Knights of War
Structure
The Knights are a rigid order, where one’s rank is hard earned and determines their daily lives.
Sanctorex
Sanctorex is the commanding general of the knights, with absolute authority amongst all the order’s ranks. They are in charge of organizing where their ranks were allowed to be and what settlements were worthy of receiving their protection. Likewise, who had caused the order enough offense to warrant abandoning them to their fate.Vicarex
Vicarex is the second-in-command, set to succeed the sanctorex in the event of their death or dishonor. They are often sent out to reinforce their order’s justice if the city they are charged with defending attempts to force them out before the contract is concluded.Gladiux
Gladiux are the captains of whole companies of knights, leading them from place to place, keeping their soldiers in order, and dealing with conflicts and prisoners that their company encounters. While they defer to the laws of whatever city they are stationed in, should decisions not reach their standard, it is not unheard of for them to encourage their soldiers to become more forceful in their methods to correct the issues.Knight
Knights are the rank-and-file seasoned soldiers of the order.Squire
Apprentice warriors to the knights, squires need to learn the rigid systems of the hierarchy quickly, lest they be kicked out. In order to prove themselves, they must assist the knights in their duties for six years, then they must slay a demon in single combat. The demon is typically captured for this purpose as the order prepares to initiate the more suitable squires.Public Agenda
Where most others try to navigate the world with a sense of good and evil, the Knights do not concern themselves with the morality of actions. They wish to eliminate disorder regardless of the reasonings for its existence. Anarchy is their ultimate enemy, as it can only cause more trouble for everyone in the area, and put them at risk as routines and safety protocols are ignored.
Demons being the embodiment of the chaos they fight, Knights are particularly ferocious in pushing back the demonic horde as far as they can. This makes them desirable to the common people, even if they are also rightly feared for their extreme adherence to law and order.
Demons being the embodiment of the chaos they fight, Knights are particularly ferocious in pushing back the demonic horde as far as they can. This makes them desirable to the common people, even if they are also rightly feared for their extreme adherence to law and order.
History
When the great empire fell and left the scattered remnants of civilization at the mercy of demons, many lost their families and friends. Any small mistake or a moment of forgetfulness would result in disaster. Disaster that a handful were growing rapidly impatient with.
The initial form of the Knights started as just a collection of gangs trying to keep their villages safe in whatever way they knew how, some with polite encouragement to others to stay on task, but more often than not they would bully and coerce those around them into following their rules more strictly. These gangs had little contact with each other back then, indeed some would even fight the others as their disagreements over how to best ensure the safety of all, and what should be given in payment for this protection, were in conflict.
Over the centuries, however, as the people settled into larger towns and cities, these groups began to absorb one another, bonded by their like desire to see the demon hordes pushed back and order to keep the streets safe from more mortal threats closer to home.
The group grew so large that it became unruly, which unsettled the foundations of their beliefs. The chaos in their own ranks spoke to the need for more rigid rules and a definite system of rank to determine who was able to give orders to whom.
The initial form of the Knights started as just a collection of gangs trying to keep their villages safe in whatever way they knew how, some with polite encouragement to others to stay on task, but more often than not they would bully and coerce those around them into following their rules more strictly. These gangs had little contact with each other back then, indeed some would even fight the others as their disagreements over how to best ensure the safety of all, and what should be given in payment for this protection, were in conflict.
Over the centuries, however, as the people settled into larger towns and cities, these groups began to absorb one another, bonded by their like desire to see the demon hordes pushed back and order to keep the streets safe from more mortal threats closer to home.
The group grew so large that it became unruly, which unsettled the foundations of their beliefs. The chaos in their own ranks spoke to the need for more rigid rules and a definite system of rank to determine who was able to give orders to whom.
Worship
War is the primary deity of the knights, the war magic they provide being very useful to push back against the demonic hordes. When War drifts closer to the world, the Knights will ritualistically make offerings of blood to please them. Either their own or from prisoners; though never enough to kill or significantly weaken; even prisoners were of some use for labor if left with enough strength to work but not enough to rebel.
Flagellation is the most common way that the knights will make offerings to War, though some more zealot members have favored the more delicate methods of drawing blood with a blade edge. They will carve a prayer into the flesh of their arms and torso, using precise shallow cuts; not quite enough to leave scars, so that they may remake them once they heal fully.
Flagellation is the most common way that the knights will make offerings to War, though some more zealot members have favored the more delicate methods of drawing blood with a blade edge. They will carve a prayer into the flesh of their arms and torso, using precise shallow cuts; not quite enough to leave scars, so that they may remake them once they heal fully.
Political Influence & Intrigue
The Knights are feared but also respected, and even the common people are well aware of their expertise in battling demons as well as keep crime to a minimum by the force of sheer presence alone. The rumors have reached mythical status, even though not many would say they enjoy the presence of the knights.
The knights use this influence to gain a foothold in the politics of the stronger cities; those that call upon them to fix their problems are bound to hear out the assigned gladiux in matters related to their presence [such as how to deal with criminals or what protocols should be implemented to keep demons farther from the walls.]
Those that refuse this requirement will quickly find themselves unable to call for the aid of the knights in the future, no matter how much they plead or how dire their need.
The knights use this influence to gain a foothold in the politics of the stronger cities; those that call upon them to fix their problems are bound to hear out the assigned gladiux in matters related to their presence [such as how to deal with criminals or what protocols should be implemented to keep demons farther from the walls.]
Those that refuse this requirement will quickly find themselves unable to call for the aid of the knights in the future, no matter how much they plead or how dire their need.
Type
Military, Knightly Order
Alternative Names
-
Training Level
Elite
Demonym
Hand of War
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