Knights of the Red Scale

This order is now defunct. The following is an account of its history and notable members constructed from remnants of sacred writings and personal accounts.
The Knights of the Red Scale were an order of holy knights devoted to the ancient red dragon Eondris, heralded as their 'God Queen'. The earliest known members were red dragonborn knights, ordained by royalty unknown* that arrived with the God Queen's takeover of Anderim Province. Throughout Anderim's draconian rule, a number of humans, dwarves and several elves joined these ranks which served as Honor Guard to Eondris and her brood. In their fervor, the Knights began to drink of dragons' blood in the hopes of granting them draconic powers. In some measure, these dark rituals worked, but the sinister practice shattered the fragile psyche of the zealous knights and drove them to a bloodthirsty fervor.
The Knights of the Red Scale held that dragonkin, and Eondris in particular, were physical manifestations of godly will. They believed Eondris would return the realms of men, dwarves and elves to a tradition of godliness. Their holy texts proclaimed the following idealogies:

Loyalty. To gods above mortals.

Tradition. Those who stray from the old ways deserve the gods' ire.

Responsibility. To allow heresy to thrive is to be a heretic thyself.

*It is unlikely that these soldiers were knighted by any recognized entity. Nevertheless, the name stuck.

War of the Red Scale

The Knights and their Dragon Queen Eondris are considered the primary cause of the War of the Red Scale. The war was responsible for the razing of Blackreach and murder of the Bloody Duke of Bedegar, the destruction of most of Taramyr City, the death and ascension of two Paragons of Azrael (Lord Solaire and Lady Sitara), and countless human and draconid casualties.

Notable Members

Ser Rhazgul, the Wicked / High Prophet Rhazgul. A devout priest of Eondris and highly effective recruiter for the holy order in its early days, Rhazgul remained behind in Anderim during the Battle for Taramyr City. Following Eondris' defeat, Rhazgul worked in secret to restore the Knights of the Red Scale and continued drinking the blood of his fallen gods, even as it spoiled. The foul blood twisted his mind and soul further and, following an abominable transformation, he was pushed to his death from Mollenrue's highest tower.
Ser Modraxis, the Reaver. A bloodthirsty berserker of the Order of the Red Scale. High-ranking from violence alone, Rhazgul stood among the inner circle by virtue of slaying his predecessors in honorable combat. Rhazgul was slain at the Battle for Taramyr, shortly prior to Eondris' own death.
Ser Avarax the Red. By all accounts, Ser Avarax was relatively mild-mannered in his zeal but no less devoted to his God Queen. Ser Avarax was stationed as ambassador in Taramyr until the beginning of the War of the Red Scale. He returned for the Battle for Taramyr City and survived by surrender when Eondris' was slain. He returned to Anderim and died some time in the intervening five year period.
Grelak Demonsblood. Little is known of the life or death of this former member of the Knights' inner circle, save that he was a viciously cruel to his victims. His corpse was found among the wreckage following the Battle for Taramyr City.

Holy Relics

The Knights of the Red Scale held three treasures as sacred: a crown worn by Eondris in her human form, forged dragon's fire; a talisman fashioned from one of Eondris' fallen scales, and a scepter bathed in dragon's blood and imbued with draconian fire. All three treasures were allegedly in Mollenrue five years following Eondris' fall; the talisman was secured by The Doomkeeper and remains in the vaults of the Guild of the Golden Egg, but the scepter and crown remain lost.

Other Magic

Though not sacred to the Knights of the Red Scale, the greatsword of Ser Avarax carries draconic magic and was acquired from his tomb by the vampire Saaya shortly after her arrival in Mollenrue.

Type

Religious, Holy Order