#medieval core

-Don Quijote.

As promised, this time we're going to talk about medieval times brought into the Modern Age; we're going to talk about...

Knightcore.

Modern knights.

As usual, let's start with the things...

I'm not talking about.

It's very easy to misinterpret what could be described as a modern medieval knight. Although I'm aware this was a bit more difficult in past years, specifically in the last decade, it's important to emphasize that I'm not referring to those kinds of fantasy armors, which I absolutely despise. I don't know why, I don't know what it is about them, but there's something about them that tells me they're generic, mass-produced, lacking personality. Beyond their own visual design style and the artist's drawing, these four images you see above are from four different franchises, if I remember correctly: Warcraft, League of Legends, Warhammer, and another whose name I can't recall. So try to guess which one is which.

What frustrates me most about the design is that it treats medieval armor as if it were some kind of power armor, something more like something from Starship Troopers set in the Middle Ages. And while it's understandable that it's a fantasy world and therefore they don't have to follow the rules, the fact that everyone follows the same trope of a helmet split in half with gigantic shoulder pads frustrates me beyond belief. Simply because when you look at the historical record, medical armor was much more varied than one might expect.

Especially because armor like that of a knight, as we understand it, wasn't as common as one might expect. It was more common for people to wear some kind of chainmail with plates or a helmet. For example, the famous Templar Knights' attire that has become popular is quite close to reality, given that most of the time it appears as if they were wearing metallic chainmail vests. Without going any further than trying to equip an entire army with this type of armor, it simply wasn't a good idea because they were too expensive. The mere fact that a full-body metal armor existed was the equivalent of encountering Iron Man in medieval times, because the warrior had to have meticulous skill in its use to ensure that the wearer of said armor didn't injure themselves in any way.

And there's something else that many people don't consider: armies weren't always gray like they appear in Hollywood movies. I didn't include images of them, but you probably already know what kind of movies I'm talking about. In reality, armies came in different colors and had different functions.

What you see here is a common type of standard armor for a large army, though even within the army itself it varied, as artillery and other tasks weren't exactly the same, requiring different types of helmets or armor. This was such a conventional method that not only did the Roman Empire begin adopting it before its fall, but even, despite what popular culture might tell you, Vikings looked very similar thanks to the Vikings series, with helmets that resembled more of an oval bucket on the head than anything else. Although my personal favorite is the one with the metal hats.

But to make myself clearer, this type of armor was only used on a personal level and on a large scale, meaning for armies, guards, and so on. But when it came to festivals—a practice that I actually love today because of the medieval fantasy themed festivals that exist around the world—one thing they've perfectly captured is how the armor of this era was maintained with vibrant colors and rather strange shapes. Although some practices weren't carried out at the time, such as large-scale simulated battles (we'll leave that to the Romans), the truth is that it still remains quite faithful to the spirit of the time, perhaps not fair, but with fights.

One thing that translates well to modern times is that seeing a knight is technically seeing a superhero. Or at least close enough to see something like that. Unlike gladiators in the past who were shown more for their spectacular nature than for their actual desire to kill each other, here the interesting thing is that the armor also protects against the fact that some of the fights shown in both modern activities and in antiquity are much more brutal and possibly leave more remarkable physical sequences. But that's why there were specialized armors for that.

If you've ever seen ridiculous or strangely shaped medieval armor, the truth is that most of it was used almost exclusively for jousting. The enormous space inside the armor provided better protection for the body, which is why you'd never find a medieval knight wearing such cumbersome armor on the battlefield. And if you did see something that looked truly odd, like a mask, it was usually worn by generals who lived that way, either to distinguish themselves from the rest or to intimidate. We have records that the better dressed the general was, the higher the morale of the army became.

Taking all these elements into account, I find it impressive how modern medieval fantasy tends to exclude what is actually medieval, or at least what that medieval culture already encompassed. I mentioned it briefly, but the truth is that both Hollywood popular culture, at least the modern version, and video games tend to focus only on a very small part, and that very small part tends to cover a period of approximately 30 to 40 years (as far as I remember) of the entire Middle Ages. This small part is what we still call the Dark Ages today, and the truth is that it doesn't even cover a third of the entire Middle Ages; it was simply the equivalent of a great depression.

