Knights of Estovia

For nearly as long as there has been a nation called Estovia there has been a knighthood beholden to its highest ideals. Loyalty, action, and wisdom are the words by which a knight lives, and his ability to uphold both the letter and the spirit of these ideals may be called into question at any time. The high ideals and thought of adventure have become so attractive and widespread that youths of many nations head south to Estovia in hopes of joining this illustrious order.

The knighthood has a high council which aids in the governing of the nation although the knighthood does not technically have any political power. Only the most foolish of kings would abandon the advice of the men who preserve this nation against the undead of the Dread Moor on a daily basis. A few times in the history of this nation the king has actually been a knight.

Philosophy

These knights believes in self-accountability and expects knights to guide themselves and punish themselves for their own short comings. Self-discipline is very important in their system. Of course, should a knight be found wanting by other knights that indicates that he has allowed the secret inner poisons of his soul to go unchecked long enough for them to gain a foothold within him and become apparent to the Wyrld at large. In such a case the penance is usually severe, and may involve the knight seeking atonement with god Tahg, the Lawgiver.

The three ideals of the knighthood must be mastered in order. Only after a knight has mastered the discipline of loyalty can he be expected to direct himself in the call for action. Only after he knows when, where, and how to take action has he begun the path to wisdom. As such the knighthood is divided into three orders of increasing rank and prestige.

Knights of the Shield must prove their loyalty to the knighthood, to the nation, and to the Wyrld as a whole. Usually they are spent extended periods of time on the border of the Dread Moor defending it against the vile denizens of that land. A Knight of the Shield respects the higher learning of knights of other orders and understands that his role in life is to place himself at the service of others and to be stalwart and loyal in all situations. Senior Knights of the Shield who have either been passed over for promotion to higher orders or who chose not to seek such rank often see themselves as the truest form of knight, defending their country and seeking nothing for themselves.

Knights of the Sword are fond of calling themselves the blade of the knighthood that roots out evil where it lies. Most Knights of the Sword are daring men who engage themselves with long quests to find evil and expunge it. Knights of this order typically seek action, rather than awaiting its occurence. These knights also usually see themselves as the truest form of knight, galant heroes who save the Wyrld with their never ending series of quests.

The last order of knights is small and few in number. Rare is the knight who has become a Knight of the Sword who outlives his zeal for doing good and tempers his mind as well as his daring. Knights of the Scroll are often pictured as old men incapable of measuring up to their younger days, but this is far from true. Many of the most skilled and dangerous warriors on the continent belong to these ranks, as well as many of the finest minds. A few of these knights are even proficient in the use of magic of some form.

It is the Knights of the Scroll whose council is sought most often by the king of Estovia, and it is these knights who direct the affairs of the Knighthood that extend beyong day to day matters.

Organization

Although there is a definate progression through the three orders there are also ranks within an order. Many knights choose to forgo the attempt to join a new order so that they might advance further in the order that they already know and cherish. A bond of brotherhood joins the knights of each order even tighter than that which binds the entire knighthood.

Progression from one order into another is always accompanied by a quest to prove ones worthiness and careful examination to see if the knight shows promise in the ideal of that order. Most applicants are told to continue striving and to return another year.

The highest knight of each order is the director of that order and the three directors are present for all important decisions, even though the council of the Knights of the Scroll is the actual ruling body of the knighthood.

The central location of the Estovian Knights is the same as that of the government of that nation, the Citadel in Falcos. The knights maintain strongholds at other locations scattered throughout the nation as well as a long line of border forts and watchtowers near the Dread Moor. Each fort has a cavalry unit for responding to undead that move past the line unnoticed from time to time, as well as staunch defenses.

Wyrldscape is a free form play-by-post role playing game created for the enjoyment of interaction and creative writing. This compendium exists to aid those who would play in its infinite vaults. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use. All contents and information are © 2000-2003 Wyrldscape Consortium; all rights reserved.