Knighthood is a common facet of Feudalism. In Yekare, the institution of knighthood originated in the west coast, surviving the rise and fall of both the Meradarathi Empire and Kardunashi Sea Empire. According to legend, the ancient King Atwur Ali Zhad was the first knight. When Pelegon I conquered the region, he adopted it as an empire-wide system, though it is less common outside of its traditional lands.
In Pelegon
Knights occupy a station between commoners and lords. Knighthood is not hereditary, and in theory a commoner may be knighted. The key distinction between knights and lords is that knights' holdings are not hereditary, while the holdings of lords are.
A knight may only be knighted by another knight, and the identity of the person who knights a knight can grant the knight prestige or cost them the same.
It is customary for young nobles to squire with a knight, serving them and learning the trade and responsibilities of knighthood. When they are deemed ready, a squire is then knighted by their knight. However, squiring is not required for knighthood, and someone may be knighted without having been a squire.
In Pelegon, knights are identified by the title Sir.
Oath
The one who is being knighted kneels before the knight. The knight then recites the following oath. Following the speaking of each line of the oath, the person doing the knighting will dip their thumb into a bowl of one of four incenses, one for each deity referenced in the ceremony:
(Name), upon my name as (Knight's Name) son/daughter/child of (Name), (titles), knighted by (Name) in the (number) year of the (number) Age of Man, hereby charge you with the solemn responsibility of a knight of the realm.
In the name of Odion, the lawgiver, I charge you to uphold the laws of the realm.
In the name of the Prophet, he who created the realm, I charge you to remain loyal to your Emperor, your liege, and to fulfill your duties as vassal.
In the name of Kro, the Teacher, I charge you to show wisdom and intellect in thought and deed and teach others as he taught the Prophet.
In the name of Beld, protector of the downtrodden, I charge you to protect the weak and remain true in heart and deed.
On this day, (number) day of the (number) month of the (year) year of the (number) Age of Man, in the sight of the Elohim and all gathered here, I name you a knight of the realm.
Rise, Sir (name).
At this point, the one officiating the knighting will dip their thumb into a bowl of purple paint and put a purple mark on the new knight's forehead.
Heraldry
In Pelegon, by law, only knights are permitted to bear standards in battle. When a warrior is knighted, they take a sigil for themselves or use the arms of their family should they be part of a noble house or have kinship to another knight. Knights are only permitted to carry another's arms if they are a trueborn member of their household.
Some knights may opt to simply use the arms of their house, such as Sir Deshoros Pelegon
Some knights use their own arms derived from their house, such as Sir Ajellos Aran, also called the Red Scorpion of Highwall
Some knights' arms are nothing at all like the noble house they originate from. Alternatively, knights of common origin may select unique arms as opposed to using a design reminiscent of a noble house, such as Sir Qora Qezar