City of Berlum pt 2

Some more on my little city :)

Defenders of a Sleeping Princess

 Much of Berlum's history is tied directly to the legend of a sleeping
princess, which is detailed below.  This section includes the story of the
princess, the founding of Berlum, and an order of knights sworn to defend
the princess with their very lives.

Legend of the Slumbering Princess

 Roughly 800 years ago, the elven Man-O-War Unicorn Star was on a survey
mission, looking for asteroids that might hold some value to the Elven
Fleet.  The mission was long and boring, until they uncovered a secret vault
on one of the asteroids.  Intrigued, the elves delved deeper, expecting to
find undead horrors and the like.  Instead, they were shocked to discover
what appeared to be an elven, perhaps half-elven, maiden clad in a jeweled
gown sleeping upon a stone bed.  Nothing could wake the maiden (including
kisses by handsome princes), nor could magic determine her identity.  All
the elven battlepoets could learn was that she was a person of some
importance, and that she should not be disturbed.
 The captain of the Unicorn Star was so smitten by the beauty of the
slumbering maiden that he ordered an honor guard be placed upon her tomb.
At first, this was a handful of elves the Star had aboard, but soon would
grow to more than 200 as her legend spread.  Elves, half-elves, and even
humans and dwarves came from around the sphere to pay homage to the
mysterious woman.  A town sprung up overnight on the asteroid.
 The Elven Fleet grew quite alarmed at the arrival of so many new people,
but saw an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.  They constructed
a fortified tower on the asteroid, and declared the asteroid under elven
protection.  They encouraged merchants and entrepreneurs to settle, spurning
more growth in the city.  A formal government (puppets of the elves) was put
in place.  The vault was sealed off, accessible only to a new order of
knights, the Silent Swords.  Within a generation, the slumbering maiden has
passed from a spectacle to an urban legend of a newly founded city.

Knights of the Eternal Dream

 This order of knights began the few elven guards from the Unicorn Star
watching over the slumbering princess.  From these humble beginnings the
order blossomed into a well-armed knightly order that counts 350 knights in
its ranks.  The order is predominantly elven, but counts several humans and
half-elves in its ranks.  Over the centuries the knighthood's duties, mainly
to guard the slumbering maiden, have become diluted.  It has split into
three distinct knighthoods, each with a purpose and duty.  They get along
grudgingly, sometimes clashing over small issues.
. Knights of the Silent Swords: Made up mostly of elves and some half elves,
this sect stays true to the charter of the knighthood.  It keeps watch over
the slumbering maiden, making sure no one approaches her without permission.
These dedicated knights are lead by Afevar'lam Starwind (LG em Cav15), the
last surviving member of the original honor guard.  This aged elf is
generally considered the leader of the whole knighthood.
. Knights of the Silent Rose: Made up of young, hot-blooded men, the Knights
of the Silent Rose act as crusaders in name of the slumbering maiden (even
if they do not know that name).  They are hopeless romantics, fanaticizing
about the maiden waking and leading them to glorious empire.  In the
meantime, they occupy their time with dueling, wenching, and telling tales
of their conquests.  Their nominal leader Dartin Dragonheart (NG hem Cav8),
a ruggedly good looking, middle-aged man who is quite skilled with the
rapier.
. Knights of the Silent Word: The members of this sect are bankers,
merchants, and other wealthy individuals in Berlum.  It is more a social
club than an actual sect of knights, but since they put up a lot of the
financing for the knighthood, they are tolerated.  The leader of this sect
are Martiir Zinclur (LN hm F5), the wealthiest merchant in Berlum.  He
bought his way to the top using bribes, hosting social gatherings, and
providing the knighthood with a dozen magical blades (all +1 longswords with
no other enchantments).  Martiir deludes himself with the notion that he
runs the whole knighthood, though the other members consider him somewhat a
loudmouth braggart.