When we think of an archetype that epitomizes the ideals of the past, the knight is often the figure who comes to our minds in the Western world. Symbols of bravery, valor, honor and virtue, knights were often the protagonists of great tales and epic romances where their skill and wisdom were tested. Historically, however, knights were simply the warrior caste of society; individuals granted standing through ritualized processes, and expected to do violence on behalf of those above them in the caste system. They fought and killed for their nations, their gods and their own interests far more often than they likely did for honor or duty.
While knights traditionally appear in settings that hearken to the past (or to fantastical worlds that draw inspiration from our past), they're just as often found in the far future. Whether it's an order of warrior monks who train in isolation on a lost asteroid colony, a force of self-appointed peace keepers who watch over a particular quadrant or even those rare few whose minds and bodies allow them to merge with colossal war machines that they ride into battle, this archetype is quite flexible, and lends itself to numerous unexpected interpretations.
The following knightly orders are meant to help you flesh out any given sci-fi setting, and they operate as a mix of the chivalric ideals from our romantic tales, and the bloody, dangerous truth of historical knights and their orders. From charitable organizations, to private militaries, to legendary secret societies that are as much rumor as fact, they can act as employers, allies, adversaries, aspirations or simply background figures for your next game!
- from the publisher's blurb