Greetings,

Rarely do I feel the urge to publically partake in conversation with the masses, as much as people tend to believe I love to talk. Here's the thing though, I see this constant assault against the ways of Knighthood, and it simply makes me sigh. Knighthood has been a fundemental aspect of this realm, almost since the first. People have held the title, people have been stripped of the title, people have mocked and made little of the title. It's something people have strove for, it's something people have longed for, and frankly, it's something that took a long time to achieve for a great many of us that hold it.

Side note, I am Errant Knight. I do not belong to any Knight organization outside of the Guild itself, and I rarely pay attention to the politics and byplays that inject themselves into the Guild, though I do respect it, and I do respect those that have aligned themselves with it, out of respect of the history and the concepts that it brings. While I have led Knight factions in the past, and I have laid foundations and assistance for many that are now here, Ser Aerek is not the only 'rogue' Knight out there, nor even is he considered such, as he is the head of his own Order... Not the Guild, he's just Arbiter there, but the Order based in Meropis.

Lets carry on shall we?

I particularly care little for the word play, the dribble and spittle that flows so freely from the lips of so many, but I do care about a few things in this realm. My family. My Goddess, may Her spirit rest well, my Knighthood, and whatever particular city or village I am apart of that given century. Currently, this is Cyrene, of course.

We could argue the fundementals of Knighthood for a while, the quips and the quo, the definition of this concept or that concept. The basics are always the same. Honour, this is more your own then what others give you though, as to be honourable, to be giving of your honour, is a vital part of Knighthood. Respect, be it on or off the battlefield, one respects all around them but this is also a concept that must be earned, it's not just given out like candy during Mayaween. Duty, be it to a city, to a God, to yourself, we carry out our duties and we are honest about what we are, that is the duty upon ourselves.

The rest of it is filler, based on each particular location, each particular Knight Order, to ease, to appeal, to bring more people into the desire to partake in the concept itself.

To be a Knight.

People tend to forget, I believe, that anyone can achieve this.

Wait, lets repeat that. Anyone can achieve this. There's no mythical ceiling that holds you back, unless it's your own arrogance that perhaps, just perhaps, you might have to chance things about you to do it!

Wow. What a thought, enlightening almost.

It is not some out of the reach goal that only those olden folks in the past achieved. It is not something that is unobtainable, but honestly, is fairly easy to obtain compared to the distant past. Oh, I know that during the Guild Era, there seemed to be more Knights, and during the first House Era, this tapered off over time. But it's not that hard, it just takes actual dedication to something, which most of you can not do unless it's your carnal desires and even then you usually fail.

I suppose the entire purpose of this long winded ramble, was to simply state this.

You see Knights as something that has failed perhaps, with your arguements, your distain, your bitching and moaning and crying.

I see it as simply you lacked the ability to obtain it, and now wish to weep over your short comings.

I suppose that's ultimately the difference.

Some people say a lot. Some people actually do things.

Don't like how it is? Well, you just come on through the program at your local city, or, heaven forbid if you're a rogue, you approach Ser Aerek about it, and you'll be granted that chance. Oh, you might fail, cause ya know, we have standards but give it that gung ho try anyways!

Yes, even those of you that complain, come on by, we'll keep a cup of tea warm for you.

I think that's enough for today. I'm sure there will be replies, and laughter, and great mockery, but I doubt I'll reply again as I'm actually busy doing things that uplift those around me, rather then striving to bring people down that have work to do.

May you all have a fantastic new Turn of the Vault, and may these next twenty five years see you achieve great and glorious things.

In Duty and Service,
Lord M. Si'Talvace
Knight Errant of the Realm



Penned by my hand on the 9th of Valnuary, in the year 965 AF.