The Kajaii Covenant is protected, and it's military overseen, by an ancient order of Essence using Knight-like figures trained and armed in the ways of using Essence and advanced combat training to neutralize and remove any foes that stand in the way of the Covenant. These powerful warriors were created by the mysterious Prophets who lead the Covenant's theocratic institutions, and who also command darker essences and dark energies of their own in battle against their foes. However, due to their age and power, and the need for them to guide the Covenant, they cannot see to the destruction of their foes, and in stead, trust a number of Knights, Inquisitors and others to the destruction and annihilation of their foes.
The Aswanabarii Order is taken from a young age, similar to the Janissaries, Ghulams and Mamluks and trained similar to them, indoctrinated with near limitless loyalty to the Covenant and it's mysterious leaders in battle.
Usage[]
The Aswanabarii Order was formed shortly before the War of Kulan, against the races of Jar Toda Space, who sought to challenge the Covenant's right to rule and very existence. The High Prophets had foreseen the rising of a foe that would push the Covenant to it's breaking point, and formed a multi-layered organization to combat and eliminate very dangerous foes in battle.
For this reason, each in the Order handles different aspects. The Prophets handle the foretelling of future events and tragedies, and warn the government and others of the Covenant of it to avoid it, the Knights are heavy combat-focused warriors who destroy their foes with physical and essence-based power beyond most, and the Inquisitors handle interrogation, removal of essence enemies, and capture of those deemed important. Simple Dark Siders are mere blunt tools, sent to intimidate foes, terrify worlds into submission, and distract enemies for their higher ranking leaders.
The members of the Order are seen as terrifying symbols of the Covenant's might and power, and masters of the unknown arts and esoteric powers the rest of the Covenant could never hope to understand. Able to command armies and navies, oversee the operation of worlds for a limited time, and execute traitors to the Covenant. Due to their position, members of the Order are free to execute officers and soldiers for incompetence, though cannot strike one another down upon pain of death, and as such, even rivals and hated competitors must work together.
Training[]
Any who have essence abilities, regardless of race or gender, are taken at youth, brought to the Prophet citadel of Argai or Pasegram, and studied closely by the Lesser and average Prophets, grouped into different groups by their strengths, expertise and background, and sent to the branches of hte Aswanabarii Knights or Inquisition, and there begin their training. Most are taken under hte tutelage of a Prophet, but many also train under Inquisitors and Knights, even High Prophets or High Inquisitors.
Throughout their youth, they are taught to rely on their devotion to the Empire and Emperor, and place it's needs above their own at all costs. Their teachings focus their powers through anger, hatred and bloodlust, while also learning to reign in these emotions and control them for the good of the Covenant and the Order in battle. Each sect has it's own teachings, but most are similar enough for the Prophets to train members of all branches.
Sometimes, those with power to get noticed, but not enough to join, or too old to join, are specifically chosen to breed with others to bring out future members of great potential. Other full members were also be told to breed to produce desired results, though the Emperor frowns upon this, viewing his top servants as warriors, not hounds to be breed for a pedigree.
Once their training begins, their traditions range from being forced to survive on hostile worlds, enduring painful treatment such as flogging and branding to improve their pain tolerance, and go through indoctrination under the Prophets to ensure complete loyalty.
Prophets[]
The Prophets are made up entirely of the species that call themselves "Haruspex", and act as not only the theocratic leadership of the Covenant, but form the leadership of the secretive Aswanabarii Knights. Relying heavily on the esoteric and essence-based powers and teachings of their order, the Haruspex Prophets act as power leaders when forced into combat, using their powers to destroy everything in front of them, turning the earth into spears rock, and summoning lightning from the sky. These Prophets could see into the future, and used this to plan religious events, often forecasting the arrival of eclipses and solar flares, to demonstrate their powers in the Way of the Dark, and to earn the loyalty of their minions and followers. It should be noted that while every prophet is a Haruspex, not every Haruspex is a Prophet. Many are simply minor priests and deacons tending to their "flocks".
