The laws of Bretonnia require that every village in the kingdom be defended by a knight of the realm. He resides in the finest and most solid structure in the community, usually a stone keep roughly three stories tall and built on the highest ground in the village. It is the knights’ duty to maintain peace and prosperity in the village. He has the power to enlist and train men at arms to maintain watch from the battlements of the keep, and patrol the outskirts of the community. The knight is responsible for sending supplies and soldiers to his liege lord, usually a local Baron who oversees several villages. The knight also serves as judge to domestic disputes and criminals are punished as he sees fit. To ensure that this vital position is never vacant, and is always held by a worthy individual, the tradition of the Errand of Knighthood is maintained throughout the kingdom. When the current knight of the village is killed or called to serve his liege in battle, or when he becomes to old to carry out his duties effectively, a new knight takes his place. Sometimes a knight has a dream or vision of the holy grail and calls for an errand of knighthood so that he may take up the search for the grail and become a questing knight.

The new knight is sometimes the son of the current constable who accomplishes the errand of knighthood and becomes the next village defender, but this is not often the case. There are several reasons for this, for example any of the knights sons will first serve as a page in another knights’ castle. Then when old enough to train for battle, a page becomes a knights’ squire, tending his horses and armor, learning to hunt with bow and spear, and to fight with sword and lance. Many young squires die in battle or of plague before they have the opportunity to take up an errand of knighthood. Then too, if an errand is called for in his fathers village, while he is serving as a squire to another knight, he must get the knights permission to return to his home and take up the errand. Then if he is given permission to go on the errand there is no guarantee that he will succeed or that another man might complete the task first. Sometimes the local knight is father of the fairest maid in the village and it is not uncommon then for her to set a task of her fathers’ design.

“According to the ancient custom which is still followed in Bretonnia, anyone who desired the honour and privilege of knighthood must first prove himself worthy of the position by accomplishing a perilous task. This errand of knighthood is traditionally chosen by the fairest maiden in the village who is destined to marry the Knight, should he succeed. A common task is to slay a troublesome monster prowling the countryside and devouring peasants. Any brave or reckless youth may attempt the errand. Many might perish in the attempt, but only the one who brings back the head of the monster will be granted knighthood.”

“Any young man who volunteers for the task becomes a Knight Errant. He must arm and equip himself as best he can and often has to wear old or borrowed armor. If a Knight Errant accomplishes his task he earns the full rank and honour of knighthood and becomes a true Knight. He will be rewarded with the best armour the village can afford and the finest warhorse. He is made overlord of the village and can command all of its resources and manpower. The village with its castle and fields becomes his domain to be defended as his own property.”

“If a Knight Errant fails to accomplish his task and does not perish in the attempt, he remains a Knight Errant and seeks to redeem himself by accomplishing another task at the first opportunity, becoming ever more restless and eager to find a worthy enemy to fight or wrong to be avenged. Hence the Knight Errants’ reputation for reckless valour and impetuousness.”