Ranks and Progression

Note: The below tasks have been updated and presented anew. Please see the following pages for current tasks:

Becoming a Knight

The Lance and the Shield

Hierarchy of Rank

Shield Lance Crown

Gen:Shield Gen:Lance Gen:Crown

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Col:Shield Col:Lance Col:Crown

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Cap:Shield Cap:Lance Cap:Crown

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Lt:Shield-------------------Lt:Lance--------- Lt:Crown

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Knight:Shield Knight:Lance Knight:Crown

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Squire ------------------------/-------------------/

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Page

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Aspirant

Tasks

Aspirant Tasks

1. Send a missive to Knighthood summarizing personal history and reason for seeking entrance.

2. Wear an Aspirant's badge until such time as entrance is granted or denied.

3. Walk alone, without support from Kingdom or Clan, for a minimum of five training sessions at their guild. For one who is fully trained, a period of not more then two weeks alone may be assigned.

4. The Triple Test

Test of Combat

During the time alone, defeat an enemy of Knighthood and contact a Knight on duty to have the victory recorded. Alternately, the recruiting officer may witness the Aspirant in a duel or in combat during training.

Test of Knowledge

In discussion with a recruiting officer, answer a series of questions about Knighthood, Algoron, and the Kingdoms and Clans.

Test of Virtue

Discuss the Eight Virtues with a recruiting officer, including a series of Virtue Dilemmas.

Tasks of a Page:

* Acquire a container, a thick book, quill and ink. All pages will begin a record of all their tasks and notable activities.

* Tasks must be recorded in their order of completion.

Failure to record a completed task shall have the task considered undone.

1. Task of Valor

* A page will perform either solo, or accompanying a group of Knights or Allies, a single combat patrol which results in combat.

* They must not perish in this patrol.

2. Task of Virtue

* Seek any officer of the Keep to understand what it means to be a Knight, and the meaning of the 8 Virtues.

* Scribe what you have learned in your journal for presentation to any of a higher station that asks.

* Have your instructor write a note to the keep regarding your completion of this lesson. Scribe that letter into your journal

3. Task of Duty

* Review the Knighthood Code of Conduct.

* After reading the Code of Conduct thoroughly, copy it into your journal for review.

4. Task of the Mentor

* The Page shall approach an appropriate Mentor from the Order they wish to join and accept one task of the Mentor’s Choosing.

* Once that task is completed to the Mentor’s satisfaction the Sire Knight must write a letter of claim to the Page and ask that he been ranked as a Squire.

Tasks of a Squire:

If a Page has served for at least one week, they may seek a Mentor. If all Page tasks are completed they may be accepted as a Squire.

Enter your date of promotion to squire.

Enter date promoted to Squire by the old Calendar, and who you have chosen as your mentor.

1. Task of Justice

* Seek any officer ranked Colonel or higher to understand the concepts of justice and the law: why are laws necessary, what is a just law.

* Briefly scribe what you have learned in your journal.

2. Task of Compassion

* Aide in the training of an ally or member of Knighthood for at least 2 visits to their trainer, or gather equipment for an ally or member of Knighthood equal to 6 pieces of necessary equipment, or aide someone in an acceptable meaningful way.

* Copy their missive of thanks into your journal, confirming the completion of this aid.

3. Task of Charity

* Gather and donate 2 eggs to Gareth Keep.

4. Task of Training

* Complete your chosen vocation of training to it’s maximum, and report with completed gear to your mentor for inspection.

* Have your mentor write a note stating your inspection has passed and copy it into your journal.

Seeking the Lance:

A Squire to the Order of the Lance must complete these tasks in addition to their regular squire tasks.

* Accumulate 10 bounty points, or personally kill 3 enemies of Gareth Keep and record their passing.

* Participate in one successful keep defense or assault, and demonstrate adequate knowledge of Keep warfare.

* List the location of all known enemy bindstones in your journal. Review it with your mentor and learn any you do not know.

Seeking the Shield:

A Squire to the Order of the Shield must complete these tasks in addition to their regular squire tasks.

* Accumulate 2 bounty points, or personally kill 1 enemy of Gareth Keep and record their passing.

* Gather 2 Amulets of Austinian, or other equally helpful pieces of gear for donation to Gareth Keep.

* Write either a Treatise for public consumption, or an Essay to be shared with your mentor and the Generals, on an agreed upon topic of importance.

* Confer with an a member of the Order Lance, and then report to your mentor on the best methods of personal self defense you have learned and how to put them into action.

A Squire’s mentor may assign any number of additional tasks of their choosing to ensure that a Squire meets their standards before being presented with their spurs.

