Essays on Virtue and Knighthood

This tome includes essays on subjects close to the conscience of a Knight. Iolius.

On Knighthood

This manuscript was found from the very early days of the Foundation of Knighthood, written by Sir Brion Thornbird ap Rhys. Iolius.

What is a Knight?

Without doubt, the definition has changed throughout the centuries, metamorphosing from a crude warrior, the milites, growing with society as it changed, first into the officer and gentleman, and more recently, back towards the original ideal, into a seeker of virtue and a defender of the weak.

Never has their been a perfect knight. Knighthood is, by definition, an office that strives for a distant ideal, a changing ideal, but one that seeks to emulate the ancient virtues associated with chivalric office. Knights will be definition fail as they are human, but attain their grace in the striving for virtue, for the perseverance of seeking to overcome the vanities of the body and soul, to do what is 'right'. It is a striving for excellence even as we know that perfection is beyond our grasp, but that fact alone does not allow us to stop in our quest for it.

And this is not a right conceived in each individual mind, but is rather a shared ideal of rightness that resonates in the human breast with each beat of the heart. It is a 'rightness' that we as human beings recognize intuitively; it is 'hardwired' into nearly all of us; that partially explains why the ideal of knighthood still speaks to us after all this time. I wish it was this basic law that gave strength to our modern ones, but I digress-that is an argument for another day.

Historically, knights were the defenders. Beginning as warriors, some defended the populace while others pillaged. Their virtues were warrior ones, revered by warrior cultures the world over; prowess, strength, courage, loyalty. These are the virtues of the pure soldier, the killing machine who when he uses his considerable strength for good, contributes greatly to society even as he is estranged from it. Estranged because to excel in the extreme, be jettisons the concerns of hearth and of the soul, focusing his whole being upon the martial task at hand-he must not fail or the society to which be belongs will perish.

Society quickly settled from the warfare of prehistory that spawned this free-roaming warrior. The churches grew in power and influence alongside the growth of ease at court. These developments, made possible owing to the leisure accorded by a more stable Algoron, gave voice to others concerned with what the knights were and what they should become. The clerk and the lady, chiefly, were the two main influences upon the course of knighthood, next to the influences of the warriors themselves.

The churches of light believed the knights should become 'Knights of Serpantol', using their considerable strength to defend the faith and to become the physical defenders of the empire and her ideals. The church contributed the powerful virtues of faith, temperance and humility; three cornerstone virtues of what has come to be knighthood.

The lady and the demands of court also shaped what the knight was to become. She demanded, through the romance literature that remains a powerful influence today, that the knight act with strength on one hand, and courtesy and respect on the other. A knight should respect women, he should defend them in their hour of need, eschewing the magnetic gravity of mere lust. Love could be a powerful influence over the knight, a strengthening force, that could propel the knight to greatness beyond his own capability. The church agreed, arguing only that the spiritual love of your God was superior to the love of a woman; but the important detail was that love as an ennobling motivator was added as a chivalric element that was to stay. As a nobleman and dispenser of justice, the knight was required to seek justice, to defend the right, and to dispense of his wealth with largesse, showing the generosity that thwarted greed and thus helped the knight to ennoble himself in deed as well as blood.

These things are of course ideals. The expectations for 'chivalrous conduct' have certainly changed throughout the history of knighthood; these elements of virtue have stood the test of time in their purity, changing only in how we interpret them from age to age. Does that make them worthless? I answer this with another question-As long as the pursuit of these virtues drives men to excel, to seek goodness in their hearts, and to fight for something higher than themselves, to recognize in their humility that they are far from grace but continue to strive for it, is this worthless?

The days of the steel armoured knight have all but passed; though some true knights do indeed seek to strengthen their character and their arms through the practice of arms, today the knight must rather rely on the armour of his soul to defend himself, seeking to ennoble himself in the same way as his ancestors-by his deeds.

Renown is the key quality of a knight. Renown, the fame by which a knight is known for his virtue or malice, is not glory, it is not honour, it is the 'good name' earned through the pursuit of virtue. A pursuit that others have recognized, according you honour because of it, honouring you enough to increase your fame both in their own hearts and in the estimation of others. Renown is what you earn; you thus earn the armour that will defend you when you fail; provided that you continue to strive for excellence, keeping the virtue of humility close to the heart that the knight not fall to the sin of vainglory, a black peril that dwells next to the heart of all men, a seed buried deep in a man's character, a seed that grows, infected and undetected, swelling a man's breast with boasting and bravado, robbing him of the perspective to take a better view of his motivations and his own armour-his renown.

Knights today face a battle no different from their historical counterparts. They seek the right, the higher right that we all recognize and believe that we have, seeking to gain honour within their own actions as well as to defend what they believe in both in deed and in word. Some knights today pursue this excellence through the tournament or martial exercise; some through confraternal organisations that defend charity and support their brethren as well as advance the causes of right. As in history, none of these groups, let alone the nobles within them, will attain the ideal that drives them. Bitter divisions sometimes rend the best companies of knights, quietly ushering them further from the basic ideals that empower them, starting them on the journey to vainglory that defeats humility, overcomes charity, makes a mockery of courtesy, and in short blackens the heart against chivalry.

Today there are many paths to knighthood. You can seek membership in our knightly order; you can use a martial art or the tournament; you can seek these virtues on your own in 'errancy'. But these are all external, not worth very much unless the spark of knighthood is ignited within you. It is the spark of nobility that has been recognized since the earliest age within certain men and women of character and spirit. Seek this spark within yourself--it is there--seek first to find it, then to use whatever tools are required to fan this spark into a great fire of your passion--perchance through the effort of striving you will meet with more success than you will ever know.

On Humility

This manuscript was found from the early days of the Foundation of Knighthood, written by Sir Brion Thornbird ap Rhys. It looks like part of a letter which had been written to one Siobhan Medhbh O'Roarke. Iolius.

What is it to be noble? I would say that to be noble is to strive to be better than what is expected, to do what is commonly regarded as right, regardless of personal expense. To be noble is to strive towards the good; not the personal one, nor necessarily of the common one. To strive for an good that is beyond cost/benefit calculation, to listen to the chime of truth that resides in the human heart.

Many have said that that pride, that opposite resident to humility, is at fault for our failure as human beings to act nobly. It is said that pride brings men low. But I submit that pride also raises men above themselves; without pride, striving to be superior to what we were, we would remain savage beasts with no sense of responsibility, of duty. Pride can beget excellence, quality, prowess.

The difficulty with pride is that there is no obvious barrier between constructive pride yielding excellence, and destructive vainglory yielding boastfulness. Vainglory, the older sibling to pride, is the most puissant enemy a knight or noble will ever face. Vainglory cannot be killed; it strikes unseen by the victim, but is obvious to those around them who are often powerless to lend any assistance. Vainglory is a plight that blinds, quietly seducing men to cover their own eyes with blinders of woven rationalization. These blinders are indeed works of art in their own right; for the individual strands are truths, woven together with logic such that the finished whole whispers pleasant falsehoods directly to the innermost self. And though it is false, this comfortable fantasy finds ready acceptance because it is what we has human beings want to hear that we are right.

Because we are human, most of us struggle against the spectre of vainglory, of self-deception, for our entire lives. But also being human, we are provided with tools used in defence of the soul against such assaults, namely: integrity, faith, humility.

Integrity is personal honour, consistence in applying your personal values to every action.

Faith is the belief in the ideal rightness that gives you the strength even with a complete absence of evidence.

And finally humility, humilitas. Because humility is not flashy, it gains less respect as a weapon of virtue than do courage, loyalty, largesse or fidelity. But none of these other virtues are of any assistance when it comes to combat with vainglory, with the mirrored ghosts of our own righteousness. Although vainglory cannot be killed, it can be held at bay if the gentle wields humility with sincerity. For used sincerely, humility makes the invisible spectre more plain to see, refuses the comfort of praise, keeps you listening to the quiet ring of truth in your own heart, and confers a measure of grace.

Sincerity is the key to humility. Humility that is play-acted, even if you yourself are the audience, is powerless; indeed it becomes a weapon of vainglory rather than being used against it. To seek sincerity requires the onerous duty of peering inside yourself to see both the light and the dark, the good and the bad, the excellent and the poor. To accept these things as truths is a daunting, yet ennobling task. Once the truth is seen, the knight has the further duty to seek to improve those virtues in which he is lacking. I think we agree that it is the travelling towards the ideal that makes the knight; there will never be one who reaches the ideal, and yet all may be ennobled even though the ideal itself remains unreachable.

Sincere humility keeps the noble alert; observant; on guard. The only way to keep vainglory distanced is by vigilance. The noble man must look first within himself, then to those around him for clues as to how the battle progresses.

How is all of this done?

