It was then that the Huntress returned to the people of the Vales. She gave the kings and knights a chivalric code, which laid out a strict code of conduct, demanding knights act with honour and grace. The knights now pride themselves on following the code to the letter, creating elaborate new ceremonies to demonstrate their honour and skill, yet they rarely extend the respect demanded by the code beyond their fellow knights.
For a time, the rival Chivalric Kingdoms were subdued by their southern neighbours in the Great Empire. The Kingdoms were seen as backward by many in the Empire, but their knights were the best cavalry in the Empire even if they seemed to prefer their code of honour over pragmatic tactics. During this period, the Havoc Wars devastated the Vales, as the forces of Havoc sacked much of the lands on their way to the capital. This created an enduring bitterness within the Chivalric Kingdoms towards their southern neighbours, and when the Rift formed and the Emperor died, the Kingdoms were quick to declare their independence. Now, the newly independent Kingdoms seek to build their power and prestige in the Huntress’s name.
How will you bring glory to your Kingdom?
History
The Golden Vales
As the human tribes moved north, they discovered fertile river lands between the Heartwoods and Dwarfholds. The lands were rich, but also a home to many monstrous creatures. The people prospered but lived in fear.
The Huntress
A Goddess came and rallied the people against the monsters. She drew many followers to her and together; they slew many of the monsters which had devastated their homes. Her followers took up her work after she left.
The Kingdoms
When the Huntress left them, it fell to the Knights to maintain order. The Knights began to compete among themselves for prestige. They slew and hunted every creature they could find. The most influential claimed the title of King, establishing fiefs for themselves.
The Return of the Huntress
The Huntress returned to the people of the Vales and passed onto them a Chivalric Code, which laid out a code of conduct and forbade ranged weapons or magic.
Chivalry
The Knights prided themselves on following these new codes to the letter, creating elaborate ceremonies to demonstrate their honour and hunting according to the new laws of the code. Knights would travel far, hoping to earn a reputation by slaying colossal monsters. They often fought with the Elves, hunting Treelords and Forest creatures on their border while developing a grudging respect for their Orc neighbours.
Defeat
Generations ago, an ambitious alliance of Lords launched a crusade to subjugate the Human Empire. While initially successful, the offensive collapsed as Lords started bickering between themselves over the spoils of war. The Empire rallied and its well-disciplined troops pushed back the Knights, inflicting a severe defeat and imposing the payment of heavy reparations, as well as demanding an oath of allegiance from the Lords.
Poor Subjects
The Vales were seen as backward by many in the Empire. Still, Knights were the best cavalry in the Empire, even if they seemed to prefer their code of honour over pragmatic tactics. The Havoc Wars particularly devastated the Vales, as the forces of Havoc sacked much of the Vale lands on their way to the capital.
The Rift
During the Havoc Wars, the forces of Havoc caused great damage in the Golden Vales, releasing many monsters and decimating ancient families. The people of the Kingdoms are still bitter about how little help they received rebuilding in the wake of the Havoc Wars, and when the Emperor died and the Rift opened, the Knight Kings were quick to regain their independence.
Society
The Chivalrous Kingdoms are a collection of feudal realms governed by Kings and Knights who pride themselves on their monster hunting skills. They are located in the fertile river lands of the Golden Vales, between the Dwarfholds and the Heartwoods. Most of the population of the Kingdoms is made up of impoverished peasants who serve at the whim of their knightly masters.
Warrior Kings
The Chivalrous Kingdoms are situated in the fertile and bountiful lands of the Golden Vale, but they have always been plagued by many gigantic and monstrous creatures. Long ago, when these monsters started becoming an existential threat, a Goddess known as the Huntress united Humans in a righteous crusade, slaying and driving away countless beasts. The most valiant of the Huntress’s warriors went on to become Knights, leading their people against monsters after her departure, and upholding a strict code of honour that forbids spell casting and ranged weapons. The most successful of these Knights each claimed the title of Knight Kings, giving birth to the Chivalrous Kingdoms.
The Chivalric Code
While the Chivalrous Kingdoms have slain monsters for generations, these beasts remain an ever present danger, and the nobility’s main job is to quell this danger. Over the years, the knightly code of honour has been expanded and annotated meticulously. The Knights are constantly striving to find loopholes and technicalities that give them an edge, whether it is using enchanted weapons, pushing rocks on enemies (not a ranged weapon if it rolls down a cliff!) or claiming a particularly large bear as a monster that they can add to their official legend. While they can split hairs about their code, most Knights would rather die than outright break it, and they tend to take their duties very seriously.
Trophies
The Chivalrous Kingdoms’ way of living revolves almost entirely around monster slaying. Poor peasants drag the monsters’ carcasses to villages that cling to their Lord’s castle walls, processing the meat, using bones, skin and hairs as construction materials, while the Knights can claim any parts of value such as dragon scales, manticore feathers or hydra tongues. The sale of these rare and often powerful artefacts accounts for a large share of the Kingdom's wealth. Monstrous cuisine is renowned around Tyria and daring travellers flock to the fairs in order to taste these exotic meals and purchase monster parts. The architecture of the Kingdoms is a mix of wood, stonework and gigantic skulls and bones.
Glory Seekers
Within the Chivalrous Kingdoms, a King’s death can open his land up to monstrous rampages, famine and absorption by one of its rivals. The different Kingdoms are often competing against each other for the best kills, and minor wars regularly erupt over such a dispute. The Honour Code is regularly updated with jurisprudence regarding who can claim a specific monster. These complex regulations take into account the monster’s place of birth, where most of its attacks took place, the history of debts and concessions between the claimants, and so on.
Knights are formidable warriors, trained as they are in such harsh circumstances. Many die young, and they need to compensate for the limitations imposed by their Code of Honour by being twice as fierce in combat or twice as clever when planning. When a Kingdom is doing well, nobles that are not actively ruling often leave on quests. Ostensibly designed to build oneself a list of high deeds, quests also help alleviate infighting by distancing idle Knights from the throne. A troop of noble Knights followed by their horde of peasants is not an uncommon sight in many places. They often help places plagued by monsters. Their Code of Honour forbids them to get paid to fight, but they have developed many ways to discreetly negotiate specific amounts of gifts without acknowledging it as payment for services rendered.
