Vindicator Knights

Cover image courtesy of Moach Wallpapers

"We do not know what our chances of survival are, so we fight as if they were zero. We do not know what we are facing, so we fight as if it was the dark gods themselves. No one will remember us now and we may never be buried beneath our beloved soil, so we will build our own memorial here. The Council might lose us and the world might never know we existed, but the Enemy - the Enemy will know. The Enemy will remember. We will hurt it so badly that it will never forget us until the stars burn out and our Order vanquishes it at the end of time. When evil is dying, its last thought will be of us. That is our memorial - carved into the heart of our enemy. We cannot lose, Vindicator Knights. We have already won!"

— Vindicator Caldorius' final rousing speech to his men

Created as an elite bodyguard force for the Grand Council Of Mages, the Vindictor Knights specialize not only in protection but have diversified their scope since their creation. These roles include counter intelligence and combating any threat from the supernatural, infernal or abyssal forces.
Although they are highly skilled in close combat, they prefer to engage any threats at range, bringing their fearsome greatbows and scourgebows to bear. Firing huge, specially made bolts that release a blast of radiant energy on impact, these impressive weapons can often level the playing field against almost any threat. Often being too horrifying for any mere mortal person to behold without the Vindicator Knight's unrivalled training.

One unbreakable shield against the coming darkness, One last blade forged in defiance of fate, Let them be my legacy to the world, and my final gift to its people

— Victor Dreago, founder and first Grandmaster of the Vindicator Knights

Armour of the Vindicator Knights

The knights have a few different styles of armour they are perhaps best known for their resplendant golden plate armour. Made from Aurumite, which is specially created by the Order Ingenium, this custom designed set of plates is specifically designed to give the wearer the best protection possible but allow them to wield their iconic Vindicator's Greatbow without being impeded. The most notable part of this set of armour is the mask, there not only to protect the wearer's face but also to hide it, as Vindicator's are forbidden to show their face while on duty.
Other sets of protective armour are tailor made for the role they are needed for. For example, a lighter set is made for more covert or reconaissance missions where being more agile and less encumbered is more desirable over protection.

— Master Sigilus of Order Impetum

Weaponry of the Vindicator Knights

While most famous for carrying the fearsome vindicator's greatbow, these knights are also armed with many other weapons. Possibly the most common among these is the vindicator's scourgebow. A larger and heavier version of their main infantry weapon, this is often mounted in place on its own tripod or bipod to give covering fire to the other troops.
As for artillery support, their most common weapon of choice is the versatile arcane ballista. a large siege weapon operated by a crew of two. These fire a magical bolt that sets their targets ablaze with arcane fire.

Organisation of the Vindicator Knights

The Vindicators are sub-divided into 4 main Orders, these being the Order Custos, Order Impetum, Order Exploratio and the Order Ingenium. Despite each being individual they all liase with each other and work together as one overall brotherhood, reporting to the Grandmaster, who in turn reports to the Grand Council Of Mages.

Give thanks to those most courageous and loyal of guardians, the Order Custos, who stand in constant vigil over the Grand Council chambers. A veritable legion of warriors ready to lay down their lives without doubt for the beloved ward of the Council. None pass through the Collegiate Arcanum without their knowledge; steeped are they in the arcane secrets of that labyrinthine edifice. One thousand blades await the call to arms; to defend against any threat, from without or within.

— Displayed on a plaque in the Collegiate Arcanum

Order Custos

This being the bodyguard sector, Order Custos are detailed with the close personal protection of the Grand Council members and their families. These are not only the more well known of the Vindicators but also the most elite and experienced, with the its members having proved themselves elsewhere. More often than not on the frontline of Order Impetum. The majority of their job involves standing guard in the halls, corridors and doorways of the higher tiers of the Collegiate Arcanum. As they work their way up in the ranks they can get assigned as part of a protective detail for one of the council members, which naturally includes their family. Only the most proven and experienced guards are selected for the personal detail of the Archmage.
A force of Custos guards are also kept out of sight as a response force, should they be needed to deal with any threats. Should these be overwhelmed, not only can the full force of Order Custos be called in but all of the Vindicator Knights stand together. This means calls can go out to the other orders, especially Order Impetum, for aid. This would have to be a very severe threat as Order Custos are a mighty force indeed.

image courtesy of Dmitriy Mironov on Art station

"From the shadows I cry for you. The tears you shed for us are the blood of our Order. Here I stand at the last gate, my sword in my hand. This bastion shall never fall!"

