The Black Knight
Rules for how the joust against The Black Knight will be played.
The Black Knight Combat
The Black Knight Combat is spectacular contest that is very popular with the ladies of court.
The combat usually has an elaborate theatrical setting inspired by one of the many troubadours’
songs which tell of the legendary feats of arms of various paladins of chivalry,
in other words warriors and champions of medieval times and their deeds.
This contest is held on the last day of the tourney in which the winner of the previous day’s
jousting challenges the Black Knight in order to win the top prize.
A beautiful and most valuable religious relic.
The Black Knight is the best Knight of the realm, chosen by the Queen herself,
disguised in black armour with no identifying heraldry.
He customarily unhorses several challengers before someone succeeds in defeating him to win the prize.
The prize of the tourney, in this case an enchanted relic, the contenders and
spectators make a splendid procession over to the combat fields on the morning before the contest,
which is held in the afternoon just after the final joust.
This will be the same place where the jousts are customarily held.
The prize is placed on an altar at the end of the field, which The Black Knight is to defend.
There is only one way to it and that is past The Black Knight who will not yield.
The only way to claim the prize is to win over The Black Knight.
Challenging The Black Knight
Both the challenger and the Black Knight charge each other with lances.
If one or the other is unhorsed the combat is considered over.
Rounds of the combat are fought until a winner is set which will make for a piercing,
vigorous and amusing spectacle in which both Knights end up with their shields utterly
and truly dented.
The prowess of the Black Knight is such that he intimidates the entire kingdom.
No one knows the true identity of the Knight who plays the role of the Black Knight.
All that you can be sure of is that he will be a Knight of great renown and martial prowess.
He could be the Queen’s son himself, the best Knight in the Queen’s retinue or a
hermit Grail Knight from a remote grail chapel somewhere in the kingdom.
According to legend sometimes the King, or in this case Queen, of Monsalvat herself
has played the role of the Black Knight in the tournament at Paris.
The Black Knight wears black armour, a black surcoat and carries a black shield bearing
no blazon by which he can be recognised.
He wears heavy armour and shield and rides a barded warhorse.
He is also armed with heavy a mace and lance.
His opponent will therefore be awarded the same equipment for his combat against the Black Knight.
The Grand Price
The prize for this combat will be a magic relic, which was recently brought to the
kingdom from an errantry war in a far away place.
In this case a bodily relic from the very first Knight and later King and Saint of
the realm of Monsalvat.
Bodily relics are particularly important because the spirit of the person is said to
actually remain in the bodily remains. Wherever the body, or body parts, goes the
spirit is therefore sure to follow.
The relic consequently acts as a physical reminder of the Saint and King and because
he worked miracles through the body, the body remains holy and is therefore valuable in itself.
This is the ultimate prize of the tourney which will of course also give you complete
bragging rights until next year when you will have to defend your title.
Each Knight who successfully gets through the jousting wins great renown and gains experience.
A Knight who enhances himself in this way will be able to use his new experience in later tourneys.
Winning against The Black Knight will also grant an extra Black-Knight point that
will of course give the opponent an advantage next time he meets The Black Knight.
He may also add to his heraldry a special blazon to show that he is victor in the joust,
perhaps a striped lance.
Finally he will also automatically become a Knight of the Realm if he is not one already and
with that title also be awarded additional winnings.
To sign up to challenge The Black Knight visit
this page, but please remember that only contestants in
The Joust of Germania are eligible to win this contest.
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Templar Gallery
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