Black Grail Knight

"They pose a monstrous threat to all living beings." —Duke Artois, on the power of the Black Grail.   The Black Grail Knights were the resurrected corpses of twelve long-dead Grail Knights of Amar. Greater and more infamous than even the Blood Dragons of the time, they were among the mightiest Undead to have ever walked the lands of Aiandell.  

Overview

  Grail Knights are considered the ultimate Human warriors, revered throughout Amar and beyond for their purity and honour. If they fall in battle, they are given grand funerals and their souls belong to the Lady of the Lake. Interred within sacred Grail Chapels, their remains are protected by fearsome Hermit Knights, venerable Grail Knights who will slay any would-be defiler...   This process means that, normally, Grail Knights are among the few beings who cannot be brought into undeath. Some, however, particularly those whose corpses lie in Mousillon, are vulnerable...  

History

  Even in Mousillon, the Dukedom of the Damned, only a being of immense power could hope to usurp the natural order of the Lady. That being remains a mystery to this day... Some claim it was one of the Vampire Counts of the north, others claim that it was the machinations of the tomb Kings of Nehekhara, other even thought there could be an artifact that the mere mention of is considered a taboo, such as the Bloody Grail.   Taking up their fortress in Castle Mousillon, the Black Grail Knights would become legendary. A blasphemous creation, warped into a dark mockery of their former selves, they were extremely powerful warriors who fought relentlessly. Mounted atop the animated remains of their once noble Warhorses, they could not be slowed by difficult terrain and would never retreat from combat. An aura of fear surrounded them at all times, causing enemies to panic and flee in their wake. So deadly were the warriors, that some did not even know they were knights, believing instead that they were higher demons from the depths of chaos or even the ruinous powers manifested. Such was their power. Many tried to defeat the undead order, and all failed.   Fortunately for Aiandell and perhaps the entire world, the Black Grail Knights were eventually destroyed by an army comprised of living Grail Knights led by Tristan de la Tour and the Mercenary forces of the dwarves. With the Black Grail Knights destroyed, the noble heroes of Amar could finally return to their deserved rest.   One of the shields wielded by these mighty knights was eventually reclaimed from the site of their final battle. Taken up as a powerful dark artifact, it became known as the Cursed shield of Mousillon.