Knight

"As King/Queen of Amsnorth, I hereby name you, knight of my army, and Knight of Amsnorth."

―Words of the knighting ceremony

History[]

Formation[]

The first ever knight was created by the first human colonizes back almost 24,000 BPD, however if such ranks existed before this time is unknown.

A knight was originally a high ranking member of a human civilization, and those who held the rank was considered second to the chef (later king or queen). These knights were only men, as women were seen only as mothers and care takers. Also the men must be addressed as Ser, unless spoken to by the chef, if anyone did not name the man Ser, they could be killed. However as the humans became more civil, these rules changed.

The first humans selected their knights from those who were strong and leaders, who were able to defend the weaker people. When the humans were discovered by the Dark-Elves, the elves were very interested in the ranking of the knight, and the elves traded their own titles and goods for the humans. The humans shared their knighthood with the elves and eventually most of the races were also naming their own knights.

Becoming a Knight[]

Typically, young men must undergo many years of extensive and expensive training to become a knight. A young knight-in-training is known as a "Squire". These squires are mainly boys, but after several years women also were granted this title. A knight originally serves under a high born, mainly kings, queens, lords, and ladies. Only a king or a queen can knight a squire however.

Pursuing a knighthood is one of the few ways for a member of the poorer to achieve rank and standing amongst the nobility. However, such a task usually involves the expenditure of significant sums of money on armour and weaponry. Most knights-in-training are those who have the skills of being one, and have access to gold. However a knight can pass on to anyone with the talents to become one, even those who have had either a poor history, or unknown family members.

It is not unheard of, however, for someone to be honoured in instant knighthood if they have proven themselves worthy, for example combat. There have been many times through history when a poor man, has proven himself to be a great swordmaster in combat, and impressed someone of a high nobility.

Most people who do wish to be knights follow a simple process, squire for a high born, read, educated, train in combat, and prove worthy. Some who wish to skip past these stages are people who have acess to great deals of gold, such as the sons and daughters to lords and nobles.

Song of the Knight[]

During a knighting ceremony there is a ritual that must be done, such as dancing, singing and even combat, depending on the religious beliefs of that group. However the song sung if always the same, and has been sung by the humans for over 24,000 years.

The song is as follows:

One indomitable heart, Brothers all. 'They, the wrath of the throne, Brothers all. 'And glory, eternal glory,'They shall bear its weight together of' Protecting our throne.' Forged like the blade in the fires of death, Brothers all.'Those who stand before us light the night sky in flame. 'Those who stand before us light the night sky in flame.'Their vengeance and honour burns brighter still. 'Every last traitorous shall fall.'They bask in the glow of the rising war, 'They lay waste to the enemy, 'Wade through the blood spilled on the battlefield. 'They are honour and courage, 'We respect them from high to low, 'They fight for ourselves and protect' Us from, death.'Their enemies call to the gods 'If they come across their path.'Knights we hold you dear, Ser.'One indomitable heart, Brothers all.'They, the wrath of the throne, Brothers all. 'And glory, eternal glory,'They shall bear its weight together of' Protecting our throne.

Types of Knights[]

Knights are split into different categories, but each hold an equal rank. But in practice knights who own their own lands or who serve major lords are much more highly respected than a landless commoner who happened to be knighted after fighting valiantly in a battle. Even thou a king or a queen may only knight a being, if say for example, a young farmboy proved himself well in combat was knighted, he would be held in lower regard when compared to one of a richer, more renowed family member who went through the same process.

When a richer man is knighted, his father may pass down his own lands, granting that knight further power and more respect, making him more respected when compared to one of a lower upbrining. Most often, young men who have finished their training and are not from a rich background, and just recently been knighted are landless and not in the service of any lord.

Royal Knight:

A royal knight be be the most respected out of them all, this knight is typically one who has been raised

from a rich background, and have passed and completed through all of their training. A royal knight is a very skilled being in combat, and may be considered one of the greatest in the lands. They may also possess lands and further titles, also making them a Lord, if their father is one.

Bronze Knight:

This type of knight has been given their titles through a common background, and has passed through their training, without much gold or respect. They may be seen as a very skilled fighter, but they are not as respected as the royal knight.

