Lady Duchess, what is
good and what is
evil have been debated since men were creatd by the gods - and where ambition is
right and where it is
wrong have similarly been debated for just as long. How many claims are there to each plot of land in Cerilia? The only absolute matters of right and wrong are found in the
Book of Laws and writings of the
Holy Prophets - in matters of flesh and blood things inevitably matters become more complicated.
I understand the concerns of the knights - should they need to travel from one end of Anuire to the other, then having to negotiate movement with every landed lord in their path would slow them to a crawl, the Aegis has exactly the same concerns with the lords whose lands it aids despite having only the most beneficial of inclinations.
While, of course, the Conclave is a peaceable body of the most eminently reasonable men and women, and the knights form a purely defensive arm of the conclave, it is the duty of a noble to protect those in their realm and so a certain note of caution is to be expected. I am sure also, that all recognise the absolute right of a noble to say who can - and cannot - lead large numbers of heavily armed men across their lands.
Perhaps if the treaty were instead modified slightly by the addition of certain protocols:
1. The Knights of Haelyn will wage no war against a landed regent without the direct order of the conclave, in defense of outright attack, or without the provision of a full season's notice of warning that the noble is considered hostile (which would of course terminate any existing agreement to passage). On receipt of a notice that the ruler considers the knights hostile, the knights will immediately withdraw from the noble's lands.
Comment: While I trust such an event never occurs, I recognise the concerns of the nobility and doubt the knights will have any difficulty agreeing this point.
2. The Knights of Haelyn will inform the ruler of the lands of their passage.
Comment: Where a land is ruled by a vassal, the information to be given to either the vassal or the lord of the vassal, with each accepting duty to inform the other if need be.
Without such notification (not, I note, forced delay whilst permission is sought but mere sending of a missive to inform of passage), word of the knights passage will be by the rumours of bards alone - and such folk rarely include such details as 'marching peaceably under a church banner' when describing hundreds of armed men - for the Knights not to issue some announcement is to invite panic.
3. The Knights will request specific permission if they intend to remain in an area for longer than a few nights or construct any fortifications, regardless of existing permissions given.
Comment: Most nobles, quite rightly, wish to know the numbers and locations of large numbers of armed men within their realm - it is mere good manners for the knights to notify the lord should they make camp within their realm.
4. Where the Knights move to answer call of the Conclave, or imminent threat to a realm of godly mien, any permission required from a noble will be given without delay barring some exceptional event.
Comment: It is the absolute duty of the nobility to maintain peace and order in their realm. There are times when the presence of large numbers of troops will not quell, but rather incite discord. Similarly should a river flood a town, avalanche reduce a city, or the like, then it may be hazardous for the Knights to pass. As such even those nobles who have given permission may need, from time to time, to restrict access in this province or that.
5. Permission to travel will be granted without let or hindrance or other imposition.
Comment: I see the following issues:
a) The knights are servants of the Conclave, they may not bear any heraldry or sign besides that assigned to them by the Conclave, or the signs of the local Conclave member. As such a request that they bear the signs of a noble would be improper however natural for a noble to consider.
b) The knights rarely travel with significant funds, being supported by the local Conclave members. Accordingly as a practical matter the Knights should be free of all tolls, passage fees and the like - any debts incurred should rather be demanded by the noble from the local conclave member - who will of course raise the matter in Concave if the knights have incurred undue debt.
c) It is a simple practical fact that the details of agreeing passage are laborious. Should the knights need to negotiate each and every detail of any passage before passage was granted, their movement would be slowed to a crawl. Accordingly the only restraints posed upon them should be those noted above - should a noble seek any redress or lien then this should be negotiated between them and the local Conclave member.
