DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
The Damn Forum mkIII
HTML https://thedamnforum.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: The Knightly Orders of Ansalon
*****************************************************
#Post#: 780--------------------------------------------------
the Knights of Solamnia
By: Dungeon Master Date: March 12, 2024, 10:59 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]the Knights of Solamnia[/center]
[center]"Est Sularus oth Mithas"[/center]
[center]"My Honor Is My Life"[/center]
The Orders
Solamnics have three separate orders. The Knights of the Crown
(also called Crown Knights) are the lowest rung and largest
branch of the hierarchy; the Knights of the Sword (or Sword
Knights) form the middle and less numerous group, and the
Knights of the Rose (Rose Knights) are rare individuals of
highest honor and reputation. Besides living up to the Oath,
each order has its own focus.
Crown Knights stress loyalty, a dedicated warrior's obligation
to superiors, and obedience, a direct result of that obligation.
This knight is expected to show unswerving loyalty and obedience
to a deserving higher authority despite personal preference or
opinion. They also swear to uphold everything Good and to battle
Evil wherever they find it.
Sword Knights dedicate themselves to heroism, courage, and
spirituality. This knight must possess a strong spirit, which
forms a natural basis for courage and heroism. Courage is the
determination to fight for Good no matter what its price,
including the sacrifice of the knight's life for those
oppressed. Sword Knights are daily expected to confront Evil, as
well as champion the poor, the weak, slaves, and anyone unjustly
accused. They are also expected to lend their swords and support
to fellow Solamnics without question when needed.
Rose Knights epitomize wisdom and justice. Wisdom is needed
first to judge a situation and then to make the right decision
based on the Oath and the Measure. A Rose Knight is expected to
work toward justice always, even should it mean his or her own
sacrifice. Wisdom is also required to determine that loss of
life should not be made in vain.
Individuals who join the Knights of Solamnia are inducted first
into the squires of the Crown Knights. To become a squire, they
must find a sponsor and be subjected to questioning, examination
of past deeds, and scrutiny of their background, which is
conducted by a Knightly Council. Gaining membership in or
advancement to the higher levels requires putting in a petition
for full knighthood at a Knightly Council (see Councils, below).
Early in its history, knightly rank was based on which order a
knight served: Rose Knights automatically outranked Sword
Knights, and Sword Knights outranked Crown Knights. Numerous and
often confusing exceptions existed, however: High Knights
outranked anyone without that title, and the Grand Master
outranked everyone. The new Measure, revised by Gunthar Uth
Wistan, changes and redefines rank, declaring that it depends on
a knight's achievements balanced by his or her reputation
category.
The Measure Revised
At one time, each succeeding generation added to the rules
governing a Solamnic Knight's actions. The Measure became
unwieldy, comprising 37 volumes, which no knight could hope to
follow. Huge chapters meandered through defining honor and
courtly protocol. A total of 75 pages alone covered the proper
saddling of horses. In 355 AC after the War of the Lance, new
Grand Master Gunthar Uth Wistan appointed a group of Knights to
help him pare down these elephantine guidelines. They reduced it
to three volumes containing only the known and suspected
writings of Vinas Solamnus, as well as pieces by several other
authors deemed important to assist Solamnics in upholding their
founder's ideals. Instead of trying to blindly follow outdated
ponderous rules, emulating Vinas Solamnus became the primary
focus of Solamnics.
Lord Gunthar opened membership for the first time to knights who
were not born in Solamnia. He also changed the appointment of
his own position so his successor would be elected by a group of
knights of good standing.
The new Measure also allows membership by women as well as men,
and it provides for an Auxiliary among the Crown Knights. This
group is made up of people who have no intention of becoming
military warriors, but who furnish estimable aid during war or
times of stress. They also must value and practice the Solamnic
ideals. The Auxiliary is made up of sages, rogues, sorcerers,
mystics, wizards, and beings of other than human and half-elven
ancestry. They are viewed as squires among the Knighthood, and
they are highly valued for their abilities. The Knightly Trial
normally required to make them honorary members is not required
unless an individual from the Auxiliary wishes to become an
Honorary Crown Knight.
Knightly Organization
The basic unit of the Solamnic Knights is called a circle. These
local groups encompass a town, city, or rural area, and usually
claim between 40-80 members. Such numbers vary widely in areas
with low or high population densities. Each circle's leader is
normally chosen by popular vote from among the best member
knights.