Once a Squire has completed all of their tasks, and been a Squire for at least 2 weeks. Their mentor can approach their General and give them a progress report. If the General allows, the Squire shall be given one final task by their Mentor.

This task should be meaningful and challenging. Upon completion of this task, they shall be knighted into their respective Order.

Shield Entrance Requirements

he Order of the Lance is deeply rooted in the militant tradition of Knighthood. These Knights represent the combat elite of Gareth. They are the first to arrive for a fight, and the last to leave the field. The Lance go to extraordinary lengths to fight and to win under the banners of Gareth and the Light while maintaining the highest standard of Knightly conduct.

Consideration for promotion to the Lance is extended to all Knights of the Shield

who complete a rigorous training program under the guidance of a current Lance

Knight. These Knights will have demonstrated a keen understanding of survival,

rescue and attack, the ability to share their knowledge of combat and will have

shown considerable success in the field.

Knight of the Lance

Requirements

Knight of the Lance

* Accumulation of 10 bounty points, or participate in two separate combat patrols that fall an enemy of the keep.

* Participate in one successful keep defense or assault.

* All Aspiring Knights must know directions to the safe room and the Lords

rooms in Misery and Thorn Keep.

* Pass a final review with a Lance Colonel or Higher

Responsibilities

* Be present and active on the field of combat.

* Organize and lead combat patrol groups.

* Monitor progress of Lance aspirants, offer instruction and guidance.

* Participate in keep defense or assault.

* Assist in maintaining readiness throughout Gareth's.

- Conduct inspection of armor, weapons and potions of Pages and Squires.

- A brief of the findings to be forwarded to the Keep's Officers.

Candidacy for Officer Status:

To be a Candidate for an Officer in your order you must meet the following Criteria.

* Display leadership potential. This includes participation in Keep events, having taken at least one Squire, and being a continually productive member of the Keep.

* Been Knighted for at least 4 weeks. Have donated consistently to Gareth Keep and Althainia, in either time or funds.

* Be known as a charitable person. Have no outstanding disciplinary matters before the Generals or High Justice.

* Once recognized under these criteria, the General of your Order will assign you to your taskings.

The Office of the Lance:

* Accumulate at least 20 bounty points, or personally kill 5 enemies of Gareth Keep and record their passing.

* Lead at least 2 successful Keep assaults or defenses (success is defined by gaining or retaining the Keep in question)

* Teach a class on the basics of survival to the other Knights, Pages and Squires of Gareth Keep.

* Retrieve a Lance of Hemskoen, or other piece of important gear for donation to the needful of the keep.

Crown Entrance Requirements

nights who demonstrate exceptional ability in the Lance or the Shield may be invited to take on further responsibilities to the Keep by becoming a member of the Order of the Crown. The men and women of the Crown are adept leaders and represent the utmost in Knightly decorum. Promotion to the Ranks of the Crown is through selection at the Lord Crown's

pleasure. Special training is extended to Knights welcomed to the Crown that

they may become versed in all aspects of life within Gareth. Knights in service

to the Crown are called upon to act as the personal guard to the Lord Crown and

through promotion may be granted the opportunity to represent Knighthood among

the Kingdoms and Clans of Algoron.

Knight of the Crown

Requirements

* Invitation from the Crown General.

* Minimum of Captain rank in either Lance or Shield.

* Displayed commitment and dedication to the Keep.

* Displayed leadership qualities and a mature disposition.

Responsibilities

* Form the personal guard of the Lord Crown.

* Study the relationships of the Keep with the various parties of Algoron.

Lieutenant of the Crown

Requirements

* Invitation from the Crown

* Minimum of Captain rank in either Lance or Shield

* Display a knowledge and understanding of the nature of the relationship

of the Keep with other organizations on Algoron.

* Establish working relationship with senior members of the assigned

organization or Kingdom.

Responsibilities

* Provide leadership and direction as a senior member of the Keep.

* Act as the personal representative of the Crown to designated

organizations.

Deprecated

Old Page tasks

1. Acquire a container, a thick book, quill and ink.

* All pages will begin a record of all their tasks from their first day

in the Keep.

* Tasks must be recorded in their order of completion.

* Failure to record a completed task shall have the task considered

undone.

2. The book must be titled as a Diary, with the name of the page clearly

marked

3. Record on the first page the day of entry to the Keep.

* This information is found by checking the Keep calendar.

* The entry in the page's diary must appear as below:

It is 8:30 am, Day of the Moon, 7th the Month of the Long Shadows.

DSL started up at Fri Feb 8 23:19:58 2008

The system time is Sun Feb 10 08:00:03 2008

4. During the page-training, the page must commence on their substantative

curriculum of training.

