by Ser Slyph, the Foxweir Knight

What is a Knight?
What is a squire?
What is an Order?
What does "ser" mean?
What does the Hall of Chivalry do?
Who is the Hall of Chivalry for?
Who is in charge of the Hall of Chivalry?
What is the difference between a Knight and a Knight-errant?
How can I become a Knight?
Can't I just buy a Knight's shield?
Who decides who gets to become a Knight? Some central guild, like the Mystic Guild?
Do I have to serve as a squire to become a Knight?
How many squires can a Knight have at once?
Which Knights would consider taking me on as a squire?
Shouldn't I be able to become a Knight or start an Order if I want to?
Is becomming a Knight expensive?
What do Knights do?
Do Knights have any special abilities?
Who Knighted you?
Yes, but who knighted the Knight that knighted you?
Well someone was the first Knight. How did that person become a Knight?
Some Knights were knighted before the Hall of Chivalry opened. They're unofficial Knights, right?

What is a Knight?
In the simplest terms, a Knight is simply a person that has vowed to live according to a code, after serving another Knight as a squire for some time. Knights are made into Knights by other Knights. The code, or the vows Knights take might differ from Order to Order, or from Knight to Knight.
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What is a squire?
A squire is a person that has been accepted into the service of a Knight. In exchange for faithful service, a Knight trains the squire in the hopes that the squire might someday become a Knight. Length of service and duties required from different Knights vary greatly. Serving as a squire in no way guarantees Knighthood.
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What is an Order?
A Knightly Order, also called a Chivalric Order, is a group of Knights that have come together for some common purpose. Typically, Knights of an Order have taken identical vows. Orders vary greatly. Some have very exacting rules of conduct Knights must follow, and others might allow for a greater independence. If you are interested in a particular Order, it's best to take your time and ask many questions.
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What does "ser" mean?
"Ser" is the female version of the honorific "sir". In our lands, many of the Knights are women. Isn' that nice?
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What does the Hall of Chivalry do?
The Hall of Chivalry is the place where records of the various Knights of the Lok'Groton Archipelago are kept. Various townspeople work in the Hall, helping with record-keeping and supplying Knights and Squires with shields.
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Who is the Hall of Chivalry for?
The Hall is available for the use of any registered Knight in the lands. Parts of the Hall are open to registered Squires, as well. In a larger sense, the Hall is for any exile that is interested in Knighthood. Profession, gender, and ranks have no bearing on who can become a Knight.
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Who is in charge of the Hall of Chivalry?
Sir Rychard, a Knight newly arrived from the mainland has been hired to oversee day to day operations of the Hall. Rychard is mostly concerned with keeping the records and makeing sure Knights and Squires have access to shields.
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What is the difference between a Knight and a Knight-errant?
Errant means "wandering." A Knight-errant is merely a Knight that has chosen to be a member of no Order. Knights and Knights-errant alike have taken sacred vows, and both types of Knights are equal in status.
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How can I become a Knight?

Knighthood is not an easy path to take, and it helps to move slowly, talk to as many Knights as possible, and to find out as much as you can about the different Orders. To become a Knight, you must be accepted into the service of a Knight or Knight-errant as a Squire. Acceptance cannot be guaranteed, since only a Knight will decide who he will take as a squire. Additionally, some Knights only take on one squire at a time.

Again it must be stressed that pursuing Knighthood does not guarantee that you will eventually be knighted, or even taken on as a squire.
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Can't I just buy a Knight's shield?
You can, yes. Any willing Knight can sell you one, but unless you are a Knight registered in the Hall of Chivalry, you will not be able to equip a Knight's shield, or a Squire's shield. Possessing a Knight's shield will not make you a Knight.
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Who decides who gets to become a Knight? Some central guild, like the Mystic Guild?
There is no central council of Knights deciding who gets to be knighted. These decisions are made by individual Knightly Orders, or singly by Knights-errant. Asking about a particular Order's policies, or asking the same of a Knight-errant, is always wise.
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Do I have to serve as a squire to become a Knight?
Yes, this is always a requirement. The whole of knightly training is based on the relationships between Knights and their Squires.
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How many squires can a Knight have at once?
This depends on the Order or Knight-errant. At the writing of this F.A.Q. one Knight in the lands has over 5 squires, while this author only takes on one squire at a time. Some Knights never take on squires at all.
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Which Knights would consider taking me on as a squire?
The Hall of Chivalry Registry was created as a starting point to help answer this very question. Few people are aware of all the Knights in the Lands, let alone the Knights themselves. Look for the Knights listed on these scrolls,or even send them mail, and ask them. Most are more than happy to discuss this with you, even if they cannot take you on as a squire.
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Shouldn't I be able to become a Knight or start an Order if I want to?

Potentially, it's possible for any exile to become a Knight or to start an Order.

If you mean to ask, "shouldn't I be able to register myself as a Knight, or register an Order in the Hall of Chivalry if I'm willing to pay for it?" then it's my opinion that you might not be looking for Knighthood at all. Doing so would simply ignore the very spirit of Knighthood. Clans and tattoos can easily help you organize various groups in the lands that will set you apart from other exiles.
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Is becoming a Knight expensive?
Becoming a Knight costs nothing at all. The same is true for becoming a squire. Registering in the Hall of Chivalry, however, is a different matter. The Hall charges quite a few coppers for registering both Knights and Squires. These costs help keep the Hall in repair, pay the wages of the people that work in the Hall, and pay for Knights and Squires' shields.
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What do Knights do?
This is difficult to answer. Some like to adventure. Some choose to champion certain ideals, or even certain people. Some try to protect people from harm. Some act as judges to help settle arguments. Some Knights simply like to study or even compose music. Most, however, are very concerned with promoting and protecting the notion of Knighthood.
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Do Knights have any special abilities?
None at all, that are from the title of "Knight." Knights rely on their training like anyone else in the Lands.
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Who Knighted you?
I was knighted by ser Marfisa, the Virgin Knight. She was the Land's first Knight-errant, and I was the first Knight-errant given a title outside of an Order. (Marfisa was orginally a Knight in the Order of the True and Gentle Knighthood.)
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Yes, but who knighted the Knight that knighted you?
Sir Sleipnir, Knight of the Rose, drew Marfisa from her squireship into Knighthood.
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Well someone was the first Knight. How did that person become a Knight?
Since the opening of the hall of Chivalry, I've heard this line of questioning more than once. Typically, the person asking this question is not interested in the history of Knighthood in the lands, but is trying to find fault with the Hall of Chivalry, or how it operates. Knighthood is nothing but a lofty-sounding title. If it has any meaning with people, it is because the training and vows taken by Knights involved quite a bit of work and self-denial. Anyone can run around and call himself a Knight. Whether other people accept that person's claim is based largely on respect. Knights that have invested time and work into their path for Knighthood are often regarded as Knights by most people.
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Some Knights were knighted before the Hall of Chivalry opened. They're unofficial Knights, right?
No. The Hall of Chivalry in no way affects who is to be knighted or not. It only keeps the records of Knights that wish to use the Hall. When the Hall opened, Sir Rychard of the Hall immediately honored the titles of those that were knighted before. It is still quite possible to become a Knight without using the services of the Hall at all.
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