Avoid the comfort of praise. Should you strive to behave as a nobleman, you will in due course earn honour and praise from those who see you as virtuous. And yet, you must avoid placing too much weight on this praise, even if it is purchased on the authority of your own integrity vainglory is too clever for that; it can easily short-circuit perceptions both sensory and emotive. As soon as you are comfortable that you are a virtuous person, that you have acted with righteousness, you are as vulnerable as a babe to vainglory’s jaded charms.

Listen for the ring of discord in your own heart. This quality of sincere humility enables you to hear rings from that quiet bell of truth that resides within your own conscience. Sometimes the bell rings with a rightness that is at once comforting and fulfilling, but there should be other times when it rings with discord; listen most carefully at these times, because this is an alarm against which vainglory may have transgressed. If you hear no discord at all then you are certainly in danger.

When such a discord is discovered, some wrong committed in the service of a good cause or through neglect, it is the duty of a nobleman to seek to right the wrong by making an amend. Such an amend is, most familiar to me, a knightly gesture that demonstrates continued service to the ideals even as it acknowledges the error as being part of human nature. The noble goes further, accepting responsibility for the flaw and, spurning the comfort of pinning the difficulty on someone else, determines to make it right. Some kind of communication and gesture is always required; but there is great power in this, in the humility to say, "I was wrong" or "I am sorry," provided they are spoken with sincerity. In so doing you turn a weakness into a strength.

Finally, humility confers what has been called by many respected ladies of the gallery the most important virtue a noble can possess grace. Humility is a virtue that confers a gentleness that does not denude from strength, courage, loyalty or any virtue of the noble. Indeed it enhances them by harmonizing the bearer with those around them and striking a contrast between the lack of boasts and the quiet excellence that resides within them.

On Winning

This manuscript was found from the days precluding the Foundation of Knighthood, written by one Sir Sten Halverson, whom I gather was a Baron within the Empire of Serpantol. Iolius.

To Radnor and Rat

Winning is not chivalrous. Winning is fortunate, and should never be more.

At first glance, the knightly virtue of prowess would seem to demand winning as its proof. If you strive for quality in your fighting, will not your victory over the field demonstrate your success? Yes, it will, but it should not. A combatant's reward should be Prowess itself, not its results; to be concerned overly with victory is to fall victim to Vanity, to feel the need to demonstrate your prowess to others rather than to yourself. In the romances, in history, knights triumphed through the inspiration of love, the faith in Austinian, or duty to a lord, but never simply for the thrill of victory. Even William Marshal, untouchable in battle, is remembered for his loyalty and consistency much more than for being a brute on the field. Those for whom victory by itself had value were the black knights in history and in literature.

Doesn't victory, properly motivated, have some value? Shouldn't a proper knight have about themselves an air of success, and won't prowess on occasion produce victory? Yes, though for its negative values, it should be a thing that occurs but is never striven for. However much we find value for winning in prowess and franchise (knightly bearing), we find that value's reverse in courtesy and in generosity. To strive for victory is to reduce your foe to no more than an obstacle to your goal; to want victory is to rob that possibility from your opponent. The discourtesy and greed of such a desire outweighs any value victory might have to prowess and franchise. A true knight will trust themselves to fate rather than selfishly seek victory; they will fight for many things, but never for themselves.

Am I saying anything that isn't obvious? As I spell this out, I feel that most combatants would nod in agreement. But it is a thing that plagues me, this desire for victory, this need. I find that it is consistently creeping in among my better motivations and having its influence. How about that new helm? It is not authentic for me, but it has good glancing surfaces. Why not toss in an open face so that I can see and breathe? Let's shave a few pounds off my shield. Let's cut my armour to a minimum, for the weight, so that I can move better. I can still look good, with a fine surcoat, but I'm not authentic anymore. I've turned our re-creation into a sport. And I've been driven not by any knightly virtue, but only by my desire to excel, by my vanity triumphing over all. Even getting ready for Crown, those extra practices, places victory in too high a light. A Crown, or a Coronet, or any major tournament, should be no more than an interruption in our normal schedule of practice. The victor should be that person upon whom fortune smiles, or who is greatly inspired by the love of their consort, or simply whose prowess, gained humbly and not through need, triumphs.

Then what are the reasons for fighting? I offer three. Before combat, I salute the Crown of our Kingdom. Duty to the Crown and to its people is thus the first of my motives. The duty of a combatant, and especially off a knight, is service in arms on the tournament field or at war. If I am able, I am bound by my fealty to fight. To the people, I am bound to my role as an inspiration to chivalry. The field is my stage, and I owe a duty to the populace to shine. Thus, in some tournament ceremonies, a salute to the populace is included.

Do honour to the person for whom you fight this day. The honour you bring to your consort is the second motivation. As brightly as I shine upon the field, that light should show for my lady love. As I fight for gain, that gain should be for honour and honour only, and should be lain in the hands of that person for whom I fight. Only the victor's consort receives the wreath upon the field, but the consorts of all should carry the greater reward of the honour gained for them by their champions. In this I fear we fail; in history and within our society, renown clings more to the combatant than to his inspiration. But once a year, I do attend a tournament where I go nameless, and fight only as the champion of my lady. On that day, I feel much more the knight than I do on most other days of the year.

And salute your most honoured opponent. Joy of combat is the last true motivation. When someone comes to me to learn to fight, my first lesson is that of joy. Was that fun? If it wasn't, you should not fight. You must love this thing we do--its exhilaration and technique, its pain and wonder as a test of honour, its service to Crown and consort. Joy will carry you through times of onerous duty and pained honour. It is the one constant granted to us, and when it finally leaves then it is time to hang our weapons upon the wall.

A desire for victory is not part of chivalry. Fight for the Crown, for the people, for your consort, for joy, but not for yourself. Victory is a powerful lure, but resist it. Fighting is a test of much more than just Prowess. Salute your Crown, your people, your consort, and your most honoured opponent; steel yourself against ambition and hold yourself to duty, love and joy; then allow the fates, however you might understand them, to select the winner.

A Story of Nadrik, as handed down by the angel Lucent

One day, a long age ago, the mighty Nadrik strode the realm doing battle

to fell beasts and demons. Long did he do battle with such. And in the

end, when all were vanquished, he made his way home. He traveled slowly,

for he was weary from his many battles.

On his way, Nadrik came to a vast lake. Swamps lay to each side and he saw

no way to cross. Then, he spied a small rowboat carrying an old man close

to the shore. So Nadrik called to the old man to ferry him across the lake.

The old man retorted 'Who are you that I should ferry you across this vast

lake? '

And Nadrik replied 'I am Nadrik. Son of Austinian. I have done battle for

many a day with the great evils of the world and now I am weary and must

cross this lake. Lend me your aid old man. '

To which, the old man replied 'Done battle with the great evils? That is

nothing. I've set king against king, seen the destruction of mountains,

caused the downfall of kingdoms. You have done nothing. '

Try as he might, Nadrik could not convince the old man to ferry him across

the lake. And so, he had to walk through the swamps. When he returned

home, he was very weary. And very angry. But! On return it was revealed

to him that the old man was none other than his father, Austinian.

For Austinian wished to teach his son a valuable lesson: There will come

times in ones life, when one cannot count on any other for aid. And in such

times, one must have the fortitude to help oneself. This is the lesson that

Austinian taught his son. And it is one which all should learn.

What it Means to be a Knight - Tyrcell Elaroth

Being a Knight is exemplified by many things. First most, it is my firm

belief that actions define a man. Often times, many boast forth their

achievements and intentions. When the time comes for actions and sacrifice,

they are unwilling to shed a drop of blood and sweat. Earning my spurs

means that I would be a representative of Gareth Keep. I would act as an

emissary of the Keep and all would judge me by my actions as an indicative

example of what Gareth represents.

When the Knighthood was first founded in Serpantol, the virtues that we use

to guide us were not written down. However, the morals and virtues that we

currently hold still existed in principle. The Knighthood primarily existed

as a military elite order. There, they swore to defend Serpantol from any

who wished it harm. After the Yaenni invasions, they parted their ways and

the Gareth Keep was founded. With the ideals of purity, these Knights

championed forth the cause of goodness. A Knight in this essence is a

crusader for the light. Wherever they may go, they will continue to serve

the light.

By the eight virtues, a Knight may be defined. A Knight holds honor,

honesty, compassion, spirituality, justice, humility, sacrifice, and valor

close to his heart at all times. He cherishes these and acts such in a

manner. He is an emissary of Gareth Keep and is a symbol indicative of the

men who serve inside.

The greatest virtue of a Knight is his honor. His ability to remain true to

his word, his actions, and his ideals are of the greatest importance. As I

hold Lord Nadrik to be my patron deity, I hold this virtue even greater to

my heart. A true Knight holds his honor paramount. He would rather fail

through honorable means than succeed by fraud. He would hold his honor and

value it as his life. Without honor, I cannot hope to be a man. Without

honor, I cannot hope to be a Knight.

