Hmmm, I'm not inclined to have the orders of knighthood become something like character classes, or really have an mechanical effect. I'm not interested in how it would affect a PC to be a member. I guess we'll eventually figure that out in my campaign.
From the WOTC online resources, here's my homebrew description of the Knights of the Watch. The main edits are because, in my Greyhawk campaign:
--- The unnamed "military-religious order of knights" Gygax describes as founding Gran March and the Knights of the Watch have never been the same thing IMC. Gran March and the Knights have unrelated heraldry, so I assume they were different organizations. I invented the "Brotherhood of the Sword" (based on the German order of Crusaders in Latvia) to flesh out Gran March.
--- The events of the Greyhawk Wars and From the Ashes didn't happen in line with the canon. IMC, Ket did attack Bissel, but the war continues on as a major backdrop for the campaign, instead of Bissel just collapsing offscreen. From Gygax's description of Bissel, easy victory for Ket made no sense to me: "Because of its strategic position, both Furyondy-Veluna and Keoland now support the principality, and adventurers and mercenaries from all of the Flanaess can be found in the ranks of the 'Border Companies', which compromise the standing army. ... Bisselite soldiers are very well equipped and well-armored."
Anyhow, here's my knights:
The Knights of the Watch are tasked with protecting the Sheldomar Valley from the incursions from the Baklunish West – especially Ket, but also Ket’s allies such as the barbarous Paynims – and other threats as they may arise.
The Knights of the Watch began as an offshoot of the Brotherhood of the Sword.
• The Brotherhood of the Sword, an order of militant knights, were formed nearly 900 years ago by Keoland to fight the Empire of Vecna, who once ruled northern Keoland.
• After the Brotherhood conquered the lands now known as Gran March, they spawned the Knights of the Watch with goal of subduing Bissel as a further march for Keoland.
• Thornward, Bissel’s capital, was founded (in 289 CY) by the Knights of the Watch as a military outpost.
The Knights of the Watch consider the giants and humanoids of the mountains and the forces of Ket to be near equal threats to the Sheldomar Valley, and they are wary of The Old One’s machinations as well. Centuries of warfare with the “Westerlings” has fostered a deep distrust of most Baklunish amongst the Knights, which has carried over to their treatment of loyal Baklunish civilians on occasion.
While focused in Bissel, Geoff, and Sterich, the Knights draw potential members from throughout the Sheldomar Valley.
• The Knights of the Watch and Gran March’s Brotherhood of the Sword are literally brothers-in-arms, but the Knights have no facilities within Brotherhood’s well-defended domain.
• Keoland is seen as a patron, financially and morally.
The Watchers maintain castles, fortresses, strongholds, and towers facing the border with Ket in Bissel, as well as along the Sheldomar Valley’s northwestern boundary mountain ranges – the Barrier Peaks, Crystalmists, and Jotens – in Bissel, Geoff, and Sterich.
• Many of the structures guarding against mountains raiders were lost during the “Giant Troubles” invasions of Sterich, Geoff, and the Yeomanry in 576 CY, and most have yet to be rebuilt.
• The headquarters of the Knights are at Castle Oversight in Pellak, southern Bissel (near the Gran March border).
• The Knights also have chapter houses for diplomatic, recruiting, and fundraising purposes in Niole Dra (Keoland’s capital) and Gradsul (the main southern Keoish port city, on the Azure Sea).
The Knights of the Watch follow a near-monastic school of teachings based upon the writings of the philosopher Azmarender. Azmarender studied the tale of Trilesimain, the Simple Knight, a standard tale told by bards throughout the Sheldomar Valley. From this tale (especially a section known as the Glorious Couplets), Azmarender derived a philosophy and code of duty commonly known as the Twelve and Seven Precepts. The Twelve Precepts, detailed below, govern how a knight should behave in his daily life.