— Unknown Vindicator Knight

Order Impetum

The frontline militant wing of the Vindicators is the Order Impetum founded from carefully handpicked knights from around Illadryia In a time of strife and great need. Those that had not only proven themselves in battle but had also displayed no desire for self glory. Only true heroes who could put the their country and people first, before even their own lives. For any desire for persoanl gain is weakness that the forces of evil can exploit with temptation. Only those true of heart would be worthy of what was to come.
Just thirty valiant and noble warriors were chosen from the hundreds of potential candidates. These were then given advanced training with an emphasis on brotherhood and working as a singular unit.
A war was on the way but this was no mortal conflict. Cultists of Nah'l Shetrath had found a way for them to open a portal to the hellish realm of Avernus and were at risk of completing their dark ritual. Not only did the Grand Council of Mages need to find a way to prevent this but ensure either it could not happen again or, in the worst case scenario, be able to fight back. Thus the Vindicator Knights were born, to stand as a beacon of hope against the flood of darkness that was sure to spill into the material realm if these maddend cultists were to succeed. The other orders were to come later, but it was Order Impetum that were the primogenitors of this new force of elite knights.
Fortunately the coven was discovered and the threat dealt with remorseessly but the Vindicators have stood firm ever since. Forever vigilant for signs of any supernatural or demonic threats, wherever they may be.
Originally just formed under the name of Vindicator Knights, as their responsibilities grew, owing to their unrivalled success, their numbers swelled. So it was decided to divide them up into four separate sub-orders. Thus Order Impetum was born.

image courtesy of Alessandro Baldasseroni on Art station

We are the warriors of the Order Impetum, armoured in faith, shielded by devotion and armed with purity of purpose. But greater even than these, we carry the light of our Order into the dark places, to purge evil wherever it may be found.

— Captain Yonus Doomcrest of Order Impetum

Armoury of the Vindicator Knights:

Weapon statblocks:

Vindicator's Greatbow

Home Brew

Vindicator's Greatbow

Weapon

Rare Evocation Requires Attunement

Ammunition, heavy, two-handed. Minimum strength requirement to wield these weapons is 16.

Created for the elite guard of the Collegiate Arcanum's Grand Council, the Vindicator's Greatbow is a miracle of science and ingenuity. In form it is something like a heavy crossbow, though it is far bulkier - and it needs to be, for it fires no mere bolt. The projectiles the greatbow hurls are more akin to maces, with a thick shaft and bulky tip. At their ends are flasks braced in bands of metal, the contents of these being the bow's true weapon. They are filled not with liquid, but with the captured essence of raw radiant magical energy.

Type	Damage	Damage	Range
Martial Ranged	2d8 / 1d6 Bludgeoning	Radiant	200/800

Cost: 5,000 gp
Weight: 15lbs

Vindicator's Scourgebow

Home Brew

Vindicator's Scourgebow

Weapon

Very Rare Evocation Requires Attunement

Ammunition, heavy, two-handed, special.

Created as a heavier, support variant of the Vindicato's Greatbow, the large, heavy crossbow is so powerful it must be mounted to fire. Anyone wishing to use this must spend one turn setting it on its mount before unleashing hell on their foes. It also takes one turn to take down and move again. So they are usually set up in a fixed position like in a guard tower or defensive wall in support of other troops.

Type	Damage	Damage	Range
Martial Ranged	2d12 / 1d12 Bludgeoning	Radiant	300/900

Cost: 8,000
Weight: 25lbs

Arcane Ballista

Home Brew

Arcane Ballista

Wondrous Item

Very Rare Evocation Requires Attunement

Medium object, special - (see below)

The engineers of the Order Ingenium are masters of combining arcane lore into their war machinery. One of their most prized creations being the arcane ballista. Designed to meet demands of heavier firepower to defend certain strategic locations, most important of these being the chambers of the Grand Council Of Mages. This marvel of engineering packs a heavy punch with just its bolt alone, not to mention the specially designed incendiary tips that are added to each round. Where most common ballistae having to be labouriously loaded for each shot, this fearsome weapon comes with a purpose made magazine of 5 bolts. All its crew of two have to do is release a bolt, pull a cranking arm to load another round, then aim and fire again.

As if this wasn't a marvel in itself, the mount it stands on has a special joint meaning it can rotate through a full 360^o field of fire with ease. Bringing their firepower to bear on any target within range. Straying too close to one of these things can be a very costly mistake.

An Arcane Ballista takes one round to either set up or dismantle and only needs one action to reload its magazine of 5 rounds. It can be fired each turn before needing to be reloaded.

Type	Damage	Damage	Range
Martial Ranged	2d6 / + 2d8 fire	Piercing	120/900

Cost: 15,000
Weight: 400 lbs

Iaculum Tempestus

Home Brew

Iaculum Tempestus

Weapon

Uncommon

Versatile (1d10)

The double sided one handed maul of the Vindicator Knights that crackles with the energy of lightning. They not only deal a heavy blunt force blow but rend material assunder with a blast of electrical power.

