Knight of the Crown-> Sword Knight

[Anastasia]

Ceremony of Challenge for a rising Knight of the Crown:

Enter Knight's chapel at sunset. The only person there will be the High Clerist. He will command the petitioner to kneel, dab his forehead with holy water, and command him to quest. The exact quest varies from time to time, and can be anything from 'Go kill x monster' or 'perform x deed' to something vaguer or grander. It all depends on the entrant and the GM's desires for length and quest difficulty. On given this task the Knight of the Crown sets out to do so as to best his ability. When he believes it is accomplished, he returns at sunrise to the chapel, where the High Clerist waits. If successful he shall be anoited again and garbed as a Knight of the Sword, before exiting to a row of his new peers awaiting.

This is it in a nutshell. The exact rules are as follows:

- The Knight may take one person with him to quest if allowed by the High Clerist. This is generally assumed to be allowed unless he notes otherwise. If this ally dies during the quest, the aspirint is required to preform penance at the High Clerist's discretion or find a way to ressurrect his fallen comrade. Using family money or inborn wealth for this purpose is highly frown upon.

- The quest is wide open and may be a moral or ethical task. It also may be something intangible or estoric, depending on the campaign style and GM's style.

- Handicaps may be attached to the quest at the GM's discretion. These will be disclosed during the High Clerists offical questing of the entrant.

- If the quest is preformed exceptionally well, is it not unknown for Orial or another god to bestow a gift as the High Clerist anoints the new Knight of the Sword. This bestows great honor on the knight-errant within the knights. Gameplay effects: (Choose one or make your own) +1 to a random stat or a chosen stat, a +2 weapon of GM's choice or armor, a minor magical item, a declared gift of lands or holdings from the Knight's possessions, a promotion of one experience level, a minor magical ability granted innately, or a gift of increased spellcasting capacity. These gifts are noted to be exceedingly rare. As a general rule, such knights are usually fast tracked to being a Knight of the Rose.

- If a quest is finished using underhanded means or methods not approved by the Measure, the knight will be stricken down and cursed on his anointing. He will be cast out of the Knights forever more, becoming a fighter 2 levels below his current experience level as well as suffering a curse of the GM's choice.

- As a general rule to the above, a companion brought along is responsibile for his or her own actions within reason. Failing to stop a travesty or wanton act against the Measure will reflect back on the knight. If the knight is truly unaware his friend has preformed such an act during this, it will be not held against him - but he may find himself given a Geas to right this and take vengance on his dark hearted ally. This is noted to be exceptionally rare as well.

- While there is no time limit to finishing the quest, the knight cannot advance his experience level until it is finished or he admits failure. In the latter case, he may attempt the trial once more after a year has passed. Failure forevermore limits him to being a Knight of the Crown.

- Dual or multiclass knights/clerics may have a modified version of this quest to suit what diety they worship.