Perhaps you could convince me how any self-respecting Knight House would
stoop so low as to accept those of the Serpent class. Though I will not
make any such argument tying the vows of Knighthood to the Chivalry
skill, do explain how a Serpent, crafted by the Divine for stealthiness
and trickery, could ever truly call himself a Knight.

I must admit, however, that whatever justification you muster would be
based on your own mistaken assumptions on Knighthood and therefore
invalid in my eyes. I do not make this statement based on your service
to Good and its Divine. Indeed, I have been known to take disciplinary
action against my own Maldaathi on the report of a Shallamese, so it
would be rather pointless to discredit me through that manner. I make
this statement, instead, based on the concept of Honour and its meaning
to both your House and mine. It is there where, regardless of Patron,
the strongest distinction between our two Houses lies.

Tell me, Lord Fonetic, how dare you speak ill of Maldaathi Honour when
so many of your own fail to show it? I do not call out your younger
members as I understand there will always be mistakes among the less
accomplished. I would not judge any House by the behaviour of its unruly
novices. Instead, I bring to your attention the actions of your so
called Knights with Sir Alban and Sir Iskla being just the most recent
examples. Allow me to establish my understanding of Honour for all of
Sapience to see. Summed up very briefly, Honour is respect. Respect for
your House, your City, your Patron, your enemies. It matters not who it
is, Honour requires that you not abandon it simply because you would
fare better without it. You cannot shed Honour in one moment and then
claim to embrace it in the next.

I mentioned Sir Alban and Sir Iskla as members of your esteemed House
that fail to display Honour. I find it doubtful that their blatant
displays of teaming escape your notice. Perhaps you will say that like
attracts like, that the individuals they team deserve it, that no one
accepts a duel, that Evil deserves no respect. I will state right now
that I do not team. Yet Sir Alban has chosen to team me. I do accept
duels, a fact that Sir Alban is well aware of, so that is not a valid
excuse. That leaves me then on the assertion that because I am Evil, I
deserve to be teamed. After all, it is the end that justifies the means
according to discussions with some Guardians, is it not?

And there is where the distinction between the Guardians and the
Maldaathi lies. The means should be just as important as the end to any
Knight. Within the Maldaathi, respect is given to every opponent. There
is no teaming that reaches my ears that does not go unpunished. I care
not if the victim in question is a wretched Shallamese, teaming is never
acceptable to a Maldaathi. And though there exist several Guardians that
do demonstrate this understanding of Honour, there are not enough to
prove to me you deserve my recognition as a Knight House. You may title
your members as you see fit. After all, a title is just a title. Respect
derived from Honour is a completely different matter.

In service to the Lords,
High Lady Istiria Dread

Penned by my hand on the 19th of Aeguary, in the year 450 AF.