“The Castle of Otranto”, the book that actually defined the Gothic genre in 1765, can be a surprise for new readers. Expecting perhaps a Horror story similar to “Dracula”, instead one gets a tale of knights, ghosts, forced marriages, and inheritance disputes in the Middle Ages. It all reads much more like “Dark Fantasy” than “Horror”. In fact, the 18th century term “Gothic Romance” translates directly to “Medieval Fantasy” in modern idiom. The Fantasy genre’s medieval bias ultimately traces back to the popularity of the early Gothic Romances, which tended to imitate “The Castle of Otranto”, and be set in the so-called “Gothic Age”. The prevalence in modern Fantasy role-playing games of things like dark underground passages, secret doors, undead monsters, and holy people who can repel evil with their faith, is the result of influences from Gothic Horror movies – and perhaps also the neo-Gothic romance books that were extremely popular in the 1970s (when the modern RPG was being invented). Therefore, I give you the first draft of the “Chivalric Knight” Class, expanding the scope of the Ghastly Affair game back to the most natural time period of all for Gothic Romance (and Horror).
CHIVALRIC KNIGHT
You are one of the elite warriors of your age, sworn to support and defend your noble “Liege”. You are comfortable moving in armor, proficient with every type of hand-to-hand weapon, able to easily fight from horseback, and trained in athletics. Probably you were born to the lesser aristocracy, learning your martial skills first as a boy Page, and then as the adolescent Squire to another Knight. It is possible, however, that you were born a commoner, and impressed your future Liege with your loyalty, bravery and skill at arms. Either way, you have knelt and paid Homage to your Liege, sworn an oath of Fealty to them, and received the Accolade of sword blows that made you a recognized Knight.
Do you spend your Down-time tending to the manor and land granted to you by your Liege, or are you a Knight Errant who wanders the realm fighting Evil to impress your Beloved? Are you a Knight Bachelor, fighting under your Liege’s banner – or are you a noble Knight Banneret who is entitled to command other troops and fight under your own standard? Perhaps you are even one of the legendary female Knights – like brave Bradamante who fought alongside Charlemagne, and loved the chivalrous Muslim warrior Ruggiero.
As a Chivalric Knight you must never allow your Perversity to rise above 12, or you will suffer the loss of your Good Name. Further, you must uphold the ideals of Chivalry, or likewise squander the goodwill you have generated with your honorable actions.
Use the Chivalric Knight Class to create character inspired by such legendary characters as Sir Lancelot, Tristan of Lyonesse, and the Paladin Roland; or by such real-life figures as Richard the Lion-Hearted, El Cid, or William Wallace.
CHIVALRIC KNIGHT SPECIAL ABILITIES
ATHLETICS (+1)
You gain a +1 Bonus to all Ability Checks or Ability Contests to run, jump, swim, or climb.
- This Bonus is added to your “Danger Bonus”, if you must make an Ability Check to determine the outcome of a Chase – or must otherwise run, jump, swim, or climb while in Danger.
- Note that your Bonus for climbing only applies to things like siege ladders, knotted ropes and trees. You still can’t climb sheet masonry walls like a common Burglar!
DANGER BONUS (+1)
You get a +1 Bonus to all your Ability Checks and Saving Throws in times of Danger (Fights, Chases, and Escapes).
- Your Danger Bonus is added to the Bonus from your “Athletics” Special Ability, if you must make an Ability Check to determine the outcome of a Chase – or must otherwise run, jump, swim, or climb while in Danger.
DEVOTED TO YOUR CAUSE (+1)
You are especially devoted to one of the following: your Liege, your Religion, or your Beloved. You receive a +1 Bonus on your Attack Checks when you Fight on behalf of your Cause.
- If you choose to be especially devoted to the Cause of your Liege, you get the +1 Bonus whenever you are fighting their declared enemies, or are otherwise fighting to protect their lands or honor.
- If you choose to be especially devoted to the Cause of your Religion, you get the +1 Bonus whenever you are fighting people opposed to your religion, fighting the supernatural enemies of your religion (such as Devils and Demons), or when fighting to defend the sanctity of your religion’s holy places.
- If you choose to be especially devoted to the Cause of your Beloved, you get the +1 Bonus when you are fighting to defend their honor against a detractor, fighting to rescue them, fighting to protect them, or fighting as part of a quest they have assigned to you. Note that just as with “True Love”, you still get this Bonus even if your Beloved is married to someone else, your love is of a kind contrary to your religion or knightly vows, or your relationship is otherwise socially unacceptable for someone of your status.
