Fantasy City Of Evil Lore Page

[SnowStorm42]

The Black Knights were first seen in the East, attacking one of the Eastern Kingdoms. The Black Knights have a hierarchy arranged by their leader Maxwell Amadeus. The hierarchy goes as follows:

• Pawns: The most common of the Black Knights. For every pawn that is killed, more seem to replace them. Pawns are known to not speak often, or at all. They all wear plain black armor, wield a sword, or spear, sometimes a shield. There are many claims to what is under the helmet of pawns. Some say that upon removing Pawns' helmets they discover there is no body. Some claim they see spirits leave the armor upon defeat. Others claim that there are simply zombies underneath. The truth of the matter is that the Black Knight Pawns are in fact souls inhabiting a dead body under the armor. All pawns are absolutely and entirely loyal and under the control of higher Black Knights, the Royal Guard, and the King
• Rooks: Rooks are usually people who volunteer and undergo intense training to serve under the King. They are the lowest ranking of the non-zombie/"free will" Black Knights. Rooks are usually in charge of patrols, and scouting. Rooks are also commonly picked to be executioners.
• Knights: Knights are above Rooks. They are in charge of routinely placing a certain amount of Black Knights in a certain area each day. Knights are also in charge of raids, and training Rooks. Knights are known to be very well powered and are picked by Elites or Royal Guards.
• Bishops: Bishops are usually very powerful, handpicked individuals (by the Royal Guard or Maxwell), who are usually also highly intelligent. Bishops are in charge of the Census Bureau, analyzing newcomers, studying the population's income, race percentage, and living conditions. Bishops also study Demera, and Black Knight reports to see if any new laws need to be added, or if old laws need further strengthening.
• Elites: Elites could be thought of as Generals. They are usually in charge of bigger raids, larger battles, strategic placement or enforcement within Demera, and also scouting the outskirts of Demera/the continent. Elites are also in charge of searching the Black Knight ranks for defective members, and crushing signs of rebellion. Elites are usually stronger individuals, and also highly intelligent, with a very good background of loyalty to the King
• Royal Guard: The Royal Guard could be thought of as the princes and princesses of the Amadeus Army. Maxwell is always sure that there are eight Royal Guards. They all are usually equal to Maxwell in strength, power, or intelligence. These are individuals hand picked by Maxwell to be his most loyal and dangerous protectors. Royal Guards have free reign on the kingdom as long as it doesn't hurt Maxwell's plans. Royal Guards have their own manors within the Castle Grounds. They have full authority over every Black Knight and are allowed to bend most of the rules, do as they wish, wherever they wish, however they wish.

The Black Knights excluding Pawns, and the Royal Guard, are regularly tested for loyalty or defects. Many of them have been with Maxwell since before Demera but there have been many new additions and loyal followers. Besides the Royal Guard all Black Knights are known to greet his Majesty with respect and formality. Spies for the rebellion report that Pawns seem to never sleep, and new ones emerge from the Castle even though no recruits ever seem to go in.

The Black Knights also are all branded with a magical symbol that designates what rank they are (color based), and that allows them to have control over Pawns. Pawns orders can be overwritten. If a Knight for example orders five Pawns to perform a task, a Bishop can cancel the order and the Pawns will obey the higher ranking Black Knight's orders.