Path of the Human Knight

Even in this age, there are still young fighters now and then who wish to become a Human Knight. However, most are novices wrapped up in fantasies that they will become hero knights like those from legends. There are not many that have the qualities of a true Knight -- in other words, the courage to sacrifice oneself and the faith to stand up against the absurdities of the world.

• Say you want to become a Human Knight

y comrade of the sword, you are still not experienced enough to become a Knight. I can see the true passion and belief you hold in your heart, but those are not enough -- only through the forge of battle will you also gain the power to hold fast to those beliefs in the midst of unrighteousness.

Come back when you are a little older and wiser. When you are ready, I will test your worthiness to be a true Knight.

(Only characters level 18 and above may undertake this quest.)

Haven't you already earned the title of Knight? Brother, you need not receive the trial of the esquire again. Your duty is to fight for your noble faith and the glory of the lord.

It seems that you have already selected your path. You do not need to perform the trials of the esquire.

Haven't you already received the Sword of Ritual? That sword is proof that you have the qualifications to become a Knight. If you take it to the grand master of the fighters guild, he will change your profession to a Human Knight.

You want to become a Human Knight? Then you must go through the trial of the esquire to prove that you are not merely a rash, hot-blooded fighter, but one with true knightly spirit. This is a form of ritual and a process of training that all who desire to become a Human Knight must perform.

• Ask about the trial of the esquire

Knights were initially chosen to fight injustice and to protect the weak. The right to wear a sword and shield goes along with the responsibility to protect citizens from danger. The attire of knights has changed many times along with the changes of eras, but the fact that we are guardians of ordinary folk has not changed. That is because of the divine calling that we received from Einhasad, mother of creation.

The moment that a young warrior begins the life of a guardian knight and embarks on a training mission is called the Trial of an Apprentice Human Knight. An apprentice knight travels all over the kingdom, usually to the areas that don't receive the protection of the army, and aids those who ask for help. Those we receive help gives a Coin of Lords as a token of the thanks to the apprentice knight.

• Ask about the Coin of Lord.

Traditionally, the lord of the citizens who received the apprentice knight's help would show gratitude by inviting the apprentice to his castle and throwing a feast. But these days, the tradition is to give a Coin of Lords. A Coin of Lords is a gold coin engraved with a wise saying, showing the lord's gratitude. The right to give out these coins is given to the village guard captain or high priest.

When the pilgrimage is over and the apprentice knight returns, the number of Coins he has determines whether the apprentice knight will be formally recognized as a full-fledged knight.

If you wish to join the Knight Guild and earn the title of a knight, you must also go through this trial. So, my brother of the sword, will you formally go through the trial of the apprentice knight?

• Receive the trial of the apprentice knight.

Very well. I, Sir Klaus Vasper, the guardian knight of the west, bestow this Trial of the Apprentice Knight upon you. Always carry this mark with you while embarking on the trial. This is how people along your pilgrimage will recognize you as an apprentice knight.

As you go around to the villages in the Gludio region, try to meet with the local guard captain or the high priest. They will suggest many difficult tasks that you may perform for the people. When you complete these tasks, you can obtain a Coin of Lords. If you return with three or more Coins, you will have completed your trial.

Then, embark on your journey. May Einhasad's protection be with you.

Your pilgrimage is not over until you receive at least three coins of lords. Travel around the various villages in Gludio and meet the Guard Captains and High Priests. You can receive coins if you perform their tasks.

Come, comrade of the sword. You have done well. By bringing these three coins of lords, you have proven you have the abilities and qualities to become a Knight.

Now, do you want to complete the trial of the esquire? If so, I will give you the Sword of Ritual, with which you may change your profession to a Human Knight. Of course, if you want, you need not finish the trial of the esquire, but may instead continue with your journey.

• Say you will continue the trial of the esquire
• Say you will finish the trial

Welcome, comrade of the sword. I see you have had great success on your pilgrimage. You have brought many coins of lords when you only had to bring three ... This proves that you have sufficient ability and disposition to become a Human Knight.

Now, do you want to complete the trial of the esquire? If so, I will give you the Sword of Ritual, with which you may change your profession to a Human Knight. Of course, if you want, you need not finish the trial of the esquire, but may instead continue with your journey.

