The road to Dawn
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In this document we will consider what values a true Knight of Aster holds dear. We will speak of the road one must walk as a member of the order, and the path from squire to knight. As it stands to my knowledge, there are two kinds of knight. The one who is born, and the one who is made. In Cormyr, any lord with the proper training will be considered a captain of soldiers, and Knighted after roughly five years of training usually on their twenty-first birthday barring acceleration from infamous deeds. Another popular means of becoming a knight, and the one the knights of Aster have founded themselves on, is the path of righteousness. Great deeds, upholding of sworn oaths, and standing with honor against insurmountable odds. Proving to your brothers you have what it takes. Though it is important to remember one of our oldest lessons, that Lathander does not suffer foolish paladins. One must know when to stand, and when to fight another day.
To know this, to understand what it means to be a Knight of Aster, it takes courage, loyalty, virtue, and faith.
Only when a man embodies these qualities can they become a proper Knight.
Find these qualities within thine self, prove to your superiors you hold these values above all else, and answer the great fabled question put to all Knights of Aster: "What is the greatest sacrifice?"
Then, you are ready to be a Knight of the Aster Order.
Dawnsquire,
Detail below your great deeds. Let nothing go unsaid. Chronicle your achievements so that you may be judged in the eyes of Lathander. Illuminate your failures and successes alike so that your brothers might watch your ascension.
-Dawnknight Nicholas Alwin Appleberry
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[The Dawnsquire sits at a candlelit table from a hard days work with an obvious sense of boredom before he begins doing his obligated reports]
I am Tiatus Thornwind, Dawnsquire of the Order of Aster. I write this, reporting my first day as one of the order...
We ventured out of Eveningstar, in the direction to the mountains. I was always told as a boy not to go this way and today.. Today I found out why. The cursed lands are filled with unrested souls and wicked undead.. At first it was but one, I was confused why it was so angry. It caught me off foot and afterwards I of course quickly destroyed it. And then there were many... Slow but fortuitous in number. I was the first to engage and quickly recognized I made a decision for the worse.. Luckily with the skill of my blade and the support of both Nicholas and the Luckbringer, I was able to dismantle them to the very last.
Later that day... I ventured to Arabel with the company of the Luckbringer. The roads were safe outside of stray cats, I'd even dare say pleasant until arrival.. Upon arriving there were these posters, calling to support a dark and evil god. It wasn't just there I found them but through various parts of the city, I destroyed all of the papers that I could find that advocated for such.... Twisted evil. I understand we are to find the light in others but I can't help wonder what would make them choose such a path.
To get ease of mind, I helped where I could. The poorer residents of Arabel had various concerns involving vermin, thugs and more.. The most memorable experiences came from the job well done and their concerns put to rest.
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[The Dawnsquire, with fresh armor and a sore body settles slowly into his chair. Weakly raising his arm to begin writing, yet having difficulty deciding where to start after so many challenges]
"Every dawn is a new opportunity and a gift. Never waste it. Grasp it firmly and hold to it until the final sunset on your life." Dawnknight Mykyr 1361 DR
Recent days has thrown many challenges my way. Many failures.. I remind myself often my failings are the fruit of success. The light would see it grow into something greater. Mykyr's words stick with me but more often than that, I ponder the Dawnknights question. "What is the greatest sacrifice?" There is no easy answer, in fact. I hesitate to answer it entirely.
Lately I've traveled through the vast deserts of the stonelands to recover the Lady of house Misrim. I fought an endless void of shadowcreatures blindly alongside the Dawnknight. All these recent victories, I still focus on my failings. To improve, to be better because one day.. I won't have the privelage of failing to rise again. The work I do now determines which day is my last sunrise. I do not fear death, I only seek to make the most of life in my path.
-Dawnsquire Tiatus Thornwind
