Iron Knights
The origin of the Iron Knights, much like the Empire itself, is shrouded in mystery. Though to the undiscerning eye they appear as mere men, on closer inspection the differences between these warriors and the thronging mass of humanity become quickly apparent.
How they came to be is unknown, though it is widely believed that arcane manipulations play a part in shaping these imposing warriors. In battle, they move faster than the wind, scaling walls in mere moments and crossing distances in the blink of an eye. Once they reach their targets, they strike with the force of a battering ram, scything through whole battalions as if they were nought but fields of wheat.
Even should an opponent manage to match their skill or ability, they would still need to find a way past their suit of dwarven-forged mithral plate armor, capable of shrugging off most damage, whether magical or non-magical in nature.
And if that was not enough, anyone unfortunate enough to face an Iron Knight on the field should remember this; wherever the rider goes, the mount cannot be far behind.
The majority of the Order rides to battle upon fierce Vandalorsien stallions, raised on the pastures of the Lower Orma especially for the knights' use. A rank above your common warhorse, the Vandalorsiens wear almost as much armour as their riders, and will fight just as fiercely with hoof and teeth as the knight will by sword and spear.
However, for the chosen few, a greater glory awaits. Whenever a knight-in-training demonstrates exceptional fortitude or cunning, they will be selected to join the ranks of the Order's dragon-mounted warriors. After being selected, these knights are taken into the Blackthorn Mountains and gifted an unhatched Iron Dragon egg. From that point on, they are responsible for its care, nurture and training, from hatching to adulthood. Thanks to the unusual genetic properties of the iron dragons, they reach maturity far more quickly than the rest of their draconic cousins, ensuring the dragon is grown and battle-ready by the time the knight finishes their training. The bond between dragon and rider is stronger than adamant; should one fall in battle, the other will not stop until they have avenged them.
Iron Knights possess an unwavering loyalty to the Emperor and a deep faith in the Church of the Four Gates. The shear veracity of their zealousness has led many in the Empire to suspect that, as well as whatever magical conditioning their bodies are subjected to, the strange magic is also used to warp their minds. Whether this psychic conditioning can be undone is not known.
Strength:
- 12'000 (horse-mounted)
- 900 (dragon-mounted)
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