• Say you will continue the trial of the esquire
• Say you will finish the trial

Welcome, comrade of the sword. I cannot be anything but surprised - it has been long indeed since any esquires that have brought back six coins of lords. This is more than enough to prove that you have the abilities and qualities to become a Human Knight.

Now it is time to complete your trial as esquire. You have successfully endured this most demanding trial. Congratulations! Now you have earned the qualifications to become a Knight. I will give you the Sword of Ritual. This sword was used in the knighting ceremony of the legendary Sir Sedrick -- bear it with care. If you take this to the Grand Master of the fighters guild, he will change your profession to a Human Knight.

You have successfully endured a most demanding trial. Congratulations! Now you are qualified to become a Human Knight.

I will give you the Sword of Ritual. This sword was used in the knighting ceremony of the legendary Sir Sedrick -- bear it with care. If you take this to the Grand Master of the fighters guild, he will change your profession to a Human Knight.

Now, it is time for you to leave. Keep the faith and the romance of chivalry in your heart, and make your own destiny. May the good will of Einhasad always remain with you through every challenge.

You have successfully endured a most demanding trial. Congratulations! Now you are qualified to become a Human Knight.

I will give you the Sword of Ritual. This sword was used in the knighting ceremony of the legendary Sir Sedrick -- bear it with care. If you take this to the Grand Master of the fighters guild, he will change your profession to a Human Knight.

Three coins of lords are the minimum condition in order to become a Human Knight. If you think that you are not ready, continue your pilgrimage. If there are villages in Gludio that you have not gone to yet, go to them and meet the Guard Captains or High Priests. I heard one enthusiastic esquire even journeyed to Talking Island.

May the blessings of Einhasad be with you always.

Long ago the knights alliance protected the church of Einhasad. Not many know this, but in the chaos that followed the fall of the empire, it was that very alliance that protected the church from raiders and pagans, while still protecting the priests from the armies of Beleth. We never forgot the assistance we received from them over those dark, desperate days.

• "Is this relevant?"

Of course! You see, we must ask of the alliance's help again.

A few years ago, during the war with Gracia, we sent several priests to a small village in the south. The priests treated the wounded and performed funerals for the dead there, but one day the village was attacked by mercenaries. Man, woman, child... it didn't matter - each was butchered where they stood. Their bodies may have decayed over time, but the spirits of the dead there have no peace and still haunt the village ruins as undead spectres.

Of course, it is the duty of the priest to console their spirits and put them to rest through prayer, but it is too dangerous for someone like myself to face the horrors in those ruins. That is why I am asking you a favor.

• Say you will do the favor

Esquire, I beg you! Please go to the Ruins of Despair to the south of the village and find the departed spirits of the priests that have turned into the undead. Destroy them with your sword and recover the Einhasad crosses that are somewhere on their bodies. If you bring back twelve Einhasad crosses, I can perform a mass that soothes the spirits of the dead priests.

Before you go, take this. It is a mark that shows you are performing a holy task for the church of Einhasad.

Well than, I shall pray for your safe return. May the light of Einhasad guide you.

Even now, I can hear the cries and groans of despair from my priest brothers who cannot find rest. Please bring me twelve Silver Crosses of Einhasad from the Undead Priests at the Ruins of Despair, which is to the south of the village, so that I may offer a service to appease their souls.

May Einhasad's blessing be with you.

Now I can finally pray for the brothers who have perished while answering the summons of the gods. May Einhasad admit their souls ...

Esquire, on behalf of the priests, I thank you. Here, take this coin of the lords. May the light of Einhasad guide you.

Esquire, I see your pilgrimage is not yet finished. Please take a moment to kneel in front of the altar and offer a silent prayer of reverence. The light of Einhasad will bring the strength back into your weary soul.

Now I see you were a squire. The church of Einhasad has always provided a restful place for pilgrims. Stay here and rest until your weary body and soul have recovered.

• Ask if there is anything you can help with

Long ago, this place was where the Elves taught the Humans magic. However, not long after, the Humans betrayed the Elves and went to war with them. In the end, we Humans repaid kindness with betrayal.

Although it was committed by our ancestors, we inherited their sin. We are still paying for their actions. On this island, dead Elves are unable to rest and became undead called silent horrors and threaten the island residents.