A man of honor will honor what he says. In this, the virtue of honesty is

found. While the oath that Storm takes allows them room for deceit, I

cannot use such as an exception for myself. A Knight is truthful in his

words and his conduct. A Knight has no room for deceit. While he may know

the difference between what is true and false, he will have the moral

integrity to speak only the truth. Although all may be inherently biased

upon what they believe is good, a Knight must understand and realize that

they humans make decidedly biased approaches to what is true. Honesty

dictates that we base our choices upon unbiased idea of what is true, rather

than the opposite.

A Knight is a champion for the light. He is a healer for the diseased, a

father to the orphaned, a friend to the friendless, and a benefactor to the

poor. A Knight must hold compassion for those who he serves and protects.

If he merely protects them from physical harm, but does nothing to ensure

their well being as a whole, to what purpose does he serve? The protected

will still suffer and live in poverty while the Knight shamelessly enjoys

the finer creature comforts of life. A Knight bears compassion for his

enemies. Compassion and mercy may be defined as different things however.

Compassion is shown, as we continually pray for the souls of the fallen, the

souls of our misguided enemies, and the souls of those who we protect. We

as Knights, offer our compassion to our enemies in such a manner. If there

is hope of redemption, if our enemies seem contrite and willing to change

their lifestyle, then mercy may be shown.

A Knight holds his faith with the utmost regard. In his faith, lies the

fate of his soul. In many who have faltered in their faith and fallen, the

Knight must learn by their example. A Knight must not be seduced by the

grasp of the Dark Pantheon. In his faith, his actions will be guided. In

his faith, he will find his courage and valor. In his faith, he will forge

a path of salvation for his enemies. In his faith, he will serve. While a

man with little faith will focus solely on the temporal, a spiritual man

will focus on where his soul lies. A man living by his faith will seek

simultaneously to improve his wisdom and willpower, and achieve a closer

connection with his Lord. As a Knight, he or she must pray for guidance and

a sense of purpose from his or her deities. Despite holding his patron

deity in the greatest reverence, a man must continue to honor the other Gods

of Light. From Lady Siccara a Knight is healed of his wounds. From Lord

Austinian, a Knight learns patience and lerance. From Lady Taliena, a man

learns to love one another. From Lady Kadiya, a man finds inner peace.

From Lord Nadrik, a man becomes a man. A man with honor.

Justice is a broad and loosely used term by many. A Order of men and women

upon Algoron so call themselves the Wrath of Justice. A Knight does bear

justice in his mind. He serves a councilor, judge, and adjudicator to

disputes and arguments. With wisdom in his mind, a Knight metes out the

proper judgment to those who seek it. Justice seeks to drive the evil from

the world. Justice is a vague concept however. What truly does separate a

Knight from a vigilante? Simply, a vigilante does not harbor respect for

the laws established. Justice cannot prevail if one does not give proper

respect and honor the laws of any City or Kingdom. A Knight does desire to

spread his wrath upon the darkness, but in such, he will control himself.

Unrestrained wrath and justice leads to rage. Rage is a thing to be

concerned with, for, rage and hatred are merely tools of Mencius. A Knight

is a man bound in duty: duty to serve and uphold what is just and right.

A Knight is proud. A Knight is proud of his Keep, his actions, and his

faith. A Knight must however be certain that his actions do not convey an

aura of arrogance. Therefore, a Knight may be considered a thing of

paradox. A Knight is both proud and mble. He is ready to receive

constructive criticism and rectify any mistakes he or she has made. A

Knight is gracious and accepting. A Knight shows respect to his superiors,

his subordinates, and to his enemies. Humility is a aspect that many find

difficult to embrace. A Knight must humble himself before his deity.

Without true acceptance of the fact that man is mortal and weak, man cannot

expect to be a servant of the light. Humility serves purpose to remind a

Knight of who he is. A man. A mortal man. Even the greatest Generals

start out as a fresh young pages. Even the greatest of Emperors start off

as inexperienced and foolish children. To be a true man and Knight, one

must humble themselves. Not to the point of humiliation, but as a man of

true integrity and respect.

A Knight must accept sacrifice. A Knight must willingly sacrifice his body

to shelter his comrades from blows. A Knight must sacrifice his time to

serve. A Knight, when called, ought be ready to step up and sacrifice his

life to serve the light. With his faith and knowledge of what is just and

right, he will be able to confidently serve his Keep. Sacrifice does not

fall to the point of foolishly tossing away one's possessions and life

however. The concept of sacrifice should not be foreign to Knight. Written

away in the tomes of libraries are stories of countless heroic battles and

sacrifices made by countless amounts of people. If a man who might be

considered lesser than a Knight can make a sacrifice, what does it say of

the Knight?

Theoretically however, all men are equal in their own right. If a

woodcutter can sacrifice a meal to feed a starving child, is the woodcutter

more Knightly than a Knight? If a common foot soldier can sacrifice his

life in battle for a cause he believes in, is he more Knightly than a

Knight? All become martyrs in their sacrifice. A Knight must in all

essence be willing to sacrifice whatever necessary when necessary.

A Knight has valor. Valor is defined as having courage in defense of a

noble cause. A Knight's true cause is to serve the light. When riding

forth into battle, a Knight does not harbor any fear for his enemies. Every

action he makes upon the field belies a sense of confidence and faith in his

abilities and skills. A Knight is not cowardly. A Knight is not foolishly

vain and overconfident. A Knight displays his valor and prudence in

choosing when to make sacrifices. A Knight will not needlessly give his

life away. If there is but no true purpose, a Knight should strive to

survive at all costs. Live to fight another day. Despite this sense of

cautiousness, a Knight must preserve his faith in his cause. A righteous

man will never fall in his cause. Despite his death, his cause will be

remembered and live on. In an example of Sir Doreath, the Lord Knight of

the Crown gave his life to protect a helpless city against the wrath of a

monstrous white dragon. He displayed valor and sacrifice to the utmost. To

his memory, a statue is dedicated. This statue stands to remind all Knights

to what standard they must measure to. To what level of courage and

strength they must display.

The greatest exemplification of a Knight is a Paladin. He is a leader, a

councilor, and a mighty warrior. He is humble, he is honorable, he is

honest, he has a keen sense of justice, he is capable of sacrifice, he has

valor, he has compassion, and he faithful. To this paragon, all Knights

must compare themselves to and strive to become like them. One must be true

to one's Keep, true to their Lord, true to their comrades, and most

importantly, true to themselves. This is truly what it is to be a Knight.

A Knight is a man of the light, serving selflessly to further the cause of

light and champion the rights of the repressed.

-signed-

Squire Tyrcell Elaroth

The Chivalrous Knight - Garldaron Madaur

My Lord and mentor Mercurion Mamoritai, a Captain of the Lance has me held in the Library under lock and key till I write what it means to be a knight. Long have I stubbornly vexed and pouted here considering dashing escapes and excuses. But to pull off a book from these shelves and to read what lies on the pages within has started to put ideas into my head. After much reading I have devised what I believe the 'new breed' of knightly behaviour. I suspect that many traditionalists will write this off as the whims of the youth of Gareth which will never amount to much. But to them I say everything evolves and progresses. To read the volumes within this room shows us that happens time and time again.

If you put many people in a room and asked them what a knight was, you would receive many different answers. To some it means that they are a subject to a feudal lord, and they owe him their sword and loyalty to be called out in any situation and obey his commands. To some it means that they are subject to the laws of their god and their virtous actions. In this instance, things are decreed by the divine, and every action considered virtue before a reaction takes place. Most knights of Gareth keep seek or do fall into this category, including most of my kin who have served in this keep thus far.

I suggest the modern knight ought to be built to withstand the rigours of an ever-changing world. In a focal move away from the divine and virtuous I consider chivalry to be the modern epitome of being a knight. The holy and virtue ethos will remain as foundation, but built upon it is a certain defined sense of respect of those ladies and gentlemen who are our social equals.

The concept of chivalry is based about courtesy and respect for others within your social scale. If we are above, we look down upon, if we are down we look up to nobility. We will always assist and be courteous to those who are our social equals and above. Those who are below ought to know better to mix in the circles of ladies and gentlemen.

Those beset with chivalry shall never refuse the challenge of an equal and it ever on the lookout for damsels in distress, the dispossessed, the disenfranchised. He who follows the Chivalric Code shall be their champion.

He will never fight mounted against an unmounted opponent, will pause for respite when he disarms his enemy, shall offer a salute before blow is landed in combat. In all things that he does the Chivalric Code will take precedence to temper the reaction of the sword.

The ideal knight was sworn by oath to defend the Lord of Knighthood and those who depended upon him. Seek always to defend Althainia and Gareth Keep, your family, and those to whom you believe worthy of loyalty. Protect those who are too weak to defend themselves.

Seek great stature of character by holding to the virtues and duties of a knight, realizing that though the ideals cannot be reached, the quality of striving towards them ennobles the spirit, growing the character from dust towards the heavens. Nobility also has the tendency to influence others, offering a compelling example of what can be done in the service of rightness.