- Ranks
- Supreme Prophet - Acting head of the Prophets, and technical overlord to which all members of the Aswanabarii answer to. The Supreme Prophet made all day to day decisions for the Order, and meet with the Covenant's Emperor to plan out things, as well as inform him of any predictions he and the other Prophets made. Though powerful, few of the Supreme Prophets were noted to be bloodthirsty, more concerned with seeing to their goals and such then murder and mayhem.
- High Prophet - High Prophets were beings of extraordinary power and ability, that were responsible for most of the leadership and advising of the Supreme Prophet, and overseeing the tasks of their Knights and Inquisitors. Efficient and callous, the High Prophets were the ones who attuned themselves most to their powers to gain foresight into the future.
- Lesser Prophet - Advisors and attendants to the Higher Prophets, Lesser Prophets acted to assist their masters by channeling some of their power through their leader, and writing down and recording every word uttered, even taking note of the amount of breaths taken, and the posture the High Prophet adopted during his prophecies.
- Prophet - The average members of the Order, Prophets acted to meet with and discuss things with governmental caste members. When High Prophets and the like wished to meet with certain members of the Covenant, the Prophets would seek them out and bring them to the Higher Prophets on Argai, and assisting other members in battle.
- Prelate - Prelates are younger Prophets trained to join the order in full. Prelates are younger members who study and maintain the libraries on Argai and elsewhere, and retrieving certain records and scrolls of knowledge for the higher ranking Prophets.
- Minion - Created by High Prophets and the Supreme Prophet, Minions were not essence sensitive, but imbued with some essence by their creators to act in their stead, and safe guard some portions of the Prophets' interests in battle.
Aswanabarii Knights[]
An Aswanabarii Knight, Tiokel
The smallest number of the Aswanabarii Order, the Knights are the mailed fist of the Prophets, a powerful Order made up of numerous races, taken as young children, and bought as slaves. Raised in the barracks alongside the Janissaries and other slave soldiers of the Covenant, they are then taken by Inquisitors to the Prophets, and trained to martial excellence. Though they can technically become new Inquisitors and the like, the best rise to become Knights. Exceptionally rare, however, these few heavily armored warriors wear night black armor, and rarely reveal their faces to any around them, silently executing their goals with ruthless aggression.
- Executor - Acting Military commander on behalf of the Emperor, and second to the Supreme Prophet in importance to the Order, the Executor is considered the iron fist of the Covenant, and acts to destroy any foes with brutality, skill and pure strength in battle. He commands the forces of the other Knights, the Inquisitors, and Dark Siders, and further, has all right to over rule the decisions and rulings of Prophets up to High Prophet.
- Enforcer - Enforcers are higher ranking Knights, who run the organization of the Knights under the Executor, and dispatch Knights, Inquisitors and others to their missions and assign them armies and fleets to command. Enforcers are powerful in the Autogenetic Energies the Haruspex call upon, as well as direct combat and sword use.
- Knight - Knights are fully initiated members of the Order, and the most common members, often leading armies and forces on behalf of the Covenant, and leading attacks against both Essence using forces, and even guarding the Emperor and the Prophets from harm. They further will sometimes act as diplomats to foreign governments, and execute vassal rulers who might step out of line. Due to their rank, many used tattoos called Vor'Shaki to symbolize their rank.
- Neophyte - Knights-in-training, the Neophytes are those under the tutelage of Knights, Enforcers or Prophets, who are to become full Knights after their training is complete. Devotion to the Empire, Emperor, and Order are all that is important, and emphasized heavily. Executive punishment is common, and pain is considered the best tool to learn from.
