Imperial Knights (SWAU)

The **Order of the Imperial Knights** are an order of Force-users devoted to the defense and preservation of the New Order under the Fel Dynasty. They were fully trained in the ways of the Force and rejected the dark side, unlike previous Imperial Force-based organizations. However, their vow of loyalty to the Emperor and serving the Force as embodied in him made the Knights controversial among the Jedi, who viewed them as not following the Light side of the Force in its entirety and viewed them as Gray Jedi, and in 'official schism from the Force.'

The Imperial Knights were formed by Kylo Fel as an evolution of the Knights of Fel. They are battle-born Force practitioners and primarily warriors who pledge themselves to the Emperor, in stark contrast of the Jedi who are primarily peacekeepers and do not fight unless absolutely necessary. The Imperial Knights are an integral part of the Imperial military's mission, and often command soldiers of the Stormtrooper Corps — similar to the role the Jedi played as generals in the Clone Wars — which greatly increases their effectiveness in battle.

## Hierarchy

* **Emperor**: The Emperor is the leader of the organization.
* **First Captain**: The second-highest position in the Knights is the First Captain, hand-picked by the Emperor from the roster of Knight-Captains to serve as his second-in-command. The First Captain is *primus inter pares* of the Guidance Council, and commands the 1st Company of Imperial Knights.
* **Knight-Captain**: The highest position of honour every knight aspires to achieve is the position of Knight-Captain, leader of one of the companies of Imperial Knights. There exist a maximum of twelve Captains at any given time, matching the number of companies in the Order, and each one sits on the Guidance Council with one of them selected as First Captain.
* **Seated Knight**: A full knight who sits on the company Captain's advisory council is known as a Seated Knight.
* **Knight**: An apprentice that succeeds in completing their trials under a senior Knight may be initiated into the Order as a full-fledged Knight. The ascension of Apprentices is a matter of some ceremony, and Knights receive their tailor-made crimson battle armour.
* **Apprentice**: When an initiate trains for long enough and gains the attention of a Knight, they may be selected as their apprentice. Although Seated Knights and Knight-Captains are the ones that generally are experienced enough to properly train an apprentice, regular Knights may take an apprentice with permission from their Knight-Captain.
* **Initiate**: Initiates are Force-sensitive people who are found by a

### Specialized Ranks

There are special positions within the order dedicated to Knights who excelled at a certain area

* **Master Armourer**: The highest-ranking Imperial Knight charged with the procurement and maintenance of the weapons and armour used by the order is known as the Master Armourer. His most ceremonial charge is the hand-crafting of the classic Imperial battle-armour used by the Imperial Knights. It is the duty of the Master Armourer to study the weapons and armour of the order and meditate on the ways to improve them.
* Battlemaster: The most

## Equipment

Each Imperial Knight carried a standardized silver lightsaber that produced a silver blade. This symbolized the order's unity, as well as the fact that each individual member was less than the Empire they served. However, a special few would be able to carry sabers of a different make; for example, while a Knight of Fel, Kylo Fel wielded a crossguard lightsaber both because of his personal affinity for the hilt style and as a symbol that he was the heir to his father. The lightsabers were crafted using synthetic crystals, using knowledge from Emperor Palpatine's Book of Anger, in a process bereft of ceremony or significance. To an Imperial Knight, a lightsaber was merely a tool, and their training devoted as much attention to fighting in vehicles, bare-handed, and with the Force.

Imperial Knights wore a standard uniform consisting of a suit of crimson armour, made from similar material found in the armour of Darth Vader. It was interwoven with small threads of phrik filament to provide additional resistance to lightsaber attacks. The Imperial insignia was printed on the left pauldron and right gauntlet. The uniform also included a black hood and cape.

## Organization

The Imperial Knights are led by the Emperor, who is trained as a knight himself. He alone is the leader of the order, although he maintains an advisory board, known as the Guidance Council, made up of the twelve most-important members of the order. The Guidance Council is seated by Knight-Captains, each of them leading a company of knights. One of them is designated First Captain by the Emperor, acting as his second-in-command and the honourable head of the Guidance Council whenever the Emperor is not there. The Emperor can appoint and depose Knight-Captains at will.

Each Knight-Captain oversees a company of knights, and each company has their own advisory council. Knights who are on this advisory council are known as Seated Knights.

For several generations, the Order was overseen by three additional Councils that oversaw various responsibilities within the Order. The Council of First Knowledge oversaw the Jedi academy housed within the Coruscant Temple, in addition to direct oversight of satellite training academies and libraries. The members of the Council of First Knowledge were looked upon for advice in situations needing to be contrasted with the past. Jedi on this Council were sometimes former members of the High Council, and could give a different perspective on current events based on past decisions and mistakes. Instead of advising the Supreme Chancellor, the Council of Reconciliation worked closely with the Republic Diplomatic Corps in order to assist in the acquisition of new member worlds in the Senate. Assigning Jedi Diplomats and Ambassadors to implement treaties and welcome new people into the Republic, the Reconciliation Council's members worked very closely with the Senators on Coruscant. Finally, the Council of Reassignment oversaw the Jedi Service Corps and the placement of individuals who failed the Jedi Trials or were deemed unfit to continue along the standard path of the Jedi Knights.

During the Force Wars, the first Jedi formed a central political entity called the Jedi High Council. The High Council was a gathering of great minds that acted as a governing body for the Order, eventually serving as an advisory board for the Office of the Supreme Chancellor following the Order's joining the Republic. The High Council was made up of twelve members at a time, a tradition established as early as the Great Hyperspace War.

Membership on the Jedi High Council was decided by the standing Council and was made up of a series of different terms. Consisting of five lifetime members, four members who stayed on the Council until they chose to step down, and three short term members, who changed regularly and sat on the Council for a relatively short period of time, this method kept the voices and opinions of the Council fresh and focused. While membership was usually restricted to Jedi Masters, exemptions were sometimes made; allowing a Knight to sit on the Council should certain insight be needed or if they are in the transitional stage before formal elevation. A notable example was Anakin Skywalker, who was appointed by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine in 19 BBY during the Clone Wars. While the Council accepted the appointment, they refused to make him a Master.