The Knights of St. Joseph

The Swords of the Union

History

Soldiers of God:

Formed right after the foundation of the Union Congregation, the Knights are the Militant arm of the church of Joseph Cohle, the holy warriors that hunt down the supernaturals who control and abuse God's children. They are as fanatical as they are relentless, stopping at nothing to destroy Vampires, Werewolves and Warlocks anywhere they might be hiding, or not. Employing both traditional and modern hunting techniques, the Knights of St. Joseph are the tip of the spear of the Congregation, and the bane of supernaturals in New Bourbon.

They were officially formed one year after the foundation of the Union Congregation, when former Army Colonel Kevin Walker decided the church needed holy warriors to fight against the city's corruption and the supernaturals that preyed upon it. The initial members were either ex-military or normal flock members that desired to fight the enemies of Man, with them being trained and selected by Walker himself. They then began to strike against the creatures of the night, raiding businesses, firebombing havens and gunning down ghouls and kinfolk. Though many fell, Walker among them, their mission lived on in the Congregation.

For a while they struck only sporadic isolated targets, but with time, their fellows in City Council helped make sure that their mission wouldn't be impeded by mortal corruption of the soul. But when it was the appropriate hour, they begun striking the enemies of man at their heart, with bolder and bolder attacks, always directed by the Pastor and his "Sword", Walker. They have gained close to twenty years of experience against many supernaturals in the city, having become great hunters each of them, but they had their setbacks, and none greater than the fall of their "First Martyr".

After several years of attacks, and seeing the Vampires of the city diminishing their presence, the Union decided that it was time to up their game, to increase the rate and the ferocity of their attacks, and maybe, finally, drive these demons out of their city. For the initial days, it was smooth, but they would pay the price for their folly. Col. Walker fell while fighting a so called "Fallen", his sacrifice making sure that not only did they kill the creature, but that his hunters survived, for this he was named "The First Martyr", the first of the original to die, bot he would not be the last.

With time, the first generation of Knights began to die, and the number of recruits did not cover their losses. With the militants facing a challenge that they did not consider, their mortality, with many dying, either against the supernaturals or against the corrupt Police Force, many began to lose hope. But the Pastor had a plan.

Age of Inquisition:

Thanks to the many facets of the recent years, namely the Beckoning and the formation of the Second Inquisition, the Knights received a new leader: Sarah Caldwell. She was a Hunter that had already many trophies of supernaturals to show for it. She had experience and zeal, both things which made sure Walker was a great leader, but she also had one more thing that made her the perfect candidate: Ruthlessness. She would direct strikes against Supernaturals anywhere, no matter the costs she would see them dead, this fanaticism caught the eye of Joseph, who made sure to appoint her the new leader of the Knights.

And it couldn't come at a more perfect time. The Second Inquisition had heard of the Congregation and its Knights, and it offered to help them with their mission. Before, the Knights of St. Joseph had to scrape by with local Hunting store guns and Army Surplus supplies, now there were hunting with Military Grade Firearms and NVGs. The SI and the Hammer Response Group, a Christian PMC, made sure that the Knights received the best weaponry and support so as to combat their foes.

Composition

Manpower

Composed of both men and women, the Knights of St. Joseph hunt down the supernaturals in the city of New Bourbon, whoever or whatever, they might be. They are divided into hunting parties, named "Swords", and located in several Parishes in the city, which make their areas of operations clear, tho sometimes a Sword may call on the help of another, of which they must answer, by order of the Pastor himself.

In the beginning of their existence, the Knights had close to 2000 members, but then they declined to as low as 150 after the death of Walker. The recent aid packages and the new appointment of Sarah Caldwell as Head Knight, made sure there was an influx of membership, with it now standing at 900 hunters, all trained and equipped to fight whatever Hell has to throw at them.

Equipment

During their inception, the Knights were not equipped in a standard fashion, with each member using what they had available. While in America that constituted quite a substantial arsenal, it was, nevertheless, quite shy from more "standard" paramilitary forces. Each hunter was equipped with what he or she could afford and maintain, both guns and gear. Over time that began to change, with more standardized equipment being distributed to each Sword. Nowadays the Swords of the Union's Knights are equipped with modern military equipment, perfect for facing the high-risk hunts that they face day after day.

Part of their arsenal includes Night Vision Goggles, standard for Military personal, but that is just the beginning, with more specialized equipment being distributed to Swords, used to combat the supernatural. These specialized equipment are distributed on a case-by-case basis, with specific gear being issued to Swords likely to run into the supernaturals countered by such gear (ie. Silver Bullets for Werewolves and Stakes for Vampires). 

Weaponry

Saint Joseph's Army has recently gained access to Military-Grade weaponry and equipment, equipping their Knights and Deacons with state of the art weaponry and technology, tho they still prefer some things done the old fashioned way. These include Assault Rifles, LMGs, SMGs, Grenades, NVGs and armored cars to name a few, in addition to any guns and weapons that the Unionists have at home, this is America after all. The Congregation also has access to "consultors" and tech support from their Second Inquisition and Hammer Response partners, the first are elite trained fighters who help with training and do some ops themselves, the second is made of surveillance tech and intel that allows the Union to strike against the right targets.

Structure

The Knights of St. Joseph are subdivided into a series of teams, named Swords, and set up in the various Parishes all around New Bourbon, with each of these teams being lead by a Deacon. Their Parish is both their seat of worship, with each having a church, and their headquarters, with them all containing the gear assigned to the Sword.

The Swords, in turn, are subdivided into "roles", made to resemble the "Five Martyrs", these are

• The Ranger: The leader of the Sword, named after "The First Martyr" Col. Walker, and taking his role in his unit. These warriors make sure to lead and coordinate their brothers and sisters in arms against the enemies of mankind. Usually wields a pistol and either an Assault Rifle or SMG.
• The Arms Man: The Ordinance man of the Sword, named after Elijah Corbin, a former Sgt at Arms in the Mongrels MC before joining the flock. These warriors are the heavy weapons support any Sword needs, armed with a LMG and either a Heavy Pistol or Machine Pistol.
• The Hermetic: The Sword's medical specialist, named after Daisy Walker, the Colonel's wife and a former Army Medic. They are responsible for keeping their brothers in arms alive during and after combat, riding into battle with an SMG and a Pistol.
• The Hooker: The point man of the Sword, named after Damian Clay, a former Boxing champion. These are the first ones in on any hunt, knocking down the doors and making sure the monsters have to go through him before getting to his brothers and sisters. They are usually armed with a Shotgun and a Blessed Melee weapon.
• The Crow: The sniper of the group, named after Atticus Barnes, Walker's childhood friend and former hunter. These men and women keep overwatch over their brothers and sisters of the Sword, showering their enemies with bullets. They are usually armed with either a Sniper Rifle or DMR, and a Pistol.

In turn, each Sword is advised and led by a Deacon, one of Joseph's lieutenants and responsible for the parish. Each one of them is a wielder of True Faith, blessed by the Pastor himself, and capable of conjuring miracles. They guard the souls of their brothers and sisters in arms, keeping them safe against any trickery the supernaturals may cast upon them, repelling them with the mighty power of God.

Type

Paramilitary

Founding

2006

Overall training Level

Trained

Assumed Veterancy

Experienced

Used by

• Union Congregation