, and the endurance of his horse. Men who choose to fight with these alone are called knights. The Empire maintains a myriad of different knightly orders, whose noble-born warriors are sworn to defend the land from the evil that assails it.

Inspired by Fantasy Flight Games' Deathwatch Role-playing Game's Space Marine Chapter Creation Tables.

Organization

What is the order’s age? (1d100)
1-10	Primordial: This order dates back to the founding days of the Empire, when the concepts of knighthood and nobility were still new amongst the race of Men. The fathers and grandfathers of these earliest knights may have even fought alongside Sigmar Unberogen himself
11-35	Venerable: This order was founded in or around the Time of Three Emperors, an age of political instability when the great city-states rose to prominence, the province of Solland was crushed beneath the feet of greenskin hordes, and righteous Crusades were persecuted against Araby
36-55	Esteemed: This order’s inception coincided with the rise of Vlad Von Carstein and his heinous progeny. The Vampire Wars exacted a great toll on the armies and spirit of the Empire, but also strengthened the conviction of its people to fight against the dark powers of the world
56-85	Established: This order lived to see the Empire reach its lowest valley, as well as its highest peak: The Great War against Chaos. They fought under Magnus the Pious against the foul hosts of Asavar Kul, and watched him rebuild the realm in grand style with the help of the Elves and Dwarfs
86-100	Fledgling: This order was formed during or just before the reign of the incumbent Emperor, Karl Franz of Reikland. Though threats old and new threaten destruction from every front, the brave men of the Empire hold fast to the spirit of martial virtue and the name of their warrior god, Sigmar

What is the order’s religious affiliation? (1d100)
1-45	Secular Order: This order pledges itself to no god in particular, and its members can worship as they please
46-60	Templars of Sigmar: This order is devoted to Sigmar, ascended warrior god of Men in general, and the Empire in particular
61-70	Templars of Ulric: This order is a member of the cult of Ulric, warrior god of winter, wolves, and probably also the colors grey and blue
71-80	Templars of Myrmidia: This order follows the example of Myrmidia, warrior goddess of strategy, war-craft, and professional soldiery
81-85	Templars of Taal: This order worships Taal, god of nature and wild places
86-90	Templars of Morr: This order fights for Morr, god of death and dreams
91-95	Templars of Manann: This order venerates Manann, god of the seas
96-100	Templars of Verena: This order follows Verena, goddess of law, government, and academia

How strong is the order in terms of manpower? (1d100)
1-20	Minuscule: No more than a few dozen knights, as well as their personal servants
21-45	Small: Around a hundred knights, with both personal and order-retained servants
46-75	Average: A few hundred knights. All servants from here on are retained by the order
76-95	Major: Nearly a thousand knights
96-100	Grand: Around two thousand knights, perhaps even more

How is the order’s strength distributed throughout the Empire? (1d100)
1-10	Dispersed: For whatever reason, the order’s knights rarely congregate in groups larger than four or five outside of wartime. The men themselves rarely stay in one place for very long
11-35	Concentrated: The order operates out of one or more stand-alone chapterhouses, usually in the deep forest or countryside. These can take the form of castles, mansions, or even temples
36-60	Urban: The order’s chapterhouses are all located in one or more of the Empire’s major cities. This often means that the order’s leaders are more involved in power struggles and politicking
61-85	Garrisoned: The fortresses maintained by the Elector Counts keep a constant vigil over the Empire’s heartlands. Here the order’s knights are stationed, alongside the more common soldiery
86-100	Migratory: Though the order’s knights operate as a single unified body, they must still move from chapterhouse to chapterhouse in order to fulfill their avowed duties

In which province is the order based? (1d100)
1-13	Reikland
14-22	Nordland
23-32	Averland
33-41	Ostland
42-51	Talabecland
52-60	Ostermark
61-70	Wissenland
71-80	Stirland
81-90	Middenland
91-99	Hochland
100	The Moot

Traditions

Which knightly virtue does the order hold highest? (1d100)
1-10	Chivalry: Use your own power to protect the innocent, and always strive to defend those who cannot do so themselves
11-20	Fidelity: Honor every vow and promise, and remember that honesty is still the best policy, even when it is inconvenient
21-30	Humility: You were blessed with wealth, good birth, and high station, but do not think for a second that these entitle you to special treatment
31-40	Merit: A true knight learns to hold a book in one hand and a sword in the other. You can never expect to discharge your duties without constantly honing your skills
41-50	Valor: Never run away, never turn down a chance to fulfill your sworn duties, and never leave a task half-done
51-60	Courtesy: A knight represents himself third, his order second, and his Emperor first. Whether on or off the battlefield, you must always observe proper conduct
61-70	Piety: Quite simple: Keep the faith. Remember, you are an agent of divine will on this world, so act like it (reroll if the order is Secular)
71-80	Temperance: Never let your passions or desires get the better of you, lest the door be left open for chaos and corruption
81-90	Righteousness: One who aspires to all the virtues walks the path to true knighthood. And even if he should fail, his brothers will look upon him as a paragon
91-100	Virtu: Idealism is a fine idea in the training hall, but the real world is such that a soldier must always be willing to get his hands dirty. Do not let the expectations of others block your way

