[@GreivousKhan] My third and final faction. After this I'm starting my opening post. [hider=The Grave Keepers][center] [img]https://staticdelivery.nexusmods.com/mods/110/images/62928-1-1424487753.jpg[/img] [i]A Black Knight sowing terror and fear[/i] [b]Name[/b] The Grave Keepers, the Black Knights or the Priests of Death [b]Size[/b] 1 Ebon Sword, 78 Death Knights, 156 Dread Knights, 458 Black Knights [b]Hierarchy[/b] Ebon Sword Death Knight Dread knight Black Knight ------------ High-Priest Priest Apprentice Acolyte ------------ Servant [b]Culture[/b] For starters, the Grave Keepers do not take slaves. Which makes them almost unique amongst the many orders within Makania. The exact reason for this is rather unclear but due to the order's relatively young age, it is suggested that the first High-Priest saw necromancy as a form of slavery. Thus in a way, slavery was a way of necromancy. Still, accounts differ and some would claim that the duties of a Grave Keeper are too confronting with one's own mortality to leave to slaves. Either way, everyone who enters the ranks of the Grave Keepers starts as a servant. Both the farmer's daughter and the nobleman's son. There has been an uproar about this in the past. But it would seem that the High-Priests have always been resolute on this. A Servant has many duties. From washing corpses and gathering valuables to maintaining their master's equipment. Even in times of peace. He is also trained in melee combat and taught how to read and write. If the servant can stand the service. They are free to leave whenever they want and after they finished cleaning their first murder, a great many servants chose to leave. Which is not a shame. Servants ascend to the rank of Acolyte when they start showing a deeper understanding of death and a healthy respect for the dead. They are given their ebony armor too. As an Acolyte is also a Black Knight. During peaceful times one remains an Acolyte and in service. An Acolyte's duties aren't so different from a servant but he is being taught by a Keeper of a higher rank as well. What's more important, a Black Knight's magical aptittude is tested. If they prove to be strong, he may ascend to Dread Knight/Apprentice. An Apprentice aids his master (a Death Knight/Priest) in the funeral rites he performs. He is also taught the deeper, philosophical questions of death and the ending of life (without getting any answers. Keepers are expected to develop those themselves through deep meditation). These questions often lead to the development of certain magical skills. When an apprentice ascends to priest, he is expected to lead funeral rites and guard the many graveyards of the world. He may offer the last rites of a dying man, assuring peaceful departure. A dark purpose could be to mercifully end suffering. When called upon to fight, a Death Knight will march. Yet after the battle he takes up the black and amethyst priest robes and puts both friend and enemy to eternal rest. The Ebony Blade is chosen by the namesake's weapon. The Blade is, in fact, a Glaive. The blade seems to almost have a will of its own. Those ill-suited for the ranks seem to barely be able to hold the pole normally. Claiming the weight constantly shifts. While those deemed worth say it is the best weapon they've ever used. The Ebony Blade/High-Priest is the leader of the Keepers. His will is very much the Law. The Keepers believe that their last rites put a soul peacefully away and allow the body to return to the earth. Where it should be. Their sacred duties are composed of caring for those dying and death. Giving mercy to those in pain, making sure their physical bodies are taken care of while their soul can be in peace. However, they do not trace their roots to these duties (even though it was they do most of the time). They trace their roots to the Grey Knights and have not forgotten their inheritance. They still march for war when they are called upon by their liege. And when they are, it is not the Keepers that march. But the Black Knights. [b]Goals[/b] Some seek merely peace or absolution for all the lives they took. Others desire to gain a deeper understanding of mortality. The general goal, however, is to allow the dead to rest eternally. A lesser known goal is to root out necromancy wherever it may be found. As necromancy in itself is an insult to death. [b]Specialization[/b] War, generally. They serve as shock troops or heavy cavalry. Their fear-inducing powers often break lines and men far earlier in a battle than usual. They are rather well-versed in the absolute slaughter of infantry. When the battles are over, they take up their robes and commence the funerals for all who have perished. [b]History[/b] The Black Knights started as the Grey Company. A band of mercenaries with the ill fate of being in Makau when the first siege happened. They were rather forced to fight, considering the attackers didn't really