Be known for unwavering commitment to the people and ideals you choose to live by. There are many places where compromise is expected; loyalty is not amongst them.

Seek to emulate everything as sincerely as possible, not for the reason of personal gain but because it is right. Do not restrict your exploration to a small world, but seek to infuse every aspect of your life with these qualities. If you choose to advance towards endeavour, see it through and never, ever give up. Hope is a fast friend of providence.

To the fairer sex you will hold highest of all, as they have been blessed with the opportunity to carry child. The feminine, being weaker than the masculine creates a duty to protect, for as men may go on to fight and die nobly for chivalry, women may go forth and carry the next generation of our children.

An Essay on the Races of Algoron

Jayl MacGregor

Many races walk the Lands of Algoron, not all receptive to the truth of the

Light. With the impending darkness before us, it is important to consider

how this diaspora of ethos and values align themselves with the objectives

of the Order.

It is important to note that while many of these races are predisposed

toward the darkness, none of them are restricted solely to that path.

Erstwhile urging may even turn some of these malicious zealots to a path of

balance, and in some cases the Light. Take for instance, the multiple Yinn

that walk the lands. You have the dark priests that reside in the foul

dungeons of the Horde, but also the Sentinel of the Father. It is important

for us as Knights not to close our eyes to the possibility of conversion, as

surely converting a soul causes more hurt to the dark than the vanquishing

of one.

Within most enclosed societies such as the Minotaur, Dwarven and Elves,

bastions of the Light are formed. A strong portion of the Minotaur and

Dwarven races are dedicated to the service of Nadrik, whilst many in the

Vallen prefer the aspects of Light and Balance shewn by the Goddess of

Nature. Even ogres and goblinoids can be brought to fight on the side of

the Light, as evidenced by the roster in the Wrath of Justice.

It is therefore paramount to remind ourselves that no matter our

preconceptions on the actions and behaviour of certain races, they can still

be included in our vision for the future, if not to fight alongside the

Knights against the great Evil, then at least to shun the lies of the

darkness in balance.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Elrei: On Life and Change

Sat Dec 13 11:41:22 2008

To: All

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nothing is indelible.

Mortals have tried for generation upon generation to create something

permanent, something that will last forever to mark their place in history,

to become immortal. Yet that feat is something only attainable by the Gods,

and perhaps only by Cliath in His domain of creation.

Yet we continue to try, much as the follower of Taliena strives to attain

and practice that perfect Love which She gives to us. We are constantly

reminded of our failures, our mortality, and yet we persevere, reaching for

the bauble of immortality through our works.

Even the greatest of our creations, however, cannot be made permanent.

Things may seem that way, but that is a fault of our mortal perceptions.

Dragonkind understands this better even than the Elves, and the Gods, of

course, know all too well the fragility of mortal endeavor. Buildings and

monuments can be toppled, books turned to ash, and memories lost with each

passing generation.

All things are malleable. All things change. In Nature, we see that

life can only be maintained through growth and change. In Love, we

understand that change is necessary to keep a relationship from becoming

stagnant. Every religion in the world understands not only the

inevitability, but the necessity of change and flexibility in life.

Every religion, it seems, save for one.

The Church of Nadrik seems thoroughly intent on unyielding rigidity in

their worship, perspective, and practice. I will not mock or scorn them for

this. In fact, I sincerely applaud their dedication and fervor, and hope

that they find happiness on their path. It is a difficult one to walk.

Yet I feel compelled to warn them that I see their inflexible stance

leading to ruin. The rod that does not bend must therefore break. It is

possible that this "rod" may accomplish a great many things before it

finally meets its end, for good or ill, and perhaps that is the purpose

Nadrik sees for His faith. If that is the case, so be it.

I cannot, however, condone the apparent hatred displayed and engendered

by the vocal leaders of this Church. I understand there are feelings of

mistrust for those of the "darker" faiths, brought about most forcefully by

recent divine events. Yes, the deific manifestation and embodiment of Peace

has perished, but that does not mean what She represented must also die.

She was, in the grand view, a symbol which inspired an ideal. And though

our mortal memories may lose sight of Her in time, we should not let

Kadiya's domain be forgotten so quickly.

Genocide is an act of hate, no matter whether one speaks of rodents,

trees, goblins, or Dragons. It is one thing to step on the ant you find

raiding your kitchen, and yet quite another to seek out anthills hidden

within the forest of a far-off land to destroy. Anyone who can feel

dispassionate about the prospect of hunting down every member of a race,

from the men and women down to the elders and children, is no longer a

person, but a monster.

I am not a priest. I do not speak for my Church, nor will I speak for

Taliena, though She may speak through me if She so desires. Those who wish

to disregard my message I can hold under no compulsion to heed it. And

eventually, the ink will fade and the vellum will deteriorate, as required

by the laws which govern us all, regardless of whatever source to which you

may attribute them.

Life is change. To deny change is, ultimately, to destroy life.

May you be safe upon your hearts' paths.

- Elrei Avendale

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gwaine: On Light, Duty and Responsbility.

Sat Dec 13 14:08:33 2008

To: Elrei All Knighthood Nadrik Immortal Imm All

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Light is eternal. It's goodness is infinite.

The work of the Light is not for individuals, it is a collective effort,

translating the commandments of the Divine into action.

If you profess yourself of the Light, Austinian, Nadrik, Sicarra, Kantilles,

Taliena and never forgotten Kadiya, then this must be the core of your

belief.

Else consider again your ethos and your profession of faith, for if you

believe the principles of the Light and Goodness flexible and like dough,

you delude yourself.

The work of the Light requires diversity. Those to heal, those to preach,

those to extend compassion, those to render the law, those to enforce it,

those to protect and those to smite.

For all those who stand to extend the warm velvet clasp of the compassion,

healing, peace and love of the Light, know well there stands between you and

those who will harm and pervert our way, this steel wall, this mailed fist.

The same rigid, unyielding wall that will protect, that will shield, that

will enforce, that will smite.

Where there is the capacity for goodness and contribution to the betterment

of these realms, this mailed fist will open in welcoming handshake.

Where there is evil and darkness unyielding to the wisdom of our compassionate

and preaching brothers and sisters, we will take unto them the fierce Light

of redemption and salvation.

Remember well, brethren of the Light, it is the ancient deceit of darkness

to use our own compassion to undermine the very values we stand for. This

is all to clearly shown when our own pen missive with words elaborate of

change, of yielding, of mutability.

If you call yourself of the Faithful, and these words bring discomfort ..

if these words smart and burn a little, then it is well, our duty is done.

You are reminded of your duty. You are reminded of your responsibility.

Light is life. To deny it's shining salvation, is to embrace damnation.

May the Light guard and guide.

Gwaine d'Aggravaine.

Champion of Nadrik.

General of the Crown.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Damerus: On Faith, and the Position of the Keep

Sat Dec 13 19:40:51 2008

To: All Gwaine Nadrik Knighthood Immortal Imm RP

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

General d'Aggravaine,

I would like to start by thanking both you and the Cardinal for meeting with

me to discuss our mutual faith in our Lord Nadrik. It was a humbling

experience to meet one as versed in our faith as you.

I'd also like to urge the Keep to reconsider their position on the Mountain.

I humbly ask that you cease this talk of genocide. To continue down this

path will most certainly bring ruin to the church of our Lord.

I ask you General, what is a god if there are no mortals to worship him?

With each passing day that the Keep maintains their position of genocide,

the people of Algoron grow more distrustful and disrespectful of our Lord

and those who serve him, particularly the Keep.

At first it was but those who followed the dark and neutral faiths, but now

even others who follow the light are speaking out against the position of

the Keep.

When the time comes for war, what will the Keep do if they best the forces

of the Mountain? Will they ride, unchallenged, into the heart of the

Mountain? I guarantee you if they do General, all they will find are

people... Innocent people, fearful for their lives and the lives of those

they love.

Will the Knights of the Keep cut these people down, in their crusade to

purge the world of evil? This does not sound like an honorable, or just

course of action.

I ask, many year after this conflict has ended, who would willingly serve a

Lord that speaks of rigid obedience to a code, then overlooks it when his

followers bend that code at their convenience?

During our conversation you spoke to me of conscience General, I beg the

Keep to consult with theirs and ask if they truly believe this is the right

thing to do? The future of our Lords Faith could hinge on that answer.

Humbly,

Damerus Firebeard

Reflections

Jayl MacGregor

To return to the habit of penning down my immediate reflections is a strange

experience, although not an unwelcome one. Since I last wrote in this

journal for the Task of Honesty, it feels that an age has past, though in

truth it has only been slightly more than a month by the old Calendar.

I return to the Keep at odd hours from my sojourns in the forest, and thus

am only able to patrol infrequently, and even then rarely with the same

patrol. Despite this however, I find myself more able to fulfil my role in

the course of battle, as well as respond more appropriately when faced with

certain situations. For instance, when my dispel magicks are more required

than a swarm of insects.

Aside from battle, I feel myself growing stronger spiritually as well.

