Every member of the Knights of Dol Amroth begins as a Pledge and rises through service, loyalty, and deeds. The ranks below are listed from highest to lowest, with the duties of each and what it takes to advance.
Captains and the Companies
The order is divided into two Companies, the Blue Company and the Silver Company. The Guildmaster assigns each member to a Company, and each Company watches over its own areas of the realm.
Each Company is led by a Captain. Captain is a position, not a rank: Captains are chosen from among the Knights, and when the post falls open, the Guildmaster makes the final decision after discussion with the Council. Vornast is Captain of the Blue Company, and Davian is Captain of the Silver Company.
Captains also take part in promotions. For most promotions, the Guildmaster decides together with the Captain of the Company in which the member has served.
Guildmaster
- Title
- Lieutenant of the Southern Guard
- Held by
- Erlend
- Answers to
- Prince Imrahil
The Guildmaster leads the Knights of Dol Amroth and holds the title of Lieutenant of the Southern Guard, one of Prince Imrahil's trusted lieutenants. The Guildmaster answers to Prince Imrahil.
The Guildmaster assigns members to their Companies, decides on promotions together with the Captains and the Recruiting Officer, and knights those whom the Council has found worthy.
Knight
- Becoming a Knight
- Council vote with a two-thirds majority, after which the Lieutenant of the Southern Guard knights the member
- Minimum service
- None. A Knight advances only when a higher position becomes open
- Promotion decided by
- The Guildmaster, after discussion with the Council
Knights are the leaders and role models whom the entire guild follows. They are considered the nobility of Dol Amroth and of the entire Southern Guard. They actively take part in training all other members, both on the battlefield and off it.
Knights are always expected to hold themselves to a higher standard than everyone else.
Knights are expected to carry out various administrative tasks laid before them by the Council.
A Knight cannot advance beyond the rank of Knight unless a higher-ranking member resigns or is otherwise dismissed from their position. Therefore, there is no minimum period a Knight must serve before being promoted.
If a higher-ranking member, such as a Captain or a Council Knight, resigns or is otherwise dismissed from their duty, a Knight may be considered for promotion to replace them. A promotion to Captain or to Council Knight requires discussion by the Council and the Guildmaster, but ultimately the Guildmaster makes the decision.
Man-at-Arms or Spearmaiden
- Minimum service
- Three months as a Man-at-Arms or Spearmaiden
- Requirements
- Has led parties, trained Pledges and Squires, recruited new members, and served as a leader and role model
- Promotion decided by
- Council vote with a two-thirds majority
Men-at-Arms and Spearmaidens are very good soldiers and leaders on the battlefield. Together with Footmen and Footwomen, they make up the bulk of the Army of the Southern Guard. Their main task is to lead parties that aim to improve either the guild's armory or its treasury. They are expected to take initiative and form such parties themselves.
Men-at-Arms and Spearmaidens are also expected to take an active part in training Pledges and Squires.
Their third main duty is to actively seek out and recruit new members to our Order.
A Man-at-Arms or Spearmaiden must show that they have carried out all three of these tasks successfully before they will be considered for promotion to Knight. Furthermore, they must have shown that they have acted successfully as a leader on the battlefield and as a role model to younger members. They must also have served for a minimum of three months as a Man-at-Arms or Spearmaiden. A promotion to Knight always requires a Council vote, in which a two-thirds majority is required. If the Council vote is in favor of the promotion, the Lieutenant of the Southern Guard will knight the Man-at-Arms or Spearmaiden.
Footman or Footwoman
- Minimum service
- Two months as a Footman or Footwoman
- Requirements
- Level 19, leadership skills, and the ability to act as a role model
- Promotion decided by
- The Guildmaster and the member's Captain. A Council vote may be called but is not required
Footmen and Footwomen are good and formidable soldiers of Dol Amroth. Together with Men-at-Arms and Spearmaidens, they make up the bulk of the Army of the Southern Guard. They know Arda rather well and understand the internal workings of the guild, and so they are free to spend their time as they see fit. They are expected, however, to focus on working with and improving the guild's armory and treasury.
Footmen and Footwomen take part in parties when ordered to by higher-ranking members, but otherwise they are free to operate alone in the field.
Footmen and Footwomen are expected to learn about recruiting new members. They should work together with the Recruiting Officer to develop the skills needed to bring new members into our Order.