Wouldn't it be best to put the souls of the elves slain by humans to rest, and ask pardon of their souls? I would like to ask you to do this favor. Go to the Elven Ruins and defeat the silent horrors. And please come back with ten of their skulls. I would like to perform a proper funeral service so the spirits of the elves can obtain rest.

You and I will represent the Humans and show respect to the spirits of the Elves that died by the hands of our ancestors one thousand years ago. You must bring ten silent horror skulls from the Elven Ruins in order to perform a proper funeral service.

You have brought back ten skulls from the ruins. With these, I can perform a proper funeral service for the elves that were slain a long time ago. May the departed spirits of the ruins forget their resentment of a thousand years, and gain peace within the arms of Einhasad.

Please take this coin ... This is proof that you have given a great contribution to the people of Gludio. May your sword continue to be used to punish evil, and your shield be used to protect the righteous. May the protection of light be with you!

Einhasad leads all pilgrims in the right direction in their search for truth. We cannot know what disasters or blessings are in store for us in the future, being as we are mere Humans. But I am sure there is something prepared for you.

This is the holy hall of Einhasad. How could you clad yourself with the tools of war and enter the most holy place? From your mark, I see you are a Knight in training. If that is the case, shouldn't you show all the more respect in the Temple of Einhasad? Next time, enter the temple in a more reverent costume.

• Ask if there is anything you can help with

These days, I hear from the guards that the lizardmen appear in great numbers on the southern shore of the province ... As you know, they look like lizards but are all evil creatures made by Shilen. The lizard is the descendent of the dragon, which is the ultimate creature of evil.

In addition, the guards say that these lizardmen perform strange sacrifices every night towards the sea. I am sure they are praying to Shilen, who lies asleep in the deep. Gludio is the land of the righteous ones that follow Einhasad. We cannot allow the land to become contaminated by unholy pagan creatures.

In the name of Einhasad, destroy Shilen's evil creatures. Take this mark with you, and strike the lizardmen with your sword of righteousness. If you return with twenty tokens after killing the lizardmen I will give you the Coin of Lords.

How come you have returned so early? You must return with twenty tokens of proof that you have killed the evil creatures of Shilen in order for me to give you the Coin of Lords.

Thank you. Now the lizardmen will not dare covet the land of Gludio. When I look at the strange idols of the lizardmen, I get shivers. I am thinking of burning these unholy things.

As we agreed, I will give you the Coin of Lords. May you always live by the will of Einhasad. Only the spiritual teachings of light will protect you from corruption.

Pray, do not take my advice lightly. I have seen many Knights fall to the apostles of darkness because of arrogance. In the end, they return to the arms of Einhasad as they are cleansed in the flames of the stake, but it is not a desirable fate.

May Einhasad bless your pilgrimage. By the way, have you been to Talking Island? As you know, that small and isolated island is also a part of the Gludio province. Therefore the captain of guards and High Priest there will also have the Coin of Lords.

We have not met in a long time. So you are an esquire in training... Anyway, I am glad to see you! I am Captain Gilbert.

• Ask if there is anything you can help with

Giant spiders have always existed on Talking Island. They used to only live on the northern part of the island, but lately incidents of their attacking homes and carrying off livestock have increased. They are so huge and ferocious that it is sometimes too difficult for the guard troop to deal with them.

Please. Destroy the giant spiders. Hunt the spiders and peel off their husks. Return with twenty husks and I will give you the coin of the lords. I am sorry to ask you to do such a dangerous task, but I cannot think of anyone but you who could possibly manage this.

Bring me twenty giant spider husks and I will give you the coin of the lords. I am sorry to ask you to do such a dangerous task, but I cannot think of anyone but you who could possibly manage this.

Thank you, young esquire. As promised, I will give you the coin of the lords. I hope your pilgrimage is successful.

So we meet again, esquire!. Nice to see you! Is your pilgrimage going well?

Have you been the Einhasad Temple, by any chance? High Priest Biotin may have need of your services.

Oh-ho. That mark tells me that you're an apprentice knight! Our guards do a great job protecting the village, so I don't think we have much to as of someone like you.

Well, if you insist on helping, there is one thing that you could do...

• Ask what it is.

If you follow the road northeast of the village, you will cross a river that marks the area between Gludio and Neutral Zone. There is a bridge that crosses the river. Recently, bugbear raiders have appeared around the area between the bridge and the Neutral Zone and attacked trader coaches. Already twenty traders have lost their lives, and the goods that were stolen are too numerous to list. The traders have requested funds from the trader's guild headquarters in order to hire mercenaries, but the guild has yet to answer their request.

