Knights

Knights are a class within the feudal system that bar the line between nobility and commoners. They are the lowest class of nobility. Knights in Clamund are usually poor nobles who are housed with their local lord's castle, in times of battle they can be seen charging with their lords with barded horses and lance depending on their status and wealth. 
== History ==
Knights have their origin in early Clamund as a means to attain nobility while under the control of a much larger lord. Knights have commonly received much training throughout their life and are often called Clamund's only standing army. Although not all are trained to a reasonable standard, many would be considered killing machines as the role of a knight gives room for valiant deeds.
=== Early History ===
Knights entered Clamundian history very early on as a way for lower class nobles to attain goods and services to better treat their lord. Although knights were not eligible for fiefs, many early knights were given small estates with few serfs as payment for their services. Feudalism played an important part in this process as knights were minor nobles in their own right, controlling territory for their liege lord in return for military service when called upon. Feudalism began as the Kingdom of Visimar rapidly expanded during the Age of Magic, many nobles were given titles along the Iron Gullet as well as many smaller fiefs that took control of smaller tribes that were forced to convert to a serf lifestyle. These smaller fiefs were a main source for knights as local lords granted fiefs to their most bravest and competent warriors. Not all knights were so lucky as some were given poor lots of land that were usually abandoned or sold for better gear.
=== Age of Iron ===
By the Age of Iron, knights within the feudal system were in extreme excess with very few actually owning land. Although many were in service to a lord, periods of peace in the realms only meant that they were out of work as they lacked any means of attaining it. Those knights without lands to govern or watch over led many to branch out by going abroad to find service as a sellsword. Those few lords or knights that were influential in any way also formed Knightly Orders which allowed lords in need of fighting soldiers to hire many with a hefty price. Despite the larger sum of money to hire compared to a sellsword company, many lords, including the Empire of Visimar accepted the loss as many of the knights within the order are usually well renowned and capable.
Knights without land, lord or order were usually tossed aside, forced to fend on their own by any means. Some knights took this as a way to rob people, becoming Robber Knights who usually enlisted outlaws into their gangs. Those knights who could not stomach such attacks on the poor often became Hedge Knights, wandering Clamund's countryside, helping wayward villages or solving problems on their own for food or pay.
Category:Background