All nobility are subject to the basic strictures of knighthood, and so must have and adhere to certain codes of honor. There is the Silver Code, which all knights must adhere to in common. There is also a Golden Code, a smaller set of ideals that one chooses at their coming of age. Certain noble houses have traditional lists from which one may choose. Lesser families grant their scions more leeway. One's Golden Codes take precedence over the Silver Code whenever they conflict. The number of Golden Codes one takes depends on their personal ambition; the more Golden, the better.
The Silver Code
From birth, these virtues have been drilled into you as the highest ideals of conduct. Living by your code will bring you greatness, and breaking it will diminish the nobility of your house, and tarnish the reputation of your entire companionship. People will learn of your dishonor because of The Curse of Sin. The Silver Code is common knowledge, even though it is only followed by nobles. Each is of two parts, intended to outline the shape of knightly conduct.
Answer any challenge, but never escalate.
Always maintain decorum, rudeness is an admission of fear.
Refrain from giving offense, bear no insult mildly.
Respect the defeated, and accept service if offered.
Never run from an enemy, never spare a deserter.
In any conflicting directives, Golden takes precedence over Silver. Some of the most popular ones ones are noted below:
The Golden Code
Perform the sun salutation ritual at each sunrise without fail.
Offer any enemy a chance to submit.
Donate all monetary rewards to charity.
Spare no traitor’s life, and defend the truthsayer.
Destroy nothing of beauty, slay none that would live lawfully.
Uphold the honor of your peers as if it were your own. Speak no ill of an ally.
Make only equal trades, and accept no gifts but hospitality.
Speak the truth without hesitation or reservation.
In all matters, finish what was started.
Never refuse a challenge from an equal, never challenge an inferior.
Cravings
They say that love is the death of duty. When a knight's desires conflict with their vows, they must make a choice: Forfeit all current Willpower to adhere to their duty, or submit to their Craving. If they do fulfill a craving in defiance of their vows, they will be dishonored and risk a mutation, but regain all Willpower. Select one of the following as a Craving:
- Bloodlust
- Deceit
- Promiscuity
- Intoxication
- Avarice
Experience
One of the ways you gain experience points is by adhering to your vows for the duration of a session. If you adhered to a vow under duress, you gain +1XP (up to 2 per session).