Taking a squire is a common practice to
Knights throughout
The Kingdom of Somercrag. Similar traditions exist in neighbouring countries - in
The Kingdom of Rotheval the
Knights of their
Knightly Orders take
Neophytes, and in
Irogonie the
White Knights are entrusted with the training of
Initiates.
The exact rights and responsibilities associated with being a squire can vary from knight to knight and from house to house, but their duties are likely to include:
- Assisting their knight with preparations for battle, such as helping to don their armour, dressing their steed and so on.
- Accompanying their knight in battle, carrying their lance, shield, or other equipment as needed.
- Maintaining their knight's arms and armour.
Depending on the other servants their knight has available they may also fulfill the duties of a
Page, herald, cupbearer, or any other such roles.
In return a squire can expect to be educated, both in skill at arms and in other knightly skills including literacy, recognition of heraldry, knowledge of history, and even courtly behaviours such as dance, music and other such pursuits. They can also expect the opportunity to gain a knighthood of their own, though this will be at the judgement of the knight training them. It is customary, though by no means guaranteed, for a knight to reward a squire who is knighted by them or from service to them, with a warhorse, a sword or other weapon, a shield and a suit of plate, or at least the funds to purchase them.
There is usually little distinction between squires depending on their birth status - a squire and as a result a knight who comes from a lowborn family can expect to be treated as honourably as one from a noble house, though their opportunities following their knighthood may be different.
Generally a squire will enter their training young, between the ages of eight and twelve is most common. Should they be successful in their training they will usually be knighted between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one. Although it is not unknown for a squire to enter the service of a knight later in their childhood, it is incredibly rare for their training to continue past their twenty-first birthday, as that is generally accepted as the beginning of adulthood in Somercrag, and if a squire has not been knighted by this point it is assumed they do not have the right temperament or capabilities for the role.
It should be noted that, although it is the most common, squiring is not the only route to knighthood. Sons and daughters of Lords and Ladies may come to knighthood without ever serving as a squire, though they may have to work harder to earn the respect of their peers as a result. A King or Queen, Duke or Duchess is able to confer knighthood on those who have impressed them. Similarly, any knight is able to confer knighthood on an individual, and so it is possible though not common for them to be swayed in various other ways to grant the honour to those who have not earned it. Finally, some knights choose to confer knighthood on those who have served in their armies as men-at-arms.
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