Pretty weird ask, but are there any established like knightly orders within the Shepherd's world?
Not weird at all! In fact, a version of this question has been asked before, albeit over in a Patreon Q&A! I'll copy-paste a more fleshed-out version here:
There are knightly orders (also known as chivalric orders) in Blest. The most famous nowadays are Norm, but in the days of yore, Elven knights were the big thing and kind of the legendary predecessors for all knights moving forward. The precursor of the Shepherds, in fact, originally started as an Elven knighthood that moved around the Continent, putting down demons and helping out people who needed their aid; their fame was such that they eventually attracted members of all races and stripes to their ranks, from Elementals to Mages to Changelings and whatnot, which would ultimately establish the concept of the Shepherds (albeit thousands of years later).
The other races, like the Hunters and the Mages, either briefly had knights on-and-off in their history (Mages) before the concept fell off altogether (different government structure: Mages almost never had monarchies, so the need for traditional knights as we conceive of them wasn't really a thing), or have the equivalent of knights in their culture today--they're just not called that. (The Black Shield is the equivalent of a knighthood or royal guard in the Reach, and Elinden has a version of knights or an honor guard, who are typically called Weapons).
Again, however, it's largely the Norms who form the majority of knights and knightly orders on the Continent today. Lavinet, for example, is a chevalier of the Order of the Rose: one of the many orders of chivalry that exist within the nobility. Most orders are descended from groups and alliances that existed either around the time the Autarchy was formed, or older, when the Norm Kingdoms were still a thing. Chivalric orders were usually formed by knights, bodyguards, advisors, merchant-lords, and other factions that served the various Norm kings and their courts--those mutated into the orders that exist today, which are basically like elite social ranks for various heirs and aristocrats to be accepted into.
The Order of the Rose was, until recently, a chivalric league meant only for men. Initiates attempted to enter its ranks through a series of tests, and it has more of a military-trained slant: fencing and dueling comprised a good portion of its trials, and members carry a special gilded dagger to signify their membership. When the Autarch was a young woman, she ordered the Order of the Rose (and all chivalric orders) to be opened to all genders, which caused a bit of a fuss. Prior to that change, members of the Order of the Rose had access to special lodges and private social clubs meant only for their ranks in almost every major city in Blest. (They still have these, it's just they're not male-exclusive anymore.)
The other Orders function much the same way: you either are born into their ranks by dint of your family's blood and prestige; you bought your way in; you were recommended in by an existing member (or several); you were granted knighthood by the Autarch or a Consortium member; or you proved your mettle by passing the order's various tests and trials as a rite of passage. It just depends on the Order--the Order of the Rose is exclusive and high-standing, and the first male heirs of families often have to apply to it as a way of proving their worth, while with other orders, it's kind of embarrassing if you have to take its trials (aka, you couldn't buy your way or be grandfathered in).
There are countless chivalric orders, including the Order of the Lily (more focused on the gentle arts, such as singing, embroidery, and general well-rounded etiquette and impeccable manners) and the Order of the Thistle, or, as Lavinet calls it, "the horse-obsessed." If you're curious, Lavinet is a member of the Order of the Iron Cross (another military-orientated knighthood that was fairer to its members) as well as the Order of the Violet, which honors lovers of beauty and fine things like perfumes, parties, and painting (but which has been suspected of being the source of aristocratic orgies... Lavinet adamantly denies this, though, so don't bring it up to her).
Finally, in case you're wondering, only about 30-40% of young nobles are part of any order!
Hope that all makes sense!
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