While not commonly known to the average denizen of the Sheldomar Valley, the Twelve Precepts are not secrets and can be learned by anyone interested enough in the Knights. The Seven Precepts, however, are closely guarded secrets, detailing “life beyond the self” and giving powerful insights into the physical and spiritual world. Knights learn these Seven Precepts as they advance in the organization, so higher ranking knights know more of the precepts than lower ranking ones. The mysterious Seventh Precept, which is said to contain ancient secrets about the creation of Oerth, is known only to the head of the knighthood, the Grandiose Imperial Wyvern, currently Margrave Walgar of Bissel. The teachings are not connected with any one specific religion, but they fit well with the philosophies espoused by the militant followers of St. Cuthbert, Pholtus, Allitur, Mayaheine, and especially Heironeous. The Knights consider the Church of Heironeous to be one of their strongest allies.
Reflecting the mysticism that forms the foundation of their order, the Watchers adopt fanciful titles as they advance in rank in the knighthood. The lowest ranking knights are known as Vigils (such as Resolute Vigil, Indomitable Vigil, etc.); as Knights advance beyond this lowest rank, they add to this base title, adding further adjectives and later replacing the Vigil title with that of a beast (advancing through ranks of land-based and then aerial mundane beasts, followed by more fantastical ones). From this confusing (to non-Knights) system of titles comes the phrase “frightful as a Watcher’s title,” denoting someone who wishes to appear more powerful or grand than they truly are.
The recent giant wars brought a fractionalization of the order into two distinct branches, the traditional Knights of the Watch and the new Knights of Dispatch, or more formally Knights of the Watch (Dispatchers). Outside observers are unsure if there is conflict between these two factions.
The traditionalist Watchers continue much as they always have, patrolling the borders of civilization to guard its inhabitants against the assaults and incursions of the steppe or mountain raiders, and leading their own forces and those of allied lands against the invaders in open battle.
The Dispatchers, however, form themselves into small scouting bands to conduct guerrilla raids, reconnaissance missions, and spying. The Knights of Dispatch appear less focused on the Baklunish threat, and more concerned with the marauding humanoids from the mountains. The Dispatchers use tactics, such as ambushes and retreating from the field of battle if fortune goes against them, in direct contradiction of the Twelve Percepts, at least as understood by those outside the order.
Both branches share the same coat of arms: a sable field with an owl displayed argent, and are well-respected by the public. The Watchers are recognized for their traditions of formality and chivalry, while the Dispatchers are somewhat less well known, but seen as rugged fighters who will do anything for the cause.
Knights are expected to be staunch defenders of the Sheldomar Valley and available to be called upon by their Order when needed. Many knights are nobles, military officers, or adventurers, who for the most part pursue their own careers. When not in direct service, Knights have great latitude in determining the best course of action in achieving their own goals, in alignment with the Order’s overall goals.
Some knights – often second sons or bastards of the nobility or commoners showing great talent – serve the order directly, managing strongholds and leading the Watchers forces, who include actual Knights, Squires (Knight in training, typically of noble or gentle blood), regulars (professional troops serving the Order, typically from the lower classes), and even militia from the extensive lands owned by the Order.
All Knights are expected to assist in the maintenance of the Order, especially as they achieve the higher ranks of the Knighthood, by devoting time each year to maintaining the strongholds, training squires and other troops, updating the Order’s records and archives, or undertaking missions for the Order.
The Order observes a single sacred event each year. Called the Fast of the Murder of Bethané, it occurs each Sunsebb 4th. In the week preceding this fast, Knights don simple clothes, repent their failings of the last year, and seek out any they may have wronged to make restitution. Knights who miss this fast for good reason (such as duty, war, or illness) must, on the first opportunity, seek out a member of the Order’s leadership who can assign the Knight a task to achieve atonement. Knights who ignore this sacred event without good cause are dishonored. During the Fast, the allies of the order, particularly the Brotherhood of the Sword, are called upon to ensure that no enemy can take advantage of the observance. This can lead to friendly visiting and festivities between the two orders after the Fast, particularly at Castle Oversight.