Through the gentle guidance of the High Clerist: her willingness to hear my

confessions despite the immensity of her duty, and then to offer

thought-provoking questions and observations has induced quite a change in

me. For one, I find myself no longer second-guessing and examining my

motives at every step, but instead being more confident in my purpose as I

conduct my daily life as a servant to the Light.

This is not to say I have become complacent, but as I meditate more on the

virtues and the wisdom afforded by the many who walk before me, I find

myself more assured that the path I tread is ever the right one.

I truly believe that I find myself ready to take on the solemn mantle of the

Knight, not that I may be the strongest warrior or the most inspiring

clerist, but that I may stand and be counted among my brethren in battle,

whilst striving ever to be a Knight for the Light.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sehvelarious: On life and change

Sat Dec 13 16:49:26 2008

To: Elrei Knighthood all

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Long ago, the Knighthood of Serpantol splintered from her founding city

to base their operations at Gareth Keep in Althainia. She splintered again

after the fall of Serpantol and the Sack of Gareth Keep when Valor parted

ways. Both events saw much restructuring of Knighthood. Serpantol failed

to recognize change was required and failed to adapt to the newer threats of

Eclipse and the Yinn Invasion.

We are a high-idealed organization of the structured lawful kind. We do not

adhere to cast-iron law, although our principles might be. When the facts

change we reform our law accordingly. For us, the means justify the ends,

the way we act becomes the Order we aspire to be. Our actions define who we

are, at it is our actions which define that goal.

We seek to protect the weak from the consequences of evil actions. In order

to do this we pursue evil against those who might cause harm to those lawful

citizens who seek to live a lawful, moral and virtuous life. We do not

issue blanket-covering genocide upon any race unless it be wholly lost to

evil, in which case war would be all but assured much in the vein that we

wage war upon Shadow.

To find out more about the rise of Eclipse, fall of Serpantol and Yinn Invasions:

To find out more about the Ethos of Knighthood:

Sehvelarious Iolius, the Loremaster

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Caenarfon: Clearing up some misconceptions

Sun Dec 14 14:24:17 2008

To: Knighthood all imm rp Nadrik

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There has been much misconception over the words of our Captain of the

Crown, Cardinal Bolter Macleod, and the stance of Knighthood.

Firstly, this stance came about as the Master Tailor did not wish to sell

his wares to certain groups. This is his right.

Secondly, he spoke of the Church of Nadrik's enemies who sought the path of

Evil, and those of dishonorable profession. Gareth has always had the same

stance towards evil, and our membership restricted to those professions

deemed honorable. This is nothing new.

Thirdly, he answered the call of genocide which some had been interpreting

his words to mean. It is his personal view that rats and insects and other

non-sentient beings are akin to some members of certain races with evil

tendencies. This is his personal view.

Let us consider how Gareth's stance has changed during these 'revelations'.

Not at all.

We have not sought in invade Darkonin, nor sweep the lands in some

outrageous attempt to remove races in genocide, as the Shinalstin were long

ago. We have continued the wars that Gareth has held for some time in our

mission to protect the good people of Algoron.

If you are confused as towards Knighthood's values, then they are available

as shown by the Loremaster in the library.

Corwen, Priest of Nadrik.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gwaine: The Way of Honor, the Path of this Keep.

Tue Dec 16 04:20:16 2008

To: Crokus Damerus All Knighthood ( Imm Immortal Nadrik Religion )

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The message of this Keep has been repeated several times in my missives. This

message will be repeated until the end of time, as long as a voice remains to

shout it from the battlements of this Keep, your market squares and in your midst.

I have heard impassioned pleas, words of concern, words of chiding and words of

reason.

I will clarify again.

Where there is evil that will not listen to reason and the message of the Light,

we will hunt them down and destroy them utterly.

Those misguided souls sworn irrevocably to the Dark Pantheon: fire giants, demons

and foul chromatics, these we shall eradicate to the last one that we are able.

Unto the other misguided souls, we carry our message, our clergy and scholars

will continue to carry the message of the Gods of the Light to the faithful and

beyond, that none may say they were not offered salvation.

This also is our task.

We welcome all who share these beliefs to join us in this eternal struggle, but

if necessary, this Keep will carry this battle alone, raising high the standard

of the Light.

We are the Keep of Gareth's, Knights of the Light, and from the Pantheon of the

Gods of Good and their divine Messengers, we draw our tenets, direction and duty.

We need none other's approval: no clan, no kingdom, no church, whether of

destroyers or creators to know our duty.

Those of darken faith, grasp the cup of Light offered, drink of it and find

salvation. For when judgement before the Pantheon of the Light is delivered, and

your soul is measured for its worth, it will be too late then.

Those of the balance, consider well your actions, in each action there is choice

and by these choices will you be measured.

Those of the faithful, stand firm, heed not the distractions of the misguided,

ignorant and those deliberately deceitful. Seek your priests and clerics, grow

stronger in your faith.

May the Light guard and guide.

Gwaine d'Aggravaine.

Champion of Nadrik.

General of the Crown.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Caenarfon: Answers to questions

Wed Dec 17 01:36:05 2008

To: all imm religion nadrik

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reading "The Oath of Code of the Knighthood of Serpantol" discusses

Serpantol's stance towards different races. This was a time of the Triple

Alliance when some races sought to remove humankind from the face of

Algoron. The excerpt follows:

11. Let our civilisation not suffer nor lament through lack of protection.

The Knighthood of Serpantol is created and has charge of the defence of the

civilisation of good humans of the city of Serpantol, where many years ago

by the grace of Austinian, Ser'phan founded his city. There are many

aggressive races in the world of Ogres and Minotaurs and of goblinkind who

would strive to remove our culture from the face of Algoron. While we

accept that there are other good natured races upon Algoron, and they may

smile kindly on us, we can rely on only ourselves alone in the wilderness

fully. Many of the civilisations who would smile on us are not capable of

giving to us the aid we might require should evil befall us. And let us

acknowledge that this world is not yet fully explored and mapped, so that

other friends and foes of race and kind may yet come to seek in our

destruction or assist us in our Empire. In this light let all good humans

band together in our civilisation to protect it from the strength of outside

forces and let only them join the Knighthood of Serpantol so that the

protection of our people, culture and civilisation might be affected.

This comes from an ancient tome from Serpantol, and is a relic of a bygone

age. It has been many years since Gareth has required a human-centric

defensive mindset, as the threats against Good and Gareth are no longer

racial. The ethos of what Gareth embodies now follows the reins of

ideology. Good. Evil. Austinian leading the Trinity against those of

Necrucifer. Spreading their Evil, black magic, murder, disease and decay,

mischief and vengence and rage amongst the easily tempted and faint-hearted.

As such, there are no longer lines of race and culture which govern our

politics as they had in our barbarian past, there are only the clear

ideological lines of what is good and what is evil. What is right, and what

is wrong.

Corwen, Priest of Nadrik

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Questar: The Way of the Shield and Sword

Mon Jan 5 10:10:52 2009

To: Knighthood Althainia Thaxanos Wargar Shalonesti Shalonesti_kingdom Justice Austinian Imm Religion

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Honored Groups,

I have been humbled and honored to see such unity in these trying times.

Though I gave up my mantle as Sentinel of Austinian a while ago, I believe

these words may still assist those of the Light in their struggles. May the

Light shine upon those who fight with the Hope in their heart for a future

devoid of these dark days.

The Way of the Shield

One must start the way of the Shield before the Sword because the Light, by

nature, does not seek to war or battle. It seeks to defend and uplift.

It seeks Peace and the guardianship of those who can not do so for themselves.

1.) All things begin within. Know thy soul and why you serve. This is the

foundation of service. Often you will be challenged by those of Neutrality

and Darkness. Sometimes even your fellow followers. Let not your

foundation be transparent and answer "because I have always."

2.) You are the shield, defend those who have not a shield of their own.

The young and old, the weak and the poor are your charges. If they are

faced by a challenge, be there to aid with word or deed. Let them not fall

if they have not the power to overcome their own weakness to serve the

Light.

3.) Face your fears. We all have fears, they make us mortal. For some it

is failure, others a dread beast but let not these fears take hold. True

courage is accepting them and overcoming them. They will always be a part

of you but they do not have to govern you.

4.) Understand the Pantheon of Light, He is father to them all. Seek peace

over war, love over hate. Heal those who are troubled and use your power to

protect those who are afflicted. Let your Honor be that you can be trusted

by word and deed.

5.) He has no Prophecy, strike not those of the Darkness down because they

are who they are. Necrucifer's Prophecy awaits the day he shall destroy all

those before him and lay dominion; over the world. The Light has no such

prophecy. We are not here to destroy the Darkness simply because they act

in evil manners. We are here to defend against their attacks. Let yourself

not be governed by the sword lest you forget why it is you use it.

The way of the Sword

1.) Unsheath your blade when those you face no longer stand to reason.