Footmen and Footwomen are free to train Pledges and Squires when they see fit, but are not expected to do so.
If a Footman or Footwoman has proven that they possess leadership skills and can act as a role model for younger members, they will be considered for promotion to Man-at-Arms or Spearmaiden. They must have served for a minimum of two months as a Footman or Footwoman and must have reached level 19. The Guildmaster, together with the Captain of the Company in which they have served, decides on the promotion, and the two may call a Council vote in any specific case. A Council vote is not required for a promotion to Man-at-Arms or Spearmaiden, however.
If the Guildmaster and the Captain decide in favor of the promotion, the Footman or Footwoman will become a Man-at-Arms or Spearmaiden.
Squire
- Status
- Full member
- Minimum service
- Two months as a Squire
- Promotion decided by
- The Guildmaster and the member's Captain. A Council vote may be called but is not required
A Squire of Dol Amroth is a full member. A Squire is expected to keep learning the internal workings of the guild, and to learn about Arda in general: finding weapons and equipment, solving quests, and using huntbreaks successfully. Squires are therefore expected to take part in parties and other gatherings, and to work closely with the Master of Training to improve their knowledge of Arda.
If a Squire has proven that they can uphold the high standards of our guild, and has become a formidable member with good knowledge of Arda, they will be considered for promotion. A Squire must have served as a Squire for two months before being considered. The Guildmaster, together with the Captain of the Company in which the Squire has served, makes the decision regarding the promotion, and the two may call a Council vote in any specific case. A Council vote is not required for a promotion to Footman or Footwoman, however. Members generally advance to Footman or Footwoman after serving a number of months as a Squire.
If the Guildmaster and the Captain decide in favor of the promotion, the Squire will become a Footman or Footwoman.
Page
- Status
- Trial member, with partial access to the Guildhall and access to the Guild Comm
- Minimum service
- One month as a Page, in addition to one month as a Pledge
- Induction decided by
- The Guildmaster and the Recruiting Officer, followed by a guild vote
A Page of Dol Amroth has partial access to our Guildhall and is considered a trial member. A Page is included in the guild system but has not yet received a tabard. A tabard indicates full membership in the Order of the Knights of Dol Amroth.
An applicant must first meet our basic criteria regarding race, profession, age, level, and alignment. If these qualifications are not met, the applicant will not be considered. Furthermore, the applicant must prove that they are dedicated and sincere: dedicated to the Prince and to our Cause, and sincere in their application. Therefore, the applicant is expected to contact other members and take part in as many parties as possible. This lets the applicant begin learning the ways of the Knight, and lets other members get to know the applicant so that they can send reports about the applicant to the Recruiting Officer. Eventually, the Guildmaster and the Recruiting Officer will decide on the applicant.
The applicant must show an interest in roleplaying and an ability to fit in well with our theme and our overall environment. Furthermore, the applicant must prove that they have the qualities we strive for. In other words, they must always act honorably as dictated by the Code of Honor, they must respect and obey the commands of other members, and they must be truly loyal and dedicated. This trial period usually lasts for quite a few months, though the minimum time an applicant must serve as a Page before becoming an official Squire is one month.
When a Pledge has proven their worth and the Guildmaster and Recruiting Officer have decided in favor of the applicant, they become an official Page of Dol Amroth and gain partial access to the Guildhall. They then continue to learn the ways of the Knight and to advance in rank. It is important, however, that the Page take initiative and do their best to understand how the guild functions.
A Page must serve for a minimum of one month, in addition to the one month required as a Pledge, before they can be considered for induction. The Guildmaster and Recruiting Officer make the decision regarding induction, based on the reports received from other members. In addition, a guild vote is held before the Page can be inducted. If the vote is in favor of the Page, they are inducted and advanced to Squire as a full member.
A Page of Dol Amroth also receives access to the Guild Comm so that they may communicate with other members of the guild.
Pledge
- Status
- Applicant
- Minimum service
- One month as a Pledge
- Advancement decided by
- The Guildmaster and the Recruiting Officer
A Pledge is neither an appointed rank nor a promotional rank. It is the title given to a person who applies to our guild and seeks entrance.
When a person applies to the Knights of Dol Amroth, they automatically become a Pledge. The next step for the applicant is to become an official Page of Dol Amroth.