The Midnight Order
"Strength. Duty. Loyalty. These are the defining aspects of the Midnight Order. We are judges, jurys and executioners of the Great Mistress, and her word is our law. Our honor is written in the blood of her enemies." - Sir Vorenus, the Iron Judge, Grandmaster of the Midnight Order
The Midnight Order stands as the zenith of martial excellence within The Realm of Dusk, epitomizing the ruthless efficiency and unwavering loyalty demanded by Mistress Katrina. This cadre of knights, distinguished by their noble lineage and exceptional combat prowess, forms the backbone of Katrina's personal guard and serves as the vanguard of her forces.
Recruitment and Selection
Membership in the Midnight Order is not easily attained. Only noble-born men with a proven record of strength, loyalty, and strategic acumen are considered. Potential candidates undergo rigorous trials that test their physical endurance, combat skills, and mental fortitude. These trials often involve grueling tasks, such as navigating the treacherous Shrouded Peaks, enduring the searing pain of dark enchantments, and demonstrating unyielding loyalty to Katrina even under torture. Most knights also need to have served a certain amount of years as Black Legion grunts too, to acquire combat experience.The Perks
Each knight is offered a mastercrafted set of heavy plate armor, bespoken and tailored for their specific needs. The suits are adeptly crafted by Katrina's royal blacksmiths based off the Citadel of Shadows, the Queen's keep, and represent the best of the best in terms of craftsmanship found in The Realm of Dusk. It's important for a Midnight Order knight to be immediately recognizable from afar, so the armors all share a similar intimidating, gothic design and painted in midnight black. Other than the attire, the knights also get access to their own purebred steeds and squires. The native horse breeds in Katrina's queendom often sport a black or grey color and possess high endurance, often bred for this purpose.Roles and Responsibilities
The primary role of the Midnight Order is to serve Mistress Katrina's will as enforcers, special operators or in retrieval/protection missions. These tasks often involve travelling across The Realm of Dusk to retrieve powerful artifacts, eliminate key targets, secure places of interest, suppress insurrections or conduct covert operations that advance Katrina's interests. They have several chapters placed in strategic locations throughout the realm, with their center of operations obviously being in the Nightfall Keep. In times of war, they lead The Black Legion into battle, their presence alone enough to inspire fear in the hearts of enemies. They serve as bodyguards to the army's commanding officer, riding with him across the battlefield shouting orders to the frontline grunts, while occassionally performing a thunderous rare charge to break enemy morale.Sir Vorenus: The Iron Judge
Sir Vorenus, the Iron Judge, the Grandmaster of the Midnight Order, embodies the ideals and principles of this elite cadre. Known for his tactical genius and unmatched skill in combat, Vorenus has led the Order through countless victories. His stern demeanor and uncompromising standards have earned him the respect and fear of his men. Vorenus's patriotism and loyalty to Mistress Katrina is absolute, and his command is marked by a relentless pursuit of excellence and an unwavering dedication to the realm's security. His helmet, fashioned in the likeness of a blind judge, symbolizes the impartiality with which he metes out Mistress Katrina's justice. He is never seen without his massive warhammer, "Final Verdict," which is said to deliver blows as absolute as the sentences he passes. Rumors among the peasantry speak of Katrina taking a casual liking to the Judge, assuming their relationship is a bit beyond professionalism. Servants of the Citadel of Shadows mention how often their Mistress calls for the grandmaster to visit her in her private quarters late at night. Other servants are also prepared to care for him after he leaves Katrina's chambers, ready to treat his whip or bite mark wounds. It's unclear whether Katrina has just specifically targeted him to exercise her sadism so repeatedly, or there are actually signs of mutual admiration between each other.
Maple Hills College trading card of a Midnight Order Knight.
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