This Feat needs to be discussed carefully with your Dungeon Master.
If you take these feats without consultation each tier must be taken separately and in order. Your Dungeon Master may decide as a reward (some might say punishments' )to give you this feat.
Why write them at all? Dungeons and Dragons doesn't represent the way kingdoms or knighthood works very well, even a fantasy version, I have dumbed it down to keep it fun and it it is broad in stroke, combining many cultures from across Europe rather than being a close look at a singular one.
Tier 1 - Award of Arms
You have been recognized by a Kingdom or Empire as having performed some great service or are continuing to provide some great service, this brings the ability to create a unique coat of arms to be worn on your person, displayed at the top of letter heads and so on and a signet ring.
In your home court you will be announced at formal gatherings as Master or Mistress.
It provides a wage of 100 gold a month, it would not do for the Hero's of the Realm to have to go begging.
Tier 2 - Grant of Arms
You have done a great service or continue to do a great service to the Kingdom or Empire and the people giving this award feel you need to be resourced to continue your work or to show their true appreciation.
Gain a Town House in a City with a staff of two paid and up kept at base by the Crown or Ruling Body.
At Court your Title is Worshipful Master or Mistress.
You are paid a wage of 300GP a month.
Tier 3 - Augment of Arms
The Crown is so pleased with you that they declare where you go, so does the Spirit of the Kingdom.
In addition to your own Coat of Arms the top right hand corner bares the Kingdom Arms or a recognizable reference to it by anyone who has the heraldry skill in your home Country.
In Court you will be Announced as 'Squire to their Majesties', there after as Squire Superior...
You will receive a small country estate with an attached village or natural resource that you will become accountable for and can be developed. It will produce roughly 1000GP a month which you will be taxed on and expect to upkeep it with.
Your person wage will be 600GP a month.
You have the right of Ransom both locally and in foreign territory which you will be billed for if you use it.
You may be tasked by the Crown as a Special Envoy, a limited diplomatic posting.
Tier 4 - Right of Arms
The Crown trusts you to obtain and maintain a military force within it's own borders.
You are announced as 'Knight of the Realm Sir...'
On letter Heads your coat of Arms will gain a Helm facing left at the top and a 'Mantle' Fancy fabric cascading all around.
You may not be asked to give up your weapons anywhere in the Kingdom unless it's the ruling bodies direct command while in their presence.
You may take a personal Squire, they will have their own character sheet.
In addition to the previous advantages of Grant of Arms, you will now be able to select one horse from the Kings Lower Stables, this is a mount of superior stats.
You may develop a 'Livery' a set of colors and patterns for your servants to be known by.
Your armor and weapons of choice will be attended to free of repair charges at the Crown armory, one of the items will be at least a +1
If your country declares war, you must present yourself and 5 other persons outfitted for war at your own expense to the Lord Marshal or pay a war tax of 20,000 GP.
Tier 5 - Crown Support of Arms
This is a Landed Barony, your title is now Baron or Baroness in addition to all other rights and titles.
This is an inheritable title by your children, your consort is Baron or Baroness Consort. Your children are Master or Mistress till the age of majority, when they become Sir or Dame.
Your Coat of Arms will now get the addition of the royal mascots added on either side of your Arms Shield
Your Personal Wage is 2000 GP a Month
Your estate now produces 2500Gp a month and you are expected to provide 10 men at arms equipped or pay a tax of 30,000GP to your sovereign should you fail to do so in a declared state of war.
You now have the right to Fortify your home with crenellations, arrow slits, add a moat and high men at arms such as you can afford.
You are expected to advise the Chancellor of matters pertaining to the Kings lands via report.
You will attend the Court in person no less than four social occasions per year and have a vote on the council for matters that need a vote.
You may allow Knights Errant and Crown Knights to settle on your lands, they are exempt from your local bi laws, you may incarcerate but not execute a citizen of the Kingdom..
Tier 6 - Elevated Arms
Your Coat of Arms will now get a coronet added around your Helm.
You are now announced at court as Their Grace the Countess or Count.
Your Estate produces at least 30,000 GP a month, you are allowed to maintain a full company of Archers (40) and Arms Men (20) in your own livery.
When traveling provided your Countries are not at war you are afforded a limited but constant level of diplomatic immunity.
You are no longer Waged, instead you are exempt from Taxes, though not from War tax, should you fail to provide a full company of 20 Liveried Archers and 10 Liveried Men at Arms to the Lord Marshal you will be taxed 50,000 GP. These are not levy soldiers, they are full time professionals.
Your Lands will likely include a large town or small city and outlying villages. Your lands are now large enough to have their own banditry issues and significant natural resources, including educational facilities.
You are now a full time member of the Privy Council, your children may not marry without royal permission and you may apply to the crown to set and enforce regional laws on your own lands including the death penalty.
Knight Errant and Crown Knights are no longer exempt from your bi laws and you may grant the right of Knight Errant to an applicant.
The only way to get elevated higher is to marry a Crown family member...good luck.
Knight Errant
Knight Errant is a special provision, it acknowledges that from time to time a person needs to lawfully carry far more arms and armor than a standard citizen should be allowed to carry without causing alarm, that a person might need to be allowed to gather a posse to go put down local strife and have a lords permission to do so.
Knight Errant can also be a provisional title that allows the would be Crown Knight to test their mettle before the Crown decides to grant them a full Crown Knighthood which comes with arms and a mount at the Crowns expense. The Knight Errant is allowed what they can afford personally and they may not take a Squire of their own.
A knight Errant may not close their visor or have an enclosed visor, all must be able to see their true face at all times by tradition and display the Crowns arms on their person prominently when enacting law or violence.
Crown Knight
Crown Knight is a reward to those who prove themselves on the field of battle in the Kingdom's name, they are allowed to take a Squire, they are outfitted at the Crowns cost. They are sworn to obey and enforce the laws of the land. They may not own land or livery any others than their Consort, Squire and Children. They must respond to the Crown's call to war, they must attend all Crown Tournaments as a competitor until the Crown gives them leave by age or injury. A Crown knight can expect a wage of 50GP a month and may return to the Crown for a full refit of arms and armor once a year. A Crown Knight may only enact violence or law while arrayed in their heraldic arms.
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