The New Imperial Knights

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BLADE

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The Imperial Knights

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History


The Imperial Knights have a long, proud history of serving the Empire and its Emperors and Empresses. Formed sometime after the ascension of Jagged Fel to the Imperial Throne, the Imperial Knights were formed as the Emperor’s elite body guards and most trusted allies. They served the Force as embodied through the Emperor. If the Emperor ever strayed from the light side of the Force, it was the Imperial Knights' duty to bring him back or remove him from power.

They remained loyal to the true Emperor, Roan Fel, during the Second Imperial Civil War, serving Roan Fel and the Empire-In-Exile faithfully for the duration of the war. In the peace that followed, the Imperial Knights remained loyal to the Fel Dynasty and the subsequent dynastic changes up until the resurgence of the Sith and the coup d'état led by the Sith and Sith-sympathizers, who took the Empire by storm, killing most of the Imperial Knights in a move reminiscent of Palpatine’s Order 66 a thousand years ago, as well as the true Emperor.

The few that survived the purge fled their home on Bastion, remaining scattered, hiding from the Sith, until they were gathered by Knight-Commander Peller, the Emperor’s former second-in-command. Peller organized the Imperial Knights into a rag-tag band of guerrilla fighters armed with the Force, a hatred for the Sith, and an intimate knowledge of Imperial systems.

Peller herself fell some time later in a daring operation which left a gravely wounded Darth Judicar vulnerable to being overthrown, which he was by his apprentice, Darth Exodeus. Bellatrix La Rouge took over the reins of the Knights and some progress was made in finding new safe-houses and building the alliances that would serve the IK well. Unfortunately, Bellatrix was killed in a terrorist explosion in the Coruscant Temple in the Jedi Order. She was succeeded temporarily by Zsaekriel Dtoahfre’Vuun who resigned after a short interlude to join the Jedi Order. Zsaekriel was then succeeded by Ayumi Pallopides who took extreme security measures relocating the Knights to Cyrillia and HOMEFRONT a secret base deep underground in SEOUL V.

Unfortunately, the Sith found the secret base and broke the back of the main IK resistance there, taking most prisoner.

The Knights are currently led by Balthazar "Pendragon" Gallo, a legendary Marshall returned miraculously from regions far beyond Wild Space. An unorthodox and pragmatic man, he has recruited many new Knights and instituted a decentralized and far more mobile Imperial Knights faction.


Forces


After the great attack at Seoul V, the Imperial Knights were greatly depleted as an organization. New recruiting with more liberal standards and the personal favors of some of the great figures in the New Imperial Knights (including Balthazar Gallo and some of the elder Knights) has meant that the Knights can count on an effective network of sympathizers and agents across the galaxy. Numbering a bit over a few hundred in total, the organization is mobile, secretive, and stealthy.

The Knights are themselves divided into retinues, usually numbering a few knights supported by a few more non-knight supporting forces. These retinues are semi-independent and only in semi-regular contact with HIGHCOM 1 (the retinue the Knight Commander leaders) and HIGHCOM 2 (the retinue the Lancer leads.) No retinue, including HIGHCOM knows the exact location of any other retinue at a given time.

If necessary, the IK can contact each other via dead-drops, sympathizers, etc. to organize Enclaves. These enclaves are attended only by duly appointed representatives of the retinues and never contain more than 5-7% of the Imperial Knights.


Philosophy


The Imperial Knights, despite what some Jedi believe, are an order that staunchly follows the light side of the Force. They hunt down any trace of the dark side, lest it grow into a threat to the welfare of the galaxy. With the return of the Sith, the Imperial Knights have been faced with a jarring fact: they were too forgiving. The Jedi had been complacent and the Imperial Knights had been too focused on their duties as guards to the Imperial Family. They had let the Sith rise up and take control of the Empire.

In response to this, the Knights have turned to look harshly on the dark side of the Force and its followers. They are much less forgiving than they were and are ever vigilant. Though the Imperial Knights are trained similarly to the Jedi, they view the Force as a tool - a powerful tool to be revered and respected, rather than contemplated and meditated on as the Jedi do. They believe that the Force can never be used in anger or selfishness, as the Sith use it. Controlling one's emotions and fears are of paramount importance in Imperial Knight philosophy.

They are given intense mental training to follow orders and keep a strict mentality that make them less susceptible to the allure of the dark side than a Jedi. Though they reject the dark side, the do not always rely solely on the light side either; for this reason, the New Jedi Order labels the Knights as "Grey Jedi."

The Imperial Knights have long since been a resilient organization. The current Dark Times after the destruction of its facilities at Seoul V and other areas is simply, as many would tell you, another trial the Imperial Knights must face. Reemerging under the leadership of legendary lost Marshall Balthazar Gallo, who was thought to have long since disappeared in a quest far beyond the Wild Regions of Space, the New Imperial Knights are more closely committed to serving the Force rather than focusing on the Imperial Throne and are a more ideologically committed and decentralized faction.

