History Main / THEOrder

* The (not creatively named) Blood of the ''Ghost Rider'' comics fought alongside the spirits of vengeance in the past. The Caretaker is a survivor from this order, which is why he knows so much about the Ghost Rider.

Sometimes a KnightErrant or TheDrifter can't get the job done alone. So what do they do? Why, gather a group of likeminded individuals, of course. The Order is a group of people come together to further some aim, whether it's to accomplish a specific goal or in support of a more general set of ideals, which are usually written down in its [[TheCode Code]]. It is usually a highly exclusive organization -- you cannot simply join, you must be recruited (or at least pass a difficult application process of some kind). However, despite these high standards, The Order can vary widely in size and influence. It may be a small, elite group of adventurers, or it may be an army-sized power unto itself with its own dedicated support staff and base(s) of operations.

* The Assassins of ''AssassinsCreed'' are engaged in a SecretWar with the Templars.

* The Jedi Order of ''StarWars'', complete with SecretArt (TheForce) and AncientTradition (the Light Side).

* The Spectres in ''MassEffect'' series are a somewhat atypical SpaceOpera example. They are a ''very'' exclusive organization (naming a person a Spectre requires unanimous decision by the Citadel Council, so [[PlayerCharacter Shepard]] was the first human to gain the title) pledged to the service of the Council and "there's no such thing as a 'former Spectre'". The atypical part is that they tend to operate alone (or with their own assembled teams) and without much support from the organization itself.
** Spectres [[http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Spectre_-_Master_Gear have access to stocks]] of rare and highly advanced equipment. Also, they can requisition Council resources as necessary, e.g. extranet bandwidth

* The Brotherhood of Steel from the VideoGame/{{Fallout}} series is one of the larger examples, as one of the major powers in the setting. Though they use powered armor and BFGs instead of swords and shields, they have a deliberate chivalric flavor -- their soldiers are "knights" (and elite ones "paladins"), their scientists are "scribes", their leaders are "elders", etc. Their AncientTradition is the preservation of technology and technical knowledge in the post-apocalyptic wasteland, often to the exclusion of helping ''people''.
** VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}} has the spinoff D.C. Chapter, whose CoolOldGuy leader has shifted priorities from collecting technology in the D.C. Wasteland to containing the local Super Mutant population. This was ''technically'' okayed by the main Brotherhood leadership... but they stop sending reinforcements and supplies immediately thereafter, essentially making the D.C. Brotherhood a separate faction. The D.C. Brotherhood eventually spawns its ''own'' spinoff, the Brotherhood Outcasts, who adhere to the main Brotherhood's "technology is more important than anything else" philosophy, and left the D.C. Brotherhood to follow it.

* The "Jusenkyo Morals Committee" from a filler episode of RanmaOneHalf are a comically inept take on this concept. Their paladin [[FluffyTheTerrible Kenny the Enforcer]]'s own Jusenkyo curse from the spring of the drowned pacifist Buddhist monk proves to be an AchillesHeel.

* {{Warhammer 40000}} has several from the [[TheEmpire Imperium Of Man]], but the closest to the stereotypical [[TheOrder Order]] are the Grey Knights, an uncorruptible organisation of [[PoweredArmor Power Armored]], Daemon-hunting [[SuperSoldier Super Soldiers]]. However, being a heavy [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstruction]] of ThePaladin, they're ''[[WellIntentionedExtremist extremely]]'' ruthless, and undergo [[NumberOfTheBeast 666]] [[MindRape Mind Rapes]] during their selection course.

* The "Jusenkyo Morals Committee" from a filler episode of RanmaOneHalf are a comically inept take on this concept. Their paladin [[FluffyTheTerrible Kenny the Enforcer's]] own Jusenkyo curse from the spring of the drowned pacifist Buddhist monk proves to be an AchillesHeel.

* The Medjai in ''TheMummyTrilogy'', whose job seems to be to protect all the potentially world-ending crap that the ancient Egyptians left lying around. There seems to be just the one guy in the first movie, but in the second they're upgraded to TheCavalry against the resurrected [[LegionsOfHell army of Anubis]].

* In [[RaymondEFeist Raymond E. Feist's]] ''Empire Trilogy'', the Great Ones gather children with magical talent and train them as powerful magicians.

[[folder:WebComics]]

* The eponymous OrderOfTheStick is not an example itself; however, the Sapphire Guard may be considered to be one.

* The Brotherhood of Steel from the {{Fallout}} series is one of the larger examples, as one of the major powers in the setting. Though they use powered armor and BFGs instead of swords and shields, they have a deliberate chivalric flavor -- their soldiers are "knights" (and elite ones "paladins"), their scientists are "scribes", their leaders are "elders", etc. Their AncientTradition is the preservation of technology and technical knowledge in the post-apocalyptic wasteland, often to the exclusion of helping ''people''.
** {{Fallout 3}} has the spinoff D.C. Chapter, whose CoolOldGuy leader has shifted priorities from collecting technology in the D.C. Wasteland to containing the local Super Mutant population. This was ''technically'' okayed by the main Brotherhood leadership... but they stop sending reinforcements and supplies immediately thereafter, essentially making the D.C. Brotherhood a separate faction. The D.C. Brotherhood eventually spawns its ''own'' spinoff, the Brotherhood Outcasts, who adhere to the main Brotherhood's "technology is more important than anything else" philosophy, and left the D.C. Brotherhood to follow it.

