Avowed Knight

Overview

While ‘Knight’ may refer to any warrior in heavy armour with a penchant for the dramatic, Avowed Knights of Bordevar are a unique group of warriors who take holy and honourable pledges before their peers, Spheres, and King. These pledges are twofold; the pledge, which refers to a task to be completed (such as the retrieval or a particular artifact or slaying of a particular beast) and the vow, which limits the Knight in some way while the pledge remains, penance for a task left unfinished (common vows include Chastity, Poverty, Service, and Banishment). These Avowed Knights wander the Realm and beyond in pursuit of their Vows, often bestowed by their mentors or lieges, which can only be removed from them by those they deem as their superiors.

Need:

Armoured

The wearing of great steel armour is a requirement of the Avowed Knight, even off the field. It symbolises dedication to the Vow and a constant willingness to stand strong.

Combatant

While not all Knightly Vows require violence, all Knights of Bordevar are skilled fighters. Some Knights take vows against violence, but all remain capable combatants as part of their dedication and martial lifestyle.

Shouldn’t:

Magus

The act of balancing the study of the Arcane alongside the requirements of a Knight can often be too much, particularly where armour is concerned.

Costume Marker:

Vow Chalice

As part of the pledging ceremony, each Avowed Knight will drink from a chalice. This cup will remain on their person until the completion of their pledge. When they are released from/complete their pledge, Avowed Knights will once again drink from the chalice in symbolic completion of their task. The chalice style and adornments will vary from Knight to Knight and some may be very simplistic whereas others are extremely gaudy. To steal a Knights Chalice is to invite death, and to lose your chalice is to be forced to take on a new pledge to retrieve it.

History:

The concept of loyal knights taking vows of service originates in Drummond, but it was King Artourius Bordevar that changed the tradition to be more varied. Where before knights would pledge service for an amount of years, vowing to not refuse an order during that time, now knights would pledge to slay a great beast or protect an heir until they came of age, swearing off coin or love until these deeds were complete.

Over time the tradition solidified into what it is today. Knights (and it must be knights, those being martially trained individuals in the Bordevarian tradition) would make a pledge (generally to a superior or liege, but sometimes to the Spheres or someone else) and take a vow (generally chosen by the being you’re pledging to but otherwise chosen by the knight) as penance until the task is complete, with only the being they pledged to (or a representative of that being) having the power to release them.

Warriors become Avowed Knights for hundreds of reasons. For some, it is an act of revenge or dedication, to right wrongs against them or wrongs that they have found in the world. For others, it can be a family tradition or extension of a long history of loyalty. It can be a punishment for failure or crime. In some cases it can even be pragmatic, such as pledging service in exchange for board, equipment, and training.

Example pledges include:

- "I pledge to protect and guide this young person until they come of age” (Pledge of the Guardian, given to the young person, and released by them)

- “I pledge to slay the dragon Forgeheart.” (Pledge of the Slayer, given to any)

- “I pledge ten years of service to Lord Clovis” (Pledge of Loyalty, given to any, released by the same.)

- “I pledge to give my life in pursuit of Arcadian perfection.” (Pledge of the Spheres, given to the Sphere, released by a Priest of that Sphere)

Example vows include:

- "I vow to hold no more goods or lands than the armour and tools of my trade, and keep no coin longer than it takes me to be free of it.” (Vow of poverty).

- “I vow to speak no lies, be they great or small.” (Vow of honesty).

- “I vow to follow all orders given, acting as an extension of my lieges will.” (Vow of service).

- “I vow to remain outside the borders of my home until my task is complete.” (Vow of banishment.)

- “I vow to spill no blood in violence.” (Vow of pacifism).

Three Things Avowed Knights Are:

Pledge Bound

The pledges of Avowed Knights and the vows that accompany them define their service. Above all, the service of their pledge and the maintenance of their vows should be their goals and considerations. To do anything else is to abandon all semblance of honour and grounds for social ostracisation or worse.

Honour Given

To be seen as an Avowed Knight is to be given an amount of honour above your station. It is tradition for an Avowed Knight seeking aid in their pledge to be given assistance when they request it and they are treated as exemplars within Bordevar. Although this does vary based on the pledge (a Slayers Pledge and a Vow of Poverty requiring more assistance than a Loyalty Pledge with a Vow of Service).

Polite

To uphold the pledges of an Avowed Knight is to be brethren to hundreds of similar warriors throughout Bordevar. It is to be given honour beyond your station and to be acknowledged as an honourable person. In order to retain this position and reputation, Avowed Knights attempt to act with honour, propriety and politeness. Avowed Knights will often stand on ceremony at all times and can be seen as being stuck up or stilted, but it is better than besmirching the reputation of all Avowed.

One Thing Avowed Knights Aren't:

Paladins

While some Avowed do take pledges in honour of or pursuit of the Spheres, the tradition is a largely secular one. While the honour of the Avowed could be seen as being in pursuit of Arcadian or Cervitas, this is a side effect rather than the intended purpose.