So we have the foundation to create medieval fantasy based on literally medieval things, and we can expand on that in different ways. So we're starting with franchises that has done it, in my opinion, masterfully. Yes, I know I've mentioned it before. I think I'll keep mentioning it. I'm tired, but I'm sorry, Front Software's video games are just too good.

Dark souls and Elden Ring.

What I like about the design of these games is that they apply different philosophies to different things. We have the classic knight, which is standard armor, and sometimes the strongest armor in the game is the one that most resembles the stereotypical knight we find in shining armor. On the other hand, we also have somewhat more fantastical armors, things that didn't exist in real life but that, within the context of the game, have their own cultural background and physical needs to be able to show the character in different forms. We also have the ostentatious ones, which have an unusual shape and could even be called comical, from helmets emulating a penitential human face, as in Blasphemous, to armors that seem to be made for obese people. Although I would especially like to focus on how the entirely fantasy armors are handled, since unlike the ones I showed at the beginning of this post, here you can more or less believe that someone could wear this, or at least that it was feasible. In fact, without going any further, this type of armor is what is commonly seen in cosplay.

Not to mention that thanks to these movements becoming a bit more popular, and also to the modern perception of gender equality, we can find characters and cosplayers dressed as their counterparts of what would be a female knight, or things that, while not 100% invented out of thin air and since they have historical roots, were much less common, and the truth is that it is one of the things I enjoy about modern knightcore because it is always a delight to see a beautiful lady wearing a powerful suit of armor.

A salute to this reconstruction of what is probably the historically accurate Joan of Arc and one of her descendants, or well, technically a descendant of a relative, but it's 80% Joan of Arc on my opinion.

And there is a detail that many people tend to ignore, if not in specific spaces sometimes Knights were also considered as bodyguards or at least quite well trained and powerful people within kingdoms with an unwavering loyalty to the one to whom they swore all honor... ok, not really. Everything I just said is really Romanticism, things that started to become popular during the Renaissance rather than in medieval times. The truth is, a medieval knight did live quite well and was very well paid. But it wasn't as if they had 100% strict loyalty. As I said, most of the time what we consider true chivalry is the romanticized version from later periods.

But similarly to how we might come to understand this about a samurai or a superhero, the knight strikes me as a rather unique figure. More than anything, because while it's true that most of the time they received payment from someone above them, there's also what's known as the code of chivalry. I'm not sure if this has historical roots or not... Honestly, I don't think it's something else that arose from the Renaissance, but I still find it very beautiful.

The rules varied from organization to organization and also depending on the knight himself, but they generally adhered to codes of honor, loyalty, oaths of peace, and the duty to wage war if necessary, as well as the protection of the weak. The reason I place this above, for example, a superhero, is simply because a superhero, by nature, faces things that are beyond any kind of problem—a supervillain, an alien invasion, and so on. Whereas a knight is defined as protecting the weak, the common person, those who cannot defend themselves. This is where the image of chivalry that we all associate with it comes from: the knight in shining armor who travels the world in search of adventures to challenge the gods of the world. Of course, in fantasy novels, this translates to evil sorcerers and greedy dragons, but in ancient times, it meant people who had to travel long distances to reach a city, fearing being attacked or killed by wild animals or thieves.

To illustrate, the Knights Templar, whose oath of loyalty to God was invoked, were mostly composed of people from different social classes, from rich to poor. Anyone could join as long as they swore to protect those who went to the Holy Land, and of course, that also led to the Crusades. That's why I prefer the theme of the knight errant, that is, someone who lives by the code he himself declared honor. And nothing else.

But what would become of the knight without someone to whom he could swear or declare victory? That is, what is his reason for getting up every day to keep fighting? Of course, one could say it's simply seeing people happy, but this is where one of the themes of chivalry lies: the lady or that muse to whom victories are dedicated. Of course, these can vary quite a bit, and I'm sure that if the knight were homosexual, he would declare the victory to some lover. But anyway, I love the idea of ​​the lady and the knight, not even the princess, simply a lady.

Don't let it show that this is one of my male fantasies....

