Shmeepicus 3942 Share Posted January 1 The Standardization of Knighthood in Balian A squire undergoing a hunting trial with a group of Knights Issued in the year 90 B.A. The Royal Order of St. Michael For many years Knighthood- and all Orders pertaining to it remained relatively dormant with little to do or accomplish. This missive will entail the complete restructuring of all Orders- and the changes coming to them. The Squires The Knightly history of Balian is a storied one, with many finding themselves amongst the ranks of either the Royal Order of St. Michael or The Royal Order of the Silver Comet. However- both allowed entrance based on merit- which is to change. The Royal Order of the Silver Comet shall still allow entry into its most illustrious ranks based on merit and merit alone, yet the Royal Order of St. Michael shall now require one to prove themselves through squireship and feats. The process of becoming a squire shall have a few requirements from this point forward: - A squire must be between the ages of 13 and 24, anyone who is older than this at the releasing of this missive shall be given allowance to partake in Squireship if they so desire- no squires shall be taken at any other age from this point forward - A squire may not progress through more than one trial per Saint’s year- and must complete at least eight years and six trials as a squire before undergoing an evaluation by the Knight they squire under and the Grandmaster of the Royal Order of St. Michael - To become a Squire, one must complete a lesser trial to prove their commitment to the order and their squireship Prospective squires must undergo a personalised evaluation administered by their designated mentors as a prerequisite to commencing their squire training. Such assessments commonly encompass trials of physical prowess, valour, allegiance, and even an understanding of the realm's intricacies. This selective process serves the purpose of discerning those who may not meet the criteria of this esteemed and noble journey. - In light of the previous point, the question naturally arises as to the fate of those initially judged unfit. In response to this, I propose a straightforward remedy: After a minimum of two years have elapsed since their last evaluation, individuals may reapply with renewed determination to pursue their objective. However, this opportunity for reapplication is limited to a maximum of two attempts. Should an applicant fail to meet the standards in their second assessment, they must gracefully acknowledge that this particular responsibility is not destined for them. - Upon admission to their squire training, an essential ritual awaits them - the solemn swearing of an oath under the guidance of their mentor. The details of this oath shall be provided in a subsequent section of this document, resembling the solemnity of the Armada's oath. The oath in question is as follows; “I, [insert name], do hereby solemnly pledge my unwavering allegiance and steadfast loyalty to the illustrious Kingdom of Balian. With sincerity and dedication, I commit my heart and soul to the cause of this realm, vowing that my armament shall ever strike true in its defence. I willingly bind myself to dutifully heed and follow the commands of our revered Monarch and the noble Knights appointed above me, regarding them as my guiding lights. Through the trials and triumphs that lie ahead, I shall stand resolute in my duties as a faithful servant and defender of our kingdom, safeguarding its honour and legacy with unwavering resolve and unwavering determination." Squire Trials and Traditions Squires must undertake a series of trials before being able to become a full fledged Cavalier under the Order of St. Michael- each trial is related to the oath they will one day take in some way, always in the representation of what the values of the Order are: Courage, Steadfastness, Piety, Humility and Justice. The first trial that may be given by a Knight to their squire is a hunt. Dangerous beasts lurk within the jungles and forests of La Costa Rubinissima and it is the job of the Knights of St. Michael to root this danger out. The second is the reading of the Holy Scrolls, Piousness is a trait valued amongst all Balianese, given the circumstances behind the founding of the Kingdom. Once the scrolls have been read, squires shall be expected to speak with a member of the Clergy about the values of Canonism and what they entail. The third trial is sparring a Knight of the Order, the trial shall be conducted until blood is drawn. This is conducted to determine the strength and perseverance of a squire- and how far they are willing to go to prove and defend themselves. The fourth trial is the assistance in defending against an attack on Balian or any of her allies. This trial is done to assess the courageousness of the squire in question- whilst this trial is not typically assigned, it can be noted as completed should the squire take part in any raid or event upon home soil or allied lands. The fifth trial is a pilgrimage to the Holy See, taken along the coastal roads of the continents East. This trial is unique in that every Knight is expected to continue doing this every period of ten years, ideally the Squire can speak with the Pontiff or, alternatively a Cardinal upon their arrival- before spending a day there and travelling back home. The sixth trial is one related to humility or modesty. The squire shall be given the task of refusing food and water. They shall not eat anything for three days- and shall drink nothing for two. This is to help the squire understand the position of those less fortunate- and is an important lesson in humility. The seventh trial a squire shall undertake is arguably one of the most difficult ones. In the colder months of winter, they shall be taken to one of Balian’s beaches and made to lay down upon the shoreline as the tide rises- this trial tests their spirit, as the tide slowly comes in and cold ocean water overtakes the lower half of their body they shall be tested both physically and mentally. The