Realm Knights

Realm Knights
Related	Knights • Realm Knights • Viridian Order • Bloodcast Order • Aelrrigan Order • Lothar Order

Realm Knights are part of the Knights Lore, as a form of unchartered unaffiliated Knight. Realm Knights who are sometimes also called Gray Knights due to their lack of charter color, enforce the law of the Regalian Empire and fight in the military, but otherwise do not have additional obligations or privileges that Chartered Knights have. Realm Knights are a great way to explore Knight Roleplay without immediate investment in the Chartered Orders, who have a lot of allies, but also a lot of enemies. If you are more interested in the level-up experience of Chartered Knights, refer back to the Knights page to read more about them. Please read this page carefully, as though Relam Knights have little rules associated, there are still some constraints.

Design

Due to a lack of centralized hierarchy or chapter castles, Realm Knights do not have a single unified design requirement. That being said, it may still pay off to read the Design rules of the Chartered Knight Order pages, especially if you intend to have your Realm Knight transition into a Chartered Order at a later point. To differentiate from the other Orders similar design rules and freedoms are listed below:

Realm Knights can be of any Heritage, and even Archon, Arkenborn, Marken. The only limitation, is that Realm Knights cannot be persons not recognized as people, such as Automata, Demons, or Homunculi. Vampires, their Brood, and other Afflicted also cannot be Realm Knights.
Realm Knights should generally use melee weapons, but this is not a strict rule. Keep in mind, that weapon limitations are strict in Chartered Knight Orders, so choosing a weapon aesthetic that conflicts with other Design rules may lock out a character from transitioning.
Realm Knights can be Mages, but if they use Magic as their primary combat technique, it should have been a very recent Knighting (in the past 5 years or so). Magic was not acceptable for Knighting before that. Keep in mind again that many Knight Orders ban Mages from entering their ranks.
Realm Knights should generally have been or be members of the Regalian Military, or ex-Chartered Knights. While it is possible to transition from Realm Knight to Chartered Knight to join one of the Orders, the inverse is also possible for a Knight who abandons the color.
Realm Knights, while able to help all other Orders with their work, should avoid showing specific allegiance or adherence. This means they cannot be hired muscle, mercenaries, or bodyguards for any person, group, or organization, because they should remain politically unaffiliated.
Realm Knights are called Gray Knights because they avoid wearing the colors of allegiance. While this does not mean that every Realm Knight must be completely colorless, they are required to maintain gray as a major color-element in their clothing or cape, to identify themselves.

Becoming a Realm Knight

Realm Knights are appointed, never trained. There is no official charter or chapter house where children go to be trained to become a Realm Knight. Most Realm Knights are recruited from the levy conscripts of the Regalian Army, or from the Tenpenny Legion. The Dukes of the Regalian Empire have the privilege to knight commoners and nobles alike to become Realm Knights in recognition for their military service. Because of this, a prospect Realm Knight must already be proficient at combat by the time they are knighted, and usually well into their adult years. Knighting comes with official recognition in the state's Knight registry and with some legal benefits, but unlike Chartered Knights, does not sign the Knight up to join one of the Orders and instead loosely associates them with the other Realm Knights. Historically, Dukes (and sometimes the Emperor or the Princes) knight soldiers who served exceptionally on the battlefield, thus appointing them Realm Knight. If you would like help aligning this knighting with historical events or historical figures, please make a ticket to discuss with Lore Staff, this is absolutely required if you intend to have your Character be knighted by the Emperor or one of the Imperial princes.

Examples of Realm Knighting

The instructions to write Realm Knighting into backstory are somewhat nebulous, so we've compiled a few examples here, using information from the Military Conflicts Page, and a general understanding of the Duchies of the Regalian Empire found here.

