Lance Knight
Lance Knights are of the second highest rank of officers within the Aspída Lodge, below Commander, equal to Lieutenant, and above Privateer. The Lance Knight is an officer specializing in fighting and military/mercenary practices. Where as a Lieutenant is more behind the scenes and orchestrating of military ordeals, the Lance Knight is on the front lines either fighting with their subordinates, commanding from the front, fighting alone, or giving orders as a situation unfolds. When a Lance Knight is not called to the front of a battle, raid, or stand of some kind to command and fight on the front lines, they are known to be lone wolves in their work, being assigned and/or hired to places across the continent for various more mercenary-type tasks.
Unlike venturers or privateers, Lance Knights aren't assigned to just any task that they can take care of. Because of the scarce amount of Lance Knights and their specialization, they are only assigned to more extreme tasks, more dangerous tasks, more politically charged events, militant endeavors requiring leadership, or anything else that calls for a certain amount of skill and/or trust. Where as Lieutenants are known to be efficient, distinguished, and orderly, Lance Knights are typically closer to the opposite, as they are usually more risk-taking, bold, sometimes volatile, and more flexible in terms of order and rules. The two ranks, though equal, don't always get along due to their drastic difference in temperament.
There are currently 13 Lance Knights in the Aspída Lodge, spread out from the Sovereign State of Kankou, to the Kingdom of Luquoia, to the Ybeli Empire, and throughout the continent according to their assignments.
Unlike venturers or privateers, Lance Knights aren't assigned to just any task that they can take care of. Because of the scarce amount of Lance Knights and their specialization, they are only assigned to more extreme tasks, more dangerous tasks, more politically charged events, militant endeavors requiring leadership, or anything else that calls for a certain amount of skill and/or trust. Where as Lieutenants are known to be efficient, distinguished, and orderly, Lance Knights are typically closer to the opposite, as they are usually more risk-taking, bold, sometimes volatile, and more flexible in terms of order and rules. The two ranks, though equal, don't always get along due to their drastic difference in temperament.
There are currently 13 Lance Knights in the Aspída Lodge, spread out from the Sovereign State of Kankou, to the Kingdom of Luquoia, to the Ybeli Empire, and throughout the continent according to their assignments.
Qualifications
- Significant outstanding experience and success as a Privateer or as an exceptionally skilled fighter as verified by the Commander.
- Exceptional skill and experience in combat that is unique to the individual and proving potential for even greater ability with training.
- Showing and maintaining complete trust and confidence with the Commander and the ideals of the protectorate.
- Believing and acting upon the ideals of the protectorate fully.
- Willingness to be in a leadership role and willingness to take orders from the Commander without insubordination.
- Willingness to sacrifice safety and comfort for the sake of assignments and carrying out hard tasks.
Appointment
A Lance Knight must be ascended to their rank by Hydra, who has picked her Lance Knights out over time from extremely successful and/or promising Privateers that gain her favor, trust, and approval in their ability. Usually promotion is granted after a major combat success or feat of strength, will, and leadership. When a Lance Knight is promoted, they are given their badge and two uniforms, along with a sending device to the protectorate for the sake of orders and reinforcement, uniform armor (usually half plate or breastplate, however some choose lighter armor or heavier depending on their specialty), and their pick of up to five pieces of weaponry from the arsenal at a time.
Responsibilities
- Carrying out tasks as assigned to them by the Commander.
- Fighting and commanding on the front lines of various combat-centered situations, such as military ordeals or raids.
- Carrying out jobs that involve extreme conditions, dangerous terrain/territory, or political instability.
- Carrying out jobs that involve a high amount of trust and security, such as transport of legendary/extremely valuable items or politically endangered individuals (example; guarding and guiding an important drow official through an area in which drow are killed on the spot, and so on).
- Hired fighting for the sake of an affiliated client or organization
- Potential execution of individuals deemed threats to humanity and society.
- Other more severe tasks as the Commander sees fit.
Benefits
Lance Knights, due to their constantly mobile nature, do not have permanent quarters or places eminently reserved for their stay. Instead, they are much more independent and their lodging is according to whatever assignment they are currently on. In places in which the lodge has a stronger hold or has affiliates, the Lance Knight will be given lodging for free or discounted, however because they often are in foreign and/or remote locations, this is not always possible. This is agreed upon when the Lance Knight is promoted, and is simply part of the nature of the job. As for monetary gain, Lance Knights are typically paid about the same as Lieutenants, with a flat monthly pay as the bottom line mostly for purchasing the resources they need to keep traveling, living, and doing their jobs, and their actual profit is on top of that according to the assignments they have completed or the length, importance, or complexity of the assignments they have done. The baseline monthly pay for a Lance Knight is around 300gp, but they are bound to be paid on top of that for their assigned work unless the individual has taken leave (which is extremely rare) and as such has not done any assigned work for the month. All-in-all it rounds out to about the same as the Lieutenant; between 300 and 1000gp on average.
Accoutrements & Equipment
The most important accoutrements to the Lance Knight are those from the arsenal– weaponry, armor, and gear, which are all essential to their work. A Lance Knight is allowed five weapons from the arsenal at a time (up to three martial and two simple) and up to two kinds of armor depending on the armor requested (ie; leather armor and a half plate would be a valid request, however two sets of plate armor would not be valid). Gear as needed will be allowed, however given that the Lance Knight is not around an arsenal all the time, or even very often at all, that gear is meant to last a while and most likely be replaced or renewed through buying or making their own gear when necessary. The Lance Knight is given a simplistic sending device for the sake of receiving orders and sending word or requesting information or assets when necessary to whatever Lieutenant is closest to their location. Finally, the Lance Knight receives two uniforms along with their badge upon promotion, one uniform being formal, the other being more militant and multi-use in functionality and material.
