Order of Knighthood

The term "knight" in the northern reaches is a more generic term for trained soldiers of the realm and they make up the bulk of a nation's military forces. An Order of Knighthood can be anywhere from a civil defense force protecting a major city to an entire army during wartimes. Each nation has its own methods of assigning knights, as well as rules regarding how said Orders interact with one another, but there are similarities across all Orders of Knighthood including the general rank hierarchy.

City Knights

The rank-and-file civil defense knight. City knights do not officially carry the honorific "sir", though many citizens still use that form of address when speaking to them. In peacetimes, city knights fill the role of enforcing the laws and keeping the citizens safe. In the event of a bandit clan taking up residence nearby, the city knights can be dispatched to disperse them or can call for Knights Militant for assistance. Most city knights never see proper combat, though they are trained in the use of swords and polearms in the event of a surprise raid be it bandit or knights from other nations. City knights can, in times of war, be called up to serve with the Knights Militant.

Underknights

The lowest rank of Knights Militant, usually drawn from city knights on a temporary basis for training purposes. Underknights, like city knights, do not carry any titles but receive a full commission pay from the Knights Militant and are better trained than the average city knight. During peacetimes underknights maintain a training regimen as well as man and maintain fortifications across their nation, always considered at a low state of ready.

Knight-sergeant

First rank of knight to carry a title, they are styled "sir" regardless of gender. Knight-sergeants command small squads of underknights and see to their training as well as leading them in battle. The ratio of underknight to knight-sergeant in peacetimes is around five to one, but in times of war they can draw on city knights as needed to bolster their numbers. While in a leadership position, knight-sergeants are not considered officers and take their orders directly from knight-lieutenants or knight-captains depending on the size of the garrison they are assigned to.

Knight-lieutenant

Knight-lieutenants are the first rank of knight considered to be an officer and command a city knight garrison as well as any other Knight Militant garrisons in the surrounding region. A knight-lieutenant may be in charge of anywhere between one and five garrisons depending on the size of the region and number of knight-sergeants. Capital city garrisons typically have a knight-lieutenant stationed at all times.

Knight-captain

Highest ranking knights in an order, styled "lord" or "lady". Typically very few in number, knight-captains serve as military counsel to the leaders of their respective nations and fill the role of general during times of war. Many war heroes and knights slain in battle are accorded the rank of knight-captain posthumously or at retirement as a sign of respect and recognition of service.