Black Coats

The **Archibald Black Order of Hex-Templars**, better known by their colloquial name, the **Black Coats**, are an organization spread throughout Evarencia dedicated to the protection of folk from supernatural threats through the use of special and unique training. The Black Coats are an international organization and operate in many nations across the land. They were founded during the Sunless Era.

## History

### Founding

The Archibald Black Order of Hex-Templars was founded almost two-thousand years ago during the Sunless Era by the tiefling whose name the Order bears to this day. The tiefling Archibald Black knew of the ways of his dark parentage, and he made the decision to betray his own kind so to spare the realm of Evarencia. He taught the folk of the land the ways of battling the supernatural through a combination of extensive training, special study, an adherence to a code, and an embracing the darker nature of the world. Due to their style of dress, incorporating a long black coat of some kind, the Hex-Templars are more commonly referred to as the Black Coats by most folk with the Order itself using the name to refer to themselves outside of the capacity of legal documentation. The Black Coats to this day continue to take a “fight fire with fire” approach to battling the super natural.

### The Growing Order

After the banishing of the demonic dreadlord, the Black Coats would continue their efforts to protect the realm from supernatural threats, albeit for a price. An order devoted to hunting the supernatural requires many resources, and with their aid in ending the Sunless Era, the Black Coats gained a reputation for being the best at their craft. Ever since this, a tense rivalry between the Coats and the older Iron Order exists. The Storm Birds are seen by many as equals to the Coats with similar yet different purposes.

They originally donned their eponymous coats as a symbol of the fact that they battled the dark by “walking in the shadows.” They saw and still see themselves as the line between the supernatural monsters and the realm. Gaining acceptance into the Order is no small feat, and many who apply are denied entry for many reasons. Some may not be able to undergo the rituals of their oath and code. Others may be too eager to embrace the dark and supernatural. Some may not be fit for the dangerous lifestyle. Those who wish to join will undergo a rigorous testing and training process.

### The Treaty of Augspire

Beyond the War for New Dawn, the Black Coats have only ever fought in one other officially recognized war in 2S 23 during Ellonde’s Warring Kingdoms period. In the city of Augspire, located between modern day Nihn and Eversummer, the Black Coat Aethwyn Myrwind was taken prisoner by the Ellonde Knights and executed for the crime of heresy, forgoing the Hex-Templar’s specific court martialing system.

The Militant Peacekeepers of the Neutral Frontier became involved at the behest of the Nimmod Council, the Mordyre, and Archibald Black to prevent the Weeping Elk school from plunging into a war of attrition in an already tumultuous region. When the short conflict was ended at Augspire, a treaty was drawn up that codifies international laws that set Black Coats apart from other people. Black Coats are given a special citizen status unique to their order that provides them with some level of political immunity. This leaves enforcing local laws and the order’s code in the hands of the Templar Priory.

The Treaty of Augspire places forth many laws involving the Black Coats, but the largest takeaways are (*actor* used in the political sense):

1. The Templar Priory and the Neutral Frontier are the only actors that may subject Black Coats to criminal sentencing in the Hex-Templar Court Martial process.
2. All Black Coat accused of crimes are to be extradited to the Templar Priory upon request. Failure to do so may result in sanctions taken against the actor.
3. A Black Coat court martial will investigate and hold a trial for crimes a Black Coat is accused of. Only a fellow Black Coat may charge a Black Coat with the crime of heresy.
4. A Black Coat’s service is not to be used for political gain for a state actor. Actors found doing so may receive severe sanctions.
5. If a conflict does arise between the Order and an actor, the Militant Peacekeepers are to act as a mediation. It is illegal to declare war on the Black Coats, and if done, the state actor guilty of the action is considered dissolved and an illegitimate state by the Nimmod.
6. No law can be passed that bans Black Coats from operating within a region.