This Senior Knight must be of high reputation and honor. He sits
in council along with one knight each of equal rank from the
Crown and Sword orders. The Senior Knights appoint assistants,
one for every ten knights belonging to their circle. All members
within a circle defer to the Senior Knight.
High Knights have ruled Solamnics through much of their history:
the High Warrior commands the Order of the Crown, the High
Clerist guides the Order of the Sword, and the High Justice
officiates over the Order of the Rose. Their nominations and
elections are held within their own orders, without interference
from the other two. Only during times of war, when knights with
sufficient experience for these positions are in short supply
does the Measure allow a High Knight to be elected to represent
an order different than his or her own.
Warrior Lords are appointed or elected only during times of war.
It is their responsibility to lead knights into battle and
direct the campaign. They also command the garrisons of castles
under Solamnic control. A Warrior Lord is elected by Senior
Knights whose circles are involved in the battle area. They can
also be appointed by the Grand Master or one of the High
Knights. Sturm Brightblade served as the Warrior Lord of the
High Clerist's Tower during the War of the Lance.
The Grand Master rules all Knights of Solamnia, doing so by
commanding the Grand Circle of Knights that meets near
Whitestone Glade on Sancrist Isle. Only a High Knight can attain
this office. In times past, the nominee was chosen by a special
group of two knights from each circle. Seventy percent of all
circles were required to participate for a quorum. Many circles
found it impossible to send delegates; others had been destroyed
by persecution that existed against Solamnics, particularly
during the Fourth Age.
Therefore, a quorum was impossible to reach. Because of this,
for many long years after the Cataclysm, there was no Grand
Master to lead the Solamnic orders. When Gunthar Uth Wistan was
appointed to this position in 355 AC, he made it one of his
primary goals to rewrite the Measure so that such a difficulty
would never again happen.
Councils
Applications for advancement within an Order, applicants seeking
knighthood, and dealing with questions of honor are a few of the
reasons Knightly Councils are necessary. These must include at
least one knight of Master rank from each Order. If knights of
such stature are not available for some reason, the Senior
Knight from the local circle officiates or appoints a
representative in his or her stead. This Council is completed by
two other knights of good standing.
The High Council consists of the Grand Master and three High
Knights. This group makes all decisions for Solamnics, as well
as conducts the knighthood's affairs.
The High Command is appointed by the High Council only during
times of war or great crisis. It oversees Warrior Lords and
gives advice exclusively to the High Council on military
enterprises.
Knights of the Crown
1. Squire of the Crown (1st lvl)
2. Defender of the Crown (2nd lvl)
3. Knight of the Crown (3rd lvl)
4. Scepter Knight(4th lvl)
5. Shield Knight(5th lvl)
6. Shield of Crown(6th lvl)
7. Lord of Shields(7th lvl)
8. Lord Crown(8th lvl)
9. Master Warrior(9th lvl)
10. Lord Warrior(10th lvl)
11. High Warrior(11th lvl)
12.(12th lvl)
13. (13th lvl)
14. (14th lvl)
15. (15th lvl)
16. (16th lvl)
17. (17th lvl)
18. (18th lvl)
Knights of the Sword
3. Novice of Swords(3rd lvl)
4. Knight of Swords(4th lvl)
5. Blade Knight(5th lvl)
6. Knight Clerist(6th lvl)
7. Abott of Swords (7th lvl)
8. Elder of Swords(8th lvl)
9. Master of Swords(9th lvl)
10. Lord of Swords(10th lvl)
11. Master Clerist(11th lvl)
12. Lord Clerist(12th lvl)
13. High Clerist(13th lvl)
14. (14th lvl)
15. (15th lvl)
16. (16th lvl)
17. (17th lvl)
18. (18th lvl)
Knights of the Rose
4. Novice of Roses(4th lvl)
5. Knight of Tears(5th lvl)
6. Knight of Mind(6th lvl)
7. Knight of Heart(7th lvl)
8. Knight of Roses(8th lvl)
9. Keeper of Roses(9th lvl)
10. Master of Roses(10th lvl)
11. Archknight(11th lvl)
12. Lord of Roses(12th lvl)
13. Master of Justice (13th lvl)
14. Lord of Justice (14th lvl)
15. High Justice (15th lvl)
16. (16th lvl)
17. (17th lvl)
18. (18th lvl)
*****************************************************