I was born in a land called Lyoness. One thing about this land that sticks out is.. they do not believe in equilty. Women can not be knights and are often laughed at and thrown out upon any request to have this law reviewed. This all coming from a person that i call my grandfather, Lord Marcus Cardok, Beron of Lyoness. To see my own blood in such a mind set.. bothers me greatly. Reciently Lord Marcus passed away, in service to his country.

I no longer live in Lyoness, the gift of simply being seen for acts and deeds of ones self. Given the chance to live in the footsteps of the mentors I left behind in Silverleaf. The chance to pass on the knights code and serve the Order of Darkmoor.

As a squire, my life is not my own it is that of my knight, and the land we serve. I believe a knight is a man or women, who speaks only the truth, he is a man of his word and loyal to the word he speaks. He is paticent and kind.. humble and fair.. I believe a knight to be a warrior of the old code.

One that is slow to draw his blade, quick to offer mercy when the time is right. I believe a knight to be a man of virtue and honor. A knight is not just a man with a sword that throws his weight around, but a defender of light, a defender of right and wrong. his kingdom and their allies.

He tries to leaves places better then he found them quick to give a hand and his heart.

That is what being a Knight means to me, and what the knighthood is in my eyes.

In humble reguards.

Squire to Sir Lavitz Draclonis

Squire Aishlinn Cardok

Aishlinn Leigh Cardok

When I heard that you wished to know “Why I wanted to be a knight of Darkmoor Manor” the question did not take me by surprise. It did however get me thinking, Walking this precious lands for as long as my station has been here. There is much history in these lands and not all of it nice; war, battles, and spilt blood. There is a respect this land holds, her history and I wish to further my dedication to Darkmoor Manor and all she stands for.

If this land is anything like Lady Esther herself, and her Bloodline, it is very worthy of dedication and training.. She shows more of the virtues of a knight, than most of the knights I have known. One should not seek to be a knight of Darkmoor, just for the fighting, that one can do as a soldier. What is sought is the knowledge, the stability and the humbleness that comes with being her knight.

In the most humble regards,

Ayden Saalis

knighthood is that is the turth of a man, what a man should strive to stand for.
when you think of a knight you see a a mna of honour and turth that would fight to help those

What does knighthood mean to me? There was a time when I would have told you that knighthood means foolishly rushing into danger without any thought for one’s own safety. That time, I am happy to say, has passed. Now, I find the question hard to answer as it is hard for me to properly convey with words that which I feel.

On first thought, I could answer duty and honor, but as I think about it I realize that even thieves feel such a call, though it is true some feel such things more then others. Sorcerers and wizards feel the call too, again some more then others.

So what does knighthood mean, to me? It means that while others go about humbling the arrogant, or uncovering lost mysteries, knighthood is the following of one’s heart to be the example by which all others can judge their own worth. Knighthood is selflessness instead of selfishness, it is benevolence and politeness. Knighthood is standing for justice by means of the law. Where others may see no wrong in taking the fast track to seeing justice done, the Knight finds the right path.

In a world where grand and lofty ideals and beliefs are slowly being replaced by the lackluster drudgery of the every day, knighthood is the pursuit of perfection, of arms, of mind, of every part of the knight’s life. It is smiling at your most hated rival and wishing them a good day; it is looking beneath the skin of those you meet and judging them by their actions and deeds and not by their skin. It is the acceptance that while your way may be right for you, it may not be right for the person standing beside you. In short knighthood is Duty and Honor, but in ways that stands above all others, and yet is beneath them too. It is serving the greater good and setting an example to those who come after you, it is the upholding of ideals that others may see as outdated and of no purpose. It’s like being like my grandfather, a noble, wise and caring dragon.

 Before I start, I’d like to apologize if this isn’t exactly the kind of thing I should be writing because I never wrote anything like this before. I wrote a letter for my aunt for a few times but they were nothing like this, so if there’s some kind of special way to write this I really don’t know about it and should apologize about writing it like this..

Also, I don’t know a lot about knighthood except what I heard from people and read in a few books but it’s not much, actually, I don’t even know if most of it is true, but I’m sure some of it must be true because if nobody actually knew anything about knights then that would mean they are a very secretive sort of people but they aren’t - at least they don’t seem to be, I don’t know too many knights but Sir Tans and Lady Lathee seem to be very open and pleasant people.

So, I guess I should actually do some reading here in the library about knights and knighthood before I write this paper but I think that would sort of be like cheating because if I read about knighthood before I wrote this it wouldn’t be about what knighthood means to me because I would know what knighthood means to other knights and my thoughts would probably change. They would still be my thoughts but they would be different. So I guess that would mean I would be writing about what knighthood means to a different me, if that makes any sense, and I’d rather write about what it means to me than a different me.

