The Bladed Ones - Servants of the Nightblade

Written by Architect

The Bladed Ones are a paramilitary group and monastic order that serves The Nightblade, a Neo-Dragoon god of destruction and major actors of Darkness. Despite this description, they exist as a neutral entity that focuses more on keeping balance than serving a specific agenda.
At the time the main story begins, they have established themselves publicly as a mercenary group that assists private citizens and government agencies alike in protecting their assets within the Queendom and in unclaimed lands.
Unknown to the general public, they also wage a shadow war against the encroachment and prying of agents from The Primacy.
Their origins are obscured behind falsehoods, closely-guarded secrets, and the passage of time, though it is generally accepted that they date back to the days prior to the Ascension. During the height of the Neo-Dragoon Empire, the Bladed Ones served as secret enforcers and stealth operatives that ensured the Empire’s continued success at all levels. They have always circumvented and ignored the law in service of the greater good, and Master Nightblade trained them in all the ways even a mere mortal might take a Neo-Dragoon by surprise and even defeat them!
Through the centuries since the fall of the Empire, they continue serving their ancient vows to Master Nightblade, using their skills to contribute to the efforts and advancements of The Queendom and the denizens of the Radiant Expanse from the shadows.

Structure

Given the clandestine nature of their work, the Bladed Ones have learned to be adaptable and fluid in their organization, though never sacrificing the discipline and focus that has contributed to their longevity and effectiveness.  Currently, there are two distinct branches to their operation:

The Bladed

   So named for the ritualistic Crucibles that Agents perform to earn their place among the rest of the order, Aspirants are either recruited from outside the order or selected from prospects within the ranks of the Called.  They must complete specialized training and demonstrate the aptitude required of a full-fledged Bladed One. Capable individuals can often speed through the training ranks and earn the privilege of completing a Crucible early in their career.    Ranks within the order are earned as Agents continue to pass challenges and tests designed to impart some crucial lesson The Nightblade has deemed necessary for an Agent of a certain level to possess. Those whom become Bladed must accept and practice the religious aspects of the order to proceed into higher ranks and further deepen their connection to The Nightblade and the Darkness he wields.

Rank Structure

• Grandmaster: There is only ever one Grandmaster at any given time, and very few Mortals ever reach this rank.  Only those who prove undaunted and extremely capable may pray to The Nightblade for this honor, and should they be accepted, they are tasked with duties unfathomable to anyone but The Nightblade.  It is unknown who is currently Grandmaster, though most assume it can only be Agent Core.  Despite being the oldest member of the order by almost a thousand years, history shows that others have previously held this title, although the accuracy of this history is dubious at best.

• Master (1 - 5):  Masters are recognized once Adepts complete their Trials to become eligible for promotion, and then undergo a mysterious ritual pilgrimage through the mind, the soul and through the veil of reality.  Once complete, they are personally tested by The Nightblade himself.  Should they succeed, they are recognized and promoted. From here, Masters are given incredible respect, and are trusted with leadership roles, tasked with maintaining the order's secrets and teachings, and are supported in attempts to pioneer further insights into the nature of the Darkness. 

• Adept (1 - 5):  Adepts are given a lot more agency in how they perform their duties, and graduate from their apprenticeship under another Adept.  From here, the Adept must walk the path the Bladed Ones as part of a team, and their progress becomes much more personal and spiritual.

• Initiate (1 - 5): Initiates continue their training in the service of an Adept, and is qualified to undertake missions of higher importance than regular mercenary work.  In order to progress further, they must undergo Trials that teach specific lessons for the Bladed Ones to meditate on.

• Aspirant: This is a training rank. Aspirants may be kept here until they are ready to undertake their Crucible.  Though most Aspirants are already adults before reaching this rank, there is a fairly small population of young people whose hearts seethe with unbridled Darkness, which the Bladed Ones seek out in hopes either forging or containing their power.

Nightpseakers

   Among the classes of jobs that the Bladed Ones accept into their ranks, there exists a unique specialty all their own - the Nightspeakers.  These Agents are among the most devout of the order, and are taught to channel the element Darkness as a form of spellcasting that The Nightblade grants knowledge and access to.  To become a Nightspeaker, an Agent must take vows and commit themselves fully to speaking to The Nightblade and communing with the Darkness.  It is a dangerous vocation, and requires immense resolve to avoid being consumed by the forces they attempt to master...

