The Knighting of Sir Dominic

Though the following words are not my own, I feel it is important that this day be recorded here.

Sunday 19th December 356 AC

Dawn breaks around 8.30. It is a cold, but still, without a cloud in the
sky.
The tower is a hive of activity with knights moving purposefully ensuring
all preparations are in place and making last minute adjustments and polish
to armour and swords. Breakfast is a sparse affair, the kitchens busy
preparing the banquet of that evening and the mess hall empties as quickly
as it fills. The party eats quietly without Dominic and Sir Thomas before
heading off to prepare themselves.
As noon approaches the activity reaches a fervour across the 4 courtyards,
before a sudden silence descends. It is then, in each of the courtyards,
two thousand knights stand to attention, to witness one of their own
receive the promotion he deserves. Marching as a single unit, each
courtyard empties in turn filing into the centre plaza of the fortress,
first the Order of the Crown, secondly the Order of the Sword, with the
knights of the Order of the Rose flanking them all on the right facing the
main tower. From the 4th courtyard the invited guests - friends, family and
noblemen file in to take their places in the rows of seats in front of the
knights. With all orders in place, three elder knights and their wives move
to the platform, each the highest ranking knight within their order and
dressed in ancient, gold trimmed armour. Finally, the party are led in to
join the ceremonial party on the platform - Starsong dressed in a
traditional formal dress, Nedlog in a modern design in all of the colours,
with Brother Ithariel following in ceremonial red armour. A moment later
the are joined by Lady Azshauna dressed resplendent in white. Standing
silently, the only noise is the flicker of the flags blowing in the wind.
As the tower bell strikes 12, a trumpet fanfare is blown and all rise. To
the left a set of double doors are flung open to reveal Dominic, with Sir
Thomas at this side. They walk out into the sunlight, Dominic, unarmed and
dressed in simple armour, stepping up the steps to face his superiors and
his party. A herald moves from the side and proclaims
"Grant we pray, Paladine, our prayers, and see fit to bless with the hand
of your majesty this sword with which your servant desires to be girt, to
the end that he may be a defender of the Church, of widows, of orphans, and
of all the servants of good, against the cruelty of evil, and that he may
be the terror and dread of his enemies, ensuring for him the performance of
equitable prosecution and just defense. Amen."
"Paladine, who establishes and lawfully rules the order of all things: who
to put down the malice of reprobates and to defend justice have, by your
beneficent disposition, permitted men on Krynn the use of the sword, and
have willed to institute Chivalric Orders for the protection of the people:
and who said by way of the blessed Huma to the soldiers who came to him
that they should do violence to no man, but be content with their pay: we
humbly pray grant, through your heavenly bounty, to this your servant, who
comes a new recruit to put his neck under the chivalric yoke, the power and
valor to defend the faith and justice, increase him in faith, hope,
charity, the fear as well as the love of good, humility, perseverance,
obedience and patience, and direct him lawfully in all things, so that he
will never injure anyone unjustly with this or any other sword, and so
that, just as he is raised from an inferior station to the new honor of
knighthood, so, putting off the old man with his deeds, he will put on the
new man, to fear you and render You just worship, to avoid the society of
the wicked, to pour out his charity upon his neighbor, to obey the articles
of his faith lawfully in all things, and to fulfill his office justly at
all times. Amen."
The eldest of the Knights stands. With the symbols of the Order of the
Rose, Lord Godfrey Schonfield speaks
"Lord Greenway, is the candidate free to take the oath and accept
responsibilities of Knighthood?"
Lord Geoffrey Greenway, the head of the Order of the Sword stands.
"No my lord, he is sworn in fealty to my Lord Hugh Bonneville."
Lord Schonfield speaks again
"Herald, summon his grace and his household."
The third knight on the platform rises, along with his wife to stand in
front of Lord Schonfield
"Lord Bonneville, High Warrior of the Knights of Solamnia, do you release
Dominic de Caela from your fealty, that he may serve the High Clerist of
the Knights of Solamnia?"
"I do, my Lord, with honour"
Lord Schonfield turns to Dominic as Lord Bonneville and his wife return to
their positions.
"Right mindful of your prowess on the field, and responsive to the wishes
of your peers, we are minded to make you Knight of the Sword. Know that to
wear the belt and chain of a knight is to hold a sacred trust; that the
obligations of knighthood will demand your efforts every moment of your
life. "
"A knight of Solamnia must be respectful of all religions, never offending
the faith of another. "
"A knight must respect all those who are weak or defenseless, whether
because of age, infirmity, poverty, or vow, and be steadfast in defending
them. "
"A knight must love his God and his province, and fulfill most faithfully
his feudal duties to his Lord and his Order. "
"His word must be dependable beyond doubt or question. He must never flee
from the face of his foes, nor show them his back. He must be generous to
all. "
"And, always and everywhere, he must be the champion of the right and the
good. "
"The Laws of the Order and the customs of the land require that a knight
be prow, as you have demonstrated you are upon the field; that a knight be
courteous, as you have shown yourself to be and as these noble gentleman
