Addendum to PK Knighting

[Iasin the Steward]

(I did not want to confuse anyone - so i created a diferent thread. I do appologize to chief for doing this.)

This was posted by Chief:

Just to give people further food for thought, this is how we handle the Knighthood in my Narnia unit. There is no direct test of battle, the system is based more on experience than a person's ability with a sword, though through the challenge system they gain a lot of training in combat.

The Rank system
The members of Narnia are given rank to reflect accomplishments they have made. The rank system is a simple reward system, nothing more. People of higher ranks are not allowed to order people around like the military. In most cases the highest-ranking person on the field will take command of the unit because they have the real world experience to do so. Regardless of actual rank this person is known as the “unit commander”. To increase in rank members must meet certain requirements such as providing personal weapons and improve costuming. Some of the requirements are tough, but that is what it takes to create a good looking, effective unit. New members are assigned a rank when they joined based on previous experience. There is no need to start at the bottom when you join Narnia! It is impossible for new members to start as a knight-errant or knight regardless of previous experience.

Rank requirements
Each level of rank has certain requirements that the member must meet to achieve and hold that level of rank. The lower ranks do not require a lot of work, but the higher ranks are tough to achieve. The goal of the rank requirement system is to produce members that are well versed in the ways of Dagorhir and Narnia. The more experience a member has the more respect they command on the battlefield. The requirements of each rank are as follows:

Levy: A levy is the lowest ranking person in Narnia. They are not expected to start with good costume or even come with weapons. To qualify as a levy the person must follow the steps described in “Joining Narnia”. The Levy is also expected to wear a solid blue color tunic or tabard, even if the tabard is worn over street clothes. A levy is expected to advance to the rank of soldier after three battles [or one month, which ever is longer] or they will be asked to leave Narnia.

Soldier: Soldiers are the rank-and-file of Narnia. To qualify as a soldier the person must meet Novice level costume requirements as described in the Dagorhir Manual of Arms. In addition the Soldier must provide one personal weapon. The person cannot borrow this weapon they must own it. It is not required that they made the weapon as long as it meets Narnia standards. The soldier must provide a blue tunic or tabard. This can be the same tunic they wore as a Levy. The Soldier may wear the red lion of Narnia on their tunic, but it is not required at this point.

Squire: To qualify as a squire the person must meet veteran level costume requirements as described in the Dagorhir Manual of War. In addition the Squire must provide two personal weapons. The person cannot borrow these weapons they must own them. It is not required that they made the weapons as long as they meet Narnia standards. One of the two weapons can be the same weapon the member provided as a soldier [as long as it is in good working order]. A shield does count as a weapon for this requirement. The squire must provide a blue tunic or tabard. This can be the same tunic they wore as a soldier. The red lion of Narnia must be painted on the front of the tabard as a sign of the members rank and accomplishment. Once the member has reached the rank of squire they are allowed to complete the “Challenges of Narnia” and being the road to Knighthood. When the squire feels they are prepared to start the challenges they should contact the council and inform them.

Knight-errant: When the council approves a squire to start the Challenges of Narnia the squire is promoted to the rank of Knight-errant. This rank shows that they are attempting to reach the rank of Knight. They are not required to improve costuming or provide more weapons for this rank. The member will wear a gold arm sash [provided by the unit] to show they have moved up in rank. This symbol of rank is worn on the left shoulder.

Knights: Knights are the highest rank in Narnia. When a member reaches the rank of Knight they have proven that they are both well equipped and well educated in the ways of Narnia and Dagorhir. The goal of Knighthood is to produce members that command respect when they speak and present themselves on the battlefield. Knights achieve this respect by knowing what they are talking about, or doing, and having as few faults as possible. To reach the rank of Knight a Knight-errant must complete seven tasks. Each of the tasks is based around one of the seven books of the Chronicles of Narnia. Besides completing the task the member must also show basic knowledge of the book the challenge is based on. Tasks do not need to be completed in order. When you wish to attempt a challenge contact the command council and let them know. The Command council will make sure the challenge meets the spirit of the task and inform the member how to document the task. When the member has completed the challenge they should bring documentation to the council. The council will then ask them three questions about the associated book. When they complete all seven tasks, the council will arrange to award the member Knighthood and explain when and where this will occur. The member will wear a silver arm sash [provided by the unit] to show they have moved up in rank. This symbol of rank is worn on the left shoulder.
The Challenges of Narnia

