Tome Knight

This article contains mostly in-Universe information for the world of Game of Tomes. However, it will also include the occasional piece of "game play" information. When it does, that information will appear in boxes that look like this. If it represents a statistic or other supplementary information, it may also appear as a tooltip, which you can see with a mouseover.

The pen is mightier than the sword.
— Edward Bulwer-Lytton

A Tome Knight is a literomancer dedicated to battle for The Iron Tome, to protect it from The Undead Horde and those who would use it for evil ends. By extension, they also protect the Realm (the world) from other supernatural and magical threats.

We also use "Tome Knight" to refer to any Game of Tomes player outside of The GoTverse, just as 4theWords players are known as "Dust Warriors" and World Anvil users are known as "Anvilites."

Tome Knights are something like a holy militant knight's order, such as the Templars or Hospitallers, in their dedication to this purpose, even though there is no religious creed that unites them.

Career

Qualifications

To become a Tome Knight, one must be able to perform Literomancy. That is, one must be a "wizard of words," able to call upon magical energy, otherwise known as Literomantic Power, through the use of the written word. Hence, one must also be some form of creative writer. Tome Knights are drawn from novelists, poets, bards, screenwriters, editors, fanfic authors, short story writers, RPG gamers, video game programmers, and even folk magic practitioners who utilize rhyme, verse, or song in the performance of their magic. Even children can manifest the powers of a literomancer. However, it is generally agreed under the Geneva Conventions that allowing a child literomancer to become a Tome Knight would be the equivalent of permitting child combatants. Therefore, in every nation known to have Tome Knights, one must also be the legal age of majority in that nation to become one.

Career Progression

Most commonly, a creative writer discovers that their words have genuine powers of creation almost by accident. It's not clear at what point this line is crossed. A number of creative writers, most associated with the literomantic Great Houses, suddenly developed literomantic powers upon the reawakening of the Iron Tome in 2020. Since then, new literomancers have appeared from almost every corner of the globe and walk of life, and most have taken up the duties of a Tome Knight.

Every literomancer is a writer, but not every writer is a literomancer. And every Tome Knight is a literomancer, but not every literomancer is a Tome Knight.
— Erin Righ, speaking to new literomancers in his Magical Theory class

Payment & Reimbursement

Tome Knights are usually considered to be a branch of a Protectorate's military forces. This is somewhat like joining an elite combat unit because literomancers are so few. As a result, Tome Knights are typically paid like officers in any other NATO military force, which averages between $8,000 and $15,000 equivalent monthly.

Other Benefits

There are considerable benefits to being a Tome Knight, most of which do not come in the form of their salaries. Because there have been no more than about 500 Tome Knights in recent recorded history, even the least well-known is probably personally acquainted with at least one of the House Leaders, and therefore, the royal families of the Protectorates. In essence, Tome Knight are, by definition, joining a magical aristocracy. Further, most Tome Knights are broadly supported in their activities by their governments. Depending on their Protectorate, they may have access to ongoing expense accounts and almost unlimited resources to carry out literomantic research and experiments. Most Tome Knights quickly become famous, with all the benefits and drawbacks fame typically entails.

Perception

Purpose

Tome Knights are often the first, last and only line of defense against Zombies and other magical and supernatural threats. As a result, they are a necessity in modern warfare. Every Tome Knight is the equivalent of living heavy artillery. Depending on the nature of their manifested powers, they may serve a supportive role to other military forces (such as improving defenses and strengths through "buffing,") they might act as elite military units in special operations, or they might act in place of large-scale offensive and defensive operations. Some Tome Knights with healing powers have served as adjuncts to medical units, while those with magical powers of persuasion help win "hearts and minds." Some also serve in military intelligence roles, or research and development with a focus on military arcanology or technomancy. Some even simply serve as generators of raw magical power. Often, Tome Knights end up in command roles on a battlefield. This is in part because they are trusted by the House Leaders, and in part because they are the best judges of how their magic can be most effectively used.

Social Status

Everyone aspires to be a Tome Knight when they grow up, at least, if they develop the skills. The world is well aware that the Tome Knights literally saved the world in the zombie apocalypse of 2020, and they continue to do so every year. The monarchs of the Protectorates are all Tome Knights by definition, and people tend to give them a great deal of respect. Fandoms exist for almost every known Tome Knight, and some will react to them the same way they react to rock stars. On the other hand, as an elite class with abilities other people don't possess, they are also regarded by some with resentment. Society has been dramatically transformed by the return of magic, and not everyone appreciates those changes, especially since the Night Monarch is drawn every year from the literomancer population, although no one can exactly put their finger on how or why. As a result, Tome Knights tend to live a life apart. No one else really understands the strange and dangerous lives they lead, although some are lucky enough to be supported by their friends and families, even if they don't truly understand.