When peace and words are thrown away and the monster shall not stop their

actions. Lay them low so they may know that such actions shall not be

tolerated.

2.) Never Kill when Justice can be given. Save the lives of those who face

the sword. There is no need to kill if they can be laid down and taken into

custody. Let them meet Justice and perhaps be redeemed.

3.) Take life only when redemption is lost and lives must be saved. When

those souls have turned away from redemption, when it has been taken over

completely by the monster and any quarter given would be turned upon. Let

them be pitied and take no pleasure in their death.

4.) Get not accustomed to using your blade. Do not fall into the ease of

letting a soul perish upon your blade. For every life taken, ensure others

are saved. If a life is taken in vain, make amends.

5.) Do not lose your soul to grief. We all must at times, face the way of

the sword against a foe who can not be stopped otherwise. Sometimes, we

must take a life, if you have not err'd in your choice, let not that death

over take your soul. Do not let doubt enter for in the end, it shall undo

all you seek to accomplish.

- As written by Questar Sha'falas

Former Sentinel of Austinian

For the Benefit of the Church of Austinian

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rithor: A Visit from the Crusader

Wed Jun 30 18:40:25 2010

To: Knighthood Nadrik ( Imm Religion )

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yesterday our keep was graced by a visit from the Old crusader of our

Lords, The same Crusader that appeared before the ship battle for the second

shard.

I woke to find him fighting a number of Storm at our stone quickly preparing

my armor Rassilon and myself rode out to aid him, however shadows numbers

were to large and we needed to retreat quickly after. Sitting in the Altar

room we wondered if the Crusader was able to make it away from Shadow alive.

It was the he appeared before us and told us our Gods seem our struggle and

feel our pain as we fight on with low numbers. He told us that the Gods are

proud that we continue the fight against evil and he would help us when we

need it the most.

Keep your faith strong and heads high Knights we are doing the Gods of the

Light proud even in these dark days we remain a beacon of light. Remember

our numbers will always sway and many will return keep on fighting we are

never alone on the field.

Rithor Thorne

General Lance

Second Chances

A speech delivered by Lord Gwaine d'Aggravaine at the weekly prayer service.

Lady Amberillo had thought the idea of forgiveness, of second chances a theme for today. Indeed, on an eve when three paladins are gathered, it is perhaps far more apt than thought. Every paladin, in their mentorship, reaches that point of decision. A second chance to rededicate themselves, in their belief to the Light, their diety, to Nadrik, and then to carry on the fight. This may seem a trivial thing, a needful happenstance of the path any aspirant to the mantle must choose.

Yet, in truth, it a most profound choice.

To those who have served here, served the Light, in the honor and ideals of this Keep, a second chance to lift our lives, to a greater purpose, a more exalted offering of thought and deed, every day from that day on. And for us all, man and woman, aspirant, page, squire, knight and officer. In the Light, every day is a second chance. To examine the day that past, and to make this day and next, ourselves, better examples of that which our gods would have us.

Bow your heads, gentlemen and lady, let us honor with a moment's silence, our Lords and Ladies of the Light, our Gods of Second Chances.

Lords and Ladies of the Light,

To your chosen gathered here,

Remind us in every reflection,

How we may exalt thee.

In your grace, raise us

That we may ever honor thee.

Amen.

Larick Brummey's Quest and Reflections upon Nadrik

With the rest of my page tasks completed, I sought out Colonel Datai to

become my mentor for my squireship. For my final task, I was assigned a

quest to better understand my faith and feelings on Lord Nadrik. I was to

seek out three items that best represented my thoughts of the Lord. Then, I

was to take a pilgrimage to three sacred spots blessed by Him. Once there,

I left one of the symbols and prayed to the Lord. Below are my explanations

of the significance of the items as well as how I chose these sites and

associated the items to them.

Before I set forth on the pilgrimage, I meditated at the Temple of Nadrik

near the elemental canyon. During that time of peace and contemplation, I

received the inspiration I sought.

The first item I selected was a Blinding Ball of Brilliance. To me, Lord

Nadrik is a shining beacon, an example for all of us to follow and strive

towards. Like the never-ending light, He represents an eternal hope, despite

His current predicament. The first site was selected by the Colonel, but it

meshes well with the item. In the center of the halls of Valor (before it

fell), rested the Eternal Flame. It burnt ever brightly roared with

ferocity. The perpetual light it gives is like the blinding ball of

brilliance that represents our Lord.

The second item I selected was a Flail of Justice. This represented

righteous integrity of Lord Nadrik. Additionally, the flail represents that

Justice does not come easy. It is something that we have to fight for in

this world. The resting place for this item I selected to be the Chapel of

Nadrik in the city of Ganth. The minotaurs are an honorable race that has

many Nadrik followers. They are fond of fighting, yet understand the

necessities of honor in battle. The minotaurs are much like a flail of

justice.

For the third item, I selected the "Guardian" Shield. This represented

Nadrik's ideals to protect the innocent and less fortunate. He shields from

harm those who are pure of hear and have faith in goodness. The site I have

chosen is the Temple of Nadrik within the Church of Light in Althainia.

This city is the bastion of goodness, a guardian to those seeking shelter

for evil. It is home to old and young, and with Gareth beside it, a shield

for all to rally behind.

These three items together also represent the Knighthood and its roles in

this realm as desired by Lord Nadrik.

We are the Light that shines the path of goodness.

We are the Flail that strikes down evil.

We are the Shield that protects the weak from harm.

- Page Larick Brummey

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Branzol: Raije Wars

Mon Oct 25 06:54:36 2010

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Knights of Gareth,

This season of Raije wars to my knowledge, was the first time many of us

experience a full season of fighting within the Arena. I truly believe that

sometimes learning does not come through victory, it comes through defeat.

The only test is that we learn from mistakes, and become more accustomed to

the comradery on the field. As we have within the keep.

That being said. There is nothing to hold your heads in shame for. We now

know where we are. We should take this and motivate ourselves to do better.

I am personally proud of each and every single one of you, whom stepped foot

into the arena courageously. Stepping forward and answering a call to fight

in a foreign environment, is nothing to jeer at. Yet you should be proud of

yourselves. We took this first step, we now have a full season of the wars

under our belts. I have no doubt that the next year will be a totally

different story.

Keep your chins up, and morale even higher. There is nothing you should

hold your heads down for. It is an honor to serve amongst the dedicated

Knights whom so valiantly fought. I am truly blessed to be a Knight.

Branzol Snowdragon

Colonel of the Lance

Weaponmaster of Gareth

Observations on the Sacrifice of Sir Gunnar

By Sir Kuririn Haraldr

-----Sir Gunnar's Sacrifice-----

At 4:30 pm, Day of the Sun, 6th the Month of the Dragon (The system time is

Mon Nov 1 17:44:45 2010- 12 years to the day since the rift took place), I

spoke with General Gwaine about Sir Gunnar Draugrbane's Sacrifice, which led

to my explaining the story to several pages. Those in attendance included:

General Gwaine, Dame Faelinda, and pages Aequitas and Chretien. I will

begin by describing Gunnars Sacrifice in my own words, then by describing

what I learned from my research, and finish with why I believe the story

must be passed along.

According to our texts, "Sacrifice is Courage to give oneself in the name of

Love... A Knight sacrifices all - life and liberty for the one and only

war." This is exactly what Sir Gunnar Draugrbane did on that haunted eve

before the first cataclysm, where Algoron nearly fell to the frightful great

rift that emerged in the Haon Dor Forest. From within this rift came the

vilest of creatures. They rejected the darkness and the light, good and

evil, and only cared for the destruction of the world. Gareth led Algorons

charge against the creatures, but the people of Algoron were severely

beaten. The only accounting of this battle comes from General Gwaine in

"Gunnar's Ascension"

Many valiant, more cowered

Eclipse and Gareth's sent their best

Blinding blades and clashing shield

All for naught they did yield

The Rift beasts held the field.

Again again the Knights rode

Battle cries and shouts bold

Again they returned bloodied and bruised

The Rift beasts stood the field amused.

Cackling cries and sonorous laughter

The Rift beasts continued their rampant slaughter.

On bended knee and heads bowed,

prayers rang for the dead in shroud.

Then, the beasts attacked the magic of the land! Our warriors could no

longer be supported by the gift that provided them so much protection,

strength, and utility. What they would be forced to use was their knowledge

virtue, and wisdom to defeat the rift. Somehow, a list of items was

developed, which the people of Algoron believed would close the rift.

A shaman from Valor, Tsi, carried 13 heads into the rift, but it did not

close. Other items were tossed into the rift, but the rift remained open.

Who provided the final piece of the puzzle remains a mystery to me, but it

became known that the final item to close the rift would be the heart of a

pure, true, and good man... The heart of a paladin. As Gareth tried to

collect its thoughts, Sir Gunnar the Good announced his willingness to

sacrifice for the war. He would give his life to close the rift and defeat

the enemy.