Aswanabarii Inquisitors[]
An Aswanabarii Inquisitor, Frekora
Among the most common of the Order, Inquisitors see to advanced intelligence operations and take field operations even other Intelligence agents could not, as well as having an extended field granted to them. While Intelligence operatives gather intel and interrogate captives and traitors, Aswanabarii Inquisitors see to the interrogation of essence users and the more stubborn of the Covenant's foes, use their powers to bribe enemy armies, oversee the loyalty of certain generals, and deal with other essence users. Aswanabarii Inquisitors are feared and respected by the forces and civilians of the Covenant for their great strength. Aswanabarii Inquisitors were also made up of members of other Essence-using schools of thought who had betrayed their kind to help the Covenant, though by Haruspex Prophet laws, could not become full Knights.
- Lord Inquisitor - Leader of the Entire organization, and who answered to the Prophets, Emperor and Executor directly. A powerful figure within the hierarchy of the Order, the Inquisitor sought out the strongest essence foes that could not be bothered to be seen to by the Knights, handled interrogation of figures deemed important to the Prophets, and studied the arts and essence craft of rival Orders and groups to know best how to counter them, and reported his findings to the rest of the Order.
- High Inquisitor - Answering to the Emperor and Supreme Prophet themselves, and, at times, the Executor, the High Inquisitors were entrusted with seeking out potential future-Inquisitors and Knights, and facing down the greatest foes for the Covenant. Inquisitors of this rank are among the most powerful and are equal to Knights in terms of capabilities, but not in authority.
- Inquisitor - The most common Inquisitors, these figures saw to interrogation, capture and removal of high value essence and non-essence using targets. Cunning and brutal, most of the Inquisitors are not as effective as Knights, but help greatly in intelligence operations until they prove themselves worthy of joining the High Inquisitors. A High Inquisitor is usually assisted by two or three Inquisitors.
- Apprentice Inquisitor - Inquisitors in training, usually children or those of other Essence schools bent to the will of the Prophets by fear of capture, or torture. Apprentice Inquisitors do not see much combat, unlike Knight Neophytes, but do assist in many intelligence operations and intel gathering for their masters.
Aswanabarii Dark Siders[]
These are the most common of the Prophet's minions and tools, but also the most undisciplined. Not having the training in military matters like Knights, or the intelligence and interrogation affairs of the Inquisition, the Dark Siders are low level essence users, or those too old to be taken as Janissaries, but who came to master base-level techniques on their own. Though given further training and weapons by the Prophets to see to certain goals, Dark Siders merely act as elite forces and a blunt instrument, hardly as powerful as those among the Knights and Inquisition.
Members[]
- Prophets
- Name - Kadith
- Species - Haruspex
Supreme Prophet Kadith is the current Supreme Prophet, after the execution of the last Supreme Prophet, Hanor, by the Tiokel Emperor, Xith the Conqueror. Kadith took the position after the death his predecessor, and by also orchestrating the death of Hanor's pupil, Yulith, thus securing his own power base within the Covenant, and becoming a trusted ally to the Xith Dyansty's powerbase and Xith the Conqueror's many children. Kadith has remained close to the Emperor, and acted as the Supreme force behind the Aswanabarii Order, commanding it to fulfill all of his needs against the enemies of the Covenant, and even some political enemies.
Due to his position, few, if any, ever see him outside of the Emperor and the Executor, but the title of "Supreme Prophet" is spoken of with fear and trepidation by all within the Covenant, regardless of species, rank or citizenship. Kadith himself watches from the shadows, carefully planning and foreseeing the future, in order to prevent any pitfalls from facing the Covenant, or from, most importantly, destroying his powerbase.
Kadith, despite his frightful presence and powerful aura, and mastery of essence, is not a foe to be conquered or destroy like the Executor, but one to be out-smarted and out-maneuvered. He is not given to using his powers unless the situation truly demands it, and mostly will observe and play events, but refuse to actually partake in battles himself, often withdrawing and retreating when violence is threatened, and simply speaking with his enemies before withdrawing, and trying to understand their ways.
