Knight

To draw my blade is serve and to ride is to vanquish my enemies. But I shall withdraw my honor when I head into battle, for there is no place for it as killing only matters by any means - Sir Dayne of Wayne

Composition

Manpower

Knights vary in numbers depending on the lord they serve numbering from one to three thousand at a time along with the servents and squires that came with them

Equipment

Armor: It is the key to a Knight's success in battle as it keeps them alive, most knights wear plated armor due to the protection it gives, but some prefer chainmail or brigandine to ensure mobility.
Shield: Depending on a knight's fighting style the size of the shield can vary from the small buckler shield to the massive tower shield.

Weaponry

Knights used every form of weapon in their arsenal to use in the battle with each one capable of devastating damage depending on the owner.
Swords: The most common weapon used by a knight, most just have one sword or dual wield. But the sword types differ from short swords to greatswords.
Lances: The ideal weapon to a knight on horseback, with speed and force in use it can be a deadly weapon in a cavalry charge.
Axes: A weapon that is least commonly used by knight but used none the less by those who prefer savagery over grace.
Spear: when you have the need to put some distance between you and the enemy trying to get you.
Mace: A weapon best used by Knights that just want to brutality break your bones and cave your head in.
Flail: A weapon that takes skill to master, it works well when it goes around your opponent's guard.
Warhammer: A weapon that is used by knights who wish to turn armored foes into a pile of metal and flesh.
Dagger: Every Knight knows to keep something small and sharp to into the weak points of a piece of armor.
Halberd: the ideal weapon of a Knight who couldn’t choose between an ax or a spear.

Vehicles

The knights main ideal of travel is the horse that each knight owns. Along with armor that comes along with it for battle.

Structure

Under a Lord

While serving a noble a Knight with often be placed in two different positions that they serve in, the cavalry and the infantry.
Calvary: Knights depending on how many of them are around will often form their own cavalry force to charge into battle often as heavy calvary. Often being lead by a noble or a military officer into battle and obey their command. Though Knights can often lead a cavalry force themselves if they are compromised of a different type as they are the most experienced.
Infantry: For a Knight not on horseback they are often mean that calvary is not suited for the terrain they are on. This means that in battle they will often fight in a group with either them leading an infantry force or in large numbers be lead by veteran Knight with the most experience.

Lordless

Hedge Knights being Knights without a lord often go out on their own seeking fame and fortune. Most of the time they are hired as mercenaries often fighting in wars or being bodyguards. But a few seek to do some good in the world in any way they can.

Tactics

Mounted Tactics

Wedge Formation : A tactic used in penetrating an enemy formation by forming into an arrow shape to ensure maximum penetration.
Lancer Charge: A tactic that is only used once by a Knight in a battle who has a lance, this is used to impale their foes and to demoralize by cause serious injury or death. Once used the lance often breaks or is stuck in a foe and abandoned.
Flanking: A charge into an enemies rear can be a devastating thing and for heavy cavalry to do it will often cause terror among their ranks.

Dismounted Tactics

Square Formation: A tactic used to defend against infantry and cavalry using shields on the outer areas and pikes and halberds deeper in the square.
The Hook: A tactic used by charging in the side of a formation and have one side taking attacking the front and the back at the same time. Causing confusion and the break of part of the enemy formation only for it to continue to go down.
The Hammer: A massive charge using the full force with shields out in an attempt to scatter a formation and knock the enemy down and descending upon the disoriented enemy.

Training

Horsemanship

The first thing a Knight must know is to ride a horse as their horse is what gives them an advantage in the battle, to begin with. Riding is mandatory and often involves combat training such a jousting and long-distance sprint across many different trains to ensure that they and their horse do not lose balance.

Warfare

A Knight that does not know the art of war is considered a child as they have most likely never been in a battle. Tactics are an important part of warfare a Knight should know so they can use the terrain to their advantage and fighting in formations they are in.

Melee combat

Combat at close quarters is always inevitable when it comes to being a Knight and training with their preferred weapon is important to keep up. It is one of the advantages that they have over their opponents as they know to fight unlike most of them.

Logistics

Logistical Support

Knights will often have servants or their squires and pages hold onto their gear when they travel and often make sure that it is in good condition for use in battle.

Auxilia

The knights who are a part of an army will often work with infantry units that aided them in a battle to flank an enemy force and keep them from being overwhelmed with their numbers.

Upkeep

20 gold pieces per Knight

Recruitment

A knight can be recruited two different ways either being anointed or to become a squire or a page of a Knight. Being anointed often happens as a reward by a noble or a king as a reward for doing a service for them. Those who are are anointed are often experienced soldiers or mercenaries. While squires and pages were either commoners or children of minor nobles that tend to them while receiving training from for many years before they are knighted.

