[center][b]Knights Kadosh[/b]
[i]Sub umbra alarum tuarum, Jehova.[/i]
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/aOTOLs7.jpg[/IMG]
[sub]Battle Banner of the Knights Kadosh[/sub][/center]
[color=LightGreen][b]Names:[/b][/color] A∴A∴R∴K∴K (Ancient and Accepted Rite of the Knights Kadosh), Order of the Knights Kadosh, K.'.K.'.D.'.H, Knights Kadosh
[color=LightGreen][b]Summary:[/b][/color] an extremely secretive organization of knights.
[color=LightGreen][b]Description:[/b][/color] the Knights' very existance is a secret to most, known only among the upper strata of society: however, their businesses are known only to acolytes. Even when the old empire was ruling over the whole continent, the Knights were behind the scenes, pulling the strings of politcs and economy, managing to assimilate or destroy, after centuries of occult warfare, the other  secret societies who attempted to do the same. The Knights are both a political and military organization, and have often gone to battle to defend their interests: however, some say that the Knights Kadosh are actually a religious sect, defined by tenets of faith to some mysterious god. Most of the times, though, the Knights prefer to operate in hidden ways, using tactics such as blackmail, assassinations, bribes, intimidations, and other such ways to further their goals. Only humans are accepted in the Knights' ranks, and the Order has often show open hostility towards non-human races.

[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/7kFrEGN.png[/img]
[sub]Seal of the Order[/sub][/center]

As the empire was shattered, so were the Knights: their once united organization was divided in numerous lodges, each independently operating in a different polity within Orvell, and headed by an Inspector Inquisitor, which in turn receives his orders from the High Consistory, the heart of the organization, the nature of which is unknown even to high-ranking adepts. However, this state of affairs doesn't stop different lodges from entering in conflict with each other, occasionally creating tensions within the Order. The currently active lodges are:

[list]
[*] [b]Knights of the East and the West:[/b] based in Arumach, the Sacred Lodge of the Knights of the East and the West is a relatively powerful and extremely wealthy lodge, the main occupation of which is the control of the economy and the trade routes flowing through the city. The K.E.W. have a large influence both in the Pluceptic Church and in the city's governance: it is in their best interest to keep the various families at peace with each other, as wars are highly detrimental to economy. The lodge has a powerful naval force, usually operating undercover, flying the flags of various merchant familes or of the Arumach government: however, in special circumstances their fleet might sail forth in full force, headed by its flagship, the Amnos, with its main sail adorned with [url=http://i.imgur.com/QuEekJk.png]the lodge's seal[/url]. The lodge's colors are red and gold.
[*] [b]Knights of the Sun:[/b] with its main base in Ekrech and branches in the other Aelkan cities, the Princely Lodge of the Adept Knights of the Sun are the lodge operating in the Aelk region. Once a very powerful lodge acting behind the scenes of Aelkan politics, which was one of the reasons behind the prosperity of Ekrech and the other cities, the K.S. have recently lost much of their power because of slackening and intestine conflicts, potentially endangering the stability and peace of the city states they strived to maintain. As a result, they are gradually abandoning the peaceful ways they once prized, and are increasingly using violent means to further their goals: there are whispers that sometimes, when an important politician or merchant is murdered, the corpse is found branded with [url=http://i.imgur.com/aS4EIRl.png]the lodge's seal[/url]. The lodge colors are white and vermilion.
[*] [More will be added]
[/list]

[color=LightGreen][b]Areas of Influence:[/b][/color] see the Description above.
[color=LightGreen][b]Goals:[/b][/color] few know what the Knight's true goals are. Some say that they merely wish to keep control of politics and economy for the sake of power and wealth, being motivated by greed and ambition. Some say that theirs is a plan, a grand plot to obtain absolute control over Orvell, thus creating a new world order: many even say that they orchestrated the Empire's fall for this exact reason. Others idealize them, saying that they are paladins of virtue and order, operating behind the shadows to keep Orvell peaceful and safe from all the evil that may menace it. Others go even further, saying that they have existed since immemorial times, and in many occasions have fought against horrendous forces, in wars long forgotten by history, threatening Orvell's very existance.

Perhaps none of them is right. Perhaps all of them are.


[color=LightGreen][b]Plot Hooks:[/b][/color]

[list]
[*] The Knights could be both an antagonist or a helper for player characters, depending on how they choose to deal with the Order. To use them to counter *[b]COUGH[/b][sub]en[/sub][b]COUGH COUGH[/b][sub]och[/sub][b]COUGH[/b]*, at the risk of putting them in control of the whole of Orvell, or to attempt to destroy them, thus having to fight against not one but two tremendously powerful enemies?
[*] Some evil-aligned characters might attempt to infiltrate the Order and use it to further his/her own goals, while good-aligned characters might attempt to destroy it. Neither will be easy...
[*] Did somebody say intrigue?
[/list]