Knights of the Northern Kingdoms | Notes About the Setting

 To defend against the raiding bands and inhuman monsters that lurk at its borders, and to exercise its dominion over the region, the forces of the Northern Kingdoms are gathered under the banners of the knightly orders - each charged with protecting a location or fulfilling a specific duty. The very first of these orders was founded by the Grand Regent himself and, as its ranks swelled and talent rose within, it would go on to be broken up into the Drakeslayers, the Adamant Claws and the Glimmering Spears. The practice of growing and then subdividing orders remained commonplace until the end of the Dragon War; following the defeat of the Titanodragon of Calam, wholly new orders were raised under the guidance of the veteran orders and became known as the second generation. 

 Amongst the assembled ranks of each order, one knight holds the title of Lord and the responsibility of command, and they in turn appoint individuals to the ranks beneath them. At a new order's founding, a council of Lords from existing orders will be formed to make the first judgement: honour, valour and ability are the three attributes that are sought for in a knight, and it is the combination of all three that sees a Lord appointed. However, each knight has their own interpretations of these values, and as such it is common for an order to develop its own codes and specialisms following their commander's reading. In the event that a new Lord must be appointed, one of their nominated successors is elevated to the position - typically voted by their peers, or through the influence of neighbouring order with which they share close ties.

 The knights' favoured way of battle is much in step with their values. Their troops are preferrentially armed for close-range and melee combat, garbed in dense aegium platemail and wielding blades and projectile-based casters or firespitting flarelocks, with the intent of overpowering their enemies' defences directly. A knight-in-training begins gaining experience in one of two roles: Shield Guards strike from a distance with disciplined volleys of caster fire, while Lance Guards train for melee combat with swords and hammers and in some cases are equipped with winged boosters to engage the foe more rapidly.
 After proving themselves worthy of the title of knight, they may progress to a number of different posts within their order: Cavaliers and Harquebusiers, who ride into battle atop mighty automaton steeds; Paladins and Exemplars, nigh inviolable within their shielded exosuits; Dragoons, wielding blades and rapid-firing salvocasters for the thickest fighting, or Castellans, who take up the longest-ranged weapons to scour their enemies from the skies or from behind their fortress walls. It is not uncommon for variations of these roles to evolve and spread either, when an order's preferred strategies lead to a more specific need. Two such examples are the Dragoons of the Ghost Blades, who tend to eschew the use of bulky salvocasters in favour of dual pistols, and Cavalier Vanguards, which were first conceptualised by the Glimmering Spears, who use jet pinions to fly over terrain poorly suited for legged automata.

 

Known Orders:

• The Drakeslayers: among the oldest of the orders, they serve under the Grand Regent as his personal guard. Stationed in the historic city of Old Breta, they are known for the fierce loyalty in their command structure, as well as their veteran expertise in all matters that concern them.
• The Adamant Claws: the personal order of the Lord of Shields, founded alongside the Drakeslayers and the Glimmering Spears following the growing need to expand the forces of the Nothern Kingdoms during the Dragon War. As a match for their commander's title, a great number of Shield Guards, Castellans and Paladins form their ranks and they are unmatched in the role of the defender.
  
• The Glimmering Spears: the order of the Lord of Lances follows in her preference for fast-moving flying infantry and decisive cavalry charges to break through opposing forces. Founded during the Dragon War, they fought alongside the Drakeslayers and Adamant Claws against the metal-skinned hordes. For reasons unknown, they did not return to kingdoms' borders alongside their sibling orders following the slaying of the Titanodragon of Calam Valley.
• The Blade Ghosts: a mysterious order founded at some point during the Dragon War, with few recorded engagements. Reported sightings indicate that they rarely gather at full strength, preferring to operate in smaller teams with individual objectives, but are willing to make a show of force when the situation demands, led in person on such occasions by their commander, who holds the title of Shadow Regent.
  
• The Crimson Warders: also known as the Knights of Titan, this order was founded during the second generation and was charged with guarding a region known as Titan's Gate. This area sits at the centre of a major trade route between the western bounds of the Kingdoms and the Iron Empires scattered in the east. Of all the knights, they elevate the principle of valour above all else to make up for short history, and will never stray from a chance to earn glory for themselves.
• The Seeking Arrows: an order founded from a hybrid of second generation knights and veterans of the Glimmering Spears, their commander was formerly the second of the Lord of Lances and is known by the moniker 'Quicksilver'. In preference over the traditional units of the Spears, they maintain a large pool of Chariot transports and other vehicles for their style of speed-focused combat.