What are the order’s favored battle tactics and military doctrines? (1d100)
1-20	Into the Fray: The order’s knights prefer to charge only once before joining the melee with swords, halberds, axes, and various other fighting implements. As such, they have great staying power when compared to other knights
21-40	Shock and Awe: The essence of knightly warfare can be summed up a single maneuver: the lance charge. It does the most damage, and gets the most work done. The order recognizes this, and tries to allow its knights as many charges as possible
41-50	Furious Revel: Before the battle starts, the men work themselves into a frenzied state in which the only thing that matters is the complete and utter destruction of the enemy. Though this makes them less receptive to orders, it greatly increases their potency in battle
51-60	Pinpoint Strike: These knights know the value of striking where the enemy is weakest. They have mastered a range of small-unit tactics so as to better access prime targets like artillery, lone mages, and flanks which will only stay exposed for a minute or less
61-70	Steel Curtain: Many see the sheer weight of full plate armor as a hindrance, but what they forget is that an armored man is also much harder to displace. These knights use their impressive mass for defensive purposes, as well as to push the enemy around the field
71-80	Iron Discipline: Hours upon hours of brutal drill have turned the order into a well-oiled fighting machine. Each knight works in perfect cohesion with those around him, and responds to commands as quickly as if he had thought of them himself
81-85	Mann zu Mann: Every knight is a skilled duelist by virtue of his training, but this order takes the philosophy of single combat to its extreme on the battlefield. They can often be found yelling challenges and catcalls to enemy commanders
86-90	Footsloggin’: The order’s knights are not so proud as to think that all warfare can be conducted from the saddle, and have become just as proficient on foot. This allows them to fight better on the decks of ships, the walls of castles, and a myriad of other places
91-95	Preferred Enemy: There is one particular enemy towards whom the men of the order feel a burning hatred [see Table 10]. Against these wretches and their servants, the knights fight with a furious prowess that does not come from mere training
96-100	Tactically Flexible: Roll two more times on this table. If you land on the same option twice, then the order becomes extremely proficient in that area of warfare

Who was the order’s greatest hero? (1d100)
1-15	A knightly champion who fought his way through the enemy army and slew its warlord single-handedly
16-30	A scholarly warrior whose contributions have endeared the order to some of the Empire’s intelligentsia
31-45	A grandmaster of the order whose strength and sound council proved a saving grace for his allies in their hour of need
46-60	A humble peasant whose valor so impressed the order’s knights that they adopted him into their fold, despite his lowly origins
61-75	A luminary religious knight whose actions and general piety have won the order no small support amongst the local populace
76-90	A noble preceptor who led the knights under his command to victory against overwhelming odds
91-100	The famous founder of the order, who served valiantly alongside the Emperor and earned history’s eternal recognition

How far afield has the order ever traveled for war? (1d100)
1-15	The order has never fought in any great numbers outside the Empire
16-30	The order has gone to Bretonnia, probably to take part in one of their errantry wars
31-45	The order has traveled to Kislev in opposition to the Chaos hordes
46-60	The order has gone south against the greenskins, or perhaps to subdue one of the wily border princes
61-75	The order has marched far south, to Araby or even the Land of the Dead
76-85	The order once crossed the eastern mountains, and battled many strange foes along the way
86-95	The order has ventured to the colonies in far Lustria, and seen all the terrors it has to offer
96-100	The order was invited to Lothern, the capital of Ulthuan, to defend it from some great threat

Relations

Who is the order's most trusted ally? (1d100)
1-9	One of the Electors (but not Karl Franz)
10-18	The army of a certain province or city within the Empire
19-27	A high-ranking Empire general or bureaucrat
28-36	A high-ranking Empire merchant or burgomeister
37-45	One of the Colleges of Magic
46-54	The College of Engineers
55-63	One of the sanctioned cults within the Empire
64-72	The grandmaster of another knightly order
73-81	A Bretonnian nobleman
82-90	A Dwarf lord
91-99	An Elf prince
100	A Dragon Mage of Caledor

Who is the order's most hated enemy? (1d100)
1-9	A local herd of Beastmen
10-18	A champion of the Dark Gods
19-27	A powerful sorcerer or necromancer
28-36	A Tomb King
37-45	An Ork Warboss
46-54	A Black Ark of the Dark Elves
55-63	A Wood Elf highborn
64-72	A Skaven clan
73-81	An Ogre tribe
82-90	A Vampire Count
91-99	Roll on Table 10 (Sigmar help the man who gets the Dragon Mage)
100	A Greater Daemon of Chaos

