Black-Chosen

> "*May your minds be keen. Your strength unfaltering. Your blades sharp. And your resolve unflinching. Bring forth victory at all cost, for the Great Chern accepts no less!*"
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The **Black-Chosen** are the Exalted of Bane. They served as Bane's greatest devotees and champions in their original lives, and thus were ascended to join his eternal legion after death. Like all Exalted, the Black-Chosen's souls are bound to Bane and they serve him exclusively and with utmost loyalty. Bane is the God of War and thus controls a litany of armies, often through vassalage and unseen manipulations. Yet the Black-Chosen are unique in that they are his own personal army who answer to the Bronze God directly and are aware of his personal designs. Being the God of Skill that he is, Bane is unwilling to accept servants as they come, and even his own people, the Achra, must spend a lifetime proving themselves worthy to become the Chosen under his command. Many Black-Chosen, however, are from an immensely diverse range of races, owing to the War God's immense and ubiquitous influence throughout the dominions. For wherever there is conflict there are those who desire victory over all else, and Bane offers the guidance needed to reach it.

## Equipment

Bane spares no expense in the armament of his Chosen. Their equipment is second to none in the dominions save the servants of Moradin himself. Forged from a highly delicate and well-guarded secret mixture of Chernoggan Iron and Black Obsidian, their armor had a distinct sheen and jagged design. It is surprisingly lightweight, nigh-unbreakable, magic resistant, immune to heat, damage reflective, and most of all intimidating. Their weapons and shields are forged from similar materials, often to the specifications and specializations of each individual Black-Chosen. Most Black-Chosen also wear complimentary black fireproof cloaks and capes, suitable for the hellish conditions of Chernoggar.

## Doctrine

To even become a Black-Chosen, an individual must have lived an entire life dedicated to strategic and martial mastery. Yet among the ranks of the Black-Chosen they are but common rank and file. The achievements of this past life hold little bearing on one's position once inducted into the Chosen. They must prove their worth within the organization itself to rise through the extremely meritocratic hierarchy. Thus even the lowest of the Black-Chosen may still be tactical geniuses or incredible warriors. They are drilled to perfection and their discipline unwavering. The personal devotion each member has to Bane is one of their driving forces, subsuming personal aspirations to operate as part of his greatest machine and rising through the ranks to better serve him.

Black-Chosen Legions are both an overwhelmingly well organized teams capable of outmaneuvering most enemies while also being able to rely on skilled individuals to operate on their own when necessary. Black-Chosen have little qualm organizing tactical retreats and feints for the good of the overall war effort, but their resolve is famously unbreakable when instructed to hold the line. They would rather die thank face the failure of defeat.

While they are the most elite of the forces under Bane's command, the Black-Chosen are significantly fewer in number compared to the massed swaths of other soldiers pledged in Bane's service. They are therefore reserved only for delicate operations, the most intense areas of combat, or that which Bane views as integral be done properly. The vast grunt work of Bane's many wars is left to more expendable servants.

Those that show exceptional abilities are elevated through the Black-Chosen's command structure and given increasingly intensive roles leading operations. They also grow closer to the inner circle of Bane himself, who often delegates his most important matters to senior Black-Chosen officers.

## Leadership

Command over the whole of the Black-Chosen is held by The Black General. The General answers only to Bane himself and is privy, perhaps more than anyone else, to his true plans. The Black General is attended by five Lieutenant-Generals (sometimes called The Five Fingers). In addition to the Lieutenant-Generals being the highest-ranked commanders of their particular branch of the Chosen, they also serve as a council of advisors for The Black General. While The Black General has final say, the Lieutenants are all considered equal voices and even The Black General is customarily seen as their peer in discussions on operational strategy.

The Lieutenant-Generals are as follows:

* The Right Hand - Deputy to The Black General and overseer of general operational command. Acting supreme commander if The Black General is indisposed.
* The Alabaster Malcium - Official in charge of logistical and diplomatic matters. Also in charge of support and medical battalions.
* The Howzzetzin - Official in charge of the armories, war machines, weapons development and weapons doctrine.
* The Fruman Colario - Spymaster and chief intelligence officer. Also charge of espionage and insurgent operations.
* The Pawns - In reality three individuals who serve as a single unit. They command frontline military forces and tactical operations.

## Relevant Locations

Due to their integral relationship within the overall operations of Bane's Legions, Black-Chosen offices and soldiers can be found in most Bane-affiliated locations in Chernoggar, and even some of those further afield. There are, however, fortresses dedicated specifically to the Black-Chosen. Chief among these is the Citadel of Woe, which serves as the garrison for the Chosen as a whole. The Citadel also guards the most direct path into the Plateau of Bane's Hand and the road towards Tuer-Chern, making the Black-Chosen themselves the greatest obstacle an invasion force would have to overcome to reach the capital.

The Black-Chosen also operate much of the administration of Blackhelm. While the city is home a large population of outsiders and Bane's other servants alike, its prominent barracks and shipyards are under the purview of the Black-Chosen. Notably their fleet of Astral Ships sets anchor at the Spires of Blackhelm. Much of the Black-Chosen's logistical and purely administrational work is performed here.