Knights of the Kamaitachi

> **"***Swift as a weasel, furious as a dragon***"** - moto of the knights of the Kamaitachi
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The **knights of the Kamaitachi** are an elite chapter of knights from the princedom of Zephyra. They are renown for their equal mastery of blade and sorcery which they combine with deadly skill. While fighting the knights of the Kamaitachi combine rapid strikes with air and lighting based sorceries to overwhelm their foes.

## Tenets

When a squire receives their accolade they are forced to swear an oath to upkeep the four tenants of the knights of the Kamaitachi which go as follows:

> **"***I swears eternal loyalty and obedience to Zephyra and to the jade dragon-princess, even if doing so means my own death.
> **As the raging storm.** I will be the greatest force my enemies have ever faced.
> **On the ground, to the sky.** I will face my enemy, no matter where they might be.
> **As the sickle winds.** I will swiftly slash through every inch of power opposing us.
> **I'm the knight of the wind.*****"**
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## Equipment

All Kamaitachi knight wear a set of oxidised copper armour, which gives them a green look pleasing to Princess Nephirata. Their faces are usually covered by close helmets with a spits visor in the front and a colourful plumage on the back. Kamaitachi knight don't use traditionally metal weapons. Instead they have a small grip and cross-guard called the Kamaitachi and for which they are named. Through this grip they can focus the four winds into a single elongated flat blade of rushing air.

## Initiation

In the Knighthood of the Kamaitachi a squire can receive his accolade once he reaches at least 21 years of age and is deemed ready by his mentor for a promotion. The squire is taken by his mentor to the closest chapter house where he undergoes a series of trails to test his worthiness of the title Kamaitachi knight. From the moment the aspiring knight arrives in the chapter house he has to show his chivalry and etiquette whenever in the company of his fellow knights. He is than asked to recite the four tenants of the order. As part of their accolade the aspiring knight needs to show his mastery over spellcasting, in addition to the more usual proof of his mastery of swordsmanship. The aspiring knight is handed his own Kamaitachi for the first time in his life. He is than tasked with producing its blade by focusing the four winds through it and to slash a training dummy with it. If the aspiring knight succeeds he is allowed to continue to the next step, if he fails he has to try again next year.

After succeeding his trails the aspiring knight has to travel to the capital city of Notos where is to be knighted by the jade dragon-princess Nephirata herself. The aspiring knight is shown into Nephirata's castle with all the honours the dragon-princess would expect to receive herself. He is then brought into her throne room where he is to kneel and to pledge his loyalty to Nephirata, Zephyra, and the Oroborian Empire as a whole. Then he is to swear an oath to uphold the four central tenants of the knights of the Kamaitachi. Once satisfied, Nephirata will turn into her true dragon form, something only her elite knights ever get to see her do. Two servants clothe the still kneeling initiate in his new copper armour, and then take a step back. Nephirata takes a deep breath, and baptises her new knight in her electric breath. The electricity swirls around the knight, but does not hurt him. Once this is over Nephirata turns back into her human form, and a great feast is held for the newest member of the Kamaitachi knights.

## Coat of arms

The coat of arms of the knights of the Kamaitachi is a weasel surrounded by three swirls of wind. When going into battle as a unit the knights of the Kamaitachi bravely carrying their coat of arms on a sacred banner into battle. The knights of the Kamaitachi rather die than to ever allow this sacred banner to touch the ground. It has yet to happen that the knights of the Kamaitachi have ever failed in this and lived to tell the tale, and few know what would happen, but a dragon's rage is a thing of legend for a reason.