eighth trial requires the squire to travel to the four edges of Aevos, and return with something unique to each area they had visited. This can be as simple as a shard of ice taken from the Northern Wastes, or as ornate as a handcrafted item purchased from a shop. This trial again tests the spirit of the squire. The ninth and final trial is another difficult one. If the squire is found to be in breach of Balian’s laws or alternatively the values of the Order- they shall be lashed 1 time for each year they are old. This is to demonstrate to the squire the need for fair justice. A squire must not complete all the above trials- yet they shall be expected to complete at least six of them- and no more than a single trial shall be completed per Saint’s week. The traditions of the Royal Order of St. Michael are few- yet they hold great importance to the Order as a whole. The Knighting ceremony being the most important. At a squires Knighting ceremony, they are dressed in a white shirt and neutral pants and presented before the Sovereign or Grandmaster in the throne room. Before heading to the courtroom, a squire is baptized in the Cathedral, accompanied by the Knight they squire under if a member of the Clergy is present- if not this can occur at a later date. The squire is then slapped, dictating the final strike they should ever take unchallenged. The squire then says their vows. The Fang of Cloudbreaker, the sword of the Sovereign of Balian, is lit aflame and pressed against both shoulders, burning and scarring them as a permanent reminder of the vow they took. They are then instructed to rise as a Cavalier of the Royal Order of St. Michael. The braziers of St. Lothar; newly made Knight shall light a brazier for themselves in the Order’s fortress, which they will be expected to keep aflame for the duration of their lifetime- when a Knight passes into the Seven Skies, the brazier shall be extinguished and moved to the crypts, where their brazier shall remain in front of their tomb for eternity. Every ten years, a Knight will renew their oaths to the Gran Creu or Monarch and make a pilgrimage to the Holy See- where they shall recite the Holy Scrolls within the Basilica of the Papal State. They shall stop during their pilgrimage in all Canonist Kingdoms, being Haense, Numendil, Petra and Aaun- and paying homage to God within their respective churches, before completing their pilgrimage in the Holy City. The Laureliers In years past, the Monarch had the ability to simply give any man or woman the title of Knighthood. With the changes to Squireship- this too shall change. Introducing the Laureliers, these are people who have been recognized by the Monarch to be fitting of introduction to the Royal Order of St. Michael. Whilst not being able yet to bear the title of Sir or Dame, the individual has been given a place within the Order and may further prove their value and understanding of the tenets and values of the Order, to find themselves among the esteemed ranks of the Cavaliers. The Cavaliers Not much has changed regarding these Knights- this is the rank squires are inducted into after completing their eight years and six trials as a squire. They are the backbone of the Order- its sword and shield. Most Knights shall find themselves in this position- with few rising to the more esteemed ranks of Otimoliers or Torreveliers. Otimoliers Otimoliers are the Cavaliers who have proved their value to the Order time and time again. Having had a number of successful squireships, as well as dedication to the Order and further, the Crown. Whilst gaining no further titles, their recognition of being an Otimolier is in and of itself a reward. Otimoliers are Knights who live and breathe the five values the Order upholds, being that of Courage, Steadfastness, Piety, Modesty and Justice. The Torreveliers Torreveliers, otherwise commonly referred to as The Tower Knights, are the five Knights that make up the upper echelon of the Order. A Torrevelier is a position that is granted until the death or disappearance of the Knight- and can only be removed should they fail to uphold their Oath or the values of the Order. The Torreveliers answer only to the Monarch and the Gran Creu- and are typically consulted about reforms to the Order for their opinion and advice. El Gran Creu El Gran Creu, in common referred to as the Grandmaster, is the head of all Orders within Balian. They are the penultimate authority in regards to those within the Order- second only to the Monarch themself. It is their duty to maintain the Order- and in the absence of the Monarch, conduct the Knighting ceremony. The Hierarchy The Monarch El Gran Creu Torreveliers Otimoliers Cavaliers Laureliers Escudiers (Squires) Paginiers (Pages) The Royal Order of the Silver Comet There are few changes happening to the Order of the Silver Comet- though there is one notable one. In recognition of their abilities as scholarly peoples, those inducted into this Order shall no longer be referred to as Sir or Dame, but rather as Erudit. This is a term found in Old Bathalite- and the term that shall now be used to refer to those who have helped Balian advance culturally, through the chronicling of Balian’s history, the production of songs, ballads or poems- anything that generally advances the culture of Balian. The Royal Order of St. Lothar The Royal Order of St. Lothar shall be amalgamated into the Royal Order of St. Michael. This decision was made due to there being little sense for there to be two separate martial Knightly Orders. IN NOMINE DEI, HER ROYAL MAJESTY , Sybille I, by the Grace of GOD, Queen of Balian, Viscountess of Pompourelia, Eflen and Anatis, Baroness of Brucca,Valens, Malenos and Ciavola, Lady of Portoregne, Atrus and Monterosa, Warden of La Costa Rubinissima, Protector of the Heartlanders and the South, etcetera. His Excellency, Sir Percy de Lyons ‘al Lionhearted, Gran Creu of Balian, Torrevelier of the Royal Order of St. Michael 17 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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