** And their EvilCounterpart (at least in some eras), the Sith.

** The Knights of the Anvil, or Anvillers, take their name from their home region, a harsh environment southeast of Bremagne called the Anvil of the Lord. A military order with [[SecretArt a reputation for stealth]], the Anvillers were influenced by many cultures, Muslim as well as Christian. Members have small crosses tattooed on their bodies in remembrance of Christ's wounds when they take final vows; Sir Sé Trelawney displays those at his wrists (and jestingly refers to the others) on a visit to Alyce de Corwyn Morgan in ''Childe Morgan''.

* The Watcher's Council on ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. Since there is only one active Slayer at any time (in theory), the show was always vague about what the rest of the organization got up to. It didn't help that some of their actions bordered on KnightTemplar, especially in season three, which saw Giles being fired halfway through and ended with Buffy telling them she was doing things her way from now on. They were a bit more helpful in season five, [[spoiler: but their contribution to season seven was to be blown up.]]

*** The city-state of Ravens Bluff alone has its knighthood split into 8 specialized orders. Initiate-level Order of the Golden Rooster (concerned with their and city's prestige and [[StiffUpperLip appearance]]), then secular orders of Griffon (martial might), Dove (diplomacy, non-violent problem solving) and Hawk (intelligence, undercover investigations), then higher-ranked religious orders -- Keepers of the Mystic Flame (magic threats), Right hand of Tyr (justice) and Phoenix ({{the undead}} and [[TheLegionsOfHell pesky extraplanars]]) and the elite order, Knights of the Raven.

* The various magical groups in ''{{Shadowrun}}'' fill this role for people with the potential for magic. The exact perks gained depend on the group, but they can all help mages become initiates, which gives them greater power and abilities.

** Spectres [[http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Spectre_-_Master_Gear have access to stocks]] of rare and highly advanced equipment. Also, they can requisition Council resources as necessary, e.g. extranet bandwidth

* The {{Ultima}} games have the Order of the Silver Serpent, operating out of Serpent's Hold. Exclusive to UltimaUnderworld are the Knights of the Crux Ansata.

* The Black Order of ''[=~D.Gray-Man~=]'' collects [[EmpathicWeapon Innocence]] and the people capable of using it to fight [[TheHeartless Akuma]].

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* The Watcher's Council on ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. Since there is only one active Slayer at any time (in theory), the show was always vague about what the rest of the organization got up to. It didn't help that some of their actions bordered on KnightTemplar, especially in season three, which sees Giles being fired halfway through and ends with Buffy telling them she's doing things her way from now on. They're a bit more helpful in season five, [[spoiler: but their contribution to season seven is to be blown up.]]

** The Order of Aurelius, which all the main vampires (Angel,Spike,Darla,Dru,The Master) were essentially part of, due to it being a bloodline kind of thing,probably also counts.

Sometimes a KnightErrant or TheDrifter can't get the job done alone. So what do they do? Why, gather a group of likeminded individuals, of course. The Order is a group of people come together to further some aim, whether it's to accomplish a specific goal or in support of a more general set of ideals. It is usually a highly exclusive organization -- you cannot simply join, you must be recruited (or at least pass a difficult application process of some kind). However, despite these high standards, The Order can vary widely in size and influence. It may be a small, elite group of adventurers, or it may be an army-sized power unto itself with its own dedicated support staff and base(s) of operations.

* {{Warhammer 40000}} has several from the [[TheEmpire Imperium Of Man]], but the closest to the stereotypical [[TheOrder Order]] are the GreyKnights, an uncorruptible organisation of [[PoweredArmor Power Armored]], Daemon-hunting [[SuperSoldier Super Soldiers]]. However, being a heavy [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstruction]] of ThePaladin, they're ''[[WellIntentionedExtremist extremely]]'' ruthless, and undergo [[NumberOfTheBeast 666]] [[MindRape Mind Rapes]] during their selection course.

** The Order of Aurelius, which all the main vampires (Angel,Spike,Darla,Dru,The Master) were essentially part of, due to ti being a bloodline kind of thing,probably also counts.

** There's also the Istari, a FiveManBand of wizards.

* The elite intellectual organization residing in Castalia, called simply "The Order", in ''TheGlassBeadGame''.

* The Dragon Riders of ''{{Eragon}}''.

** The Order of Aurelius, which all the main vampires (Angel,Spike,Darla,Dru,The Master) were essentially part of, probably also counts.

[[folder:Tabletop RPG]]

* As medieval fantasies set in a realm of FantasticCatholcism, the {{Deryni}} works feature a number of these, including:

** There's also the Istari, a FiveManBand of wizards.