care who was behind the walls. After the first siege past, over half the company died and the priest had to organize a massive funeral for everybody. In fact, as he went outside, he tried to bury everyone. A few of the Grey Company helped him. They dug the graves, gathered the death, begged for money to buy balms and bandages to wrap the dead up. Some stopped when their companions were put to earth. Others joined the priest. Which is why they got their most important title: the Priests of Death. Then the second siege came. Once again the remainder of the Grey Company was forced to fight to the dead. But the burials had changed them. Suddenly they did not fear death. Neither did they welcome it through reckless behavior. But not a single member of the Grey Company ever routed from the second siege. Instead they fought with a dreadful aura. Instead of breaking themselves, the enemy around them ran. Claiming to hear the howl of spirits. After the siege, the Grey Company once again turned to their daily duties. After the third siege, their fame started to grow. As did their power. Claiming weapons and armor from their fallen enemies, they painted it black and wore it in the next attack. Their might did not go unnoticed and a great many noblemen wanted their sons to instill the same terror on the battlefield. Though when the sons joined (after any war out of safety), they entered as servant. Most hated it and left soon after their first corpse balming. Some stuck around and started to understand. Slowly but surely. As their order grew, so did their influence. As peaceful priests they went to nearby villages to bury the dead there too. But they encountered other deathly needs as well. The granting of a merciful death above all. So the priest of the company started making poisons that would send off the sickly, ill and fataly harmed peacefully away. Eventually, after the fifth siege their name and ranks changed. And after the war, they were approached by Alexander. Who came bearing gifts. Among it was the Ebon Blade. [b]Military Capabilities [/b] [i]Runes[/i] The Black Knights do not harness arcane magic in the traditional way. Nor the divine magic (they do use a combination, making them technically sorcerers). Through prayer and arcane magic, they make runes in their armor and blade. Especially the runes on the blade has a specific purpose. Various runes can be used the most common ones are: frost, spirit and death. Frost runes strengthen armor and make for savage strikes. They sap the energy from those around them. Runes of frost can literally cool the air around the knight and induce frostbite upon wounds. Or send howling, freezing winds towards those who dare stand against them. Frost runes glow a light-blue color. Spirit runes induce terror and fear in the hearts of the Dread Knight's enemies. They can hear the screeching and howl of long-dead beings clawing at their brains. Clawing at their very sanity. Doubting their resolve. Spirit runes can send entire groups of enemies running and rightly so. For once the dark energy of the spirits is unleashed, death is almost certain. Spirit runes have an amethyst glow on them. Death runes afflict the enemies body. Initially, these runes will cause infected wounds that continue to bleed, no matter the bandages used. The sickness will spread over the body, eventually claiming the victim in a painful death. However, as the runes grow more powerful, a victim does not have to wait so long for the final embrace. As almost every strike seems to kill. Unleashing the power of Death Rune means delivering Doom to all surrounding the Knight in one, savage eruption of deathly energy. Death Runes have a sickly, green look. [i]Runic power[/i] These runes act as batteries and thus must be charged up. They feed on fear, death and blood. Meaning the more carnage a Knight can deliver, the more power he gathers. As the powers gather, the knight gets passive boons. As said, the frost rune makes his blade strike harder, the spirit rune induces terror and the death rune makes wounds dangerously infected. When fully charged, a full Death Knight with various runes can bring utter mind-wretching destruction to the battlefield. These passive boons and the power charged within the runes can be used to instantly cast powerful spells. Like sending forth a gust of freezing wind or sending spirits to assail the resolve of the enemies around you. [i]Common tactics[/i] The Black Knights generally are within the vanguard of any skirmish. Holding their blades and axes they cleave through the enemy. The longer the battle continues, the more powerful and dreadful they become. Usually using their abilities and aura's to induce terrible fear upon the enemy and force them to rout. Once that happens their trusted steeds are never far. Mounting the horses they chase the fleeing warriors and cut them down. [b]Warcry[/b] Death is with us! [/center] [/hider]