Order of the Radiant Heart

The Order of the Radiant Heart is a fraternity of lawful good paladins and clerics, who operate in and around the area of Amn. Members of the order devote themselves to fighting evil and injustice, maintaining peace and upholding the law. The Order has followers of many goodly deities in it's ranks, but mainly the gods Torm and Helm are venerated by the knights of the Order. The Order's motto is: "The courage of one can change the destiny of many."

Base of Operations
The Order's main headquarters is located in the temple district of Athkatla, the capital city of Amn. It is an imposing building called the High Hall of the Radiant Heart, and it towers over even some of the largest temples in the city, as a monument to the Order's power and influence.

Most Noble Order of the Radiant Heart
This is the senior branch of the Order, comprised of dutiful paladins of at least forty years of age. It is an exclusive division that commands respect from the highest ranks of the aristocracy, who regard it's members as dignitaries in their own right. This wing of the Order maintains only 25 members at any one time. New candidates are considered only when one of the members dies or voluntarily steps down. Primarily a social organization, the Radiant Heart holds a lavish feast every spring, held in the castle of a grateful landowner or monarch who donates both the labor and the food.

Joining the Order
In order to become a fully-fledged knight of the Order, applicants must have shown exceptional dedication and be of at least forty years of age; younger members join the ranks of the Radiant Heart Auxiliary. Paladins who wish to enroll must also have two sponsors: a member of the royalty of his homeland and an active member of the order. The Radiant Heart honors not only distinguished service, but what is perhaps the most remarkable accomplishment of any paladin – a long life.

Council of Prelates
The Order of the Radiant Heart is led by a council of three High Officers called Prelates, each of 15th level or higher. A Prelate must also have been a member in good standing for no less than 10 years. The Prelates make decisions by consensus, with suggestions from a lieutenant called the Chancellor (a paladin of at least 12th level, also considered a High Officer). When a Prelate dies or retires, the Chancellor takes his place. The Prelates then appoint a new Chancellor. All High Officers wear a tattoo of the order's emblem on their left wrist.

Radiant Heart Auxiliary
This is the junior wing of the Most Noble Order of the Radiant Heart, organized to honor outstanding young paladins. Like the Most Noble Order, the Auxiliary is a social organization, though its members may occasionally be called upon to serve or assist their sponsors.

In order to join the Auxiliary branch, each aspiring young knight must be sponsored by an active member of the Most Noble Order. Two Prelates must approve his membership. A paladin serves as a member of the Auxiliary for a five-year term. At the end of that period, he may renew his membership for another five years with the unanimous vote of all current Auxiliary members and the approval of two Prelates.

Dismissal from the Order
A member who violates his vow to the Order, or commits an act heinous enough to cost him his paladinhood, is beheaded. Should the member flee, the order hunts him down.

Notable Members

 * Prelate Wessalen, one of the three Prelates of the Most Noble Order of the Radiant Heart
 * Sir Keldorn Firecam, a famed and respected paladin of Torm
 * Anomen Delryn, a warrior priest of Helm and member of the Radiant Heart Auxiliary

Games
In the game Baldur's Gate, the Order of the Radiant Heart sends the squire paladin Ajantis Ilvastarr north to deal with the bandit raids and iron crisis plaguing the sword coast. This mission is a kind of initiation test for Ajantis; if he succeeds, the Order agrees to take his promotion to knighthood into consideration.

The Order of the Radiant Heart features prominently in Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, as a large section of the game takes place in Athkatla, the location of the Order's headquarters. It is possible for the player to perform tasks for the Order, and to even join the Order if the player character is a paladin. Both Keldorn Firecam and Anomen Delryn appear in the game, and can be recruited into the player's party.