Lore

History and Lore of Imarelian Knighthoods - by T.A. Saunders ©2011 v1.6

The Evolution of Knighthood

In the earliest days of Holy and Unholy Orders, Knights wore heavy suits of armor and wielded swords in melee combat and lances while on horseback. As the world changed but the need for Knights remained, so too changed the appearance and tactics used by the Knighthoods of Imarel. While faith in one's deity had always been a hallmark amongst knights of any Order, it was not until the last two hundred and fifty years that knights shed their armor completely and began relying solely on their faith to protect them from harm. While this does not convey that a knight will simply stand in front of a bullet and expect their god will prevent them from being hit, the power of faith in a chosen deity does grant super-human reflexes against such things. A bullet could be deflected by the knight's sword or they could dodge it completely.

In place of armor, knights wear vestments that reflect their position in their Order. These consist of a long vest, short-collared tunic, loose-fitting pants and hard soled boots, of uniform color. These vestments are often made from woven silk, linen or even Starweave and will have little decoration upon them, save the long vest, which often has glyphs or runes of that knight's order upon it. In colder climates, the long vest is often replaced with a long sleeveless buff coat. All knights are expected to keep their vestments clean and keep several sets, should theirs become tattered on the battlefield. These vestments are also blessed by the priests of their faith, to convey additional protection, beyond what Miracles of the Body the knight can perform.

The act of of a knight calling upon their chosen god to protect them or to aid them in various ways is known as a Miracle. Miracles fall into three categories: Miracle of the Body, Miracle of the Mind and Miracle of the Spirit. These Miracles are granted by a prayer and intense faith of the knight and generally never fail, unless that knight has severely displeased their god. Examples of Miracles include, spontaneous curing of sickness, deflecting a hail of gunfire with a holy sword or casting out a possessing spirit from a person's body. It is largely by these Miracles knights defend themselves in a world of evolving technology that would otherwise see their kind as obsolete on the battlefield.

In an age of mass conscription and sorcerous machines of war, such as airships and siege golems, the role of knights has changed on the battlefield as well. No longer are they the front line chargers that break enemy lines, but rather they are more often than not, commanders of troops, or in some cases, the elite soldiers of larger armies that can double as healers of the injured when physicians are taxed with wounded. Knights are considered leaders wherever they go, both martially and spiritually which has allowed them, collectively to maintain relevance in a world that has grown beyond lines of armored men clashing together.

Despite these changes, some things have remained the same; the code of honor all knights are expected to follow is still widely in use and expected, even in the case of Reavers. While there are slight differences between knighthoods, there are a few basic tenants that are expected of all knights, regardless of their beliefs:

1. Mercy for those who ask of it.
2. Lawful and chivalrous conduct in all matters.
3. Respect for one's adversary both on the battlefield and off.
4. Protect the weak from superior adversaries (this is open to interpretation by Reavers).
5. Diplomacy before the blade (this is also open to interpretation by Reavers).

Aside of these basic tenants, it is still considered widely dishonorable for a knight to engage an enemy from afar in personal combat. While a knight may give the order to fire a cannon at an incoming line of enemy forces, he or she will do so only if the enemy is likewise engages in cannon-fire or similar long-range tactics. At the first opportunity, a knight will always engage their enemy headlong in battle. Furthermore, no knight will use a bow or a firearm in personal combat (though some Reavers may disagree with this). Such weapons are meant for hunting game not confrontation with the enemies of one's deity.