Grounds for Removal/Dismissal
The removal of a Lance Knight is something not taken lightly by any means. It is extremely rare, if not a completely untouched concept thus far in the protectorate's history. A Lance Knight's contract, as with a Lieutenant, is much more binding and trust-oriented than any lower ranking officer's, and with that the consequences for breaking contract is much more severe. The breaking of contract; whether that be through betrayal, treason, going against the protectorate's code, or violent disrespect of the protectorate and/or the Commander, will be met with removal– the Lieutenant's badge will be apprehended along with their uniform and any other assets they have personally acquired. They will immediately cease having any control or power and all under their jurisdiction will be transferred to the hand of another. In the instance of forced removal for said breaking of contract, the individual will be held in confinement and questioned, and punished according to the severity of their crime against the organization and the specifics of what exactly they did to be removed (ie; treason would result in interrogation and potentially violent extraction of information if need be). The subject will be held for an amount of time the Commander sees fit and if/when released the subject will be stripped of all notoriety and riches gained through the organization, and blacklisted amongst any organizations/businesses affiliated with the Lodge. The worst punishment allowed for Lieutenants or Lance Knights forcibly removed would be due to breaking the code of the lodge and committing what could be undeniably determined to be a war crime by the Lodge's definition. War crimes committed under the Aspída Lodge's name can be punished by a permanent mutilation (usually the cutting off of a finger, a finger on each hand, having the individual withstand acid or burning, or even an entire hand, all according to severity and specificity of the crime), permanent incarceration, or execution. Execution is reserved for only crimes against humanity such as expending troops, willingly expending civilians, murdering innocents or facilitating the murder of innocents, enslavement, misuse of power for sexual assault and entrapment, slaughter of an enemy's forces despite surrender or treaty, attempted genocide, and so on according to the Lodge's code. Execution would be carried out by way of musket firing squad, arcane strike, or, most likely of all, Commander Hydra (who would go through with the execution personally and however she sees fit. Likely with a sword.)
To restate, to anyone's knowledge inside the lodge or out, execution of a Lieutenant or Lance Knight has never had to happen. While removal could be considered more likely, execution is meant for only extreme circumstances where an individual proves themselves to be a danger or scourge to the plane they exist in and thus their removal from the plane completely should be eminent.
The dismissal or resignation of a Lance Knight would be far simpler and without negative connotations typically speaking. A Lance Knight turns in their badge and uniform, and assets will be given back on a case by case basis– if a sword, for example, originally taken from the arsenal has been used by a Lance Knight for years, it can be considered their own by the time they resign or are dismissed. The categorization of the individual's resignation or dismissal is based upon what reason they give the Commander for doing so– for example, someone looking simply to retire after putting in years of hard work would be dismissed with honor and would still hold some benefits from the Lodge for their service such as discounts and allowances at affiliated businesses and organizations.
To restate, to anyone's knowledge inside the lodge or out, execution of a Lieutenant or Lance Knight has never had to happen. While removal could be considered more likely, execution is meant for only extreme circumstances where an individual proves themselves to be a danger or scourge to the plane they exist in and thus their removal from the plane completely should be eminent.
The dismissal or resignation of a Lance Knight would be far simpler and without negative connotations typically speaking. A Lance Knight turns in their badge and uniform, and assets will be given back on a case by case basis– if a sword, for example, originally taken from the arsenal has been used by a Lance Knight for years, it can be considered their own by the time they resign or are dismissed. The categorization of the individual's resignation or dismissal is based upon what reason they give the Commander for doing so– for example, someone looking simply to retire after putting in years of hard work would be dismissed with honor and would still hold some benefits from the Lodge for their service such as discounts and allowances at affiliated businesses and organizations.
Notable Holders
| Title | Current Assignment/Locale | Specialization |
|---|---|---|
| Lance Knight Mercutio "Ziko" Makarí | Representative in Luquoian Militant Ordeals, Guardian Escort Through Dangerous Terrain ( Kingdom of Luquoia) | Swordsmanship, Dual Wielding, Weapons Expertise, Gladatorial Combat, Seafaring/Oceanic Voyaging, Survival and Rescue, Frontlines Commander |
| Lance Knight Malacai Lykaios | Currently Undisclosed | Specialty in the Dual-Ended Glaive, Survivalist, Hunting/Monster Hunting, Search and Rescue, Sting Operations/Raid Execution |
| Lance Knight Mílos Cyprian "Cy" Orion | Currently Undisclosed | Swordsmanship, Specialty in Rapiers, Weapons Expertise, Seafaring/Oceanic Voyaging, Dueling, Guerrilla Combat, Rescue, Agile Maneuvers |
Type
Professional
Alternative Naming
Lance Knight of the Aspída Lodge, Λανς Ιππότης (Lans Ippótis)
Equates to
A U.S. Navy Admiral. Equal in rank to a Lieutenant.
Source of Authority
Commander Hydra
Current Holders
Reports directly to
Related Locations
Related Organizations
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