The Called

       So named for the way some people are called to serve The Nightblade, yet are unwilling or unable to commit to the higher responsibilities of the Bladed, this branch provides for needs of a mercenary outfit. Ranks and structure are similar to most modern forms of military, and comes with all the privileges and responsibilities afforded to those who earn their position. Not all of the Called are Bladed, and not all Bladed Ones retain formal ranks within this hierarchy. This branch is retained primarily for organizing operations, managing the logistics of their assets and the support of affiliated supporters and information networks.  Contractors and neutral mercenaries unconcerned with the agendas of the The Bladed Ones are placed here, so long as they understand that they are seen as disposable assets.

Public Agenda

The Bladed Ones use another name to cover their operations with a publicly registered mercenary group known as the Black Mask Company.  As their namesake suggests, members are typically seen wearing black protective masks that work well to shield them from the desert storms and pollutants typically found in the Megaplex Frontier, where they mainly operate.  The only statements they make are the promise of good service, fair pay, and a neutral stance towards sovereign nations.
      Much like any other company, they provide protective services to clients who need professionals with flexible schedules and moralities.  The only thing that sets them apart from their competition (aside from the masks) is that they are expensive, their contractors are highly-trained, and they have access to equipment not usually seen within the Radiant Expanse.  Their performance record is stellar, rivaling the best Knight Orders of the Queendom in terms of accomplishment, and since mercenary companies were permitted to operate within the Radiant Expanse, they quickly established themselves as elite soldiers-for-hire.

  Though some question where exactly their loyalties lie, since they serve anyone who is able to afford them, they nevertheless garnered the respect and admiration of professionals and the common folk alike through dedication to offering fair compensation, excellent benefits, and excellent service to their clients.  Somehow, the Black Mask Company never seems to enter conflict with the Knight Orders in the field, and expressly deny any work that might put them at odds with them, even going so far as refunding clients in full in the exceedingly rare event their personnel encounter any Knight Orders, which results in them rescinding their contracts soon after first contact.  Some even suggest that the Company might be a Knight Order in disguise, attempting to corner the new market before the faction completely loses the control they once enjoyed during the Queendom's Age of Monarchy.

Assets

Officially, the Black Mask Company declares their assets to be legal tender from clients and discoveries made within the Megaplex Expanse.  This is largely true, though the Bladed Ones often receive funding from hidden benefactors, and have secret knowledge of long-forgotten troves of Old Empire relics and technology.
It is unknown just how much the Bladed Ones own, but their official Headquarters is located just outside the perimeter of the Radiant Barrier, in the new town of the Eastern Gateway.  However, the Bladed Ones do maintain compounds known as sanctuaries, the largest of which is rumored to be hidden somewhere deep within the vast Megaplex Frontier.
Known assets include:

• A squadron of Warhawk gunships
• A variety of armored ground transport vehicles
• Advanced Old Empire arms and armor
• At least one Mobile Artillery Battery, between 5 - 10 platforms
• No less than a Division of over 5,000+ active troops

History

The Bladed Ones keep their history largely hidden, only allowing members to uncover their story as rewards for reaching higher ranks and completing their Trials and training.  However, common knowledge and rumors tell that the Bladed Ones existed before the Ascension, and even after the fall of the Empire, they continued their work in arbitrating events throughout the Radiant Expanse, bringing justice where the light of The Architect could not reach, and standing vigil in the dark when those living in the light wandered too close to the unknown.
   [Over the millennia since the Ascension, the Bladed Ones maintained their service to The Nightblade, even during his times of Repose.  As the years passed, they developed deep traditions out of the practical training that The Nightblade once taught merely as a means to sustain his highly-trained troops, eventually forming it into a full religion, which The Nightblade accepted and expanded upon.]

"The Day Cometh, the Night Remains."

Founding Date

The Age of Propriety [TRUE DATE UNKNOWN - Predates the Ascension]

Type

Military Order

Alternative Names

Publicly known as "The Black Mask Company"

Training Level

Elite

Veterancy Level

Veteran

Demonym

Bladed, Blades, Agents

Location

Megaplex Frontier

Notable Members

• The Nightblade, Bringer of Ends, Keeper of Balance