Knights of the Black Rose

The Knights of the Black Rose are the elite of The Black Guard, and it is from their number that the bodyguards for the Cults Crows and Wandering Mages are drawn from.

Order

Knights of the Black Rose are assigned to a specific Crow, who must in turn pay for the upkeep of his unit as if they were a part of his personal household. They are however still loyal to the Raven above all else. Depending on the perceived threat to the Crow in question, the size of Black Rose retinue will vary from as few as three, to as many as a hundred.
A single Knight may be gifted to a Wandering A'kin Mage of the Cut to act as their bodyguard and travelling companion, as such mages are precious to the Cult and should be protected, or at least kept an eye on by someone loyal.

Outsiders of the Cult are not permitted escorts of Black Rose Knights as they are Black Guard, though there is a huge demand within the nobility for retired Knights where they act as heads of security or Sergeants at Arms within households.
The Order is on good terms with the Cult of Shana, from whom they receive medical training for use on the job as paramedics, or are even given a priest as a permanent part of a Crows escort. Such training is based on restoring or replacing functions if a Crow is wounded or falls suddenly ill. For instance if a Crow has stopped breathing, a Black Rose Knight is fully capable of giving mouth to mouth, or, if that isn't working tracheotomies. While they can't perform specialist surgeries, they are quite capable of bandaging wounds, setting bones, and applying tourniquets quickly in the field.

Knights

Black Rose Knights are some of the best trained bodyguards on the continent, beaten only by their even more elite brethren, The Raven Knights. Once singled out from the ranks of The Black Guard by a Head Priest of Morr or another Black Rose Knight, the warriors senses and reflexes are trained and honed to a near otherworldly level. Able to single out a specific sound in the bustle of a city and assess if a person is a threat just by their body language at a glance.
A knight is extensively trained in the use of small and mixed unit tactics, originally learning from the marines of ---------. In practice this means a unit of sufficient size can split in two or three smaller groups: one to get the Crow out of harms way, one to give covering fire with crossbows, and another to go on the offensive and drive off an assassin. All this is done in almost complete silence as their vows still hold them, and coordination is done by hand signs from their unit commander. This has generally worked out well, though the most effective branch of the order are those who are not seen. The knights who use their training to scout ahead out of armour in order to discover and neutralize any waiting threats before they have a chance to attack in the first place.
Their equipment is the same as that of their Black Guard counterparts, encased in full lamellar armour and using heavy crossbows, curved swords and halberds on foot, and greatswords while riding their black warhorses, since those are the weapons they have been trained with since children. Black Rose Knights also carry a number of backup daggers and other short blades on their person and on their saddle, as well as the riding greatswords being modified with a spring in the haft where a hidden dagger the length of the grip may be utilized if circumstances make the sword too unwieldy.

Ranks

Black Rose Knight

Black Guards are recruited into the Black Rose Order for extraordinary achievements or on special endorsement by a Crow. Their training over the next few years is intensified, building on the foundations of their time in the Guard.

Horselord

Horselords act as the Orders Sergeants, taking care of its animals and the Chapter House. They are also the highest trained riders and best drivers in the Order, able to weave a carriage through a street at high speed without hitting a civilian. If one wishes to become a Horselord, they must travel north to the Steppe in order to train with the friendly nomadic tribes that live on the border.

Sentinel

They are the last line of defense in any formation. Wielding halberds and shields they rely on other Black Rose Knights and Spotters to give covering fire while they form a wall around their Crow and get them out of harms way via pre-determined escape routes.

Medic

Despite the immense skill of the Knights injuries still happen, be it to their Crow or another Knight. In these instances, every Knight is able to preform first aid, but it is the Medics that are more intensively trained in the school of medicine by priestess' of Shana. Their knowledge of poisons and poultices is near unmatched, as is their knowledge of the body and its humors. There is usually at least one in every unit, with the Medic training more of their own aids as they see fit.

Spotter

Spotters blend in to their surroundings, hiding their lighter armour under local garb or removing it entirely. They wander among crowds or crouch camouflaged on rooftops looking for potential threats as the rest of their squad escort the Crow.

Infiltrator

Infiltrators spend most of their time away from their unit. They are trained in the use of trickery and sabotage, identifying potentially dangerous ringleaders and infiltrating their organizations with orders to kill them if necessary, or simply watch and take notes. Few know of their existence outside the Knightly order, but for those who do, it's not unthinkable to believe the Cult of Morr has some form of presence in every other major cult on Thedas, and likely most important nobility and royalty as well.

Talon

Successful Infiltrators become a member of the Talons. Little is known about knights of this rank as they usually remain inside the Orders Hall, sifting through the information taken by the Infiltrators and formulating plans according to this data.

Lieutenant

Every unit of knights chooses their own commanders to lead the unit, and it is usually through them that the Black Wing Captains are given recommendations for their Lieutenants. These men and women usually don't have as much active duty and instead aid their Captains with work behind the scenes, though they may be attached to a unit for a particularly important individual. They act as the voice of their Captain and have his full authority when making any negotiations.
It is from these Knights that the best and most experienced are taken for induction into the Raven Knights, the elite within the elite of the cult armed forces.

Blackwing Captain

Blackwing Captains commands up to two hundred Knights and judges who is assigned to protect who and how many of them. They are aided in these choices by their Lieutenants and Infiltrators who gather information freely given or otherwise.

Crow

The Knights of the Black Rose are given representation within the council at Viadeza just like the Black Guards and their Castellans, though with the Order of the Black Rose, one of their number is given the rank of Crow permanently as a representative of the military side of the Cult. They act as a middle man to the two benches and try to reign in the more extreme or dangerous changs the other Crows wish to make to the Cult.

Raven

It is extremely rare for a Crow Knight to make the rank of Raven but it has happened before, and any Crow may be chosen as the next Raven.

Strictures

Black Rose Knights follow the same strictures as the Black Guard, but their vow of protection is made directly to the one they are meant to protect, and only them.

• Vow of Stoicism: The duty of a Black Rose Knight should be taken with the utmost seriousness. Openly joking and laughing is strictly prohibited, though the Order still cultivates the deadpan humour from their time in the Black Guard.
• Vow of Silence: Conversation will on duty is still prohibited. Battle cant and hand signs are still used during combat situations and to make the unit aware of any threats while escorting their charge.
• Vow of Protection: A Knight of the Black Rose must protect their charge with their lives, though getting them to safety is top priority, not a last stand.

Black Rose Knights

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Order

Templar Order

Warcry

None, all swear a vow of silence

Founding

Crow

Chapter House

Viadeza ,United Nerall Empire

Allegiance

Cult of Morr

Heraldry

Black and Red