Chevalier

The chevaliers are an elite military Orlesian organization. Only nobles can serve in their ranks. They are addressed as either Chevalier or Dame. 
== Background ==
Many of the nobility in Orlais are members of its famous/infamous knightly order, the chevaliers. Joining the chevaliers is a good way to improve social standing, a useful path for lesser, landless nobles and noble children not in line to inherit. The chevaliers include both men and women, although women are not often encouraged to take up arms. Those who do follow in the footsteps of the first female knight, Aveline. They are often posted as the Champion of the Emperor or Empress of Orlais.
The legendary training of the chevaliers at the Academie des Chevaliers in Val Royeaux is harsh, instilling in its knights a fierce discipline and code of honor that surpasses even value in their own lives. The chevaliers are said to be fearless and their loyalty to the empire absolute. The penalty for dishonor is death, something a chevalier should welcome if they have failed the order.
Chevaliers hold absolute power over those of commoner rank. The brutality of certain members of the chevaliers is infamous, and considering that the knighthood is above legal reproach, the lower Orlesian classes fear the knighthood as much as those of higher standing adore it. Indeed, chevalier privilege often leads to abuses against the common classes. The poor and powerless must tread carefully in the wake of such license or risk great danger to themselves and their loved ones.According to Liselle.
One of the main predecessors of the chevaliers was the Empress' Arm, an elite guard created by Empress Jeaneve I.Codex entry: The Empress's Point
== Training ==
Chevalier training is brutal and effective, and involves relentless training and honing of one's strength and skill. In addition to the history of the order, students learn proper form and breath control, and how to exercise their muscles to keep them limber as well as ascertain strength in a wounded limb, keep limbs from going numb from being bound, and even fight off the effects of magic or drugs.Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, pp. 54, 222, and 225. Chevaliers are also taught to identify different types of pain, by way of determining life-threatening injuries.Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, p. 255. Chevaliers began training from a very young age. Gaspard de Chalons and Michel de Chevin began their instruction when they were only thirteen years old.Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, ch. 4
Exercises at the Academie include fully-armored endurance training such as tree-climbing followed by melee training with weighted weapons. Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, p. 53. One of their most grueling tests of skill includes sparring with moving, bladed pells. Students also learn horsemanship and how to care for their warhorses.Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, p. 54. 
Melee training provides a student with tremendous prowess in light and heavy armors and in all forms of melee and horse combat, including two-hander weapons and sword-and-shield, and the use of a longsword and shortsword or dagger in tandem as well. Additionally, though chevaliers prefer to fight in armor, they are quite capable and resourceful without it, as well as against opponents – like the lightly armed duelists of Rivain and Antiva – who may eschew armor all together.Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, p. 252. Additionally, chevaliers also learn some of how templars battle mages, how Grey Wardens combat darkspawn, and how to slay the undead.Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, p. 292.
Honor is paramount to a chevalier, to the point that one may defend the life of a hated foe to prevent their dishonorable death. Torture of an opponent, or condoning torture, is also prohibited.Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, p. 158. It does not, however, preclude tactics and a certain opportunism.Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, p. 297. Indeed, a chevalier will likely make note of an any defects or nicks in an opponent's weapons or armor and seek to exploit them.Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, p. 326.
== Forms ==
The on-foot fighting style of the chevalier is tailored to the situation, and involves a multitude of forms given the enemy and type of weapon at hand. A few include:
* Duelist Catches an Apple-the chevalier unsheathes a sword for a quick strikeDragon Age: The Masked Empire, p. 57.
* Second Shield-the chevalier takes an opponent as a shield and skewers multiple enemies at once
* Bear Mauls the Wolves-a move to be employed when outnumbered; properly done with a weapon in both hands
* Wolves Take the Bear-a team effort against a larger opponent, with quick strikes and withdrawalsDragon Age: The Masked Empire, p. 331. 
* Spear-fisher-a defensive position to conserve strength or else to face an intimidating opponentDragon Age: The Masked Empire, p. 303.
* Testing the Blade-a series of stretches to identify sore muscles and ligaments that the chevalier's tolerance of pain has already dismissedDragon Age: The Masked Empire, p. 256.
