Knights of Poorthwart

The Knights of Poorthwart are a semi-structured fraternity/sorority of independent soldiers who are free to serve whatever causes or people in Poorthwart they like, so long as that they do not work directly for the antagonistic groups. They claim descent from the Soldierly Saints of Poorthwart.

History of the Knights
The Knights came into association sometime during Ancient Times. After the fall of the Saints of Poorthwart towards the end of the Weirdful Mess, there was a general period of disarray in Poorthwart as everyone tried to deal with the implications of the Anchorites' sudden rise to power and display of unity. Many feckless youths decided to abandon their farming or other household tasks and set out to seek adventure in the new and exciting age that lay ahead, while others sought jobs as soldiers who would surely be needed to advance the projects the Anchorites planned.

Poorthwart was too regionally divided to allow for a geographical unity of knights; hence, the lack of central temples or castles devoted to them. Instead, rules were put in place that included a code of enforcement, so so that all knights could help self-police against bad influences creeping into the group and sullying its name.

Rules of Knighthood
These Rules were codified in the early days of Ancient Times, and have been left more or less intact over the ages to follow. They are:
 * 1) A knight may take on one apprentice, and train them for only five years. After five years, one of two things must happen: they can confer knighthood on their apprentice, forever linking their names and reputations; or they can deny their apprentice on the basis of a lack of skill, which will almost always lead to a duel. If the older knight is successful, it is taken as proof that his decision was valid. If he is unsuccessful, then the apprentice may take the title of Knight, on the basis of his ability to best in combat a recognized Knight of Poorthwart.
 * 2) Upon meeting a fellow knight, a Knight of Poorthwart must ask for their master's name, and check their reputation at the nearest Anchorite as soon as time allows.
 * 3) When encountering an Anchorite, a Knight should ask for updates on the reputation of local knights, the creation of new knights, etc.
 * 4) A knight may never knowingly work directly for one of the recognized Antagonists of Poorthwart.

Notable Knights

 * Olinianayat the Smooth, the founder of Clock Town. He rejected the knighthood after visiting the cave of the Oracle Drear.
 * Fortola Butane, a knight of the Present Days of Poorthwart. She is one of the major characters of the Poorthwart series of graphic novels.