RUMBLETiGER
Adventurer
my 2 copper pieces:
First off, I can completely see an orginization like this developing in the D&D world. Easily. Everything you wrote could unfold just as it is stated in the Greyhawk or perhaps even Eberron worlds.
Second, I keep getting fuzzy when I try to place an alignment on this. It's Lawful in it's enforcement of Chaotic-style behaviors. Because it has a strict code, however chaotic-seeming the individual tennants, I'd place this on the Lawful spectrum.
And it'd be Evil. Not heavily Evil, but the kidnapping/brainwashing/manipulation "for your own good" thing places it under "We don't think we are Evil, but the rest of the world see us as so" catagory. Now, it cannot be assumed that the Knights of the Virgin are any more Good/less Evil, because they also appear to be repressing freedoms and being controlling as well, from the little you've described of that side of the coin. They also might be "we don't think we are Evil, but the rest of the world would see us as so".
Third, I can see playing a campaign with this order existing in the world. I cannot see playing a character who was a member of this order, or the opposing one, but who might side a little bit more with the Knights of the Virgin simply because they appear more conservative, and therefore less disruptive. Participating in a campaign that wrestled with the morality that this tension brings up could make for an interesting game.
Fourth, I imagine that while both of these orders see themselves as powerful, influential forces, perhaps the majority of the common folk aren't heavily influenced by either philosophy. Sure, they'd have to pay taxes, bend and knee and appear to play by whatever rules while out in public like all good peasants would, but when they come home, they live their lives however they like. The majority of the world would still likely maintain the normal, married, having kids, traditional family unit in order to maintain any medieval, Europian flavored culture where 90-something% of the population were ordinary Commoners and Experts while the remaining people were adventurers, elitists anjd philosophers. Most people can't afford the time for pursuing such ideals.
Besides, it appears that both orders are only interested in liberating or preserving the sexuality of attractive women. All the more common-looking girls would be ignored by either side.
First off, I can completely see an orginization like this developing in the D&D world. Easily. Everything you wrote could unfold just as it is stated in the Greyhawk or perhaps even Eberron worlds.
Second, I keep getting fuzzy when I try to place an alignment on this. It's Lawful in it's enforcement of Chaotic-style behaviors. Because it has a strict code, however chaotic-seeming the individual tennants, I'd place this on the Lawful spectrum.
And it'd be Evil. Not heavily Evil, but the kidnapping/brainwashing/manipulation "for your own good" thing places it under "We don't think we are Evil, but the rest of the world see us as so" catagory. Now, it cannot be assumed that the Knights of the Virgin are any more Good/less Evil, because they also appear to be repressing freedoms and being controlling as well, from the little you've described of that side of the coin. They also might be "we don't think we are Evil, but the rest of the world would see us as so".
Third, I can see playing a campaign with this order existing in the world. I cannot see playing a character who was a member of this order, or the opposing one, but who might side a little bit more with the Knights of the Virgin simply because they appear more conservative, and therefore less disruptive. Participating in a campaign that wrestled with the morality that this tension brings up could make for an interesting game.
Fourth, I imagine that while both of these orders see themselves as powerful, influential forces, perhaps the majority of the common folk aren't heavily influenced by either philosophy. Sure, they'd have to pay taxes, bend and knee and appear to play by whatever rules while out in public like all good peasants would, but when they come home, they live their lives however they like. The majority of the world would still likely maintain the normal, married, having kids, traditional family unit in order to maintain any medieval, Europian flavored culture where 90-something% of the population were ordinary Commoners and Experts while the remaining people were adventurers, elitists anjd philosophers. Most people can't afford the time for pursuing such ideals.
Besides, it appears that both orders are only interested in liberating or preserving the sexuality of attractive women. All the more common-looking girls would be ignored by either side.