attest; and that a knight be loyal to his Oath and the Measure. Do you then
desire to accept the burden of knighthood and swear fealty to the Order of
the Sword?"
After a brief pause, Dominic accepts. Lord Schonfield continues
"Then swear fealty and pay homage to the Order of the Sword of the Knights
of Solamnia."
Sir Dominic says
"I here swear fealty and do homage to the Order of the Sword of the
Knights of Solamnia; to ever be a good knight and true, reverent and
generous, shield of the weak, defender of the faith, obedient to my
liege-lord, foremost in battle, courteous at all times, champion of the
right and the good. Thus swear I, Dominic de Caela."
Lord Greenway and Lord Bonneville rise to either side of Lord Schonefield.
All three say in unison
"To this we hear and shall never forget, nor fail to reward that which is
given in fealty, with love, with service, with honor and oath breading with
vengeance."
Lord Schonfield advances a step
"Is there a sword which you will offer in service to your order and the
Oath and the Measure?"
Dominic replies
"Yes my liege there is, in the safe keeping of your servant Sir Thomas
Hargoth."
Sir Thomas removes the scabbard from his side, kneels and offers the sword
to Lord Schonfield while saying
"One edge to cuts to the truth, one edge to administer Paladine’s justice,
and a scabbard to counsel mercy."
Lord Schonfield continues "Is there a belt?"
Starsong steps forward and places a belt around Dominic. She speaks
initially in her own language, and then in common
"The knights' white belt symbolizes purity, and chastity that a knight
must reign in his body steadfastly, avoiding the scandals of the body:
gluttony, sloth, and lechery. Purity of purpose and a new beginning to
begin again the steps on the Path to Chivalry."
Satisfied, Lord Schonfield says "Are there spurs?". Nedlog steps forwards
with a look of intense concentration on her face. After attaching the spurs
to Dominic’s heels she says, initially in Kenderspeak and then in common
"As a knights spurs goad the warhorse so should they goad the knight to
Valor, Service, Diligence and Swiftness. Let the spurs hasten the knight to
his duty that he might maintain his Order in the high honor that belongs to
it. By placing precious golden spurs near his feat a knight displays
disdain for worldly things. They should be worn with honor and discretion
lest they be hacked from your heals in shame and disgrace."
As the final words are spoken, a look of relief spreads over her face as
she returns to her place. From smiling, Lord Schonfield returns the
expression on his face to seriousness once again. "Is there a Coat of
Arms?"
Clanking in his armour, Brother Ithariel steps forward
"Shame-fastness or Fear of shame. These arms ensure that all might know
this knight from afar, and judge him fair or foul, to ensure obedience to
the order of knighthood. It symbolizes the hardships and travail that a
knight will suffer foremost in battle and always placing his body between
his duty and his foes just as the surcoat receives any blows, rain, or
insult before the armor and body of the knight. May the strength of Kiri
Jolith be upon you".
Ithariel bows and returns to line before bowing his head in prayer. Lord
Schonfield continues
"The candidate has been invested with the trappings of the office to
knighthood. Is there a chain with which to bind him in his oath of fealty."
Stepping gracefully forward, Azshauna places a chain over Dominic’s head,
saying in elvish, then common
"The chain is of platinum, purest of the metals to signify the purity of
the chain of fealty which binds the knight and his sovereigns to one
another. The chain is heavy to symbolize and remind the knight of the heavy
responsibility he bears. The chain is strong and runs round the neck of the
knight signifying obedience to the commands of his faith and the order.
Pray let your behavior and deeds charge this, Paladine’s symbol with as
great a reverence and respect as it deserves."
As she returns to her place Lord Schonfield draws the sword from the
scabbard held by the kneeling Sir Thomas. Striking the right shoulder, then
the left and finally the head, he proclaims
"In remembrance of oaths given and received. In remembrance of your
lineage and obligations. Be thou a good knight. Rise, Sir Dominic."
As Dominic rises a huge cheer rings out amongst the crowd. Behind the
applauding nobles and civilians, a clash of metal is heard as every knight
repeatedly beats his chest with his right metal gauntlet". After a moment,
silence again descends. At this stage Lord Greenway steps forward towards
the newly knighted Sir Dominic.
"We see many Knights of Solamnia gathered before Us, We thank you for
honoring us with your presence, and would honor you by borrowing a custom
of your past. We seem to recall that in these lands we would now charge the
candidate: Know, now that you are made a knight, that you must succor the
defenseless, seek justice for those of every station, and maintain the
honor of Knighthood. Let this blow remind you that Knighthood shall bring
you pain as well as honor."
With that Lord Greenway punches you hard, squarely in the chest. Taking
the blow, Sir Dominic kneels and being invited to stand, shakes the
outstretched hand of Lord Greenway. Each member of the party moves forward
to congratulate Sir Dominic as three cheers ring out from the knights.
Sir Dominic is invited to stand alongside his lord as Lord Schonfield
moves to the front of the stage. Calling all orders to attention, he then
commands them to fall out. In the same way they arrived, each order takes a
sharp about turn, and returns to their courtyard. With all knights now
gone, Lord Schonfield thanks all for attending, inviting them to the
banquet that the Knighting may be celebrated.