## Hex Templar's Code

* *The Gloom Stalker’s Oath*: To safeguard the realm from supernatural threats. The Gloom Stalker’s Pledge involves an oath of loyalty to the Realm, all its folk, and to its safeguarding. The Black Coat is the one who walks in the shadows so other folk do not have to.
* *The Hexing Ritual*: An initiation into the Order of Hex-Templars involves the placing of a strange magical spell upon hex-templars that is thought to give them a heightened perception and a warding against dark magics. Some believe this ritual is what allows them to train so much in such little time. Part of the ritual involves an oath of loyalty to the order itself. This is where their phrase “Once a Hex-Templar, always a Hex-Templar” originates.
* *Pledge of Neutrality:* Archibald Black and the first Black Coats believed that their oath was not to be restricted by borders, politics, or culture. They believed their cause transcended these things, and thus, this is reinforced via the Pledge of Neutrality. A Coat is to remain neutral in political matters and not to take sides in a war or conflict. The rise of the Kovithian’s theocratic empire over the years has caused the Pledge to be interpreted to include religious beliefs as well. Templars may also not hold title.
* *The Warding of the Soul*: Demons enter the mortal realm by possessing the mortals who dwell within it, and this part of the code is a Black Coat’s recognition of the dangers of their mortality. This is the most secretive part of the Hex-Templar’s code, and none are exactly sure the nature of the incantation woven into their code.

## Membership

The Black Coats are strict in who they allow into their order seeing that it requires rigorous training and is a perilous profession. Their selective process though, compared to the Iron Order, gives them a reputation for being elite monster hunters and for being a master of their craft. There is a reason many say that the reason the Black Coats charge good coin is they are professionals, and they are the best at what they do. Members are expected to remain politically neutral and may not hold a title as long as they considered an active member of the Order.

Black Coats come from many walks of life, varying widely in ancestry, cultural heritage, and class. Different classes may excel in different schools.

## Standard Black Coat Equipment

* *Weapons:* Black Coats come equipped to battle monster or folk. The most common weapon across the Order is a silvered sword. Some may eventually obtain argent swords. What weapons other Coats uses depends on a few factors such as their School (which determines their training and style), personal preference, and availability. Many Black Coat martial-arts styles focus on utilizing a variety of weapons.
* *Armor:* A Hex-Templar’s Coat is often worn over a suit of armor if it is not padded or plated itself. Some Coats prefer to wear light armor to take advantage of their mobility while others may adapt heavier armors.
* *Hat:* Many Black Coats wear a brimmed hat as part of their standard dress that is made from a similar material to their coat. Tieflings in the order often forego the hat due to their horns.
* *Coat:* The very item that gives the Order their more commonly used colloquial moniker. Their coats are often long coats and are always black. The coat is often designed for traveling through a wide variety of climates. It symbolizes the Black Coats being the ones to walk the shadows to battle them. Some Hex-Templars integrate their armor directly into their coats.
* *Belts, Bandoliers, & Other Holsters:* Many schools rely on the use of a variety of other items such as bombs, potions, powders, knives, and spells. It is useful to have a fair number handy for use. Archers will keep a quiver, and gunslingers will certainly have bullets ready for their weapons.

## The Black Coat Schools

As the Order of Hex-Templars grew, various styles and methods were being developed or taught by different Hex-Templars. Over the many years since its inception, the variety of styles that developed led to the forming of the various Black Coat Schools. Each school has a unique style and approach to their battle of the darkness, and the Order is often forming new schools to adopt new and revolutionary styles. They still adhered to the code and nature of the order, but there was enough variety that warranted the creation of the various Black Coat Schools.

The Schools function separately from one another, but they work cooperatively toward the Coat’s goal. The all adhere to the Hex-Templar’s Code, and all the Schools answer to the Templar Priory, a council of Black Coats with no school affiliations. A representative from each School is also elected to be a member of the Priory. The Priory’s primary function is to ensure that the Hex-Templar’s code is adhered to by all Schools. They interpret the code, settle disputes, and enforce the rules of the Order.

Some schools may focus primarily on their unique approach and combat style while others may focus on specializing their Hex-Templars to hunt certain types of foes.

### Notable Black Coat schools

#### School of the Black Rose

* *Original Archibald Black style*
* *Sword and arcane magic based style. Utilizes bows and crossbows*
* Popular across Maywikt

The School of the Black Rose is often referred to as the 1st School by the Order as they consider themselves to be adherences to the original techniques and styles taught by the Order’s founder, Archibald Black. They adopted his crest, a Black Rose on a white field, as their symbol, often bearing it on their clothing or adornments. Black Rose Hex-Templars are proud of their skill with a blade and many teach themselves some varieties of magic from simple cantrips to full blown sword mages.