However, there was a problem. As suicide is an unacceptable sin, Gunnar

could not simply kill himself for his heart to be put into the rift. He

would have to be killed, but who would do so? No knight could lift their

sword to Sir Gunnar, let alone slay him. To complete his sacrifice, Sir

Gunnar would have to be slain by an enemy, so Diamante Ka'tath, an assassin

of eclipse, would slay Sir Gunnar. Muse Liefendahl would collect Sir

Gunnars heart and carry it towards the rift as the Knights launched another

attack to destroy the rift! With this attack, the heart was placed into the

rift... And it slowly closed until it no longer existed. As the rift

faded, a tree grew to mark the spot of the events.

According to General Gwaine, Muse Liefendahl became aware that Sir Gunnar's

heart was hanging from the tree and she quickly rode to the colossal tree to

collect it and return it to Gareth. There it lies in the Ark.

-----What I learned-----

I learned a great deal of information in my research for the story.

Specifically, I learned: there are actually two trees that mark the spot of

the rift, Sir Gunnar was known for making sacrifices throughout his life,

why Diamante killed Sir Gunnar, and the importance of sacrifice.

In regards to the trees, General Gwaine informed me that there are two trees

that help mark where the rift occurred. The first is the tree referred to

in the history and his story, where it grew in the exact spot of where the

rift opened up. However, another tree close to it, what we now call the

colossal tree is the actual tree where Sir Gunnar's heart was recovered from.

Both lie within the same section of forest.

It was Colonel Datai that informed me that Sir Gunnar was known for not

being the greatest of our warriors, however he made sacrifices throughout his

life to always assist Gareth. General Gwaine supported the statement about

the sacrifices, but said they were everyday sacrifices that paled in

comparison to the rift. "The Memoirs of Aenarion dePayens," also write of

our past that...

"Combat was the measuring stick for any and all knights. Honour, chivalry,

even faith were worthless currencies. There were exceptions. Seal, Gunnar,

Lancelot. These knights stood head and shoulders above the rest in my

opinion, for their balance of virtue with combat."

What is extremely interesting to note is that Gareth does not focus on the

combat strength of its knights, but on those who show strength in virtue and

combat. As Sir dePayens mentioned three knights that are still honored

today. Those who only showed strength in combat have lost their names to

memory and only lie in the scrolls.

The story of Diamante of Eclipse killing Sir Gunnar always confused my mind,

because I never gave enough virtuous thought to the deed. While I noted the

reasons in the story above, it was General Gwaine who provided the answers:

the sin of suicide, the knights could not strike down their own and maintain

honor, so an enemy in Eclipse was needed to do the deed to make the

sacrifice. Quite a stirring tail with a twist and once again shows the

importance of virtue. For if Sir Gunnar made the sacrifice and ignored the

other virtues, would he be remembered or just have his name on a scroll?

Had he made the sacrifice through suicide, would the rift have closed?

Finally, I learned the importance of sacrifice and virtue within this story,

which is also why I believe it should be passed down. As my chosen

profession has found, people love stories of combat, valor, and defeat of

the enemy! But, are those stories what are truly important? In 10 years,

will people remember my story of Colonel Snowdragon defeating two trolls in

a month or Sir Gunnar's Sacrifice? It will always be Sir Gunnar's Sacrifice,

because stories of virtue strike knights deeper than stories of the flesh.

It hits our core of what it means to be a knight: A Knight sacrifices all -

life and liberty for the one and only war. So, we must pass this story to

our squires, pages, and children, so they may learn the virtues of

knighthood. That strength in combat is not enough. That the means matter

more than the end. That a knight sacrifices all that he has to better the

one, true war.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meroveus: Reflections on Kantilles and Knighthood

Sun Mar 27 22:20:13 2011

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Magic is a raw representation of power. It follows that the study of

magic is the study of power, and the use of magic is the use of power.

This is easily seen in Drakkara, who encourages her followers to

acquire power for its own sake, but this theme of power is equally

true, and important, to the follower of Kantilles.

To the follower of Kantilles, the use of power is guided and tempered

by His tenets, which call for wisdom and temperance. They call for

the follower of Kantilles to use their power to aid the light, to

never hinder the light, and to never aid the Darkness.

Thus the follower of Kantilles will pursue the acquisition of power,

but never at the expense of their fellows. The follower of Kantilles

will exercise their power, but only to the benefit of the light. One

must not shirk power in the pretense of humility, for this is a false

humility. Likewise, one must not seek power for its own sake, but

only for the way it may benefit one's righteous goals.

Another important implication of the above is that many individuals

may better serve Kantilles within Knighthood, in strict adherence to

the pursuit of the goals of the Light, and never aiding Darkness,

than within Kantilles' own Ivory Tower, where neutrality limits the

potential to serve.

Our service is ever diverse.

Meroveus Greyhawk,

Knight of the Shield

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gwaine: Knightly conduct and decorum.

Sun Apr 3 09:56:15 2011

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gareths

We are of the chosen of the Gods of Good, blessed over all

others by the Trinity of Austinian, Nadrik and Siccara to

carry the battle against the ungodly.

This duty is beyond the mere objective of the eternal triumph

of Goodness. It demands more than carrying battle to the ungodly

on the battlefield. More even than the considered engagement

to refute the propaganda of the foe.

Our Gods, our cause .. asks of each of us not only to achieve

that stated above, but beyond, to achieve these maintaining

the decorum and grace that is the gift of Goodness.

Thus, discourteous taunting of our foe, meaningless public

prattling, these all amount to unknightly behaviour and as such,

cannot be countenanced of those serving this Keep.

Be mindful, knights of Gareth - let our actions speak our

virtue, let our words be courteous and knightly, and thus

render service worthy of our Gods.

d'Aggravaine, Crown.

The Importance of Fellowship

A speech given by Lorekeeper Datai d'Aggravaine during our weekly prayer hour in the altar room of Gareth Keep.

This week I was visited by Siccara. In that sort of vague ephemeral way a God visits to talk to you. She was happy about my individual efforts and prayers. But She was worried about the state of Her Church. We have not been doing much together to reach out to the world of late.

I bring this up here, not because there are any Siccarans to spread this news to, but because there's a lesson inherent in this for us as Knights: We can, and should do good things individually. It is important that we spread the will of our Gods wherever we go, as this brings hope to those who need it. But we are here, together, a fellowship, to grant one another strength. That many hands to help, many gathered together with different talents, can bring more aid in the face of greater challanges than the sum of their parts.

We should seek one another out, and gain by each others wisdom, experience, and strength, to accomplish our goals. As we as a Knighthood can do much more than a single Knight errant meandering around in the dark. Both are good, and both are needed in each their own time. I hope we will be humble enough to seek one another and accept each others' aid when time comes.

And that's the lesson to be learned from Siccara's request of me to herd the cats of her church around and get them to, like, go to Church. One healer does not make a hospital, I reckon. We can do more together than alone.

- Dame Datai d'Aggravaine, Lorekeeper of Knighthood, Songstress of Siccara

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thrakhath: Of Laws and the Chain of Command

Sun May 29 22:29:05 2011

To: Knighthood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Order of Gareth,

It is key to understand that it is in the Order's tradition and history to

embrace the rule and letter of the law and that no individual is above the laws,

code and measure of the Order. This is what distinguishes the Order from the

other factions.

Thusly, everyone in the Order, from page to General, is held accountable by his

actions to the law and the divine mandates of the Pantheon of Light.

Accountability to the law would imply that there is a voice for every individual

to raise his concern when an injustice or wrong is committed within the Order.

Yet this voice comes with certain responsibilities and requirements. There is a

proper channel and conduit, from pages to even Generals to voice their concerns

and to seek redress for the injustices, warranted or otherwise.

I would like to remind all within the Order that there are protocols, forms and

traditions to be followed. There may be extraordinary circumstances that call

for exceptions to the protocols, but they are most rare.

For pages and squires, you have your mentor knight or the Shield officers to

consult with if you have an issue to raise. For all knights and officers of the

Shield and Lance, your immediate superior in the chain of command would be your

most appropriate person to turn to to seek redress or clarification.

In all cases, the Order of the Crown serves as a measure of last resort, an all

encompassing safety net if you may think so, should you think that your

immediate superiors do not have the capacity or have too many vested interests

in making the correct decision.

Active officers within the Crown serve as a conduit and channel for advisory

matters. At the point of the writing of this notice, the active officers of the

Crown would be:

Colonel Kiery Elistar

Lieutenant Thrakhath Nar'gyatt

Again, be most aware that there are traditions, forms and laws to be followed.

The Order must stay most cohesive as an organization to be effective against the

Evil Doer.

