The Oath and the Measure

The Oath and the Measure


The Oath of the Knights of Solamnia, “Est Sularus
oth Mithas” or “My Honor is My Life,” has been the
same since Vinas Solamnus founded the Knighthood.
This principle—to sacrifice all for the sake of honor,
for without it life means nothing—guides the manner
in which all Knights strive to live their lives.
The Measure is the set of guidelines put forth
by Vinas Solamnus and his successors to govern
the proper chivalric behavior of the Knights. It is
the Knighthood’s creed, body of laws, and rules of
conduct. It touches every aspect of a Knight’s existence
and dictates the proper hierarchy of the Knighthood.
In the centuries since its inception, the Measure
grew as each generation of Knights added to it. By
the time of the Cataclysm, the Measure filled thirty
seven ponderous tomes in an unwieldy attempt to
define “honor” and everything associated with being a
Solamnic Knight. The Measure was impossible for any
one person to understand.

Following the War of the Lance, the newly
appointed Grand Master, Anastacia Mercador, led
a group of Knights in an extensive revision of the
Measure. They began to condense or remove longwinded
sections that covered minor details such as
formal address, courtly etiquette, and protocols for
minor tasks—the rules for proper saddling of a mount
ran seventy-five pages long! The ultimate goal in
revising the Measure was to create a work that would
inspire Knights to emulate Vinas Solamnus rather
than blindly follow an outdated set of rules.
The current Measure is contained in three
volumes and includes writing known, or thought, to
be authored by Vinas Solamnus, as well as certain
other works that help the Knights hold up their ideals.
The old Measure is still kept for study purposes, but
Knights no longer strain to follow it to the letter.
Although the whole of the Knighthood holds the
entire document sacred as the definition of honor,
each of the three Orders dedicates itself to one
particular aspect of the Measure.





Measure of the Crown
The Measure states that honor begins with the
precepts of Loyalty and Obedience, and a Knight of
the Crown exemplifies these two traits in every action
and thought.

Loyalty is a Knight’s commitment to a higher
authority. Justly given, loyalty becomes worth
more than any treasure. Obedience is the practical
application of loyalty. A Knight obeys those to whom
he is loyal, regardless of his own welfare or personal
opinion.

Knights of the Crown pledge loyalty to the gods of
Good, specifically to Kiri-Jolith and Habbakuk, and
Paladine. . Loyalty is also given to one’s family, those
oppressed by Evil, and to the just, deserving rulers who
are in good standing with the Knighthood.

A Crown Knight is responsible for serving and
aiding any fellow Knight who is on the business of
his Order and requires assistance, provided it does
not violate a lawful order given by his superiors. He
must also serve the kingdoms on the List of Honor, as
compiled by the Grand Circle of Knights.
Any Crown Knight found violating the precepts of
the Measure will be tried before a Knightly Council.
Any Knight found guilty will be reduced in rank and/
or have his Knighthood stripped from him.


Measure of the Sword
The Measure maintains that the next components of
honor are Heroism, Courage, and Spirituality. This is
the Measure of the Sword.

A strong spirit and faith in the patron deities of the
Knighthood form the spring from which courage and
heroism flow. Courage is the will to strike a blow for
the cause of Good, no matter what the personal cost.
Heroism is this same spirit of self-sacrifice, dedicated
to defending the world against the forces of Evil in
all of its forms. The heroic, courageous Knight is a
champion of the weak, defenseless, oppressed, poor,
enslaved, and falsely accused, and he always renders
aid to those in need.

While no truly courageous and heroic Knight
would run from a battle or decline combat with an
evil foe, the Measure does recognize that it is fruitless
to throw oneself away in a battle that cannot possibly
be won. The Measure teaches a Knight prudence in
choosing his battles and that it is better to live to fight
another day than to die in a battle that cannot be won.
A Knight of the Sword must pay homage to Kiri-
Jolith and the other gods of Good each day. A Clerist
must spend one day a week fasting with prayer to
Kiri-Jolith at sunrise, noon, and sunset. A Sword
Knight must eagerly engage evil opponents without
needlessly throwing his life away, protect the weak
and defenseless, and foreswear the use of his Knightly
powers for unrighteous reasons.


Measure of the Rose
According to the Measure, the final components of
honor are Wisdom and Justice. These are the ideals
embraced by the Knights of the Rose.

Wisdom is the ability to combine knowledge,
experience, understanding, and common sense with
insight. Justice is applying that wisdom to what is
written in the Measure and using it to defend those
in need and to further the cause of Good. The wise
Knight is a beacon of reason and good in the darkness
of ignorance and injustice.

A Knight of the Rose is expected to honor the gods
of Good in all things at all times. He is to fight for
justice without regard to personal safety or comfort,
and sacrifice all in the name of honor.