Knights of Neraka
Encyclopedia
In the Dragonlance
campaign setting
for the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
, the Knights of Neraka is a lawful evil order founded by Lord Ariakan. They are also known as the Dark Knights and formerly as the Knights of Takhisis. The word "Neraka" is derived from a Malay
word (from Sanskrit
नारक nāraka) meaning "hell
".
shortly after being released from captivity by the Solamnic Knights
in 357 A.C. During his captivity, he learned the structure of the Solamnic Knighthood and copied many of their ideas into his own Knighthood. Each knight was devoted to the goals of Takhisis and a Vision of a "One World Order".
Unlike the Knights of Solamnia, the Knights of Neraka accept members of any race except kender
, gnomes and draconians. They are permitted to lie, steal or murder when necessary, as long as such actions do not violate a given order. However, the knights never engage in needless cruelty and those who submit to a knight are generally treated well.
Like the Knights of Solamnia, the order is divided into three suborders: the Knights of the Lily, the Knights of the Skull and the Knights of the Thorn. Unlike their rivals, all three orders have equal status within the organization.
The great hero Steel Brightblade belonged to this Order.
or as mystics. If the Order of the Lily is the body and the Order of the Thorn the mind of the knights, the Order of the Skull is the spirit. They are masters of intrigue and manipulation, and often assigned to influence foreign powers or to work as a secret police within the knights. These clerics also carry weaponry into battle to remain useful. The Order of the Skull consisted of clerics before the Chaos War; afterwards, mystics. Their code is "Death is patient. It flows both from without and from within. Be vigilant in all and skeptical of all."
or as sorcerers
. They are known as the "gray robes" for the color of their robes. Unlike the black robes of Nuitari, they are not bound by the laws of the Conclave. Thorn knights are especially proficient in the art of divination. They are tasked with guiding the knights by understanding the current and future state of the world.
They used to gather power from all three moons of magic with the aid of Takhisis, making them fearsome foes. The Red Robe Justarius, once Archmage of the Conclave of Wizards, was slain by their magic. With the loss of the old magic, they became powerful sorcerers; however they lost their former advantage over the Conclave members. Thorn Knights are still using sorcery, as without Takhisis, they cannot use their former powers. Their code is "One who follows the heart finds it will bleed. Feel nothing but victory."
Dragonlance
Dragonlance is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of popular fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived Dragonlance while driving in their car on the way to TSR for a job application...
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
for the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, the Knights of Neraka is a lawful evil order founded by Lord Ariakan. They are also known as the Dark Knights and formerly as the Knights of Takhisis. The word "Neraka" is derived from a Malay
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
word (from Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
नारक nāraka) meaning "hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
".
Founding
The order was founded by Lord Ariakan as the Knights of Takhisis in 370 A.C. He was guided by a vision he had received from the Queen of DarknessTakhisis
Takhisis is a fictional character from the Dragonlance universe. She is the main goddess of evil and head of the Dark Pantheon.- Titles and forms :...
shortly after being released from captivity by the Solamnic Knights
Knights of Solamnia
In the fictional Dragonlance universe, the Solamnic Knights are a chivalric order, a "brotherhood forged when Krynn was young". The Solamnic Order is dedicated to the forces of light and live by a strict code of honor...
in 357 A.C. During his captivity, he learned the structure of the Solamnic Knighthood and copied many of their ideas into his own Knighthood. Each knight was devoted to the goals of Takhisis and a Vision of a "One World Order".
Structure
The Dark Knights are bound by honor dictated by the Blood Oath ("submit or die") and the Code, a set of laws modeled after the Oath and the Measure of the Solamnic Knights. Strict discipline, obedience and above all absolute loyalty to the order are required of all knights. Personal considerations must come secondary, and the knight must be prepared to sacrifice whatever is necessary.Unlike the Knights of Solamnia, the Knights of Neraka accept members of any race except kender
Kender
Kender are a type of fantasy race first developed for the Dragonlance campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role playing game published by TSR Inc. in 1984. The first kender character was created by Harold Johnson as a playable character in a series of role-playing adventures...
, gnomes and draconians. They are permitted to lie, steal or murder when necessary, as long as such actions do not violate a given order. However, the knights never engage in needless cruelty and those who submit to a knight are generally treated well.
Like the Knights of Solamnia, the order is divided into three suborders: the Knights of the Lily, the Knights of the Skull and the Knights of the Thorn. Unlike their rivals, all three orders have equal status within the organization.
Squires
Knights of all three orders begin as squires of the Lily. Squires are put through rigorous training, and at the end of their training all are sufficient warriors. Once they are ready, they are presented before a the Council and swear to abide by the Blood Oath and the Code. They then choose the branch of the order they will serve in.Order of the Lily
The Knights of the Lily are warriors and soldiers. They focus on their strength to win the day, and form the bulk of the Knighthood. They also are the most numerous on the battlefield. These Knights are taught that being like ones peers is ideal; any individuality is looked down upon. All orders live by their own code, and the Order of the Lily has this for theirs: "Independence breeds chaos, submit and be strong."The great hero Steel Brightblade belonged to this Order.
Order of the Skull
The Order of the Skull specialize in divine magic, as clericsCleric (Dungeons & Dragons)
The cleric is one of the standard playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. In the game, clerics are versatile figures, both capable in combat and skilled in the use of divine magic. Clerics are powerful healers due to the large number of healing and curative...
or as mystics. If the Order of the Lily is the body and the Order of the Thorn the mind of the knights, the Order of the Skull is the spirit. They are masters of intrigue and manipulation, and often assigned to influence foreign powers or to work as a secret police within the knights. These clerics also carry weaponry into battle to remain useful. The Order of the Skull consisted of clerics before the Chaos War; afterwards, mystics. Their code is "Death is patient. It flows both from without and from within. Be vigilant in all and skeptical of all."
Order of the Thorn
The Order of the Thorn specialize in arcane magic, as wizardsWizard (Dungeons & Dragons)
The wizard is one of the standard character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A wizard uses arcane magic, and is considered less effective in melee combat than other classes.-Creative origins:...
or as sorcerers
Sorcerer (Dungeons & Dragons)
The sorcerer is a playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A sorcerer is weak in melee combat, but a master of arcane magic, the most generally powerful form of D&D magic. Sorcerers' magical ability is innate rather than studied...
. They are known as the "gray robes" for the color of their robes. Unlike the black robes of Nuitari, they are not bound by the laws of the Conclave. Thorn knights are especially proficient in the art of divination. They are tasked with guiding the knights by understanding the current and future state of the world.
They used to gather power from all three moons of magic with the aid of Takhisis, making them fearsome foes. The Red Robe Justarius, once Archmage of the Conclave of Wizards, was slain by their magic. With the loss of the old magic, they became powerful sorcerers; however they lost their former advantage over the Conclave members. Thorn Knights are still using sorcery, as without Takhisis, they cannot use their former powers. Their code is "One who follows the heart finds it will bleed. Feel nothing but victory."