Shield Maiden

A role equivalent of Squire but filled exclusively by girls and women. Traditionally, shield-maidens trained in spear-fighting, horsemanship, and served similar duties as Squires. Maintaining and repairing arms and armor, grooming and caring for war-horses and generally acting as aide de camp during campaigns and battles.

In certain historical ages Shield Maidens formed a vanguard defending Lords or Kings in war. At other times, the title was an honorific describing a woman recognized for valor or proficiency in battle. In the most recent usage a shield maiden was a girl of 18 or less who served a Lord or Lady Knight as a squire, valet and aide de camp. At tournaments, they removed sundered weapons from the field and brought replacement arms to Knights in tournament combat. They also barded and harnessed Destriers and Chargers for battle and were responsible for their grooming, care and feeding.

• Prerequisites: None but rarely Orcs or Mul
• Skill Proficiencies: Animal Handling, Athletics
• Tool Proficiencies: Dragonchess set, one type of musical instrument
• Weapon Proficiency: Shield and some sword like weapon, typically a long sword
• Languages: None
• Equipment: a set of livery clothes, a pot of metal polish, a set of traveller's clothes, a belt pouch with 10 gp
• Membership: Can be a member of the military of Eadwald but they do not have to be.
• Feature: Arma Patrina: Despite all your training, you did not qualify for knighthood. Perhaps you never proved yourself, or grew too old, or could not afford the expenses of knighthood. However, your upbringing is still recognized by the courts of your nation: you are called "arma patrina". You are allowed to wear your livery clothes, carry a shield displaying your escutcheon, and bear arms exclusive to knights (typically a lance).
  
  In addition, you have courtly savoir faire and know the conventions of life at a castle: graceful greetings, dining etiquette, rules of tournaments, where to find the blacksmith, and so forth.