- This Bonus is added to all others that apply, including your +1 “Danger Bonus”, and the +3 Bonus for being “In True Love”.
- You will lose this Special Ability if you ever betray your Cause by failing to Fight in their behalf when they are threatened or dishonored (see Bond of Devotion below).
EQUESTRIANISM
You have been trained to properly ride and care for horses.
- You can fight from horseback without Penalty of any kind.
- You get a +1 Bonus on Ability Checks relevant to riding and a caring for a horse.
- You can make your horse jump pits up to 10’ wide and obstacles up to 5’ high.
- Horses you ride increase in Speed by 1 point.
GOOD NAME (+1)
For as long as your Perversity remains 12 or lower, you get a +1 Bonus on all Charisma Checks and Contests to determine other people’s reactions to you.
- Additionally, while your Good Name endures, you will be granted the Right of Hospitality at all castles (even those belonging to enemy Knights), and will be afforded whatever hospitality can be given to you by commoners.
- If your Perversity ever rises above 12, you lose your Good Name.
- You can also lose your Good Name by publicly transgressing the “Code of Chivalry” (see below).
CHIVALRIC KNIGHT WEAKNESSES
BOND OF DEVOTION
If you ever betray your Cause by failing to Fight in their behalf when they are threatened or dishonored, you will lose the Special Ability “Devoted to Your Cause” (see above). This happens even if you must betray your Cause to maintain the “Code of Chivalry” (see below).
- To regain the Special Ability Devoted to Your Cause, you must successfully commit an exceptionally heroic act on behalf of your Cause.
- An exceptionally heroic act is on that might result in your death, such as fighting a Dragon, or an enemy Knight of your own Level in single combat.
CODE OF CHIVALRY
Although it is nowhere actually written down and described in full, there is an understood Code of Chivalry which you are expected to uphold. The first four points will usually be part of your oath of Fealty to your Liege – the rest of the Code of Chivalry is something you learned from your master while you trained as a Page and Squire, or inferred from your interactions with other Knights and nobles.
- You must answer the call of your Liege to battle.
- You must not flee the battlefield, unless so ordered by your Liege.
- You must obey all orders from your Liege that do not conflict with your religion, and take their side in all temporal matters.
- You must defend your religion against its enemies.
- You must respect and protect the clergy of your religion.
- You must accept all honorable challenges of arms.
- You must always keep your word of honor once given.
- You must show mercy to knights and nobles who request it, taking them as prisoners for ransom rather than killing them.
- You must show proper courtesy and respect to fellow Knights and nobles taken prisoner.
- You must defend those noncombatants who are under the protection of your Liege.
- You must show charity to those whom God has chosen to make poor.
- You must protect the honor of your courtly lover, if you have one.
- You must treat all virtuous women with appropriate courtesy.
- If you are witnessed publicly transgressing any part of the Code of Chivalry, you must make a Charisma Save, or suffer the loss of your “Good Name” (see above).
- You can lose your Good Name in this way even if you have broken the Code of Chivalry because of you are Devoted to Your Cause (see above).
- The loss of your Good Name lasts until such time as you manage to publicly uphold the Code of Chivalry in a situation where it would be less dangerous to ignore it.
SUGGESTED ASSETS FOR CHIVALRIC KNIGHTS
Attractive to Fairy Folk, Beautiful / Handsome, Expert Equestrian, Good Manners, Good Singing Voice, Good Throwing Arm, Loved by Animals, Lucky at Love, Master Swordsman, Musical, Resistant to Alcohol, Resistant to Cold, Resistant to Disease, Skilled Dancer, Strong Will, Tracker, Well Spoken
SUGGESTED AFFLICTIONS FOR CHIVALRIC KNIGHTS
Aggressive, Bad Judge of Characters, Bad Liar, Badly Spoken, Disfigured, Dull, Easily Fooled, Emotional, Gullible, Lost Love, Naive, No Head For …(a common field of knowledge), Sensitive to Alcohol, Slow Learner, Traumatic Memory, Ugly, Unlucky at Love, Vulnerable to Magic
INITIAL ABILITY ADJUSTMENT FOR CHIVALRIC KNIGHTS
+1 Dexterity, +1 Strength
CHIVALRIC KNIGHT HIT POINTS PER LEVEL
- d10 Hit Points at 1st Level.