History

Presumably, the equivalent of Tome Knights existed prior to the Iron Tome going into its dormant period sometime in Renaissance, although it seems likely they were specific to the literomantic Houses. Just like with all things related to literomancy, there is little reliable confirmation of this, but it is a task that the Order of Royal Librarians has taken upon themselves to cross-reference the records of various Houses to make a more credible record. The exception, House Mollusca, required literomancy to maintain their society beneath the ocean waves, and so likely, their approach was different. While the Molluscans are notoriously secretive about their affairs, it is known that some Molluscan literomancers took on the duty of the House's protection, although referring to them as "Tome Knights" is new. With the coming of The Undead Horde in 2020, and the subsequent zombie apocalypse and the reawakening of magic, a number of literomancers took a literomantically-binding oath to defend those without magical powers against zombies and other dark magics. In the reformation of society that followed, most of the Western nations declared the Great Houses their monarchs, and looked to them for that protection. Likewise, the Tome Knights of each House took oaths to protect broad areas of the world, which were then given the name "Protectorates," and new nations were forged. As the Undead Horde made a return in 2021 and in 2022, it quickly became apparent that Tome Knights would be called upon more than just occasionally to live up to their oath. By late 2021, the School of Worldcraft and Wordmancy had been founded to nurture the art of literomancy, and by 2022 and The Third Word War, most Protectorates had integrated Tome Knights with their military forces, and begun providing them military training.

Operations

Tools

Writing implements are the most important part of a Tome Knight's tools in trade. In modern times, this most often takes the form of computer and keyboard or laptop, but may also involve tablets, phones, typewriters, notebooks and pens or pencils, and even quills and ink, chalk, crayons, charcoal, or carving implements.

Materials

Literomancy can take a variety of forms, and materials vary considerably as a result. Some Tome Knights are extensively researching magical inks. Others have figured out how to weave literomantic enchantments into textiles or build them into recipes. Still others make talismans or other permanent magical items, or use musical instruments to implement their literomancy. Some even integrate magic and technology, and keep research and testing laboratories for this purpose. They may also make use of more traditional magical accouterments, such as candles, dedicated ritual tools, and statuary.

Workplace

Most Tome Knights maintain a desk and some sort of computer for writing. Ideally, they have dedicated office spaces, usually decorated with a variety of inspirational sources, and often several monitors and many books. Some Tome Knights maintain special work spaces for their magical activities as well. These rooms might be designed for elemental magic, summoning, magical combat practice, traditional ritual, magical research, or a variety of other purposes.

Work Room 9: Magical Combat — NO UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY. When light is on, room is in use.
— Sign above "The Danger Room" at the World Literomantic Academy Warren Campus

Provided Services

Tome Knights are magical combat specialists. While other literomancers increasingly take part in maintaining magical integrations in infrastructure, Tome Knights are dedicated to magical defense, and spend much of their time training and researching to improve their effectiveness in combat. They may also be called on to assist with emergencies, such as natural (and supernatural) disasters.

Dangers & Hazards

Hey, don't get any ideas that these guys have it easy. Most of 'em have seen more combat than I have.
— Master Sergeant Sean O'Shea "Bigwig", Owsla Security Squad, March Hares (retired)

Tome Knights might have many advantages, but they lead exceptionally dangerous lives. Every year they face combat against the Undead Horde, and they face numerous other supernatural risks to life and limb. Casualties are high. While the Iron Tome has thus far Resurrected the Tome Knights who fall to the Undead each year, permanent death, disappearance, or maiming are not uncommon. Most Tome Knights have at least a few good scars and harrowing stories to tell to go with them. PTSD from repeated losses and combat exposure is common, and a disproportionate number of Tome Knights are in therapy.

WIP

This article is a work in progress, and may be subject to changes.

Streamer

This article is part of a series related to streaming the Game of Tomes. For more information, see Streaming Game of Tomes.

Missing

Status: Location Unknown

Deceased

Status: Deceased Character

Retired

Status: Retired Character or Article

Ambidextrous Literomancy of Queen TaraFaeBelle by Tazfa2

Type

Military

Demand

With only about 500 known Tome Knights in existence, they are in extremely high demand, often even actively courted.

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Coffee

Shy in Brocktree Armor with Clawdia by AWV via Heroforge

The Oath of a Tome Knight

I am the first and last line of defense against the Undead Horde and supernatural threats. I will put my body and my life between these threats and the people of my Protectorate if needed. I will stand with other Tome Knights to help them defend their people and their Houses when called upon to do so. I will use my Literomancy for the good of all living beings. I know that death or undeath may be my fate. My Words are my Oath.