Skyknight Assembly

Skyknight battle tradition.

Naroe thought she would be the first one at the assigned location, she had left early to make sure she was, but when she arrived the rest of her wing was already there. They were eating already but not drinking, they were waiting for her. She didn't realize she was staring at her squad until they pulled her toward them. This was her first assembly and it would be her first battle soon enough.
They handed her a mug and gathered in a circle. The captain took out a bottle of Panqu whiskey and began to pour for each knight starting with the most experienced. Before each mug was poured the captain would say a traditional skyknight blessing. Naroe thought this was a silly tradition as she watched the captain speak to and pour for the more experienced knights but when the captain said "Fly with us as one, join us on the winds, and return triumphant." she couldn't help it, her emotions stirred. She finally felt like one of the knights.

History

The tradition dates back to Temur Dodai and the founding of the Skyknights of Bral. The blessing spoken was told first by Temur Dodai, except that he said 'me' instead of 'us'. The change in wording is meant to include the past members of the skyknights.
The original assembly included every skyknight. This was before the Skyknight Reformation when the number of wings and knights was limited. After the reformation, the squads began to perform the assembly separately.

Execution

Each wing of skyknights gathers separately from the others, if more than one wing is involved in a mission. Once gathered, they eat, drink, tell stories of past battles, and sing songs before they rest for the battle on the following cycle. Some wings wait for all members to arrive before starting anything, others may eat before all arrive, but all wait for the entire wing before sharing drink.
Each member is poured a drink by the captain starting with the most experienced knight moving to the least and then finally the captain pours themselves a drink. Each member raises their cup and then the assembly has officially begun. The captain will only pour one cup for each member of the squad, they do have to be ready for battle on the next cycle.

Components and tools

The captain of the wing brings their favorite drink to share with those under their command. This requires seven receptacles for the drink but there is no special cup or mug that is used, though at least one handy skyknight captain made special wooden bowls for their squad.

Participants

Only the captain and six members of their wing may attend. With the exception of the pouring of the drink and the blessing which are given by the captain, no one has any special role or power in the ceremony.

Observance

The skyknights perform the assembly on the cycle before a battle. If they are called suddenly and there is no time to perform the assembly, they can do so after the battle.

Stub Article

This article is just a stub for now and will be expanded upon later.

Old Article

This article was written in the past and does not meet my current standards for any number of article quality, layout, or content.

In-Progress Article

This article is being worked on, perhaps not at this very moment, but it is being worked on.

Related Ethnicities

• Bral Ethnicity