Knights of the Black Scorpion

There are many times in which Tal'Dorei's often disorganized law enforcement fail to protect the people they are sworn to defend. Whether it be due to corruption or sheer ineptitude, blood and tears are spilled in every city of the republic year after year. Those that reside in smaller towns and villages have even less hope for protection. When evil forces slaughter helpless villagers, when a thieves' guild grows too violent and powerful, when an elemental behemoth ravages the countryside - at times like these, paladins arise and swear an Oath of Vengeance to set right that which has gone wrong. To these paladins, their own purity is not as important as delivering justice.
The Knights of the Black Scorpion are a secretive order of paladins dedicated to the tenets of the Oath of Vengeance. Answering to no government and restricted by no laws, these knights are bound only by honor and the brutally simple tenets of their oath. Each knight has their own reasons to join the order, although it is hard to ignore the common pattern of strife and loss leading to a new knight swearing the tenets. While each knight is entitled to live their own life separate from the order, many see their life as a Black Scorpion as their true identity, while their day-to-day persona is nothing more than a mask they wear to abide by the order's secrecy.
There is no central headquarters to the Black Scorpions. Instead, safe houses are maintained across Ta'Dorei by paladins and allies who have been sworn to secrecy. The safe house locations shift often, avoiding the risk of an accidental discovery by prying eyes.
The order claims approximately 100 members, with 90 active knights and 10 in training. The organization is split into 4 divisions, each about 20-25 paladins strong:
Onyx Blades. These paladins are known for their aggressive and decisive tactics on the battlefield. They strike fear into the hearts of their enemies with their relentless pursuit of justice.
Obsidian Sentinels. Masters of defense and protection, these paladins are the bulwark against evil forces. They stand firm against any onslaught, shielding their allies from harm.
Midnight Stings. Operating in the shadows, these paladins excel in stealth, espionage, and infiltration. They gather intelligence, strike swiftly, and vanish without a trace, ensuring that evil never rests easy.
Ebon Hands. These paladins are devoted to the art of healing and restoration. They bring hope and solace to the wounded and weary, ensuring that even in the darkest times, there is light and healing.

Missions tend to have a blend of paladin types, with the most important missions having at least one member of each type present. Aside from belonging to a specific division, each paladin also holds one of three ranks.
Squire. This is a paladin-in-training, typically assigned to an elite mentor until they reach knighthood.
Knight. This is a paladin who has passed their trials specific to the division they have chosen, and achieve full member status as a Knight of the Black Scorpion.
Elite. A special recognition awarded to the best of the order. An elite gains leadership authority and the responsibility to accept squires when assigned, and they are also expected to lead missions. One elite from each division is elected as Commander by all knighted members belonging to that division.

Aside from the hierarchy of the divisions, there is separately an elected board of 9 knights who operate the mission assignments and the logistics of the order. They are a combination of knights across all four divisions, and even include several retired knights who are past their fighting prime but still hold the Tenets of Vengeance in their heart. Any decision made by the board is final, except in the case that 40 non-board members submit vetos.

Goals

The Knights of the Black Scorpion have two simple yet passionate goals: to defend those who cannot defend themselves and to eliminate the wicked by any means necessary. They lead their actions day to day by abiding to the Tenets of Vengeance:
Fight the Greater Evil. Faced with a choice of fighting my sworn foes or combating a lesser evil, I choose the greater evil.
No Mercy for the Wicked. Ordinary foes might win my mercy, but my sworn enemies do not.
By Any Means Necessary. My qualms can't get in the way of exterminating my foes.
Restitution. If my foes wreak ruin on the world, it is because I failed to stop them. I must help those harmed by their misdeeds.

Relationships

Because the Knights of the Black Scorpion swear no loyalty to any nation, organization, or god, they are often treated as dangerous vigilantes by most people in power. The Wardens of Syngorn, Houses of Kraghammer, The Chamber of Whitestone, and even the Tal'Dorei Council are not publically aware of the Black Scorpions, but individuals within these organizations have made note of vigilante activity across the realm and are looking for any evidence to officially direct their law enforcement to make arrests. The Knights do have friends in high places though, some of which play an active part in helping ensure the secrecy of the order is maintained.
There are two organizations that have informal alliances with the Black Scorpions, neither of which see eye-to-eye with the paladins. The first is the Arcana Pansophical, with several members working with the Black Scorpions when stronger forces are necessary to take down a particularly dangerous arcane threat. The second is the Cobalt Soul. This loose relationship goes two ways: the Black Scorpions often rely on the Cobalt Soul for information, which the Soul can easily provide with their massive libraries and expert spies. The Cobalt Soul, on the other hand, has often been the originator for new Black Scorpion missions, as corruption is found by the Soul's Expositors but are too large of a threat to handle singularly.