The Desolate Order

## Background

The Hellknights of Infernus are a collection of knightly orders who serve the Archdevils of Infernus, driven not by a desire to obtain wealth or status, these mortals are instead driven by a hatred towards chaos and the desire to uphold law and order. While there are various knightly orders throughout Penastria, they all serve to make up the greater whole that is the Desolate Order.

To be welcomed into the ranks of the order one must undergo years of rigorous trials that serve to test their mind and body, tests of strength are common but it is those tests of the mind that are given the most importance. Ranking members of the order, are expected to possess a deep understanding of academics, from knowledge of the arcane to history and of course a firm grasp of infernal laws. In fact those who seek to rise above the rank of centuriae are forced to undertake the most difficult of challenges, they are expected to hold a legal debate with a high ranking devil.

Those who offer themselves: mind, body, and soul, to their infernal patrons are granted a position within the Desolate Order, an order of mortal agents that seek to hunt down the forces of chaos wherever they may hide. Whilst they are servants to an infernal patron, their loyalty lies not only with that patron, but rather they owe fealty, first and foremost, towards the hells. In most cases, they are allowed to act independently, rooting out abyssal corruption and maleficari wherever they may appear.

However, the order may be given a greater mission by their infernal masters when the need is great. They are ruthless individuals, who are expected to constantly carry themselves in a manner befitting their status, with members of the order being granted more powerful abilities by their patrons as rewards for their success and as a sign of their trust. Those mortals who have sworn themselves to the order, continue their service well into their afterlife, where they are gifted high ranking positions within the infernal legions. They usually serve as generals or master assassins, working to further their masters’ designs throughout different planes.

The Desolate Order's main base of operation is known as the Citadel Inferniax, and while it is said to be hidden away somewhere in the Pyrean Easterlands, its location is unknown, hidden to all apart from those Hellknights who have fully bound themselves to the cause. While the Citadel Inferniax is the Desolate Order's main base of operations, each individual order has its own citadel, with many infernal citadels hidden throughout Penastria.

## Hellknight Orders

There are seven major knightly orders and while they all possess holdings within the Pyrean Easterlands, many have branched out and established their own infernal citadels throughout the world. The seven knightly orders are detailed below.

### The Order of the Chain

The Order of the Chain, counts amongst its ranks the greatest Hellknight bounty hunters and jailers, renowned as masterful witchhunters, their expertise lies in hunting down and drawing out those mortal followers of the abyss. The Order of the Chain emphasizes unity in all its endeavours, even more so than the other orders, as they are guided by the singular belief that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, because of this they tend to be extremely selective when it comes to recruits. Their main base of operations is known as the Citadel Avernia, which is said to be located somewhere deep within the Bronze Sea.

### The Order of the Gate

The Order of the Gate specializes in the summoning of devils and oversee the signing of pacts between the fiends and other hellknights. The devils summoned by this order serve multiple purposes, from reinforcements on the battlefield, to sparring partners for recruits as well as strategic advisors. Members of this order hold the strict belief that corruption must be quelled, and those who dare think of succumbing to it must be made an example of lest others be drawn to it. Their main base of operations is known as the Citadel Benfaric and is said to be located somewhere along the western edges of the Mourning Peaks. They are also rumoured to have a Realmgate to Infernus deep beneath their citadel which allows them to more easily conjure infernal reinforcements.

### The Order of the Voice

The Order of the Voice specializes in spreading the tenets of the Hells, its members are said to be the ones who are most adept at rhetoric, and are tasked with extolling the virtues of Infernus and the Hellknights. They oversee the recruitment of new Hellknights, inspiring those who listen and drawing them to the banners of Infernus. The members of this order are of the belief that words hold the strength to bend the will of weaker mortals, indeed there are times when an example must be set but there are also times where cooperation can be guaranteed through a well-placed word rather than violent coercion. Their main base of operations is known as the Citadel Jaiefiren and is said to be located somewhere along the southern borders of Asshan.