- You gain an additional d10 Hit Points per Level
CHIVALRIC KNIGHT DAMAGE BONUS BY CHARACTER LEVEL
- 1st Level: +1
- 2nd Level: +2
- 3rd Level: +3
- 4th Level: +4
- 5th Level: +5
- 6th Level: +6
- 7th Level: +7
- 8th Level: +8
- 9th Level: +9
- 10th Level: +10
TYPICAL STARTING EQUIPMENT FOR CHIVALRIC KNIGHTS
- chain mail suit (mail hauberk, coif, and chausses, worn over a padded fabric gambeson). (Adds 3 points of Armor).
- great helm (possibly decorated with a crest of boiled leather molded into shape). (Adds 1 point of Armor).
- shield (painted with armorial bearing). (Adds 1 point of Armor).
- surcoat (with heraldic design).
- sword belt.
- sword, with scabbard.
- flanged mace.
- dagger.
- lance.
- spurs.
- colorful courtly outfit of shirt, tunic, belt, mantle, hose, hat, and slightly pointed leather shoes.
- glove of your Courtly Lover, or a flower given to you by them.
- pennant (if a Knight Bachelor) or personal war banner (if a Knight Banneret), mounted on a pole.
- falcon or dog.
- warhorse.
- saddle, saddle blanket, bit & tack.
- leather barding for warhorse. (Adds 2 point of Armor.)
- caparison (cloth covering for horse, with armorial pattern).
- 50’ of hemp rope.
- small tent.
- wool blanket.
- 1 week’ worth of cured meat, dried bread, and spiced cake made with dried fruits.
- wineskin.
- small Psalter (book containing a selection of the Psalms).
- purse with 100p.
Additionally, you may be accompanied by a Squire mounted on their own riding horse. The squire carries your pennant (or banner), shield, and most of your equipment.
ADVANCING IN LEVELS AS A CHIVALRIC KNIGHT
- 10 Experience Points to attain 2nd Level.
- 4 additional Experience Points are needed to attain each Level after 2nd.
VARIATION: THE ORDINARY KNIGHT
As an Ordinary Knight, you have only the Special Abilities of “Danger Bonus (+1)”, “Equestrianism”, and “Athletics (+1)”, but no actual Weaknesses. You are still legally bound by your oaths to your Liege, and are expected to be chivalrous, but will suffer no loss of Special Abilities if you break your oath, or act dishonorably.
- Ordinary Knights require only 8 XP to reach 2nd Level.
- Chivalric Knights who fail in devotion to their Cause, and do not uphold the “Code of Chivalry”, wind up as Ordinary Knights.
VARIATION: THE MILITANT KNIGHT
If you are a sworn to one of the religious Military Orders, such as the Knights Templar or Knights Hospitaller, the Weakness “Code of Chivalry” is replaced with the Weakness “Rule of the Order”.
- Each of the Military Orders has their own “Rule”, which is a set of commandments and prohibitions similar to those that govern the lives of ordinary monks and nuns. Whichever Military Order you belong to, its Rule is always far more onerous and restrictive than the secular Code of Chivalry. If you publicly violate the Rule of the Order, you must Save versus Charisma or lose your “Good Name”.
- You will automatically lose your Good Name if your Perversity rises above 12.
- As a Militant Knight you do not display your own armorial bearings, only those of your Order.
- Your Liege is not a secular Lord or Lady, but the Grand Master of your Order.
- While all the historical Military Orders were restricted to men, there is no reason why – in game that where Dragons and Vampyres are real – that there couldn’t also be a secret Order of Militant Female Knights otherwise lost to history.
VARIATION: THE BLACK KNIGHT
A Black Knight is one who displays no heraldry on their shield or surcoat, and thus cannot be identified if their Great Helm is also on.
- So long as a Black Knight stays anonymous, they temporarily lose the Special Ability “Good Name”, but can also violate the Code of Chivalry without risking their Good Name in the future.
- A Black Knight can still increase in Perversity for their deeds – and thus potentially lose their Good Name permanently.
- If anyone witnesses the Black Knight behaving unchivalrously, and thereafter positively identifies them, the Knight will lose their Good Name (and need to restore it in the usual manner).