* Those that take basic instruction as warrior, cleric or mage, should

begin their next instruction of training and complete 43 visits to

their guildsmaster before being considered for promotion to Squire.

* Those that take on a substantative curriculum and intend to remain

in service as a warrior, cleric or mage, should complete 43 visits

to their trainer before being considered for promotion to a Squire.

5. Task of Valor

* 5 combat/scouting patrols

* Each to be briefly summarised, indicating day of patrol, what was

sighted, outcomes of any combat etc.

6. Task of Compassion

* Accompany one of the Light in their training for 2 visits

to their trainer, providing assistance as are able within your

training and skill.

* Ideally, this should be offered to someone in need within the Keep,

if none are available or require it, then any of the Light can be

offered this service.

* Confirmation of this task should be provided by whomsoever

receives this assistance, and their missive should be copied into

the Page's diary.

7. Task of Spirituality

* Seek out a representative of Austinian, Nadrik and Siccara

* Find out who the key representatives of each of these three faiths

are, this means, highest ranking priest, named representatives of

each faith, such as high justices, champions, sentinels, etc.

* Understand from them the key tenents of each Faith.

* Collect from them any written documents of their faith.

8. Task of Humility

* Attend two confessions with the High Clerist.

* The High Clerist will confirm attendance of such by missive which

should be copied in to the diary.

9. Task of Honor

* Seek out a member of the Lore or Guardians of the Shield

* Understand the events of Gunnar's sacrifice

* Summarise this in the diary.

* Find the Flail of Honor, and retrieve it alone and keep this for

presentation when examined for promotion.

10. Task of Sacrifice

* Complete sufficient service with the High Priest of Althainia to

contribute one jeweled egg to the Keep.

* Copy the receipt of this contribution into the diary.

11. Task of Justice

* Seek out a knight or officer of the Order of the Crown

* Seek to understand the reason why laws are in place and the

importance of justice in administering the laws.

* Summarise this discussion in the diary.

12. Task of Honesty

* Spend a day in meditation in the Temple.

* Write an essay after honest reflection of your own abilities

* Explain why you feel you are ready to take on the duties of a

Squire.

* Scribe this in your diary.

13. Final Task

* Mentoring knight is to administer a task of his or her choosing,

the skills and training of the page is expected to be considered

in assigning this task.

The period of service as a page should be no less than 2 weeks by the old

calendar. There may be those that will take longer in completing their

tasks.

Pages shall not be penalised for the duration of their pageship, but will

only be considered for promotion once all the tasks above mentioned are

completed and scribed in their diaries.

The tasks above need not be completed in order, except for the final task

which may only be assigned after all the tasks 1 through 12 are completed.

Old Squire Tasks

1. Retain the diary begun from your first day in the Keep

* All squires will continue a record of all their tasks.

* Tasks must be recorded in their order of completion.

* Failure to record a completed task shall have the task considered

undone.

2. Squires should enter the squire-ship able to enter formation with fully

trained fellows of the Keep.

3. Squires are expected to be competent in surviving the battle-field. A

knowledge of potions, staves and wands are essential. The squire shall

submit an essay on the following:

* Wands : useful wands, where they are and their effect.

* Staves : useful staves, where they are and their effect.

* Potions : useful potions, where they are and their effect.

* Pastes/Salves : useful pastes, where they are and their effect.

4. During the squire-training, the squire must complete their training.

5. Task of Valor

* 10 combat/scouting patrols as a member of the patrol

* Each to be briefly summarised, indicating day of patrol, what was

sighted, outcomes of any combat etc.

* Describe the layout of Misery and Thorn Keep in your diary.

* 5 Keep Assault/Defenses.

* Describe each action and outcome briefly, indicate day of the action.

* Finally, summarise what you have learnt in Keep assaults/defenses.

6. Task of Compassion

* Accompany one of the Light in their training for 5 visits

to their trainer, providing assistance as are able within your

training and skill.

* Ideally, this should be offered to someone in need within the Keep,

if none are available or require it, then any of the Light can be

offered this service.

* Confirmation of this task should be provided by whomsoever receives

this assistance, and their missive should be copied into the Squire's

diary.

7. Task of Spirituality

* Seek out a representative of Taliena, Kantilles, and Kadiya

* Find out who the key representatives of each of these three faiths

are, this means, highest ranking priest, named representatives of

each faith, such as high justices, champions, sentinels, etc.

* Understand from them the key tenents of each Faith.

* Collect from them any written documents of their faith.

8. Task of Humility

* Attend four confessions with the High Clerist.