Slum Knight:

This knight is regarded as being one of the most least respected people of a high rank, mainly because they have come from a weak background, with no gold, no known family members. This rank is held as being gold to the poor people, who wish to be a knight, and many young men of a poor background pursue this with great ambition.

Practices[]

In wartime, mounted knights form the backbone of major armies. A single knight is an elite professional soldier, with extensive combat training, and equipped with the finest weapons and heavy armor. A single knight, even dismounted, is worth several dozen poorly armed and untrained common footsoldiers conscripted as feudal levies. Knights are very useful for carving through and running down enemy infantry, though they are also the best weapon against the enemy army's own mounted knights.

Many knights are sought out in combat, as they along with the General are regarded as being the greatest fighters. While the knight, unlike the General, only pursue the weaker beings, and take out the footsoldiers, they are alson the target of stronger fighters. The orc see the knight as being the limbs of a battle, and seek to cut them off. While it is very, very rare a knight can defeat an orc in combat, an orc will seek to kill a knight with a quick stroke, rather than to harm the being, mainly out of respect for their skills.

In peacetime, knights prove their martial valour through training and contests of skill known as tournaments (although knighthood is not always a formal requirement for participation in a tournament). The highlight of tournaments is the joust, in which mounted knights charge at each other, each knight trying to knock the other off of his horse using a wooden lance. Knights at tournaments frequently fight to win the favour of noble ladies if they prove victorious. While some knights do fight for such romantic reasons, others are more interested in the large money prizes awarded to the winners, often consisting of several hundred to several thousand Gold Pieces. .

Knights are rarely seen wondering the public streets, and are mainly within noble places, but often a knight is required to attend to diplomatic affairs.

Abilities[]

Mounted knights are regarded as being one of the toughest and strongest in combat, while most of them weild swords or axes, some can wield bows, which make them even more deadly, even more so if they can quickly switch between a sword and a bow. A group of knights are known as a cavalry, and they form around 20 in numbers, and can smash through a line of defence, which make it easer for footsoldiers to attack their foes.

On foot, the fighting style of human knights consists of powerful slashing attacks and strong blocks using a heavy sword, alternating with quick thrusting attacks meant to penetrate armor. Human knights wear heavy plate armour which provides them excellent protection, particularly against the crude weapons of basic infantry conscripts, albeit at the cost of making their movements relatively slow. The weight of their armour slows them down enough that they cannot rely on speed to win against unarmored opponents (though the armour will keep them alive longer than their opponent), thus knights must rely on the raw power of blows from heavy swords, designed to deal damage not only due to their sharpness but their sheer weight. Broad hacking and slashing movements are not merely dramatic, but combined with the raw weight of the sword, will drastically increase the force behind the impact of the blow. A lightly armed and armoured opponent may hit a knight multiple times but for little damage. Conversely, it may take a knight some time to pin down an unarmoured opponent, but once he does, his blow will be absolutely devastating.

knights are highly skilled when on the ground, and due to their great armour and weapons, prove to be a serious problem to weaker soldiers. A knight a carve his way through at least 10 humans, 30 goblins, dozens of trolls, and can be very tricky for the likes of elves, mainly the Wood-Elves, because thei armour can block an arrow with great ease. A skilled elf can find the weak points in the armour, but it is rare one can hit these places as knights are very active in combat, and move across the battlefield with speed.

Like the General, Commander, or Captian, a Knight will seek to wound a force, to allow the footsoldiers to pass through with ease, and defeat the large amounts onf numbers. However a knight will also attack and seek out a strong member of an army.

Appearance[]

Knights hold themselves in high regard, and like to show others of their rank. They typically dress in strong silver, white, or bronze armour. They wear cloaks, mainly a colour to repesent their loyalty, for example, a knight under the service of House Heartan, will wear a crimson cloak, as crimson is the colour of that house.

In the Books[]

Knights are seen in all books, and are mainly seen as being the superiour person, mainly within combat. They are the very first characters seen in the series, even though these characters are Golden Knights, thet still belong to the same rank and respect.