You get them from asking your steward about noble recruits in ONE of your castles, after you have built training grounds. You don't get them in every town and castle. It is more convenient to get them all in one place, don't you think? You should get them from one location in each faction as you conquer the various factions. Edit: Your orders, as you found them will also spawn troops. Did you read the FAQ about all this?
Here's how Noble recruits should work and how to get them (sorry if this was mentioned elsewhere).
You need to build Training Grounds in your castle or a town (you have to be a lord of some faction or an independent king). The steward requirements are Trainer 4 and Weapon Master 5.
There is a bug here. The build menu may not show the TG, since it can show only the first 15 improvements (this happens in cities with skilled stewards). The workaround is to build away until the TG menu option shows up.
Once you are a lord or a king, your holdings will generate new Noble recruits that accumulate in a pool, even if you have no Training Grounds anywhere. You can view their number in your Character Report.
Here's how they randomly generate every week (on payday):
- cities: 0-3
- castles: 0-1
- villages: 25% chance 1 will join
Once you have a Training Ground somewhere, talk to the steward there and in the War Room, say "View noble recruits".
You should get only one type of recruit, depending on your Culture:
- Sarleon: Sarleon Nobleman (upgrades to Sarleon Squire-at-arms -> Sarleon Knight)
- Ravenstern: Ravenstern Nobleman (upgrades to Ravenstern Squire-at-Arms -> Ravenstern Knight)
- D'Shar: D'Shar Nobleman (upgrades to D'Shar Noble Raider -> D'Shar Noble Cavalry)
- Fierdsvain: Fierdsvain Noblewoman (upgrades to Fierdsvain Sword Maiden -> Valkyrie)
- Empire: Empire Nobleman (upgrades to Empire Light Cavalry -> Empire Horseman or Empire Noble Legionnaire Recruit -> Empire Knight)
- Pendor: Pendor Nobleman (upgrades to Pendor Squire-at-Arms -> Pendor Knight -> Pendor Grey Archer or Pendor Foot Knight)
However in Beta 6, there is a bug that gives you some unpredictable troop - fixed for Beta 7.
Knighthood Order troop upgrading and conditions for creating Order chapters:
1. Order of the Dragon: Knight of the Dragon (from Ravenstern Knight)
Ravenstern Lord or in Rane. Existing chapter in Rane.
2. Order of the Lion: Knight of the Lion (from Sarleon Knight)
Sarleon Lord or in Sarleon. Existing chapter in Sarleon.
3. Immortals Chapter: Empire Immortal (from Empire Knight)
Empire Lord or in Janos. Existing chapter in Janos.
4. Windriders Chapter: D'Shar Windrider (from D'Shar Noble Cavalry)
D'Shar Lord or in Torbah. Existing chapter in Torbah.
5. Lady Valkyrie Sisterhood: Lady Valkyrie (from Valkyrie)
Fierdsvain Lord or in Javiksholm. Existing chapter in Javiksholm.
6. Order of the Griffon: Knight of the Griffon (from Pendor Knight)
Sir Darlion of Pendor in party or a Qualis Gem.
7. Order of the Falcon: Knight of the Falcon (from Pendor Knight)
Madame Ursula or Sir Rayne in party.
8. Order of the Raven Spear: Knight of the Raven Spear (from Pendor Knight)
Player owns Poinsbruk. Existing chapter in Poinsbruk.
9. Order of the Radiant Cross: Knight of the Radiant Cross (from Pendor Knight)
Player owns Ethos.
10. Order of the Clarion Call: Ranger of the Clarion Call (from Pendor Knight)
Player owns Laria. Existing chapter in Laria.
11. Order of the Dawn: Knight of the Dawn (from Pendor Knight)
Player owns Valonbray. Existing chapter in Valonbray.
12. Order of the Ebony Gauntlet: Knight of the Ebony Gauntlet (from Pendor Foot Knight)
A Qualis Gem.
13. Order of the Shadow Legion: Shadow Legion Centurion (from Empire Knight)
A Qualis Gem. Existing chapter in Cez.
14. Order of the Silvermist Rangers: Silvermist Ranger (from Pendor Grey Archer)
A Qualis Gem.
15. Order of Eventide: Knight of Eventide (from Pendor Knight)
Sir Alistair in party. Existing chapter in Singal.