Honour, Chivalry, Valour, Integrity, Devotion, Respect.

In years long past, those were cited as the ideals embodied by a Knight. Nowadays, with the new Guild of Knights, they are mentioned much less, leaving many mortals wondering what a Knight actually is. I do not know if it is due to a belief that all those qualities are one in a true Knight or due to the Guild shifting the focus to a far simpler "Knights are those accepted by our organisation as such", and frankly, I am not willing to speculate on this matter. I do, however, believe that these ideals are still held in high regard by most Knights and that few traits are considered as essential for a Knight as these.

What better time to challenge and reconsider them than now, when a new Empire establishes its dominion on Sapience and a new legacy is in the making?

I am not the one to assault Integrity and Devotion. Though points can be made on how those can be undesired by some, there is indeed use in both for those who seek ways to impose their will. It is Integrity that inspires, it is Devotion that brings certainty to a chosen path, and it is both of them that let one push through the obstacles on that path. Similar arguments can be made regarding Valour.

It is after this point that the illusion of harmony bends beneath its own tangles. Seleucarian Knights, vassals of their Empire, manifested its founder's ideals of unity and cooperation, and in that reality, forging bonds of respect even with enemies was a logical way to show these ideals. "All are worthy," as Nicator said in his Sermon. But if the message you bring through your actions is any different from that, Respect ceases to be a facet of Devotion and becomes an outdated custom, a parasitic practice that misleads its followers into championing that which they do not stand for. Respect for enemies will compromise your Integrity if your vow is to bring hate and distrust. Likewise, espousing Chivalry and honouring your Order's lineage would be inconsistent with vows to unloose Creation from its past, and maintaining Honour can have no value for one firmly believing in independence from the judgement of others.

These qualities can emerge naturally, of course. Integrity breeds its own kind of Honour. Respect may find justification in a Knight's beliefs for those who deserve it. Chivalrous customs need no additional protection to arise as consistent practices of a Knight Order, whether rooted in history or not. But when these qualities are valued as necessary for every Knight and held as high as Devotion, the loyalties of such Knights split between their devotions and the decorum the Guild expects. And if the Guild persists in this enforcement, only through renouncing it is a Knight then able to stay true to their Knighthood.

I could be wrong. Maybe Knights of this age already ignore these qualities. Maybe a Knight is allowed to freely spit in the faces of the weak and indulge in lies and slander if that means staying true to their vows. Maybe Knights do not subdue themselves to the opinions of others, trading loyalty for acceptance and titles. Lastly, perhaps I misunderstand the subject entirely, in which case I invite you to point that out and correct me.

But if any of this holds any truth, consider what was said.


Ulvin Devi
Nemesian Imperator

Penned by my hand on the 2nd of Mayan, in the year 922 AF.