Triadic knight

Triadic knights were holy warriors were dedicated to the Triad, an alliance of three good-aligned deities: Tyr the Maimed God, god of justice; Ilmater the Broken God, god of suffering and compassion; and Torm the True, god of duty. They called upon the combined power of the three deities to combat the devils, demons, and other evils that plagued the world.

History
Triadic knights originated among the Order of the Triad, a knightly order of Old Impiltur founded in the Year of the Proud Father, 732 DR, which itself grew out of the Triadic Crusade that fought the demonic Scaled Horde that once overran the kingdom. The early Triadic knights served the crown in combatting the fiends that plagued the kingdom in the 8 to the 12th century DR. However, in the long Kingless Years (926–1097 DR)) and in the early years of the Heltharn Dynasty (1097 DR onward),  though they held firm to their traditions and faith, their numbers waned to nil as the holy champions were gradually killed off by fiends and other foes and no more knights replaced them. Eventually, the Order of the Triad was no more.

Yet its traditions and faith in the Triad survived in future generations, in the form of Triadic knights in not one by many knightly orders. A century into the new Heltharn Dynasty, in the Year of the Shrike, 1196 DR, King Imphras II was inspired to found a new holy knightly order to serve the monarchy and revise the Order of the Triad's traditions. The Most Holy Order of the Sacred Shrike would come to be known simply as the Knights of Imphras II Circa 1374 DR, its leading members were these Triadic knights.

Meanwhile, beyond Impiltur, in central and west Faerûn, Triadic knights served in the countless knightly orders dedicated to Ilmater, Torm, and Tyr, or the Triad as a whole. They were present in large numbers as leading members of the Knights Kuldar at Barakmordin in Tethyr and of the Janessar in Calimshan, both dedicated to the Triad. However, the majority, though not by much, were independent clerics and paladins who venerated the Triad apart from the individual churches with little if any opposition from them.

Attitudes
Like paladins, but moreso…

Requirements
To become a Triadic knight, an aspirant must of course be dedicated to one or all three of the gods Ilmater, Torm, and Tyr, and be of lawful and good nature. In particular, they must radiate the aura of good that a cleric or paladin of one of these deities would, so members invariably walked one or both of these paths, at least in part. In addition, they needed to be adept in combat and possessed of especially good endurance. They also needed to be schooled in religious and planar lore, as well local knowledge. Finally, they needed to be initiated into the higher secrets of one of the churches of Ilmater, Torm, or Tyr and to have learned the associated special combat techniques and spells. Moreover, aspirants who undertook three quests on behalf of each church and performed them with valor were more likely to be accepted, but this was not a necessity.

Abilities
A Triadic knight had much in common with a paladin, if they weren't one already, being a holy warrior with many similar abilities. They advanced or acquired a special mount of great intelligence, hardiness, and loyalty, and late in their career they could smite evil beings with the force of their conviction once a day. A paladin turned Triadic knight merely did so much better an extra time per day. The greatest Triadic knights could triple the impact with the "threefold smite"—it was said they could slay the mightiest villains in a single blow.

In addition, as they advanced, they gained extra defensive powers granted by their gods and named for them. The Hands of Ilmater prevented them from being sickened or nauseated. The Eyes of Tyr ensured experienced knights could no longer be dazzled or blinded, except via injury. With the Heart of Torm, veteran knights could feel no fear.

They also gained various magical abilities also commonly named in reference to their gods. The "martyr's embrace" let an early knight create an effect similar to shield other. The "judge's insight" let an experienced knight detect falsehoods as with discern lies. Finally, with "lion's roar" a knight at the pinnacle could create a shout.

They could often continue casting divine spells, if they could do so before, like a cleric or experienced paladin. Meanwhile, their existing aura of good grew stronger.

In addition to the common skills of a mounted warrior, a Triadic knight could be skilled in healing, diplomacy, and sensing deceit, and knowledgeable in local affairs, the nobility and royalty, and religious and planar lore.

Activities
By their nature, Triadic knights were required to study the faiths of all three gods and their churches. Novice Triadic knights were even rotated between the three churches to serve them individually. They were expected to not only learn how each was reinforced by the other two but also learn the precise weaknesses or flaws in each of them alone. They were to apply their understanding of the faith of the Triad as a whole to bolster and advance each of the faiths.

In particular, Triadic knights were called on to carry on and eventually lead the Triad Crusade, though it officially ended in 732 DR. Their quest was nothing less than slaying oir banishing all

Otherwise, they served similar roles to regular paladins, though their powers to take hardships meant for others, uncover truth, and confront danger with courage naturally saw them inspire and lead others.

Tactics
In battle, Triadic knights were found fighting in the front line, usually in melee with the enemy commander or champion to smite them. They relied on their divine magic and gifts to protect themselves from dark magic and push on.

Possessions
Triadic knights preferred good armor and weapons that aided in combat with demons and devils. Typically, they wielded cold iron and silvered blades and bane (evil outsiders), holy, and thundering enchantments.

Notable Triadic Knights

 * King Imbrar II of Impiltur
 * War-Captain Engarth of the Knights of Imphras II
 * Haelimbrar, Servant of the Lords of Imphras II