Red Knight
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| Red Knight | ||||||||||
| Basic Information | ||||||||||
| Title(s) | Lady of Strategy Grandmaster of the Lanceboard | |||||||||
| Symbol | Red knight chess piece with stars for eyes[1] | |||||||||
| Power level | Exarch of Tempus | |||||||||
| Alignment | Lawful Good (formerly Lawful Neutral) | |||||||||
| Favored weapon | "Checkmate" (longsword) | |||||||||
| Influence | ||||||||||
| Dominion | Warrior's Rest | |||||||||
| Sphere(s) of influence | Tactics[2] | |||||||||
| Portfolio | Strategy Planning Tactics | |||||||||
| Domains | Law, Nobility, Planning, War | |||||||||
| Worshipers | ||||||||||
| Worshipers | Generals, tacticians, paladins, warriors | |||||||||
| Worshiper alignment(s) |
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The Red Knight, or the Lady of Strategy, is the Faerûnian deity of strategy and battle tactics and an exarch of Tempus.[2] Her 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. Her symbol is a red 'knight' chess piece with stars for eyes.[3]
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Worshipers 
Edit
The Red Knight is worshiped by generals, tacticians, lawful-minded warriors and paladins alike.[3]
Rituals Edit
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.[4]
Midwinter Day Edit
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.[4]
The Queen's Gambit Edit
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.[4]
Relationships Edit
The Red Knight looks to Tempus as a father figure and it is only he who knows her true name. If anyone else discovered this they would gain insight into every strategy and every war plan throughout the planes.
Another ally of the Red Knight is 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 another exarch of Tempus. Her enemies include Garagos and Cyric.[4]
She is known to have good relations with Tyr, god of Justice.
History Edit
The Red Knight was elevated to divinity by Tempus to balance Garagos' destructive aims.[4]
During the Time of Troubles, the Red Knight's avatar possessed Lady Kaitlyn Tindall Bloodhawk. While possessed, she and her adventuring band traveled to Tethyr and successfully repelled a large army of monsters, earning the nation's gratitude. Bloodhawk is now head of the Order of the Red Falcon, a small knightly order worshiping the Red Knight that trains officers and others in tactics and military history.[5]
Dogma Edit
"War is won by those with the best planning, strategy, and tactics, regardless of the apparent odds. Any fool can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory with fortune's aid. Only a master strategist can ensure lasting victory. War is a series of battles. Losing a battle does not necessarily indicate the war is lost. Seek out your opponent's weaknesses and recognize your own; avoid an opponent's strengths and play to your own. Only by focusing one's own strengths on the opponent's vulnerabilities can triumph be ensured. In times of war prepare for peace; in times of peace prepare for war. Seek out your enemy's enemies as allies, and be prepared to compromise. Life is an endless series of skirmishes with occasional outbreaks of war. Be ready -- and have a contingency plan."[4]
Publication historyEdit
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)Edit
Red Knight was mentioned in the revised Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (1993).[6] Red Knight is further detailed in Powers & Pantheons (1997).[7]
Red Knight is described as one of the good deities that celestials can serve in the supplement Warriors of Heaven (1999).[8]
Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition (2000-2007)Edit
Red Knight appears in 3rd edition in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting book (2001),[9] and was further described in Faiths and Pantheons (2002).[10]
Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)Edit
Red Knight appears in 4th edition in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide (2008).[11]
GalleryEdit
References Edit
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition, p. 235. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, p. 81. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons, p. 103. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons, p. 104. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
- ↑ Thomas M. Reid, Sean K. Reynolds (Nov. 2005). Champions of Valor, p. 103. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-3697-5.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Ed Greenwood and Julia Martin (1993). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 2nd edition. TSR, Inc.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (1997). Powers and Pantheons. TSR, Inc. ISBN 0-7869-0657-X.
- ↑ Perkins, Christopher. Warriors of Heaven (TSR, 1999)
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
Further ReadingEdit
- Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons, p. 103-104. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