One thing I personally like to completely exclude about the Middle Ages is people's dress codes. Of course, peasants had their own clothing, and they didn't care what other people thought. But at least when it came to royalty or the upper class, the dress code seemed like torture to me. Or at least, seeing it was quite strange to watch. How people dress in Shrek is the most accurate way Hollywood has portrayed people in the Middle Ages. I'm talking about the first film, since the others started to be more satires of the modern age.

But honestly, I prefer to see a woman in looser, more comfortable clothing that makes her feel free, as if she doesn't have to carry the weight of anything, as if the constraints of her clothing weren't the constraints of social expectation or some kind of code of standards. It doesn't matter if it's a long dress or just casual clothes, I quite like seeing these kinds of damsels accompanying the knight. More than anything, because you can understand very well that their oath is to protect the symbolism of those who gave their heart and soul, so that more people like that lady can live in peace and the only one who has to sacrifice is the knight. I find it very noble, beautiful, and romantic. To a certain extent, and ironically, one of the things that has cemented this idealization for me... is TikTok.

It's so funny that in my last few posts I've said that TikTok has a lot of the things I like, but the truth is I don't even use it; I just watch the videos and compilations that people make on YouTube. Maybe that's why I'm happier!

Returning to the topic, these types of photos or illustrations perfectly reflect what I'm talking about. There's no other feeling that can be evoked but simple romance—at least not romance towards the other person, but romance towards life itself, romance towards the oath the knight has sworn, romance towards all the sacrifices that will be made to maintain the peace and beauty of the world. And I like how several of these images reflect this in a somewhat tragic tone, knowing that the only one who will have to be sacrificed will be the knight, whose face will be hidden by the mask of the helmet, most likely without anyone else knowing his identity except for the lady who swore the oath.

My favorite of all these has to be, of course, the one of the knight protecting a princess with his cloak and shield. It's not exactly the image I specifically like, but a modification that gives the lady pointy elf ears. The image is even stronger considering that people are already throwing tomatoes and stones around, giving the idea of ​​a rather strong social commentary, but a commentary which the knight completely ignores and decides to protect her.

"Haven't I told you a thousand times, Sancho, that in all my life I have never seen the peerless Dulcinea, nor have I ever crossed the threshold of her palace, and that I am only in love with her by hearsay and because of her great reputation for being beautiful and discreet?"

"Picture her in your mind as the most beautiful creature in the world (...). I know very well that she is not worth so much, but I don't care; I imagine her as I want her to be."

-Don Quijote.

In the next post I'm gonna have to talk a little bit about pointy ears...

But within the whole context of all the things I've mentioned about how I extol the fictional or real values ​​of knight-errantry and how fascinated I am by this type of attire, there is only one character who, in my opinion, masterfully encompasses all these characteristics...

Ok. Hear me out...

Miguel de Cervantes was a fan of chivalric romances, so much so that he began to realize that the more he read them, the more they started to resemble one another. It's the same kind of criticism one can make when they're a fan of something: you start consuming other things that are similar, and sooner or later you realize that they're all just copying each other. That's why he came up with the idea of ​​a chivalric novelty to destroy all the chivalric novelties—the Austin Powers of Knights. This is Don Quixote, or rather, El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote of La Mancha.

Now, don't get me wrong, Don Quixote is crazy, very crazy. The part where he somehow convinces himself that some wind chimes are actually giants is very famous, but the book goes beyond that. There comes a point where his neighbors try to play his role-playing game to bring back his house, doing something like "The Mirror Wizard," and Don Quixote simply breaks the mirrors. At another point, he shows Sancho two groups of sheep that he swears on his life represent two kingdoms facing each other. And at another point, he gains a shaving bowl from a traveler, claiming that it is actually the helmet of a legendary knight, which is the one he uses later.

But there's something incredibly beautiful about the way Don Quixote maintains his ideals. Despite all the things that might lead one to label him as simply crazy, the guy genuinely wants to make a change in the world. Although it might not seem like it, he's quite passionate in his own way. And while variations and adaptations depend on which of Don Quixote's virtues he embodies—whether it's the old madman who spends his time bothering everyone or the knight-errant who remains the last to uphold these values ​​in a rather cruel and indifferent world—there's no denying that, in a way, it's contagious.