The School of the Black Rose prefers to handle monsters with a touch of finesse and pride themselves not on using brute strength or force.  Traditionalists, the Black Rose school are the strictest adherers to the Hex-Templar’s Code and interprets it with an orthodox approach. Without question, the School of the Black Rose is perhaps the most renowned school of the Order. They are found throughout the realm and are commonly hired. Compared to their kin in arms, the Black Rose templars are very much a generalist school.

#### School of the Lost Moth

* *Witch-hunting and inquisitor developed style.*
* *Utilizes modern weaponry in conjunction with a sword.*
* *Popular in industrialized areas.*

As the western side of Maywikt has industrialized, many Black Coats joining the order were previously inquisitors, soldiers, or even Steam-Priests (whose religious views do not cause issue with the order, as they deny the divinity of the gods) that sought to modernize the Order. This led to the founding of the School of the Lost Moth. A younger school, the Lost Moth has grown in popularity quite quickly. Lost Moth Coats will fight utilizing a close quarters weapon such as a sword, axe, or mace and a firearm specifically designed to fire a wide variety of bullets and powders, which they utilize against their quarries. The School was founded by the orc Ghaz Ultos.

The Lost Moth School is popular in the industrial regions of the realm, placing them primarily in the west of Maywikt. They chose their symbol, the Moth, as it often used as a symbol of both the night and curiosity/seeking out knowledge. Tinkerers and engineers are greatly appreciated in the school, and compared to their kin in arms, the Lost Moth are primarily a generalist school.

#### School of the Weeping Elk

* *Nature affiliated style seeking to preserve nature.*
* *Focuses on using nature magic and archery. Some members adopt swords, axes, or spears.*
* *An esoteric school*

As the druids and rangers began to take the fight to the Dreadlords and their children over the years, they have developed both a style and a philosophy that led to the founding of the School of the Weeping Elk. Founded by an enclave of druids who joined under Archibald Black, the Weeping Elk school is potentially the 2nd oldest of the schools alongside the Silver Dancers. The druids interwove their ideologies and philosophies into the Hex-Templar’s Code. With this, the Weeping Elk school places an emphasis on utilizing a Black Coat’s talents to preserve nature from corruption and to maintain balance in these ecosystems where many monsters are seen as no different from folk or beast. This ethos has led the Weeping Elk to be seen differently compared to their kin in arms, often drawing ire from their less tolerant Silver Dancer Coats.

The School of the Weeping Elk places an emphasis on utilizing archery and nature magic over the swords of the other schools. This makes druids and rangers quite common amongst their ranks, but some Weeping Elk Coats will still utilize the silver blade often associated with the Order proper. The Weeping Elk blades are actually half iron-heavy steel, half silver for combating fey creatures. The Weeping Elk school is commonly found wherever the natural world occurs across the land. They often are found in many areas, but their numbers simply do not reach those of other schools. It is often seen as a specialist school with esoteric training.

##### Notable school members

* Sigismund Jaegermacht
* Maus Ponyhosen

#### School of the Silver Dancers

* *Adherents to Argent Sword Dancing in Paws' style*
* *Focuses on sword and martial arts fighting*
* *Popular amongst felpurr and Silver Blade Nomads*

Along with the School of the Weeping Elk, the School of the Silver Dancers may be the second oldest school of the order. Adherents to the techniques and styles taught by the Silver Blade Nomad, the felpurr Argent Sword Dancing in Paws, the Silver Dancers utilize a unique style of hunting that incorporates both Silver Blade Nomad combat techniques as well as felpurr martial arts. The coats of Silver Dancers often resemble robes more than actual coats, often incorporating elements such as a hood. Adherents who do not fight solely with a sword but also utilize martial arts or train to fight with a silver, studded staff. Silver Dancers are especially effective at hunting Lycanthropes and other shapeshifters, but they lack the tolerance of the Weeping Elk that seeks more of coexistence.

The Silver Dancers are not a very common school, often seen as a very esoteric style of hunting monsters. It is quite popular amongst the Silver Blade Nomads and felpurr communities with many of its recruits coming from these groups. The Silver Dancers often find themselves towing a dangerous line in regards to the neutrality pledge due to its members being of primarily one cultural group.

#### School of the Solar Phoenix

* *Embraces a pyromancy centered style*
* *Personal weapon choice matters little*
* *An esoteric school*

There were those who wished to bring vengeance upon the darkness that once took the sun from them. They take on the phoenix as their sigil to symbolize the rebirth of the Sun at the Battle of New Dawn. When the Black Coat’s originally wanted to take a “fight fire with fire” approach, they did not imagine members of their order would take the message literally, but the Solar Phoenix school that developed did, as they place a great emphasis on utilizing pyromancy to obtain their goals.

