Seals
Seals can be considered as the ranking system among Knights in the Familiar Lands. They are mana imbued artifacts that testify to the influence and strength that one possesses in the realm. All seals, be they Crown Seals or Dark Seals, are given to Knights by The Crown for their various actions and experiences.
The Crown keeps track of the Knight's deeds using a hidden network of spies and bards, then delivering Crown Seals by courier and Dark Seals using ninja-like agents. In any case, a letter is always provided along them to explain the reason they received it.
Crown seals of approval are a sign of pride in all the Familiar Lands. Many Knights wear them as both a show of their influence as well as a warning of their strength to anyone who would want to challenge them. They are directly correlated to one's experience in their occupation. Crown seals are not only earned by martial prowess but can also be rewarded for any action that benefits the Crown, such as inventing proper sewage systems, helping cure a plague, etc...
Knights from one to three Crown Seals can be considered rookies, usually young people with a bright future. The first crown seal is always the most important step to start your journey to become a true Knight. A prime example of this would be Flayne la Karrotte. Do not be fooled by their rookie status, as they are still people with considerable talent that can defeat a group of bandits by themselves or face dangerous creatures like ogres. A Knight possessing more than 3 seals is already highly regarded as a true knight with experience.
Above five Crown Seals are senior Knights who possess great influence within the realm. They are considered very reliable because they usually complete the tasks they are assigned, would be able to face a group of ordinary Knights alone, and can even take on dangerous monsters such as feral vampires or werewolves. A renowned Knight of this category would be Hunter Knight.
Veteran Knights of wide-spread and impressive renown, tales of whose prowess are told by even the most renowned of minstrels. They could defeat a platoon of ordinary Knights, and go toe to toe alone with deadly beasts like giants or lesser demons. The great inquisitor Maria Iglesias would fall under this category.
At this ranking stand the living legends, Knights so powerful they could take on an army by themselves and battle with mythical beasts such as dragons without any problems. Their names are sung and revered across the realms and beyond for their feats and incredible achievements. Chosen Knights of the 14 fundamentals are usually ranked around here, like the former Chosen of Temperance, Pascal Karrotte.
Dark Seals are a mark of shame and bear very negative connotations. Knights get marked by Dark Seals for insolent behaviors or crimes against the Crown. Because of their enchantment, it is impossible to get rid of a seal. As such, if someone tries to dispose of one, the seal will always come back as if to haunt them. Above 3 Dark Seals, Knights lose their position as Knights and become fugitives, are assigned a bounty depending on how many Dark Seals they have, and become targeted by the public. Certain figures with Dark Seals can still be employed for risky or morally ambiguous tasks, if they possess useful skills, talents or strength. The infamous Siege Knight for example is sometimes called upon for his knowledge and skills, despite having over 3 Dark Seals.