When you start reading the book, you understand that this guy is crazy and has quite a few mental problems. But the further you read, you simply can't help but think that it's a noble cause, at least to some extent. It's a shame, since (spoilers for a book that came out over 200 years ago) Don Quixote regains his sanity by the end of the second book, but now Sancho Panza, his most faithful squire besides his only one, is convinced that Don Quixote is, in fact, a knight and urges him to get out of bed so he can continue fighting for the weak. Meanwhile, Don Quixote realizes that he has infected someone else with his madness. Depending on how you see it, it can be tragic. But some adaptations, like the musical Man of La Mancha, portray it as a triumph—a triumph of virtue, honor, and dreams over cruelty and indifference.

And damn it, he infected me too, because if it weren't for this crazy old man, I wouldn't wish for knights to exist anymore. There's a phrase that came up in a Tayle video about fantasy—I already shared it on my main profile—but it said that it's curious how even in medieval times, people longed for the old days when King Arthur still reigned, when there were fairies, giants, and wizards on Earth. And while this type of literature suggests that this existed, the truth is, it never did. It's simply a way of embellishing our past. And what I like about chivalry, and what I like about modern knightcore, is that we're currently bringing the best of that era into the present, not only in the form of festivals and clothing fashions, but in simple lifestyles, valuing good food, friendship, and art over gold...

"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. But sad or merry, I must leave it now. Farewell!"

-Thorin Oakenshield.

We Ride at Dawn

The Wheel Of Time: Rewritten - New Ajahs

click here to be redirected to the New Ajahs introductory post.

1. Methods of Emotional and Mental Healing

A. Healing with the One Power

The Pink Ajah primarily uses the One Power to soothe emotional pain, stabilize moods, and restore mental clarity. Their techniques include:

1. Soothing the Spirit (Saidin/Saidar)

Purpose: To calm anxiety, fear, or despair.

Method:

The Pink sister weaves the One Power to directly influence the mind, softening intense emotions without erasing them entirely.

Example: A sister grieving the loss of a loved one might receive a gentle weave of saidar that eases her sorrow, allowing her to function without being overwhelmed.

Quote (imagined): “The pain remains, but it no longer drowns you.”

Limitations:

Cannot erase memories or emotions—only temper their intensity.

Overuse can lead to emotional numbness or dependency on the Power for coping.

2. Mending Broken Hearts (Emotional Restoration)

Purpose: To heal emotional trauma (e.g., heartbreak, betrayal, or guilt).

Method:

The Pink sister uses the Power to “rebalance” the emotions, helping the patient process their feelings in a healthier way.

Example: A sister who was betrayed by a Warder might receive a weave that helps her forgive without forgetting.

Quote (imagined): “Grief is a wound, not a prison. Let it heal.”

Limitations:

Cannot force someone to forgive or forget—only guide them toward acceptance.

Deep trauma may require multiple sessions over weeks or months.

3. Stabilizing the Mind (Mental Clarity)

Purpose: To counteract panic, confusion, or mental fog (e.g., after a traumatic event or during extreme stress).

Method:

The Pink sister weaves the Power to “anchor” the mind, reducing intrusive thoughts and restoring focus.

Example: A sister who witnessed a battle’s horrors might receive a weave to calm her racing thoughts.

Quote (imagined): “The mind is a storm-tossed sea. Let me still the waves.”

Limitations:

Cannot cure mental illnesses like severe depression or psychosis—only provide temporary relief.

Overuse can suppress natural emotional responses, making the patient emotionally detached.

4. Releasing Emotional Blocks (Trauma Release)

Purpose: To help patients process repressed emotions (e.g., survivor’s guilt, shame, or deep-seated anger).

Method:

The Pink sister uses the Power to gently “unlock” suppressed feelings, allowing the patient to confront and release them.

Example: A sister who survived a Darkfriend attack but feels shame for fleeing might receive help processing her guilt.

Quote (imagined): “The past is a shadow. Face it, and it will no longer haunt you.”

Limitations:

Can be painful—patients may relive traumatic memories during the process.

Requires deep trust between the healer and the patient.