* The High Clerist will confirm attendance of such by missive which

should be copied in to the diary.

9. Task of Honor

* Seek out a member of the Lore or Guardians of the Shield.

* Understand the events of the Cursing of the Temple and the Restoration

* Summarise this in the diary.

* Find the Symbol of Nadrik, retrieve it alone and keep this for

presentation when examined for promotion.

10. Task of Sacrifice

* Complete sufficient service with the High Priest of Althainia to

contribute two jeweled eggs to the Keep.

* Copy the receipt of this contribution into the diary.

11. Task of Justice

* In an essay, scribe what you feel is a Knight's role in upholding

Justice in Algoron.

* This should be scribed in the diary.

12. Task of Honesty

* Spend a day in meditation in the Temple

* Write an essay after honest reflection of your own abilities

* Explain what you believe makes a true Knight, and where you feel

you still need to develop to seek the purity of a true Knight.

* Scribe this in your diary.

13. Final Task

* The mentoring Knight is to determine a suitable final task for a

squire considering the training of the squire. This task may only

be given to a squire who has completed their training.

The period of service as a squire should be no less than 4 weeks by the old

calendar. There may be those that will take longer in completing their

tasks.

Squires shall not be penalised for the duration of their squireship, but

will only be considered for promotion once all the tasks above mentioned are

completed and scribed in their diaries.

The tasks above need not be completed in order, except for the final task

which may only be assigned after all the tasks 1 through 12 are completed.

On completion of all the tasks, the squire will be presented by the Knight

mentor to a panel consisting of a General and one other Officer or Knight

for examination.

A positive vote from both is necessary for the squire to advance to

knighthood.

Old Shield Entrance Requirements

(Deprecated)

Note: These have since become deprecated under the new 'Squire tasks'

and this should be considered an archive.

* A two egg donation to the Keep. In times of the clan wars, two quest

donations will suffice.

* A two egg donation to Althainia.

* Complete knowledge of the eight virtues with a short essay on at least two

of them.

* An essay on what it means to be a Shield Knight.

* A missive with the directions to every existing clan hall.

* All squires are required to keep a journal. They must share at least two

entries with the Keep to be placed in the story scrolls for the perusal of

all.

* A Squire must have shared one prayer to their Deity with the Keep.

* A squire must know how to fully equip themselves.

* A squire must know the continents of this realm and gate posts for escape

on all of them.

* A squire must know the three basic rules for survival.

* A squire must know how to call for help properly and know how to be ready

to receive that aid.

* A squire must have excellent general knowledge about arms and geography.

* A squire must know perfectly the prayers of healing, bless and sanctuary.

* Or, a Squire must know perfectly the spells of illusion.

* A squire must know perfectly, the spells of summoning, nexus and gate.

If the Squire is following the reconnaissance path, they must have the

ability to move quietly and have exceptionally acute vision. If the squire

follows this path, they are not required to have knowledge of healing or

benediction.

The Order of the Shield contains Knights endowed with wisdom and gentility.

Seeking peace before war and patience before aggression, the Order of the

Shield facilitates the balance between military strength and spiritual

purity within Knighthood.

Upon completion of these tasks it is not automatically assumed the squire

shall be immediately knighted.

This is at the discretion of your mentor and the Generals. Often a squire

must endure the passage of time to prove his or her dedication and

resolve.

Old Lance Entrance Requirements

(Deprecated)

Note: These requirements are still live, but await review.

* A squire must be dedicated and show no lack of respect within this keep.

* A squire must pass all tests given by the Knight he/she is squired to.

* A squire must lead three patrols accompanied by Knights, showing he/she

understands tactics and manoeuvring.

* A minimum two egg donation to the keep, regular weekly donations are

required.

* Knowledge of weaponry as well as combinations best suited for desired

effects.

* Knowledge of what armor a Knight must use, as well as know how and where

to obtain it. This should be a full list of what equipment you will wear

at the end of your training.

* Knowledge of the keeps, including basic defence and siege tactics.

* Essay on what it means to be a Knight.

* Essay on why you want to be a Knight of the Lance.

* Essay on Combat, such as how to fight against specific classes and

strategies.

* Essay on how to Escape Combat including maledictions such as charm sleep

or jest.

* Essay on a topic chosen by the Knight you are squired to.

* If the squire perishes in combat they must write an essay of how they

perished and what mistakes they made so that all can learn from it.

Old Crown Entrance Requirements

(Deprecated)

* Holding the rank of officer in both the Lance and Shield

* Be invited to the Crown

* A previous Lord of the Crown may be returned to Colonel, any previous

Lord of the Shield or Lance may be transferred to Crown Captain.