A new focus on personal honor which exists to some degree in conflict with their methods (which could be described as terrorism) motivates the Knights who have an esprit de corps that rivals any organization in the galaxy. The old requirements on service and hunting down wayward knights is gone. Imperial Knights believe that honor should be enough to hold a Knight to service and should a Knight fall or falter, the secretive nature of the Imperial Knights will mean that the IK will move on.

In terms of values, the Imperial Knights believe in discretion, valor, personal honor, and a warrior's proactiveness tempered with a soupcon of pragmatism. They are also egalitarians who focus greatly on team-work and the power of a committed organization to overcome powerful individuals.

Above all, they seek to serve the people of the Empire by throwing off the Sith yoke. To do so will require considerable (and often unsavory) effort

Hierarchy


Pendragon or Knight Commander: Under Balthazar Gallo, the Knight-Commander is the nominal leader of the Knights, a figurehead as well as an organizer and a first among equals of the retinue leaders. Leads HIGHCOM 1. Can call Enclaves by himself.

Einharjar: The Second in Command. Leads his own retinue. Can issue missions alongside Knight Commander. Can call Enclaves if seconded.

Lancer: The Third in Command. Usually accompanies the Knight-Commander and is a trusted fellow warrior. The Knight-Commander's customary envoy.


Justicar
: Experienced Knights who lead their retinues. For most Knights these are their most immediate and pertinent authorities. They develop security protocols, missions, etc. for their retinues. Through CAMELOT order, retinue leaders (with the backing of two more retinue leaders or any of HIGHCOM) can also call Enclaves.

Knights-Errant
: Independent operatives who operate independently of retinues. These operatives report to either HIGHCOM 1 or 2 or the nearest retinue. Only experienced Knights are granted this opportunity which has commensurately greater risks, privileges and responsibilities.


Knights
: The backbone of the organization The New Imperial Knights are inclusive and non-force users can become Knights as well as anyone else. A Knight is expected to both adhere to the personal code of honor of the Imperial Knights and to be a great and shrewd soldier and warrior. They operate most frequently in a team capacity, as is the ethos of the Knights.

Squires: All initiates to the Imperial Knights start with this rank (barring veteran status, etc.) After successfully serving out missions, a Squire may be Knighted by his retinue leader. For reasons of security, independent cells keep their own rosters and HIGHCOM is only kept aware of rough number of available knights and not their particular composition and identity.


Executive Orders


AVALON order: This is the order establishing the structure of the New Imperial Knights. They are to decentralize and to begin to both provision for themselves and their faction whenever possible and to methodically and brutally attack the Sith Empire and its collaborating factions. Civilian and military structures are considered of equal value. No target is off-limits.

LE FAY ORDER: All Imperial Knights are to assume discretion and hide their identity as Imperial Knights. Only fellow Imperial Knights shall know of our existence. Outsiders are not to be trusted until made allies.

CAMELOT ORDER: Knights of the Round meeting to be called by retinue leaders or HIGHCOM. Caution and representatives to be sent. No more than seven percent of IK to be in any single place at one time.


Laws


Imperial Knights are expected to serve the Light and the Greater Good. They are not to murder wantonly or with hatred. They are not to use degrading methods to interrogate their enemies (because torture is both ineffective and morally dubious.) They are to keep the covenants and secrets of the Imperial Knights. They are to accept the surrender, whenever legitimate of their enemies, and to put off thoughts of personal revenge in service of the Greater Good.

On pain of punishment to be dispensed by due process (whenever possible) and the will of the Retinue Leaders or the Pendragon himself, Knights must walk the Path. It may lead to many winding roads for different Knights but so long as their hearts are true and the Knights are a united family, the Good shall prevail over the Bad.
 
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BLADE

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Imperial Code

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"Hello. My name is Balthazar Gallo. To you new Knight, I bid welcome. The task that lies before us is monumental, but the Force is never heedless of its agents of light and we have the right of it. It takes great character to join a group that was until recently despised as a spent force, but I assure you... we are not. We are the Imperial Knights. This is our covenant."


- The Imperial Knights serve the people of the Empire. Our preoccupation with the Imperial Throne is less about dynastic entanglements than about what the throne symbolizes; a covenant between the powerful and the powerless to provide aid and succor to one another.

- Though we are mindful of our power in the Force, we do not contemplate it like our Jedi brothers do; we act. Our power must not and never will be a reason for superiority or arrogance. The Imperial Knights are servants of the Force and the people, and our usage of the Force does not entitle us to special treatment, let alone dominion.