- Thrakhath Nar'gyatt

Sentinel of Austinian

Lieutenant of the Crown

Knightly Rules for Chivalrous Love

These rules come from old Serpantol. The early days of the nobility saw marriage abused for political and practical reasons. As a result many young nobles sought romance in secret liaisons. In these days and times, we may marry for love instead of convenience, and Taliena and the world are happier for that. The quest for True Love has always been a difficult one for any Knight, as such we forbid our Pages and Squires to involve themselves in courtship and romance until they are Knighted. These ancient rules offer old fashioned Serpantol advice on the matters of romance. While the reasons for their formation and the wording may be dated, like all honestly offered advice, a bell of truth still rings, and they are worth considering. - Lady Datai d'Aggravaine

1. Thou shalt avoid avarice like the deadly pestilence and shalt embrace its opposite.

2. Thou shalt keep thyself chaste for the sake of her whom thou lovest.

3. Thou shalt not knowingly strive to break up a correct love affair that someone else is engaged in.

4. Thou shalt not chose for thy love anyone whom a natural sense of shame forbids thee to marry.

5. Be mindful completely to avoid falsehood.

6. Thou shalt not have many who know of thy love affair.

7. Being obedient in all things to the commands of ladies, thou shalt ever strive to ally thyself to the service of Love.

8. In giving and receiving love's solaces let modesty be ever present.

9. Thou shalt speak no evil.

10. Thou shalt not be a revealer of love affairs.

11. Thou shalt be in all things polite and courteous.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Valdaris: The balance of a Knight

Tue Jul 5 16:12:50 2011

To: Knighthood

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Greetings to those of Gareth's Keep, I write this missive to share my

thoughts with you. The subject I wish to address is a certain balance that

a Knight must have. In speaking with our General, he questioned me, he

asked, 'Tell me, Sir Valdaris, how do you reconcile a lawful nature with a

crusader's zeal? '. I spent much time reflecting on this, and came to this

conclusion.

Many days are spent within the our Temple, studying our laws

and philosophies. This studying is done to prepare us for times when we do

not have time to think, we must react. A quick reaction can lead to saving

another's life, or watching them fall before you. The instict will take

over, and this is what I call my zeal. Lord Nadrik guides us in striking

down our foe, yet at the same time we are bound by our laws. If our

adversary wishes to surrender to us, we must accept this. The devotion

inside of me to strike down the darkness in front of me must be restrained,

and we must follow the laws that we are sworn to protect.

You see, the easiest solution for a Knight is to abolish the darkness before

us. Instead, we must seek to alter their path, thus sticking a dagger in

the heart of darkness.

Nadrik bless,

Valdaris Artaeus, Knight of the Lance

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Datai: If a Knight Snores Alone on the Pews, Does He Make a Sound?

Sat Dec 3 19:40:08 2011

To: Knighthood ( immortal Nadrik Siccara Austinian )

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Knights,

When times are plenty, it is easy to stand up and do our work in the world.

We like to all imagine ourselves as being the bold, strong one who in lean and

dire times that weathers the storm to the betterment of our comrades and

cause. The reality, however, is that none of us joined the Knighthood to

serve Goodness all by our lonesome. When lean times come, holding down the

pews by one's self can make you feel like only one small paperweight in a

vast library of loose parchments all fluttering in the winds of chaos.

How do we reconcile this paradox of being a knight? The desire of the

company and love of our comrades, yet strong enough to stand up alone

in the face of evil's oppression. The minions of evil would maintain this

is our great weakness. "One who follows the heart finds it will bleed."

However, it is our love for comrades come and gone which gives us the

strength to carry on.

In these times, when you think you are alone, look to our gods. Nadrik,

Siccara, and Austinian hear us, and their lessons and gifts prepare us for

troubled times. Have faith in your comrades, too. Do not let the bitter

thoughts of being left alone to do all the work around here seep into your

heart. Loosing the capacity to love your comrades ensures you will be

alone, even when they are all around you.

It is written that "As long as a single member of the Keep, true to the

Ideals and Tenets of the Shield doth stand, still, even so shall those under

Gareth's charge live on, and Hope shall grow anew." In reading this

passage one imagines some horrible, catastrophic sacrifice by our missing

comrades, but reality is rarely so dramatic or romantic (or horrible, thank

Siccara). You are not alone when you feel you are, you are not even alone

in feeling alone. By acknowledging this ancient quote, it lends one to

believe that its writer knew and had experienced days, weeks, or months of

slow times for our Order. While this writer is physically gone, his wisdom

is not, and he remains with us now.

Time ultimately lays low even the greatest of Knights. Elven philosophers

have written plenty about humanity's brief firefly existence. Some Knights

will return from travels refreshed, like I did after an eight old calendar

year lost weekend, and others not at all. We must honor our missing

comrades' memories, their hard work, and forge onward to rebuild and prepare

for the next great revival. Take a deep breath, and be glad you have a

chance to be a part of it.

Siccara bless,

Lady Datai d'Aggravaine, Shield

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Roupert: Mentalism and Honor

Fri Apr 6 16:38:37 2012

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The study of mentalism involves looking deeply into the intricacies of

the mind. Most of us take for granted our thoughts, feelings, and emotions,

but understanding why and how we feel what we feel has great value. The

mind is what drives us, what allows us to understand, and what gives us the

ability us to be more than autonomous beasts. The mind is what allows us to

think and reason rather than resort to our instinctual desires and primal

needs. It allows us to comprehend concepts like honor and virtue. Surely

such a thing warrants some appreciation and study.

Mentalism focuses on how to utilize what little we understand of the mind

for practical purposes. Through study and much practice, one can learn to

work upon the intricacies of the mind and alter our feelings and

perceptions.

I shall use as an example the mentalist spell of focused aggression.

Aggression is a primal emotion, constituting confrontational feelings of

hostility. It can be dangerous if unleashed and equally dangerous if

bottled inside indefinitely. But with very subtle mental manipulations, one

can harness this emotion, utilizing it as a tool rather than an obstacle.

The mentalist spell only facilitates this process, helping the subject

channel his aggression and use it to his advantage.

Mental study also has the capability for maladictive purposes. Maladictions

on the mind can be very detrimental because of the deep, inner nature of the

mind. With only subtle alterations, one can distort mental processes,

essentially turning the mind on itself.

Some may argue that these maladictions are manipulative and dishonorable.

But they are essentially no different than other maladictions. The only

difference is that while the standard maladictions target the body,

mentalist spells target the mind. While the spell of blindness inhibits

one's eyesight, mentalist maladictions inhibit one's mental processes. The

spell of fake illness, for example, merely alters the target's mental

perceptions. Contrary to what its name implies, it is not trickery or

deceit in any form. It simply creates a divide in the way the mind

processes information. How the subject interprets this cognitive deficiency

is entirely up to him. And as such, the result of this spell is entirely

unique and unpredictable.

The mind is an extraordinary thing that allows us to feel and express things

like honor and virtue. Due to the deep-rooted, inherent nature of the mind,

the study of mentalism is often misunderstood, and may be misinterpreted as

dishonorable. But there is no conflict between the practice of mentalism

and honor. In fact, in my experience, a greater understanding of the mind

has led to a greater appreciation for all that which the mind is capable of,

amongst them altruism, compassion, and honor.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bringing Forth Hope

Fri Oct 12 20:21:09 2012

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Five things in which a Knight should be doing daily to spread Hope and Good

throughout Algoron. Over the past while, we have been engaged in the

struggle against evil, at time with neutrality and others against, to gather

the shards of Seanan in order to save Lord Nadrik from a terrible fate. As

it stands, evil has but to collect one more shard and Lord Nadrik's fate is

sealed, but we have begun to turn the tide. Where evil has one the first

three shards, we, the forces of good, have then won the next two. This act

has given the cause of good some hope, but not all are still viewing it that

way. I have thought to myself, if such triumph has not yet brought the rays

of hope to many, what are five things a Knight can do daily that will? What

I have found in response to that question, is that Knights must look to the

basic teachings of Good.

First, we must be true to our word. For if we lie and cheat, what credibility do

we have in the acts we claim Good? By being true to our word and acting

with such, people will see that there is hope for good in Algoron.

Second, we must undertake tasks others will not. Be it something as dangerous

as a perilous quest or something as humble as cleaning a mess, as it is by our

willingness to help others that shows Good still exists in Algoron.

Third, we must forgive, be it our friends, our enemies or even ourselves. It is

in the act of forgiving, that we remove the poison of hate and grief, showing

our compassion to all and giving conviction to the cause of Good.

Fourth, we must be positive about what we do. If we Knights do not see

things so positively, then others will have no reason to either. In being

positive in front of others and in what we say, we further spread hope in Good.

Fifth, respect others as well as yourself. In being respectful to others, we

display our faith in Good to others and if you do not respect yourself, then you

are simply a puppet to be controlled, which is contrary to belief in Good.

Though I have named these five, there are still several more of such simple

doings a Knight can do daily to spread good and hope. The reason for that

being so is that the truth of the matter is that hope will be spread by being

seen, heard and known doing good in any and all of its forms. So remember

this lesson and find five things of your own that you can do daily, for the more

Knights there are doing good, the further hope will spread across Algoron.

- Sir Artor Talgale