== Duels ==
Duels are extremely serious affairs for chevaliers. A test of skill to the death is often used to settle arguments or provide "satisfaction" to a party's sullied honor in public situations.Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, pp. 351 and 36. It is considered a serious breach of conduct for a chevalier to use magic to augment their abilities, especially when participating in a duel. Despite this, the practice of using enchanted masks was commonplace among chevaliers for a time. Masks could not be easily checked for magical enchantments, as people of worth could not be forced to remove their mask unwillingly, and so the risk of discovery was low. However, the practice was revealed to the public and banned in 8:10 Blessed.Chevalier's Mask 
Traditionally, chevaliers salute one another with the phrase "Death before dishonor" before they begin fighting.Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, p. 348.
== Notable chevaliers ==
* Ser Auguste – former chevalier; deputy leader of the Freemen of the DalesA Deluded Chevalier
* Ser Aveline – first female chevalier
* Marshall Bastien Proulx – commanding officer of Fort Revasan
* Ser Bastien VoclainAccording to the guest announcements in the quest Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts in Dragon Age: Inquisition.
* Ser Benoit du Lac – former chevalier; father of Aveline Vallen
* Ser Ducet – the head of the Imperial ArmyAid those Impacted by the Civil WarAn Offer from the Imperial Army
* Grand Duke Gaspard de Chalons – leader in 9:40 Dragon; challenged Celene I's rule, sparking a civil war
* Ser Gaston de Montfort – led the cavalry at the final battle of the Fourth BlightCodex entry: Chateau HaineCodex entry: Duke Prosper de Montfort
* Ser Honorine Chastain – winner of the Grand Tourney of TantervaleBanter between Blackwall and Varric.
* Ser Jean-Gaspard de Lydes – brother of Duke Remache and a capable military leader; Duke of LydesChoose Successor in Lydes (conditional)
* Ser Jean-Marc Stroud – prior to his enlistment with the Grey Wardens
* Commander Jehan – commanding officer of Citadelle du Corbeau
* Ser Kaleva – dueled Ser AvelineCodex entry: Aveline, Knight of Orlais
* Lord LaMarcheLeads the Orlesian contingent alongside the Inquisition forces into the Arbor Wilds.
* Lady Losaneta – a decorated Chevalier in the Blessed AgeFearling
* Ser Luis – youngest son of Lord Aurelien of Montsimmard; appointed command of the Chevaliers in Denerim in 8:98 BlessedCodex entry: The Summer Sword
* Commander Marcel Corbin
* Ser Michel de Chevin – the champion of Empress Celene I
* Ser Michel Lafaille – Ruler of Kirkwall and its liberator from the Qunari occupation
* Duchess Yvonne Blanchard – Duchess of Val Montaigne; fought at the battle of White River during the Fereldan Rebellion
* Ser Robert Chapuis – a supporter of Grand Duke Gaspard's claim to the throne; he was involved in the assassination of Lord Vincent Callier—one of Empress Celene's staunchest allies—and his entire familyCodex entry: Blackwall
* Ser Blaen – former chevalier; later regained influence through a Lyrium smuggling operation with the Carta
* Ser Forsard MalecotDragon Age (tabletop RPG), Core Rulebook, page 373Dragon Age (tabletop RPG), Game Master's Guide Set 2, page 52
== Codex entries ==
== Note texts ==
:
== Trivia ==
* In Orlais, an informal final test of a Chevalier's training involves roaming the streets, intoxicated, and testing one's blade by killing City elves.Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, pp. 54–55.
* Though a cause of great scandal, commoners can sometimes surreptitiously buy their way into the chevalier order through a scribe by the name of le Mage du Sang, or "the blood mage," infamous for his reputation of being able to "conjure noble blood out of thin air."Dragon Age: The Masked Empire, p. 77.
* A yellow feather is the mark of a Chevalier in Orlesian Society.Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 2, vol. 2, p. 277.
== Gallery ==
Dragon Age II Chevalier.png|A Chevalier in Dragon Age II
ScreenshotChevalier.jpg|A Chevalier with a bow & arrow in Dragon Age: Inquisition
ChevalierHoDA.png|Tier progression of a Chevalier in Heroes of Dragon Age
Chevalier2.jpg|Chevalier from PnP RPG Set 3
Chevaliers.jpg
Chevalier21.jpg
Chevalier lead.jpg
Chevalier11.jpg
== References ==
Category:Dragon Age (tabletop RPG) specializations
Category:Groups
 
Category:Orlesian nobility
Category:Specialization lore
ru:Шевалье
de:Chevaliers