My Character Peter of Vriesburg, was knighted by the Duke of Hoogeland at the end of the Ramon War in 299 AC, due to exemplary military service under the Duke's command during that War. My Character has been a Realm Knight ever since, serving the Empire and military for the last 16 years.
My Character Beatrice de Sacre-fleur disavowed her noble family's name, taking the name du Chalon. After seeking approval from the Duke of Coutance, she served in the Duke's military for several years until he knighted her when she saved him from road brigands in the year 312 AC.
My Character Charles of Batterburgh traveled all the way to the Duchy of Erlen, where he seduced the Duchess's 3rd daughter and eloped with her. In order to bribe her back to his side, the Duke knighted Charles in an attempt to bribe him to his side, even if his combat skill wasn't that good.
My Character Felix Fattelton won the Tyrian tournament of 314 AC at the young age of 21, besting many other warriors. Deeply impressed and enamored, Princess Shelia-Manon of the Imperial Family knighted Felix after he requested recognition from the Imperial Family for his service.

Realm Knight Mechanics

Realm Knights get access to two Mechanics, that are lost if they take the color and join one of the Chartered Orders:

Assembly Voice	If you are not already sitting in the 1st or 2nd Estate benches in the Assembly, you are a privileged member of the 3rd Estate benches. While you do not get a vote, you are allowed to debate with the other Assembly members as if you were a full fledged member of the Assembly.
Royal Voice	Your word carried weight in royal circles, allowing you to write so-called Commendation Letters. Commendation Letters are used by others to try and contact the Imperial Family or Court, and to give extra legitimacy to those letters to be read and acted upon.

Transitioning

Realm Knights and Chartered Knights can transition back and forth. The process of becoming a Chartered Knights is called "taking the color", while resigning from the Chartered Orders and joining the Realm Knights is called "taking the gray". There are many Knights who leave the Chartered Orders for many reasons, while there are equally many Realm Knights who align more and more with a Chartered Order, so much so that they end up joining them officially. Some rules apply to Transitioning, which keep things organized and fair for everyone.

Any Transitioning from or to Realm Knight must be notified in a Ticket to Lore Staff, equipped with a link to a Character Application.
While you can repeat Transition back and forth, we strongly recommend that you only Transition once, eventually the request may be declined.
You can play an ex Lothar or ex Viridian Knight who became a Realm Knight in backstory, just make sure to notify Staff during registry.
Transitioning is not seen as an act of betrayal by the Chartered Orders, unless they discover afterwards that it obfuscated acts of betrayal.

Code & Jobs

Realm Knights must still apply the Common Knights Code, and violation of that Code may be disciplined by members of the Viridian Order, which may lead to a stripping of Realm Knight status and banishment from Knight service. Aside from the Common Knights Code, there is no actual expectation of Realm Knights. It should however be said that while in theory Realm Knights should hold to this Code, Code 2,3,5, and 6 are basically just guidelines and not strict rules. Realm Knights should be mindful not to violate Code 1 and 4. Below is a list of special exceptions to Knight systems that apply to Realm Knights.

Realm Knights are considered enforcers of the Law, and are able to arrest and prosecute criminals just like Chartered Knights.
Realm Knights may assist Chartered Knights in their duties, essentially being seen as freelance Knights that can vary who they help.
Realm Knights cannot participate in some jobs however, for example they do not get a vote on Aelrrigan Knight Meeting matters.
Realm Knights can wear weapons and armor publicly in Regalia, but if they have Magic, they must stick to Occult Law.

As mentioned prior, Realm Knights do not have Privileges, Rank-ups, Ranks, or other rights associated with their knighthood. Those belong to Chartered Knights, as playing those types of Knights is generally considered more of a dedication, owing to their behavior standards and codes that are usually much stricter than what Realm Knights have to deal with. While we encourage players to eventually transition their Realm Knights to Chartered Knights, this is not an obligation. Realm Knights are also a great way to retire a Chartered Knight Character you have gotten less interested in, as the lower bar for obligations means there is less pressure to upkeep some activity.