NOT JOINABLE

The Order of the Black Shield consists of a select group of individuals hand picked by Col. Hector (Der Stier) Schwartzschild, player characters can't join this faction. Any player character claiming to be a member of the Order of the Black Shield is an imposter and should be reported to the nearest representative of the Eldritch Inquisition.

"Lass der stier raus!" - Order member chant

Description

There are many dangerous magical items that could threaten the day to day life of the average Kildarian. The Eldritch Inquisition toils day in and day out to secure these artifacts and safeguard them in their myriad of secure vaults. Often pried out of the cold dead hands of those who tread on everything the inquisition stands for and sometimes "requisitioned" from Kildar's populace. Wether they stumble on them by accident or had them in their family as heirlooms for generations does not matter, any artifact that could pose even the smalles danger should be retrieved to safeguard these sometimes misguided souls.

And that's where the Order of the Black Shield comes in.

Helmed by Col. Hector (Der Stier) Schwartzschild, a former colonel in the standing army of Stormhaven, the Order of the Black Shield is colloquially known as "The Eldritch Collection Agency". Often send out to requisition (dangerous) magical artifacts from civillians and non military orginisations, the members of the order fulfull this role with a singleminded determination and efficiency.

Given the importance that these artifacts are safeguarded, they don't shy away from coercion, intimidation and violence (if the situation asks for this). It is not unheard of for the order to tear a location apart brick by proverbial brick if it is suspected of housing a (dangerous) magical artifact.

The order sets out to work as follows:

People suspected of harbouring (dangerous) magical artifacts will recieve a letter requesting they relinquish said artifact at their nearest Eldritch Inquisition stronghold at their earlies convenience for a modest financial compensation;
If the previous attempt is ignored, the Order of the Black Shield will pay a visit to the person or persons in question at which the latter are polietly asked to relinquish the (dangerous) artifact at that moment, the modest financial compensation can be witheld at this point;
If the previous attempt at negotioations are ignored, the Order of the Black shield has the permission to use coercion tactics to achieve their goal, the modest financial compensation is now completely off the table;
If point 3 fails, the order is sanctioned to enter the property that is suspected to harbour (dangerous) magical artifacts after which point damage to material possessions is a given and possessions are more than likely to be defenistrated.

When point 3 has been reached, members of the order can often be heard chanting: "Lass der stier raus", ad infinitum, to motivate their leader Col. Hector (Der Stier) Schwartzschild to act like the proverbial bull in a porcelain store and give the go ahead for the rest of the group to follow his example.

When point 4 has been reached, crowds often gather to see the order at work, making sure to stay out of close proximity of windows large enough for a piano to exit through.

Given the trust Col. Hector (Der Stier) Schwartzschild has build up with the leadership of the Eldritch Inquisition, he has been given a carte blanche in "requisitioning" (dangerous) magical arifacts.

Goals, Aspirations & Fears

The Order of the Black Shield opperates under the assumption that (dangerous) magical artifacts are to be "requisitioned" and safeguarded under any circumstance. This gives them the mandate to reach their goal by any means neccesary, in their eyes the results justify any means.

Structure & people

The order consists of Col. Hector (Der Stier) Schwartzschild and the Untergebene (everyone else). Given the small numbers of the orders members and the micro managing of its leader, there is no need for a complex structure.

Leader

Col. Hector (Der Stier) Schwartzschild is the defacto leader of the order of the Black Shield and rules it with an iron fist.

Notable members

Roboute "Burlyman" Macragge: Col. Hector's second in command, a man of action instead of words. Kind natured in general, but will follow his leaders directions to the letter. If (on a rare occasion) Hector is willing to delegate an important task, it will be handed over to Roboute. Usually calm, but know to ocassionally lose his head.
Sterling Dutchess: If there would be anything resembling a third in command in the structure of the order, it would be Sterling. Sarcastic and straightforward, he is one of the few who would dare go against Hector. He is a skilled arbalist and will never go anywhere without his trusty crossbow Lana.

Quest Giver

Being a hands-on leader, Col. Hector (Der Stier) Schwartzschild delegates all tasks himself. Though, on a rare occasion, that task could be delegated to Roboute.

Opponent

Over the past couple of years, the straightforward, brusque, heavy handed and sometimes unscrupulous modus opperandi of the order has gained them many detractors and much opposition. Among which is another Eldritch Inquistion subsidiary, the McTennite Family. The order on more than one occasion has "requisitioned" magical items of necromantic origin that the McTennite Family wishes to research in order to better understand and vanquish their undead advisaries.

Col. Hector (Der Stier) Schwartzschild has on more than one occasion butted heads with Lucille McTennite - Brown of the McTennite Family after a "requisitioning".

Member Creation Table

A template with tables for generating members of this faction. One per member type (e.g. guard, bureaucrat, diplomat, commoner)

3d6	Appearance	Quirk	Story
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