B. Psychological and Non-Power Techniques

While the One Power is their primary tool, the Pink Ajah also employs traditional psychological methods to support emotional healing:

1. Active Listening and Empathy

Purpose: To validate the patient’s feelings and help them feel heard.

Method:

The Pink sister listens without judgment, reflecting the patient’s emotions to help them process their own thoughts.

Example: A sister who feels isolated might receive hours of undivided attention, helping her feel less alone.

2. Guided Reflection

Purpose: To help patients reframe their experiences in a healthier way.

Method:

The Pink sister asks open-ended questions to encourage self-reflection.

Example: “What did this pain teach you?” or “How can you honor what you’ve lost?”

3. Rituals and Symbolism

Purpose: To provide closure in moments of grief or transition.

Method:

The Pink sister might prescribe symbolic acts (e.g., planting a tree for a lost loved one, writing a letter to someone they’ve wronged).

Example: A sister who failed to save a village might be guided to write a letter of apology to the dead, helping her find peace.

4. Group Therapy (Pink Ajah Circles)

Purpose: To foster community and shared healing.

Method:

The Pink Ajah hosts group sessions where sisters share their struggles and support each other.

Example: A group of sisters who lost Warders in battle might meet weekly to process their grief together.

C. Specialized Techniques

The Pink Ajah has developed unique techniques for specific situations:

1. The “Heartfire” Weave

Purpose: To rekindle hope or motivation in someone who has given up.

Method:

A complex weave of saidar that stimulates feelings of warmth, love, or purpose.

Example: A sister who has lost her belief in the Light might receive this weave to restore her faith.

2. The “Stillness” Weave

Purpose: To calm extreme rage or violent impulses.

Method:

A gentle but firm weave that dampens aggressive emotions.

Example: A sister consumed by hatred for the Seanchan might receive this to prevent her from acting recklessly.

3. The “Memory Knot” Technique

Purpose: To help patients process traumatic memories without being overwhelmed.

Method: The Pink sister guides the patient through their memories in a controlled, safe way, helping them reprocess the event.

Example: A sister who survived a Darkfriend torture session might use this to confront her trauma.

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2. Limitations and Challenges

While the Pink Ajah is incredibly skilled, their methods have significant limitations:

A. Emotional Dependency

Patients can become over-reliant on the Pink Ajah’s weaves, struggling to cope without them.

Example: A sister might refuse to face her grief unless a Pink sister is present to “soothe” her.

B. Ethical Dilemmas

Forced Healing: Can the Pink Ajah use the Power to “fix” someone’s emotions against their will?

Example: If a sister is grieving a Warder’s death, is it ethical to use the Power to ease her pain if she wants to feel it fully?

Selective Healing: Do they prioritize certain patients (e.g., high-ranking sisters) over others?

Manipulation: Could a Pink sister use their skills to manipulate (e.g., erasing a rival’s anger, planting false memories)?

C. Incomplete Healing

The Pink Ajah cannot cure deep-seated mental illnesses (e.g., clinical depression, PTSD, or schizophrenia).

Some wounds require time and self-work—the Pink Ajah can only guide, not fix.

D. Emotional Exhaustion

Pink sisters are emotionally drained by their work, especially when dealing with severe trauma.

Example: A Pink sister who heals a sister after a Darkfriend attack might collapse from emotional fatigue.

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3. Role(s) in the White Tower

The Pink Ajah serves several critical functions within the Tower:

A. The Tower’s Therapists

They are the go-to Ajah for emotional crises, whether for sisters, novices, or even Amyrlins.

Example: If the Amyrlin is overwhelmed by stress, a Pink sister might be assigned to support her.

B. Mediators in Conflicts

They address the emotional roots of disputes, helping sisters move past grudges.

Example: If two Ajahs are feuding, a Pink sister might facilitate a reconciliation.

C. Support for the Kin

The Kin, many of whom suffer from trauma after years of hiding, often rely on the Pink Ajah for healing.

Example: A Kin member who was captured and tortured might receive long-term emotional support from a Pink sister.

D. Training in Emotional Resilience

The Pink Ajah teaches sisters how to manage stress, grief, and emotional pain without relying solely on the Power.

Example: They might host workshops on coping with loss, managing anger, or ways to feel less burdened by being an Aes Sedai.