To whom, or what, has the order’s grandmaster pledged its service? (1d100)
1-20	The local Elector Count (including Karl Franz)
21-40	No one. The order does not but as he wills
41-50	The head of his own noble family
51-60	Kurt Helborg, chief marshal of the Empire
61-70	A high cleric or priestly body
71-80	A particular cause, mission, or oath
81-85	A particular place, such as a city or shrine (Reroll if the order is Dispersed)
86-90	Some political maneuverer in Altdorf
91-95	A shadowy figure of whom the knights know little
96-100	The order’s most trusted ally (Reroll here if a non-Empire option was rolled on Table 11)

Resources

How wealthy is the order? (1d100)
1-10	Destitute: Either willingly or unwillingly, the knights of this order have very little money to their names, at least for now (Reroll if the order is Major or Grand in size)
11-35	Humble: The order’s coffers are full enough to allow its members to do their job and live in relative comfort, but little else beyond that
36-65	Well-to-Do: Nearly all Empire knights are sons of the nobility. This means that most of them are going to have a respectable amount of cash or valuables at their disposal
66-90	Rich: The order’s masters certainly do not lack for capital, and can throw their weight around amongst the Empire’s upper classes. Wealth brings prestige, and prestige brings opportunity
91-100	Filthy and Stinking: The order is fabulously wealthy, to the point where each knight can afford sumptuous accoutrement and each chapter house resembles a small palace (Reroll if the order’s men are Dispersed)

How prevalent are monstrous mounts (such as demigryphs) within the order? (1d100)
1-33	Absent: The order owns no monstrous mounts
34-60	Rare: A chosen few from the inner circle go to battle astride monstrous mounts
61-75	Present: Many of the inner circle’s knights ride monstrous mounts
76-90	Widespread: The entire inner circle owns monstrous mounts
91-100	Ubiquitous: Every knight in the order rides a monstrous mount (reroll if the order is larger than Small)

What is the most venerated relic in the order’s possession? (1d100)
1-16	An enigmatic magical item whose true function is shrouded in mystery
17-24	A totem or icon of great religious significance
25-32	A weapon or piece of armor which once belonged the order’s great hero
33-40	An elaborate standard that proudly displays the order’s full glory
41-48	A mounted skull from one of the great monsters of the world
49-56	A weighty tome of forgotten (or perhaps forbidden) lore
57-64	A testimonial of high esteem penned by an Emperor’s hand
65-72	An intricately sealed reliquary said to house “the very spirit of the order”
73-80	The decorated skeleton of the order’s hero (and possibly his mount as well)
81-88	A priceless token of appreciation gifted from the order’s ally
89-96	A no doubt valuable trophy taken from the order’s enemy
97-100	Roll twice on this table. If rolled again, choose one relic and roll for the other

With which heraldic sigil does the order represent itself? (1d100)
1-5	Either willingly or unwillingly, the order displays no sigil; their shields are bare
6-10	The Sun can symbolize hope, defiance, exemplary status, and sometimes majesty
11-15	The Imperial Griffon stands for martial prowess, vigilance, and wealth
16-20	The Laureled Skull represents glory without pride and the will to die for one’s cause
21-25	The Crossed Axes speak to overwhelming strength and a desire for worthy combat
26-30	The Tower shows the order’s commitment to steadfastness, protection, and grandeur
31-35	The Keys can represent rightful authority, a knight’s duty of stewardship, and the rule of law
36-40	The Lily is a typically Bretonnian emblem which displays personal purity and chivalry, as well as strong a code of honor
41-45	The Book shows a knight’s erudition and capacity for sage advice (another service to his lord and land)
46-50	Arrows and Spears embody military life, duty, and strategy, though many also see them as virility symbols
51-55	Horses, Knights, and Pegasi all represent swiftness, specifically in response to the call of duty, as well as virtue
56-60	The emblem of the Bull invokes both indomitable will and man’s connection to the earth
61-65	The Lion primarily speaks to a warrior’s pride and nobility, but can be truly ferocious when provoked
66-70	A Religious Image, such as Morr’s hourglass or the twin-tailed comet, shows devotion (Reroll if the order is Secular)
71-75	The Dove is obviously a mark of peace and love, but can also be regarded as a statement of ultimate defiance to the enemy
76-80	The Crescent Moon can be either serene or sinister, but is nevertheless a symbol of mystery and hidden meanings
81-85	The Tree divulges a sense of duty towards life and growth, as well as respect for the wild places of the world
86-90	The Scourge can be given two meanings: The will to endure great suffering, or the will to inflict it upon others
91-95	The Figure of a being can be used for many purposes. A dwarf denotes industry, while an ork’s head implies a reputation for fighting greenskins
96-100	The Dragon is true, awful power. Fearsome, yet regal. Enigmatic, yet brilliant.

NOTICE: This is a work in progress.