- The Dark Side is a lie. While it is useful to recognize its power and while we must never underestimate our enemies, for to contemn one's enemy is to invite defeat and disgrace upon ourselves, we must never lose sight of the weakness of those who use the Dark Side. Their rapacity and self-delusion knows no bounds and they destroy one another. We shall aid the Sith, at the very least, in this one endeavor.

- A Knight is discreet. He does not use his powers in the quotidian. Knights must learn to be skillful even without the aid of the Force. They should use the Force only in the most necessary of circumstances, and then with reserve, prudence and shrewdness in mind.

- A Knight must never announce himself either in deed or word. Our glory is inherent in service. We do not announce ourselves. Pragmatically, we will not reveal ourselves to the Sith, ever. We will attack them; hound them, kill their leaders; and cut down their weapons, but the Sith will will never be certain that we have truly returned. This will also make us harder to hunt, shadows in the night. The dark will aid as our ally and not theirs and the Sith will know fear.

- A Knight must learn to close his mind and to be mindful of secrets. He must learn to be independent and proactive. He must also learn to be utilitarian. This war will call on us to do terrible things. But some evils are necessary and their necessity is itself an expiation of those evils.

- A Knight may have emotions but he must never give in to hatred of our enemies or to be under the control of any of his emotions. While we may be forced to commit actions we may not like in name of the Greater Good, we must never become that which we fight. The Sith live a lie; that is no reason to hate them, whatever evil they may commit.


The Imperial Knights Creed


Conscience before convenience
Reason before rashness
Dignity not depravity
Duty not dominion
No power is greater than the Force
No power shall break the honor of a Knight
We are the Imperial Knights.



"And thus we come to the final lesson, my fellow Knight, for by taking this journey you do yourself and our brother knights a great service. Destroy this communication and commit all that you have learned to your heart and mind. Knights may walk the Path in their own manner and whilst you are true to yourselves you shall never dishonor yourself or your brothers."


End Transmission.
 
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BLADE

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Codex Arcanum

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I am Pendragon. My name is irrelevant. Few of you will meet me in person. And perhaps by the time you see this communique, I will be dead many times over. It hardly matters. Pendragon is a symbol. A symbol of what we fight for. A symbol of the Greater Good, and a tool of ours. Symbols cannot be killed. They certainly cannot be betrayed.

Betrayal. Deception. They must become tools we are used to in this war. We must beat the Sith at their own game.


- A Knight's saber is a tool of great spiritual and practical importance. But it represents above all service to the greater good. No greater homage can be paid to the blade than true and honest service. Concordantly, blades should be hidden and Knights discrete in their application when on missions.

- Knights should learn the arts of guerilla tactics and stealth. They are what will win us this war. Power cannot break guile.

- Knights must subsume their martial pride in service of the Greater Good. They must be pragmatic in their ongoing assessment of the likelihood of success for a mission.

- Until we are ready to reveal ourselves to the galaxy at large, all retinues/cells should establish contradictory modus operandi, areas of operation, etc. The Sith should not be sure that we have returned until we are ready. We will project the illusion of several terrorist groups with different aims. Retinues will not coordinate in any manner, but will by the dint of HIGHCOMs 1 and 2 establish separate Areas of Operation and specializations.

- A knight must be like a whisper. Leave no loose ends. Credit and paper trails are to be destroyed. Communiques are to always be destroyed. Commit all to memory and if possible fragment information within your retinues. Let no man be essential or irreplaceable.

- Never let our martial pride outstretch a prudent and reasonable appraisal of material forces. A Knight if a fisher king of dark souls, but some are too big to be caught.

- Until we are ready to reveal ourselves. Retinues are to be seemingly random and as maximally vicious in their operations as possible. Though it pains us, we must meet cruelty with cruelty. The universe is a hard place.

- Retinue leaders are to show initiative and spontaneity. Whilst HIGHCOM and other retinues may coordinate attacks, unpredictability will add to the our misdirection of the Sith.

- Retinues should establish independent chains of funds, contacts, etc. They must be ready at a moment's notice to abandon said chains and must continually prune them. Sloth leads to complacency. And complacency has nearly doomed our Order once before.

- The equipage of the Knights is a simple one; whichever is most practical, easy to repair, and mutually compatible with that of his retinue. Insignia and anything hinting at our return or a commonwealth among the cells is to be rejected. Be sober and subtle in dress as well as manner.


When I was a boy, I feared the dark. In the dark we see a reflection of the mind's greatest fears. The unknown, it shapes and breathes life into the beasts that gnaw at our minds. The Sith, for all their talk, and indeed all living beings are no different. Fear can never be conquered. But it may be used. We shall hide in the shadows. We shall become its agents.

And we shall teach the Sith to tread lightly... in the dark.


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