Knight

A Knight is a member of the warrior traditions of Knighthood, usually given the title "Sir".

History
The concept of Knighthood is derived from the strict caste system imposed within the society of the ancients. The warrior caste often took the title of "night" within the pantheon of the day which the caste system was based around. With the seeding of the world, this cultural tradition of life long warriors remained, and the title slowly came to be "Knight".

During the Mælstrom, the concept of the Knight survived, and in the ruined world the warriors ruled supreme for the limited resources, forming links between the Knights and nobility still present to this day.

Practices
Different Knights hold different codes of conduct, but generally they all strive towards roughly the same ideals: bravery, courage, honorable, honesty and loyalty. Not all reach their lofty ideals, and some find it impossible due to circumstances, while others only use Knighthood as a way to reach prestige and gain new opportunities. As Knighthood is open to all, from lowborns to high, it is often a way to achieve upward movement for many. Particularly successful Knights may become landed, if they are not so already, in reward for their services, and even be taken as a vassal allowing, alongside marriage, one of the two ways for a lowborn to become true nobility. Many noble sons not in the direct line for inheritance of land become Knights.

Knights are, most of all, expected to fight and skill at arms is tantamount to success. Often fighting up close, armoured heavily and sometimes on horseback, Knights can be some of the most powerful military forces available in the world.

Knights often begin training at a young age, although it is not unknown for knightings to be given as a reward for a great service. Potential Knights start as pages, young boys who serve a Knight and perform simple errands and learn from their master. In their adolesence, they become a squire, where they also join their masters on the field of battle, and their training increases in intensity. When a Knight decides a squire is ready, he may proclaim him a Knight, and give him his knighthood, and their after the title of Sir.

Knights may continue to work independently, hoping to gain glory, wealth and land as their own force, but many choose to join Orders, where they work alongside like minded Knights to further a common goal, while still gaining personal glory.