Circumstances of Interest

Certain circumstances allow someone to be taken by a Knight such as their character or the ideals that they follow, these can often lead to the makings of a Knight that live by the ideals of what one should be. In some cases, boys living in back alleys or even women have the chance to become a Knight if one catches their eye. Some of them end up being legendary warriors and heroes in some cases.

History

Warriors of Civilzation

To know of the origins of the Knight, one must go back to a darker and more savage time in the Western Lands when it was divided into many warring states vying for dominance. But In Ardania things were different from the rest of the region as things were starting to settle down. Whether it had to do with them being isolated from the rest of the west or cultural understanding kingdoms started to form across the land and not just tiny patches of land, large ones were being formed with kings and laws taking hold over the land as the times of the Bannerlords had ended. But at this time, a new warrior rose that was trained in the art of war and skilled in combat that made them feared by many, the Knight. Due to their skill in battle, many people scrabbled to gain control of such finely skilled fighters in their armies and soon they became a part of Ardanian society. But rather than being nothing more than bloodthirsty warriors, they chose to live by a code of honor called chivalry to convey that they were civilized and had codes of conduct, unlike the savage barbarians at the time. In doing so they hoped that it would help forth a more civilized age in both times of peace and war as they would continue to follow their ideals. Though it would partially work as Ardania would continue to still suffer from conflict and the people continued. But their willingness to serve and their determination on the battlefield left that impression of what it meant to be a skilled warrior and ideals to become one. Making it all the more reason to have a Knight to serve you as they were easier to trust and not stab you in the back when you least expected it. Though do not expect it in battle as they will fight like anyone else trying to survive. It has also allowed some Knights to hold land titles for their service under a lord with their own military force and subjects due to their skills in warfare. But some Knights even defend certain places through a Vow of Protection to defend it to their last breath if need be, these can be from a settlement to a holy place. Making most Knights someone worth trusting in many cases.

Horsemen of War

Knights are favored of martial prowess over anything else for a single Knight is worth twenty men due to their level of skill they have gained. All due to years of training and studies of warfare are what makes them a dangerous opponent to face in battle. The skill they have in melee combat and the armor that protects most of their bodies make them hard to take taken down. But their armor often causes them to be slow and clumsy at times depending on the condition they're fighting in. This is why their use as calvary is a more appropriate use for them as a whole formation can break if a few dozen of them can get a good charge into them. Their horses are also trained to wear armor and endure long distances making them more valuable than even the Knight themselves. There have been many battles throughout history that had been won because of these skills riders. Even in times of peace, they trained in jousts and in melee tourneys to ensure that their skills did not weaken in peacetime. They are so valued by their lords they are often held for ransom because of their value making it more common for an enemy force to keep them alive rather than killing them. But some Knights are skilled military commanders as well leading their forces into battle and have them decently trained to fight. Then there are some of the more unorthodox Knights that prefer to fight hard and fast in raids that enable them to deal great cause as much damage to the enemy as possible.

The Spread of the Knight

Knights would not see the rest of the rest of the Western Lands until the Night War when King Patrick Kasval of the Kingdom of Ardania rode out to face the undead hoard of Korillia and the Legions of the Night bring many of the lands Knights along with them. This brought about a rush by many different nations to have their own skilled calvary fighters, though some varied in use and were modified to suite the culture and lifestyle of their version of a Knight. Though many would continue to follow the codes that all Knights considered sacred.

Historical loyalties

A knight is bound to the noble that they swear fealty no matter their rank and honor-bound to serve them. Unless they are Hedge Knights than they only fight for themselves. But Knights have been known to serve in holy orders as well and serve the religion they believe in and become loyal to that order.

Type

Cavalry

Founding

-1239 BCA

Overall training Level

Professional

Assumed Veterancy

Veteran

Used by

• Kingdom of Ardania

Codes of Honor

The Knight stands for everything a person should strive to be in life, to be brave, true, just, to defend the innocent and punish the wicked. Ideas such as these have managed to survive the ages through them and many knightly orders were formed around these codes alone and have left lasting legacies because of it. Though at times this can get them in trouble because those who truly live by their code often get into more fights and cause scenes than most people want to believe.

Legacies of Renown

If you have ever heard a story of heroics and adventure you most like to know that it has a Knight in the center or a part of many of these tales. This often has to do with the ideals that they stand for as many Knights have been known to travel the land to do good deeds or gain fame in some way. Many of them would often do something so influential that they were praised as heroes and saviors. But to some people, Knights have just considered glory hogs as soldiers, and mercenaries are often ignored as they were just doing their job. Of course, there are also take about dishonorable Knights as well often being Hedge Knight and Dread Knight that often do terrible things for their own reasons. Along with some cases of Knights of holy orders being praised as the divine saviors due to their holy lifestyle and sense of duty.