Order of Anointed Blades

Also called the “Order of the Sanctified Blades”, these knights are the largest branch of the Aestaran Inquisition outside of the main military host. They are a specialized military order trained to handle arcane threats, impose Imperial order, and spearhead the conquest of their divine leader. As paladins, upon their acceptance into the order, they swear an oath to the Empire, their God-Emperor, and the erradication of His enemies, heretics, and the arcane. Their highest leadership consists of the Bright Inquisitors, but the hierarchy ends specifically with the God-Emperor, who is titled as the Grand Inquisitor - a point of pride they hold dear. Their number also command the regular soldiers of the Aestaran Golden Host.

Structure

The basic heirarchy from least to greatest among their number is as follows:

• Blade : Basic footsoldiers of the Anointed Blades, most only a short time into their oaths.
• Blade-Lieutenant : Lowest ranked officers given responsibility over squads of their fellow knights and platoons of Host soldiers.
• Capitaine : Leaders of companies of both knights and Host soldiers. They are among the lowest experienced knights given domination of a penitent drake. Regardless of whether they lead or not, knights of veteran status are granted this rank.
• Commandant / Justiciars : Leaders of several companies or of elite strike forces, these high ranked knights are sometimes sent out with only a squad of the most expeienced knights to bring order to rebelling districts of the Empire, similarly to the Bright Inquisitors who now remain almost exclusively by the God-Emperor's side.
• Blade-General : Leaders of armies beneath the Bright Inquisitors. These knights have proven their exceptional skill and devotion to their oaths to the extreme and lead the Hosts of the God-Emperor.

Purge Knights

While all Anointed Blades are trained to deal with magic users, most hold their oaths closer to a devotion to the Empire, the God-Emperor and His great conquest. The Purge Knights hold true to those same beliefs, but hone their skill and focus their oaths upon the erradication of their leader's most hated enemy: the arcane. The very presence of a Purge Knight in the vacinity of a magical practitioner or creature can cause them discomfort as it disrupts magic in the vacinity.

Penitent Knights

A subgroup of the Knights and recent branch, the Penitent Knights are those granted the honor of subjugating one of the penitent drakes to their will. These drake riders are always veterans or more experienced and have trained to fight upon the backs of their wyvern-like mounts.

Penitent Drakes

Penitent drakes are new among the Aestaran military. They are said to be the brood of drakes removed from the influence of the would-be tyrant Tiamat or the false king Bahamut to wholely devote themselves to the service of the God-Emperor. They are called "penitent" because they are said to acknowledge their origins are arogant and traitorous.

Type

Military, Knightly Order

Training Level

Elite

Veterancy Level

Experienced

Leader

Sigmund the Exalted

Ruling Organization

Bright Inquisitors

Parent Organization

Bright Ministry

Anointed Blades are easily distinguished for their matte black or dark grey armor sometimes gilded with gold. Those who have earned the favor of the God-Emperor are even granted a suit of adamantine plate.

dragon by darenrin

A penitent drake