Type	Damage	Damage	Range
Martial Melee	1d8 / + 1d6 lightning	Bludgeoning	Melee

Weight: 3lbs

Eldinghammarr

Home Brew

Eldinghamarr

Weapon

Legendary Evocation Requires Attunement

Heavy, Two-Handed

This awesome weapon of legend was reportedly forged as the personal weapon of Grandmaster Gared Kaldorius himself. Said to possess great power, legend has it that it may only be weilded by one who is pure of heart and has proven themselves worthy of the honour. A mighty weapon against any foe, it has greater power against either devils, demons or undead.

Inscribed into its large, double sided head are arcane runes that glow a pale blue colour when evil is nearby.

If this weapon hits a fiend or undead then the lightning damage is increased by a further 1d8. This weapon also glows a pale blue if any fiend or undead are within 30ft, shining dim light to a radius of 20ft. They can even be detected through walls unless lined with lead or blocked by other magical means such as an antimagic field.

Only those worthy and true of heart may weild this hammer. Anyone who is not of good alignment rolls to hit at disadvantage. Any evil creature that tries to pick up this weapon must take 2d8 lightning damage and immediately drop it.

Type	Damage	Damage	Range
Martial Melee	2d8 / +1d8 lightning	Bludgeoning	Melee

Weight: 12 lbs

Eldritch Force Glaive

Home Brew

Eldritch Force Glaive

Weapon

Uncommon Evocation Requires Attunement

Heavy, Reach, Two-Handed, Special (see description)

Created as a personal weapon for the Vindicator Knights that guard the Grand Council Of Mages, this is not just a mere glaive. The blade is enchanted with arcane energy that hits the target with a blast of magical force when it hits.

In addition to this, on the shaft is a tube, 10 inches long and 2 inches in diameter with a purple crystal at its base. On a command word this will shoot a blast of eldritch energy at any one target within range.

Eldritch Cannon

The Eldritch Force Glaive has 4 charges. As an action the wielder may speak a command word and shoot a blast of energy at a single target within a 120ft range, dealing 1d10 force damage on a successfull ranged attack. The glaive regains 1d4 expended charges daily at dawn.

Type	Damage	Damage	Range
Martial Melee	1d10 / + 1d6 force	Slashing	Melee

Cost: -
Weight: 6lbs

Custos Greatsword

Home Brew

Custos Greatsword

Weapon

Uncommon

Heavy, Two-Handed, Special

Created especially for the elite guard of the Order Custos, this greatsword is forged by the best smiths of the Order Ingenium. Not only does it cut targets with impunity it blasts them with intense radiant energy too. This elegant weapon is as tall as the guard wielding it and balanced so perfectly that, to a warrior skilled in its use, it seems as light as a feather. So keen is the greatsword's edge, and so enduring are the enchantments woven into its blade, that its sharpness is never dulled, no matter how many helms or skulls are cloven by its strikes.

It is said that each sword is custom made for the soldier and that only one of the Order may touch it. Should anyone else be foolish enough to try and pick one up then they will pay a costly toll.

A Custos Greatsword is so well made and enchanted to improve its durability that it classes as a +1 weapon. You have a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon.

When drawing this sword, its owner must speak a command word. Should anyone wield this blade without doing so small blades extend out of the hilt, which also glows red hot. This deals 2d8 piercing and 3d8 fire damage

Type	Damage	Damage	Range
Martial Melee	2d6 / + 1d6 radiant	Slashing	Melee

Cost: -
Weight: 4lbs

Storm's Wrath Gauntlets

Home Brew

Storm's Wrath Gauntlets

Weapon

Rare

Storm's Wrath Gauntlets are a pair of heavy plated gauntlets each with four 10 inch, bear claw shaped blades, one extending from each finger knuckle. Created by the Order Ingenium, these weapons are only available to close combat specialists of the Vindicator Knights. Not only do they slice through flesh with ease but also release a nasty blast of magical lightning energy.

Unarmed: A weapon with the unarmed property replaces your unarmed strikes

Glove: A glove weapon is worn on your hand or forearm, and you cannot be disarmed of it. You can hold objects, wield weapons, and cast spells with a hand fitted with a glove weapon, but you can only attack with the glove weapon if that hand is unoccupied.

Type	Damage	Damage	Range
None	2D6 / +1D6 lightning	Slashing	Melee

Cost: -
Weight: 10 lbs

Kirileth    Organisations      Vindicator Knights

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Type

Special Forces