Warlock Knights

The Warlock Knights were the feudal lords of Vaasa in the 15th century DR. Their order was heavily militaristic and drew its power from an otherworldly entity they called Telos.

Organization
The Knights were ruled by the Ironfell Council, who in turn served the Voice of Telos.

Hierarchy and rank were extremely important to the Warlock Knights. While all landed nobles in Vaasa were members of the Warlock Knights by 1479 DR, it was uncommon for their titles to be hereditary. Instead, most Knights earned their rank through hard work, raw power, or by undermining their rivals. They saw themselves as an elite fighting force, and only a few were considered worthy to join their ranks.

Ranks

 * Jack
 * Little more than common infantry, members of this rank were forbidden to wear the Warlock Knights' ceremonial armor or to refer to themselves as "knights." Jacks were often conscripted from the Vaasan serf population.


 * Lancer, Halberdier, or Bombardier
 * Beginning with these ranks, members were referred to as "knights" and this designation could be added onto their title (e.g., Knight-Lancer, Knight-Executor, etc.). As true Warlock Knights, members of these ranks would have been expected to have at least some arcane aptitude.


 * Executor
 * Landless Knights and petty nobles. Knights of this rank served as emissaries, assassins, spies, and soldiers for higher-ranking knights. Additional ranks of landless Knights included Myrmidon and Brigadier.


 * Fellthane
 * Landed knights who exercised absolute dominion over their lands and who maintained their own fighting forces.


 * Vindicator
 * The Fellthanes were vassals to these high ranking Knights. Although politically powerful, they were known to lead squads personally.


 * Councilor
 * The twelve greatest Vindicators served on the Ironfell Council. This was the highest rank a Warlock Knight could achieve.

Bound Ones

 * Nishaadhri
 * These warlocks served similar roles in Vaasa as wizards did in other realms by advising high ranking Knights and supporting them in battle. As a rule, any arcane practitioner in Vaasa had to swear fealty to the Warlock Knights in exchange for the freedom to pursue their magical study.


 * Luminarie
 * The greatest of the nishaadhri were recruited to join an elite sect independent of the Warlock Knights created by the Voice of Telos. They performed a function similar to that of priests in other lands.

History
The Warlock Knights were founded sometime shortly after the Spellplague when the primordial Telos fell from the sky and crashed into the Vasaan tundra. The primordial was discovered by the one who would go on to become the Voice of Telos, and it was quickly determined that ironfell, a magical metal-like substance imbued with Telos' essence, could be harvested from the body and used to enhance magical and martial abilities. Using this power, the Warlock Knights conquered Vaasa in 1460 DR, sacking the former capital at Bloodstone City and declaring their independence from the Kingdom of Bloodstone.

As of 1479 DR, the Warlock Knights still held Bloodstone Pass with a garrison in the ruins of Bloodstone City, and were seen as an existential threat to Damara. As of 1489 DR, the Moonsea was growing wary of them as well.

Possessions
All Warlock Knights wore a simple ring made of ironfell as a symbol of their power, and many practiced ritual magic using their rings. Higher ranking Knights were known to enchant their rings or to adorn them with magical jewels.

Warlock Knights were known to own distinctive ceremonial armor which identified them as Knights.

Related

 * Pact of the Iron Ring