Whereas most schools interpret the purpose of the Hex-Templars as protecting or preserving the realm from the corruption of darkness, adherents to the Solar Phoenix take their purpose a step further, actively seeking vengeance against the darkness. This has led them to take a rather bold and “loud” approach to monster hunting that more traditional schools would see as brutal or reckless. Founded by a former Weave member, Marianna Teine, the Solar Phoenix school not only incorporates pyromancy, but many of its members also utilize fighting with various magics as well as teaching its members to use the silvered blade. Compared to other schools, the Blazing Phoenix is seen as a specialist school that is rather unorthodox in its methods.

#### School of the Lunar Fox

* *A style that emphasizes stealth and ambush tactics*
* *Personal weapon choice matters little*
* *Popular amongst Sojourners and people in Iycodust*

Many of the foes of the Black Coats are deceptive in nature, and the School of the Lunar Fox took the idea of using that same stealth against the demonic foes they find themselves up against. They adopted the Fox as their symbol; a sign of the admiration of cunning and wit amongst their ranks. Members of this School are often taught to set elaborate traps and guerilla tactics to utilize against their foes. Developed by some of the original Moonshadow exiles who came to Iycodust in 2S 761, the Lunar Fox school carries over some Sojourner teachings, often making them specialized in slaying undead creatures and those who may seek to shed their mortal coils.

Despite its origins in Iycodust, the school has spread far as the Coats of the Lunar Fox are often lurking, seeking quarries. The style focuses not only on setting traps, but other hunting methods such as camouflage, a variety of weapons, and utilizing remaining undetected. The Lunar Fox school is still quite popular amongst Sojourners and those who live in Iycodust. They used to be common in Duskwind Vale, but the founding of the more specialized School of the Megabat has begun to take over that region. Many of the Fox Coats are often seen as operatives when compared to other schools, and some would maybe accuse them of being roguish at times.

#### School of the Enucleators

* *This school is comprised of veteran Black Coats from various schools*
* *Specializes in eldritch threats and monsters born of the Void*
* *A specialist, elite school*

The threat of the Void has been known since before the Dreadlords ever arrived at Maywikt, but the Black Coat archives do hold texts that allegedly contain the secret origins of the demons. Over the years, as the Void has become better understood, an elite school was developed to combat such eldritch threats; the School of the Enucleators. Their name is a reference to removing eyes, as many who seek the Void are said to *seek their 3rd eye.* Enucleator Coats are recruited strictly from veteran Black Coats, which means that they do not focus on a specific method or style of fighting. Encleators rather, focus their expertise to combat aberrations and threats of an eldritch nature. They often find themselves interacting with Aedellion structures and artifacts, leading their studies toward the stars.

#### School of the Megabat

* *Based on a unique style developed by Dr. Viktor Belmont*
* *A whip based fighting style optimized for battling vampires.*
* *An esoteric school*

The newest of the Black Coat schools, the School of the Megabat was founded originally by the physician turned Black Coat, Dr. Viktor Belmont. Coming from a long line of specialized monster hunting nobles, Belmont introduced a new style of battling vampires and other monsters of the night utilizing a whip and other specialized equipment. The Megabat school adopts the vampire’s own symbol as a sign of turning their own darkness against them. The Megabat school often utilizes forms of divine magic that do not rely on faith in the gods, a revolutionary concept to the coats. Megabat school members are often also trained similarly to battle medics due to their founder being a physician.

After the Dr. Belmont left public life, the School has been left in the hands of those who share Belmont’s goal of wiping vampirism from the face of Evarencia. They are often seen as a bit extreme in their goals, much like the Silver Dancers, but their skill cannot be underestimated. Due to their specialization in hunting vampiric creatures, the School of the Megabat is biggest in Duskwind Vale, finally taking the fight back to the Vampire lords that have ruled over the mortal folk their for centuries.

## Trivia

* Fenris has expressed an interest in joining the Order.
* In the *SteamSpell* campaign, cast member Sam's Maus was a member of the Black Coats in the School of the Weeping Elk.
* The Black Coats are inspired by the witchers from the *Witcher* series as well as the 2004 *Van Helsing* film. Their appearance is also reminiscent of witch-hunters in *Warhammer.*