Red Knight (Forgotten Realms)
| Game background | |
|---|---|
| Title(s) | Lady of Strategy Grandmaster of the Lanceboard |
| Home plane | Warrior's Rest |
| Power level | Demipower |
| Alignment | Lawful Neutral |
| Portfolio | Strategy, planning, tactics |
| Domains | Law, Nobility, Planning, War[1] |
| Superior | Tempus |
| Design details | |
The Red Knight is the Faerûnian deity of strategy and battle tactics in Ed Greenwood's Forgotten Realms fictional world of Abeir-Toril, for Dungeons & Dragons.
Contents
Publication history
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
Red Knight was first mentioned in the revised Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (1993).[2] Red Knight is further detailed in Powers & Pantheons (1997).[3]
Her relationships with the nonhuman deities in the Forgotten Realms was covered in Demihuman Deities (1998).[4]
Red Knight is described as one of the good deities that celestials can serve in the supplement Warriors of Heaven (1999).[5]
Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition (2000-2007)
Red Knight appears in 3rd edition in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting book (2001),[6] and was further described in Faiths and Pantheons (2002).[7]
Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)
Red Knight appears in 4th edition in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide (2008).[8]
Description
The Red Knight is depicted as a dark haired woman in red plate armor who wields a longsword called Checkmate. The Red Knight's symbol is a red Staunton knight chess piece with stars for eyes.[7]
In 4th edition, she is an exarch of Tempus.[8]
Relationships
The Red Knight is described as looking to Tempus, the god who elevated her into godhood, as a father figure. As such, he is the only being who knows the Red Knight's true name, which would give any other being who learned it power over her, and insight into every strategy and every war plan throughout the planes. The Red Knight is also described as being an ally of Torm. The duo are well-known to be very close, but whether they are friends or lovers is something they've kept to themselves. She also works closely with Valkur, god of naval warfare (and in 4th edition, another exarch of Tempus). Her enemies include Garagos and Cyric.[7][1]
She is known to have good relations with Tyr, god of Justice.
Dogma
The Red Knight's dogma dictates the use of careful tactics in battle to achieve victory, under the belief that sound strategy is the best way to win a battle with the most favorable outcome.
Worshippers
The Red Knight is worshiped by generals, tacticians, lawful-minded warriors, and several more war-minded paladins.
Clergy
Clerics of the Red Knight must be of Lawful Good, Lawful Neutral, or Lawful Evil alignment.[7]
Rituals
Clerics of the Red Knight, or "holy strategists," pray for their spells at night before sleeping to prepare for the next day. In addition to observing the holy days of the church of Tempus, the church of the Red Knight -- the "Red Fellowship" -- has two important holy days of its own.
Midwinter Day
On Midwinter Day the Red Fellowship observes the Retreat. This solemn ceremony consists of an assembly wherein the clergy discuss the previous year's campaigns. Strategies are discussed, battles analyzed, and the accumulated lore integrated into the church's teachings.
The Queen's Gambit
On the 1st of Tarsakh, the clergy of the Red Knight have an annual festival called the Queen's Gambit. During this day-long extravaganza, the Red Fellowship unwinds with feasting and gaming. Day-long tournaments of chess (also known as lanceboard, hence the Red Knight's second title, "Grandmaster of the Lanceboard") are held, with the tournament victors receiving recognition, titles of merit, promotions, and occasionally a gift from the temple armory.
History
The Red Knight was elevated to divinity by Tempus to balance Garagos' destructive aims.
Other media
A cleric of hers is encountered in the game Icewind Dale II, who states that he is a follower of the new goddess known as the Red Knight.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Rinschler, Thomas E. "Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting: Deities Supplement" (Wizards of the Coast, 2001).
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Boyd, Eric L. Demihuman Deities (TSR, 1998)
- ↑ Perkins, Christopher. Warriors of Heaven (TSR, 1999)
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Boyd, Eric L, and Erik Mona. Faiths and Pantheons (Wizards of the Coast, 2002).
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