I would be much obliged if you would get rid of the bugbears. According to the reports, there are about ten bugbears that attacked the trader coaches. Kill them and bring back ten necklaces. While on this task, you will be performing an official task of the Gludio guards, so take this with you.

Have you defeated the bugbear raiders? What do you mean, not yet? What have you done all this time?! I have already reported to my superiors that I have sent out soldiers to destroy the bugbears ... What will they take me for?!

At this very moment, the Traders that do business with Dion are losing quite a bit of profit by having to take the long way around on the southern coastal road! This is not the time for you to be fooling around in the village! Go defeat the bugbears and bring back ten necklaces. Then I will give you the coin of the lords!

Oh, so you have killed all the bugbears. Now the traders can safely drive their carts to Dion. Here, take this -- it's a coin of the lords.

Now you have the coin in your hand, and I have preserved my dignity as captain of the guards. Wasn't that a good exchange? Ha! Well, have a fine day!

Are you still on your training quest, fledgling? You're inviting trouble ... tsk tsk ...

Come and see me whenever you feel like quitting! I will hire you on in the guard. Ha! Well, have a fine day!

I have seen many young people like you who seek to become Human Knights. They foolishly try to act the part of the hero, and put not only themselves, but others in danger with their foolishness.

This age no longer needs noble heroes. No one expects a courageous knight to appear and save them. Do you know what the people want? They want well-organized guards, carrying good weapons that will protect them, and a strong castle wall outside the village.

• Ask if there is anything you can do to help

My my ... you are quite stubborn. Fine. If you must play the part of the hero ... why don't you go and hunt the spiders that have been wreaking havoc lately? Giant spiders have recently been reported upturning farmers' carts, raiding sheep and cattle, and even attacking Humans.

The monsters you need to hunt are called poison spiders, or arachnid tracker. Cut off their legs, then bring back twenty of them and I will give you the coin of the lords. Go to the Windmill Hill on the left of the southern coastal road and you will see lots of them appearing. I must follow procedure, so being captain of the guards, I give you this mark to take with you.

Well then, I hope you return with your life!

... No doubt it was too difficult for you!

As I told you, bring back twenty legs of the giant poison spiders or arachnid tracker and I will give you the coin of the lords. To reach the place where they are often sighted, follow the southern coastline road.

Ho ho, so you've really killed twenty poison spiders! Perhaps I've been too harsh on you. I was just about to organize a team of soldiers to battle the poison spiders, because I thought you weren't coming back. I apologize for being rude.

Here, I give you one of the few coins of the lords I have in my possession. I hope you have a successful quest.

So we meet again. Are you still on your quest? Ho ho, it must not be that easy to become a Human Knight.

Have you been to Talking Island? As you know, the island is also a part of the Gludio province. The captain of guards and the high priest there also have coins of the lords. As it is a remote place, security will be loose, and a warrior -- no, an apprentice Knight -- like yourself will be of aid.

Go to the wharf of the harbor to take a ship going to Talking Island If you don't know the way to the harbor, ask Guard Plink.

Greetings, traveler. I see you are an esquire. You are to be commended for having come all the way to this isolated island on your pilgrimage. I am a member of the Knight League myself, but I do not really like Knights. All those I was acquainted with on the mainland spoke of justice and sacrifice, but were very calculating people who did not involve themselves in fights that were unprofitable.

During the war with Gracia, the civil troops fought for their lives in the mud with crude spears while those that called themselves Knights discussed tactics at the table, hiding behind the castle walls. In my eyes, the courage and sacrifice of the farmer that died while fighting to protect their villages was far nobler than the virtue of any Knight. The will to put your faith into action -- that is what I think chivalry is.

Good luck, esquire! When you end your trial and become a Human Knight, please remember our talk today. Well then, may the divine protection of Einhasad be with you.

From your mark I gather that you are undergoing the Trial of the Esquire. They must be hard up for students, eh? Your courage is admirable but, honestly my friend, you may as well give up. Do you think just anyone can become a Knight?

You are not even of noble birth, are you? One cannot become a true Knight without noble birth and natural talent. It is really pathetic to see someone from the lower classes struggle to become a Knight.