Who are you?

I am Lord Cedric Mocanthus uth Vingaard, Lord Knight of the Crown, Marshall Provost of the Citadel of Vingaard and Shield Knight of the Council.

[More about Solamnic names]

Who are we?

We are Solamnic Knights, protectors of the weak and innocent, defenders of freedom and upholders of justice.

[More about the Solamnic Knights]

What makes us great?

We live by our Oath and our Measure. The Knights were formed by Vinas Solamnus to protect against injustice, and we have upheld those values for two thousand years.

Where do we live?

Vingaard Keep is our home, a great and proud city on the plains of Solamnia. It has stood, impregnable, since the time of the Empire of Ergoth.

[More about the geography of Solamnia]

How do we live?

We Knights live a life of austerity, according to the Measure. As Knights we do not sully ourselves with every day toil, but instead we seek out danger to test our honour and our mettle. In exchange for our protection, the farmers of Vingaard give us food and clothing. Our Knight's Citadel is an imposing tower of stone, built for defence rather than comfort. But we do not crave comfort, for comfort makes one weak.

What is important to us?

There are only two things of importance to Knight. To honour his Oath, and to obey the Measure.

Who rules us?

I am Lord of the Knights of Vingaard, but as Marshall Provost I answer to the Vingaard Senate, formed from the most ancient of noble families. In matters pertaining to the Orders of Knighthood, a Knights Council may be called where I speak as Shield Knight, and others speak for the Orders of Sword and Rose. When we ride to war, Lord Eofred Vurtainus, Keeper of Roses, leads us. I lead the Knights and Companions of the Crown.

[More about the government of Solamnia]

What makes a person great?

The Measure of the Crown calls for loyalty and obedience to one's superiors and to the Measure. To be great is to obey an order without question, without thinking, even if it means your death, because that order is justified, no matter what. Greatness in a Knight also requires compassion and charity. A Knight must be prepared to give up everything, even his own life, for one in need.

What is evil?

Tyranny is evil. A Knight must remember that he serves the common people, not the other way around. Selfishness is wrong - a Knight must put others above himself at all times. Greed is wrong - a Knight should not crave earthly things. Murder is evil - a Knight must not take a life unless it is to defend the innocent.

What is my lot in life?

You are a Squire of the Crown. Soon, you will be given your Crown Errand and become a Defender of the Crown. If you accomplish your Errand and are deemed worthy before the Knight's Council you may become a true Knight. If you are truly great, one day you may be given a Sword Quest and the opportunity to enter the Order of the Sword. Your lot in life is to uphold the Oath and the Measure.

How do we deal with others?

We treat others with respect and deference, even our enemies. You should not hate the ones you fight, but honour them. It does not matter if others treat us with scorn, or blame us for the world's ills. Approach them with good intentions in your heart, and it will reflect upon you.

Who are our enemies?

Our enemies are those who would harm the people in our care, or who would seek to act without honour. We must be on guard for the hobgoblins of Throtyl or the people of Estwilde. They are jealous of the bounty of Solamnia, and would seek to steal it for themselves.

Who are our gods?

We keep alive the names of the gods of old, who were with us millenia ago and who we taught to Istar. Most beloved of those gods to us are Paladine, the Divine Lord of All, Kiri-Jolith, the Warrior-King who first learnt the ways of ruling with justice, and Habbakuk, the Blue Phoenix, who died but was transformed, and lived again. We also honour Mishakal the Merciful, who aids the sick; Majere the wise ruler who teaches us calm and Branchala, God of the Vine who gives us nature's bounty.

[More about the religion of Solamnia]