A Minister of Hashan attacks a foreign Knight, quoting an Asterian Code without knowing its origin, author, or context. He has sworn no oath to Honour, himself, but lectures boldly on its practice to those that have. His brush paints broad strokes, his questions drip venom, he frets about Hashani Knights held to foreign standards. Fine Knights serve his nation, governed by a Hashani Code, written in Hashani atrament. They could soothe his fears, but he has not asked them.

The Overseer of Ashtan pontificates upon what would please the Knights of yore, but his disdain for Chivalry is obvious. His inquiries probe how far he might compel his Knights to ignore their principles, and I know what Knights of yore would think of him. The Doomguard's own Code of Honour gives answer to his questions, if he deigned to know it; a cruel fate for Ashtani Knights to serve a liege so indifferent to their oaths.

Draqoom van Helsing, who took a Knight's oath to an Imperiate with intent to betray that oath and that liege, was cast from the ranks of Knights but finds that the hypocrisy is with the Guild, instead. Sir Gladius of Trismegistus served both Code of Chivalry and God of Darkness, his writings are still taught within our ranks and prove that Knights may serve many creeds, but a Knight who gives false oaths is no Knight of Seleucar.

Kinilan Demaxx, the disgraced Knight who refused every offer to enter the Guild, who mocked every outreach by his peers to hear his side, who was cast from his nation for sowing libel and division amongst his countrymen, preens of past accomplishments while decaying in some salty harbour. He demands "accountability" from others, while fleeing from it, himself. A man Knighted twice should be an icon of Knighthood, but instead he is a cautionary tale that slithers onto the Public boards any time my name is mentioned.

This is the rogues gallery that finds fault in Chivalry, wishes to litigate Honour, and demands my attention as if entitled to it. A Knight answers honourable challenges, but does that demand a Knight be easily goaded? Men who take low roads shall always cast stones at those who aspire higher, and it is folly to wade into the mud with them. If a Knight is known by his enemies, I am content to count these among mine.

Scoundrels across Sapience embrace dishonour, boast of it and revel in it, yet appeal to the Guild when they feel a Knight's wrath, basking like Serpents in the double standard. Indeed the Guild expects its Knights show Honour, but shall we shield the dishonourable from their consequences? The great Damen Kephry once wrote that the dishonourable should be exterminated without mercy. I choose to chart a course more charitable, but I wonder how the dishonourable might weep were Lord Kephry still among us.

I gaze up from my desk and recall that the Catarine Defender is by another name the Bringer of Tears.

Penned by my hand on the 24th of Chronos, in the year 966 AF.