Magician’s nephew: To achieve the order of The Magician’s Nephew the squire must perform a selfless act that benefits Narnia, Dagorhir or the community. This could include many things from building weapons for new people to use, assisting in the logistics of running events, running events, helping new folks with garb, and so on. To expand on this the squire is allowed to contribute by helping the community. They could help at a shelter, clean up parks [perhaps even parks Dagorhir uses], and so on. Donating money to the group or to a charity does not count towards this order.

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe: To achieve the order of The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe the squire must lead the unit in battle for a whole day of fights. The spirit of this challenge is a serious effort to lead the unit to the best of the person’s ability. Winning the battles is not required! A member of the council must be present when this challenge is attempted. In the end they will decide if the person made a good effort. Key things the council member is looking for include the ability to speak publicly, the ability to develop a plan before battle, the ability to adapt the plan as needed in battle, and the ability to organize the unit.

A Horse and His Boy: To achieve the order of A Horse and His Boy the squire must bring a new member to the ranks of Narnia. The new member must join at the rank of Levy [or higher] and stay until they achieve the rank of Soldier. If the new member quits before reaching the rank of soldier [or three full events if the person automatically qualifies as soldier or higher] the squire is not awarded this order. The spirit of this order is getting new, long term, members to join the group.

Prince Caspian: To achieve the order of Prince Caspian the member must do three things. First, they must fight in a tourney. The tourney must include at least ten people; at least five of the people must be within a reasonable number of years compared to the squire, and must include at least three people who are not members of Narnia. It is not required that they win. Second, the member must serve as a Herald during a fight [the head of the chapter must rule that the person is able to do this and the fight must require a marshal]. Third, the person must act as a weapons checker [assistant or lead] during an event.


The Voyage of the dawn Treader: To achieve the order of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader the member must travel to two separate chapters [not units] of Dagorhir not including their own. When they travel to the chapter they are required to fight. It is not required that the member completes this task in one trip. They may move on to another task and return to this one at any time.

The Silver Chair: To achieve the order of The Silver Chair the member must actively assist in an official demo in the name of Dagorhir. Simply showing up and fighting does not count! The spirit of this challenge is an honest effort to add to the quality of a demo through direct assistance or by providing a tangible addition. Organizing and running a demo is the best example of how to achieve this order.

The Last Battle: To achieve the order of The Last Battle the member must attend and fight at Ragnarok. The spirit of this challenge is that the member should fight in as many battles as possible! If the member fought at Ragnarok prior to joining Narnia they must attend again!

[ogunshi]

To help with Knighting standards I thought I would offer the requirements to be a knight in my unit. (Yes is does follow the SCA concept a bit, and I SHOULD be a knight in the SCA in another 6 months if all goes well)

Description:
The knight is more then just a title it is a status and standard for people to aspire to. In each person that has reached the title of knight is the embodiment if the concept of that a knight should be and act. When you wear the symbol of the knight you are expected to act in such a manner and follow the code and guidelines of Knighthood.

Code and Guidelines of being a Knight:

The Guidelines
Justice
Moral virtue or strength. Rectitude is the power of deciding upon a certain course of conduct in accordance with reason and what is right and wrong. This is done without wavering: to die when it is right to die, to strike when it is right to strike.
Politeness
Politeness should be as a result of your consideration for the feelings of others. It should not be a result of fear of offending good taste or convention. The more it is practiced, the greater becomes your consideration for others and your understanding of other peoples points of view. As a typical example, you don’t mar the pleasure or serenity of others with expressions of your own pain or sorrow.
Courage
Courage is to live when it is right to live and to die when it is right to die. To rush into battle half heartedly, not making the full effort because you "know" you won’t live anyway lacks real courage. To engage in a seemingly hopeless battle and not give up till your time is up is courageous. It is also courage to do what you know is morally right, when it is right to do it. It is also courage to bear life’s hardships without complaining and maintain composure under adverse circumstances, approaching good and bad times in life with equal composure, dignity and patience.
Benevolence
A benevolent man is ever mindful of those who are suffering and in distress. Beginning with empathy for others in distress, benevolence can be described as the correct usage of your power to act for the good of the recipient.
Veracity (SINCERITY)
While lying is not condemned as a sin, it was viewed as a weakness. While some will tell "little white lies", the knight, (who believed that their high social position required high moral standards), would regard these lies as "deception by sweet words." Like the phrase, "the word of a gentleman", the word of the knight is always accepted because everyone knew that the knight would not dishonor himself by lying.
Honor
To the knight, honor is:
• the understanding of their own worth and dignity and
• the understanding of their station in life, his responsibilities and duties and how continued correct practice of their code ensured the continuance of their good reputation.
Loyalty
Loyalty to family, other knights and lords.
The code of honor
1. Never desert a comrade in need, in danger or in trouble
2. Never withdraw allegiance once granted
3. Never disparage yourself or minimize your strength or power
4. Never desert a group in which you owe your support
5. Never need praise, approval or sympathy
6. Never compromise your own reality
7. Never permit your affinity to be alloyed
8. Do not give or receive communication unless you yourself deserve it
9. Your self determination and your honor are more important than your immediate life
10. Your integrity to yourself is more important than your body
11. Never regret yesterday, life is in you today, and you make your tomorrow.
12. Never fear to hurt another in a just cause
13. Don’t desire to be liked or admired
14. Be your own advisor, keep your own council and make your own decisions
15. Be true to your own goals

How to become a knight:

Knighthood starts by ones desire to become a knight. He or she must track down a known knight a petition for Page. The exact way this is done up to the person petitioning, their goal is to make their intention clear to the knight. Should the knight like what he or she sees and hears then the person is now a page.

The Page is now being watched by the knight. At this time the knight is looking for the honor, skill, and sportsmanship of the page in both on and off the field of combat. Other knights may be watching also. This watching period can last for as little as a month or as long as needed. When the knight feels that the page has proven him or her self the knight well call a gather of knights (and whoever else may have been watching) and get a consensus of their thoughts about the page and his or her actions over the past few months.

Should the Page be worthy (in the knights eyes), then he or she is squired at a feast or an event. This to make the public aware that the knight has chosen the Page and is willing to teach and train. This is a risk to the knight. For now whatever the squire does reflects on the knight. In short the squire is now under the protection of the knight. The punishments of the squire shall be given to the knight. This is to ensure that the knight is willing to accept the squire and train properly.

The squire well then be trained in not only combat but the courtly arts. This includes some song, dance, and an art form. The squire shall know etiquette as well as combat. This training has no set time limit. It could be as little as a year or as long as 7 years. It all depends on both the knight and the squire.

It should be noted that should a squire become too much for the knight to handle the knight can release the squire. The squire is then holds no title what so ever and the question of why he or she was released shall follow.

In the event that a knight needs to move away, the squire CAN be adopted by another knight, but then the responsibilities now fall upon the new knight. Should a squire need to move away, his or her training may be put on hold until a new knight can be found.

When the knight feels the squire is ready to hold the title of knighthood an announce is made. This usually happens at a feast or an event. He or she shall stand up and make a speech about the training the squire has done, and is worthy of knighthood.

Then the trials begin. The number and types of trials are up to the other knights. But no matter what the triats are there to test the limits of the squires skill in everything he or she had learned. The trials are not needed to be won, only the approval of the other knights. The trials are there to test the mantel of the squire.

Then with the approval of the knights, the training knight and the squire approach the king. The king asks the knight if the squire is ready. He then asks the other knights if they feel the squire is ready.At this point the squire in no longer under the protection of the knight and must stand for him or herself. Then the king shall send the squire on a quest. (The final trial, which consists of combat, logic, and tatics). When the squire finishes the quest, he or she approaches the king (remembering the ediquette of the courts) by him or herself with proof of the compleation of the quest.

At the next event or feast the king shall then knight the squire into the circle of knights.