Knighthood for Non-Warriors

This brings us to knighthood in general. As most of you technically-oriented types already know, the terms “knight” and “knighthood” have been rather loosely thrown around here. Strictly speaking, anyone can be a knight as knighthood is bestowed by the king upon those who have done him and the country a great service worthy of recognition. While such occasions are extremely common for warriors in times of war, it is possible for any character to become knighted.

It is also true that a real warrior-knight traveling with the party makes such recognition easier to come by, but it is also true that many deserving party members have been passed by at times like this, while the warrior of the group is accorded full honors as if he had done the entire deed alone!

However, that is rare. Most knights are warriors raised by the nobility and then sent out on missions of conquest or defense. Freelance adventuring warriors are always considered to be knights errant, privately working for the king all along.

All persons knighted get to add the prefix “Sir” or “Lady” to their names. Failure to address a knighted individual in the proper manner is an insult which has, on more than one occasion, led to a challenge. Further, knighthood is hereditary. Thus, a knight’s heirs will claim his title when he dies. Non-warrior knights are not likely to be given castles in strategic locations in order to defend the kingdom. Still, they can be granted control over a town, receive a grant of land, or even a position of advisor to the court!

In campaign terms, knighthood is a nice way of taking characters from the position of “low-level wandering nobodies” to “name-level noble members of society worthy of honor and respect.” Naturally, such positions are always to the benefit of the king, and are also likely to indicate that the king is now ready to watch carefully and/or utilize his new “resources.”

Fealty goes both ways though. While the characters can expect to be the king’s errand boy every once in a while, they also earn the right to contact him when things are getting out of hand and they need help. More than likely, the king would want to know about such problems anyway.

Let the knights in your campaign “strut their stuff” as much as they want when things are quiet. Remember the old saying, “with great power comes great responsibility.” Things will turn nasty soon enough and the would-be heroes will find themselves up to their visors in danger.