Now that I think about it, I wouldn’t even know what to read, there are so many books in here it would probably take me weeks to find what I should read and I doubt Lady Lathee would wait that long. I also doubt I would have the time to do something that boring for so long, I would be terribly worried about Arf being alone by himself out there in the rain and I’m sure he would be worried about me. Not that it’s unpleasant in Darkmoor Manor, he just wouldn’t know that I’m here.

Sorry, I seem to have really wandered off.. What I was trying to say is, what I’m writing about knights is only based on what I read in the story about the Green Knight we had back at auntie’s home and the tales I heard of all these knights that went on quests to achieve great deeds in the name of a decent Lord or for a fair Lady and the like. I loved them, every one of them, I could sit and listen to those stories for hours, sometimes I would be so late auntie would go out looking for me!

I even tried to do what they did at home with wooden swords when I was a kid. I dreamed up dragons, but they didn’t look scary, I think it was because I never saw a dragon before, they looked sort of like a lizard but with bird wings and weren’t that menacing at all. They weren’t that big either, and my aunt chased them out of the house with a broom whenever I tried to fight one like St. George did.

You see, it’s the kind of thing I want to do, go on quests and achieve chivalric deeds - it’s so exciting. No exciting isn’t the right word.. I can’t seem to think of a good word to use as the opposite of boring. You see, if I ever became a fisher or baker, I swear I would die of boredom! I swear, if I can’t dream, I feel like I’m fading away, sometimes, and these things keep me dreaming, and dreaming keeps me holding on. Arf, for example.. I dreamed him out of nowhere and he keeps me hanging on when I’m alone. If I became a baker and couldn’t dream anymore and lost Arf I think I would be very lonely.

So I want to do things like that, go on quests and save the innocent, fight the wicked and slay the evil, bring justice and do noble deeds - auntie always said I had a very correct moral compass, I can usually tell if someone is a decent man or a crook when I look at them. I swear, it spooks people a lot, actually, people always find me disturbing for some reason, but it really scares them when I tell them they are mean people or liars without ever speaking to them and I always get it right! It’s like some kind of mask they wear, I can’t really explain it, when I look at them I just see it and it looks so awful! I would hate to see something like that when I look at the mirror so I always try to do what’s right and tell the truth and do the right thing even when it’s hard and I think that’s what it should take to be a knight.

I mean, I could have read the books, presuming I had the time to find them, and found some kind of a code or knightly oath and copied from it and said this is what knighthood is about and I’m sure it would have been a more appropriate answer, but it wouldn’t be honest. I may not be chosen as a squire but I would at least feel better about myself being an honest fisher than a lying knight. And I don’t think knights should lie, that would defeat the purpose, if they are supposed to be honest folks, and I think they should be. Of course, if I’m wrong, I guess I would be better of not becoming a knight. But I think I’m right, all the knights I met were very honest people, except they seemed to have more patience than they actually had but I think that was because they were trying to be nice with me, so that wouldn’t count as a lie, I think.

I think they should learn the laws of the land and how to tell what is right from what is wrong and should work to protect the innocent and uphold the law and distribute justice and hunt monsters and go on quests for their Lords or save Ladies in distress and recover holy relics for the church and stuff like that but most importantly they should be examples for other people to follow like Sir Tans was for me because there sure are too many wicked people out there that could use a good example!

The knighthood is a cymbal. A way for people to know that this person can be trusted and looked to for help in times in need. It has a listing of rules that helps the knight to know what to do but a knight isn't made, they are borned. Sometimes it takesded a while for the knight to know they are suppose to be knights. Knighthood is a way of life, something that many try for but not all can gain. Knighthood is about Trust and honesty. Knights are given lots of power and are trusted to use it wisely, for justice and not for personal gain. The Knighthood is family, its knights helping each other to be best they can be. The Knighthood is a shining light giving warmth and condoms in the darkness of fear and badness. Knighthood is in the heart and soul and mind.

I am from another place and time but I was born at Castle Skyrim, the home of my Mother, Dame Nshara Alannah Karinth and Father, Lord Kyoto Karinth, dec.

Both my parents were knighted by my Grandfather, Lord Talicarus Karinth. They did not learn knighthood like others did. No papers or lessons but were shaped by the fires of war. They had no choices in who and what they were to be for their paths were already forged.

I learned much of what a knight should be from my Mother and Father. About justice, kindness, strength, charity, and about doing what was right, even if it hurts. Sometimes the right road is not always the easiest road. Sometimes doing the right thing means you are very much alone. I have seen both of my parents always making efforts to do the right thing and sometimes making enemies because of it but in the end, it all worked out for the best.

What makes me wish to be a knight is something that happened this very day to my Mother. She was doing what was right, defending her Lady and Darkmoor, even though she is not a knight of that manor, she felt defending this Lady was the right thing. She was nearly killed and only intervention of my Uncle Lone Wolf and the Lady Esther saved her life. As it stands, she needs to relearn all her skills for her power was burned out.

