Knights of Mystic Fire
The Knights of Mystic Fire are an ancient order of warriors dedicated to maintaining order, policing and encouraging the study of magic, and ensuring the liberty of the common folk. They were founded by Aroden during the glory days of the Azlanti, and have gone through several iterations over the millenia. The last known order of Knights exists on Golarion, specifically in the city of Absalom, as a specialist sect of the First Guard.
Structure
The Knights of Mystic Fire are led by their Lord Commander, who has full authority over the Knights, including how they spend their funding, the rigor of their training, the criteria for the Initiate Trials, and the details of their deployment. While placed under the First Guard in Absalom, even the lowest Knights only answer to the highest officers there, and only while within the walls of Azlanti Keep. Outside of Absalom, the Knight Commander answers only to the Wizard King, and the Knights answer only to the Knight Commander.
Internally, the Knight Commander executes his will through the six Lord Knights, who pass orders down through each of the Knight Grand Officers (who act as executive assistants and general managers of at least one speciality area, such as supplies or recruiting) and their Knight Commanders, who handle one or more squads of warriors.
A Knight Lieutenant is in charge of an individual squad, which is made up of a few Knights First Class, dozens of Knight Second Class, and a variable number of Squires. Squads can take on any number of specialties (e.g. scouting, dungeon delving, aquatic warfare, etc.), but in the modern day are primarily used in defense of Absalom.
Culture
The culture of the Knights of Mystic Fire have always revolved around the mastery of magic and supernatural phenomena, such as ancient rituals, lost spells, the invocation of True Names, and the mythical laws of the universe. They are also scions of order, often trained in the laws of their squad's locality, and strong advocates of personal freedom -- in whatever form the surrounding government allows.
In current times, the desireable attributes of a Knight are described by the (sometimes ridiculed) PAST acronym -- i.e. Knights must possess Proficiency, Adaptability, Sense, and Tenacity. These are also the four pillars upon which potential Squires are tested in the Initiate Trials.
Assets
While their wealth is largely tied to the coffers of Absalom in this era, one thing that has always been unique to the order is the crafting of their Dweomerblades, weapons made from every secret ever gathered by the Knights of Mystic Fire. They are the most noticeable symbol of the Knights, even in distant lands like Tian Xia, and are rightfully feared for the terrible weapons they are. Rumor states that the Knights once possessed equivalently powerful Mystic Regalia, but that they were lost during their dark ages -- i.e. either after Earthfall or the Gap.
History
While technically founded by Aroden in the latter days of Azlant, it was created from several existing, lesser orders of knights, specifically those focused on the study of magic. Little else is well known about this early version of the order, but those aware of the Mirror of Azlant know that they determined rank by sheer power, particularly in regards to combat. Only "masters" of all forms of magic were considered capable of being Lord Commander -- who was by definition the strongest Knight.
After Earthfall, the Knights of Mystic Fire fell into obscurity, and were not known again until Aroden rose to godhood. This second founding of the order occurred around the same time as the rise of Absalom, and saw a number of significant changes. The two major differences from the past were a militaristic structure -- with rank determined by experience, merit, and prowess in combat -- and an additional focus on the worship of both Aroden and Nethys, the god of magic.
Millenia later, specifically after the Gap, the Knights of Mystic Fire restructured under the First Guard, and thus the Swords of Absalom. While their mission remains unchanged, they are unique in that they now owe their allegiance to Kesil (a mortal), no longer worship Nethys (due to his disappearance after the Gap), and are focused almost entirely on the safety of a single city. They are currently led by Lord Commander Ricard Hatamash.
Artwork by Jason Nguyen
Type
Military, Knightly Order
Training Level
Elite
Veterancy Level
Decorated/Honored
Leader
Leader Title
Parent Organization
Location
Notable Members
Related Ethnicities
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