### The Order of the Nail

The Order of the Nail seeks to bring the gift of civilization to those barbaric peoples who know not of its virtues. Contrary to many of the other knightly orders, this order does not directly combat the forces of the abyss, rather they seek to ensure that other mortals possess the tools necessary to recognize and hinder abyssal corruption. Members of this order work to embody their infernal patrons' belief that mortals require a firm hand to guide them, however, when this guidance is ignored, they will not hesitate to severely punish those who dared shun civilization. To them it would be preferable to leave behind a smoldering ruin than allow the spread of barbarism. Their main base of operations is known as the Citadel Viridia and is said to be located somewhere within the Lizard Plains of Chultan.

### The Order of the Pyre

The Order of the Pyre was established in order to assault the beastmen and darkspawn that dwell within the frozen wastes of Phalos. They lead expeditions into the northern tundra, with the aim of establishing a permanent foothold within the abyssal wastes, and slowly but surely push back the corruption of the abyss. Their ultimate aim is to seal the polar rift, and establish a Bastion of Law in Phalos. Their main base of operations is known as the Citadel Phyriax and is said to be located somewhere along the northern coast of the Obsidian Mountains.

### The Order of the Rack

The Order of the Rack is the one that is feared the most by the public, they have a reputation for raiding homes and villages whose inhabitants dabble in dangerous practices that may draw the eye of the abyssal lords. They are staunch traditionalists, believing that innovation is a dangerous thing as it may dilute the principles and tenets of the Desolate Order. Their main base of operations is known as the Citadel Galatia, and is said to be located within the vicinity of Elkud in the Pyrean Easterlands.

### The Order of the Scourge

The Order of the Scourge is the most numerous of the Hellknight orders and serves as the martial backbone of the Desolate Order, its members specialized to fight demons and banish them back into the abyss. These Hellknights are called upon by their infernal patrons to seek out any demons that may manifest on Penastria, and quell any potential invasions. As the largest of the knightly orders, the Order of the Scourge dwells within the Citadel Inferniax, where armigers train against infernal cohorts while signifiers coax the ingenuity of diabolical tactics from their infernal comrades. All this is done in order to ensure that these Hellknights are prepared to face the countless horrors of the abyss.

## Hierarchy

Much like their infernal patrons, the Hellknights that make up the Desolate Order are arranged in a strict hierarchy. This hierarchy is detailed below:

### Vicar

The Vicars are the leaders of the individual knightly orders, sworn into the service of Asmodeus himself, these Hellknights tend to be powerful clerics who draw their power from the Lord of the Nine and work to commune with the infernal patrons of the Desolate Order.

### Knight Commander

Each order also has its own Knight Commanders, these individuals answer directly to their order's respective Vicar and serve as field marshals within their knightly order. They command the Armigers and direct the martial forces of the Order.

### Paravicar

The Paravicars lead the order's Signifiers, their divine link to the hells second only to the Vicar's; they answer only to him and are on equal rank with the Knight Commanders.

### Centuriae

The Centuriae are Hellknight officers who answer directly to a Knight Commander or Paravicar.

### Hellknights

The majority of the Order's members are the Hellknights, the initiated members of the orders. These can be divided into three main branches, the Armigers, the Signifiers and the Shadowmasters. The Armigers make up the bulk of the order's martial force, with each one trained to be a professional warrior by the forces of Infernus. The Signifiers are those Hellknights who may draw upon the weave to cast spells, whether through the divine power of Asmodeus himself or through pacts made with devils. The Shadowmasters are master assassins who serve the order from the shadows, serving as either assassins or spies.

### Adeptus

The Adeptus are the lowest members of the Order, having not yet completed their trials, these individuals are not considered to be true Hellknights and because of this they are usually unaware of many of the Order's secrets until they complete their trials and are welcomed into the ranks of the Hellknights.