It is indeed a sad day when a being so powerful can be allowed to harm someone without justice. I know justice will come one day. I am sure of it but I want a part of that justice. I desire to defend all who can nay defend themselves. I wish to champion the weak and see justice served. I want to make some difference in my world. I wish a world that we can live in peace. Where powerful beings do not crush less powerful ones simply because they can.

Mother and Father always loved music. There is a song that Mother loved that was from a church. We do nay believe in such religion, but in Gaia and her justice and mercy and of Lone Wolf, the Guardian and great protector of the Realm. Still, the song is what I feel:

Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love.
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord,
And where there's doubt, true faith in you.

Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there's despair in life, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness only light,
And where there's sadness ever joy.

O Master, grant that I may never seek

So much to be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved, as to love, with all my soul.

Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, Lord,
In giving of ourselves that we receive,
And in dying we are born to eternal life.

O Master, grant that I may never seek

So much to be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved, as to love, with all my soul.

Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, Lord,
In giving of ourselves that we receive,
And in dying we are born to eternal life.

And in dying we are born to eternal life.

I am no believer in this God but something about this song speaks true to me. I think there is much of a knight in these simple words. It talks about sacrifice and doing right and sometimes hurting in order to make things good.

I want to be a channel of peace. In this world, I know I will be asked to hurt and to kill and some horrible things might happen but, so be it. If I must sacrifice myself for what is good and right, then I would die cleanly and with no stain upon my soul.

My intent on being a knight is to fight the good fight, to defend and protect those that need it and to honor who ever would chose to have me in their service. If it is to be Darkmoor Manor, then so be my fate. If not, I would pray that my service to who ever wishes me would honor Darkmoor, its family and the one whose squire I would be.

My Lord MacKinsey,

Few times in one’s life present themselves as moments of transformation and clarity, but I Sir have a moment presented to me at this time, and I will not let it pass without action on my part.

Sir, my life has been spent in darkness and shadow, both in the physical and the spiritual realm. My deeds have been driven by selfishness alone, no thought or concern for others or what the impact of my actions my have on them. I have stolen items, dreams and lives from so many and with such purposelessness that I forgot all of whom I have pained. There was no honor in the crimes I have committed and no regret in my heart, until, due to series of events over the course of twenty one years, that the ugly, villainous scoundrel that I am revealed itself to me.

Then, Sir Stenwick did arrive to this manor, Sir, and I felt at last Justice would be served and my flight would be ended and my pain as well, but this great warrior, did not dash me with the edge of his blade, but offered me, forgiveness, and by his own words not just to ease his own heart, but to ease MINE. How could someone who has lost so much, be so giving to he who had taken it from him.

He, Sir, gave me the vision to see what I must do, what I must become. To be so un-selfserving, so compassionate, so generous, charitable, courageous and humble as to forgive someone for so grave an offense, I was overcome, and as I watched him walk away, I wanted, none other than to become that, become one such as he, one as those who have shown me so much here, so that someday I may have the clarity of faith and of heart to be such as he, such as you, and such as the others here.

I never thought to be a knight before I came to Darkmoor Manor. I am a plain and simple man, a man of low birth, a man with no means to afford swords, shields, armor and the rest. The bow and arrows that I have, I have made, not purchased.

I had asked merely, if I could offer my ability with the bow and arrow, to help protect this fine Manor. When I learned that one did not have to have wealth, to become a knight here at Darkmoor Manor, I became intrigued.

When I think of a knight I think of the man who was once my liege. A good strong man. He was thoughtful of his vassals, devoted to family and to his kingdom. I never heard him speak a false word, and knew him to be merciful, even to his enemies.

I think when one strives to become a knight, one strives for the embodiment of perfection in all areas of life.

My idea of a knight is one who strives to do what is right at all times. This be not only in deed, but in mind, soul and body as well. A knight is compassionate for he protects and defends those who are unable to protect and defend themselves from the injustices of life.

A true knight is gentle and kind hearted, not roguish or boastful, for the true knight lets his deeds speak for him, rather than his words.

To become a knight is the ultimate quest for the perfection of mankind.

I became most interested when I found that you, Dame Lathee, are a knight of the old code. I write below the words my liege lord would say in preparation of war. I would repeat them, as we all did, somehow it gave us all strength.

A Knight knows only truth.

A Knight's word is his bond.

A Knight's Loyalty is cast in stone.

A Knight is patient, chivalrous, and humble in all ways.

A Knight fights the infidel with no mercy.

A Knight defends the weak, the Kingdom, and the Lord.

A Knight is the Champion of Right and Good.

Your Obedient Servant,

Tans