- Knights
- Name - Zanith Karkona
- Species - Tiokel
Executor Zanith Karkona is the Tiokel Executor of the Aswanabarii Order, and the first and current Executor to hold the title. Though his origins remained shrouded to all but the Supreme Prophet and Emperor, due to their position, and the High Prophet Jegari for training him, Zanith is the son of a Peasant farmer, native to one of the outer territories that was devastated during the Covenant's beginnings, and sold his son to make ends meet. Zanith was taken by Jegari for his potential, and trained to excellence, Jegari pushing him to always push himself, and was among five other students Zanith Karkona had. Zanith would slowly but surely prove himself, killing and murdering his rivals until only he remained, and was then transferred to Kadith, the Supreme Prophet's, training. Here, he would complete all of his training, and receive his night-black armor, marking him as a full Knight and leader of the Order.
In his time, Zanith Karkona would abandon his old name, refusing to be called Zanith, and only operating under the name Executor. Here, he would become the personal warlord and bodyguard of the Emperor, and would see to their missions and goals, commanding armies, destroying rebels and annihilating those who opposed them. Throughout, Zanith rarely spoke unless to give orders, and became feared by the High Command of the Covenant for his ruthless use of power and execution of those who displeased him.
Executor Karkona is silent, powerful and rarely questioned by any, destroying his foes with any means needed, and showing his ability to command that is without equal. Troops admire and respect him, officers fear and almost loath him, and citizens see him as the mailed fist of the Emperor himself. Despite this, Karkona maintains some life outside of being the Executor, being an actual friend to the current Emperor, and seeking a wife, though finds the ladies of the court mostly displeasing.
- Name - Xanarj
- Species - Frekora
Enforcer Xanarj is one of the higher ranking Enforcers within the Order, and a dangerous threat to any that oppose him. Taken at a young age, before the Covenant was truly threatened, Xanarj was trained by one of the Haruspex into a weapon of Dark Power and will that few could equal. As the Order took shape, Xanarj was placed in a High Position of power within it, and expected to become leader of the Aswanabarii Knights when it was finished. Instead, Xanarj was made only an enforcer for the Order, and was placed under the command of Zanith Karkona, known only by his title of The Executor. Driven by rage and jealousy, Xanarj has, since that day, sought to eclipse Karkona in everyway, and become the Executor himself. In every war, he has decimated thousands of worlds and planets, reduced armies to fleeing cowards, seen fleets turned to scrape, but never is it quite enough to outdo the Executor.
Enforcer Xanarj, despite his inferior position, is still a force to be reckoned with. Many wisely call him the Second most powerful Knight in the Order, and fourth in terms of power to the Supreme Prophet, Emperor and Karkona himself. Likewise, his ability to lead armies and devastate his foes quickly and with shock and awe tactics is considered. Unlike The Executor, is not as silent, speaking and making good conversation with all who meet him, often regarded as charming and likeable, though many will state there is something strangely disturbing and otherworldly about him, as though the air around him is not quite right, that he himself is not well on some level.
- Inquisitors
- Name - Malur Mutauii
- Species - Kutar
- Name - Lumia Shryke
- Species - Tiokel
- Other
- Name - Grothei
- Species - Rathanii
Grothei the Cruel is a strange and alien creature that refers to himself as a Rathanii, who has only recently come into the inner circles of the Prophets, and is especially treasured as a servant by the Supreme Prophet Kadith. Though not technically part of any portion of the Order, be it Inquisition, Knight or Prophet, Grothei is included in the workings of the latter due to his areas of expertise and powers. Grothei reveals little of his past to the Haruspex or the Empire's higher ups, only working to see to their eventual goals are a success.
Gorthei is responsible for the forging of equipment, weapons and ships for the armies and military of the Covenant, and has introduced an increasing use of slaves into the labor pools to see to his demands. Living up well to his name, Grothei is considered horrendous and at times, capricious, keeping everyone on their toes with either a propensity to lavish grand awards upon his servants for minor tasks, or induce horrific punishments for minor slights against him.
Grothei, secretly, plans the subjugation of the Mendel Pact for his own goals and those of the Rathanii, and, in private, often speaks with the Witch-Queen and another, similar figure named "Blackhole".
- Dark Siders
Quotes from others[]
- Add your own!