Order of Spears

Goals and Philosophy

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“We shall not hide from our foes; instead we shall make them know fear.”

— First Gladiux of Spears

  While all the knight orders have an interest and skill in pushing back the demon hordes, none focus so entirely on the task at the cost of material comforts as the Order of the Spear. Where other orders have at least some focus upon the workings of the settled cities and towns, the Spears rarely station themselves within walls, away from their preferred target.
  The Order of the Spears is currently under the leadership of the Vicarex, Jace Kalil, with the Gladiux, Beloth Ryler, acting as her second-in-command.
 

Composition

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The total number of men and women that make up the Order of the Spear is over a thousand, each trained from the earliest opportunity for the brutal harshness of the open battlefield. Typically the oldest members are the first into combat, while the youngest are primarily charged with fetching supplies and being envoys for their betters. Should those in the frontline fall, they are well armored and capable of falling into line to replace the fallen.
  Unlike the other orders, the Spears do not accept freshly minted knights amongst their number. Each Spear is a seasoned knight from one of the other orders, who seek to have a more focused approach to the demonic problem that plagues the nights of the Midnight Expanse. They must have served within another order for at least three years, in addition to the years they spent as an armiger in training.
  This practice does slow the recuperation from particularly devastating battles, but such is the cost of being able to call themselves the elite amongst the Knights of War.
 

Tactics

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The Spears prefer the tactic of intimidation as they charge into battle, roaring back at the demonic hordes that seek to make them falter. Demons are not known for their organization or military discipline, so these knights hope to break any defensive line that may exist in a single push before circling back around to surround their foe, barraging it from all sides.
  The loss of a few is well worth the advantage of making a demon uncertain where attacks will come from or able to truly focus down any one side.
  If this initial charge does not work to break through, the second strike will come from the second line, launching their heavy spears into the creature or forces. The spears can punch through demon hide and most standard shields, easily providing the distraction needed to surround most foes.
 

Equipment

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Armory

As Spears rarely make their home base within city walls, it is not reliable to expect well forged metal armor to be repaired as rapidly as needed, or to have the materials available for the repairs. With this restriction upon them, the Spears have learned to make use of the hides and bones of the demons they combat. They take the skins and cure them into sturdy hides, and add the blackened bones to provide additional protections.
  It is a point of pride that each Spear’s armor is crafted from the bodies of demons they personally landed the killing blow against. Small additional trophies taken from the most powerful kills they aided in slaying can also add prestige and rank.
  The Gladiux, and their immediate entourage, also adorn their armor with overlapping layers of small metal disks, giving the appearance of scales.
 

Weaponry

As with their armor, this order’s bladed weapons are primarily crafted from the bones, claws and teeth of demons. They have found means to harden and strengthen the ivory of such creatures to purpose, ensuring that they are just as deadly as their metal counterparts.
  Spears are this order’s primary weapon of choice, for its versatility at range and in closer quarters. Their spears are weighted so that, if thrown or used for bracing, they can punch through the tough hide of demons and the armor of any blood summoners who call upon them. However, a sword and metal mace are also carried on their person, in case they need weapons with more force of impact or finesse. The mace is made from metal to have the impact necessary to give deadly blows against the resilient bulk of demons.
  The Spears are famous for their adaptability, and this does not only speak to the weapons they carry into battle. In the midst of combat, these knights have also been known to pick up the halves of broken spears to use as either a staff or dagger; or pick up weapons from the fallen; anything to ensure they are not left without a weapon in a battle.
 

History

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The Order of Spears is the oldest order of the Knights, founded when the organization was still young and still gathering forces from the various lawful factions across the expanse. They were made up of those who hated to cower behind city walls, preferring to charge out into the night to fight the demonic hordes in open combat, away from the magical protections of the wardstone cities. This tactic and lifestyle has persisted to this day.
  As Knights of War, the Order of Spears have always been loyal to the deity War and the Sanctorex. They hold respect for the nobility of the wardstone cities, and their reigning king, but they do not answer to them. The Sanctorex tells the Spears where to go, and they do their duty, whether the hosting city is happy to receive them or not.