Knight Sourcebook
Here you have it, the fourth Cursed Empire(tm) Dark Fantasy Role-Playing Game Supplement. Cover artwork is by Rob Larson who did the superb art for the Sourcebook, Slavers of Karg, Dark Clouds of War and Darkun(tm) Supplement covers, interior art is by Rob Larson, Rik Martin, Manoel Magalhaes Moreira and Amandine Labarre.
Background
This supplement unlocks some of the mysticism that shrouds the Knight of Old in secrecy. The Old Imperial Code is laid down for players to follow or stray from, as well as the Karnarcos variation. The Origins of Knighthood are exposed as well as ancient rituals and Knight Orders (thirty in total). Interaction charts are provided to explain politics between Knight Orders and a selection of Non-Player Characters are also included to spice the game up.
Additional Rules
Heraldry and Emblems are also explained and rules have been provided to develop new emblems and crests.
New rules include additional background for Centaur characters (introduced in the Darkun Sourcebook) with the introduction of the Batica Class.
Four additional Classes are also introduced: Chronicler, Duellist, Herald and Myrmidon. Horse types are also covered here with their statistics and descriptions.
Bonus Material: Knight Jousts, Imperial Keep game aid and family of Nardam genealogy tree.
Scenario
A complete scenario is provided at the back of the book (Sanctity of The Earth) and assists in introducing Knights to a crowd of screaming, hysterical, pitchfork and torch shaking villagers! An ancient evil has come to haunt the small village of Gorthfork near the Plateau of Dred…
Flavour Text - Duty
It had been five days since word had first arrived of the approaching army. With the Wood Knights of Han engaged in the Forest, Lord Krohnheim immediately mobilised half of the Black Falcon cavalry that was garrisoned at Hamor and rode south to assess the situation. Along the way they passed a growing number of refugees who had fled their farms and villages, all heading for the protection of the northern towns.
The Condorian Knight caught his first glimpse of the orc invaders from the vantage of some low hills. He was initially dismayed at the size of the force, the army was no exaggeration. The seasoned veteran estimated there were over ten thousand orcs traveling north and, if the fleeing farmers' stories were to be believed, this was merely the smaller element of a Kadrur horde that was heading toward the Empire.
"There is our enemy" Lord Krohnheim had told his first Squire, "let Vokdar worry about the rest".
In the three days since, the Black Forest cavalry had struck repeatedly at the advancing orcs. Each time Lord Krohnheim charged his men against either the leading scouts or any units that had become detached from the flanks of the force by the unfamiliar terrain. The tactic was not one that yielded a particularly high death toll on his enemies but it slowed their advance without risking the cavalry too greatly, and to date only minor casualties had been received by the men of Hamor.
Writer - Albion
Extract from the Sourcebook - Knight Origins
What are the origins of Knights and how important are they within the setting? This section will present readers with the background information required to flesh-out these individuals and have a better understanding on how they are to be played.
During the years of prosperity before the Great Cataclysm; Knight Orders formed the main pillars of society. They were mainly linked with regions and noble families of relatively high renown. all of the most prominent families were affiliated in some shape or form with an order of their choosing. This would manifest itself through sponsorship in weapons and funding as well as titles, and the contribution of young members of the family who would take up arms to support the Knight Order. With the fall of the Empire and the rise of the Elemental Cults, some Knight Orders were absorbed into larger ones, others disappeared and little is known of them now. All the old Orders are remnants of the Empire, whereas the majority of relatively new Orders are either a response to a specific threat (e.g. Watchers of Telos) or established by Karnaros (Punishers of Morg, Claw of Kessel, Horned order of Krill etc).
The Knight is a very old concept; a personification of values and defender of the weak, guardian of the faith and law enforcers. Knights were the fighting elite in days of old, those who descended from the warriors who brought the Thargians down, The Companions of the late Emperor Mit-Sulek 1st. It has always been an honour to follow in such footsteps and although the title used to be passed down through bloodlines, nowadays it is necessary to earn one's place amongst the brave. The term "Knight" is now used more liberally, even though there are many who deserve the old title. A Knight's traditional existence is spartan, with little need for comforts and luxury. Such individuals are shrouded in mysticism and enigmatic codes of honour and obedience. |
