Paksworld

The magelords moving north from Old Aare and Aarenis introduced the concept of “knights” to the north.   The Old Humans who lived in the north before the magelords came were not horsemen, though they knew of horses from the horse nomads north of them.

In the present day,  knights as such exist in Fintha, Tsaia, Lyonya, and Prealith.   Most are knighted as part of a specific order (Knights of Gird, Knights of Falk, Knights of the Bells)  but some are battlefield promotions of squires, knighted for deeds of valor.   Any knight may create a knight, though most leave that to the knightly orders. ..in the north, at least.  In Aarenis, knights are created individually more than in orders.  Knights of an order wear insignia indicating the order.

The oldest orders of knights are the Knights of Falk, followed by Knights of the Bells.   The Fellowship of Gird came late to accepting (let alone creating) knights, because of their emphasis on training common people.   Knights, associated with magelords, were alien to them.  However, the Knights of the Bells, in Tsaia, readily accepted Girdish command after the Girdish war, and the nobles who stayed were cooperative.    Within a couple of centuries, a Marshal-General saw the benefit of training Knights of Gird at Fin Panir.

In Tsaia, most knights are of noble birth, but in Fintha, anyone can apply to train as a Knight of Gird…if recommended by their Marshal.   In Lyonya, all knights are trained by Falk’s Hall, though knights of other orders than Falk are recognized.

Knightly training within a training order varies in length but is never less than a year and more commonly two to three years.   The orders train not only in fighting skills but in law, administration, ethics, and courtesy.    The fighting skills normally taught include mounted fighting with lance, bow, and sword, afoot with longsword, light sword (rapier, duelling sword) and assorted offhand weapons, and archery.   Some orders (or instructors, for those taking training in the south) also teach the use of battleaxe and warhammer.

A Girdish knight-candidate will start knightly training already skilled with staves, short sword and shield, and probably polearms (simple spear) as well as unarmed combat;  that training is basic to every yeoman.   Riding skill at the start is not required, but is an obvious benefit.   Noble youths have usually learned to ride well, and may have had some fighting drills a-horse.   They are familiar with light sword, and sometimes longsword, and either crossbow or longbow.   The Knights of Gird, faced with a noble, insist that he or she must learn the basic Girdish weapons before proceeding.

The knightly orders in the north have very similar models of what a knight should be when he/she graduates: a knight should be a skilled warrior and a skilled commander, able to take charge of 50-100 troops and arrange for their supplies, their transport, etc.  as well as maneuver them on the battlefield under the command of a lord or ruler.   A knight should understand estate management well enough to be substantial help to a lord, if he or she does not yet have a domain.  A knight should be loyal, faithful to any oaths sworn, law-abiding, courteous…should pay debts promptly, treat everyone respectfully, uphold the honor of the knightly order.

Knights of Falk:  wear the ruby given at their knighting.  Falk’s colors are red and white (or silver) but most Knights of Falk are in service to someone else, and wear that livery–but with the ruby always a clear sign of their primary allegiance.

Knights of Gird: insignia is a silver G on a blue background, normally worn on the collar, though some wear a medallion instead.  Gird’s colors are blue and white; Knights of Gird on a mission for the Fellowship wear a blue cloak and a blue tabard with the G on the breast.

Knights of the Bells:  insignia is a pair of silver bell-shapes, worn as a pin on the collar.  The Bells are a Girdish order but under royal patronage, so their colors are the rose and white of Tsaia.   The final knighting ceremony of the Bells was described in Oath of Gold and is a variant on the Girdish exchange of blows that all use when meeting in a grange.

Over the centuries, ceremonies and traditions associated with knights and being knighted have become more elaborate, but a trial of arms is always involved, either on the day, or the day before, the knighting itself.